The search for the world's best dumplings

The Ukrainian East Village Restaurant is housed at the Ukrainian National Home, a community, social and cultural center in New York City’s East Village. The ‘Ukie Nat’, as it is known by long time residents of the neighborhood, has been around since the 1950’s and houses the restaurant, the Karpaty Pub and a performance hall. The hall has hosted some legendary bands; Elvis Costello played there in 1977 on the Attraction’s first tour of the U.S., New Order played there in 1981 as they were developing their post-Joy Division sound (audio here, video here), The Misfits played a Halloween show there in 1981 and Blues Traveler and Phish played together there in 1989 (video of Blues Traveler here, Phish set list here, Phish audio here). The Ukrainian East Village Restaurant has a back room that hosts events, the Manhattan Libertarian Party meets there the second Tuesday of each month and every Wednesday there is a Milonga – an Argentine Tango Party.

The Ukrainian East Village Restaurant is not directly visible from the street, although a chalk board on the sidewalk showing the daily specials marks its presence. The restaurant is an old school looking wood paneled room on the ground floor of the Ukie Nat, at the end of a long hall. We were there on a Wednesday, which is tango night in the restaurant’s back room, so there was a steady stream of well dressed men and women that walked through the restaurant room. It was actually really cool to watch the dancing, some really skilled dancers come to the Ukrainian National Home for Tango night.

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