Seafood Cellar @ Reykjavic, Iceland

Icelandic Salted Cod “Earthquake” with Fennel, Almost, and Tomato @ Seafood Cellar, Reykjavic

Seafood Cellar does not have a Michelin star, but it certainly deserves one! Unassumingly situated in the basement of the same building that houses Reykjavik’s Tourist Information Center, it is an intimate gem of a restaurant. I booked Sjavarkjallarinn to celebrate my 23rd birthday, and my sixteen friends and I, representing ten nationalities all agreed that this was a world-class establishment if ever we had seen one. Décor is ultra-modern as any trendy Nordic haute cuisine purveyor should be, and in this case, a sophisticated design aesthetic expresses itself even more exquisitely in the presentation of the food. Our entire party ordered the “Exotic” menu (priced at a very reasonable £55 per person), and were absolutely blown away by the refined yet sumptuously-portioned platters that arrived at our table in quick succession. Asian elements were deftly applied in such dishes as the Breast of Duck Hot Pot with Kaffir Lime, Tom Yum, and Apple Blossom, but it was the seafood that really stole the show. Cod is not usually my favorite fish, but the freshly caught Icelandic Salted Cod “Earthquake” with Fennel, Almonds, and Tomato tasted not in the least oily, instead invoking the memory of sea spray on a crisp spring day. Staff were extremely courteous and even made special efforts to accommodate a member of our party who had a shellfish sensitivity. What exquisite torture it was to listen to the announcement of the courses while our eyes had already transfixed themselves to the new dishes and our fingers toyed impatiently with the silverware. If food could be called art, then the “Rock” of Fruits with Rhubarb, Strawberry, and Marzipan Skyr Mousse on a bed of dry ice that transformed our table into an otherworldly dessert paradise was precisely that. Indeed, it is small wonder that although food is by nature a fleeting pleasure, many of our party persevered in photographing each perfectly presented dish. Seldom have I had such an all-round positive dining experience, and I can hardly wait to return to Iceland for a repeat visit. For a special occasion or simple foodie indulgence, Seafood Cellar has my highest recommendation.