Reykjavík Grapevine - 10.12.2016, Page 14

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E L E G A N T P R E M I S E S I N
T H E H E A R T O F R E Y K J A V I K
B R U N C H - L U N C H A N D D I N N E R M E N U - L O C A L A N D F O R E I G N D I S H E S - B A R
B A N K A S T R Æ T I 7 A - 1 0 1 R E Y K J AV Í K - T E L . 5 6 2 3 2 3 2
KITCHEN
OPEN
UNTIL 23
EVERY
DAY
ICELAND COOLEST
GASTROPUB
Laugavegur 24
publichouse.is
HAPPY
HOUR
15–18
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 victor... 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 (also know as The Fish
Company) answers the most common
question asked when people arrive
here: “Where can I get some fresh Ice-
landic 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.
Runners Up
Ostabúðin
Skólavörðustígur 8
Ostabúðin (translated: “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 weeks 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 (Sea Baron) became
famous for it’s “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 hotdog stand. It’s
amazing. Kim Kardashian made sure to
stop here, but only had ketchup on her
hotdog--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