Prefer this branch to the one at Alexander...much bigger. Of course, love the eating area. it is very family friendly. The one at Alexander is very packed and there is usually hardly any place to walk...especially during meal times. The students studying there certainly makes it more difficult to find seats. At Tampines, it is a different story. The area is spacious and there are many different kinds of seats for varying preferences. You can choose to sit on high stools and tables by the windows and just watch the cars zoom in and out of the Giant Mart just across the road....or a simple 4 seater table ...or even a round table...suited for a family of 8. The round tables are reserved for families with children....which is just apt because the round tables are concentrated around the play area for children. There is a small round 'gazebo' for kids...with the little knick knacks on the walls and even mirrors on the floor. They look like simple glass panels but when you look into one of them, you can actually see someone else looking at you from another glass panels. The kids are crazy about it. My ger is too young to understand what is going and simply follow the crowd, running around in circles.

Having the play area for kids is so helpful esp. when we got tired from the shopping....and needed a breather from a kid. There is also a bigger play area for the children at thrid floor but my ger did not meet the minimum height requirement so guess the cafe is gd. we can eat our favourite chicken wings (6 for $7.50) and enjoy the free soft drinks that come along with Ikea membership. Ordered the fish and chips($5.50) but found it to be more floor than fish...neh...will just stick to the chicken wings the next time. That would be our new eating cum playing hangout.

Visit eateatenate.blogspot.com for a full review with pictures.


You should never visit IKEA with a full stomach, because you'll regret missing out the food served there. I guess many of us Singaporeans should be pretty familiar with this IKEA restaurant, and many of us wouldn't mind the long queues during lunch and dinner times (especially on weekedends).


Poached Salmon, S$6.90 nett,
The salmon meat wasn't really fresh, and they broke into brittle bits when we sliced our forks through it. Potatoes were a tad dry; broccoli was cold. However, the Chive Butter Sauce rounded everything up and brought them together in unison.


Swedish Meatballs (10 Pieces), S$6.50 nett,
This is one of our personal favourites, and we are sure most of you agree. Beefy meatballs, dipped in heavy sauce and lingoberry jam - a classic combination that sends you craving for more.


Chicken Wings (6 Pieces), S$7.50 nett,
We never fail to order the fried Chicken Wings from IKEA too. Hot yummy juice oozing out with every bite. These wings are less oily and much healthier than the usual fried ones you find.


Almond Cake, S$3.20 nett,
The Almond Cake turned out to be surprisingly pleasant, especially for a non-nut-lover like me. This dessert was crumbly and delicious, and the top was coated with a rich moist layer of studded almond nuts.


VERDICT
Don't hold too much expectations for the word 'restaurant'. No pretty ambience and no serving waiters / waitresses - You have to wait for your own seats among the crowds; you have to queue up for your own food; you have to clear your own plates after the meal (though a lot of Singaporeans do not practice that). This place is self service, and it's more like a canteen kind of concept. Nevertheless, the prices you pay for the quick bites and resting place you get, are definitely worth your time and money.

why i love ikea restaurant's swedish meatballs:
- i don't really like the smell of beef but i can't detect this smell in ikea meatballs even though they contain beef
- the meatballs are flavourful, juicy n have a nice texture (neither too hard nor too soft)
- i love the 2 sauces that come with the meatballs! one of them is a sweet fruity jam-like sauce, and the other one is savoury and slightly creamy. even though their tastes are pretty contrasting, they taste rly delicious when eaten combination. in fact, when both are eaten together with the meatballs, it's like a match made in heaven.. i never fail to finish every single drop of sauce!

the only thing i don't like about the dish is the bland tasteless potatoes that come with it. however, the wonderful meatballs and sauces more than make up for this flaw! :)

Date of visit- 06/02/08

Having been to Ikea Cafe at Alexandra, I was almost hesitant when my friend suggested dinner at Ikea Tampines. Being starved however, I agreed when the thought of the delicious meatballs and wings got better of me. "This place is huge!" was my immediate reaction when we finally arrived at the cafe's premises. Armed with a digicam, I went snap-happy. lol



This place has a very clean feel, and as a previous reviewer suggested- "Scandinavian". I couldn't agree more. Being massive, I guess it helps. No more waiting by the table like hungry predators, there's room for everyone!



I was amused to find this little hut in the middle of the cafe. It was a brilliant idea- the parents get to eat while keeping watch over their restless kids in the playpan. Talk about family friendly eateries!



Ordering at the Ikea cafe is a simple affair. Join the queue, get a trolley (if you're ordering lots), take what you want for cold food/ask the staffs to prepare for you the hot food, and pay up at the cashier, which is also the end of the queue. Cashier accepts multiple modes of payment via cash, nets and cards.

The picture on the right shows a Halal queue. Ikea did not forget our Malay friends!



Here's how the trolley looks like. Capable of carrying three trays altogether, wheel your food around as you look for a seat effortlessly. How innovative is that!


2 pc chicken wings- SGD2.80

Looking at this makes me feel that my reunion dinner a few hours ago was inadequate. Aww, I'm hungry again! Ikea does manage a mean pair of wings, which was very well received by my mouth. And my friends' too! mwaha. This was really tasty la, try it yourself!


cold water prawns- SGD4.20

Love how they present this dish! Just makes you want to rescue the little prawns from the cold fridge. Impulse or not, this tasted fresh. Only for prawn lovers.


gravad lax plate- SGD5.80

Not really sure what this is, though my friend insist it's salmon. Had a bite and found it was fresh too, albeit a little tasteless. Not a fan of raw stuffs so can't comment on this further.


swedish meatballs 15pc- SGD8

Ta-da, the star of the dishes! These brown balls are really good, and really making me hungry now. You just have to try them yourself cos I'm not good with describing taste. Try first, thank me later. :D


sambal fish with rice- SGD5.50

Both me and my friend wanted to order the chicken leg initially but we changed our minds instantaneously when we saw (and smelt) a couple leaving the cashier with their order of sambal fish. It didn't matter to my friend that he doesn't take spicy stuffs, the aroma was reason enough for him to order this, and I second that. Although this wasn't a permanent fixture on the menu, it was excellent for all our senses. Sambal was of moderate spiciness and rice was managed well. It was a joy to be eating this, serious. Or perhaps we were all starved. Ha.



Conclusion:
Ikea is never known for their food but they have managed it so well their supposed canteen has integrated into their business. I'll gladly return to this cafe anytime for another meal again. Parking is foc too! (:

This place is a 10 X upsized clone of the Ikea at Alexandra. I particularly enjoy the style it represents - it reminds me of my visit to Denmark and North Germany where most cafe are this style.

Reservation: Tie handkerchief to the chair to reserve the table but no advance booking. Go early on weekends, seems that half of Tampines is there. Parking is free, but remember where you park, the car park is so huge you can lose your car.

Food / Beverage: Cafeteria fare. Ikea meatballs with tomato sauce are preditable. Had the apple pie and coffee. The apple pie was great tasting. Someone else ordered the pasta, did not taste it but it looked ordinary. Coffee is good tasting but give me the coffee shop stuff anytime - cheaper too. My must-do is to buy the $1 hot dog and load it with lots of their sweet mustard which they supply for free (other places charge). Fresh bun, tasty hot dog for that price - cannot ask for more.

Ambience: No need to visit Sweden, Norway or Denmark, just spend the day there. The aircon is cold enough to remind you of N Europe in winter. Enjoy the neat tables and chairs, everything is white (remember they do not get enough sun in Scandinavia) to reflect the sunlight from the large windows. I wish I could get a hand on the service tray trolleys with wheels to push around the food, it is so happening and new. Many many people, queuing and rushing for food - pointing and grabbing on this day, a Sunday.

Value: Hotel prices, don't expect coffee shop prices - someone needs to pay for the tables, chairs, aircon and tray trolleys. If broke, just eat the $1 hot dogs and spray on double the mustard to fill your stomach. Buy 2 to be extra full.

Service: DIY, cleaners are slow.