Reykjavík Grapevine - 25.09.2009, Page 25

Food & Drink | Venue finder
3 Frakkar
Baldursgata 14 | F9
aktu Taktu
Skúlugata 15 | K8
alibaba
Veltusund 3b | E3
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
Bakkus
Tryggvagata 22 | D3
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
Indian mango
Frakkastígur 12 | G6
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
ShOP AND EAT:
GOING GLOBAL
1 sUsHIBarINN
The main street sushi shop is the closest
thing in town to authentic Japanese.
Battleships, hand rolls, weekly specials and
occasional drama amidst the stressed-out
hipster sushi chefs.
Laugavegur 2
2 sUsHIsmIðJaN
Sushi by the Old Reykjavik Harbour. Skip the
take away shop with premade sushi trays and
go for the recently opened restaurant.
Geirsgata
3 domo
Fancy some fancy sushi for dinner? At DOMO
the sushi is good and the service even better.
Also offers other courses on the menu.
Þingholtsstræti 5
4 HorNIð
Our downstairs neighbour, Hornið has served
its consistently good Italian for 30 years. Cosy,
good, mid-priced, “The corner” is a classic
that has yet to fall.
Hafnarstræti 15
5 FrU LaUGa
A rare treat on the island—a farmers market
stocking products of the season. Located
in Laugardalur, open Wednesdays through
Saturdays. Doors are open 12–6pm, but go
early—the store gets busy and the goods
go quickly. For information on new batches,
check them on Facebook.
Laugalækur 6
6 VoLarE
Newcomer in the backyard building from
Laugavegur cooks up unfussy Italian. Friendly
service.
Laugavegur 55
7 La PrImaVEra
Fancypants Italian hidden upstairs from
Austurstræti, La Primavera’s offerings are
modern Northern Italian and notoriously
good.
austurstræti 9
8 GLÓ
Organic restaurant, a collaboration with the
Rope Yoga studio at Laugardalur, offering
daily dishes, soups and salads as well as a
juice bar.
Engjateigur 19
9 sHaLImar
A firm favourite among the Grapevine staff
for years, Shalimar’s old slogan “Where hot
means hot,” still bears some truth to it.
austurstræti 4
10 aUsTUr-INdÍa FéLaGIð
Austur-Indía Félagið has been the crème de
la crop of Icelandic-Indian restaurants for the
past 15 years. And if Harrison Ford likes it, it
must be good. Reservations recommended.
Hverfisgata 56
11 aUsTUrLaNda HraðLEsTIN
A take away chain with brilliant Indian.
Everything on the menu is good, Tandoori
Lamb and Tikka Masala downright great.
Several locations, see www.hradlestin.is
Hverfisgata 64a
For full restaurant and food listings and venue
finder visit www.grapevine.is for detailed
information.
VEGETARIAN CUISINE
Skólavörðustígur 8 b, tel. 552 2028
Open from 11:30 am–21:00 pm
www.graennkostur.is
Enjoy weekend brunch
or delicious buffet
for a quality price
Experience great cuisine
accompanied by a breathtaking view
Smáratorgi 3
next to Smaralind mall 201 Kópavogi Tel. 575 7500 veisluturninn@veisluturninn.is www.veisluturninn.is
Open everyday from 11 AM - 2 PM
…in the tallest building in Iceland
The only one of its kind in town,
Tapasbarinn serves up a gigantic
menu of around 60 different tapas,
from the all-Espanõl olives to more
local takes like whale and lobster.
While tapas on its home turf is mostly
a quick bite by the bar desk, the
Icelandic version is a sit-in affair.
After testing the patience of the
waitresses—who tended to always
be there when not needed and
never when needed—we tackled the
abundance of choice: We decided to
share a fiesta of 9 tapas, all priced
between 600–1100 ISK.
We loved the fillet of lamb in
delicious liquorice sauce. We also
enjoyed the salt fish croquettes,
comfortably warm and soft in the
inside, yet crunchy on the outside
and served with a good aioli. We ate
bacon wrapped scallops and dates, a
successful variation on the ever-so-
good combination of meat and dates.
We tried patatas bravas, which were
too mild, but were cheered up by
the refreshing salad Valenciana with
melons. We also got a dry salt fish
Catalana and equally dry tuna teriyaki.
Again on the overcooked side
were escargots with good buttery
mushrooms at the bottom of the
portion. And when the table did not fit
more plates, we ate a generous bowl
of hearty Valencian paella from a bar
stool. Of all the dishes those with local
ingredients emptied faster than the
more authentic Spanish efforts.
And regardless of the waitress’
disbelief when faced with the amount
of food we were ordering, we easily
had room for dessert: Ice cream and a
lovely, sweet and soft Crema Catalana
with strong coffee (1.090 ISK including
coffee), por favor.
- sarI PELToNEN
Lost in Tapas
Flavour: Spanish in abundance;
also main courses on the menu
ambiance: Cosy
service: In Sunday gear
Tapas Bar
Laugarvegur 20b
What we think: When in Iceland,
do Tapas as the Icelanders do
GraPEVINE Food rEVIEW kEY
0 God-awful
Awful
Passable. Much room for improvement
Good, but not great.
Really rather good
Extraordinary
The food is rated in three categories:
Fast food: Pizza, pylsa and kebab, food on
the go (0-2000 ISK)
Mid-range: Everyday eateries, sit-in. (mains
2000-4000 ISK)
Fine dining: Fancy, expensive-type food.
(3-course dinners 6000 and up)
To best judge the restaurant experience,
the Grapevine conducts its reviews anony-
mously. The sole exception is the payment
method: When the bill arrives, the reviewer
presents a written statement, previously
signed by the restaurant management,
allowing the reviewer and one companion a
meal on the house for review purposes.
Using this approach, we aim to best
preserve the reviewer’s objectivity (and the
restaurants’ consistency), within the humble
means of a free newspaper.
The Grapevine does not favour foie gras
over fast food. Restaurants are reviewed
for what they are; both burger and beluga
can be extraordinary in their own right.
In all evaluations, the food is key: Does it
taste good? Is it properly prepared? Are
the ingredients fresh and of high quality?
Secondary considerations include setting,
service and value for money.
All opinions expressed are the critic’s
own. sP