Eating Out

Icelandic restaurants are at their densest in Reykjavik centre.  Nearly every type of cuisine is available, from US-fast food to traditional Indian to Oriental food.  Cafés are abundant, with menus consisting mainly of soup-of-the-day with bread, salads, mexican/spanish/italian-style delicacies (quesadillas, nachos, tacos, pasta), sandwiches and last but not least, very delicious Icelandic cakes and sweets.  All food is of high quality and one should not go hungry!

Finding "typical" icelandic food can be slightly more tricky.  The kind of food the older generation of Icelanders eats is not easily found in restaurants.  It is, however, possible to try something very  close to the "real thing" at a restaurant called Thrir Frakkar on Baldursgata 14 in 101 Reykjavik.  A traditional delicacy is available at the BSI national bus station on Vatnsmyrarvegur, Reykjavik.  It's worth going there for the experience, if culinary adventure is what you need.  Fear Factor look out!!  The delicacies consist mainly of burnt sheep heads split in two (don't knock it 'till you try it!) with mashed swedes and/or mashed potatoes and various other sausage-like traditional foods.  Many icelanders enjoy torturing foreign travellers by offering them a viking-like food (putrified shark) and judging their man-hood (or lack thereof) by how long they can keep it in their mouth!  The shark is usually rinsed down with a gulp of the traditional, icelandic moonshine Brennivin (literally: wine that burns, and it sure does!), also known as Black Death.  Some guinea pigs, errrr... tourists have not been able to decide which tasted more interesting.  Other things one should try taste is smoked puffin, guillemot, reindeer and the icelandic lamb. 

Icelandic foods that can be picked up in supermarkets and should be tried are sweet pastries, a local dairy product called "skyr" (mostly resembles curds), dried fish, licorice, and the icelandic chocolate.

Most restaurants and cafés are (compared to European prices) are mid-to-upper price range.  There are also a few WAY up there, like the Hotel Holt or the Pearl but both are worth trying if possible.  The Pearl should, however, be visited for free for the fantastic viewpoint of the Reykjavik skyline.