Reykjavík Grapevine - 04.02.2011, Page 20

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
New restaurant critic Madeleine T goes international
R E V I E W S
Chinese And American Food
Since its television debut,
Hamborgarafabrikkan has been all the
rage in Reykjavík. With interminable
waiting lists and queues out the door, I
have been expecting a punchline from
an outdated Seinfeld rerun, and the
hype to simmer down to a reasonable
wait. Instead, this burger craze
continues into yet another season. A
burger joint is not the place for one to
make a reservation, not now, not ever,
regardless if Ferran Adria himself is
f lipping burgers. Simple principle, full
stop.
Almost a year on, they must be
doing something right. Curiosity
piqued and expectations high, I gave
the table wait another go. Greeted
by loud dance music, I thought I was
in the wrong queue. This was early
Thursday evening, and we are told it
would be a 45-minute wait for a table for
two. Hoping this was an exaggeration,
I thought we would wait ten minutes,
otherwise leave. No burger is worth
waiting longer than ten minutes for, is
it?
The waiting area spills into the
lobby of that carbuncle of a building
that scars the Reykjavík skyline at
Borgartún. This is your chance to
experience Icelandic architecture at
its worst. We wait in the company of a
nursery of toddlers f loundering about
for lack of colouring books, parental
guidance, or batteries for their portable
game systems. The acoustics of the
unfinished open concrete lobby are
amplified, and after 15 minutes, I am
ready for a sedative. Was it the lack of
a proper waiting lounge that brought
out my impatience? The stiff office
lobby furniture felt like a long wait for a
boring job interview or legal deposition,
not a dinner.
The dance beat carries on, and I
loosen another button on my collar.
My anxiety oscillates between hunger,
and the thought of this empty tower
being as structurally sound as the
apartment blocks on Skúlagata, the
ones with the tiles constantly blowing
off. I am far enough away to only hear
the kick of the bass drum, imagining
the tiles loosening with each beat, but I
am close enough to smell the burgers.
Perhaps I should have brought a book,
‘In Search of Lost Time’.

I enjoy a good burger, but I also value
45 minutes. And I already know that
hands down, nothing can beat the
reindeer burger at Hamborgarabúllan
in Egilsstaðir. How close to Egilsstaðir
would I be had I decided to drive there
instead? Plus, my neighbourhood
bodega already makes the best burger
west of Vatnajökull, and it would be
digested by now. So what is all of this
buzz about? My name is called.
The place has the look and
gimmick-laden feel of an American
chain restaurant, except the staff is
not wearing goofy hats or constantly
bothering you. The ‘Eyes Wide Shut’
lighting on the ceiling is a nice touch,
but not when ref lected off the golden
mirrored tabletops. Is anyone this vain
to want to look at themselves while
eating? I was afraid that if I ordered
a Coke, the waiter would rail up some
“For the best burger west of Vatnajökull,
I know where to return”
Hamborgarafabrikkan
Höfðatún 2
Noodle soup with chicken IKR 930
IKR 930 Noodle soup with beef
Home of the best noodle soup!
Skólavörðustígur 21A
A genuine Nordic 3 course feast
starting from 4.900,-
Pósthússtræti 11 101 Reykjavík Tel: 578 2008 www.silfur.is
One of the best restaurants in Iceland
Tel.: 511 5090
E-mail: einarben@einarben.is
Website: www.einarben.is
Order now!