Reykjavík Grapevine - 25.09.2015, Page 55

FOOD
FOR YOUR MIND BODY AND SOUL
Spotted: Grapevine writer and his girl-
friend at a new fusion takeaway restau-
rant in Vesturbær, XO. Things seemed
to be going smoothly until the couple
took an extra long time ordering drinks.
He wanted to order a beer, but his be-
haviour last week has limited her pa-
tience with his drinking. I guess there
will be no Einstök Pale Ale for this
party animal.
Looks like she’s letting all the jog-
ging go to her head—ordering a Lobster
Salad for 1,790 ISK, which comes with
a caesar-like dressing made fresh from
scratch. But. Uh-oh, What’s he doing?
Ordering the XO Jungle, the restau-
rant’s most popular dish, a curry rice
dish with all fresh ingredients and an
in-house curry recipe for 1,890 ISK.
It looks like sex is out of the question
later, or maybe she doesn’t mind a man
with turmeric and coriander seeping
through his pores.
It’s no secret that Reykjavík restau-
rants are known for their tight dining
spaces, so a healthy option take-out
place with ample seating could be
just what the residents of Vesturbær
need. They already have the best cof-
fee house, Kaffi Vest, a place where
you can spot all the young movers and
shakers of Reykjavík who’ve moved out
of the downtown tourist orgy. Vestur-
bær could well be turning into Reyk-
javík’s Brooklyn. Don’t be surprised if
you run into a Dan Humphrey look-a-
like snacking on Donairs and writing
his outsider’s account of the rich and
famous of 101. Look out, Salka Sól!
It’s true, more hotels are popping
up around Reykjavík than in a Chuck
Bass fever dream, but you don’t need
a gap year trip to the Qinghai Province
of China (Xining is hot right now) to
notice the lack of Feng Shui infused in
this spot. It feels like hotel lobby, but
certainly not the Waldorf. Actually,
you wouldn’t find Blair Waldorf here,
but you could run into Serena van der
Woodsen. It’s a dressed-up spot for
people with kids or a quick meal for the
recently single. It’s tasty, though. What
it lacks in charm, it makes up for in
quality and service.
The ingredients deliver, and our
couple bonds over sharing each other’s
dishes. This might be the best restau-
rant for a lunch date or a place to keep
the spark alive in a relationship after
having children has drained all your en-
ergy. You hear that, Rufus?
XO prides itself in not using white
sugar or white flour, only healthier, less
refined ingredients. Coriander might be
an aphrodisiac after all. The spicy fla-
vours would be paired nicely with an Ein-
stök White Ale, which contains orange
peel and coriander, but not for our guy.
Hopefully our Grapevine writer
will put his salad days behind him, or
he might end up having his salad days
back here, alone.
XO XO
Who Am I? I’ll Never Tell. XO XO, Gossip Girl
YORK UNDERWOOD
ART BICNICK
What We Think:
A quick, fresh takeout spot, with
unique, healthy dishes.
Flavour:
Spicy yet simple.
Ambiance:
Waiting room or cafeteria.
Service:
Enthusiastic and quick.
Price for 2 (with drinks):
4500 - 5500 ISK
XO
Hringbraut 119, 101 Reykjavík
Hverfisgata 12 · 101 Reykjavík
Tel. +354 552 15 22 · www.dillrestaurant.is
Lífið er saltfiskur
#109 Dill is a Nordic restaurant with its
focus on Iceland, the pure nature and
all the good things coming from it.

It does not matter if it’s the
ingredients or the old traditions, we
try to hold firmly on to both.
There are not many things that make
us happier than giving life to old
traditions and forgotten ingredients
with modern technique and our creative
mind as a weapon.
1 0 1 Ó Ð I N S T O R G R E Y K J A V Í K Í S L A N D S N A P S B I S T R O . I S
s n a p s @ s n a p s . i s + 3 5 4 5 1 1 6 6 7 7
F R E N C H O N I O N S O U P
I c e l a n d i c Í s b ú i c h e e s e , c r o û t o n s
2 . 1 0 0 . k r
M O U L E S M A R I N I E R E S
s t e a m e d m u s s e l s f r o m B r e i ð a f j ö r ð u r
1 . 9 9 0 . k r
F I S H O F T H E D A Y
c h e f ´ s s p e c i a l
3 . 4 0 0 . k r
E s t . 2 0 1 2R e y k j a v i k
23
The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 15 — 2015