Reykjavík Grapevine - 02.07.2010, Qupperneq 53

Mountaineers of Iceland • Skútuvogur 12E • 104 Reykjavík • Iceland
Telephone: +354 580 9900 Ice@mountaineers.is • www.mountaineers.is • www. activity.is
SUPER JEEP & SNOWMOBILE TOURS
36
The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 09 — 2010
Special | Best Of Reykjavík
Veggin' Out For 35
years
Mouth-watering, meatless food since 1975
Á Næstu Grösum
Laugavegur 20b, 101
EMILy BURTON
JULIA STAPLES
Á Næstu Grösum started serving deli-
cious veggie food on Laugavegur way
back in 1975. The idea behind the
restaurant was to serve healthy veg-
etarian food using ingredients in their
purest form. Since opening, they have
been serving up a damn fine selection
of meat-free dishes to Reykjavík’s veg-
gie minded. But it wasn’t always green
gold.
Dóra Svavarsdóttir, chef and owner of Á
Næstu Grösum, says there were a lot of
challenges in the beginning. “The local
produce in Iceland is limited and very
seasonal,” she told us, “We have to im-
port everything. It’s a constant struggle
with the budget.” When asked whether
she thought the vegetarian population
in Reykjavík is growing, Dóra told us
her customer base is growing, but not
necessarily the number of vegetarians.
“A lot of people are starting to include
vegetarian dishes into their diet, but
do not consider themselves strict veg-
etarians,” she remarks. “Before people
thought you had to be a vegetarian to
go into a vegetarian restaurant. Now
that attitude has changed.”
When the crisis hit in 2008, a lot of veg-
etables were even more difficult to im-
port. Dóra says that Á Næstu Grösum
is doing pretty well for a vegetarian
restaurant located in the Arctic Circle.
“Even though there isn’t a lot of variety,
the Icelandic vegetables are in pretty
good quality when they’re in season.”
Dóra explains that the farmers in Ice-
land have been growing a lot of toma-
toes and cucumbers. “There is just one
zucchini farmer,” she says. “There are a
lot of things that are not available here
that people who travel are used too.
That is or biggest challenge.”
Á Næstu Grösum truly remains one of
Reykjavík’s best places to veg out.
Special | Best Of Reykjavík
Giving Reykjavík The Kick It Deserves
Austur-Indía félagið is a Reykjavík gem
Sixteen years ago Reykjavík's food pal-
ette lacked seasoning and spice. It was
a time where the average Icelander had
tried almost every fruit on its waning
tree and was in dire need of some taste
bud rejuvenation. Luckily, Austur-Indía
félagið came to the rescue bearing ex-
otic spices and Eastern recipes. Since
then, they’ve loyally fed our addiction
for aromatic Indian cuisine—and they
never fail!
The food is praised for its fusion
of exotic spices with the natural and
freshest of Icelandic ingredients. The
chefs and spices that make up Austur-
Indía's signature flavour have ventured
here from all over India, and the result
embraces the taste of its most familiar
and remote regions. It is the epitome of
an authentic dining experience.
Apart from supplying us with vi-
brant and fragrant flavours, Austur-
Indía has also been a great influence
on Reykjavík's approach to foreign
food and culture. Since the day we've
been blessed with its presence, ethnic
restaurants have been sprouting up
all over town. However, while many of
them wither away, Austur-Indía has re-
mained an unmoveable rock in the res-
taurant industry and is one of the city’s
most dependable restaurants.
“We've never forgotten to offer
quality and consistency for the right
value,” explains Chandrika Gunnarson,
one of the restaurant’s founders. “Even
after the financial crash, when restau-
rants and businesses were raising their
prices, we didn't. We were willing to
take some of the hit because we knew
everybody else was.”
Chandrika illustrates that they key
to their success is not only because
of their excellent quality food but the
treatment of their customers. “We like
to treat them as guests and making
them number one is our priority. It's a
simple philosophy and doesn't take a
genius to figure out, but it does to put it
into daily practise.”
“Customers return knowing they're
going to get great quality food and
leave satisfied. I've eaten there for the
restaurant's lifespan, and I'm still not
bored.”
From dining celebrities, politicians
to students, Austur-Indía félagið em-
phasises an atmosphere where your
average Joe can show up in his t-shirt
and jeans and enjoy the comfortable,
unpretentious and down to earth ambi-
ance. So loosen that waistbelt and go
fill yourself silly with some of Reykja-
vík’s best cuisine.

Austur-Indía félagið
Hverfisgata 56, 101
ALExANDRA yOUNG
JULIA STAPLES