Reykjavík Grapevine - 05.06.2009, Blaðsíða 28

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For your mind, body and soul
Food & Drink | Venue finder
3 Frakkar
Baldursgata 14 | F9
Aktu Taktu
Skúlugata 15 | K8
American Style
Tryggvagata 26 | E5
Argentína Steak-
house
Barónstígur | I8
Austurlanda-
hraðlestin
Hverfisgata 64A | H7
Á Næstu Grösum
Laugavegur 20B | G7
B5
Bankastræti 5 | F6
Basil & Lime
Klapparstíg 38 | G7
Babalú
Skólavörðustígur 22A
| G8
Balthazar
Hafnarstræti 1-3 |
D6/E6
Bæjarins Beztu
Tryggvagata | E6
Brons
Pósthússtræti 9 | E6
Café Cultura
Hverfisgata 18 | G6
Café Loki
Lokastígur 28 | G9
Café Paris
Austurstræti 14 | E6
Café Roma
Rauðarárstígur 8 | J9
Domo
Þingholtsstræti 5 | F7
Einar Ben
Veltusundi | E6
Eldsmiðjan
Bragagata 38A | G9
Fiskmarkaðurinn
Aðalstræti 12 | D6
Geysir Bar/Bistro
Aðalstræti 2 | D6
Garðurinn
Klappastigur 37 | G7
Glætan book café
Laugavegur 19 | F5
Grái Kötturinn
Hverfisgata 16A | G7
Grillhúsið
Tryggvagata 20 | E5/
E6
Habibi
Hafnarstræti 20 | D5
Hamborgarabúlla
Tómasar (“Bullan”)
Geirsgata 1 | D5
Hlölla Bátar
Ingólfstorg | D6
Hornið
Hafnarstræti 15 | E6
Hótel Holt
Bergstaðarstræti 37
| F7
Humarshúsið
Ammtmanstígur 1 | E7
Hressó
Austurstræti 20 | E6
Icelandic
Fish & Chips
Tryggvagata 8 | E5
Jómfrúin
Lækjargata 4 | E6
Kaffi Hljómalind
Laugavegur 21 | G7
Kaffitár
Bankastræti 8 | F6
Kaffivagninn
Grandagarður 10
| D1
Kebabhúsið
Austurstræti 2 | E6
Kofi Tómasar
Frænda
Laugavegur 2 | F7
Krua Thai
Tryggvagata 14 | D5
La Primavera
Austurstræti 9 | E6
Lystin
Laugavegur 73 | H7
Mokka
Skólavörðustígur 3A
| F7
Nonnabiti
Hafnarstræti 9 | E6
O Sushi
Lækjargata 2A | E6
Pisa
Lækjargötu 6b | E6
Pizza King
Hafnarstræti 18 | E6
Pizza Pronto
Vallarstræti 4 | D6
Pizzaverksmiðjan
Lækjargötu 8 | E6
Prikið
Bankastræti 12 | F6
Ráðhúskaffi | D7
Tjarnargata 11
Santa Maria
Laugavegur 22A, | F7
Segafredo
Lækjatorg | E6
Serrano
Hringbraut 12 | I3

Shalimar
Austurstræti 4 | E6
Silfur
Pósthússtræti 11 | E6
Sjávarkjallarinn
Aðalstræti 2 | D6
Sólon
Bankastræti 7a | F6
Sushibarinn
Laugavegur 2 | F7
Svarta Kaffi
Laugavegur 54 | H8
Sægreifinn
Verbuð 8, Geirsgata
| D5
Tapas
Vesturgata 3B | D5
Thorvaldsen
Austurstræti 8 | E6
Tíu Dropar
Laugavegur 27 | G7
Tívolí
Laugavegur 3 | F7
Vegamót
Vegamótastígur 4
| G7
Við Tjörnina
Templarasund 3 | E7
Vitabar
Bergþórugata 21 |
H9
Balkanika
The first Bulgarian restaurant in town,
fast food joint Balkanika, opened just
over a month ago to the joy of the 150
or so Bulgarians living in Reykjavík.
After 2 years away from my
previous country of residence,
Montenegro, and with golden
memories of cevapi booths in Sarajevo
and bureks from the pekaras of
Dubrovnik, I figured Bulgaria was
close enough on the culinary map and
eagerly headed to Vítastigur.
It is all very straight-forward
in Balkanika: tidy and brand new,
with a couple of daily specials for
around 1000 ISK on the black board,
a set menu including portions for
vegetarians and children and a take-
away service.
I tried the classic Balkan shopska
salad (510 ISK), usually an appetizer
or side dish, but large enough on
its own to serve as a light lunch for
those people who, like me, have the
appetite of a bird. There is true magic
to the combination of diced tomato,
cucumber, onion and pepper covered
with sirene, brine cheese similar to
feta. It makes for a brilliant f lavour
and never fails. “Just rakija missing
now” smiled owner Stefán Birgir
Guðfinnsson, whose Bulgarian wife
Rositsa takes care of the cooking at
Balkanika.
My date chose the kebabcheta,
a Bulgarian minced pork, and well,
phallic shaped offering from the grill,
served with fries and tomato salad
(1090 ISK). The food was fast, cheap
and satisfyingly meaty.
To be honest the Balkan kitchen,
with its basic f lavour palette, isn’t
any culinary rollercoaster, especially
the fast food variety, and neither is
Balkanika. But it is an authentic and
cheap alternative to the holy trinity of
quick pizza, burger and pylsa. Not a
bad thing in this eating-out obsessed
town. — SARI PELTONEN
Fast Bulgarian
Vitastigur 10
Open 11-23
What we think:
A cheap, good alternative to the
usual pizza, burger and pylsa.
R E V I E W S
PRICE AROUND
BIG PORTION
1.100 - 1.400 ISK
OPENING HOURS
Daily from
11:30 - 20:30
Weekends from
11:30 - 20:30
OVER
COUR
SES50
RESTAURANTTHAI
www.nudluhusid.is
LAUGAVEGI 59
Lækjargötu 2a. / Borgartúni 29. tel. 561 0562
200 kr.
250 kr.
300 kr.
375 kr.
400 kr.
350 kr.
275 kr.
PICK YOUR
FAVORITE PLATE
Flavour: Bulgarian fast food
Ambiance: Authentic meets Ikea;
exceptionally tidy
Service: Quick and friendly