Reykjavík Grapevine - 01.09.2018, Side 8

The Reykjavík Grapevine
Best of Reykjavík 2018
8
There has never been a more exciting time for the restaurant scene
in Reykjavik. Thanks to burgeoning tourism, exposure, and a genuine
curiosity for foods from far and wide, diners now have a plethora of
choices on offer. Whether it’s high-end fine dining (we even boast a Mi-
chelin starred gem!), or a cheap late night bite, Reykjavik is coming into
its own as a culinary destination, offering small plates, tasting menus,
farm to table seasonal produce and classic Iceland cuisine, all while ac-
commodating vegans and vegetarians. The following restaurants are
the very best, according to our panel of enthusiastic gourmands. Feel
free to let us know what you think of our choices as you eat your way
around the city. We’re listening. And we’re hungry.
Best burger
Le Kock
Ármúli 42 & Tryggvagata 12
Bad boys on the block, Le Kock, have thrown down the gauntlet to the
many burger joints in town, beating the competition by a long shot.
Is it the homemade potato rolls that don’t crumble or deflate until
the last bite? Is it the patty:bun ratio? The classic condiments? Or the
Greek fries with herb dressing? Their no-nonsense attitude to food,
insistence on top-notch ingredients, and dedication to making the
best burger possible has won us over. Go for the classic cheeseburger,
and leave with some of their ridiculously good doughnuts.
Runners Up
Hamborgarabúllan
Multiple outlets
Love it or hate it, Búllan is still going
strong after all these years. The
Geirsgata old-style burger joint
location—the cutest one in downtown
Reykjavik—is made better by the smoky
steak burger. Pair it with some fries and
a milkshake, and you have the quintes-
sential American fast-food meal.
Block Burger
Skólavörðustígur 8
Block Burger may have been heavily
inspired (ahem) by Shake Shack, sans
the mega chain’s signature potato roll
buns. Block Burger slings excellent
hamburgers—their hand-shaped
patties make for a tender, unevenly
edged, perfectly crisped, delectable
burger, topped off by their signature
sauce with sharp mustard. And at 1,180
ISK, the price is right.
Previous Winners
2017: Sæta Svínið
2015-6: Búllan
2014: Kex Hostel
2013: Vitabar
Best Veggie Burger
Prikið
Bankastræti 12
One might not necessarily think of
Prikið—an antique diner turned hip-hop
party bar—when they think of food, let
alone vegetarian food or vegan fare,
but they offer both. They actually have
not one but two vegan burgers on the
menu, both of which have their own
staunch fans. The Ronald Vegan burger
with coconut chips may sound weird,
but it totally works. They also have a
burger-and-a-beer happy hour so drop
in and try it out.
Runners Up
Roadhouse Reykjavík
Snorrabraut 56
Roadhouse’s grilled celeriac ‘patty’ is
one of the best interpretations of a
vegan/veggie burger. Without resorting
to Oumph, or the mystery mushy patty
trickery, it’s a clever, smoky, delicious
beast with all the trimmings. It’s
available in both vegan and vegetarian
versions.
Newcomer: Bio Borgari
Vesturgata 12
A tiny crowd-funded burger shack run
by two young entrepreneurs, Bio Bor-
gari takes clean eating seriously. Their
produce is organic, their buns seeded,
and their wafer-thin root vegetables
would give Tyrell’s a run for their money.
The lentil seed patty is crisp and fla-
vourful. For an unconventional take on
the burger, Bio Borgari is a good bet.
Previous Winners
2017: Bike Cave
2016: Búllan
2015: Brooklyn Bar
2013-4: Búllan
BEST OF REYKJAVÍK 2018
Dining
Delicious even if you can't pronounce it
Best Pizza
Flatey
Grandagarður 11
Few things get a Reykvíkingar’s heart
racing like pizza. But for a pizza-loving
nation, we’ve for some reason long had
an unspeakable affair with sloppy Dom-
ino’s. Not anymore! True Napoli pizzas
are now a reality in Reykjavík, with a
pizzaiola from Naples, a custom electric
oven that cooks pies in seconds,
high-quality ingredients atop every
signature thin slice, and leopard spot
blistering. We’ve already devoured our
body weight in the Padrino and cheesy
Tartufo. The classic Margherita is also
unmissable, and divine in its simplicity.
Runners Up
Eldofninn
Efstaland 26
Eldofninn has been pushing that
doughy envelope with topping com-
binations that’ll leave you scratching
your head at first, but rubbing your
belly later. Try the beetroot pizza or the
soya mushroom, sausage and pickled
chilli number, and make a night of it
with some excellent cocktails from
the bar.
Hornið
Hafnarstræti 15
Hornið is an old school pizza joint where
you can break bread with your grand-
ma and toddler, or show up nursing a
hangover, heartache, or both. With thin
crust pizzas and a no-frills Italian flair in
the decor as well as the toppings, this
is a local treasure. We swear by their
quattro stagioni.
Previous Winners
2017: Hornið
2014-6: Hverfisgata 12
2013: Gamla Smiðjan