Reykjavík Grapevine - 19.06.2009, Blaðsíða 28

F D
For your mind, body and soul
Food & Drink | Venue finder
3 Frakkar
Baldursgata 14 | F9
Aktu Taktu
Skúlugata 15 | K8
American Style
Tryggvagata 26 | E5
Argentína Steak-
house
Barónstígur | I8
Austurlanda-
hraðlestin
Hverfisgata 64A | H7
Á Næstu Grösum
Laugavegur 20B | G7
B5
Bankastræti 5 | F6
Basil & Lime
Klapparstíg 38 | G7
Babalú
Skólavörðustígur 22A
| G8
Balthazar
Hafnarstræti 1-3 |
D6/E6
Bæjarins Beztu
Tryggvagata | E6
Brons
Pósthússtræti 9 | E6
Café Cultura
Hverfisgata 18 | G6
Café Loki
Lokastígur 28 | G9
Café Paris
Austurstræti 14 | E6
Café Roma
Rauðarárstígur 8 | J9
Domo
Þingholtsstræti 5 | F7
Einar Ben
Veltusundi | E6
Eldsmiðjan
Bragagata 38A | G9
Fiskmarkaðurinn
Aðalstræti 12 | D6
Geysir Bar/Bistro
Aðalstræti 2 | D6
Garðurinn
Klappastigur 37 | G7
Glætan book café
Laugavegur 19 | F5
Grái Kötturinn
Hverfisgata 16A | G7
Grillhúsið
Tryggvagata 20 | E5/
E6
Habibi
Hafnarstræti 20 | D5
Hamborgarabúlla
Tómasar (“Bullan”)
Geirsgata 1 | D5
Hlölla Bátar
Ingólfstorg | D6
Hornið
Hafnarstræti 15 | E6
Hótel Holt
Bergstaðarstræti 37
| F7
Humarshúsið
Ammtmanstígur 1 | E7
Hressó
Austurstræti 20 | E6
Icelandic
Fish & Chips
Tryggvagata 8 | E5
Jómfrúin
Lækjargata 4 | E6
Kaffi Hljómalind
Laugavegur 21 | G7
Kaffitár
Bankastræti 8 | F6
Kaffivagninn
Grandagarður 10
| D1
Kebabhúsið
Austurstræti 2 | E6
Kofi Tómasar
Frænda
Laugavegur 2 | F7
Krua Thai
Tryggvagata 14 | D5
La Primavera
Austurstræti 9 | E6
Lystin
Laugavegur 73 | H7
Mokka
Skólavörðustígur 3A
| F7
Nonnabiti
Hafnarstræti 9 | E6
O Sushi
Lækjargata 2A | E6
Pisa
Lækjargötu 6b | E6
Pizza King
Hafnarstræti 18 | E6
Pizza Pronto
Vallarstræti 4 | D6
Pizzaverksmiðjan
Lækjargötu 8 | E6
Prikið
Bankastræti 12 | F6
Ráðhúskaffi | D7
Tjarnargata 11
Santa Maria
Laugavegur 22A, | F7
Segafredo
Lækjatorg | E6
Serrano
Hringbraut 12 | I3

Shalimar
Austurstræti 4 | E6
Silfur
Pósthússtræti 11 | E6
Sjávarkjallarinn
Aðalstræti 2 | D6
Sólon
Bankastræti 7a | F6
Sushibarinn
Laugavegur 2 | F7
Svarta Kaffi
Laugavegur 54 | H8
Sægreifinn
Verbuð 8, Geirsgata
| D5
Tapas
Vesturgata 3B | D5
Thorvaldsen
Austurstræti 8 | E6
Tíu Dropar
Laugavegur 27 | G7
Tívolí
Laugavegur 3 | F7
Vegamót
Vegamótastígur 4
| G7
Við Tjörnina
Templarasund 3 | E7
Vitabar
Bergþórugata 21 |
H9
My initial thought after dining at
freshman healthy food joint Saffran
was to write that single unintelligible
line and leave it at that. The food was
so superbly prepared and shockingly
delicious that I feared my words would
not do it justice.
Saffran was packed to the rafters
when my lunch date and I arrived.
The friendly chatter of happy diners
f loated up to the high ceilings, filling
the bright and airy space with an
ambiance of welcoming akin to that
found at a large, noisy family gathering
where everybody is happy to see each
other and to be feasting on the spoils of
grandma’s most prized secret recipes.
You can tell a lot about a place based
on how happy its patrons sound whilst
eating and these were some satisfied
customers. Despite the high demand,
the counter staff was pleasant and
polite, taking orders in a smooth and
efficient manner.
This being my virgin voyage to
Saffran, I opted for the cornerstone of
the menu – the Saffran chicken and
red onion on a spear (1.430 ISK) from
the Tandoori menu, described as “the
star and the reason why this place was
born.” My dining companion chose the
Arabian naanwich (750 ISK), stuffed
with shawarma chicken, yogurt-garlic
sauce, mixed salad and shiraz salad
(diced tomatoes, cucumber and red
onion). We also ordered the naan with
coconut, raisins and walnuts (170 ISK)
to share.
Our orders were brought
out rather quickly and were nicely
presented. The chicken tandoori
was served atop brown rice and
accompanied by a sizeable spread of
fresh, crisp greens topped with shiraz
salad, and a dish of cool, fresh yogurt
sauce. One bite of this exquisitely
moist, perfectly spiced chicken, set off
by the refreshingly tangy yogurt, lead
me to exclaim (inwardly, since I had
a mouthful of food and my manners
are top-notch) “this is the best chicken
I’ve ever tasted!” – a sentiment echoed
verbally by my date, whose help I
implored to finish the ample serving.
Seriously, it was so complexly rich and
f lavourful that one would be a fool to
simply say, “it tastes like chicken.”
The naanwich was halved on
the diagonal, exposing its fillings,
and was sided by fresh yogurt sauce
and a tomato-chili sembal. It was the
perfect serving size for lunch and was
delicious. The naan wrap was soft and
fresh and the f lavours of the shawarma
melded beautifully with the fresh
veggies. It tasted crisp and healthy but
was anything but boring.
Then there’s the naan with
coconut, raisins and walnuts. When we
were presented with a small side-plate
framing a solitary and miniscule circle
of naan, glistening with an unknown
sauce, my date and I were admittedly
disappointed – coconuts, raisins and
walnuts are a f lavour combination
that we were eager to try and what was
presented to us was a visual let-down.
However, after one bite I was ashamed
for my momentary doubt and almost
felt as though I owed the naan my
most sincere of apologies. The coconut
f lavour was sublimely subtle, the
raisins and walnuts complimented it
deliciously and the sticky syrup that
bathed the naan was sweet but not
sickeningly so.
I really cannot write enough
about this dinning experience. I
implore everybody to get themselves
to Saffran post haste and taste their
offerings firsthand. It is my intention
to sample more of this promising
menu, which opts-out of such
nutritional red f lags as white-wheat
and sugar, very soon. With everything
reasonably priced between 700
and 1500 ISK (less for naan) it will
definitely be my pleasure!
-CATHARINE FULTON
Go to Saffran – NOW!
Wowohmygawdthatwasf’ingincredible!
R E V I E W S
Saffran
Álfheimum 74 (Glæsibær)
What we think:
Wowohmygawdthatwasf’ingincredible
http://saffran.is/
PRICE AROUND
BIG PORTION
1.100 - 1.400 ISK
OPENING HOURS
Daily from
11:30 - 20:30
Weekends from
11:30 - 20:30
OVER
COUR
SES50
RESTAURANTTHAI
www.nudluhusid.is
LAUGAVEGI 59
Lækjargötu 2a. / Borgartúni 29. tel. 561 0562
200 kr.
250 kr.
300 kr.
375 kr.
400 kr.
350 kr.
275 kr.
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