It’s fitting that the restaurant sharing a building with the Rope Yoga studio in Laugardalur is called Gló—it seems to capture the very feeling of completing an intense session of stretches and poses, with newly loosened muscles and a sense of accomplishment. Indeed, many of the patrons of Gló on the day of my visit appeared have just left the studio looking for something rich in vitamins and anti-oxidants and natural ingredients to refuel with. I just went there to eat.
Gló is an airy and casual space just through the doors of Engjateigur 19, flooded with the light streaming through the atrium windows. On a large chalkboard to the right of the food counter the specials of the day are listed—I chose the ravioli with pine nuts and salad (1490 ISK); my date chose the sweet and sour chicken with salad (1490 ISK).
Upon making my order I was told that the ravioli I was requesting was on Gló’s raw menu and wasn’t really ravioli in the traditional sense at all. No, it wasn’t ravioli at all, though it was a creative take on the typically heavy pasta dish. Gló’s ravioli was a purée of pine nut sandwiched between two raw slices of beetroot. It was interesting. I am a big fan of beetroot—so sweet and earthy—and I’m a big fan of pine nut, which in this case took on a smoky flavour that reminded me somewhat of bacon, though I’m certain there was no such thing in the mix; but the two together in this arrangement didn’t do it for me. The raw beetroot was nice and the pine nut purée was really nice, but the stiff and crispy texture of the beets resulted in the filling just oozing entirely out the sides of the ‘sandwich’ with one prod of a fork. Genius concept, but tricky execution.
My date’s sweet and sour chicken was a smash hit. Though it’s a loaded word, my date went so far as to say her chicken was “perfect,” both in texture and flavour—bonus points for coriander in the glaze.
The assortment of salads that accompanied both our mains was an eye-opener for me. I hate—and I mean absolutely despise—carrots, but Gló gave me a generous helping of some shredded ones mixed with coconut and almond and it may very well be my new favourite thing. Sweet and nutty and delicious! The other cold salads—pasta with sun-dried tomato and pomegranate seeds, leafy greens, dried fruits—were also very distinctly tasty.
Drawn to the concept of a raw dessert, my date and I finished our healthy meals with a raw coconut cupcake and a (not raw) slice of chocolate cake. The chocolate cake (600 ISK), served with whipped cream and topped with pomegranate seeds, was rich and dense like a brownie. The raw coconut treat (500 ISK), a mixture of shredded coconut, coconut oil, agave syrup and almonds, blew our collective minds. So sweet and coconutty and… just go try it!
- Gló Engjateigur 19
- What we think: Healthy, tasty and inventive
- Flavour: Sweet, nutty, natural
- Ambiance: Bright and airy
- Service: Friendly and smiling
- Rating: 3.5/5
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