Czechoslovak National House

This place isn’t quite as good as it used to be, but is still worth attending. The main reason to go is the dumplings, which, annoyingly, were never as good as the very first time i went back in 2000. Soft, succulent, melt in the mouth morsels have been replaced with something drier, less easy to eat, somehow more solid, but still very good.
The new management no longer sells Dortmunder National, a very teasing wheat beer, that I thought was perhaps watered down until realising i was drunk about two minutes later. A standard lager replaces this.
You must have anything with the sauerkraut and dumplings combined. The cabbage is almost sweet, no vinegariness at all, very very moreish and tasty. I’ve had the duck and venison both of which were delicious.
Desserts are strange little donuts filled with fruit if I remember correctly, but don’t order one if you’ve had a starter as you will be unable to stand up and have to roll through the mean streets of West Hampstead, an easy target for muggers.
The chef used to come out and ask people how the meals were with that kind of look that made you think he might actually throw you out if you said anything less than complimentary. He did not appear on my last couple of occasions.

I was taken here a few times by my ex primarily because he loves beer and dumplings and you can get lashings of both here. There is an old-​fashioned feel to the place as soon as you step inside. The restaurant is at the front of the building and probably holds about 30 people at full capacity. It’s comforting to realise that the patrons are mostly Czech or Slovakian so the food must be fairly authentic.
There is a huge array of dishes with dumplings on the side and many seem to come with a very rich, cream sauce. They are delicious but — be warned — they are very filling. They even have dessert dumplings, filled with fruit. These too are rather nice. I can’t remember the prices exactly, sorry, but I think it was fairly reasonable and it is a singular experience eating here so whatever it cost it was worth it.