Reykjavík Grapevine - 05.07.2013, Side 24

of meat, and the bread is always
perfectly warmed so that is slightly
crispy on the outside.”
Runner-up: In close second is the
new kebab place, Mandi. The ingredi-
ents are fresh and the owner, Halil, is
always there with a smile on his face.
2012: Kebab Grill
2011: Habibi
Hafnarstræti 18
Best coffeehouse
KAFFISMIÐJAN
Maybe it’s no surprise at this point
(also, why would you be reading this
BEST OF list for surprises? Some
things don’t change)—Kaffismiðjan
remains our ‘BEST COFFEEHOUSE’
for the FIFTH YEAR IN A ROW! That’s
every goddamn year we’ve had these
awards! We’ve explained this to you
four times already, but in case you’re
new in town, we should reiterate:
Kaffismiðjan make the best coffee
you will drink in Reykjavík. They take
that stuff super seriously, roasting
their beans on-site and employing
folks who know just how to churn out
a good cup of whatever type coffee
it is you thirst for. Furthermore, the
atmosphere is unique, of the kind you
will only find (and grow to love) in
Reykjavík. It’s “comfortable, but not
falling-asleep comfortable, welcom-
ing, warm and wonderful.” And did
we mention they have a stack of vinyl
records you can play at your delight?
Runners-up: Stofan (“a great place to
sit in a corner and enjoy a cup with
a friend.”), Café Haiti (“perfect in so
many ways...”)
2012: Kaffismiðjan
2011: Kaffismiðjan
2010: Kaffismiðjan
2009: Kaffismiðjan
Kárastígur 1
Best Coffee To-Go
LITLI BÓNDABÆRINN
This take-away joint on Laugavegur is
really one of the most delightful plac-
es to pop into on any daily stroll. They
brew up some real mean coffees,
making a point to use only the high-
est quality beans, and if you go there
a few times they remember your
order. It also helps that their former
barista-champ owner, David, is one
of the most charming individuals who
changes the experience of grabbing
your morning java into a complete
laugh-riot. David has also singlehand-
edly introduced savoury pastries into
the snacking landscape, so make
sure to grab a veggie-sausage roll or
lamb pasties if you can—they are in a
league of their own!
2012: Kaffifélagið
2011: Kaffifélagið
2012: Café Haiti
2009: Kaffifélagið
Laugavegur 41
Best Tea
IÐA ZIMSEN HÚSIÐ
Icelanders aren’t big tea drinkers.
While most, if not all, coffeehouses
around town have tea, it seems far
from their focus. The new Iða coffee-
house in Zimsen húsið, however,
seems to be putting a lot of effort into
not only having good coffee and, but
also their tea. They offer a nice selec-
tion of loose dry leaf including both
premium foreign brands and popu-
lar mainstays in abundance, and the
atmosphere is nice and calm, which is
what we look for when we want tea.
2012: Litli Bóndabærinn
2011: Te og kaffi
Vesturgata 2a
Best Sushi
SAKEBARINN
This relatively new addition to the
downtown restaurant scene has
quickly become our favourite place
to get sushi. If you’re alone or in a
hurry, Sushibarinn (Best sushi, 2010)
is a good option, but otherwise you
should walk upstairs to Sakebarinn,
which serves the same items and
more, plus it’s in a nicer restaurant
setting. The sushi is fresh and it’s not
a bad place to try some unique piec-
es—tender whale sashimi, if you’re
not morally opposed, and shark sashi-
mi, which tastes a whole lot better
than the fermented kind that comes
in cubes and reeks of ammonia. Plus,
washing it down with a tasty sake-
cocktail also beats the brennivín.
Runners-up: SuZushii (“The Japa-
nese embassy’s go-to place for sushi,
apparently”), Sushibarinn (“Great for
take-away”)
2012: SuZushii
2011: SuZushii
2010: Sushibarinn
2009: Sushismiðjan
Laugavegur 2
Best vegetarian
GLÓ
Iceland is not the most vegetarian-
friendly of countries, but Reykjavík
does have a couple of exclusively
vegetarian restaurants and some
others that feature great vegetar-
ian options. Not exclusively vegetar-
ian, Gló falls into the latter category.
Its chef, Sólveig Eiríksdóttir, better
known as Solla, was voted “Favourite
Raw Gourmet Chef” and “Favourite
Raw Simple Chef” in the annual Best
of Raw contest two years in a row as
well as Grapevine’s ‘Best vegetarian,’
now three years in a row. With fresh
ingredients and a menu that changes
daily, you’re always in for something
tasty and you can feel good about it
being healthy too.
Runner-up: Grænn kostur is serves
filling vegetarian and vegan dishes at
an affordable price and although it’s
not the ‘Best vegetarian,’ we’re thank-
ful that it exists.
2012: Gló
2011: Gló
2010: Á Næstu Grösum
2009: Á Næstu Grösum
Laugavegur 20b
Best hangover meal
THE HANGOVER COMBO
AT PRIKIÐ
Our panel of hard-drinking, hard-
partying 101 rats fervently voted in
Prikið to come back as the monarchs
of hangover country. When you wake
up feeling rough, slurp down a Bruce
Willis shake (it’s got Jack Daniels, Treo
painkillers and yummy ice cream!)
and scarf up an American breakfast.
You’ll quickly find yourself invigo-
rated and inspired to hunt down your
next hangover.
Runners-up: Trucks at Grái Kötturinn
and Laundromat.
2012: Vitabar
2011: The Truck at Grái Kötturinn
2010: The Truck at Prikið
2009: The Truck at Grái kötturinn
Bankastræti 12
Best Soup
KRYDDLEGIN HJÖRTU
It’s kind of surprising, but Reykjavík
is quite the soup town, what with so
many places offering their own take
on the classic meat soup, lobster
soup and other crazy blends. Only
Kryddlegin Hjörtu (“the spicy heart”)
really specialises in soup though, and
the soup-lovers on our panel were all
pretty adamant of its top-dog status.
The buffet-style restaurant offers
four different soups a day alongside a
colourful, healthy and fresh salad bar.
We admit that not ALL their broths are
Soup Nazi-great, but most of them are
so fucking delicious. Plus, the owner
washes all the vegetables in crystals.
CRYSTALS.
2012: Höfnin
2011: Kryddlegin Hjörtu
2010: Most soups at Súpubarinn
2009: Lobster soup at Sægreifinn
Skúlagata 17
Best place for
a fancy meal
GALLERY RESTAURANT
AT HÓTEL HOLT
This was a really tough call—we were
torn between last year’s winner, Grill
Market, and 2009’s winner, Gallery
Restaurant at Hótel Holt. After much
debate, we decided that, although
they both serve some fancy meals,
Gallery should take the title. If you’re
looking for a fancy restaurant where
everyone looks really fancy and you
yourself feel really fancy, you’re going
to find exactly that at Gallery. From
the food--post-nouvelle French--to
the ‘70s classy interiors, to the walls,
adorned with paintings by Iceland’s
foremost artists, this is Fancy. We
highly recommend getting a pre-
drink at the bar and enjoying it from
their big leather couches.
Runners-up: Grill Market (“Meaty and
wonderful”).
2012: Grill Market
2011: Dill
2010: Dill
2009: Gallery Restaurant at Hótel Holt
Bergstaðastræti 37
Best place to go
on a date
TAPAS BARINN
There are many great places to go on
a date, and some of them aren’t food-
related, but let’s face it, dinner is a
pretty good way to go. And if you’re
going that way, Tapas Barinn won’t
disappoint, especially if it’s a first
date. The dimly lit basement makes
for an intimate setting to share some
delicious tapas. What’s more, if there’s
ever a lull in conversation, the continu-
ous flow of dishes will fill any gaps and
give you something to talk about. By
the time you’ve finished a pitcher of
sangria and a bunch of tapas, you’ll
stumble out, look down at your cell
phone and be surprised to find that
you’ve been there for three-hours.
Time flies when you’re having fun…
2012: Sushi Samba
2011: Ítalía
2010: Pisa
2009: Ítalía
Vesturgata 3b
Best Newcomer
Restaurant
BERGSSON MATHÚS
An adorable and cosy new neighbour
to the long-time dining classic Við
Tjörnina, Bergsson’s emphasis on
local produce and seasonal cooking
gave it a huge lead to take this prize.
Our panel wholeheartedly agreed that
their menu is a unique and welcome
addition to the restaurant scene and
their dishes are really very tasty. Our
only comment is that their portions
are on the smallish side, so you’re
always really sad to eat your last bite.
But that’s what they call one of those
“good” problems.
2012: Forréttabarinn
2011: Sjávargrillið
2010: Noodle Station
2009: Saffran
Templarasund 3
Best goddamn restaurant
SNAPS
Holy moly. This is a first. Yup,
SNAPS has earned BEST GODDAMN
RESTAURANT for two years in a row.
How did they do it? Well, according
to our definition, a ‘best goddamn
restaurant’ needs to be ‘on the
cheaper side,’ ‘consistent,’ ‘tasty’ and
‘available’. And SNAPS managed this
during its first year, and it is manag-
ing it right now. Offering the perfect
balance between good food, great
atmosphere and affordable pricing,
SNAPS remains the best choice for
everyday dining—preferably with
friends in tow—when you want to
feel a little fancier than you do when
stuffing your face with a slice of
pizza or a sub of the month. Always
“tasty,” “fairly priced” and “done
with care,” their French and Spanish
inspired fare is guaranteed to hit the
spot whether you’re there for lunch or
dinner (or lunch that eventually turns
into dinner, as frequently happens at
SNAPS). HOORAY FOR SNAPS!
Runners-up: Grillið (“Steakhouse-fancy,
and quite French”), Grillmarket (“Never
disappoints, but you pay for it”),
2012: SNAPS
2011: Ban Thai
2010: Saffran
2009: Segurmo at Boston
Þórsgata 1
Best Family Restaurant
LAUNDROMAT CAFÉ
If you have loud and obnoxious kids
or a screaming baby, you can bring
them to Laundromat worry-free. It has
a casual diner feel to it with a family-
friendly menu, including special kid’s
items. The place is always bustling
with life—coffee drinkers sit next to
beer drinkers who sit next to board
game players who sit next writers
typing away on their laptops who sit
next to you, breast feeding your baby.
The constant chatter of conversation
will drown certainly drown your kids
out if they get noisy, and if they get
really noisy or squirmy, you can send
them to that downstairs play area.
It’s hard to beat that. Plus, while your
kids play, you can look at that wall of
Grapevines, ten year’s worth of them.
2012: Laundromat
2011: Laundromat
2010: Piri-Piri
2009: Hornið
Austurstræti 9
Best Vegetarian: Gló
Best Goddamn Restaurant: SNAPS
24The Reykjavík Grapevine Issue 9 — 2013