I’m sitting here writing these words while simultaneously carrying on a conversation with my manfriend and some heavily tattooed French-Canadian drifter with a deplorable attitude who refuses to vacate my apartment. Despite the fact that I’ve been writing on these here food pages for a whole year now (where has the time gone?) the three of us are at a complete loss for what to eat for dinner.
The one certainty is that we are sure as hell not going to cook for ourselves.
Since I should, at this point, know a thing or two about where to get some decent nosh the responsibility looks to be falling on my shoulders.
Noodle Station started out my reviewer stint on a high-note, warming me up last February with that sweet, spicy and consistently awesome noodley goodness of theirs. The atmosphere in their small shop on Skólavörðurstígur has changed somewhat but the goods have stayed the same. But we just ate there yesterday and crave variety. No dice.
The grub over at Grillið was even more spectacular than the view from the top of Hótel Saga, where it is situated—that buttery, melt in your mouth halibut and that enigmatic but delightful carrot flan still makes cameos in my dream—but we’re no troupe of travelling Trumps and we’re feeling the post-holidays credit crunch like all the common folks, so shelling out for a fancy-pants five-course treat is out of the questions. Plus, we just ate there yesterday.
Brasilia closed down, Gló is too far (or we’re too lazy), I downed Hressó’s soup today at lunch (chicken and veg— yummy!) and I just had Icelandic Fish and Chips yesterday, though it’s always a crowd-pleaser.
What’s a retiring food reviewer to do?
The moral of this story may be that I need to cook for myself more often. Or it may be that I need to surround myself with people more capable of making decisions. Or it may be that Subway should have never closed their downtown location because then all of our lives in the 101 area would be significantly improved because, goddamnit, that was such a convenient place to have around in exactly this type of situation!
So, despite all the food, good and bad, that I’ve enjoyed and endured over the past year it looks like we’re going for something I didn’t review. Because the burgers at Prikið always hit the spot.
EAT AND DRINK:
3 X HERE AND GONE
1 SUBWAY
Subway: OK, so it’s not like the entire Subway chain has vacated Iceland á la McDonalds, but the departure of the Austurstræti outpost has left a sandwich-shaped void in Reykjavík that won’t soon be filled.
2 BRASILIA
Skólavörðurstígur is a lot less colourful since Brasilia samba-ed out of business and the blindingly yellow and green façade of its former location was re-painted. Too bad. It had potential.
3 SUBWAY
It just hurts so bad.
3 X YOU’RE AWESOME
1 ICELANDIC FISH AND CHIPS
You’re awesome, guys! Wolf fish, mango salad and garlic potatoes (with coriander and lime skyronnaise, of course) rocks my world. Tryggvagata 8
2 FISH COMPANY
You’re pretty goddamn awesome! I’d go ‘Around the World’ with you any time – it’s the most delicious way to travel. Vesturgata 2a
3 NOODLE STATION
You’re awesome, too! It might be the MSG, but it might just be the awesome. Keep it up! Skólavörðustígur 21a
2 X YOU’RE ON NOTICE
1 GAMLA SMIÐJAN
Look, I’m only writing this because I care, but I’mma have to put you on notice. I voted you best pizza in town and then you go making a few questionable pies and I have to start questioning my vote. I know you’ve still got it in ya, guys. Step it up, you’re on notice! Lækjargata 8
2 TANDOORI
I’m not even sure I can put Tandoori on notice, but I will anyways. You see, I’ve never had the chance to eat there since reviewing. Not for lack of trying. When 90% of the menu is chicken and customers roll up and the place is empty and the restaurant is out of chicken that’s just bad business. Tandoori, you’re on notice! Skeifan 11
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