Hi Tom, don’t mind the threads here. There is an overabundance of pretension on these boards, mixed in with some actual nuggets of wisdom. Just be aware, everyone on these boards are “poors” who only make 400k a year and are struggling to by, all attended a “major Ivy” and all their kids are geniuses who cannot possibly be challenged in any school with other children without having entire programs dedicated to them. So they know more about cooking and food than Paul Bocuse.

Your reviews and recommendations are generally fair, although you could try to find some additional ways to judge how regular people are treated in busy, trendier, restaurants. Not an easy task.

Tom- I’ve tried to ask this Q a few times- what is going on at Range in Friendship Heights? It’s clear that voltaggio is checked out- the food is awful, service totally atrocious, place is empty. Is it just on life support until he’s allowed to close it under his lease or contract?

TomSietsema wrote:om Sietsema here! Just weighing in to address a few comments from some posters here:

1) I'm not friends with Jose Andres. But I think he's a talented chef with great ideas that address a number of diner needs.

2) Yes, the Post pays for my meals, but I never leave a restaurant without asking myself if it was worth the expense or if I'd spend my own money there. (The Post also pays for White house reporters to fly on Air force One and sports scribes to cover the Olympics. Just saying.)

3) Between my First Bite previews and my Dining column in the Magazine -- not to mention my two annual dining guides -- I cover more ground than some of you think I do.

4) It's easy to criticize someone when you can post anonymously. Why hide?


Happy to take additional questions here, but I don't want to crash the party uninvited.

Tom, Just wanted to say that I have great respect for your coming into this thread and answering questions! And welcome!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I never understood why he relentlessly promotes Rasika every chance he gets. It's a good restaurant but not all that great.

Rasika is the best Indian food I’ve ever had. And I rarely read his column.
Did he really recommend Jaleo? That’s nothing special at all.

See, and we love both. I don't like to keep too much good jamon or cheese around the house, I'd rather go to Jaleo for a special occasion. And Rasika is our go-to for milestone anniversary dinners. I have a couple of childhood friends whose moms can make tandoori and daal almost as good, but Rasika is closer, and takes reservations.

I'll just add that I'm another reader who finds his reviews and advice quite useful, and he often gives thoughtful and reasoned answers to his own critics in the live chat, which a lot of people won't do.

I like Rasika but find Jaleo just okay. I rely on Eater rather than the WaPo for reviews. However, I agree that his chats are really good for the reasons mentioned. He also does a pretty good job of recommending restaurants in other cities when people ask.

I agree. Rasika is amazing, but the constant praise of Jaleo and Jose Andres restaurants is nauseating and not warranted. It's obvious he gets special treatment based on his friendship with him. I've been to a lot of the places he recommends and generally agree with what he suggests, except for the Jaleo/Zaytinya referrals

Anonymous wrote:To Indians, Rasika isn't great.
I tried 2 restaurants based on his recs and I didn't like them.

Speak for yourself. My parents, who immigrated from India, love Rasika as do the Indian friends they have taken.

om Sietsema here! Just weighing in to address a few comments from some posters here:

1) I'm not friends with Jose Andres. But I think he's a talented chef with great ideas that address a number of diner needs.

2) Yes, the Post pays for my meals, but I never leave a restaurant without asking myself if it was worth the expense or if I'd spend my own money there. (The Post also pays for White house reporters to fly on Air force One and sports scribes to cover the Olympics. Just saying.)

3) Between my First Bite previews and my Dining column in the Magazine -- not to mention my two annual dining guides -- I cover more ground than some of you think I do.

4) It's easy to criticize someone when you can post anonymously. Why hide?


Happy to take additional questions here, but I don't want to crash the party uninvited.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of you outed this thread in his chat today.

Q: negative press
You probably don't read DC Urban Mom (why would you, you are not a parent), but there is a whole thread about how terrible you are http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/699666.page (if you are interested) My question is not about that, but in general, being in the semi public eye, does negative press bother you, or do you just take it as something that comes with your (very cool) job.

Which does explain the marked increase in posts and a complete change in the direction of the comments. I'm not surprised. He has fans. I don't like his tastes and I am not as enamored with his need for attention but that's the way it goes.

Certainly explains Rasika's devotees rushing to their defense.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of you outed this thread in his chat today.

Q: negative press
You probably don't read DC Urban Mom (why would you, you are not a parent), but there is a whole thread about how terrible you are http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/699666.page (if you are interested) My question is not about that, but in general, being in the semi public eye, does negative press bother you, or do you just take it as something that comes with your (very cool) job.

Which does explain the marked increase in posts and a complete change in the direction of the comments. I'm not surprised. He has fans. I don't like his tastes and I am not as enamored with his need for attention but that's the way it goes.

+1 I think Tom's recs are good for 45 year olds with unadventurous palates. I rely on his recs when my in-laws are coming to dinner. Rasika is Indian food for those who don't like spicy.

Anonymous wrote:One of you outed this thread in his chat today.

Q: negative press
You probably don't read DC Urban Mom (why would you, you are not a parent), but there is a whole thread about how terrible you are http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/699666.page (if you are interested) My question is not about that, but in general, being in the semi public eye, does negative press bother you, or do you just take it as something that comes with your (very cool) job.

Which does explain the marked increase in posts and a complete change in the direction of the comments. I'm not surprised. He has fans. I don't like his tastes and I am not as enamored with his need for attention but that's the way it goes.

Anonymous wrote:I never understood why he relentlessly promotes Rasika every chance he gets. It's a good restaurant but not all that great.

Rasika is the best restaurant i've ever been to. Tom (imo) should be singing it's praises nonstop.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I never understood why he relentlessly promotes Rasika every chance he gets. It's a good restaurant but not all that great.

Rasika is the best Indian food I’ve ever had. And I rarely read his column.
Did he really recommend Jaleo? That’s nothing special at all.

See, and we love both. I don't like to keep too much good jamon or cheese around the house, I'd rather go to Jaleo for a special occasion. And Rasika is our go-to for milestone anniversary dinners. I have a couple of childhood friends whose moms can make tandoori and daal almost as good, but Rasika is closer, and takes reservations.

I'll just add that I'm another reader who finds his reviews and advice quite useful, and he often gives thoughtful and reasoned answers to his own critics in the live chat, which a lot of people won't do.

I like Rasika but find Jaleo just okay. I rely on Eater rather than the WaPo for reviews. However, I agree that his chats are really good for the reasons mentioned. He also does a pretty good job of recommending restaurants in other cities when people ask.

I am Indian - grew up on Indian food and visit the Motherland every couple of years. Rasika is awesome! It is consistently the best Indian food + experience in the DC Area, in my opinion, aside from a few hole-in-the-wall South Indian places around. My parents - born and raised in India - love Rasika. My mother makes outstanding Indian food, so we have high standards for Indian food.

As for all of the negative comments on this thread - I have to agree that the commentariat on DC Urban Moms is often judgmental and, frankly, nasty. I guess this is what happens when it's so easy to post things anonymously. It's unfortunate, because much of what people post on this website is deeply personal; therefore, the mean comments cut deep on the original posters.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think Sietsema is great. If you don't like him stick with the other reviewers in the Post. Or the Washingtonian.

He is friends with Jose Andres and constantly over-hypes Jaleo and MiniBar. Hint to Tom: when the owner brings you a gratis cheese plate "that rocked my world" you're getting special treatment.

He thinks Bombay Club is something special when it's really just a faux Raj experience for the expense account set, and God help you if you're in a party of Tamils. There are better albeit small Indian restaurants in DC. Again, he is friends with the owner who is also the owner of frequently recommended Rasika and Bindaas.

Thinks it's cute to call the horrendously over-priced Pineapples and Pearls "P&P" as if the reader is supposed to understand.

Doesn't venture outside of DC and Bethesda... even though there's a thriving restaurant scene in the suburbs. For instance Alexandria. Heard of it, Tom? The WaPo's Friday Cheap Eats does a good job of this.

His viewpoint is skewed because he himself never pays for a meal, the Post does. Unavoidable perhaps, but he doesn't recognize it.

Interested in hearing about these better Indian restaurants. I would really like to try them out!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I never understood why he relentlessly promotes Rasika every chance he gets. It's a good restaurant but not all that great.

Rasika is the best Indian food I’ve ever had. And I rarely read his column.
Did he really recommend Jaleo? That’s nothing special at all.

See, and we love both. I don't like to keep too much good jamon or cheese around the house, I'd rather go to Jaleo for a special occasion. And Rasika is our go-to for milestone anniversary dinners. I have a couple of childhood friends whose moms can make tandoori and daal almost as good, but Rasika is closer, and takes reservations.

I'll just add that I'm another reader who finds his reviews and advice quite useful, and he often gives thoughtful and reasoned answers to his own critics in the live chat, which a lot of people won't do.

Anonymous wrote:I think Sietsema is great. If you don't like him stick with the other reviewers in the Post. Or the Washingtonian.

He is friends with Jose Andres and constantly over-hypes Jaleo and MiniBar. Hint to Tom: when the owner brings you a gratis cheese plate "that rocked my world" you're getting special treatment.

He thinks Bombay Club is something special when it's really just a faux Raj experience for the expense account set, and God help you if you're in a party of Tamils. There are better albeit small Indian restaurants in DC. Again, he is friends with the owner who is also the owner of frequently recommended Rasika and Bindaas.

Thinks it's cute to call the horrendously over-priced Pineapples and Pearls "P&P" as if the reader is supposed to understand.

Doesn't venture outside of DC and Bethesda... even though there's a thriving restaurant scene in the suburbs. For instance Alexandria. Heard of it, Tom? The WaPo's Friday Cheap Eats does a good job of this.

His viewpoint is skewed because he himself never pays for a meal, the Post does. Unavoidable perhaps, but he doesn't recognize it.