Iceland review - 2016, Page 112

110 ICELAND REVIEW
Eat Meat & Fish
In the heart of Akureyri, North Iceland, lies the unique restaurant Rub23, owned and operated by
one of Iceland’s most renowned chefs, Einar Geirsson. Specializing in seafood, the menu offers a
wide variety of fish and sushi dishes, as well as juicy steaks and delicious desserts. What makes the
restaurant unique is the homemade spice mixtures customers can choose from, so-called rubs, which
are either sprinkled on or rubbed into the food. The customer first chooses a particular ingredient,
fish or meat, and then a rub. The menu also includes the chef ’s favorite combinations. Funky, fresh
and full of flavor, make sure to dine at Rub23 the next time you’re in Akureyri. 462-2223. rub23.is
R U B 2 3
SPECIAL PROMOTION
Visit Hafnarfjörður and you can’t miss the Viking Village and its beautiful old-style wooden buildings
which house a hotel and two restaurants. The restaurants Fjörugarðurinn and Valhalla are intercon-
nected and can seat up to 500 guests. Both offer à la carte menus and set menus for groups. The menu
has a Viking flair and includes Iceland’s famous sheep face and þorramatur (often pickled or putrefied
winter ‘delicacies’). Luckily the Vikings were also famous for their steaks, and the menu includes fish
dishes, pasta and more. Fjörugarðurinn is decorated with wood carvings, stuffed birds, fish tanks and
hide-covered seats, while Valhalla is smaller and cozier, with space for about 40 guests. The kitchen
is open daily from 6 pm to 10 pm and there’s usually live entertainment, with hordes of Vikings and
Valkyries jaunting about, singing. Groups love being ‘victims’ of Viking raids, but they have to book,
unlike a thousand years ago… 565-1213. fjorukrain.is
V I K I N G V I L L A G E R E S TA U R A N T S A N D H O T E L
Located at the historical Hotel Kea in downtown Akureyri, Múlaberg is a welcome addition
to the North Iceland capital’s restaurant scene, not least for its spacious outdoor seating area
and daily happy hour at the bar. Open 11 am to 10 pm, Múlaberg serves as a bistro, as well as
accommodating fine diners, with a diverse and tempting menu. Inspired by French, Italian
and Danish cuisine, Múlaberg highlights Icelandic ingredients, offering everything from
the fish of the day and juicy steaks to sandwiches with a special twist, such as the popular
estragon-flavored lobster salad in a hotdog bun. The idea is to mix luxury Icelandic ingredi-
ents with everyday food, as head chef Haraldur Már Pétursson explains. The combination
is surprising and absolutely delicious. 460-2020. mulaberg.is
M Ú L A B E R G B I S T R O & B A R
Hannes Boy Café is a restaurant down by the marina in Siglufjörður, North Iceland. The
restaurant is popular with locals and tourists alike due to its splendid view of both the
surrounding mountains and the harbor where fishermen routinely haul in the catch of
the day. Open during the summer months, Hannes Boy provides patrons with a cozy and
romantic atmosphere and offers them a unique glimpse into the herring era of Icelandic
history. Guests dine in an old renovated fishery, while sitting on chairs crafted out of antique
barrels. Eating at Hannes Boy is an authentic and unforgettable Icelandic experience. 467-
1550. raudka.is
H A N N E S B O Y