Reykjavík Grapevine - 01.09.2018, Page 16

The Reykjavík Grapevine
Best of Reykjavík 2018
16 Best Brunch
Cafe Paris
Austurstræti 14
Cafe Paris’s European style brunch
with a few American classics thrown in,
make for a must-do weekend activity.
Near perfect eggs florentine, top-notch
fried chicken with waffles, and a hulk-
ing stack of pancakes with a generous
jug of maple syrup, some bubbly to pair
it with, and the quintessential brunch
experience is complete. We advise you
to take your time at brunch here, why
not round things off with steak and
eggs? As well, summertime is perfect
for sitting outdoors on the café patio
sipping Bellinis.
Runners Up
Haust
Fosshótel, Þórunnartún 1
With American inspired brunch staples,
efficient service, and room for the
young and your extended family,
Haust’s brunch is a well-kept secret. “El-
egant and laidback, you can take your
child, or your mother-in-law—it’s like
being in a nice hotel,” said the panel.
Snaps
Þórsgata 1
Snaps serves up a brunch perfect for
a laid-back Sunday morning recov-
ery session. Choose from various
omelettes, classic eggs benedict, and
croque monsieurs, and add a mimosa
if the mood strikes you. If that isn’t
your tipple of choice, they have a great
bloody mary and a dedicated g’n’t
menu.
Previous Winners
2017: Vox
2016: Coocoo’s Nest
2015: Slippbarinn
2014: Coocoo’s Nest
2013: Vox
Best Seafood
Fiskmarkaðurinn
& Fish Company
Joint winners
Fiskmarkaðurinn
Aðalstræti 12
“I haven’t had better salmon,” said
one panellist, of the robota grilled
salmon at Fish Market. The Japanese
grill is put to good use here, with the
seafood seared, smokey, and tender.
The split level restaurant is ideal for
business shake-downs as well as being
group-friendly, and the bar on the first
floor is perfect for a first date. The
tasting menus come recommended, as
are the interesting concoctions from
the bar. Everything on the menu gets an
Asian nod, and the approach to fusion
cooking always hits the spot. For an
extravagant seafood experience, Fish
Market is your safest bet.
Fish Company
Vesturgata 2a
The Fish Company steadfastly dishes
up some of the best seafood in
Iceland. While the panel noted a lack of
evolution in the menu, consistency is
king here. Case in point: the deceptively
named lobster salad—a feast for one,
with generous portions of deep-fried
lobster, tiger shrimp and fresh, spright-
ly salad.
Runner Up
Messinn
Lækjargata 6
Inspired by the well-known Tjöruhúsið
restaurant in Ísafjörður, Messinn
honours Icelandic seafood by serving
it in generous family-sized portions.
The focus is squarely on the fresh in-
gredients, simple sauces, and a side of
vegetables. The fish is always perfectly
cooked, and they serve up fantastic
plokkfiskur and arctic char, and a mean
salmon burger.
Previous Winners
2013-17: Fiskfélagið
Must-Try Dining
Experience
Matur og Drykkur
Grandagarður 2
Matur og Drykkur continues to grab
attention with its Instagram-worthy
entré of a whole cod head, cooked in
chicken stock then glazed and torched.
Whether you’re scoring likes or foodie
bragging rights, this is the definitive
adventurous dish to try in Reykjavík. The
meat is tender, and knives and forks
are redundant—go in with a spoon. It
comes with the unctuous and creamy
‘gellur’—cod tongue—fried in a light
tempura-like batter and served on the
side. Matur og Drykkur is also one of a
handful of restaurants that honours
traditional Icelandic cooking by ele-
vating it to fine-dining status, without
reducing it to a shock-value spectacle.
Runners Up
Café Loki
Lokastígur 28
Café Loki seems to have been around
for as long as Hallgrímskirkja itself.
Unassuming and simple, they were on
the ‘dung smoked fish’ bandwagon
before it was cool. Most new Icelanders
had an initiation into Icelandic food at
Café Loki. The rye bread soup and ice-
cream are excellent, and you can try
fermented shark and Brennivín.
Sægreifinn
Geirsgata 8
No longer a secret, this harbourside
restaurant has seen a drop in the
quality of their signature soup in recent
years, but the number of visitors has
only risen. However, it’s still a cosy
place, the seafood kebabs are a good
bet, and the soup is comforting on
blighty days.
Previous Winners
2016-17: Matur og Drykkur
2015: Shrimp pyramid at Jómfrúin
2014: Food section at Kolaportið
2013: Icelandic food at Kaffi Loki
THE HOME
OF ICELANDIC
SEAFOOD
AND LAMB
APOTEK Kitchen+Bar is
a casual-smart restaurant located
in one of Reykjavíks
most historical buildings.
We specialize in fresh seafood
and local ingredients
prepared with a modern twist.
Austurstræti 16 101 Reykjavík apotek.is
APOTEK KITCHEN+BAR
Kerið volcanic crater
(entrance fee included)
Faxi waterfall
Geysir geothermal area
Gullfoss waterfall
Þingvellir National Park
Availability: Daily
Pickup starts: 8:00
Duration: 8 hours
Grand
Golden
Circle
1
2
3
4
5
5
43
2
Reykjavík
Selfoss
Þingvellir Geysir Gullfoss
Kerið
Faxi
1
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