Einarshusid

Bolungarvik is not the kind of place you stumble upon by accident. This tiny fishing village clings to the edge of the Westfjords, facing the open Atlantic with a defiance that seems to characterise the entire community. Einarshusid, the village restaurant, embodies that same spirit -- a seasonal operation that opens each summer to serve honest food to locals and the growing number of travellers who find their way to this remote corner of Iceland.

The Village

To understand Einarshusid, you need to understand Bolungarvik. This is a community of a few hundred people, built around fishing and stubbornly rooted in a landscape that would be inhospitable were it not also breathtakingly beautiful. The drive from Isafjordur passes through a one-lane tunnel cut through the mountain -- not for the faint-hearted, but utterly memorable.

The Food

The restaurant does not attempt anything fancy, and that is its strength. The pizzas are made fresh and topped generously -- not artisan sourdough affairs, but the kind of satisfying, straightforward pies that a small village restaurant does well. The traditional Icelandic dishes are the other pillar of the menu: fresh fish, lamb, and hearty soups made with local ingredients.

The weekday lunch buffet is particularly good value, offering a spread of Icelandic dishes that changes daily. For a few thousand kronur, you can eat well and fuel up for an afternoon of Westfjords exploration.

The Atmosphere

Einarshusid has the warmth of a community gathering place. The dining room is simple and functional, the service is friendly in the unhurried way of small Icelandic villages, and there is a sense that everyone who walks through the door is welcome. On a busy summer evening, you might find yourself sharing a table with fishermen, hikers, and families -- the full spectrum of Westfjords life.

Worth the Trip

For travellers who have made the effort to reach the Westfjords, a meal at Einarshusid is a fitting reward. The food is honest, the setting is extraordinary, and the experience captures something essential about eating in rural Iceland -- simplicity, community, and a connection to the land and sea.