Reykjavík Grapevine - 06.03.2009, Síða 14

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!
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.
Basil & Lime
Klapparstíg 38 | G7
Basil & Lime located
at Klapparstígur 38
serves authentic Ital-
ian cuisine and dishes.
Fresh pasta made at
location and an exqui-
site Tiramisu dessert
make this one of the
best italian restaurants
in Reykjavík.
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.
Balthazar
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.
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.
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.
Einar Ben
Veltusundi | E6
The restaurant Einar
Ben is named after
one of Iceland’s na-
tional heroes, the early
20th century poet and
entrepreneur Einar
Benediktsson, who
once lived in the house
where the restaurant is
now located. In many
ways, the restaurant
Einar Ben pays hom-
age to the historic rela-
tions coupled with the
house and the person
who lived there.
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
unforgettable experi-
ence. 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
Where:
Restaurant Dill,
The Nordic House.
Sturlugata 5, 101 Reykjavik
How much:
1.000 - 9.000 ISK
What we think:
Amazing food,
beautiful setting,
bargain price.
Gunnar Karl Gíslason, chef and vocal
advocate for Nordic food, and Ólafur Örn
Ólafsson, president of the sommelier
association—both colleagues from pre-
vious employer VOX—set out to reinvent
the Nordic House eating area, from dingy
cafeteria to sophisticated venue for sea-
sonal, local and modern Nordic food—an
Icelandic take on slow food, if you please.
There are two faces to Dill. During the
day they serve a simple, affordable lunch.
In the evening, they serve a fine dining
dinner.
We tried the lunch. The short menu
consists of a soup (850 ISK), a salad (950
ISK) and a main dish (1700 ISK), plus
dessert, coffee and cake—everything you
need.
My lunch date had the main course
of the day: pork shoulder with vegetables
and herbs. The pork, braised for 20 hours,
was tender, juicy and sticky, complement-
ed by aromatic warmth from the herbs. I
stole as many as I could of the sweet celery
roots from his plate, “al dente” to give a
perfect contrast to the melt-in-the-mouth
meat.
I chose the salad with fennel julienne,
beetroot leaves, dill (appropriately enough)
and a light rapeseed oil and apple vinegar
dressing—no olive oil used here, as it is
Nordic cuisine through and through.
With subtle flavours and fresh ingredi-
ents, it was the perfect winter salad, the
kind that is hard to come by in this town.
The food was excellent. As for the
service, it did not quite match that high
standard. The attitude was positive and
pleasantly laid-back, yet the action slightly
shaky at times. Lunch has a time frame
and everything must run smoothly. We
waited for the menus and water to place
our order and for coffee to be suggested—
in short everything except the food—and
I’m afraid we weren’t the only ones. Hav-
ing said that, there are plenty of worse
places to wait than in front of the amaz-
ing view of the town surrounded by Alvar
Aalto’s timeless design.
The place seats up to 30 people and has
been packed for lunch since they opened
bravely on Friday the 13th last month. The
official grand opening is on the 13th this
month; again, a Friday.
14 | The Reykjavík Grapevine | Issue 3 2009
Eating
Reviewed by Sari Peltonen — Photo by Jói Kjartans
Food
Nordic House, Nordic Food
1 C11
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
Viking feasts every night
- live entertainment
“You haven't been in Iceland if you haven't been to us“ ' '
For booking and
further information:
Tel.: +354 565-1213
www.vikingvillage.is
vikings@vikingvillage.is
Strandgata 55 Hafnarfjordur
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