There is no task more whimsical than a trip to IKEA. From the undeniable dizzying journey to the hypermarket, to the charming path through model bedrooms, many can dedicate an entire day to shopping for Swedish flat furniture.
But nothing is as pleasant as ending the excursion with a plate of meatballs and lingonberry jam in the store.
And the homewares brand has made the forage from Ramnefjälls and Vattentrågs no longer necessary to enjoy a satisfying, nostalgic meal familiar to both students moving into the residences and the new owners.
Hammersmith in London is now home to the first standalone IKEA restaurant, marking the first time the hypermarket has opened a “dedicated high street dining space”.
The two-story space seats 75 diners, where shoppers and passers-by alike can come and sample the food.
As I worked my way through it, I was curious if the dishes would still taste as delicious without the context of a full trip to IKEA to give them heart.
Would creamy puree still feel gourmet if you didn’t spend three hours going through a maze of Scandinavian cooking games?
After all, cheap food (my dish of meatballs, potatoes, gravy and peas was just £5.50) can lose its flavor without the power of context behind it.
Hammersmith in London is now home to the first standalone IKEA restaurant – FEMAIL reporter Elmira Tanatarova tried it
The two-story space seats 75 diners, where shoppers and spectators alike can come and sample the food.
I arrived around 1:00 pm during what seemed like a rush lunch with a rush of customers waiting for orders, but service was still fast.
Diners can eat in or take away, and I found myself giddy at the affordability of some of the options: there’s a £2.95 pasta on the menu and you can get a free cup of tea.
While the downstairs area is clean and compact, the upstairs is what seemed like the hidden treasure.
It’s healthy and sweetly decorated, which seemed like an unnecessary upgrade from the strangely cheap and filling plate of meatballs I was about to eat.
Faux foliage and decorative lights adorned the quiet, spacious upstairs area, where the real test began: would the food still taste good?
Unquestionably, the answer is yes. I opted for the classic IKEA Swedish meatballs (you get a generous eight per serving) and they were perfectly seasoned, came with all the tasty trimmings and were delicious and warm.
There is also a plant-based version available for £4.95. Other options on the menu included penne pasta (£2.95), fish and chips (£6.95) and salmon with couscous and yoghurt (also £6.95).
A children’s plate of pasta and tomato sauce is also available, which includes a soft drink and a piece of fruit for 95 cents.
Diners can eat in or take away, and Elmira was giddy by the affordability of some of the options: there’s a £2.95 pasta on the menu and you can get a free cup of tea.
The company is also offering IKEA Family members £5 off in-store when they spend £5 in the restaurant on the same day, until the end of November.
Elmira arrived around 1:00 pm during what seemed like a rush hour for lunch with a rush of customers waiting for their orders, but the service was still fast.
There is also a children’s menu of pasta and tomato sauce that comes with a soft drink and a piece of fruit for 95p.
While the downstairs area (pictured) is clean and compact, the upstairs is what seemed like the hidden gem.
Elsewhere, breakfast is available in the morning. A small hot breakfast (bacon, sausage, chips, omelette, beans and tomato) costs £2.75, while a regular one costs £3.75.
The company is also offering IKEA Family members £5 off in-store when they spend £5 in the restaurant on the same day, until the end of November.
I found myself thinking what a great place it was for a quick lunch with friends (or even a fun date if pockets are tight!) with top-notch atmosphere and value.
What’s more, I think there is a gap in the British market for affordable Scandinavian-inspired cuisine, which has always been a hit with the British public.
My only qualm is that the menu is quite limited at the time, but since the food on offer is such a crowd pleaser, it’s not a big deal.
“We know how much our customers love the IKEA restaurant and we are excited to celebrate the opening of our first restaurant on the high street,” said Matthew Gould, market manager at IKEA London City.
“Fans of our delicious dishes can refuel during their shopping trip with our famous Swedish meatballs, take a traditional Swedish “fika” break for coffee and a sweet, or find an affordable kid-friendly meal on the main street” .
The new venture comes as Ikea’s other London project, another City Store on Oxford Street, remains problematic.
The furniture brand delayed the opening date of its flagship store for the second time in May due to a leak in the basement of the Grade II listed building.
This means the site at 214 Oxford Street will now open in spring 2025, three years after work began and two after it was originally intended to open.
Until then, shoppers will continue to be greeted by the eye-catching design of the giant Ikea bag currently hiding the building.