Reykjavík Grapevine - 15.07.2011, Side 62

F D
For your mind, body and soul
3 Frakkar
Baldursgata 14 | G5
Aktu Taktu
Skúlugata 15 | E7
Alibaba
Veltusund 3b | D3
American Style
Tryggvagata 26 | D4
Argentína Steakhouse
Barónstígur | F7
Austurlanda-
hra!lestin
Hverfisgata 64A | F7
Á Næstu Grösum
Laugavegur 20B | F5
B5
Bankastræti 5 | E4
Bakkus
Tryggvagata 22 | D3
Ban Thai
Laugavegur 130 | G8
Babalú
Skólavör!ustígur 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
Rau!arárstígur 8 | G8
Deli
Bankastræti 14 | E5
Domo
"ingholtsstræti 5 | E4
Einar Ben
Veltusundi | D3
Eldsmi!jan
Bragagata 38A | G5
Fiskmarka!urinn
A!alstræti 12 | E3
Geysir Bar/Bistro
A!alstræti 2 | D3
Gar!urinn
Klappastigur 37 | F5
Gata
Laugavegur 3 | E5
Glætan book café
Laugavegur 19 | E5
Grái Kötturinn
Hverfisgata 16A | E5
Grillhúsi!
Tryggvagata 20 | D3
Habibi
Hafnarstræti 20 | D4
Hamborgarabúlla
Tómasar (“Bullan”)
Geirsgata 1 | C3
Hlölla Bátar
Ingólfstorg | D3
Horni!
Hafnarstræti 15 | D4
Hótel Holt
Bergsta!arstræti 37
| G5
Humarhúsi!
Amtmannstígur 1 | E4
Hressó
Austurstræti 20 | E4
Icelandic Fish & Chips
Tryggvagata 8 | D3
Indian Mango
Frakkastígur 12 | F6
Jómfrúin
Lækjargata 4 | E4
Fjallkonubakaríi!
Laugavegur 21 | F5
Kaffifélagi!
Skólavör!ustígur 10
| E5
Kaffitár
Bankastræti 8 | E5
Kaffivagninn
Grandagar!ur 10 | B2
Kofi Tómasar Frænda
Laugavegur 2 | E5
Korni!
Lækjargata 4 | E4
Krua Thai
Tryggvagata 14 | D3
La Primavera
Austurstræti 9 | E4
Mokka
Skólavör!ustígur 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 Smi!jan
Lækjargötu 8 | E4
Priki!
Bankastræti 12 | E5
Rá!húskaffi | E3
Tjarnargata 11
Santa Maria
Laugavegur 22A, | F6
Serrano
Hringbraut 12 | I5
Shalimar
Austurstræti 4 | E3
Silfur
Pósthússtræti 11 | E4
Sjávarkjallarinn
A!alstræti 2 | D3
Sólon
Bankastræti 7a | E5

Sushibarinn
Laugavegur 2 | E5
Sushismi!jan
Geirsgötu 3 | C3
Svarta Kaffi
Laugavegur 54 | F7
Sægreifinn
Verbú! 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
Vi! Tjörnina
Templarasund 3 | E4
Vitabar
Berg#órugata 21 | G7
Food & Drink | Venue finder
The waitress was in a strange mood.
She freely admitted that her humour
was a little hit-and-miss, which it was
(especially the comment that the ‘Amer-
ican burger’ was only included on the
menu to appease the tastes of ‘clueless
Americans’) but Iceland is not exactly
famed for inclusiveness or for toeing
the line of social decorum, so we will
chalk that one up to local colour.
During our chat she admitted that
originally they had not intended to
focus on burgers, and it shows. The
general presentation bore the usual
mark of mixed intentions. The lava
rocks, ambitious web-design and
quasi-modern woodwork pointed to
aspirations of mid-range touristy status,
betrayed by the otherwise incongruous
decorations and a burger-laden menu
with 4Chan-friendly names for dishes
like "epic overkill." Although I have to
admit I did chuckle at "svEpPIC" (svep-
pir = mushrooms).
But like with the service, this didn't
come off as off-putting, as much as co-
lourful and slightly typical of Icelandic
mid-rangers.
My dinner companion and I ordered
a 200 gr. steak (3.690 ISK) and a "Clas-
sic Epic" burger (.1950 ISK) respec-
tively. The epic burger clocks in at an
impressive 300 gr., which still appears
like a whimpering tenderoni next to
the burly ‘Epic Overkill’ on their menu,
which packs 600 gr. of meat between
perfunctory buns.
The steak was ordered medium-rare,
and although it was perfectly cooked
and well seasoned we would have liked
it a little tenderer. However, the limited
availability of top quality beef in Iceland
should be taken into consideration.
The waitress was on her own with
the lunch service, so I'm inclined to
forgive her for failing to ask me how I
wanted my burger done. And although
the burger was slightly more grilled
than I would have liked it, it did hit
medium-rare quite nicely. I was also
pleasantly surprised to see that the
burger was not too salty (almost a given
in Icelandic burger culture), letting
the beef do the heavy lifting. Although
the inclusion of bell peppers on the
burger was a nice touch, members of
the anti-pepper brigade should consider
themselves duly warned.
The burger was huge and came with
fries and béarnaise for dipping, which
was another original touch. Nice as
it was, I couldn't stomach the idea of
dipping deep-fried potatoes in butter so
I opted for ketchup. This turned out to
be a mistake, as the ketchup we were
served had a rancid off-taste. I guess
I would have been better off with the
butter sauce.
Restaurant 73 serves a variety of
bagels, a rare and welcome sight in
Iceland (and I regret that I wasn't able
to try them out). And with the music at
a nicely subdued volume, comfortable
surroundings and a central location, I
do expect these guys to maintain their
popularity with tourists and Icelanders
on their lunch hour.
Overall my issues with 73 are issues
that I have with the restaurant/burger
culture in Iceland in general (where
are the damn pickles!). Otherwise I
can recommend the place for novel
burger combinations, quality meat and
servings large enough to sate a recently
defrosted mammoth—provided it was
carnivorous and not too picky about its
pickles.
THE BURGERS THAT ATE LAUGAVEGUR
RAGNAR EGILSSON
JULIA STAPLES
What We Think: Nice, large
burgers but not life-changing
Flavour: Nicely toned down
seasoning, interesting condiments
but forced to rely on the quality of
Icelandic beef.
Ambiance: Relaxed social.
Casual stop for visitors before
going shopping.
Service: Slightly odd
73
Laugavegur 73
Reykjavík Literally
A Guided Walking Tour
Join us for a fun introduction to
Icelandic literature, with a bit of
history mixed in. This 90 min.
walk is at an easy pace and suits
everyone. Starts at Reykjavik City
Library in Tryggvagata 15.
Free of charge.
Reykjavik City Library
www.literature.is
Tel. 411 6100
Every Thursday in July and August at 5 pm.