Reykjavík Grapevine - ágú. 2019, Blaðsíða 16

The Reykjavík Grapevine
Best of Reykjavík 2019
16 Best Brunch
Coocoo’s Nest
Grandagarður 23
Family-run restaurant Coocoo’s Nest of-
fers a memorable brunch, with options
ranging from a filling, spicy breakfast
burrito to green eggs on sourdough
bread. Located out on Grandi (they’ve
been out there since before it was
cool), the walk along the harbour will
clear your head on the way; in summer,
you can sit outside and catch the sun,
and in winter, the cosy interior feels al-
most like a secluded fairy-light-strung
yard. The service is right, the food spot
on, and the healthy beetroot mimosa is
a fresh and tasty hair of the dog.
Runners Up
Snaps
Þórsgata 1
Snaps serves up the perfect laid-back
brunch for your Sunday morning
recovery 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 g’n’t menu.
Cafe Paris
Austurstræti 14
Cafe Paris is a bright bistro with casual
panache with food to match. The panel
praised the fried chicken and waffles,
and the stacks of pancakes with
bananas and almonds. They lamented,
however, the cancellation of table ser-
vice, which diminishes the Parisienne
vibe and kept this otherwise excellent
joint off the top spot.
Previous Winners
2018: Cafe Paris
2017: Vox
2016: Coocoo’s Nest
Best Lunch Place
Hlemmur &
Grandi Mathöll
Hlemmur & Grandagarður 16
When it comes to lunch, Reykjavík’s two
food halls are top of the pile. It is, after
all, a major increase over the zero food
halls we had in 2016. As you might ex-
pect, the main attraction is the variety
on offer. Members of a group can mix-
and-match their dishes and drinks from
the different concessions to fit anyone
and everyone’s hunger level, budget,
vegetarianism, allergies, etcetera.
Chase your heart’s desire, be it Nordic,
Thai, Mexican, Korean, a pastry, a panini,
or just a plain ol’ pile of lamb meat.
Runners Up
Hannesarholt
Grundarstígur 10
The historic Hannesarholt culture
building has gotten a new lease of
life. Formerly a quiet coffee spot, it
reopened as a restaurant focusing on
locally sourced produce. It’s a concise
selection: we tried the juicy, crisp salm-
on with wholesome beets and quinoa.
Vegans can rejoice too: there’s always
one option on the menu.
Newcomer
Mímisbar
Hagatorg
Rather than a limp slice of pizza or re-
heated soup. Mímir has a Michelin-level
kitchen and two handsome portions of
colourful, Nordic deliciousness for un-
der 2,000 ISK (at the time of writing) in
a swanky but unpretentious dining hall.
“Mímir,” FYI, is the disembodied brother
of the Norse god Odin. Pretty metal.
Previous Winners
2017-8: Snaps
2015-6: Ostabúðin
Best Ice Cream
Skúbb
Laugarásvegur 1
Ice cream is one of those ethereal
pleasures that encapsulates the mantra
of living—be present. Unlike the sugar
crazed concoctions in every supermar-
ket aisle, Skúbb elevates the ice-cream
games with their flavour-forward, dense,
creamy scoops. Seasonal favourite man-
go is an absolute treat, while the dark
chocolate brownie is lusciously bitter.
The non-dairy sorbets are intensely
fruity, indicating the absence of imita-
tion flavours. Every scoop is a downright
treat, especially with the promise of
summer looming large.
Runners Up
Ísbúð Huppu
Álfheimar 2-6
Selfoss based ice-cream joint Huppu,
with their happy cow logo, may not
be a vegan haunt, but this thoroughly
Icelandic incarnation serves up all the
time honoured local classics—creamy
soft serves, assortment of dips and
toppings with fruit to candy ratio being
1:100 and the hyper-local bragðarefur
ice cream and candy smoothie.
Valdís
Grandagarður 21 & Frakkastígur 10
Despite stiff competition, Valdís
continues to draw the crowds. If you
cannot bear the thought of queuing
behind an impatient Icelander—ticket
system long forgotten—they now sell
their wares in supermarkets. The store
scoops are a notch above though, so
drop in at Grandi or Frakkastígur.
Previous Winners
2018: Skúbb
2013-7: Valdís
Best Lamb
Matarkjallarinn
Aðalstræti 2
Icelandic lamb is raised simply—all
summer long, the sheep are left outside
to graze, and come fall, the lamb makes
a bee-line to the plate. It’s only fitting
that Matarkjallarinn honours Icelandic
lamb in the most unpretentious fashion.
Grassy and intense, Icelandic lamb
needs to be handled delicately for its
unique flavour to shine through—do too
much and you’ll overshadow this tender
meat. By foregoing frivolous add-ons,
Matarkjallarinn lets the lamb speak for
itself.
Runners Up
Grillmarket
Lækjargata 2a
Grillmarket is still the go-to place for
many locals looking for a fancy evening
out. For most, it means ordering the
lamb and a bottle of wine. And rightfully
so. The lamb chops or charcoal grilled
steaks are always a winner—the smoky
char is but a natural foil to the grassy
meat.
Apotek
Austurstræti 16
Whatever lamb is being served here,
rest assured it’ll be a meal to remem-
ber. With experienced chefs who share
an unbridled passion for meat and
fire, all the plates come out perfectly
executed. Currently, they have a rack of
lamb that’s a visual treat—get it while
it lasts.
Previous Winners
New category!
How about an old fish factory for lunch and
a run-down bus station for dinner? Treat your
taste buds at Iceland’s first street food halls.
Hlemmur Food Hall & Grandi Food Hall.
mathallir.is
Reykjavík
Food Halls