Reykjavík Grapevine - 01.06.2018, Qupperneq 32

The Reykjavík Grapevine
Best of Reykjavík 2018
32
“You can get hoagie-style sandwiches
stuffed with portobellos, roasted peppers
and whole langoustine tails.”
DINING GUIDE
Let Them Eat
Rúgbrauð
Life hacks for eating on the cheap
Words: Shruthi Basappa & John Rogers Photos: various
As tourists so like to loudly an-
nounce, eating out sure ain’t
cheap here in Rekkyvick. So,
in addition to the winners of
our ‘Best Cheap Meal’ catego-
ry—which you can find in the
Dining awards, on page 14—we
thought it might be helpful to
throw in a few more bargain op-
tions. Whether it’s a cut-price
lamb feast at Hlemmur Mathöll,
or a bargain takeaway curry for
lunch, here are five meals you
can enjoy without having to
first sell your antique unicorn
horn on eBay.
Forréttabarinn
Nýlendugata 14
A short walk from the Reykjavík
harbour, just off the downtown
puffin-store onslaught is Fórret-
tabarinn. The name translates
to ‘appetiser bar’ and fittingly,
a selection of small and large
plates at 1,690 ISK and 2,550 ISK
are offered. It is a smattering of
Icelandic ingredients, and glob-
al cuisines, making it possible
to try a horse steak and buffalo
chicken at the same time.
Square Meal At
Hlemmur Square
Laugavegur 105
Appropriately named, Hlemmur
Square offers an attractively
priced ‘Square Meal’ of roast leg
of lamb with all the accompani-
ments or a creamy langoustine
soup for just 1,800 ISK Tuesday
to Saturday, 6-7 p.m. at their in-
house restaurant Pulsa. Now you
have no excuse not try two of the
staple dishes of Icelandic food.
Shalimar
Austurstræti 4
This downtown curry place has
undergone a renaissance of late.
The ‘curry in a hurry’ takeaway
lunch offer for 990 ISK is excel-
lent value for the price; wheth-
er you work close by and need a
break from a sad desk lunch, or
you’re saving money for some
overpriced souvenir fridge mag-
nets. With a naan, some rice and
one curry of the day, it’s a pretty
satisfying deal.
Stúdentakjallarinn
Háskólatorg, Sæmundargata
A little-known gem for those not
in a course at the University of
Iceland, the tucked-away spot
Stúdentakjallarinn (“Student
basement”) is a college cantina,
dishing out generous portions
of snack-like food at decent pric-
es. The tortilla pizzas and burg-
ers are popular, neither costing
more than 1,500 ISK. And the
people watching is obviously
top-notch.
Hlemmur Mathöll
Laugavegur 107
With a wide variety of foods that
cater to different folks with dif-
ferent budgets, Hlemmur Mathöll
has something for everyone.
The vegetable vendors at Rab-
barbarinn serve up wholesome
soups, and hoagie-style sand-
wiches stuffed with meaty porto-
bellos, roasted peppers and whole
langoustine tails. If your new year
resolutions are still holding up,
then the summer rolls and Banh
Mi sandwiches at the Vietnamese
stall might be perfect. Or the tacos
with assorted spicy sauces and
salsas at Poblano, the Mexican
stall. All of this and more for un-
der a 1,800 ISK, cheaper in many
cases, makes this a one-stop spot
for all things delicious and afford-
able.
Hlemmur Mathöll also has the fanciest napkin holders in town 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
A LOCAL FAVOURITE
FOR 17 YEARS
TAPASBARINN – A MUST TRY IN ICELAND
Experience tapas the Icelandic way, made with
the freshest local ingredients in an energetic
and vibrant atmosphere.
ALL THE ICELANDIC BEERS ICELANDIC CUISINE WITH
A TWIST+IN ONE AWESOME PLACE