I was pleasantly surprised by what UNO Cucina Italiana in Reykjavik had to offer. Italian food in Iceland – what could go wrong? I met the owners (a sister duo) during a Martini promotional meet-up during my last week in Iceland and they invited me to return for a plate sampling a few days later. Little did I know, they wanted me to sample nearly everything on the menu — well, at least that’s what it felt like. Whoahh Nellie I was thinking after each dish arrived and yet…..oh so so delicious. Orgasmically delicious. And so, the blend of Italy meets Iceland suddenly felt oh so right.
For some reason, I thought it was going to be an informal, low key casual place given its fun upbeat ambiance. And, the cool thing about UNO is that it is precisely that. Fun, modern, stylish and casual and yet…the quality of the food is far above what you’d expect from “fun, hip and stylish.” Being an Italian bistro, they started us off with an antipasti: artichokes, delicious toasted bread, assorted olives, chili jam (they’re famous for this apparently), pickled chili, prosciutto, chorizo, Italian salami, mozzarella, and Prima donna.
Then there was the incredible goat cheese risotto with peas, tomatoes and radish on top.
Salmon, Arctic Charr, Caviar, Chives, Argula, a little lemon and a little lime. Oh so perfect!
Cod is very common in Iceland and I tried it a variety of ways over the course of a month. Imagine garlic, artichokes, puree, polenta and salsa. Can dinner get much better?
Ah yes, but it does. While they had a slow cooked chicken, a four cheese ravioli and an oxtail with chili, red onion, arugula and blue cheese and that sounded exquisite, we opted for the lamb fillet with peas, beetroot puree, grilled pumpkin and red wine sauce.
Then, out of the blue came a seafood sampler that had both my new buddy from Minneapolis I met on a hike earlier that day….and I, at hello. Can anyone say fresh crab and mussels anyone? It’s a glorious dish of sauteed shellfish with fresh herbs and white wine was served with ratte potatoes, leeks and cherry tomatoes.
Just when you thought you couldn’t eat another morsel, a brownie with hazelnut and raspberry sauce, gelato ice cream with sweet almonds, cream and caramel sauce, and white chocolate with skyr (the Icelandic equivalent of yoghurt), lime and sweet almonds all showed up to greet us.
What an A+ job from UNO!! Kudos to the chef and owners whose energy I loved: Hrefna Ingolfsdottir and Erna Vigdis Ingolfsdottir (below). We give it a strong recommendation and two thumbs up! You won’t leave hungry nor will you be disappointed. Expect nothing short of one food orgasm after another!!
Note: I was hosted by the restaurant, but all opinions expressed here are entirely my own. Go here for more on Iceland hotels / top Iceland hotels, and for food in Iceland / Iceland restaurants / top Iceland restaurants.
Renee Blodgett is the Founder and Managing Editor of We Blog the World, a global travel, culture and lifestyle publication exploring the world through the lens of meaningful experiences, human connection and cultural depth. Having lived in 10 countries and traveled to 95, Renee has spent much of her life immersed in the people, traditions, landscapes and ideas that shape how we experience the world.
Since launching We Blog the World in 2007, she has written and produced extensive editorial coverage spanning boutique and luxury travel, culinary experiences, arts and culture, wellness, adventure, technology, spiritual traditions and transformative travel. Her work is rooted in the belief that travel is about more than where we go—it is also about what a place, culture or encounter awakens within us.
Renee brings more than three decades of experience across journalism, photography, media, brand strategy, technology, wellness and global storytelling. She has worked with companies and organizations around the world on brand positioning, communications, product launches, media strategy, speaker positioning and storytelling. Through Blue Soul Media, she works with authors, entrepreneurs, thought leaders and purpose-driven brands to clarify their message and expand their impact, which includes speaker coaching/training for high-profile stages such as TED and bringing authors’ work to market while retaining authors rights.
She is also the co-founder of Blue Soul Earth, an educational platform exploring consciousness, ancient wisdom, spirituality, healing and the intersection between science and the nature of reality. Renee is the producer and host of the award-winning Blue Soul CHATS, a conversational series bringing together leading voices in science, technology, consciousness, wellness and spirituality.
Her growing body of work also includes Blue Soul Living, which extends her interest in consciousness and well-being into the spaces we inhabit, exploring how intentional design, energy and environment can support greater harmony and connection.
Renee is the award-winning co-author of the bestselling Magdalene’s Journey and founder of the Magdalene Collection, inspired by women’s voices, stories and wisdom across cultures and generations.
A longtime photographer and storyteller, Renee has documented people, places and cultures around the world and produced photographic collections focused on destinations including the Galápagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome and Ecuador. She also co-founded Traveling Geeks, an international initiative that brought entrepreneurs, journalists, creators and technology leaders together with their counterparts in other countries to exchange ideas and explore innovation across cultures.
Renee’s work has been recognized by Forbes, the United Nations and others for her influence in media and social storytelling. Across her work in travel, media, consciousness and culture, a common thread remains: curiosity about the world, the stories that connect us and the ways meaningful experiences can change how we see ourselves and one another.
