Apotek Restaurant — Restaurant in Reykjavik

On the second evening in Reykjavik, we prepared to dine at Apotek, a restaurant that ranks second in the entire city for Icelandic cuisine.

👩‍🍳 Apotek's menu offers three options: a traditional Icelandic tasting menu, a regular tasting menu, and an à la carte menu.

🇮🇸 My friend and I deliberated for a while and ultimately chose the traditional Icelandic tasting menu, summoning the courage to dive into the unknown world of Icelandic cuisine.

🥃 To start, they served each of us a glass of Icelandic specialty, Brennivín, with a faint hint of fennel flavour.

🐑 Raw lamb (Tartar-style lamb) Who would have thought that this would be the standout dish among the cold starters? The raw lamb had no hint of gaminess, and its texture was pleasantly chewy and tender, perfectly seasoned.

🐦 Puffin with berry sauce and goat cheese Initially, I hesitated because I didn't want to eat puffin – they're too cute! But since we were there, we decided to give it a try, and I have to say, I regret it deeply.

🎃 The semi-dried puffin breast had an intensely gamey flavour, accompanied by a pungent goat cheese and sweet-tart berry sauce. From doubting the mental state of Icelanders at the outset to questioning my own mental state, it was quite the culinary journey.

🐟 Arctic char This tasted very much like salmon, but to emphasize its premium status, it was presented on a Himalayan salt block. However, the presence of apple slices caused the juice to dissolve the salt, resulting in an overwhelmingly salty experience.

🐋 Whale meat Having read in novels how delicious whale meat is, I was mildly excited. However, it turned out to be whale sashimi, and no amount of vinaigrette shallot and fried Jerusalem artichoke masked its bloody taste. Moreover, the meat had many sinews in its texture, making it nearly impossible to cut with a knife, as if I were eating a piece of raw, sinewy demon meat.

🐠 Thankfully, the subsequent dishes were more conventional. Halibut with sour cream mashed potatoes, ling cod with celeriac, and lamb shank, all European-style dishes, were delicious. The presentation and seasoning were exquisite.

🍰 Desserts Their petite cakes were elegantly arranged in a row and looked stunning. One of them appeared rather ordinary, so I thought, "Any dessert will do, as long as it's not this plain one."

🌋 Guess what? The dessert included in the set menu was precisely the plain one, accompanied by a passion fruit sauce that made your eyes water, a blackcurrant sauce that made you pucker, and vanilla whipped cream with berry sorbet.

🍽️ In conclusion: You only need to try traditional Icelandic cuisine once...

The location was great and the food was excellent. The prices were a bit high but on par with similar restaurants. The service was pretty good except for the tattoo armed host. The first time we were there, he gave the available tables to two parties that came after us. The second time he put us at the same least desirable table in the restaurant. It was between the bar, the kitchen and the entrance to the restroom. There was loud banging noise and lots of foot traffic. So we couldn’t enjoy the beautiful atmosphere it was supposed to offer. He took another Asian family to the table next to us. Only that Asian family objected and asked to be sit somewhere else. Good for them, they were seated at a better table upon request. I believe we experienced micro-discrimination from the host. He demonstrated bias in assigning tables and put all Asians in the worst corner of the restaurant. He put us there twice when there were many tables available. It’s unfortunate as we enjoyed the food and our trip to Iceland. This host left a bad taste in my mouth. The beautiful memory of Iceland is marred by his discriminating service.

The food was great and for food alone, Apotek deserves a 5*. A poor host, however downgraded the overall rating. We ordered a 3 course set menu for lunch. The food was attentively prepared. Every dish had a refined and delicious taste! The presentation was beautiful, especially the desserts.

4*Arctic char on a Himalayan salt block—Slow cooked icelandic sea trout, yuzu mayo, truffle mayo, crunchy quinoa, apple: looked like salmon.

5*BEEF CARPACCIO-Mushroom duxelle, parmesan chips, foie gras: refined and delicious, highly recommend.

4*TIGER SHRIMP SALAD-Tiger shrimps, apple, romain salad, parmesan croutons, dill foam horseradish cream: decent portion and good salad.

5*LAMB RUMP STEAK-Carrot purée, carrots, cauliflower, spring onion, black garlic sauce: medium rare and tender and the portion was good.

4*RACK OF LAMB-Slow cooked lamb fillet, leeks, pickled shallots, carrots, baked celeriac, dill-spinach cream, mustard sauce: it was tender and tasty.

5*CHOCOLATE ROSE: Chocolate mousse, raspberry gel, Sacher layer: great presentation and taste, very rich dessert.

5*APRICOT MASCARPONE-Apricot gel, caramel creme anglaise, praline, mascarpone mousse, Sacher layer. Unique and wonderful. We...

Welcome to Apotek kitchen+ bar, a new and exciting addition to Reykjavik's culinary scene, nestled in the charming corner of Austurstraeti 16. Boasting a casual-smart ambiance, vibrant atmosphere, and stylish surroundings, Apotek promises a delightful dining experience that combines Icelandic and European cuisine with a smoking hot Argentinean grill.

Now, let's delve into the highlights: the food. Apotek's menu says and is a playful fusion of flavors, offering a tantalizing mix of Icelandic and European dishes, expertly prepared with a touch of sizzle from the Argentinean grill. From delectable appetizers to mouthwatering main courses, each dish is a testament to the chef's culinary prowess. The commitment to quality ingredients and innovative presentation is evident in every bite, making the dining experience truly memorable.

However, the same level of excellence does not extend to the service. Despite the inviting atmosphere, the staff at Apotek seemed to be grappling with organization and efficiency. Our initial excitement was tempered by prolonged waits for attention. It took about 15 minutes once we were seated to get our drink order in – the excuse was that we came during shift change (we did have a reservation), and it was a challenge to get the staff's focus on our table. Our server Marcus – when we eventually got one, while friendly, appeared overwhelmed and inexperienced.

In conclusion, Apotek Kitchen+ Bar has all the makings of a culinary gem, offering a delightful array of dishes in a chic setting. The fantastic food is the undeniable star of the show, but the service hiccups detract from the overall experience. With a bit more attention to service training and coordination, Apotek has the potential to become a true standout in Reykjavik's vibrant restaurant scene. Despite the service shortcomings, the culinary offerings make Apotek worth a visit for those seeking a memorable...