Reykjavík Grapevine - 01.09.2018, Page 12

The Reykjavík Grapevine
Best of Reykjavík 2018
12
Best Goddamn Restaurant
Mat Bar
Hverfisgata 26
An across the board favourite, Mat Bar is probably the only restaurant
in town that takes its seasonal produce first approach to its menu se-
riously enough to churn out seven menus since opening. In a stylish
dining room with an open kitchen, this devil-may-care attitude trans-
lates to unconventional yet delicious food, from Icelandic monkfish
livers to grilled, stuffed squid, a stellar hand-stretched mozzarella
with pickled tomatoes, rosemary-dusted lamb chops, and smooth
cocktails. If all that wasn’t enough, they raise the bar for vegetarian
dishes too. One panellist summed it up as “a marriage of fire and fla-
vour, plate after plate.”
Runners Up
Snaps
Þórsgata 1
Restaurants may come and go, but
Snaps remains beloved by all. The
house fries—a mound of perfectly fried
spuds—are reason enough alone to
make a trip to the cosy, plant-bright-
ened bistro. Casual but chic, it’s
somewhere to see and be seen. Did
we mention they make a stellar crème
brulée as well? A true keeper.
Hverfisgata 12
Hverfisgata 12
Despite murmurs about blips in quality
at peak times, this cosy pizza joint
remains a beloved downtown “happy
place” for many. Their hearty pizzas are
inventively-topped, their brunch menu
has interesting options, the decadent
sides are meals in themselves, and
their cocktails hit the spot without fail.
Previous Winners
2017: Snaps / Matur og Drykkur
2014-6: Snaps
Best Place For A Fancy Meal
Dill
Hverfisgata 12
If you’re a gourmand looking for a mem-
orable meal when in Reykjavík, Dill has
to top the list. Dill showcases the best
of Iceland with seasonal menus, paying
homage to the island’s bounty, often
found no place else, executed with
all the tweezer-precision of modern
cuisine. Don’t even think twice about
splurging for the seven-course menu—
it’s the only way to do it. Top-notch
service and friendly sommeliers round
off an already perfect experience.
Runners Up
Grillmarket
Lækjargata 2a
The locally-sourced tasting menus of
Grillmarket have been a hit with diners
since this place opened its doors. A
favourite ‘fancy place’ for locals, the
restaurant recently upped its game by
offering fresh, locally grown Icelandic
wasabi. Our panel suggested pairing
the wasabi with a steak, and something
from the exhaustive wine list.
Apotek Restaurant
Austurstræti 16
This sleek, spacious downtown bar
and dining room has that all-important
fancy feeling, matched by service that’s
attentive without being intrusive, and
locally sourced ingredients cooked
to perfection and presented with a
flourish. The cocktails are excellent,
and whether it’s a date or a birthday, it’s
a safe choice for a special occasion.
Previous Winners
2014-7: Dill
2013: Gallery at Hótel Holt (RIP)
Best Family Meal
Jamie’s Italian
Pósthússtræti 11
When Jamie’s first opened its doors,
critics were eager to see how the
restaurant would fare. Like all the
Jamie’s franchises worldwide, the
Reykjavík location has family at its core.
The spacious booth seating and fresh,
handmade pasta appeals to the very
young, old and those in between, at
prices that do not break the bank. The
very attractive option to have half por-
tions makes this a clear winner. “They
don’t infantilize the children’s menu,”
observed one panellist, “and parents
can have a good time too.”
Runners Up
Hamborgarafabrikkan
Höfðatorg, Kringlan
Kids’ choice: For birthday parties or a
regular old outing with the fam, 'Fab-
rikkan is ideal for a louder-than-usual
outing. There are plenty of distractions
for young diners, and orders from
the extensive burger menu are taken
early and served quickly to keep young
temperaments in line, all without com-
promising on service.
Bryggjan Brugghús
Grandagarður 8
Parents’ choice: The food may be hit
and miss, but this spacious microbrew-
ery is popular with families. There’s end-
less space for energetic young ones to
expend some energy, and service that
makes them feel welcome. Parents can
sit back and relax over a house-brewed
beer without worrying about their
young wards. What’s not to like?
Previous Winners
2017: Hamborgarafabrikkan
2016: Laundromat
2015: KEX Hostel
2013-4: Laundromat
BEST OF REYKJAVÍK 2018
Dining
Not everything is shark and sheep head
@FLATEYPIZZA FLATEY.PIZZA
GRANDAGARÐUR 11
101 REYKJAVÍK +354 5882666
PIZZA NAPOLETANA
MARGHERITA