Dining out: IKEA restaurant

DRAPER — Ladies, I have the perfect lure to get your reluctant husbands into IKEA.

Meatballs. Tasty, cheap meatballs. And a lot of 'em.

And the best part is, the restaurant at IKEA is located on the top floor of the mazelike store, so you'll have to lead your fella past bins of AKUT (three-piece kitchen-utensil set, 59¢), hanging NESSANE (mirror with etched edging, $39.99) and row upon row of BILLY (bookcase systems starting at $49).

Sure, he might grumble at first. But once you reach the spacious, white-on-white restaurant and the aroma of those meatballs comes drifting out, he'll quiet right down. Those crafty folks at IKEA keep the product demos coming all during the meal, so as he's scarfing meatballs, he'll also be road-testing IKEA products.

My friend Gaylynn and I held a husband-luring strategy session at the IKEA restaurant on a recent weekday, six kids in tow.

The kids were happy, having just spent an hour watching movies, climbing walls and playing games in Smaland, IKEA's free baby-sitting area (for those small fry who are both potty-trained and between 37 and 54 inches tall). They got even happier when they saw the huge glossy photos of the macaroni and cheese, PB&J and meatballs that are the children's menu.

We adults weren't so happy when we saw the line, which, at that lunchtime hour, resembled the line for Space Mountain at Disneyland. However, it moved along smartly, and within a few minutes we were picking up our trays at the cafeteria-style serving area.

Just as we were wondering how we'd be able to carry all the trays we'd need for two adults and six kids, a magical solution appeared in the form of a cart provided by the restaurant that carries three trays and is light enough for my 9-year-old to push.

That's only one of the family-friendly touches around this place. The most expensive kids meal, which includes Swedish meatballs, fries and a drink, is $1.99. You can get a plate of mac and cheese and a drink for, I swear, 99 cents.

There's a clean family restroom nearby, unlimited refills on fountain beverages (which includes tart, noncarbonated lingonberry juice) and all the kids meals are served using plastic KALAS (sets of bowls, plates, cups and utensils for six, $1.99 each). There are tons of highchairs (ANTILOP chair with safety belt, $18.99) and an entire wall of booster seats.

Gaylynn, who is good at discipline, had a premade chicken caesar salad with tender, juicy chicken — and the salad was more green and crisp than many that are fresh-made.