Tom Sietsema is stepping down

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh my god, good riddance!! He's become worse and worse every year.

Provide examples. Be specific.

Who even subscribes to the Washington Post anymore? Everyone I know that worked there has left in the past two years. Tom is leaving for the same reason so much of the staff has left in the past year. And it's not because he thinks it's time for new adventures, LOL!

That’s nice but what does this mean?

“He's become worse and worse every year.”

Worse how? Does he write things and not explain what they mean, because yes that”s poor criticism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He’s terrible.. my husband used to read him religiously, and we would choose restaurants based on it.

One day, I told him to pick three restaurants that he said were terrible. We went to see for ourselves and they were fine to actually fabulous.

I feel like people who like him are the same people that love real housewives.

I think people who say "actually fabulous" are likely to be people who love Real Housewives.

One of the things I appreciated most about his reviews was the details, so if he didn't like, for example, barbecue sauce that he found too sweet, I would know not to rule it out (I like sweet barbecue sauce)

Same. Agree or disagree with his take, he provides a good idea of what to expect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh my god, good riddance!! He's become worse and worse every year.

Provide examples. Be specific.

Who even subscribes to the Washington Post anymore? Everyone I know that worked there has left in the past two years. Tom is leaving for the same reason so much of the staff has left in the past year. And it's not because he thinks it's time for new adventures, LOL!

That’s nice but what does this mean?

“He's become worse and worse every year.”

Worse how? Does he write things and not explain what they mean, because yes that”s poor criticism.

Honestly I don’t think this is worth fighting over. It is ok if a person doesn’t like Tom Sietsema.

[Anonymous]

Now he's even more out and proud!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh my god, good riddance!! He's become worse and worse every year.

Provide examples. Be specific.

Who even subscribes to the Washington Post anymore? Everyone I know that worked there has left in the past two years. Tom is leaving for the same reason so much of the staff has left in the past year. And it's not because he thinks it's time for new adventures, LOL!

That’s nice but what does this mean?

“He's become worse and worse every year.”

Worse how? Does he write things and not explain what they mean, because yes that”s poor criticism.

Honestly I don’t think this is worth fighting over. It is ok if a person doesn’t like Tom Sietsema.

Of course it's ok to not like Tom Sietsema. For many of us Tom's reviews have been useful. If the reviews got worse somehow, it's beneficial to know the reasons. But if the Sietsema critics have no useful insight to provide, that itself is insightful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, its been 25 years or so, a pretty long run. I think Covid would have driven away most critics, much less the current political situation in DC.

Thanks for your work Tom.

People stuck in the service industry hate their lives (and make that obvious) and every restaurant is serving the same heated up Sysco products with varying levels of atmosphere, hype, and vibe to get you buzzed up and con you out of varying levels of money. If it's on the company card, sure, swipe away, otherwise it's all such a scam.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh my god, good riddance!! He's become worse and worse every year.

Provide examples. Be specific.

Who even subscribes to the Washington Post anymore? Everyone I know that worked there has left in the past two years. Tom is leaving for the same reason so much of the staff has left in the past year. And it's not because he thinks it's time for new adventures, LOL!

Does a Wapo restaurant review really move the needle in 2025? I can't imagine it does. Tom was a dinosaur. Meanwhile, a single random 20-something food reviewer on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram will reach 1,000,000+ people with audio and visual. I've personally grown to find the whole foodie scene to be super cringy, obnoxious, and pointless. Going out of your way to get to and/or get reservations for a restaurant is just so pathetic. Mindless consumerism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He’s terrible.. my husband used to read him religiously, and we would choose restaurants based on it.

One day, I told him to pick three restaurants that he said were terrible. We went to see for ourselves and they were fine to actually fabulous.

I feel like people who like him are the same people that love real housewives.

I think people who say "actually fabulous" are likely to be people who love Real Housewives.

One of the things I appreciated most about his reviews was the details, so if he didn't like, for example, barbecue sauce that he found too sweet, I would know not to rule it out (I like sweet barbecue sauce)

Same. Agree or disagree with his take, he provides a good idea of what to expect.

Agree. His tastes aren’t necessarily mine but he was descriptive and consistent enough that I usually had a good idea of whether a restaurant he reviewed would appeal to me.

[Anonymous]

I worked in restaurants in DC from 2004-2011; it was always a nightmare whenever he entered the building. I think he was a fine person, but the risk of having a poor to muddling reviews could be devastating. A lot of power for someone who got paid to eat!

[Anonymous]

^a poor to middling review

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh my god, good riddance!! He's become worse and worse every year.

Provide examples. Be specific.

Who even subscribes to the Washington Post anymore? Everyone I know that worked there has left in the past two years. Tom is leaving for the same reason so much of the staff has left in the past year. And it's not because he thinks it's time for new adventures, LOL!

That’s nice but what does this mean?

“He's become worse and worse every year.”

Worse how? Does he write things and not explain what they mean, because yes that”s poor criticism.

Honestly I don’t think this is worth fighting over. It is ok if a person doesn’t like Tom Sietsema.

Of course it's ok to not like Tom Sietsema. For many of us Tom's reviews have been useful. If the reviews got worse somehow, it's beneficial to know the reasons. But if the Sietsema critics have no useful insight to provide, that itself is insightful.

Because he played more into a "personality" of reviewing food and restaurants than actually reviewing them. He loved roasting really great restaurants or tried and true ones even if they were not Michelin star worthy, because there is a restaurant world in DC and it's not just a review but about what parties he would get invited to and the buzz he would create in the community.

Have you ever been to a restaurant that he gave 0 stars to? Did they really deserve 0 stars. No, many times no, that is the answer btw. It could just because he didn't get an invite to a party in DC. And guess what, you didn't go because of his need for attention instead of a real review.

Happy now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, its been 25 years or so, a pretty long run. I think Covid would have driven away most critics, much less the current political situation in DC.

Thanks for your work Tom.

People stuck in the service industry hate their lives (and make that obvious) and every restaurant is serving the same heated up Sysco products with varying levels of atmosphere, hype, and vibe to get you buzzed up and con you out of varying levels of money. If it's on the company card, sure, swipe away, otherwise it's all such a scam.

Girl you need to go to mom and pops.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh my god, good riddance!! He's become worse and worse every year.

Provide examples. Be specific.

Who even subscribes to the Washington Post anymore? Everyone I know that worked there has left in the past two years. Tom is leaving for the same reason so much of the staff has left in the past year. And it's not because he thinks it's time for new adventures, LOL!

That’s nice but what does this mean?

“He's become worse and worse every year.”

Worse how? Does he write things and not explain what they mean, because yes that”s poor criticism.

Wow, are you in the industry? You make this sound so personal.

Honestly I don’t think this is worth fighting over. It is ok if a person doesn’t like Tom Sietsema.

Of course it's ok to not like Tom Sietsema. For many of us Tom's reviews have been useful. If the reviews got worse somehow, it's beneficial to know the reasons. But if the Sietsema critics have no useful insight to provide, that itself is insightful.

Because he played more into a "personality" of reviewing food and restaurants than actually reviewing them. He loved roasting really great restaurants or tried and true ones even if they were not Michelin star worthy, because there is a restaurant world in DC and it's not just a review but about what parties he would get invited to and the buzz he would create in the community.

Have you ever been to a restaurant that he gave 0 stars to? Did they really deserve 0 stars. No, many times no, that is the answer btw. It could just because he didn't get an invite to a party in DC. And guess what, you didn't go because of his need for attention instead of a real review.

Happy now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He’s terrible.. my husband used to read him religiously, and we would choose restaurants based on it.

One day, I told him to pick three restaurants that he said were terrible. We went to see for ourselves and they were fine to actually fabulous.

I feel like people who like him are the same people that love real housewives.

Name the restaurants.

Equinox was one.

And that “everything taste like curry”about one of the Indian restaurants.

Omg--that was the worst. Tom is from the generation of critics who referred to Asian food as "exotic."

You and the other PP are ridiculous and ignorant. You are talking about Gene Weingarten and the column that ended his career at the Post. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/washington-post-column-disparaged-indian-food-prompts-backlash-correction-apology-n1277698

Tom Sietsema would never!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He’s terrible.. my husband used to read him religiously, and we would choose restaurants based on it.

One day, I told him to pick three restaurants that he said were terrible. We went to see for ourselves and they were fine to actually fabulous.

I feel like people who like him are the same people that love real housewives.

Name the restaurants.

Equinox was one.

And that “everything taste like curry”about one of the Indian restaurants.

Omg--that was the worst. Tom is from the generation of critics who referred to Asian food as "exotic."

You and the other PP are ridiculous and ignorant. You are talking about Gene Weingarten and the column that ended his career at the Post. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/washington-post-column-disparaged-indian-food-prompts-backlash-correction-apology-n1277698

Tom Sietsema would never!

Hilarious that people are confusing Weingarten with Sietsema