Reykjavík Grapevine - 11.03.2011, Blaðsíða 23

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
R E V I E W S
DELIGHTFUL PERSIAN,
AND NOT SO MUCH
With revolt sweeping across the Middle
East and Northern Africa, I have
been singing the praise of revolution
as of late, and daydreaming of the
plausibility that we next look east,
borrow upon this rhetoric for our own
domestic purpose and coalesce. Is there
not a general discontent over the rising
prices, corruption, and nepotism that
plague our fair land? Or is it just me
craving an authentic Middle Eastern
meal after spending the dark month of
Þorri eating putrefied food? Whether
it happens in the streets or in our
kitchens, I am a fan of social change,
even if it is merely a gastronomical one.
Variety is the spice of life. When I
was told that Eldhrímnir was actually
a Persian restaurant, I was delightfully
surprised. In Norse mythology,
Eldhrímnir is a magical cauldron used
to prepare food for heroic warriors.
I assumed from the name and the
cauldron on the signage that this was
just another hopeless soup kitchen
serving upscale lunchtime dishwater
to the remaining warriors of the
Iceland’s financial district. I was so
distant from the truth. To find a
restaurant without brown sauce in their
repertoire is happiness; to discover
an authentic Persian restaurant in
Iceland is bliss. Are you reading this
Útlendingastofnun? Diversity is a
beautiful thing.
Located in the heart of Borgartún,
an area not particularly known for its
charm, my date and I opted to dine in.
That, and having a baby last week also
weighed in on our decision to get carry
out. A soft melody from a Persian f lute,
dim candlelight, and familiar aromas
of cinnamon and saffron greeted me
as I entered the warm interior. I took
my time announcing my arrival to
admire the tactful decor of sculpture
and painting, as well as sigh over
experiencing this cuisine out of take
away containers in a dining room-cum-
nursery. If only for a moment, I wanted
to bask in the tranquillity here. The
dining room has a commanding view
of Höfði, the harbour, and Mt. Esja
while an upstairs lounge seems ideal
for an after dinner ḡalyḡn and tea.
With everything attentively packed,
I rushed home.
We begin with a Persian barley soup,
toasted f latbread, and a yoghurt
salad close in taste and texture to
an Indian raita. The soup is simple
and consistent: a thick blend of fresh
vegetables and barley with subtle hints
of coriander. The delight in eating this
is how the textures pass through the
mouth in an orderly fashion, from the
first bit of cream that coats the back of
the throat, to the bite of tender barley
and al dente vegetables, finishing with
the last bits of barley husk that scrape
away the palette preparing the mouth
for the next spoonful. This could easily
turn into a meal, we move on to the
boxes containing the main courses.
My date seems to have ordered a
most impressive kebab, comparable
in size to anatomy found in a Robert
Mapplethorpe photograph. My
container too bulges like a codpiece
bound by multiple rubber bands. I could
Here’s To The Revolution!
Eldhrímnir
Borgartún 14
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!