As someone who only recently made their first trip to an IKEA, I was shocked by the fresh food section and quality. I’d heard people mention having lunch at the restaurant while shopping at IKEA, but I’d always pictured a small cafe with sandwiches and Swedish meatballs. Boy was I wrong! I was part of sneak peek at the new Norfolk IKEA and was blown away by the massive restaurant. Plus there is a smaller bistro near the checkout lanes. The food was fresh, delicious and definitely reminded me of dining out during our vacation in Sweden.

Don’t worry if you’re not feeling adventurous enough to try Swedish cuisine. Though you should give the meatballs a whirl! You can find more “American” type fare such as grilled chicken, chicken tenders, blackberry salad and hotdogs. There is something for everyone at the IKEA restaurant.

We enjoyed the Smorgasbord which is a variety of the Swedish cuisine served at IKEA. Periodically, this is offered to shoppers as an all you can eat. Tickets need to be purchased in advance. IKEA family members can dine for only $12.99 and $2.99 for kids 12 and under! That’s a steal!  The regular price is still a good deals as well at $16.99 for adults and $4.99 for kids.

 

Tip – Get a FREE cup of Swedish coffee in the restaurant until 10am – regular price is $1.

Norfolk IKEA Food

The ham was yummy and my friend had to actually remove the plate from me, so I’d stop eating. I’m working on getting healthy and all the tasty IKEA food didn’t fit into my nutritional plan 🙂

The boiled egg with smoked salmon was delicious and full of flavor. The boiled egg with seaweed pearls wasn’t to my taste. I wasn’t a fan of the textures, but I think Derrick would enjoy it.

The salmon and horseradish on crispbread was good with a nice smoky flavor but a bit too messy to eat in public. It was suggested that this would be better on a pita.

The shrimp salad with seaweed pearls on soft bread was AMAZING! And they aren’t skimpy on the shrimp either! This dish transported me straight back to Sweden as we sat a the market eating this exact dish with a seafood soup.

I’m a big cheese person. The cheese aged 11 month is great. It had lots of flavor but may be too flavorful for people who don’t like strong cheese.

The Swedish meatballs are pretty awesome. Alone they are great but even better with the lingonberry jam.  These are a must try when visiting IKEA.  They actually serve 2 million meatballs per day!

The thin pancake (crepe) tasted like a pancake. We’ve had these a lot in France, so I was familiar with the yummy goodness.  It was even better flavor with the lingonberry jam. Kids will love it! The lingonberry jam be purchased in the bistro. I was super disappointed the bistro wasn’t open during our event because my kids loved this jam. I’ll be returning soon to grab a jar or three.

The Swedish hash brown was tasty and served with seaweed pearls and sour cream (which I declined). The Red Potato with butter and dill was good and pretty much what you expect the red potatoes to taste like.

The pickled cucumber salad was really good. Actually better than I expected and has a nice zing. I tried the beets but I’m just not a fan. If you actually like eating beets then you’ll probably enjoy this dish. The piece of salmon was, of course, good. I’d tasted it on other dishes during the event. It tasted like salmon should and not at all fishy.

The cinnamon roll was good, a bit crunchy. We were even given packaged cinnamon rolls to take home with us after the event. The kids and Derrick devoured them all pretty quickly. You can purchase these at the bistro to take home as well.

I had a good parfait with muesli and lots of berries if you’re looking for a healthier dish. The muesli can also be purchased in the bistro to make your own parfait at home.

I wasn’t a big fan of the chocolate almond butterscotch cake. I don’t really like butterscotch nor desserts with a crunch. If you like these flavors, you can purchase the Daim candy in the bistro.

The gooey chocolate brownie was delicious and can also be purchased in the bistro. I’ll definitely be picked these up when I need a treat.

The pink sponge cake was good. It had a nice creamy top with a sponge cake bottom. It wasn’t what I was excepting when I first took a bite but it was good. You can get whole pieces at the restaurant or purchase in the bistro to-go.

I also didn’t like the green KAFFEREP which is a pastry with marzipan coating and chocolate dipped ends. It tasted like green tea to me and that’s just not my thing.

The KAFFEREP chocolate ball with coconut sprinkles tasted like coffee, so I loved it. My touring partner doesn’t like coffee, so she didn’t like this dessert.

The KAFFEREP cookies with jam on the top and icing in the middle were yummy. My touring partner is now obsessed with this cookie and I foresee her avoiding the IKEA Bistro just so she doesn’t buy out the whole store.

Drink machines are available to get water, flavored soda (I tried pear), regular sodas, tea and coffee.  The restaurant offers plenty of seating with comfy IKEA furniture.  The restaurant is bright and airy, prefect for a pick-me-up coffee or to enjoy a leisurely meal.

IKEA Bistro Goodies:

I mentioned that many of the products can also be purchased in the bistro.  I took some photos of the products, so you can see the ingredients and packages.

Overall, I was highly impressed with the food at Norfolk IKEA. The food is fresh and the quality is fantastic. You can enjoy your treats at the restaurant then grab your favorites at the bistro to take home. Read more about the new IKEA Norfolk plus some tips at shopping IKEA here.

IKEA Norfolk Opening Day is Wednesday, April 10th 2019! This has been a much anticipated opening for so many in Hampton Roads and the surrounding areas.  Interestingly, this is the 50^th IKEA store in the U.S. and second in the state of Virginia!  The store is located near the border of Norfolk and Virginia Beach, so I’ve heard a few people say IKEA Virginia Beach, but it’s actually in the city of Norfolk.

Wanna shop on Opening Day and get fun stuff? Customers can begin to line up outside the store at 5:00 a.m. ET on Wednesday, April 10 (no campers please). Entertainment for customers waiting in line will start at 6:00 a.m. ET, followed by the grand opening ceremony at 8:15 a.m. ET. Doors will officially open at 9:00 a.m. ET. This is will be a traditional ribbon cutting ceremony.  Instead, the Swedish tradition is to saw a log for luck!  That will be cool to see!

There will also be music and face painting to celebrate the grand opening from Wednesday – Sunday.

Customers can learn more about the grand opening plans and promotions at IKEA-USA.com/Norfolk or by joining the free IKEA FAMILY loyalty program.

Activities and Giveaways at IKEA Norfolk on 4/10 include:

IKEA Welcome

• The first 200 children (12 & younger) in line receive a free FAMNIG heart-shaped soft toy, valued at $4.99.
• The first 1,000 adults (18 & older) in line receive a special “welcome” gift.

IKEA Welcome Sweepstakes

• On Grand Opening Day, visitors in line before 8:00 a.m. ET will be entered for a chance to win one of three (3) gift cards, valued at $500, $1,500 and $2,000

IKEA FAMILY $250 Gift Card Giveaway

• Visitors who join IKEA FAMILY (this is FREE) in-store or scan their IKEA FAMILY card in-store at an IKEA FAMILY kiosk or tablet will be automatically entered for a chance to win one of twenty $250 IKEA Gift Cards through the IKEA FAMILY loyalty program. Two winners will be randomly drawn and announced every hour from 10:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. on opening day.

IKEA Norfolk Offer

• IKEA FAMILY members – use your IKEA FAMILY card between Wednesday, April 10 and Sunday, April 21 and spend a minimum of $125, and you will receive a coupon for $20 off next purchase of $100 or more. Must opt-in to receive IKEA FAMILY emails to receive offer.

*Terms and conditions apply.

The New IKEA Norfolk – What Does it Look Like?

Now that you know about the opening day activities, let’s talk about this massive store.  I’ll tell you, I’m an IKEA virgin.  This was my first ever visit to an IKEA store (gasp!)  But I learned a ton of information from the helpful managers that welcomed media members in for the sneak peek.

The entire store is comprised of huge open spaces with chic, bright colors. Throughout the room and home settings, IKEA inspires people to create their own home offering a unique shopping experience at affordable prices.  During the tour, we saw furniture and room designs to fit all budgets.  There were couches, tables and whole kitchens that range from budget friendly to higher end.  IKEA has something for everyone!

There are 415 co-workers (employees) at the IKEA Norfolk, many hired locally.  They also used a lot of locals to help not only in the construction but the interior design as well.  My media partner has a friend who sewed some of the curtains and the brightly colored lamp shades hanging in the restaurant.  The store even boasts 3600 solar panels on the roof powering the grid.  Another great feature is vendors put products into special boxes, so the products can be displayed in these boxes instead of wasting paper.

I learned one things that’s different about this IKEA than many others is that there is more garden and outdoor products. Due to it’s location near Virginia Beach, outdoor living spaces are something people in this area are looking for.

A quick cool fact.  Do you know what IKEA stands for? Ingvar Kamprad Elmtaryd Agunnaryd – Ingvar Kamprad is the Swedish founder who was born on a small farm called Elmtaryd near the village of Agunnaryd. Cool huh?  And the kids play area Småland was the Swedish province.

First Floor

This store is longer than typical stores (or so I’m told), so there are only 2 floors instead of 3. Veteran IKEA shoppers won’t feel like they’re missing out on anything.  This store is HUGE! Upon entering, you’re welcomed into the main foyer with couches so you can lounge around and wait for the rest of your party, bins to grab a yellow shopping bags, the escalator to head upstairs, and the children’s play area called Småland where you can drop the kids of to play in a supervised environment.  You could continue on this floor to get a cart if needed for large items.  You won’t need a cart upstairs! Just take the yellow bag or grab one from a bin on the 2nd floor.

The fun kitchen gadgets, tableware, glassware, laundry items, pillows, shades, storage, pet, lighting, garden, rug and patio items are on this floor.  You’ll find everything on your shopping list plus goodies that you never knew existed but that you now have to have! 

There are some great glass food storage containers on my list to purchase as well as some fun storage items for my office. If I wasn’t trying to keep up with a group, I may never have left the store!

One of the cool items is a rug that’s made of 100% recycled plastic bottles.  And it’s super soft – who would have thought!  There are some great world prints that I’d like to have as well as 79¢ plant pots.  Seriously!  They were so inexpensive and the quality looked great. They also had gorgeous handmade Turkish rugs and window blinds without strings as a softly feature for kids.

Additionally on the first floor is the warehouse for picking up your boxed items, the As-Is section AKA scratch and dent, a bistro and area where you can purchase some of your favorite IKEA food to take home. I’ll be picking up some Lingonberry jam for hubby and the kids once the store is open.  They LOVED this when we visited Sweden.

Second Floor

I’d suggest heading upstairs to start your shopping otherwise you’ll have a cart load of stuff if you start on floor one! Once upstairs stop for a Fika, a Swedish term for taking a relaxing coffee and cake break.  You’re gonna need that quiet time and shot of caffeine to begin your shopping adventure!  I’ll share a separate post just on the food and restaurant.

There are four fully furnished homes on the 2nd floor that not only helps customers see possibilities for their own homes, but you can also get a feel for who “lives
in each of these homes.  Open a drawer or cabinet to find ideas on how you can use the piece or what you can store in the compartment. The square feet of the area are posted as well as the price for everything included.  You can also customize pieces such as the TV stands to incorporate the size of your televisions and needs.

IKEA products were designed for small spaces as that’s the culture in Sweden.  Maximizing limited space is imperative. A coffee table, shouldn’t just be a table.  It should be used for how you live such as having a space to store kids toys.  IKEA builds products from the inside out, with no air space.  Open a kitchen drawer and you can pull out another drawer on top that maximizes the space.

On the 2nd floor, you’ll find full designs for living rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens.  Co-workers are available to help with design options.  In addition to the homes and designed rooms, there are showroom sections for couches, chairs, tables, mattresses and appliances (these are Whirlpool brand).  Take a look at the closet designs as well as the cute kiddy rooms while upstairs.  This area also contains kids toys and craft items.

Family-Friendly IKEA

IKEA is extremely family-friendly.  The children play area, Småland, located on the 1st floor will keep your child entertained as you shop.  All children must be registered and get a wristband.  Parents will have little buzzers to carry around as they shop.  Children as supervised and will have a blast in the ball pit.  Space is limited, so there is a TV area outside where you can wait for your child to be allowed in.  Parents must remain here with their kids.

Even the staircases have lower railings for young children and plenty of toy options available for them to beg for presents.  Child friendly options are also available in the restaurant.

IKEA Norfolk Tips & Tricks

1. Join IKEA FAMILY either online or in-store at the kiosk.  It’s FREE!  You’ll get free coffee or tea at the restaurant, monthly product discounts, extra 30 minutes for kids in Småland, 90 day price protection and gift card giveaways.  You’ll see the discounted items posted through the store.
2. Save money at the As-Is section located next to the check-out lanes.  This is where you’ll find stretch and dent products for up to 50% off (or more!)
3. Stop by a Shopping Tools stand to pick up a measuring tape, pencil, map of the store and pad to write down the location of the products in the warehouse that you wish to purchase.
4. Once you’ve decided on a product, you don’t carry that chair downstairs or place an order with a co-worker. On each tag is a location in the warehouse to pick up a box (since all products must be assembled).  Write down the location, snap a photo with you phone or use the app.
5. Download the IKEA Store App – this allows you to making a shopping list from home, scan the barcode of your favorite products to add it to your list and much more.
6. Kitchens have a 25 year warranty!
7. Mattresses can be returned or exchanged for FREE – conditions apply.
8. Shipping charges are based on zip code and the distance from the store.
9. All plastic products such as kids cups and plates are BPA free.
10. IKEA will give you attachment kids for free to anchor your furniture to the walls – another family friendly feature!!
11. Don’t get lost – just follow the lighted arrows on the ground to keep moving through the store.

I can’t wait to actually shop at the IKEA Norfolk location!  Plan a day to get the real IKEA experience with a lunch of Swedish meatballs and a leisurely wander around the impressive store.  The opening day festivities are just the beginning.

What are you IKEA tips?  Are you excited for the IKEA Norfolk opening day?