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Hours
Sun
10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Mon
10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Tue
10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Wed
10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Thu
10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Fri
10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sat
10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Ratings and reviews
Travellers' Choice 2023
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Food and ambience
Local cuisine, Grill, Soups, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options
Is this location primarily known for Bars & Pubs?
Details
About
In our restaurant we invite you to a friendly and relaxed atmosphere and good quality food at reasonable prices. The Settlement Center is located in one of Borgarnes oldest houses. Yet the restaurant is modern and newly refurbished with due respect to old times. The menu is a blend of traditional Icelandic cooking with international flavors to it. The Restaurant is open daily from 10am - 9pm
PRICE RANGE
$14.00 – $61.00
CUISINES
Grill, Soups
Special Diets
Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, Drinks
FEATURES
Takeout, Reservations, Buffet, Seating, Parking Available, Street Parking, Free off-street parking, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Free Wifi, Accepts Discover, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service
Contribute
4.5
1,280 reviews
Excellent
745
Very good
395
Average
92
Poor
25
Terrible
23
BarnCambs
Cambridge83 contributions
Jul 2020 • none
This place was a real surprise! We had the mussels to start which were the best I’ve ever had, plump and large with amazing colour and excellent sauce. Main courses were fantastic with great veggie options. They need to move the ‘wait here to be seated’ sign in a bit so the staff can actually see when people arrive and are waiting... apart from that it’s fantastic!
Written July 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hayley97
Thank you so much for your very generous rating and wonderful review. And thank you for your good advice. We will move the sign at once. Hope you are having a wonderful time in Iceland.
Best regards
Sigridur Margret
Written July 16, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Joenarvey
London50 contributions
Aug 2020 • friends
Outstanding meal. Third time of visiting and although the COVID precautions have affected the service arrangements, the staff still offer the warmest of welcomes, advice on the menu and provide seemingly effortless waiting.
The menu is now access through a QR code linked app but thankfully staff are able to describe the presentation, ingredients and preparation.
Great menu selection, food was excellent.
Written August 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hayley97
Thank you so much for this wonderful review. We are so grateful you liked our choice of dishes and the service. We have had to reorganize a lot due to Covid but I am glad it is not affecting the quality of the food and the service.
Best regards
Sigridur Margret
Written August 20, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Michele S
7 contributions
Sep 2021 • none
We arrived at 16.00 and we asked to eat; they were very friendly and polite (it's not so easy to find a restaurant open at that hour). I ordered one fish soup and a grilled lamb; both dishes were simply amazing. The fish soup was very tasty and hot (perfect for the bad weather outside); the lamb was perfectly cooked with roasted potatoes, vegetables, and a sort of gravy sauce. The price was average for Iceland and the waiters were very polite and professional.
Highly recommended!!
Written September 9, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Settlement C
Thank you so much for your generous rating and wonderful review. So glad your visit was such a good experience. Sometimes we need to close between 16:00. and 17:00 to be prepared for the evening. But only if it’s necessary. So I am glad we were open when you came.
Best regards
Sirrý
Written September 12, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Anna G
2 contributions
Aug 2021 • couples
Went to celebrate a birthday with my husband (we live 2 hours away) wanted to go somewhere special. The waitress (dark, short hair) seated us next to another couple with absolutely no distance apart, we asked politely if we could sit at another table that we pointed at since there were many tables available but she said it was a 4 people table. So we sit down and in 10 minutes another couple comes in with another waitress and she offers them to sit anywhere they like and they chose the table that we asked to have.
Okay not a big problem but just annoying. So i order the lamb and ask to have it cooked well done and make sure that there is no red meat and told our waitress that I was pregnant. When i get my dish I immediately see it’s bright red and i even cut through it to make sure and it was like medium rare so I tell our waitress about it which seems she is just annoyed about it and only replies with “I told them to cook it well...” My husband had the fish of the day and wanted to wait for me to get my dish back but it was 15 minutes later that my dish finally came back and his food had gotten cold while waiting for me. I understand that mistakes like this can happen but our waitress was so dismissive and didn’t even say that they were sorry or that they were going to fix it, we just say there waiting while She never even bothered to look at us when trying to get to talk to her both when we were waiting and when my husband wanted another drink. I want to point out though that there was another waitress (short blonder hair, middle age woman) serving the table next to us that was very kind and polite with her costumers.
All in all this was not a pleasant experience and for this price of food with absolutely terrible service we were very dissatisfied with this restaurant.
(I have never written a review before but I just felt so disappointed since it was so supposed to be a special birthday dinner).
Written August 21, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Settlement C
I am so sorry to hear this. I take this complaint very seriously. We have a special routine when we have birthday guest giving cake with sparkling light or candle. I will take this up with our staff and make sure no one shows this sort of attitude. I am not sure who this could be as we have only one waitress with dark hear but it is long. But anyway I would like you to contact us so we can make up for this bad experience.
Best regards
Sirrý
Written September 8, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
jenni R
4 contributions
Jul 2021 • couples
The lunch we had at The Settlement Center was the best food we had during our week in Iceland!
We were very tempted by their "Wellness Buffet" which included a large variety of salads, pastas, soup, and vegetables (which all looked amazing!). We ended up ordering off of the menu, though. I had the fish of the day, which was cod served with an delicious cream sauce and root vegetables. My husband had the grilled lamb filet with date sauce, which was SO tender and cooked to perfection. Our meals were served with delicious homemade bread and butter (topped with black lava salt).
If you are in the area, be sure to have at least one meal at The Settlement Center. It was some of the best food I've ever had, and the wait staff were really friendly and helpful (we even got some great tips on hiking to the volcano!).
Written July 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Settlement C
Thank you so much for this wonderful review and generous rating. So glad you liked our food so much. You have to come again for the wellness buffet.
Best regards
Sirry
Written July 23, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
E17_KJ
London1269 contributions
Sep 2021 • friends
I was sceptical about eating at what I thought was a museum restaurant, but it didn’t feel like that at all; it was definitely a restaurant in its own right. The waiter who showed us in and took our order was absolutely lovely but there definitely weren’t enough staff as they were rushed off their feet (I think only him and one waitress, on a busy Sunday lunchtime) - one of our drinks orders was forgotten totally, and another took a very long time. But despite that it was a good experience. We all enjoyed our food; the horse fillet was beautifully seasoned and so tender, the best I’ve ever had. Very enjoyable.
Written September 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Flannery52
Chapel Hill767 contributions
Oct 2022 • none
Our Airbnb host recommended Settlement House when we asked where to try Icelandic cod and lamb. We were 100% satisfied. On a Monday night at 6:30, the restaurant was comfortably full (we were directed away from the large room for large bus groups, of which one was present). Our server brought warm bread and a bottle of water right away - delicious with a homemade garlic butter. The cod was amazingly flaky. The lamb was so good and tender. Both had good but not overwhelming sauces (in other words, you could sauce your fish/lamb or not), and the accompanying vegetables perfectly done. We added a small bottle of Chardonnay, which was just right for the two of us. Total bill was USD $75 (so nice not to add sales tax and a tip to the bill!) which we thought was quite fair, considering the quality of food, the service, and being in Iceland.
Written October 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Settlement C
Thank you so much for this generous rating and wonderful review. Glad we lived up to your expectations.
Best regards
Sirry
Written October 6, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Cheryl L
Camp Hill28 contributions
Mar 2023 • couples
We loved this restaurant! The menu was simple and included traditional Icelandic cuisine including horse! We jad an interesting dialog with our waiter about eating horse - he was entertaining and educational. The service was excellent and we thoroughly enjoyed our choices. We also did shopping in their gift shop - quality items including handmade options at affordable prices.
Written April 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helga Friðriksdóttir
Thank you so much for your wonderful review and generous rating. We are very lucky with our great staff. Glad they could take the time to inform you about the horsemeat. One of our most popular dishes.
Best regards
Sirry
Written April 7, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sara S
Denver42 contributions
Aug 2022 • family
I wasn’t expecting much from this little cafe, as we just needed a quick place to eat after touring The Settlement Center. But I was pleasantly surprised and very impressed. The staff was prompt and friendly even though they were very busy. 3 of us decided on the vegetarian buffet, which was amazingly delicious. It had soup, pasta salads, caprese salad, rice and veggie dishes, and fruit (I’m guessing there were 15-20 different dishes). My younger daughter got the beef soup and it was delicious. It came in a silver tureen and was accompanied by hearty, homemade bread and yummy butter. The cafe itself was bright and clean. I don’t right many reviews unless something is very good or very bad. I highly recommend this little cafe.
Written August 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Settlement C
Thank you so much for this generous rating and wonderful review. We are very lucky with our great staff and I am glad you appreciated their effort. Enjoy your stay in Iceland.
Best regards
Sirry
Written August 6, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
MariaRichter
Kissimmee128 contributions
May 2020 • friends
I am very sorry to say that my experience is far from good. We were 5 sisters hoping to have a nice lunch after traveling from the north. We waited and waited, but no one came to seat us. After a long wait, the phone rang and all of a sudden a server came running to answer the phone. She didn't even give us a word of apology before answering the phone. Maybe we should have phoned while standing in the lobby of the restaurant. So whether the food is good or not will be a mystery to us for we left when the server thougt a phonecall was more important than customers waiting to be seated.
Written June 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hayley97
So sorry to hear this. Our staff is trained to attend to customers as soon as possible. I am not sure what happened but I will make inquiries and talk to the shift manager. We have just opened after Covid. It is very quiet and we are running with minimum staff and they are also attending to guests visiting the exhibitions. This is not an excuse but may explain that no one was in the restaurant when you came. It is a shame that you did not get to taste our good food. We would like to send you a gift voucher for our lunch buffet. If you send us an email at landnam@landnam.is we will be in touch.
Best regards
Sigridur Margret
Written June 3, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Esther B
149 contributions
Jul 2020 • friends
Due to Corona most restaurants in Borgarnes were closed but we were very lucky to find this great restaurant. It looks cool, build openly with rough stone on one wall. Our waiter was wonderful and friendly and the food was just amazing! Totally recommend the grilled horse filet. Just great!
Written July 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hayley97
Thank you so much for this wonderful review and generous five stars. So glad you found us and enjoyed your visit.
Best regards
Sigridur Margret
Written August 1, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ficie
Reykjavik438 contributions
Aug 2020 • couples
Probably the best restaurant in Borgarnes. The menu is large and varied. They offer a vegetarian lunch buffet with plenty of warm dishes, including bread and a soup of the day. The staff is friendly and very helpful.
Written August 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hayley97
Thank you so much for this wonderful review. So glad you appreciate our varied menu and our wonderful staff.
Best regards
Sigridur Margret
Written August 17, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Susan S
West Chester139 contributions
Jun 2021 • couples
A table full of veggies led to happy diners today. We ate the lunch buffet and were happy to have many delicious choices of veg dishes, warming soup (1), pasta salads, and a hot beverage. We recommend this restaurant especially to plant focused eaters. Note: the staff were friendly and polished.
Written June 26, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Settlement C
Thank you so much for this very kind review and generous rating. Our wellness buffet is almost all vegan and with more and more guest being vegan we are happy to be able to meet their needs.
Best regards
Sigridur Margret
Written June 27, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Laila C
1 contribution
Aug 2023 • family
Such a quirky, artsy and tasty place we went twice. It is actually a educational center that has a restaurant, which has vegan, veg, and….horse options. The lunch buffet is a good deal for vegetarians, like 8-9 tasty dishes including salad which is hard to find sometimes. We came back another time for dinner. Staff are lovely. Also little hikes behin building.
Written August 25, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Settlement Center
Thank you so much for this fantastic review and generous rating. Good to hear that you came both for lunch and dinner and liked it both times. Enjoy your stay in Iceland.
Best regards
Sirry
Written August 28, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Habichick
Raleigh23 contributions
Jun 2021 • none
This is our second visit to Iceland, and we have been here two weeks, eating fish soup in most every place we visit. The fish soup at the Settlement Center is the best we've had. The service is wonderful, the rock wall on the restaurant's interior is stunning. Great atmosphere, wonderful service and incredible food. You must visit!
If I could have the recipe for this fish soup I would be making it at home!
Written June 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Settlement C
Thank you so much for this wonderful review. Yes our fish soup is very popular and the recipe is a secret. So glad you enjoyed your visit.
Best regards
Sigridur Margret
Written June 27, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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