Restaurant Reykjavik

Sometimes the most direct approach is the best one. Restaurant Reykjavik does not attempt to reinvent Icelandic seafood or dress it up in New Nordic finery. Instead, it presents the country's exceptional fish in ways that are traditional, generous, and satisfying, with an evening seafood buffet that has become one of the dining experiences most reliably recommended by locals to visitors.

The Buffet

The seafood buffet, served from 18:00, is the main event. The spread is impressive: bacalao (the traditional salted cod with garlic-fried potatoes that is arguably Iceland's national dish), smoked salmon, cured arctic char, langoustine soup, grilled fish of the day, pickled herring, and whatever else the kitchen has prepared from the morning's catch. The quality of the raw ingredients -- fish this fresh, from waters this clean -- elevates even simple preparations into something special.

The format encourages exploration. You can try a little of everything, return for more of what you loved, and leave having sampled a broader range of Icelandic seafood than most restaurants offer in a month of menus.

Beyond the Buffet

The a la carte menu serves those who prefer a more structured meal. Lunch is a quieter, more intimate affair, with well-prepared fish dishes, soups, and lighter options. Dinner a la carte offers the same quality ingredients in individually plated dishes.

The lamb, when you can resist the fish, is excellent -- tender, flavourful Icelandic highland lamb that benefits from the same quality-of-ingredient advantage that defines the seafood.

The Setting

Restaurant Reykjavik occupies a comfortable space on Vesturgata, near the old harbour. The interior is warm and traditional, decorated in a style that complements the food: nothing flashy, nothing trying too hard, just a pleasant room in which to eat well. On a cold Reykjavik evening, with the wind howling outside and a plate of bacalao in front of you, the atmosphere is exactly right.

Who Should Go

The buffet is particularly well-suited to first-time visitors who want to sample the breadth of Icelandic seafood in a single meal. It is also popular with tour groups, which means the atmosphere can be lively during peak season. For a quieter experience, consider lunch or the a la carte menu.

Practical Notes

Open daily from 11:30. The buffet runs from 18:00. Reservations are recommended for the evening. Vesturgata 2 is a short walk from the city centre, towards the harbour.