Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

+1 We used to go pretty frequently to the location in Bethesda. A few years ago they changed the menu and it has never been the same. wasn't worth the time or the money.

NP. I have never had a bad experience there and agree with Tom, and go multiple times a year. Like all things, some people will unfortunately get a bad experience but Jaleo is a universally liked stalwart in my circle.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

+1 We used to go pretty frequently to the location in Bethesda. A few years ago they changed the menu and it has never been the same. wasn't worth the time or the money.

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Anonymous wrote:Hi Tom, thanks for coming on here. You have some pretty good suggestions and some duds. Not too bad of a record though. I would say that your writing could be a bit livelier.
I went to Le Diplomat twice for special occasions and was disappointed both times. Seemed nice but food didn't taste great and was way overpriced for what you get.
Rasika is good but also seems overpriced and overhyped. I like when you review off the beat unknown non-fancy restaurants to mix things up but I guess that is more Tim Carman's territory. Went to Arroz based on how much you rave about it and it was very good but small servings for high prices. I wish you would be a little more sensitive about price and value for those of us not on expense accounts. I don't mind paying $$$ but sometimes it feels like one gets fleeced unnecessarily. I had lunch at Kith and Kin and it was good but very expensive and the plates were small. I paid $40 for lunch for one person and still left feeling hungry. I really like Fiola, it was expensive but great food and great service.
You gave Millie's a good review but it is also so-so and very overpriced.

Anonymous wrote:This is why we can't have nice things - how about people don't use this opportunity to be rude and instead take advantage of Tom's responsiveness in answering genuine questions?

Thanks for sharing your time with us Tom!