Iceland review - 2013, Page 80

78 ICELAND REVIEW
Dill located in the beautiful
nordic house, dill restaurant
opened in 2009, but already
sits atop the mountain as one
of the most interesting and
exciting restaurants in town.
led by chef-sommelier
gunnar gíslason, dill excels
in the modern, local flavors of
new nordic food. everything
from the cutlery to the somme-
lier’s suit is of nordic origin. in
the daytime dill serves relaxed
brasserie-style lunch and cof-
fee, in the evening there is a
seven-course set fine-dining
menu, including champagne
and coffee. fried plaice with
the namesake dill, artichokes
with seaweed, smoked had-
dock and blue mussels, and to
finish, an almond cake with cin-
namon cream... is your mouth
watering yet? and what better
setting than the nordic house,
designed by renowned finnish
architect alvar aalto and locat-
ed in the Vatnsmýri plains, the
view over downtown reykjavík
is simply breathtaking.
552 1522. dillrestaurant.is
Fish Market take the
sophistication of new york
and pair it with the elegance of
paris and the trendiness of to-
kyo, and you have the formula
for fish Market’s unbeatable
atmosphere. Match that with its
equally spectacular haute cui-
sine with an asian flair and you
have the recipe for a restaurant
that’s here to stay. the crown
jewel of its kitchen is the nine-
course tasting menu. high-
lights include miso-marinated
black cod served with tiger
prawns and apricots, king crab
with chili and lemongrass, and
arguably the most tender quail
on the planet complemented
by a delicate barbeque sauce.
the restaurant has also earned
a well-deserved reputation for
its sushi and sashimi, as fresh
as it is elegant. located in the
heart of downtown, no detail
is spared. tea lights illuminate
the soft, rich furnishings, and
highlights of bamboo and
asian flora create a trendy
atmosphere to which the city’s
glitterati come flocking. save
room for the sorbet: green tea,
lychee and blood orange. the
perfect scoops are almost too
beautiful to eat.
578 8877. fishmarket.is
Fjalakötturinn named
after and housed in a building
designed to look like the first
movie theater in iceland, in
operation from 1906 to 1926,
fjalakötturinn gastro restau-
rant offers historical ambiance
in an intimate setting in 101
reykjavík. enter through hotel
reykjavík Centrum, take a seat
with a view of the parliament
and Cathedral, soak up the at-
mosphere and enjoy first-class
service while sifting through
the tempting menu and varied
selection of wine. to make the
most of your dining experience,
order a six-course tasting
menu for an excellent price,
and have the chef enchant you
with one curious course after
another, choosing from a range
of seafood and meat special-
ties, diverse cheese dishes,
complete with something
sweet or chocolaty and a post-
dinner coffee—everything a
feast for the eye as well as the
taste buds.
514 6060. fjalakotturinn.is
FjöruborÐiÐ lobster.
that’s what the dining expe-
rience at fjöruborðið (‘the
seashore’) is all about, where
icelandic lobster, or langous-
tine, is served delicately grilled
and drizzled with melted herb
butter and a spritz of lemon. as
a starter, its flavor infuses the
delicate creaminess of the lob-
ster soup, the self-proclaimed
‘Best in the republic
of iceland.’ although you can
also find a tender lamb filet
and vegetable-filled puff pastry
on the main course menu,
lobster is what makes this cozy
eatery in the seaside village
of stokkseyri, 60 kilometers
from reykjavík, so popular with
locals and visitors alike
483 1550. fjorubordid.is
the Grill Market the
delicious food prepared and
served at the grill Market (grill-
markaðurinn) is based on close
collaboration with farmers all
across iceland giving personal
advice regarding their produce,
whether it’s honey, cheese,
skyr, beef, mutton or quail.
then, the grill Market’s chefs,
who are among iceland’s finest,
take the ingredients and use
them to make unique and often
surprising dishes ranging from
vegetarian meals to red-blood-
ed steaks. further enhancing
the natural experience, smoke,
fire, wood and coal are used.
the grill Market, which opened
its doors last year, is located
sPECIAL PROmOTION
Reykjavík’s chefs know how
to feed their people. Here is a
guide to the vie gourmande
in the capital and beyond.