Matarkjallarinn (Food Cellar)

Theresa Rene' Culver★★★★★★★★★★5.02 weeks ago

This was our first stop on our food tour in Reykjavik. We sampled the fermented shark with a shot of “Black Death” as a chaser. After that we sampled the Arctic Char. This might had been the best bite of food that I had in Iceland. I will definitely go back when I’m Reykjavik. The wait staff was so kind and prompt. The decor made one feel as they were in a cozy wine cellar..

Erin A★★★★★★★★★★5.06 months ago

Wow, what a culinary experience!!! First of all our waiter Logi made everything better, being very attentive, timely and just enjoying talking to guests… we really enjoyed that he took pride in his work. Back to the food.. totally worth every penny. Scallops were had a lot of festive mixed flavors and none of that overpowered the scallops. It was lovely. I think the cod was the best dish tonight. Very flakey, tasted almost like a Chilean sea bass. The sauce so delicious we ended up scooping the bottom with pretzels. My partner loved his arctic char. Cooked perfectly not over or underdone. Bursting with different flavors. I loved my pepper steak with pomme potatoes. I loved the steak, cooked to perfection as I asked “medium well”. I did put a little salt but the flavors of the sauce were rich and delicious. I did wish they put a little more potatoes to the plate, it was too little but really deliciously crafted. Dining room was very elegant and cosy, the light was right on top of the food so we could see the beautiful colors of the dishes and were able to read the menu. It was not too bright or too dim. I didn’t like the chocolate dessert, it was too sweet and didn’t go well with the caramel sauce. But we loved the champagne sorbet. Very light and tasty. Did I say that they had live piano? Do not miss out on this dining experience.

Neil Williams★★★★★★★★★★5.05 months ago

Our first night restaurant booking, if I had more time in Iceland I would definitely return for a second visit. Warm and welcoming reception, sat for drinks at the bar, lovely gingerbread beer with pianist in the background. So so friendly team. Helped to our table to choose from a great selection of varied food choices. Every dish was perfectly cooked, hot and tasty. A realy great night, well looked after by a professional team of staff. The pictures tell it all, well presented, definitely recommend trying this restaurant. You wont be disappointed. Thank you 🙏

Richard Stein★★★★★★★★★★5.03 weeks ago

Outstanding cuisine, imaginative creations, perfectly prepared (lamb loin with a lamb shank spring roll, and reindeer with a port wine sauce). For dessert we had their chocolate lion bar with berries and caramel sauce. Portions are huge and can easily be shared (we couldn’t even finish them). Attentive and friendly service. Really enjoyed the two music sets by pianist David, a virtuoso who plays jazz, pop, musical theatre tunes. We had a 8 pm reservation and the place was full, but had mostly cleared out by 9:30, when another wave of guests started filling up the place. Excluding alcohol, meal was about $100 each.

Colin Carroll★★★★★★★★★★5.05 months ago

5/5 - Better than before, one of thee top dining experiences in the capital for its price tag. We came back to this restaurant in September 2025 after visiting March 2024. Food Cellars ambience, service, and craftsmanship of its food continued to excel. Their tasting menu as of September 2025, was fantastic. Our waiter Sven, was fantastic and deserves praise for his subtle approach and charm. I can’t speak to how highly this restaurant deserves praise. We’ve dined in at other fantastic restaurants in Iceland, Michelin starred or deserving, and my wife and I would rate Matarkjallarinn in the highest echelon. One of our favorite dishes was the tuna tartare. The next time we visit Iceland, regardless of trip structure we will be dining at Matarkjallarinn.