Shalimar is a restaurant that several members of the Grapevine staff like to frequent, and its friendly service and authentic South Asian cuisine once earned it our Bezt í Heimi award (you can still see the article posted in their window). Not wanting anyone to become complacent, though, we feel that even the best places need to be re-reviewed from time to time.
When we checked back in with Shalimar, it became apparent that little had changed except perhaps the place’s popularity. The naan is still great, the dishes spicy enough to feel like the real deal without causing permanent injury, and the staff are some of the most helpful around. The night we arrived it seemed like just about everyone else in Reykjavík got the same idea, though, so it is a real credit to the staff that they actually got us our food in a timely fashion while doing the same for dozens of others on two floors. Incidentally, on that night we opted for the vegetable korma, the Punjabi masala fish and some garlic and Peshawari naan. All were predictably good, as was the mixed rice dish that came with the main courses.
The only problem a casual diner might have with the experience is the fact that the main courses are not all that plentiful. This stems from the fact that they are designed to be accompanied by a variety of breads, rice, chutney and the like. Just order a couple of side dishes and you will walk away full.
Lastly, you must try the lassi, a yoghurt-like drink that not only takes the edge off the spices but tastes great as an after-dinner treat. We recommend the mango variety.