Icelandic Food Suggestions?

[tarabo]

Going to Iceland and would not like to miss out on the food.
Two questions:
1) Which would be the MUST EATs?
2) Any particular restaurant for them?
Thanks,
T

[Das Ubergeek]

Believe it or not, hot dogs. There was a thread on this very board maybe three days ago -- if you scroll down on the International board you'll find it, it had "Reykjavik" in the title.

I suppose you could eat puffin. It's not common elsewhere. Not especially memorable, except when you go to the zoo and say casually to your son, "Oh, those. I ate one once."

[pitu]

ewww, they are a Rather Fishy little sea birds, those puffins. Much better to look than eat. THey are amoung the ancient local foods that are not worth eating imho.

[AgnesGooch]

If you want to try whale, MARU Japanese restaurant has a teriyaki whale steak on the menu. While it's not listed on the menu, you can also ask if they have any whale sushi/sashimi available. Their sushi is very good - ask specifically which fish are local.

Apotek and Siggi Hall both feature modern cuisine using Icelandic ingredients -- lamb, fresh seafood, etc.

[mdibiaso]

Cod cheeks or chins at the restaurant Vid Tjornina which means by the lake which is where it is. Just look for the word Tjornin on a map of the city and you will see the general location.

[Curmudgeon]

Many years ago I ate dinner at a place just to the West of the main square that had an appetizer buffet of herring prepared 25 different ways. It was just terrific. Here in the US it is hard to get herring prepared more than two ways (just sweet pickled or sweet in cream sauce.) So this was a real treat I particularly remember the (cold) curried herring.

[Gypsy Jan]

Check out this website: http://www.scandcook.com/

This is the home site for a cooking show focusing on the cuisine of Scandinavia. I enjoy it immensely. They focus on cooking modern adaptations of classic dishes in various scenic locations and not on restaurants, but there might be some good info on how to find places.

[kass]

i second the hot dog recommendation - they are large, juicy and made from lamb. Very good. On one of the corners of the main square there is a cafe/bar that is very popular. There are large crowds of people every night. The place has fantastic deserts! I don't know about the rest of the menu (we were fortunate enough to be staying with friends who cooked) but the deserts are not to be missed.

[juniorpony]

The unofficial icelandic food- pizza. Every little town has a pizzeria, we were there for a month over the summer and found it quite funny. There is a place in Reykjavik (near-ish the cathedral, in a residential street) that serves great pizzas fired in an icelandic-ash-fired oven. Unique.

[juniorpony]

Also, lamb and lobster in general. Quite pricey, but good. I also enjoyed Shalimar in Reykjavik, the "northernmost Indian restaurant in the world." Suprisingly good and very homey.

[bigonblond]

icelandic lamb is pretty good yet different from kiwi lamb,try their puffin, guillemot, artic chat, monk fish. rest. einar ben is pretty good,its by ingolfs torg.
Im big on indian, U could try Guillemot, Artic Char,Monk fish,lamb,Lobster, Duck, done indian style @ indian Mango, frakkastig 12. Their main courses r, low fat,Helathy, Glutten free and have Vegetarian, options as well.Original Indian 5 star cuisine!
Nice wine menu and nicely priced

[Borat]

baejarins bestu hot dog stand. skip the rest and save a whole lot of money and disappointment.
unless you have access to a kitchen and buy a leg of lamb, any fresh fish, skyr, the red potatoes are quite special. most of the "cuisine" tastes like it is from a caveman. and most all ethnic foods are embarrassingly bad. the baked goods are wonderful.