In a historical building in the city centre, restaurant Fjalakötturinn opened a little over a year ago and has quickly made a name for itself in the downtown dining scene. The lunch buffet offered during the day has become popular among business folks in the centre while the diverse dinner menu attracts a wide range of diners.
Minimalist decorations, candlelit tables and black-and-white photographs of Reykjavík back in the day add to the overall charm this small restaurant has to offer. The waiter got us a table by the window, overlooking one of the oldest streets in Reykjavík, and quickly brought us a piece of smoked eel as an appetiser.
Fjalakötturinn specializes in Icelandic raw material so fish courses, prepared in various ways, are plentiful on the menu, mixed with meat and vegetable dishes. As starters we had “Harumaki” spring rolls filled with crabmeat and served with ponzu dressing (1,820 ISK); a crunchy, flavoursome and hearty dish. If you are not completely starving, one portion for two should be more than enough as a starter.
As a main course I was served salted cod with Israeli couscous, cardamom sauce and vegetables (2,950) while my dining partner opted for the lamb, served with potato-celery root terrine and long beans (3,800). To complete the meal, the waiter picked out an excellent wine from the extensive list. For wine enthusiasts, it’s worth mentioning that Fjalakötturinn won the Wine Spectators Award in 2006 and 2007. Our main courses didn’t disappoint. The tasty vegetable mix suited the fish fine and the lamb was cooked just right, although my friend found the sauce a bit too heavy.
I’ve always been a big fan of chocolate and when our waiter brought the desserts to the table I heard my stomach scream for joy. The dessert consisted of six types of chocolate delicacies: dark chocolate, white chocolate, chocolate cake, chocolate ice-cream, chocolate-mousse, chocolate soufflé. A chocolate heaven! If I would have needed a reason to come back another time, this sure was it.
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