We were meeting up as a quiz team to spend our ill gotten loot from a series of spectacular jackpot wins. (The jackpot is paid in cash but the pub is card only. How does that work?!) Jamie being an aficionado of out of the way places he gave us a selection of places in the more off-beat areas of north London of which we selected a Georgian. But that was shut on a Monday so next preferred was Zakopane on Westbury Avenue.

The room is basically someone’s front room (with an awning covered terrace in front) with various alpine motifs around the walls to give it that mountain feel (I believe Zakopane is the Grenoble of Poland). On arrival I spotted a family cramming what seemed their entire meal into take-away boxes and noted that this could be a Death by Food experience. I was up for that.

We kicked off with beer. Ice chilled Zywiec was very welcome, booze that alcoholic should only be served cold. The menu is Polish classics so we shared some fried cheese and pierogis up front. These were both excellent and big. Though thankfully they didn’t arrive with the traditional round of bread, meaning that I still had room for a main.

This was duck. And not just one fillet, but two. Beautifully braised with a mountain of slaty roast spuds and three kinds of vegetables. It was delicious. I only wished I had Mrs Woof with me to help me with the spuds and duck. Did anyone want to share my spuds? Shakes of the head – they had their own carb mountains to deal with.

We had £300 in the tank and reckoned that between four of us we’d only eaten half of that so far, maximum. Would we like a round of vodka? You betcha. At £2.50 a shot it’s like they’re giving it away. I had a very tasty raspberry booze, again served ice cold. Would we like another vodka? I had to get up at 5.30 to catch a train to Paris so naturally said yes. This time it was straight vodka and summed its way across my tongue. We worked out that we could probably have another thirteen rounds and still have enough in the bag for Monday’s entry money. But I’m no Joe Stalin (except when running Crouch End Players meetings) and neither are the rest of the team. Except maybe Rich, he was wavering. So we did the right thing and called for the bill.

It came in at under £150. Amazing value for what we’d had food-wise but also given the attentive service and friendly atmosphere. It’s almost worth making a diversion for. I’m on a good run of new places!

8/10

To see where else I’ve been click on the google map below.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=18qCyiPZih_gzhGG8mwfacnNRWD3b0bo&ehbc=2E312F

Food London Food London Polish restaurants Turnpike Lane