Getting Away From it All

This romantic little inn, near the shores of the Rangá river in south Iceland, is a great romantic destination and a great place to get away from it all. But for those who like a little piece of mainland Europe with their middle-of-nowhere solitude, the restaurant should fulfill all their needs. The chef, Mikael Friðriksson, is originally from Sweden, where he's worked as a chef for the past three years. Having returned to Hotel Rangá last May (where he expects to be working until at least mid-September), he says his intention was to, "bring spices from Europe - some of that French and Italian flavour - to Icelandic food; to make it more European.

The stars of the menu are the platters - four types of either fish, shellfish, or demi-fowl (game birds) served with two different sauces. The desserts are in extension of this theme, featuring either four types of chocolate or four types of vanilla. "I wanted to do something different," says Friðriksson, "something that I haven't seen elsewhere in Iceland." The menu is reasonably priced, with most entrees hovering around the 2,600 ISK area, and desserts going for 1,500 ISK. The exception to this rule would be the reindeer, from the northeast of Iceland, a filet of which is served with jacket potatoes and rosemary apples for 4,200 ISK. Still, not too shabby for one of the most expensive meats in the country. They also have a lunch menu available, but it's best to call ahead to be sure the kitchen's open before 17:00.

As Hotel Rangá is situated far from anything resembling civilization, you can definitely expect a relaxed dining experience. If Friðriksson's dedication to creativity and invention is any indicator, you're not likely to find a better dining experience in this neck of the woods. -pfn