Reykjavík Grapevine - 15.08.2008, Side 50

Food & Drink | Venue finder
Aktu Taktu
Skúlugata 15 | K8
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 | E5
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 | I8
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.
Austurlanda-
hraðlestin
Hverfisgata 64A | H7
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
side for those who
choose to dine in.
Á Næstu Grösum
Laugavegur 20B | G7
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 | F6
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
| G8
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 | E6
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 | G6
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 | E6
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 | J9
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 |
D6/E6
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 | F7
The elegantly deco-
rated Domo serves
delicious French-Asian
cuisine, excellent sushi
and has a great wine
list. A sure choice.
Eldsmiðjan
Bragagata 38A | G9
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 | D6
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 | F9
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 | D6
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 | G7
“Ecstasy’s Heart” is
a simple, friendly,
family-run vegetarian
restaurant on Klap-
parstígur. Offers an
ever-changing menu
of specials and soup
du jours, alongside a
basic menu
Grái Kötturinn
Hverfisgata 16A | G7
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
Restaurant
Vesturgata 6-8 | D5
This Chinese restau-
rant 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 |
E5/E6
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 | D5
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 | D6
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 | E6
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
| F7
Housing Iceland´s
most renowned res-
taurant, The Gallery, an
evening here is an un-
forgettable experience.
Delicious French-
inspired cuisine and
fine wines await.
Humarshúsið
Ammtmanstígur 1
| E7
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 | E6
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 | E5
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 | H8
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.
Where:
Austurstræti 4 (E6)
101 Reykjavik
Tel: 5510292
How much:
1.000 – 3.000 ISK
What we think:
It may be a very British thing to grab a
lager, a curry and then head to a football
match. However, an Indian restaurant
in Iceland feels like home away from
home, because Indian food is second
to none in the UK. We arrived at 6pm
before the just-got-off-work crowd –
perfect for combing the menu and not
feeling rushed. My mouth knew what
it wanted, something tangy but not too
hot. My banker friend made a much
more assured choice, plumping for the
excellent Murgh Mango Maza. Like
Romeo and Juliet coming together in
a dish, chicken and mango was a great
combination. Mmm. Economical with
his palette too, my guest ordered the
Peshwari Nan Bread, and the raisins
and coconut stayed on the right side of
sweet.
I went with a Lamb Gosht Jaipuru,
which to quote the menu is: “Lamb
cooked in a blend of capsicum, onions,
ginger, garlic, and fresh green chillies,
simmered in exotic Jaipuri spices.” It’s
like reading a well-written blurb of a
novel, hoping it lives up to expectations.
Here, it did. I was foaming at the mouth
before the ingredients even hit the pan,
The unblemished service involved the
waitress taking the order and helping
the chef cook it. When she’s on Nan
duty, it is similar to the satisfaction of
seeing your pizza dough rolled, or your
pancake f lipped. Viewing the chilli and
coriander sprinkled on the bread is
just too much. She would have been on
cleaning-up-drool duty, if I hadn’t have
focused on something else like my Co-
bra beer.
The new chef at Shalimar has just
arrived from London. He changes the
lunchtime menu daily and the restau-
rant is already an established midday
institution. Shalimar steps up a gear
in the evening though, and the com-
prehensive fixed menu means you can
spoil yourself silly with the wide choice.
So we headed to the match, patting our
wide bellies, gratified.
Food
shalimar
B10 | The Reykjavík Grapevine | Issue 12 2008
Eating
Reviewed by Marcus Walsh — Photo by Valdís Thor
6 E6
we bring the o to sush
O s u s h i L æ k j a r g a t a 2 a Og B o r g a r t ú n 2 9 I S í m i : 5 6 1 0 5 6 2