Björn Teitsson
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Restaurant Review: Gló Is A Hippie Chipotle (That’s A Compliment)
Throughout most of Iceland’s history, food has been considered but a means of sustenance, “fuel,” if you will. Therefore, the likes of Gló proprietor Solla, Sólveig Eiríksdóttir, cannot be praised enough. A visionary true to her cause, Solla has tirelessly promoted the…
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Food Review: Bergsson Is A Place To Enjoy, Slowly
While not the first of its kind in Reykjavík, the appearance of Bergsson Mathús clearly signalled the arrival of something different—a shift in Icelanders’ food culture. Essentially a breakfast and lunch spot, which also serves terrific brunch during weekends, Bergsson places great…
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Restaurant Review: No, Mandi, Thank You!
In an ideal world, the few Syrian families who have settled in Iceland over the last few years would be here by choice. They would have been free to come here and start a new life—not to seek refuge far from their…
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Inspired By… Guy Fieri? Roadhouse Reviewed
It may be difficult to pinpoint the exact allure of US gastronomy. Perhaps it can be summed up thusly: “It’s deep-fried and drenched in sauce.” It is a style of cuisine that your cardiologist will certainly not recommend, but then, sometimes you…
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Restaurant Review: Restó—Where The Fish Is King
It is considered fairly common knowledge amongst locals in downtown Reykjavík that the quintessential restaurant for enjoying some of the best fish courses ever prepared in this country was in the cellar of Ostabúðin, a gourmet shop for cheeses and dry meats.…
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Mystic (anonymous) Pizza
Much like the version of himself Ted Danson portrayed in the cult TV hit show ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’—in which Mr. Danson donated handsomely, and anonymously, to a good cause—there was a huge buzz this spring about a new pizza place that was,…
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Alvar Would Have Been Proud
One of Reykjavík’s more impressive architectural achievements–the Alvar Aalto-designed Nordic House–became host to new restaurant this spring, named in honour of the Finnish architect himself. Aalto Bistro replaces the highly acclaimed Dill (now on Hverfisgata) as the Nordic House’s resident restaurant. Dill…
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La Belle Vie Á Paris
Café Paris is one of those establishments that has been around in Reykjavík for as long as I can remember. As you probably deduced, it’s named after the capital of France, the capital of gastronomy, the capital of all things good. Yet,…
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It’s Supposed To Be Fun
Grillmarkaðurinn, or The Grill Market as it is known in English, opened to wide acclaim in the summer of 2011. A huge buzz had been created about the establishment. The reason was first and foremost because of its owner and head (celebrity)…
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Kigali Needs Fine-Tuning
Kigali is a recently opened café named after the capital and largest city of the war-ridden African country of Rwanda. It serves all the conventional westernized versions of Italian Coffee, the only difference being that their Americano is called an “Africano.” A…
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To Be, Or Not To Be… Icelandic
The Icelandic Bar is not a new establishment. It came about as part of a trend, around five years ago, when a several new joints seemed to be popping up around the city with the same brilliant idea of naming themselves after…
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Icelandic Ingredients, International Execution
The Fish Company is one of a number of relatively new restaurants focusing on fresh local ingredients and the best possible international twists to showcase them. The restaurant is located in a beautifully refurbished basement next to the Reykjavík Art Museum with…
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Industrial Setting, Ambitious Kitchen
Restaurants and bars have long had a healthy relationship with upscale hotels, pretty much all around the world. This seems to be the case even in remote old Iceland. But what about a restaurant and bar at a hostel? Quite a different…
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We’ve Been Waiting For You, Kimchi!
Several attempts have already been made to open up a Korean restaurant in Iceland—at least once in the mid-nineties and again at the turn of the century. For inexplicable reasons all previous attempts have failed, which is why there is so much…
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People Get Ready, There’s A Train A Comin’
Hraðlestin is a chain serving a westernized version of Indian food. It started as a single take-away restaurant on Hverfisgata called Austurlandahraðlestin (essentially a translation of East-Indian Express, which does not exist in real life as far as I know). They now…