Iceland review - 2012, Page 81

ICELAND REVIEW 79
from reykjavík to taste. after
your gourmet meal, do like the
King of sweden on his visit and
enjoy a drink in one of the hotel’s
outdoor hotpots. then sit back,
relax and start planning your next
trip to this luxurious enclave in
south iceland.
487 5700. hotelranga.is
icelanDic Fish & chips the
humble cod just got trendy. ice-
landic Fish & Chips, a self-styled
‘organic bistro’ by reykjavík’s
harbor, has garnered a loyal fol-
lowing since it opened four years
ago. it’s obvious what this simple
eatery, with both eat-in and take-
away service, features on its menu.
But it’s the details that make it so
popular. the fish itself, not just
cod but catfish, haddock, plaice
or whatever the fisherman has just
hauled in, is battered in spelt and
barley flour and cooked in canola
oil, rich in omega 3 fatty acids. the
chips are Maldon-salted wedges of
baked potatoes, cooked in olive oil
and herbs. and instead of fat-laden
tartar sauce, patrons can choose
from a variety of skyronnaises—
creamy dips made from icelandic
skyr. those interested in a larger
meal will enjoy both whatever rich
soup of the day is on offer (served
with spelt bread and hummus), and
the whipped skyr and berry des-
sert, served in a champagne flute.
this is healthy, tasty food at a good
price in a charming environment.
511 1118. fishandchips.is
jóMFrúin if gallup were to poll
reykjavíkians about their favorite
danish open-face sandwich res-
taurant, Jómfrúin would win hands
down. Walk down
lækjargata street at lunch, peek
into Jómfrúin’s windows and see
for yourself: the restaurant that is a
little touch of denmark is packed.
“it’s popular because of iceland’s
relationship to denmark,” says
Jakob Jakobsson, the restaurant’s
owner, referring to iceland’s former
status as a danish colony. “We
have quick service, great food,
and the location is good.” don’t
take Jakobsson’s word for it. try
it yourself, but make sure to order
the ‘h.C. andersen’: rye bread with
crisp bacon, liver pâté, port aspic,
horseradish and the ubiquitous
butter spread across most of Jóm-
frúin’s open-face sandwiches.
551 0100. jomfruin.is
lava dominating the reykjanes
peninsula landscapes, lava pro-
vides the name and the decor of
the restaurant at the Blue lagoon,
the country’s most popular tourist
destination. opened in 2007, lava
restaurant is built into the side of a
cliff, with a striking black lava wall
projecting into the stylish, modern
setting. a glass staircase leads up
to the lava Bar, perfect for a cock-
tail, and a rooftop viewing deck
provides a beautiful view of the la-
goon. as for the menu, lava offers
fresh icelandic ingredients with an
international flair. nearby fishing vil-
lage grindavík provides the kitchen
with the freshest catch, so it’s no
wonder that seafood is the most
popular choice among guests. try
Minke whale with wasabi, gin-
ger and sweet soya for a starter,
continue with pan-fried catfish
with lime and chili, then finish with
the signature dessert of blueberry
sorbet, warm chocolate cake and
white chocolate skyr mousse. it
may be hard to leave the luxurious
soak at the Blue lagoon spa, but
with a menu like this you will feel
just as pampered out of the water
as in. 420 8815. bluelagoon.com
nítjanDa high above the city,
on the 19th floor of turninn in
Kópavogur by smáralind mall,
the crowds have been flocking
for brunch and lunch buffets at
nítjanda. now, they finally offer
a dinner buffet too. appetizers
feature icelandic ingredients
with tropical twists: salmon with
mango, sushi, fresh fennel and
orange; cured lamb with hazelnut
sauce that is to die for. there
is also soup and home-baked
bread—but don’t forget that
there are plenty more courses to
go! the main offerings include
a dozen spicy dishes from
across asia, from tikka masala
to freshly fired skewers of meats
and fish from the yakitori grill
and tandoori. the highlight is
the 12-hour-baked, tender and
juicy rib-eye of icelandic beef.
desserts come by the dozen too:
skyr cake, chocolate, Caribbean
cheesecake… you name it! the
candles are lit, the sky turns
golden and the mountains line
the horizon. the view is magical,
service friendly, the buffet one
of the top in town, and for only
isK 4,900 per person, it is a real
bargain for an up-scale evening
out in reykjavik. open for dinner
Wed-sun.
5757500. veisluturninn.is/nitjanda
Eat Meat
& Fish