REYKJAVIK - The dim, warm lights illuminate the wooden tables dressed in homely floral tablecloths. Perched on a shelf by the counter is a taxidermy mount of the Atlantic Puffin bird, paying homage to the restaurant’s best-selling traditional delicacy: smoked puffin breast with mustard sauce.

At first glance, 3 Frakkar is a quaint eatery tucked away in a residential area of Reykjavik that promises authentic Icelandic cuisine. Yet, the chatter that filled the room was not Icelandic, but a mix of English, German and French. The diners were not locals seeking comfort food – but visitors eager to sample the unique flavours of Iceland.

For many locals, however, eating puffin may be a thing of the past as climate change, habitat destruction and overhunting have reduced the supply of puffin meat, driving prices up.

“The last time I ate puffin was more than 20 years ago in the Westman Islands,” said Mr Harald Isakssen, 63, a Reykjavik local. He cites the puffin’s dwindling numbers as his main reason for not eating its meat.

The seabird with the bright orange beak and feet is a beloved national icon of Iceland, and can be found everywhere in the country of fewer than 400,000 people – on postcards, T-shirts, mugs and as stuffed toys in the windows of souvenir shops.