IKEA Celebrates Restaurant Revamp With Giveaways, Food Deals

It's a fact. People flock to IKEA as much for the store's meatballs and gravlax as for inexpensive furniture pieces with impossible-to-pronounce names. 

Let's face it — even the most hard-core foodie stops in for a little nosh or at least some fro-yo from that insane cone machine as fuel for the long task of putting together a Gettorp or Trysil. 

Now IKEA has made it easier for shoppers to love its cheap Scandinavian meals by remodeling its in-store restaurants. The eateries have been redesigned to feature three unique eating zones. 

The first area is dedicated to people who want a quick bite before heading to the real task of furniture shopping. The second is a family-oriented dining area. 

The third is the most intriguing. Named Fika, Swedish for "to have coffee," it's a living room-like setting for lounging with a cup of joe. This is one of those "Why didn't they think of it before?" moments where a furniture store filled with sofas and tables finally meshes with its restaurant-in-a-store. One imagines the Fika lounge filled with weary people waiting for their significant others to finally make up their minds between the tangerine or the lime throw-pillow covers (a steal at $3.99 each).

Patricia Meumann, U.S. commercial manager for IKEA Food, recognizes the need for a more interactive dining experience that caters to a range of customers. “We know that there is so much more to food than food. Food brings people together at home in everyone’s daily lives, and we wanted to reflect that in the new dining experience at IKEA restaurants."

IKEA is celebrating the revamp all weekend with a series of giveaways and events at all of its locations, including Miami. 

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the grand reopening will take place this Friday, April, 29, at 5 p.m. The first 100 visitors at the restaurant, beginning at 5 p.m., will receive mystery prizes, including food and gift cards ranging from $5 to $100 in value.

From 5 to 8 p.m., IKEA will offer a three-course meal for $6.99 that includes meatballs, soup or salad, and dessert.

This Saturday, April 30, the first 30 people in line at the store opening  at 9 a.m. will receive a free IKEA goodie bag filled with organic products from the store's Swedish Food Market ($45 value). The next 100 people in line will receive mystery prizes ranging from $5 to $100 in value.

In addition, diners will be able to enjoy a Swedish breakfast for $1.49. For lunch, a chicken and veggie plate costs $3.99, and from 2 to 4 p.m., desserts are 50 percent off. For dinner, a two-course meal of any entrée plus soup, salad, or dessert is $4.99. In addition, the restaurant will offer face painting, balloon art, and music.

This Sunday, May 1, IKEA will host an all-you-can-eat brunch from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for $9.99 for IKEA family members and $12.99 for nonmembers. In addition, the first 100 people in line at the store's opening at 9 a.m. will receive a mystery prize worth $5 to $100. 

Now if IKEA can only make its furniture easier to put together.