Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur (Reykjavik, Iceland)

 Tryggvagata, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland

Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur is the world famous hot dog stand that allegedly sells "the best hot dog in the world." A must-see touristic attraction that has been visited by celebrities from across the globe. It only serves hot dogs and sodas. I get a Hot Dog “with everything” (ISK 550 or ca. $4.40) that comes with crunchy onions, remoulade, and an odd watery brown sauce. The dog itself is really snappy and overall this is a great hot dog.

 

VERDICT: 95/100

BBP lives up to the hype. An excellent hot dog stand that is quite affordable (by Icelandic standards). Best hot dog I had in Iceland.

Borg Brugghus (Reykjavik, Iceland)

 Grjótháls, Reykjavík, Iceland

Borg Brugghus is a "progressive craft brewery" at the edge of downtown Reykjavik. It is a very nice restaurant and bar in a kind of rustic setting. Known mostly for its beer selection, the menu is a combination of modern takes on Icelandic and International food. There are both "small bites" and bigger plates but they overlap a bit.

Open Buffalo Chichen Sandwich (ISK 2,150, ca. $17), pricey even by Icelandic standards. It has a few chicken tenders doused in Buffalo sauce stacked up with Asian slaw and a small slice of thick bread. Very tasty and with a big kick. The table also orders French fries, which are thin and a bit undercooked, while I get Onion Rings (I think they were ISK 1,350 or ~$10.50), which were really weird. They looked like calamari but the filling was mushy and didn’t taste like onion. The zesty dip sauce was tasty though.

 

VERDICT: 82/100

A really nice bar/restaurant but too artsy and expensive.

Íslenski Barrin (Reykjavik, Iceland)

1a Ingólfsstræti, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland

The Islenski Barrinn (Icelandic Bar) is a popular tourist destination that is known for its food and particularly its burgers. It’s very cozy inside and on this Wednesday mid-afternoon it is not too busy.

 

I get the Classic Icelandic Burger (ISK 2,440 or ~$19), which comes with waffle fries. I get it medium and to my surprise it is really cooked medium. This is one of the best smelling burgers I have ever eaten! The meat smells so good! It comes with lettuce, red onion, tomato, cucumber, and "burger sauce like they make it up North", which is a kind of sweet remoulade sauce, all on a big, a bit too dry, bun. Everything is fresh and, although I am not such a fan of sweet sauces, the burger overall tastes really good. The waffle fries are perfect fly crisp but coated, which is not really my thing.

 

VERDICT: 88/100

A very cozy and tasty burger place. Highly recommended!

Mandi (Reykjavik, Iceland)

Veltusund 3b, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland

 

 

Mandi is a shawarma place, billed as "Mediterranean restaurant" at the heart of downtown of Reykjavik. It serves a broad variety of platters and wraps (lamb, chicken, beef, fish) as well as humus and burgers.

 

I get a Chicken Shawarma Wrap ISK 1290 (~$10), which is a good size Lebanese wrap with spiced meat, lettuce, onion, and some sauces. It started out a bit bland but started to grow on me. Nice little kick to it.

 

VERDICT: 83/100

Very acceptable shawarma for a country with few immigrants from the Middle East.

M SHack (Jacksonville, FL)

10281 Midtown Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32246

 

M Shack is new local upscale burger chain that currently has three locations in the Jacksonville area. I wanted to visit another location on a previous trip, as it gets raving reviews, but couldn't make it. Now I visit the location in an upscale outdoor mall in a rich suburb of Jacksonville. It has a range of signature burgers, sandwiches, salads, and hot dogs as well as shakes.

 

I get the Asian Burger ($6.99), which comes with spicy coleslaw and hoisin bbq glaze (I hold the pepper Jack cheese). It is medium grilled and has a nice, original flavor with a little kick to it. I also get a side of House Fries ($2.50), which are kind of thicker Burger King fries (with a coating) and very underwhelming. The small Banana Foster Shake ($4.25) is a combination of swirl ice cream and home-made bananas foster puree and is very thick and creamy. Tastes more like caramel than banana.

 

VERDICT: 86/100

Good burgers but underwhelming sides. Definitely didn’t live up to the hype.

Triple “D” Express Grill (The Vilages, FL)

 at the ground of The Villages SC in Summerfield, FL

 

Triple “D” Express Grill is a food truck that serves the area in and around The Villages in Florida - I visit it at a The Villages SC game. It serves burgers, hot dogs, bbq and pizza - which is a bit of a suspicious combination. I get a Hamburger ($5), which is a chunk of grounded beef grilled (and reheated, I think). It looks a bit sad but it is not bad and the bun, lettuce, tomato, and onion are fresh.

 

VERDICT: 83/100

Quite affordable decent old-American burger.

Tri-Country Seafood (Cordele, GA)

401 S Pecan St, Cordele, GA

 

 

Small restaurant next to a fresh seafood store that serves a wide variety of fish and seafood, mostly grilled and fried. They also have burgers etc.

 

As a starter I get the Gator Bites ($7). Gator tastes a bit like, you guessed it, chicken and I had gator bites before and liked them. But these Gator Bites are very chewy and almost uneatable. 

 

I then get the Grilled Catfish Sandwich ($7) with side of a slaw. The Grilled catfish is very underwhelming and it is not helped by the bland tartar sauce. The slaw looks funky and doesn't taste particularly good.

 

VERDICT: 70/100

Despite being connected to a seafood fresh market, I found the food very underwhelming.