Iceland review - 2016, Qupperneq 138

136 ICELAND REVIEW
SPECIAL PROMOTION
Complement your Blue Lagoon experience with a meal at Lava Restaurant. Head chefs
Viktor Örn Andrésson and Þráinn Freyr Vigfússon, winner of the 2014 Nordic Chef of
the Year competition and head of Iceland’s national culinary team, respectively, showcase
the best Iceland has to offer in a range of light and gourmet dishes served in a unique
environment with views of the Blue Lagoon. Their dedication to local ingredients includes
sourcing fish off the boats at nearby Grindavík harbor and blue mussels off Reykjanes penin-
sula. Menu highlights include soup with garlic-marinated langoustine, white chocolate and
seaweed; slowly cooked cod with smoked langoustine salad; torched salmon with smoked
onion, apple, watercress and horseradish and fried rack of lamb and grilled lamb shoulder
with pickled red onion. Open for lunch and dinner. Spa and dining packages are available.
Make Lava Restaurant part of your unforgettable trip to the Blue Lagoon.
420-8800. bluelagoon.com
B L U E L A G O O N L AVA R E S TA U R A N T
Yes, the clue’s in the name. This is a bar devoted to the 1998 cult movie, The Big Lebowski.
Strange to base a bar on a box office disappointment, you might say—but that would be miss
ing the point. Like the movie, the Lebowski bar has found a place in people’s hearts and become
a true cult classic.
Maybe it’s the American diner-like décor with all the clever attention to detail. Maybe it’s
that there’s plenty of space (a bit of a rarity in Reykjavík bars). Perhaps it’s the real bowling
alley. Or the regular events, including karaoke, open mic, quiz and more. It’s most likely all
of the above.
You don’t need to have seen the movie to appreciate a very cool establishment with an
extensive, good value and tasty menu and an inexhaustible selection of milkshakes, cocktails
and white Russian variants. But if you do happen to love the movie, you’ll love the Lebowski
Bar even more. Located at Laugavegur 20a. 552-2300. lebowski.is
At Kitchen & Wine, located at 101 Hotel in downtown Reykjavík, we specialize in simple
elegance, bistro-style. Chef Hákon Örvarsson has earned numerous international awards, and
his dishes are as much of a delight to the eye as the palate. Here, even burgers and sandwiches
are classy—in addition to the fish, lobster and steak. Enjoy a simple, elegant meal, made from
seasonal ingredients, in a relaxed atmosphere. At the bar, we excel at making cocktails and offer
a wide selection of wines and spirits. Our private banquet room is perfect for private parties.
Not surprisingly, this place is a magnet for the locals.
Hverfisgata 10. 580-0103. kitchenandwine.is
L E B O W S K I B A R
A culinary institution in Iceland for 26 years, Ban Thai has a reputation as not only the best Thai
restaurant in Iceland but also one of the very best in Iceland, most recently being awarded Best
Thai Food 2015 by The Reykjavík Grapevine. The restaurant has a dedicated fan base, including
visiting Hollywood stars. The menu offers a long list of authentic dishes, such as hot and cold
appetizers, soups, stir-fries, curries, noodles, rice, salads and barbecue favorites. Ban Thai only
uses high quality seafood, chicken, beef and pork, and no MSG. The vegetarian options are
equally diverse, with popular dishes including the Tofu Pad Ka Pao (basil tofu) and Massaman
Pak made with tofu, vegetables, peanuts, coconut milk, potatoes and onion cooked in a curry
sauce. Other favorites include the Coconut Prawns. Fine Thai beers are on offer, as is a variety of
wines. Nothing is prepared in advance. All dishes are made to order from scratch, so be prepared
to wait a little while—this isn’t fast food, as owner Mr. Boonchang emphasizes. Come and find
out what all the fuss is about and take time to enjoy your meal. 552-4444. banthai.is
B A N T H A I
K I T C H E N A N D W I N E
S I M P L E E L E G A N C E
Eat Meat & Fish