Reykjavík Grapevine - sep. 2020, Síða 8

The Reykjavík Grapevine
Best of Reykjavík 2020
8
The year 2020 wasn’t kind to many restaurateurs. Let’s be honest, it's
a tough business. Nevertheless, Iceland’s culinary scene is seeing the
emergence of new players and the old guard stepping up their A-game.
Restaurants continue to diversify; we’ve got ourselves an izakaya in-
spired spot, while tasting menus are being questioned and reinterpret-
ed. The scope of “Icelandic cuisine” is broadening to include not just
produce and products but also their sourcing and seasonal integrity on
this harsh island by players big and small. Whether it is globally rec-
ognised Nordic fine-dining or fragrant Thai curries, traditional Ice-
landic cuisine or family-friendly sushi, to everything in-between, this
guide to the best of everything Reykjavík has to offer has been hand-
picked by our exacting panel of passionate gourmands. From budget
bites to fanciful fare, we’ve got you covered. Skál!
Best Burger

Le Kock & Búllan
Joint Winners
Le Kock, Tryggvagata 14
O burgers, glorious burgers! If there were a national dish, burgers
would be it for Iceland. And at Le Kock, their irreverence is thankfully
a social media strategy only. When it comes to the food, it is still the
‘gourmet tuck shop’ the founders envisioned. The potato roll game
is strong and holds up despite their recent defeat at the hands of
the sauce puddle muddle (a beast so savage, hardly a burger in town
hasn’t succumbed). Grab those extra napkins, you’ll need them. Bet-
ter yet, ask for just a smidgen of sauce. Singed with smoke and magic,
a classic cheeseburger is still the top dog here.
Hamborgarabúllan, multiple locations
An oldie but a goodie, Búllan slings a solid burger that seals Iceland’s
reputation as a worthy burger destination. With multiple locations
you are always close to one. A lil’ birdie on our panel whispers that,
"the Tommi-owned Höfði location is excellent with kids," and anoth-
er swore by the Geirsgata location for the ‘Steak Burger’. Also worth
trying are the Tuesday 1,190 ISK deals.
Newcomer
Yuzu
Hverfisgata 44
The citrus fruit extract might be a tad
too pronounced in their mayo, but the
steamed bread burgers at Yuzu have
got everyone at the Grapevine offices
converted. They arrive in a cane steam-
er and it's best to make quick work of
the delicious treats, easy if you’ve got
the Kimchi burger.
Previous Winners
2019: Le Kock & Búllan
2018: Le Kock
2017: Sæta Svínið
Best Vegan Burger
BioBorgari
Vesturgata 12
Veggie burgers can be many things, but
too often they’re reduced to a close-
to-meat contest. Standing tall amidst a
sea of pre-made patties and bean paste
offenders are their scrumptious grain-
bean-lentil patties, with the earthiness
of assorted veggies and buckwheat
and flax with the charcoal grill adding
a lovely singed note. They’ve really
listened to the dry burger complaint
cause the ‘Special Vegan’ with its crown
of baked apples is quite an unmissable
treat, whether you are vegan or not. The
tomato sauce & kale pesto are pretty
great too. For clean, small-batch, slow
living, BioBorgari is worth the love.
Runners-Up
Jömm
Kringlan & Faxafen 14
With soy-based Oumph products, Jömm
have a wide selection of burgers to
choose whatever your plant-based
junk food craving may be—if the basic
burger doesn’t cut it, there are other
variants and wraps and pitas as well.
Psst... our panel says, "their sauces are
a game changer."
Junkyard
Skeifan 13A
Vegan food is often depicted as big
on health and low on taste. Skeifan’s
Junkyard proves that to be fake news.
The restaurant serves up sloppy, greasy
cruelty-free junk food that hits the spot
whenever you’re in the market for a full
on burger experience. It’s relatively light
on the wallet as well.
Previous Winners
2019: Veganæs (RIP)
2018: Prikið
2017: Bike Cave
2016: Búllan
BEST OF REYKJAVÍK 2020
Dining
Delicious, even if you can't pronounce it
Best Pizza
Flatey
Grandagarður 11 & Hlemmur
Newcomers rarely, if ever, win a catego-
ry in the Best of Dining. But when Flatey
blew onto the pizza scene in Reykjavik,
they brought with them unknown-
in-these parts Napoli pie-game. One
bite of that foldover, blistered pie and
we were floored. A few years in, and
Flatey’s pie-game is still as strong as
ever. The menu spans classics—the
Margheritas are a panel favourite with
their puddle of milky mozzarella—and
beloved faves, like the Tartufo, a truffled
pizza bianco and the Vegan(o) with its
rosemary speckled potatoes. Keep an
eye out for the offspring of the ‘Battle
of the Bakers’.
Runners-Up
Black Box Pizzeria
Borgartún 26 & Háholt 13-15
Black Box combines the Napoli-style
sourdough craze with the familiarity of
commercial pizzerias, all in a dark Goth
arcade vibe. While originality might be
a sore point for some panellists, we
see the appeal of a well made pie, es-
pecially one with avocado and crushed
pistachios.
Íslenska Flatbakan
Mathöll Höfði & Bæjarlind 2
With a large wood fired oven (gas
assisted), Flatbakan is an homage to
homegrown pizza style. Think a thin
crust, generously sauced pie topped
with local favourites—regular suspects
jostling for attention amidst dates,
bananas and of course cream-cheese,
and a melty vegan cheese.
Previous Winners
2018-9: Flatey
2017: Hornið
2015-6: Hverfisgata 12 (RIP)