We decided, having checked out the menu, to throw caution to the wind and eat at the Perlan. The lift took us speedily to the top floor, and we were immediately greeted and escorted to our table. We were seated on comfortable chairs at a table with a crisp white tablecloth, sparkling glasses, and substantial eating irons. The setting was right, as was our view. Set out below us was the whole of Reykjavik, and above us (at 9:30 pm), the glorious Icelandic sun glinting on the countless panes of glass in the Perlan’s dome.

I had no hesitation as I chose the "gourmet menu" of Whale carpaccio with ginger- and chilli-spiced pear compote; grilled lemon sole with baby pak choi; Guillemot with sage spiced figs, vegetable terrine, and peas puree; skyr with gin jelly; and cassis ice cream. It was a veritable feast, and my mouth is watering as I relive the gastronomic experience through this journal. It was certainly not cheap (5590 KR), but my wife opted for a less-expensive alternative of a fillet of lamb in a pecan-nut crust with a rosemary sauce, glazed carrots, and garlic confiture (3980 KR).

A meal at the Perlan is a dining experience, and the waiters are extremely attentive in their smart dinner suits (don’t look at their foot ware, as this may detract a little from the image!). Our bright-blue water goblets were regularly topped off with cold spring water (at no charge), and if we’d have fancied wine (at crazily exorbitant rates), the wine list was gargantuan. As the dining area slowly revolved, 90 degrees every 15 minutes, we were able to appreciate the tapestry of the town. A sudden downpour momentarily interrupted our vision, but our reward was a superbly defined rainbow arching over whole of the area.

But back to the food! The dark red whale meat was so finely cut that it was no more than paper thin, but the combined taste was exquisite. The second course was a superb contrast, with the light and fluffy sole combining with the crunchiness of the bed of sautéed vegetables, and the full flavours of the peppers, onions, garlic, capers, and celery working well together. The piece de la resistance was the guillemont – a very rich meat virtually liver-like in appearance and not for the faint-hearted. The dessert was light and crisp to the palate, a perfect finale for a rich and flavoursome meal.

Expensive? Yes, but well worth the experience.

As mentioned earlier, The Pearl sits high on a hill on top of six water towers. There is a museum on the first few floors and an upscale restaurant on the fifth floor. There are all types of awards and pictures on display as you enter the dining area. The restaurant revolves and provides a panoramic view of the city below. Unfortunately, by the time Traci and I were seated, it had started to rain heavily and all we saw were blurry lights through streaks of water on the window.

The food and service was outstanding. The portions were small but the presentation was great. For the entrees, Traci ordered flounder and I ordered lamb. The food was even better than the food we had at Cafe Opera the night before.

In between courses, the waiters would bring out small samplers to try. I'm not sure what they were exactly, but I gave them a try. The first one was cold and smelled like ammonia. To me it tasted bad, but Traci liked it. The second one looked like broth. Our waitress said it was chicken something. We never did make out what she was saying but she said it was not chicken broth. I tried it and it definitely tasted like something from a chicken and it tasted okay. Traci didn't like it. It had a reddish color so Traci and I joked it was a cup of boiled chicken blood - I hope it was a joke.

Our waitress was very nice. She talked to us for a while and told us about living in Reykjavík. Like us, she enjoyed travelling. She had been to several countries in Europe, but she was hoping to save up money to visit the U.S.. I thought to myself, if she can afford the high cost of living in Iceland, she'll feel like royalty when she comes to America.

We paid the bill which was even higher than the one at Cafe Ópera and then headed back to the hotel. We thought the walk back would be easier since it was all downhill; however Mother Nature had other plans. That strong Iceland wind along with a driving rain was there to greet us as we stepped out of the restaurant. It only seemed to intensify as we hurried down the path. By the time, we got to the hotel my umbrella was a twisted mess.

For a different perspective on the city, I enjoy visiting Perlan during the day. Although the restaurant is closed, there is a cafe that serves sandwiches and ice cream throughout the afternoon.