WaPo Ask Tom?

[Anonymous]

Lol. Now Tom has given up his DCUM login and is posting anonymously just like the rest of us. Thanks Tom-soon you’ll be referencing Larla in your reviews.

[Anonymous]

I like Rasika. My take on Indian food (I'm half Indian) is that the difference between a cheap place and an expensive place is mostly quality of ingredients. The dishes are the same. In India, whether you go to a tiny canteen by the side of the road or a restaurant in a five-star hotel, they're going to offer basically the same dishes (vindaloo, rogan josh, biryani, etc) but the expensive place will be using better ingredients and maybe cooking it a bit better.

Compare that to other cuisines. You wont' find a hamburger in a fancy restaurant (generally) nor will you find braised duck at a cheap place. With American food (and many other cuisines), you actually get totally different dishes in a fancy place vs a casual place.

[TomSietsema]

Ha! That was a mistake there. i meant to log in as myself, but come on, it was obvious, right?

I'm curious why so few people log in as themselves. Honestly, the site loses credibility when people don't identify themselves. Real names = credibility (and responsibility).

[Anonymous]

TomSietsema wrote:Ha! That was a mistake there. i meant to log in as myself, but come on, it was obvious, right?

I'm curious why so few people log in as themselves. Honestly, the site loses credibility when people don't identify themselves. Real names = credibility (and responsibility).

Lol. Go read through some of the threads. People say things they would never say in real life because it’s anonymous.

[Anonymous]

Hey Tom, you turned me on to Afghan Bistro in Springfield. Did you know the same family recently opened another Afghan restaurant in Palisades - Bistro Aracosia? We’ve been at least 10 times in the last couple of months and it’s quickly risen to becoming one of our favorite restaurants in the area. Thanks for putting that great restaurant on our radar. I never knew how much I loved Afghan food until you pointed me to it. Thanks for that.

Also, thanks for joining us over here on DCUM.

[TomSietsema]

I actually wrote a preview of the new place when it opened. Ive been twice, and I like kit, too. nice addition to a neighborhood that could use more (and better) restaurants,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Lots of questions/comments here, and I'll address a few:

Jose Andres has done some good/excellent work in DC and his (consistent) restaurants address a number of diner wishes. Lest anyone think I've *not* criticized his empire, I gave minibar two stars a number of years ago when I felt the formula hadn't changed much. I keep tables on 100 or so restaurants. I wonder when the last time some of you have ben to say, Jaleo, and found it disappointing? I go at least five times a year.

My precedecessor was in the job almost 24 years. I'm not the only critic in the country to be in the job more than a decade (see: Alison Cook in Houston, Michael Bauer in SF, J. Gold in Los Angeles). One way I try to stay fresh for myself and for readers is to write other than straight reviews. See: my survey of chain restaurants, my year-long tour of the best food cities, my rant on tight tables, my feature on the unsung heroes of the kitchen: dishwashers.

I frequently acknowledge when i'm noticed in restaurants and have gone incognito to many of the most popular restaurants in town. I'm not surprising anything (as some posters seem to suggest).

Before we had a full-time cheap eats columnist, I regularly filed dispatches from all over the DMV and at all price points. But as part of the Post's move from local to national stage, I'm focusing more on restaurants of wider interest. That said, my guides and my regular dispatches regularly include different cuisies and price points. Just the week, i wrote about a fast-casual indian restaurant (Rasa).

Feel free to join my online chat (every Wed. at 11 a.m.). I welcome questions and feedback.

So many folks have told you about disappointing meals and service at Jaleo, but you keep highlighting it. And then we find out that your friends with Jose. Don't you think your readers would find that problematic?

[TomSietsema]

Did you read my rebuttal, above? I am NOT friends with Jose! I'm not friends with the people I cover. With one exception, and I address that as it comes up. My experience with Jaleo has been positive. But really, let's move on to another topic. We can agree to disagree about individual restaurants.

[Anonymous]

Tom,

Have you ever responded to the piece that was done in the Washingtonian about you being recognized at Le Diplomat? I know you love it but I’ve have had (twice) horrible service there.

[TomSietsema]

I liked Le Diplomate very much at one point, but that's not to say my opinion can't change. I haven't been since my last review -- too many new restaurants to check out, and old restaurants to monitor -- and I'll be curious to see what I find. In the past, I've been impressed how a restaurant that seats almost 300 at full tilt cooks so much food at such a high level. (I've been at least a dozen times since it opened.)

[Anonymous]

Tom, where are the best Pupusas in Montgomery? Bonus if they have good yucca y chicharrones.

[TomSietsema]

Try La Casita in Silver Spring.


(Happy to address food-related questions during my weekly chat, 11 a.m. every Wednesday. (i came on here initially to address questions about my process, etc.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

TomSietsema wrote:Ha! That was a mistake there. i meant to log in as myself, but come on, it was obvious, right?

I'm curious why so few people log in as themselves. Honestly, the site loses credibility when people don't identify themselves. Real names = credibility (and responsibility).

Lol. Go read through some of the threads. People say things they would never say in real life because it’s anonymous.

LOL...who said this site has much credibility to begin with?

Some sections are useful, whike others are a joke due to Heil Censor's bias.

[Anonymous]

TomSietsema wrote:I actually wrote a preview of the new place when it opened. Ive been twice, and I like kit, too. nice addition to a neighborhood that could use more (and better) restaurants,

I just found it. We were on vacation when it was published which is why I may have missed it.

I love this exclusive access to you. There’s a lot of drama here on DCUM, but we’re all just hangry, that’s all. We need a voice of reason like yourself.

[Anonymous]

Tom, you lost all credibility with me when you voted Cracker Barrel (aka Crap in the Barrel) the #1 chain restaurant. How could you?! It's awful. We drove cross-country earlier this year, eating at all the chain restaurants, and Cracker Barrel was THE WORST. Were you distracted by the gift shop?