Reykjavík Grapevine - 02.07.2008, Blaðsíða 42

Food & Drink | Venue finder
Aktu Taktu
Skúlugata 15
This drive-in destina-
tion in 101 Reykjavík
is busy day and night
and the burgers are
especially tasty. The
caramel shakes are a
local favorite.
American Style
Tryggvagata 26
With a soft bun and
lots of veggies, you
can settle into a booth
and eat for hours. Big
portions for authentic
American dining.
Argentína Steak-
house
Barónstígur
True to its name with
tender steaks and
flamingly vibrant South
American décor. Gen-
erous portions, fine
wine, liqueurs and ci-
gars make an excellent
choice in fine dining.
Austurlandahrað-
lestin
Hverfisgata 64A
Though a bit expensive
for take-away, it is well
worth it for a spicy bite
of this Indian cuisine. A
few tables to the sine
for those who choose
to dine in.
Á Næstu Grösum
Laugavegur 20B
Regarded by many to
be the best vegetarian
place in town, “First
Vegetarian” offers
a healthy and tasty
menu of vegetarian
and vegan dishes. In-
dian theme on Fridays
a hit.
B5
Bankastræti 5
By day a chic little
bistro with good food
and a prime location
for Laugavegur people
watching - by night
a stylish bar with a
“whiskey room” and
manhattanesque
clientele.
Babalú
Skólavörðustígur 22A
It’s tough to miss café
Babalú walking up
Skólavörðustigur. A
cozy place for coffee
and cake, the well-
worn, homey ambience
makes it difficult to
leave.
Bæjarins Beztu
Tryggvagata
The oldest fast-food in
Iceland, it is feasibly
the best hot dog stand
in Europe. Don’t be
intimidated by the
perpetual line in front
– an absolute must and
worth the wait.
Café Cultura
Hverfisgata 18
Situated in the inter-
cultural centre, Cultura
is a café/bar with a
cosmopolitan feel. The
menu features all sorts
of international dishes,
alongside the staple
salad and sandwich.
Café Paris
Austurstræti 14
With an outdoor ter-
race, this café gets
busy on sunny days.
With a cosy interior,
fine menu and atten-
tive service, it makes a
fine spot for evening
dining as well.
Café Roma
Rauðarárstígur 8
Roma, an Italian deli
and café offers a va-
riety of breads, soups
as well as tempting
desserts. For a good
bargain, come at
lunchtime for the
specials.
Café Victor
Hafnarstræti 1-3
A hangout for older
foreigners, Victor at-
tracts a diverse crowd,
both in age and origin,
a rule that extends to
the musicians that play
there.
Domo
Þingholtsstræti 5
The brand-new, el-
egantly decorated
Domo serves delicious
French-Asian cuisine,
excellent sushi and
has a great wine list. A
sure choice.
Eldsmiðjan
Bragagata 38A
Totally satisfying
oven-baked pizza
with a wide choice of
toppings - snails an
unusual specialty. Well
worth the cost. Order,
take away or eat
comfortably among the
paintings.
Fiskmarkaðurinn
Aðalstræti 12
Run and co-owned by
the national team of
chefs, this establish-
ment specializing in
Japanese cuisine has
everything planned to
the last detail, ensur-
ing a relaxing evening.
3 Frakkar
Baldursgata 14
A seriously Icelandic
atmosphere and tradi-
tional Icelandic dishes
prepared in the good
old-fashioned way.
RSVP and keep your
ears pricked for wild
whaling tales!
Geysir Bar/Bistro
Aðalstræti 2
Situated in the digni-
fied Geysir Building at
the corner of Vestur-
gata and Aðalstræti,
this stylish bistro is
always a good place to
grab a tasty bite for a
reasonable price.
Garðurinn
Klappastigur 37
“Ecstasy’s Heart” is
a simple, friendly,
family-run vegetarian
restaurant on Klap-
parstigur. Offers an
ever-changing menu
of specials and soup
du jours, alongside a
basic menu
Grái Kötturinn
Hverfisgata 16A
Legendary for its early
opening ours, the Gray
Cat serves amazing
breakfasts and coffee
that packs a wallop. A
splendid way to start
you off on your day.
Great Wall Restau-
rant
Vesturgata 6-8
This new Chinese res-
taurant features a stag-
gering 100+ dishes in
traditional Szechuan,
Peking and Cantonese
styles. Great service
and good food make
this one a fine choice.
Grillhúsið
Tryggvagata 20
With a menu of rea-
sonably priced home-
style food, Grillhúsið
has satiated hungry
regulars since 1994
with juicy burgers,
sandwiches, steaks
and fish dishes.
Hamborgarabúlla
Tómasar (“Bullan”)
Geirsgata 1
Considered by some
to be the best real
hamburger in Reyk-
javík, “Bullan” does
serve some mysteri-
ously delicious burgers,
guaranteed to take the
edge off any hangover.
Hlölla Bátar
Ingólfstorg
The first sub sandwich
shop in Iceland, Hlölla
Bátar has a large
selection of creatively
named sandwiches
with equally imagina-
tive contents. Good for
an adventurous bite.
Hornið
Hafnarstræti 15
Since 1979, this Italian
restaurant has been
a longtime Reykjavík
staple. Famous for its
pizza and stuffed cal-
zones, it proudly offers
an affordable menu of
high-quality dishes
Hótel Holt
Bergstaðarstræti 37
Housing Iceland´s
most renowned res-
taurant, The Gallery,
an evening here is an
unforgettable experi-
ence. Delicious French-
inspired cuisine and
fine wines await.
Humarshúsið
Ammtmanstígur 1
One of the oldest res-
taurants in the country,
the lobster house is
known of course for
its lobster and also
its impressive cognac
lounge. Fine intimate
dining.
Hressó
Austurstræti 20
With a spacious
neutral interior and
a varied lunch menu,
Hressó attracts no
specific type of crowd.
Tap beer and music
makes a fair hangout
on weekends.
Icelandic Fish &
Chips
Tryggvagata 8
Not your average
fish’n’chips joint, but
a healthy restaurant
using only organic
vegetables and qual-
ity fish products. The
spiced skyr side a
special treat.
Indian Mango
Frakkarstígur 12
Specializing in deli-
cious dishes from the
Goa region of India,
honed to perfection in
the owner’s period as
head chef at the Four
Seasons. Incredible
service as well as food.
Jómfrúin
Lækjargata 4
These days, good
Smörrebröd can be an
elusive delicacy. Lucky
for us out in the colo-
nies, it’s alive and well
at Jómfrúin with fresh
eel imported specially
from Denmark.
Kaffi Hljómalind
Laugavegur 21
This organic, free-trade
café prides itself not
only on great lunches
and food but being a
strong cultural center,
hosting live music as
well as lectures and
poetry nights.
Kaffitár
Bankastræti 8
Kaffitár celebrates
good coffee, and
serves it in abundance,
along with sweet
treats and tasty if pricy
special blends. Eat in
or to go, a great way
to enjoy your morning
boost.
Kaffivagninn
Grandagarður 10
By the harbor, this
lunch and coffee place
is a gathering place for
all sorts of tough folks.
If you want traditional
Icelandic food, a great
place to see another
side of Reykjavík.
Kofi Tómasar Frændu
Laugavegur 2
Nestled in a basement
location, Uncle Tom´s
Cabin has the feeling
of a back-alley London
Café. On weekends it
becomes a happening
and diverse bar.
Krua Thai
Tryggvagata 14
We dare you to find
a better meal for the
same price anywhere
else. Every dish is
delicious. Just eat what
looks best to you on
their colorful menu.
La Primavera
Austurstræti 9
Though it sounds
strange, La Primavera
serves delicious tra-
ditional North Italian
cuisine using only local
produce. A startlingly
tasty combination and
a local favorite.
Mokka
Skólavörðustígur 3A
Operating since 1958,
Mokka is the city
center´s oldest cof-
fee joint and founder
of Icelandic coffee
culture. Regular art ex-
hibits are always worth
a look.
Nonnabiti
Hafnarstræti 9
“Nonna” is one of
the more popular
junk-food places in
town, renowned for
its greasy sandwiches
and its unique Nonni-
sauce. Open late for a
midnight cravings.
O Sushi
Lækjargata 2A
Also called “The
Train”, O Sushi’s most
intriguing feature is
a conveyor belt that
runs around the entire
restaurant delivering
a buffet of authentic
sushi straight to your
table.
Pizza King
Hafnarstræti 18
This little place serves
not only the cheap-
est but largest slices
downtown. A local fa-
vorite, and open until 6
on Friday and Saturday
nights.
Pizza Pronto
Vallarstræti 4
With a convenient
location and late hours,
a good place to snack
in between bars. Three
sizes of pizza with
a good selection of
toppings. A cheap, if
unhealthy, choice.
Prikið
Bankastræti 12
Part of the Reykjavík
bar scene for decades,
this café/bar has a
fairly cheap menu and
attracts a mix of stu-
dents and old regulars.
Mostly R&B and Hip-
Hop on weekends.
Raðhúskaffi
Tjarnargata 11
Located in the City
Hall with a great view
of the pond, this café
has a good selection
of pastries and a good
place to relax. Regular
art exhibits add to the
aesthetic.
Sægreifinn
Verbuð 8, Geirsgata
Right next to the
harbor, Sægrefinn fish
shop is like none other
in the country. With a
diverse fish selection,
exquisite lobster soup
and good service, an
absolute must-try.
Segafredo
Lækjatorg
The Italian coffee chain
makes its way to Læk-
jatorg Square, bringing
strong espresso and
Italian lunch snacks
to grab on the way to
work or just to enjoy
on the spot.
Shalimar
Austurstræti 4
Shalimar sports the
conceit of being the
northernmost Indian
restaurant in the world
and has fine daily spe-
cials. We recommend
the quite addictive
chicken tikka masala.
Sjávarkjallarinn
Aðalstræti 2
Elegant Seafood Cellar
focuses on gourmet
seafood and tantalizing
asian-fusion dishes.
Share the exotic menu,
courses selected by
the chef, with a friend
for the most fun.
Sólon
Bankastræti 7a
Truly a jack-of-all
trades establishment.
By night a decent res-
taurant, by day a café/
bistro and on Friday
and Saturday nights a
nightclub. Art exhibi-
tions on the walls to
top it off.
Sushibarinn
Laugavegur 2
Deceptively ordinary
Sushibarinn has
recently become the
talk of the town among
Reykjavík sushi lovers,
serving, in our opinion,
the very best rolls
in city.
Svarta Kaffi
Laugavegur 54
A cosy second floor
café, their fame lies
partly in their tasty
Súpa í Brauði (Soup
in Bread) and also in
their romantic atmo-
sphere. Good for a few
early evening drinks.
Tapas
Vesturgata 3B
For those with a bit
of money and time to
spare, Tapas serves
course after course of
delightful miniature
dishes. Also serves
tasty and unusually af-
fordable lobster.
Thorvaldsen
Austurstræti 8
Dress formally for this
fancy spot, and come
before 12 to avoid a
long line. DJs play
Thursdays, Fridays and
Saturdays.
Tíu Dropar
Laugavegur 27
An old-fashioned café
with warm atmosphere
and generous coffee
refills. A thoroughly
pleasant establishment.
Tjarnarbakkinn
Vonarstræti 3
Right above the Iöno
theater, an ideal place
to go before shows.
Nice views of the pond
and outdoor dining in
the summertime. The
lamb comes especially
recommended.
Vegamót
Vegamótastígur 4
Vegamót´s kitchen is
open until 22.00 daily
and sports an appeal-
ing lunch menu. Come
for a tasty brunch on
weekends. If you like
Óliver, try Vegamót
and vice versa.
Við Tjörnina
Templarasund 3
A Reykjavík classic
with menu exclusively
of traditional cuisine,
as frequented by tour-
ists as it is by locals. A
perfect opportunity to
try Icelandic delicacies.
Vitabar
Bergþórugata 21
Really a bar, but best
known for its ham-
burgers. Burger and
fries for 500 one of
the best deals in town,
but Forget-Me-Not
blue cheese and Garlic
Extravaganza are alse
winners.
Vor
Laugavegur 24
Though perhaps a
typical off-lobby res-
taurant/bar/café, don’t
let it fool you! It’s run
by an award-winning
chef and has a tip-top
menu - a wonderful
culinary experience.
What:
vantar
Where:
Snorrabraut 29
105 Reykjavík
Tel.: 511 3032
How much:
vantar
What:
vantar
Where:
Hafnarstétt 9
640 Húsavík
Tel.: 464 2442
How much:
vantar
Studio 29 is a block a way from
Hlemmur, just over the line
when the colorful tin houses fa-
miliar to 101 slowly give way to
anonymous concrete buildings,
more reminiscent of Eastern
Europe than central Reykjavík.
That said, Studio 29 (and its af-
filiate, the Fourth Floor Hotel)
does its darndest to escape the
encroaching dinginess. With a
glass façade and numerous signs
inviting you inward in for refuge
from the architectural doldrums
around you.
Inside, the modern décor
strives to push Studio 29 as far
as it can towards real restaurant-
hood (turns out it’s just a buffet
and bar). They had a modest se-
lection of cake and sandwiches
to take away, a small salad bar,
two kinds of soup, and hot dish-
es under a heat lamp. They all
looked well, if not particularly
fresh. With the intent to dine in,
I picked a meal that included a
salad, soup and main course all
for 1400 ISK.
The salad bar offered a small,
yet mysteriously eclectic choice
of items, which were surpris-
ingly difficult to arrange into a
salad and not that fresh. I chose
the traditional Icelandic lamb
soup with rice, carrots and peas,
which came highly recommend-
ed. It was simple and pleasing,
if thoroughly wilted, having
sat simmering in that pot for
hours.
I tried both main courses,
two vaguely Asian dishes:
noodles with chicken, peppers
and cabbage, and stewed beef
with mushrooms and peppers
meant to be put over rice. The
beef dish was heavily salted and
stewing in its juices all day, the
mushrooms were indistinguish-
able from the peppers from the
beef. The noodles were thickly
oily, and again the peppers and
cabbage provided little variation
in f lavor. I ate no more of these
dishes than I had to.
Studio 29, having just
opened in March, is self-admit-
tedly in a transitional stage. As
the months press on, it hopes to
make steps in becoming a real
restaurant, and a spot for fine
dining recognized outside the
hotel. However despite how very
much it tries, Studio 29 is yet a
completely unremarkable dining
experience. You could try again
in a year - maybe this place will
have finally found some vigor.

Flag poles and ticket booths of
the fiercely competing whale
watching tour operators sur-
round Gamli Baukur in the
harbour of Húsavík. Not only is
this café-bar-restaurant combo
conveniently located for whale
watchers, but also it is just about
the only option for a prepared
meal in town and the surround-
ing area. With this in mind,
Gamli Baukur could probably
serve almost anything and still
have people pouring in.
The menu combines the usu-
al soup, salad, pizza and burgers
with some more ambitious por-
tions of local specialties such
as seafood, lamb and reindeer -
enough to suit starving travelers
and the culinary inclined alike.
We had hamburgers; (Ham-
borgari Bauksins, 1390 ISK each)
Instead of the greasy stereotype
we were positively surprised by
the luxury model consisting of
200 grams of 100% beef - deli-
cious, perfectly pink in color;
meat handpicked from a farmer
just a stone’s throw away and a
pile of other genius things like
arugula, red onion and pepper
cheese in between a home baked
bun. Our burgers were preceded
by freshly baked bread and self-
made pesto and accompanied
by potato wedges and self-made,
oh-so-smooth ketchup - it was
beautiful, really. And, there was
no lack in the quantity depart-
ment either: “I don’t know if I
ever need or want to eat again”
my date expressed of the post
meal mood, himself known for
his talent in consuming large
amounts.
The eye for detail exercised
in the kitchen by the Alabama-
born, Akureyri-raised chef Mar-
tin Marlin Kelley continued in
the beautifully set dinner table
by what could have been the best
view in town. The house, en-
tirely built of driftwood from the
nearby coastlines was candle-lit
and decorated with a collection
of nautical equipment (think
iceberg lights and ship’s wheels),
provided a cozy setting for the
burger fiesta, never mind the
“spring weather”.
All in all it was an unexpect-
ed delight to find a place like
Gamli Baukur in the tiny North-
ern town of Húsavík. They serve
excellent food prepared without
shortcuts and from a scratch,
(yes, the ketchup…but also ice
cream, pasta and the like), using
local and seasonal ingredients
like any other trendy place any-
where in the world, not to men-
tion the attractive price-quality
ratio. The overall experience
begs the question; why aren’t
there more places like this along
the routes of a traveler in this
country?
Food
studio 29
Food
gamli Baukur
B10 | The Reykjavík Grapevine | Issue 08 2008
Food reviews
Reviewed by Nathaniel Keegan Reviewed by Sari Peltonen
* ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** *