Reykjavík Grapevine - 10.12.2016, Qupperneq 12

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Best thai food
Ban Thai
Laugavegur 130
Ban Thai has won this section for over
half a decade. It’s another rare thing
in Iceland: a specialty food place that
manages to keep quality despite the dif-
ficulty in obtaining high quality ingredi-
ents. Their spicy dishes manage to give
the fresh, piquant flavour of southeast
Asia. It’s also the only restaurant Russell
Crowe visited while in Iceland. What
does that mean? Try it and find out.
Runners Up
NaNa Thai
Skeifunni 4
Nana Thai is a worker’s lunch spot
in Skeifan. Do not be fooled by this
location. Yes, it’s lost in a sea of stores
and parking lots. The decoration style
might be called, generously, “minimal.”
If you find yourself in the area, it’s a
tasty meal.
Pad Thai
Álfheimar 2
Pad Thai is a four-seater restaurant that
only makes pad thai in three variations:
vegetables, chicken and shrimp. It’s
greasy. It’s comforting. It’s the best
sit-by-yourself-and-think-about-your-
future restaurant, and one of our guilty
pleasures.
Previous Winners:
2015: Ban Thai
2014: Ban Thai
2013: Yummi Yummi
2012: Ban Thai
2011: Ban Thai
Best family meal
Laundromat
Austurstræti 9
Laundromat is probably the most
visited restaurant on this list. The
reason is simple: it caters to families,
with a kids area in the basement. It also
has a laundromat in the basement, with
tokens available at the bar. It has a great
selection of bottled beers, and a simple,
appealing menu of soups, sandwiches,
burgers and steaks.
Runners Up
Hornið
Hafnarstræti 15
Hornið is an institution in Reykjavík.
It’s a family restaurant offering classic,
simple comfort food. Whether you’re
ordering a pizza to share with grandma
and grandpa or devouring a bowl of
pasta to carb-load before your 5k
Colour Run, Hornið makes going out
simple and tasty. If you took your
family out to the big indoor market,
Kolaportið, it’s just across the street.
Walk over and chat about your new
sunglasses or camouflage t-shirt.
KEX Hostel
Skúlagata 28
KEX won best family restaurant last
year. It has a kids’ area and it closes
early. It’s the type of place parents like
to go because it doesn’t scream “family
restaurant.” You can have your Pale Ale
served to you by some bearded bohe-
mian while taking turns sneaking out for
a cigarette or checking on your toddler.
Previous Winners:
2015: KEX
2014: Laundromat
2013: Laundromat
2012: Laundromat
2011: Laundromat
Best goddamn restaurant
Snaps
Þórsgata 1
Snaps is an atmospheric bistro beloved by Icelanders. It’s where lo-
cals have birthdays, anniversaries, ninth dates and family dinners.
The food is constantly getting better, with arguably the best gin &
tonic menu on this whole island, and a stellar espresso martini. The
bacalao is the consistent champion of the menu, but the french on-
ion soup can make you forget about the wind and the rain, and their
lamb steak with crispy fries and homemade bearnaise is maybe the
best in town. Pro tip: the English-language menu is on the back, so
just flip it over when you sit down.
Runners Up
Matur Og Drykkur
Grandagarður 2
Matur Og Drykkur? Again? Yes, it’s just
that good. You need to try this place.
Did we mention the cocktail menu?
It manages to be adventurous but
palatable to even the pickiest drinkers.
We love it!
Apótek
Austurstræti 16
Apótek makes beautifully prepared
meals in a great setting. You won’t be
disappointed. On Thursdays, they fly in
fresh oysters and put them on special.
This is a place worthy of visiting parents
or dignitaries. The macaroons are a
delicious to-go treat.
Previous Winners:
2015: Snaps
2014: Snaps
2013: Snaps
2012: Snaps
2011: Ban Thai
BEST OF REYKJAVÍK 2016
Dining
Not everything is shark and sheep head