Reykjavík Grapevine - 17.06.2011, Page 54

F D
For your mind, body and soul
MADELEINE T
HVALREKI
3 Frakkar
Baldursgata 14 | G5
Aktu Taktu
Skúlugata 15 | E7
Alibaba
Veltusund 3b | D3
American Style
Tryggvagata 26 | D4
Argentína Steakhouse
Barónstígur | F7
Austurlanda-
hraðlestin
Hverfisgata 64A | F7
Á Næstu Grösum
Laugavegur 20B | F5
B5
Bankastræti 5 | E4
Bakkus
Tryggvagata 22 | D3
Ban Thai
Laugavegur 130 | G8
Babalú
Skólavörðustígur 22A
| F5
Bæjarins Beztu
Tryggvagata | D4
Íslenski Barinn
Pósthússtræti 9 | E4
Bar Ellefu
Hverfisgata 18 | E5
Café d'Haiti
Tryggvagata 12 | D4
Café Loki
Lokastígur 28 | G6
Café Paris
Austurstræti 14 | E4
Café Roma
Rauðarárstígur 8 | G8
Deli
Bankastræti 14 | E5
Domo
Þingholtsstræti 5 | E4
Einar Ben
Veltusundi | D3
Eldsmiðjan
Bragagata 38A | G5
Fiskmarkaðurinn
Aðalstræti 12 | E3
Geysir Bar/Bistro
Aðalstræti 2 | D3
Garðurinn
Klappastigur 37 | F5
Gata
Laugavegur 3 | E5
Glætan book café
Laugavegur 19 | E5
Grái Kötturinn
Hverfisgata 16A | E5
Grillhúsið
Tryggvagata 20 | D3
Habibi
Hafnarstræti 20 | D4
Hamborgarabúlla
Tómasar (“Bullan”)
Geirsgata 1 | C3
Hlölla Bátar
Ingólfstorg | D3
Hornið
Hafnarstræti 15 | D4
Hótel Holt
Bergstaðarstræti 37
| G5
Humarhúsið
Amtmannstígur 1 | E4
Hressó
Austurstræti 20 | E4
Icelandic Fish & Chips
Tryggvagata 8 | D3
Indian Mango
Frakkastígur 12 | F6
Jómfrúin
Lækjargata 4 | E4
Fjallkonubakaríið
Laugavegur 21 | F5
Kaffifélagið
Skólavörðustígur 10
| E5
Kaffitár
Bankastræti 8 | E5
Kaffivagninn
Grandagarður 10 | B2
Kofi Tómasar Frænda
Laugavegur 2 | E5
Kornið
Lækjargata 4 | E4
Krua Thai
Tryggvagata 14 | D3
La Primavera
Austurstræti 9 | E4
Mokka
Skólavörðustígur 3A
| E5
Nonnabiti
Hafnarstræti 9 | D4
O Sushi
Lækjargata 2A | E4
Pisa
Lækjargötu 6b | E4
Pizza King
Hafnarstræti 18 | D4
Express Pizza
Vallarstræti 4 | E4
Gamla Smiðjan
Lækjargötu 8 | E4
Prikið
Bankastræti 12 | E5
Ráðhúskaffi | E3
Tjarnargata 11
Santa Maria
Laugavegur 22A, | F6
Serrano
Hringbraut 12 | I5
Shalimar
Austurstræti 4 | E3
Silfur
Pósthússtræti 11 | E4
Sjávarkjallarinn
Aðalstræti 2 | D3
Sólon
Bankastræti 7a | E5

Sushibarinn
Laugavegur 2 | E5
Sushismiðjan
Geirsgötu 3 | C3
Svarta Kaffi
Laugavegur 54 | F7
Sægreifinn
Verbúð 8, Geirsgata
| C3
Tapas
Vesturgata 3B | D3
Thorvaldsen
Austurstræti 8 | E4
Tíu Dropar
Laugavegur 27 | F5
UNO
Hafnarstræti 1-3 | D3
Vegamót
Vegamótastígur 4 | F5
Við Tjörnina
Templarasund 3 | E4
Vitabar
Bergþórugata 21 | G7
Food & Drink | Venue finder
EAT AND DRINK
3 X BAKERY
1 SANDHOLT
This classy little bakery on Laugavegur
is a feast for the senses. The glass case
stocked with snúður, danishes, pain
au raisin, chocolate lava cakes, etc. are
very hard to resist. The sandwiches are
pretty wonderful too. Laugavegur 36
2 MOSFELLSBAKARÍ
While not conveniently located in the 101
area, this well-known bakery is well worth
the drive to Mosfellsbær (or their other shop
in 108). Their baked goods are always flaky
and moist and gooey and sweet and delicious.
Also, they deliver. Háholt 13-15, Mosfellsbær or
Háaleitisbraut 58-60, Reykjavík
3 KVOSIN
Nestled down on Aðalstræti next door to a
small grocery shop of the same name, this is
the latest addition to Reykjavík’s baking scene.
The big perk about this place is that they’ve got
ample seating at which to enjoy the spoils of the
confectioner’s ovens. Aðalstræti 6-8
3 X AMERICAN BREAKFAST
1 GRÁI KÖTTURINN
The Truck is the very embodiment of the
all-American breakfast – larger than life and
gluttonous to the extreme. Grái Kötturinn does
the dish right, with fluffy pancakes, eggs done
the way you like’em, bacon, toast and home fries
stacked high, and served with complimentary
coffee. If you wake up dying of hunger, you know
where to go. Hverfisgata 16a
2 PRIKIð
Not to be outdone, Prikið’s got a Truck of its
own – bacon, eggs, pancakes, potatoes, toast
– to stop hunger in its tracks. For those of the
British persuasion, the Station Wagon has your
hankering for baked beans covered.
Bankastræti 12
3 HRESSÓ
While the big-breakfast item on Hressó’s
menu is called “English Breakfast” it’s the size
that counts where American breakfasts are
concerned and this is big enough to get the job
done. Bacon, eggs, toast, satisfaction.
Austurstræti 20
3 X STUFF YOU CAN’T
GET AT BÓNUS
1 MAI THAI
If you’re looking for a clean break from gaudy
yellow wrappers, pink pigs and Euro Shopper
and your diet could use a flavour infusion look
no further than Mai Thai. Chilli paste? Check.
A selection of fish sauces? You got it. Fun
labels with jovial, smiling Buddha’s on them? Of
course! Laugavegur 116
2 NÓATúN
Nóatún has got you covered on that all too
familiar occasion when you find yourself
desperately in need of artichokes and canned
mussels, or one of the many other “specialty”
items not stocked in the ubiquitous grocery
chains. Hringbraut 121
3 OSTABúðIN
Cheese and meat aren’t meant to be vacuum
packed. Ostabúðin gets that. It’s nice to see
cheeses on offer other than Gouda of varying
fat content and the odd havarti, and it’s even
nicer to see it smack dab in the middle of 101.
Skólavörðustígur 8
The wind must be blowing just right,
as we could have walked blindfolded
down Skólavörðustígur to find
Sjávargrillið. The smell of a seafood
grill grew stronger on approach.
Without reservations we arrive to
a bustling dining room on an early
Wednesday evening. After a slight
pause, and a glance over the reservation
book, we are led to a dark, boisterous
cellar where the party has already
started. A banquet of twelve was under
way and we were offered a dim table
on the sidelines. At first we felt like
stowaways in the hull of a ship. Back
lit driftwood lines the walls with light
slipping through the cracks, maritime
maps and abstract modernist portraits
dot the walls, and a custom made
couch modelled after a stone break wall
separates us from the kitchen. Had we
dined above, I would have overlooked
this hideaway completely. The interior
design is quite impressive, considering
the exterior of the house is so colourless
and pedestrian. From the old seltzer
bottles with which still water is served,
to the f lat river stones used for serving
custom butter, almost every detail is
considered save for the lone tea candle
illuminating our table. I use this to
my advantage and steal a kiss from my
date.
The menu is equally subdued,
with a manageably tame selection
of deliciously healthy, intelligent
combinations. We both settle on the set
menu of the three course lobster feast
(6.900 ISK), which begins with lobster
from Höfn with celery root, seaweed,
and date; lobster and mussels from
Breiðafjörður in the west of Iceland
with caulif lower, cucumber, and snow
peas, and finishing with a raspberry
vanilla crème brulèe. The thought
of wild mussels alone sold me on the
platter.
We began with an unexpected
creative amuse bouche, compliments
of the chef, served in the form of a
miniature clay potted plant and playing
on the texture of topsoil with the taste
and bite of fresh fennel. With little
visibility we had to rely strictly on
taste and texture, which surpassed any
conceptual presentation. We started
off with a bang. The langoustine
appetiser, which is what Icelanders
commonly accept as lobster, slid
out of their shells and washed away
effortlessly with the bright Cabernet
Franc suggested by our waiter. The
biggest surprise of the evening was the
arrival of the main lobster tail; which
turned out to be of proper proportion.
An average size lobster is a rare bird
on the Icelandic table; and like most
of our better seafood, nearly all is sold
off for export. Perhaps the only lull of
the evening was the accompanying
mussels from Breiðafjörður that I had
highly anticipated. My gullet was keen
on the f lavourful wild variety, but
instead was served a mild, farm fresh
sort that bordered on blasé. A dash of
contrast might increase their vigour,
but nothing tastes quite like fresh wild
mussels. Keep fishing! As for dessert,
a simple crème brulèe punctuated by
homemade raspberry sorbet, bull’s-eye.
Sjávargrillið is a nice addition to
Icelandic dining. It should pass the
test of time since it strives to cater
equally to foreign guests and locals
alike. With affordable prices, pleasantly
comfortable decor, and exceptional
Icelandic cuisine, this place should
gain a loyal following. Count me as one.
Welcome To The Neighbourhood
Sjávargrillið
Skólavörðustígur 14