Iceland review - 2013, Page 91

ICELAND REVIEW 89
BamBuS one of the latest ad-
ditions to reykjavík’s restaurant
scene, Bambus asian Cuisine
and lounge brings southeast
asian casual fine dining to the
heart of reykjavík. as well as
classics like phad thai, tom Ka
and a range of stir fries, the
diverse menu tempts with dish-
es like tuna teriyaki, tempura
tiger prawns, cod with lemon-
grass and galangal, as well
as tofu and mango salad. the
desserts are not to be missed:
delectable mango kulfi and
silky smooth coconut custard
with cardamom. Bambus: the
best of the freshest icelandic
ingredients cooked asian style.
517 0123. bambusrestaurant.is
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 gun-
nar gíslason, dill excels in the
modern, local flavors of new
nordic food. everything from
the cutlery to the sommelier’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
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 lobster soup, the self-pro-
claimed ‘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 is located in
the heart of the city center
in an historic building dating
back to 1920, originally built as
a cinema. the contemporary
décor is inspired by icelandic
tradition and nature, featuring
natural wood, fish leather and
lava. open from 5 pm, the grill
Market lounge is located on
the lower floor. there, enjoy a
cocktail or glass of fine wine in
a bona fide relaxed icelandic
atmosphere.
571 7777. grillmarkadurinn.is
sPECIAL PROmOTION
Reykjavík’s chefs know how
to feed their people. Here is a
guide to the vie gourmande
in the capital and beyond.
Eat Meat
& Fish