Reykjavík Grapevine - 03.12.2010, Page 34

3 Frakkar
Baldursgata 14 | G4
Aktu Taktu
Skúlugata 15 | E6
Alibaba
Veltusund 3b | D2
American Style
Tryggvagata 26 | D2
Argentína Steakhouse
Barónstígur | F6
Austurlanda-
hraðlestin
Hverfisgata 64A | F5
Á Næstu Grösum
Laugavegur 20B | E4
B5
Bankastræti 5 | E3
Bakkus
Tryggvagata 22 | D2
Ban Thai
Laugavegur 130 | G7
Basil & Lime
Klapparstíg 38 | E4
Babalú
Skólavörðustígur 22A
| G5
Balthazar
Hafnarstræti 1-3 | D2
Bæjarins Beztu
Tryggvagata | D3
Brons
Pósthússtræti 9 | E3
Café Cultura
Hverfisgata 18 | E4
Café d'Haiti
Tryggvagata 12 | D2
Café Loki
Lokastígur 28 | G4
Café Paris
Austurstræti 14 | E3
Café Roma
Rauðarárstígur 8 | G7
Deli
Bankastræti 14 | E5
Domo
Þingholtsstræti 5 | E3
Einar Ben
Veltusundi | E2
Eldsmiðjan
Bragagata 38A | G4
Fiskmarkaðurinn
Aðalstræti 12 | D2
Geysir Bar/Bistro
Aðalstræti 2 | D2
Garðurinn
Klappastigur 37 | F4
Glætan book café
Laugavegur 19 | F5
Grái Kötturinn
Hverfisgata 16A | E4
Grillhúsið
Tryggvagata 20 | D2
Habibi
Hafnarstræti 20 | E3
Hamborgarabúlla
Tómasar (“Bullan”)
Geirsgata 1 | B2
Hlölla Bátar
Ingólfstorg | D2
Hornið
Hafnarstræti 15 | D3
Hótel Holt
Bergstaðarstræti 37
| G3
Humarhúsið
Amtmanstígur 1 | E3
Hressó
Austurstræti 20 | E4
Icelandic Fish & Chips
Tryggvagata 8 | B2
Indian Mango
Frakkastígur 12 | F5
Jómfrúin
Lækjargata 4 | E3
Kaffi Hljómalind
Laugavegur 21 | E4
Kaffifélagið
Skólavörðustígur 10
| F5
Kaffitár
Bankastræti 8 | E4
Kaffivagninn
Grandagarður 10 | A1
Kofi Tómasar Frænda
Laugavegur 2 | E4
Kornið
Lækjargata 4 | E3
Krua Thai
Tryggvagata 14 | D2
La Primavera
Austurstræti 9 | D2
Lystin
Laugavegur 73 | F6
Mokka
Skólavörðustígur 3A
| E4
Nonnabiti
Hafnarstræti 9 | D3
O Sushi
Lækjargata 2A | E3
Pisa
Lækjargötu 6b | E3
Pizza King
Hafnarstræti 18 | D3
Pizza Pronto
Vallarstræti 4 | E2
Pizzaverksmiðjan
Lækjargötu 8 | E3
Prikið
Bankastræti 12 | E3
Ráðhúskaffi | E2
Tjarnargata 11
Santa Maria
Laugavegur 22A, | F5
Serrano
Hringbraut 12 | H3
Shalimar
Austurstræti 4 | D2
Silfur
Pósthússtræti 11 | E3
Sjávarkjallarinn
Aðalstræti 2 | D2
Sólon
Bankastræti 7a | E3
Sushibarinn
Laugavegur 2 | E4
Sushismiðjan
Geirsgötu 3 | B2
Svarta Kaffi
Laugavegur 54 | F5
Sægreifinn
Verbúð 8, Geirsgata
| B2
Tapas
Vesturgata 3B | D2
Thorvaldsen
Austurstræti 8 | D2
Tíu Dropar
Laugavegur 27 | E5
Tívolí
Laugavegur 3 | E4
Vegamót
Vegamótastígur 4 | E4
Við Tjörnina
Templarasund 3 | E2
Vitabar
Bergþórugata 21 | G5
Food & Drink | Venue finder
Sampling the City’s Finest
R E V I E W S
‘Tis the season for treats and festivities and celebration and merriment and the use of clichéd old English contractions better
suited for carols than food reviews. ‘Tis also the season for treating yourself to a classy celebratory meal and, if you’re so
inclined, complimenting it with some potentially artfully selected libations.
In the mood for just this type of treat, I ventured to two of the cities reputed finest, namely Vox and Fish Company.
High-End Treats
The Fish Company (Fiskifélagið) is
located in a charmingly dark space
underground at Vesturgata 2a. A
bustling, cave-like locale, it provides
fine sanctuary from the cold winds
outside.
My companion and I were seated
in a nicely situated table for two
nearby a rather large and boisterous
party and scanned the menu brief ly
before notifying the waiter of our joint
selection: the ‘Around the World’ menu
with wines (16.500 ISK – 8.900 ISK
without wines).
And with our order successfully
placed we settled in and waiting for
the chefs to present us what they will,
which the menu promised would be a
culinary delight of Icelandic meat and
fish brought to life by spice and herbs
from around the world.
Our tour began with a fresh and
fruity Blanc de Pacs and fresh bread
served with skyr butter, thyme butter
and chilli sauce. Shortly thereafter our
amuse bouche was served in a twee
little jar; Icelandic halibut with beetroot
paste, sour scarlet onion, chilli and oat
crumble. It was the most complex and
satisfying single bite ever to enter my
mouth. A wonderful start to the tour.
The first official stops on our
world tour were Canada, Malaysia and
Iceland, three dishes served family
style for my date and I to sample at will.
The trio was surprisingly accompanied
by a Jacob’s Creek Chardonnay, which
we thought a rather pedestrian choice.
Canada delighted with servings
of langoustine topped with mussel
foam, essence of green apple, and
mashed potato with almond crumble.
It was altogether tart and buttery
and delicious. Malaysia was equally
enchanting; offering us a taste of thin
and delicate minke whale drizzled with
a salty and sweet seaweed balsamic soy
sauce.
Rounding out the trio, Iceland
represented itself in the form of salmon
with rye crumble, dill sauce, mustard
jelly, salmon tartar and caulif lower
couscous—it was just as muddled to
look at as the hodgepodge of items
would imply. But I, for one, loved every
individual component. The dill was not
overly strong, the tartar was buttery
and the couscous was smoky, almost
like bacon, which complimented the
salmon nicely.
Between destinations (an in-f light
meal?) we were treated to salt cod with
tomatoes three ways: foamed, jellied
and puréed. The cod was served atop
mashed potatoes with kale and broccoli
and a hint of apple that harkened
back to the Canadian dish we had just
enjoyed. This dish, while it didn’t blow
my socks off, blew my mind with its
creativity. The foam, jelly and purée all
tasted so much as if I were biting into a
fresh tomato; it was fun to eat. The salt
cod was, indeed, salty. But that’s the
point, I guess.
Our glasses were filled with an
Emiliana Shiraz and we were off to
the United States. If I were to venture
a guess we were, more specifically, in
Texas, as we were presented with two
kinds of steak—dainty fillets of foal
peppersteak and miniature medallions
of ribeye served directly off a tiny wood-
smoke grill. The steak duo was sided by
Portobello mushrooms, a delectably
rich and fatty polenta, grilled tomatoes
and a massive serving of French fries
served casually in a paper bag. We were
also given a small metal pitcher of a
pepper sauce that was more au jus than
piquant.
If I were American I would have
been pledging an allegiance to my
f lag at this point, as this was a truly
enjoyable stop on the world tour. Aside
from all of the meals components being
done to (dare I say…) perfection—both
meats could be sliced cleanly like butter
and melted in the mouth similarly as
well—but we also thoroughly enjoyed
that a high-end restaurant had taken a
A Very Long Night
The Fish Company
Vesturgata 2a
What we think: Thoughtful and
inventive food
Flavour: Complex and
interesting
Ambiance: Stark White
Service: Professional & friendly
Eyrarbraut 3, 825 Stokkseyri, Iceland · Tel. +354 483 1550
Fax. +354 483 1545 · info@fjorubordid.is · www.fjorubordid.is
At the Restaurant Fjöruborðið in Stokkseyri
By the
sea and
lobster
a delicios
< Only 45 minutes drive from Reykjavík
A genuine Nordic 3 course feast
starting from 4.900,-
Pósthússtræti 11 101 Reykjavík Tel: 578 2008 www.silfur.is