Reykjavík Grapevine - 05.12.2008, Page 18

Food & Drink | Venue finder
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!
Af lífi og sál
Restaurant
Laugavegi 55b | H7
A high street backyard
restaurant where the
menu changes every
night, so who knows
what´s for dinner? But
serving such dishes as
grilled dolphin, bac-
calao and kangaroo,
you can´t go wrong by
dropping by for lunch
or dinner.
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 loca-
tion 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.
Brons
Pósthússtræti 9 | E6
Called a bistro, but
more a restaurant
in quality, Brons is
settled in the place of
former popular Café
Kaffibrennslan. Brons
focuses on mediter-
ranian cuisine and is
famous for serving
dishes that are as
large as they are deli-
cious.
Café Cultura
Hverfisgata 18 | G6
Cultura is a café/bar
with a party feel. The
menu features all sorts
of international dishes,
alongside the staple
salad and sandwich.
Café Loki
Lokastígur 28 | G9
With a splendid view
of Hallgrímskirkja, Café
Loki is the perfect
place to take a load
off your feet and enjoy
some solid homemade
Icelandic food.
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 for-
eigners, Victor attracts
a diverse crowd, both
in age and origin, a rule
that extends to the mu-
sicians 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.
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.
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.
Habibi
Hafnarstræti 20 | D5
A reliable source of
high quality shawarma
and falafel. Important
ingredient for success-
ful living.
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:
Lækjartorg
101 Reykjavík
How much:
Free
What we think:
Give this gesture
of goodwill a try.
An alternative restaurant every Saturday
between 1pm and 5pm would be “Make
food not Bombs” which for the past few
weeks, in conjunction with the parlia-
mentary protests, has been called “Make
Food not Governments.” The group is
an ever-changing political demonstra-
tion, depending on their shared political
opinions and current issues affecting the
world. The original organisation started
in America, to protest capital income the
government received from produce such
as food, which was used for making arms
for the military. Recently The Peace house
has been used to prepare the meals, which
in itself was created in protest against the
NATO base and an army here in Iceland.
All meals cooked are vegan and sever-
al dishes are prepared every week: stews,
salads, rice, pasta, roasted vegetables etc.
However, the food arranged depends on
the people who are volunteering on the
day, and what they decide to make when
they see what food has been gathered or
donated by the supermarkets, the bakery,
farmers and restaurants.
The food donated is considered to be un-
sellable because it has a short “shelf life,”
as they say in supermarket terms, and will
not last long in the home. Or in the farm-
ers’ case, they cannot sell some produce
that will not have much of a shelf life in
the supermarket, so it is kindly donated
to the organization. All the food is cooked
one or two days after being collected,
hence little time has been left for the food
to go bad.
One volunteer whose son also par-
ticipates said, “Everyone helps for their
own reasons, you take your own meaning
from the protest.” It would seem that a
consistent theme throughout the organi-
sation’s protests is to be aware of your sur-
roundings and not to merely accept what
the public is told. This is good advice in
any circumstance. So whether you agree
with the politics, don’t believe in wasting
food, or just would like to share in a good,
healthy meal downtown on a Saturday, I
would strongly recommend coming down
and trying the meals, or even consider
participating if you feel inspired to share
your culinary skills with Reykjavík.
18 | The Reykjavík Grapevine | Issue 18 2008
Eating
Reviewed by Richard Foley — Photo by Jói Kjartans
and a delicios lobster
at Fjörubordid in Stokkseyri
by the sea
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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
Food
Make Food not BoMBs
1 E6