Reykjavík Grapevine - 11.12.2016, Page 14

The R
eykjavík G
rapevine
B
est of R
eykjavík 20
16
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LOCAL
FOOD AND BEER
Tasty and fun food made with fresh and local Icelandic ingredients.
We oer a unique selection of Icelandic beer– 20 bottled,
10 on draft, and artisan cocktails to enjoy alongside the food.
Drop by for lunch, late lunch, dinner or drinks
in a casual and fun atmosphere.
ICELANDIC GASTROPUB
Hafnarstræti 1–3 / Tel. 555 2900 / saetasvinid.isOpen 11:30–23:30
RESTAURANT- BAR
Vesturgötu 3B | 101 Reykjavík | Tel. 551 2344 | www.tapas.is
late night dining
Our kitchen is open
until 23:30 on weekdays
and 01:00 on weekends
taste the best of iceland ...
... in one amazing meal
Starts with a shot of the infamous
Icelandic spirit Brennívín
Followed by seven delicious tapas
Smoked puffin with blueberry “brennivín” sauce
Icelandic sea-trout with peppers-salsa
Lobster tails baked in garlic
Pan-fried line caught blue ling with lobster-sauce
Grilled Icelandic lamb Samfaina
Minke Whale with cranberry & malt-sauce
White chocolate "Skyr" mousse with passion
fruit coulis
7.990 kr.
icelandic gourmet feast
Best cheap meal
Noodle Station
Laugavegur 86
If you, like the Martians in 'Bill and
Ted’s Bogus Journey', have only the
word “station” in your vocabulary, you
are halfway to naming the best cheap
meal in Reykjavík: Noodle Station. Yes,
there is still a noodle war going on here
in Reykjavík, with ardent supporters
behind various places, but there can
be only one... And Noodle Station is it.
You can smell the coriander for metres
around this place, and whenever the
temperature drops you can see the
conden-soup-sation on the windows.
The veggie option comes in under
1000 ISK. Enter hungry, and leave with
change in your pocket.
Runners Up
Bæjarins Beztu
Bærjarins Beztu is a hot dog stand. It
might just be the greatest hot dog stand
on earth. Yes, it has been visited by
presidents (you can order a “Clinton”)
and celebrities. Yes, it will be the thing
you miss most about Iceland. Some-
times the lines are long, and one hot
dog isn’t enough and two is too many.
Life is so hard.
10/11
Various locations
10/11 is a more expensive grocery store
than Bónus or Krónan, but it’s open
24 hours, so you’ll end up going there
anyway. We could suggest cheaper
places, but that won’t matter. You will
go here. They sell sandwiches, and a
super-cheap soup and bread option.
Previous Winners:
2015: K-Bar
2014: 10-11 after 14:00
2013: “Sub of the month” at Subway
2012: Íslenski barinn
2011: Noodle Station
Best brunch
Coocoo’s Nest
Grandagarður 23
Do not fly by or over this great spot
located in the Grandi harbour area. It
has a selection of vegetarian and vegan
options and the brunch is one of the
must-try meals in Reykjavík. Brunch is
served Friday to Sunday from 11:00
until 16:00. We recommend getting
there early and making a day out of the
up and coming Grandi area. It has a
picturesque old harbour, and the walk
will help with your hangover.
Runners Up
Hverfisgata 12
Hverfisgata 12
Hverfisgata 12 is a nice-looking place.
Half of any good brunch is in the loca-
tion, and this place delivers. The other
half is eggs, bread and fruit. Hverfisgata
12 does it all, and very well. The plating
is Instagram gold. You’ll be happy you
went here, and so will your followers.
Snaps
Þórsgata 1
Snaps has Eggs Benedict, Bloody Marys
and a gin and tonic menu. It also has
cava for under 1000 ISK. When some-
one from Chicago or Toronto says,
“Let’s go for brunch,” this is the kind
of place they mean— a comfortable
Sunday recovery spot.
Previous Winners:
2015: Slippbarinn
2014: Coocoo’s Nest
2013: Vox
2012: Vox
2011: Vox
Best seafood
Fiskfélagið
Vesturgata 2a
Fiskfélagið (“The Fish Company”)
answers the most common question
asked when people arrive here: “Where
can I get some fresh Icelandic fish?”
You’ve undoubtedly heard of the
lengths to which Iceland went to have
the best fresh fish in world—the years
of fighting and lives lost in the Cod
Wars. Yet, even against the former
imperial powerhouse of Great Britain,
Icelandic lawyers and fishing companies
prevailed. That victory is yours to
savour, and there’s no better place to
celebrate.
Runner Up
Ostabúðin
Skólavörðustígur 8
Ostabúðin (“The Cheese Shop”) has
a great fish menu. It’s a runner up,
because it’s a lunch spot only, but you
won’t be disappointed here. It’s not
complicated. It’s just delicious, full stop.
Newcomer
Messinn
Lækjargata 6b
Messin is only a few months old, but
it makes simple fish into a theatrical
culinary adventure. You get your dinner
served hot in the pan. What do you get?
Fish, potatoes and vegetables. Try the
Steinbítur.
Previous Winners:
2015: Fiskfélagið
2014: Fiskfélagið
2013: Fiskfélagið
2012: Fiskfélagið
2011: Við Tjörnina
Best must-try dining
experience
Matur og Drykkur
Grandagarður 2
Matur og Drykkur has become the
place we tell friends to try when they’re
visiting. They take classic Icelandic
ingredients and bring them up to date.
The most dramatic, and dare-we-say,
must-try item on their menu is the cod
head. It’s cooked in chicken stock and
then glazed. For some, the idea of a cod
head seems a little too experimental,
but trust us, it’s delicious. Start with the
cheeks and then just keep eating until
it’s no longer looking at you.
Runners Up
Sægreifinn
Geirsgata 8
Sægreifinn (“The Sea Baron”) became
famous for its “Moby Dick on a stick”
grilled whale kebab, and its incredibly
hearty lobster soup, from a secret
recipe. If you’re looking to taste the
ethically questionable minke whale, this
is the place to do it. Right on the harbour,
with a view of the whale-watching boats.
Bærjarins Beztu
By Tryggvagata
Bærjarins Beztu is a hot dog stand. It’s
amazing. Kim Kardashian made sure
to stop here, but only had ketchup on
her hot dog--like a complete amateur.
Order the “one with everything”—and
no, this isn’t the beginning of a Buddhist
hot dog vendor joke.
Previous Winners:
2015: Shrimp pyramid at Jómfrúin
2014: Food section at Kolaportið
2013: Icelandic food at Kaffi Loki
2012: Icel. Home-food, Mamma Steina
2011: The svið at Fljótt og Gott, BSÍ
BEST OF REYKJAVÍK 2016
Dining
It's the water here that makes it special