Reykjavík Grapevine - 05.12.2008, Qupperneq 19

Jómfrúin
Lækjargata 4 | E6
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 | G7
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 | F6
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
| D1
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.
Kebabhúsið
Austurstræti 2 | E6
The name says it all,
really.
Kofi Tómasar
Frændu
Laugavegur 2 | F7
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 | D5
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 | E6
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.
Lystin
Laugavegur 73 | H7
Specialising in icelan-
dic ingredients, cooked
in a fusion of Asian
and French cuisine.
Mokka
Skólavörðustígur 3A
| F7
Operating since 1958,
Mokka is the city
center´s oldest cof-
fee joint and founder
of Icelandic coffee
culture. Regular art
exhibits are always
worth a look.
Nonnabiti
Hafnarstræti 9 | E6
“Nonni” 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 | E6
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 | E6
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 | D6
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.
Pizzaverksmiðjan
Lækjargötu 8 | E6
Some say, these guys
are making the best
Pizza in town. You
will have to find out
yourself. However they
have the most original
menu written on the
wall and the Pesto
Pizza is outstanding!
Prikið
Bankastræti 12 | F6
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 | D7
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.
Santa Maria
Laugavegur 22A, | F7
Authentic Mexican
food, directly from the
stove of the owner’s
mother, who is an
authentic Mexican.
Served with a healthy
distaste for anything
texmex. Also the best
quality/price ratio in
town with every dish
under 1000 ISK.
Segafredo
Lækjatorg | E6
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 | E6
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.
Silfur
Pósthússtræti 11 | E6
Extravagant upscale
restaurant situated in
the Hotel Borg. The
new French style
cuisine is brought
by professional and
friendly service, you
get a selection of fin-
est wines and you can
choose from an exotic
and excellent menu –
assumed that you can
afford the not less
extravagant prices.
Sjávarkjallarinn
Aðalstræti 2 | D6
Elegant Seafood Cellar
focuses on gourmet
seafood and tantaliz-
ing asian-fusion dishes.
Share the exotic menu,
courses selected by
the chef, with a friend
for the most fun.
Sólon
Bankastræti 7a | F6
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 | F7
Deceptively ordinary
Sushibarinn has re-
cently become the talk
of the town among
Reykjavík sushi lovers,
serving, in our opinion,
the very best rolls
in city.
Svarta Kaffi
Laugavegur 54 | H8
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.
Sægreifinn
Verbuð 8, Geirsgata
| D5
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.
Tapas
Vesturgata 3B | D5
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 | E6
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 | G7
An old-fashioned café
with warm atmosphere
and generous coffee
refills. A thoroughly
pleasant establishment.
Tívolí
Laugavegur 3 | F7
A stylish bistro with a
wide variety of selec-
tions and positively
charming atmosphere.
Tjarnarbakkinn
Vonarstræti 3 | D7
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
| G7
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 | E7
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 | H9
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.
Where:
Hótel Saga v/ Hagatorg
How much:
5.900 ISK
What we think:
Good ol’fashion julefrukost,
minus some personal
favourites.
Julefrukost, or Christmas buffet, is a
time honoured Scandinavian Christmas
tradition that has grown very popular
in Iceland in recent decades. In the old
days, before Christmas became a cel-
ebration of consumerism, the extended
family would gather to feast on every
conceivable (or perhaps available) good
course they could think of, knowing full
well that eating good food is the focal
point of any good celebration. In modern
times, families tend to opt for a simpler
and less time consuming approach, but
to celebrate this old customs, friends,
families and co-workers join together at
restaurants for a Christmas buffet dur-
ing the days leading up to Christmas.
Recently, I visited Skrúður Restau-
rant, located in Hótel Saga, to experi-
ence their approach to the traditional
festival food. Although there is no single
set menu for Julefrukost, there are a
few obligatory courses. Herring is one
of them, and in my experience, restau-
rants tend to underestimate the impor-
tance of the herring tradition, both his-
torically and thematically. Skrúður does
well here, scoring high for an excellent
applesauce herring. Another obligatory
course, gravlax (cured salmon) was also
a particular highlight. The blackened
salmon and Christmas halibut were
well received, but I must admit that I
was a little put off by the sight of beef
carpaccio among the courses offered,
considering the origin and the tradition
of the occasion. Smoked lamb is an es-
sential part of the Icelandic festival cui-
sine, and Skrúður offers a mild tasting,
lightly salted meat, which is just the way
I prefer it, although I was a little disap-
pointed to find that the equally essential
white sauce that goes with it was miss-
ing. This needs to be fixed no later than
yesterday.
Skrúður offers three main meat
courses, turkey, roast pork and lamb. All
three were excellent, but I admit that I
missed having either Christmas ham,
or smoked pork fillet, both of which
are customary. I have no complaints
though, I was so full by then that I hard-
ly had room for ice cream and the much
anticipated almond rice pudding. All in
all, Skrúður offers a good, traditional
Christmas buffet, although it didn’t con-
tain all my favourites.
Food
skrúður
19 | The Reykjavík Grapevine | Issue 18 2008
Eating
Reviewed by Sveinn Birkir Björnsson — Photo by Jói Kjartans
2 B9
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