Ikea - Dartmouth

Believe it or not, my favorite part of IKEA is their cafeteria-style dining area. I love the wall of artificial plants you see as soon as you walk into the café, along with the large light fixtures and the stunning view of Dartmouth. This location is truly spectacular, and now I understand why they chose it. The cafeteria system can be a little confusing, but if you just follow the line, you'll figure it out. You have a variety of items to choose from as you make your way through. You start with desserts and cold dishes, then drinks, and finally the hot food area. They serve a veggie ball plate that includes sweet white rice and delicious vegan meatballs with curry sauce. I’ve had this twice now, and I absolutely love it. It costs just $6.99 for the plate, and it's completely vegan. They also offer pasta marinara, a green salad, and fruit salad as other vegan options, along with $1 fountain drinks that come with free refills. Their drink selection is unique and clever; they offer sweetened cola with stevia, lingonberry juice, and flavored sparkling waters. On the ground floor, after you pass through the checkout, there’s a smaller café and a food section where you can buy Swedish food products. They sell the veggie balls in a frozen bag for $8.99, but there aren't many other vegan options besides their juices and a few random items. As for negatives: they do use real cowhide covers, which is sad and unnecessary. Also, the concrete floors can be hard on the feet, especially if you suffer from chronic pain like I do. However, that’s typical of most shopping centers and retail stores.

Sooooo nice to be able to pop in for a quick meal again AND enjoy easily one of the best views over Halifax. Choose from desserts and main meals including their famous Swedish meatballs or salmon with potato leek medallions (delish! ... and they even have poutine! Trust me you'll need the energy to make it through the entire store from top to bottom!

Nice for a quick bite, they seem to use their products so it's a great way to test the foods before buying products and yea hubby was won over with the Swedish meatballs, bought 2 packages . Staff is friendly and polite. Eating area is clean , love having tables at the windows, nice view.

Went with a 6 and 9 year old they where very entertained by the displays. We had ordered the main things we wanted in advance to ensure they weren't out of stock. Staff were great very helpful with loading. Great quality stuff and it's always good to know I can get more matching furniture in the future.

A very lovely spot for lunch during the week. It's not overly crowded, offers a nice view, and the staff is fantastic. Plus, the food is delicious and includes vegetarian options.