ROK, Iceland

I noticed ROK while walking around downtown Reykjavik. It looked beautiful and small and expensive, I immediately made a reservation. There was a Christmas tasting menu that I had to try. Nine courses of traditional Icelandic cuisine. I was very excited and couldn’t wait to return and sample all of the unique food.

I started by ordering a classic Icelandic Christmas drink. It’s not an alcoholic drink but it tastes very similar to beer. I later noticed they were offering it on our flights. It is sweet and malty with a hint of orange..

A basket of Icelandic Christmas bread and butter was served to start our meal. The bread was very thin and crumbly like a cracker..

Shrimp cocktail with melon, lemon and a spicy cocktail sauce was next. It was fresh and flavorful. The bread was warm and buttery and soft..

The smoked salmon with blini, horseradish and trout roe was served. It was beautiful..

Cured reindeer with bleu cheese, roasted almonds and beurre noisette. I was very excited to try the reindeer dishes because I had never seen it on a menu. It was served cold and was very tender and packed with flavor. It was more mild than other deer I have eaten, less gamey. While in Iceland I was able to eat reindeer prepared three different ways..

Wild mushroom risotto with a red wine sauce and parmigiano. It was warm, rich, comforting and familiar..

Roasted pork with crackling, glazed potatoes and braised red cabbage. The crackling was crispy and delicious. The glazed potatoes were very sweet and almost caramelized..

Smoked duck breast with a raspberry and mandarin orange sauce was served next. It was very rich and decadent but deliciously lightened a bit by the sauce. The duck was tender and perfectly cooked..

Reindeer fillet with wild mushrooms, mashed potatoes, served with a blueberry and thyme sauce. I noticed a lot of berry sauces and herbs used together while eating in Iceland. The fillet melted in my mouth and the whole dish was brightened by the blueberry..

The dessert was a pavlova. Filled with a blood orange cheesecake and white chocolate. It was delicate, light and rich all at the same time..

I ordered an extra dessert because I love crème brûlée and they had a gingerbread option for the holidays. It was creamy and crunchy and delicious..

I ordered an after dinner coffee and enjoyed the atmosphere of ROK for a little longer before leaving..

I had an unforgettable dinner experience at ROK. I got to eat some dishes that I had never had before, the staff was friendly and the restaurant was beautiful. I will visit ROK again on my next trip to Iceland for sure!

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