Reykjavík Grapevine - 01.06.2022, Blaðsíða 12

The Reykjavík Grapevine
Best of Reykjavík 2022
12
Best Goddamn Restaurant

Skál
Hlemmur Mathöll, Laugavegur 107
They’re back! Reykjavík’s beloved Michelin Bib recipient Skál may
have taken a nosedive during the pandemic, but like a phoenix it has
risen to new heights since chef Thomas Lorentzen took over the reins
at this hyper-local wunder-bar. It’s rare that an entire menu consists
of hits, but Skál can boast exactly that. The salt baked beets are a sym-
phony of flavour, while the cod belies the simplicity of its presenta-
tion, with each layer offering up a studied contrast of textures and
flavours. The cocktail game has also undergone an upgrade with bar-
tender Keli whipping up some magic on the regular. As our panellist
summed up, “You think it’ll be food hall fare and suddenly you have
all these innovative dishes and flavours.” Cheers to you, Skál.
Runners-Up
Hosiló
Hverfisgata 12
Hosiló embodies Icelandic nonchalance
in everything but their food. The phone
lines and messages might be left
unanswered, but the food continues to
deliver big, bold punches of flavour. The
restaurant boasts a tidy little menu, the
specifics of which rotate regularly. One
day, they might take you to Italy or Den-
mark, on another, they render a sublime
Icelandic dish in a contemporary cloak.
Clever details, like massaging ribboned
celeriac with saffron, hint at a maturity
we’d like to see more of.
Austur-Indíafélagið
Hverfisgata 56
It doesn’t matter if you are new to
Indian cuisine or a seasoned consumer
of curries, this place makes you feel
welcome. Whether you’re celebrating
a milestone, or simply want to treat
yourself to dining out done right, dinner
at Austur India never disappoints. We
recommend the tandoori grilled chick-
en or the stuffed kulchas.
Previous Winners
2021: Austur-Indíafjélagið/La
Primavera
2020: Sumac & Skál
2019: Snaps
Best Place For A Fancy Meal
Dill
Laugavegur 59
Every detail at Dill is thought through;
the cloth napkins, the stemware, the
gorgeous handmade ceramics—heck,
even the playlist is curated to the din-
ing room’s moods. Dill’s circular kitchen
philosophy extends to the whole menu
and functioning of the restaurant, with
the chefs able to tease flavour profiles
from seemingly mundane ingredients—
including their own kitcen scraps. All in
all, Dill continues to be a beacon of fine
dining in Iceland.
Runners-Up
La Primavera
Grandagarður 20 & Harpa 2 fl.
Dining at La Primavera is one of Reyk-
javík's simple pleasures. The focus is on
quality ingredients, allowed to shine on
their own merit without relying on fads
of molecular gastronomy, foams or Nor-
dic fermentation. Instead, chef Leifur
Eiriksson coaxes intense flavours from
only the bare necessities. Primavera is
that old school, romantic ideal of what
great dining can be and after more
than 25 years in the business, they
know a thing or two about that.
Newcomer
Tides
The Reykjavík Edition, Austurbakki 2
With striking timber coffered ceilings
and fluted concrete columns holding
aloft the restaurant in a golden glow of
warmth, Tides is where everyone wants
to be seen. The restaurant is a dream to
look at no matter where one is seated.
The food started off on safe mode when
they first opened, with hidden gems
like the whole deboned grilled chicken
now making way for a fine dining menu
that highlights Nordic cuisine. Don’t
leave without a stiff martini.
Previous Winners
2021: Dill
2020: Dill
2019: Austur-Indíafjélagið
Best Family Restaurant
Toddler
Kaffi Lækur
Laugarnesvegur 74a
Kaffi Lækur has always been popular
with families. We love the layout of the
cafe, the food menu that is great for
splitting with kids, and the patient,
reassuring service that understands
all too well the challenges of dining out
with younger wards. They've recently
added an outdoor play space, perfect
for summer afternoon visits.
Tween
Osushi
Tryggvagata 13
Eating out with kids is inherently stress-
ful. At Osushi, young diners don’t have
to wait for their food at all—which goes
some way in explaining the popularity
of this place with families. The sushi
conveyor belt provides plenty of visual
stimulation, piques an interest in all the
colourful food on offer and is the per-
fect blend of small bites, and choices
to please both the picky eater and the
adventurous mini-gourmand.
Teen
Laundromat
Austurstræti 9
After a brief hiatus, Laundromat Cafe
returned towards the end of 2019.
Laundromat ffers a cool ‘50’s-diner-
meets-maximalist-library vibe,
decorated with bright furnishings,
maps and colour-coded books.
It’s great for families in general,
but teens in particular like the fun
decor, burgers and milkshakes. We
especially love their vocal support for
breastfeeding, as well as the fact that
you can actually do laundry here!
2021 Previous Winners
Kid's choice: Osushi
Parent's choice: Kaffi Lækur
Runner-Up: Klambrar Bistro
BEST OF REYKJAVÍK 2022
Dining
From fancy meals to family fun
A RARE, ONCE-IN-
A-LIFETIME
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