| Ask Tom
Hosted by Tom Sietsema
Washington Post Food Critic
Wednesday, May 21, 2003; 11 a.m. ET In a city loaded with diverse restaurants, from New American chic and upscale Italian to sandwich shops and burritos on the run, finding the best places to eat can be a real puzzle. Where's the best restaurant for a first date or an anniversary? Father's Day? What's the best burger joint? Who has the best service? Ask Tom. Tom Sietsema, The Washington Post's food critic, is on hand Wednesdays at 11 a.m. ET to answer your questions, listen to your suggestions and even entertain your complaints about Washington dining. Sietsema, a veteran food writer, has sampled the wares and worked as a critic in Washington, Seattle, San Francisco and Milwaukee, and can talk restaurants with the best of 'em. Tom's Sunday magazine reviews, as well as his "Ask Tom" column, are available early on the Web. The transcript follows. Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
Steak Tartare: Hi Tom, Where is the best place in the area for steak tartare? Thanks! Tom Sietsema: Bistro Francais in Georgetown and Bistro du Coin in Dupont Circle both do admirable versions of that robustly seasoned classic built around chopped raw beef. I also like the version I had a few seasons back at Neyla in Georgetown, which seasoned its ground meat with bulgar and mint.
Good morning on this damp and gray Wednesday.
Darling, Please Take This Question: I am dying to know where John Warner formerly of M&S Grill is going....I heard he is opening his own place and was wondering if you had the DL....I know you hate the McCormick folk, but I love the guy, so pretty please, if you know, answer! Tom Sietsema: Who said I hated the McCormick "folk"? Sorry, I have no idea where Mr. Warner has gone. (And, for the record, I've enjoyed my dining experiences at M & S downtown Washington.)
Germantown, Md.: I'm headed to Aruba this summer and was dismayed to learn that there are so many American chains there. There's a Dunkin' Donuts and Tony Roma's, for Pete's sake! Have you ever done a report from there? Any 'nuts have any advice? Thank you... Tom Sietsema: I'm going to throw this one out to the gang.
Suggestions, folks?
Dupont, Washington, DC: Tom, love your chats. Have you tried Agua Ardiente yet or have you heard anything about it? I do not know one person who has even stepped foot in the place. I am dubious as to its quality being the latest venture for lounge-mogul Mauricio Frag-Rosenfeld... Tom Sietsema: I wrote about the underground dining room a month or so ago in the Weekly Dish. Maybe my producer can provide a link to the item.
Glover Park, Washington, D.C.: Hi Tom! I am actually going to eat lunch at Sushi Ko today. I always order a california roll and a crunchy shrimp roll. I would like to branch out, so what dishes should I not miss? Thanks! Tom Sietsema: I'm a fool for the tempura-battered rock shrimp and asparagus. And the tuna "five ways" gives you five reasons to order the appetizer.
Novice seeking help...: My new beau wants to take me out for steak frites. I said SURE! What did I agree to?? Tom Sietsema: I hope you're not a vegetarian.
Steak frites is basically steak served with a heap of French fries. It's a staple on many bistro menus.
Off topic, but ... has anyone out there noticed any anti-French sentiment in the wake of France not supporting the U.S. decision to go to war in Iraq? Every time I think it's a thing of the past, I overhear someone refusing a French wine list or boycotting a French eatery.
Washington, D.C.: Hi Tom - I love your chats and haven't yet been steered wrong by one of your recommendations! I'm hoping you can help me be a gracious hostess this weekend. We'll be having vegan houseguests, and I'm a little at a loss about where to eat (and also struggling with what to cook, but that's for another Live Online discussion). Do you or the other chatters have any recommendations? I'm thinking about Cafe Luna on P Street and Heritage India. Other ideas? Thanks for your help! Tom Sietsema: Yuan Fu in Rockville would be my first choice. It's a pretty little place, with gracious service and food that appeals to vegans and meat eaters alike.
Re: Aruba: Aruba is basically a big rock in the Carribbean that had almost no population until after WWII. It has little indigenous history or culture, and is what you'd get if you plopped American Suburbia onto a desert island, complete with American expatriots. Enjoy the water sports but don't look for tradition, because there isn't any. Just like most American suburbs, the cuisine is mostly chains. Tom Sietsema: I see a suitcase filled with granola bars ...
Washington, DC: Hi Tom...David Hagedorn here. After much trial and tribulation, David Greggory will open for dinner on Wednesday, May 29, the day after the Chef's Best event. I could not figure out a way to organize Chef's Best and do what I need to do there and open at the same time....So I will announce that night that we will open on Wednesday. Thanks! Are you coming to Chef's Best, btw?? Tom Sietsema: You heard it hear first, kids.
Thanks for the information, David. (Alas, I will not be attending the chefs' event; I rarely put myself in a situation where I'm likely to rub shoulders with cooks and restaurateurs.)
Washington, DC: Tom -- what are the best places for pastries in DC? Tom Sietsema: The croissants at BreadLine get my vote.
Washington, DC: What do you think of Claddagh's Restaurant at Jury's hotel on Dupont Circle? I've heard murmurings that they have a great Sunday brunch. Tom Sietsema: The restaurant has been replaced by the oh-so-modern Dupont Grill.
Washington, DC: Good morning Tom - Have you ever been to Argia's in Falls Church? If so, what do you think? Tom Sietsema: I don't get the crowds. I thought the food was middling at best.
Aruba: In Aruba- try the carribbean fare at Banoonoonoos (or something like that). There is also an excellent Argentine Steakhouse with Monster Shrimp (not the technical term, but they were big - we named them). There is also a sweet little outdoor Italian place right on the harbour in town, can't remember the name. Tom Sietsema: Ah, there's hope after all!
Re: Vegan: Definitely try Vegetable Garden on Rockville Pike. They make fabulous vegetarian AND Vegan food. I go there all of the time! (and Im a meat eater.) Tom Sietsema: Another worthy option, I agee.
Annandale, VA: Do you have a counterpart in Boston? One that preferably can answer a question. Tom Sietsema: Yes, I have a number of counterparts there, but I get to Boston a lot myself. What's the question?
Washington, D.C.: In downtown DC, could you name 3 or 4 excellent places for seafood? Tom Sietsema: The bar at Kinkead's, Johnny's Half Shell, DC Coast, Pesce ... there are a number of places to catch great fish.
Riverdale, Md.: Hello Tom: Could you please recommend your favorite seafood restaurant in Annapolis, preferably right on the water, that would also serve quality items other than seafood (e.g., a good steak)? We are interested in going this weekend -- one for the lobster/crabs, one for anything else... Thank you for the informative chats, and thank you for your response! Tom Sietsema: Can you wait until Friday, when my review of a terrific Annapolis restaurant goes online?
Arlington, Va.: Tom, what are the tacit rules of eating dinner at the bar? Do you have to dress to fit the restaurant and are you expected to drink alcohol? Tom Sietsema: It depends on the bar. If you’re at the Prime Rib or 1789, for instance, you’ll have to dress up (but it’s not necessary to imbibe in alcohol). Bars in general tend to be pretty relaxed places to dine; I prefer them to tables, truth be told.
Re: French boycotting: I've stopped eating at Au Bon Pain. Tom Sietsema: Because ....
Alexandria, Va.: I want to take my husband someplace very special for Father's Day and had considered doing a brunch on the Odyssey. Can you give me your suggestions for an alternative place for a very nice yet relaxing dinner? Tom Sietsema: I hope I don’t come across like a snob here, but those boat cruises are all about views. The food is pretty mediocre. And some of the buffets are accompanied by cheesy entertainment.
Give me some ideas of what your mate likes, and I’ll try to come up with some better alternatives for you.
Washington, D.C.: Hi Tom, No offense to you or the restaurants, but I'm sick of hearing of the same ones over and over again in this chat. I've done Johnny's Half Shell, Palena, Kaz, Tosca, and all of your favorites over and over again. I'd really like for you to focus more on undiscovered gems, little holes in the wall, and off-the-beaten-track type places. That would be of greater service to your readers. Thanks! Tom Sietsema: Believe me, I hate sounding like a broken record myself. But sometimes those spots are the best answers to the usual questions I get here.
Of the newer dining rooms around, I’m drawn to Circle Bistro, Nectar, and possibly the new Dish, which has quietly opened on 25th St. NW. I’ve promoted them all in recent reviews in the Magazine or Weekly Dish column in the Food section.
One of the best meals I had in recent memory was in Herndon, by the way, but you’ll have to wait til Father’s Day to read about it.
Washington DC: Please help me win the wife of the year award! Where can I get the best cannolis - similar to those at Mike's Pastry in Boston's North End? Thanks in advance! Tom Sietsema: (Talk about pressure!) I am not familiar with Mike’s in Beantown. But I can vouch for the cannolis served at Belissimo in Fairfax and Two Amys pizzeria, off Wisconsin Ave. near the National Cathedral.
Arlington, Va.: Hi Tom! I'm moving on Saturday and an entourage of willing lifters are helping me. I want to take everyone out for beers and snacks afterwards, but we'll definitely be sweaty and grimy, so noplace fancy (or too costly, since I want to pay for everyone). I live in Arlington. Any good, grubby ideas for a group? Thanks. Tom Sietsema: I can think of plenty of ways to pay back the kindness of friends: dinner at Boulevard Woodgrill, Crisp & Juicy, Five Guys, Hard Times Cafe, Kebob Palace, Rocklands ….
Washington, D.C.: Since D.C. is going to be wet and drab for the next week, where would you go in the District for a break from the weather? Tom Sietsema: A seat near the fireplace at Zaytinya always cheers me up. So does dinner at Al Tiramisu and Little Fountain Cafe.
Falls Church, VA: Tom - love your chats and reviews! My fiance and I are heading to San Fran this weekend and we'd love advice from you or the chatters on inexpensive but unique restaurants in the city. . . entrees under $10 is what we have in mind. We like ethnic foods. . thanks! Tom Sietsema: Home, on Market St., has terrific American food at a fair price. Tip: start with drinks in the covered outdoor bar. And I adore Yank Sing for dim sum.
About to be Sterling...: Your best recent meal was in Herndon...YIPEE! I'm just about to move to Sterling, and I'm nervous about the abundance of chains like Don Pablos and Lone Star. Other than your Herndon find TBA, any other recommendations out that way? Tom Sietsema: El Manatiel in Reston, which I reviewed March 2, is very good. And that outsized mural on the wall pulls the outdoors in -- another great place to seek out in rainy weather such as this.
Laurel, Md.: To not sound like a broken record, could you share a few places that you know don't get mentioned in this chat as often as they should, because we don't send in the right questions? Tom Sietsema: Ha!
Right now, I'd be happy to spend my own money at Costa Verde in Arlington, Equinox downtown, Faryab in Bethesda (did I mention Bethesda in a positive light? Moi?), Heritage India and Old Europe in Glover Park, the Islander on U St., and Majestic Cafe in Old Town. How's that?
Bethesda, Md.: Tom, let me try again - any recommendation for a solitary dinner in Durham-Raleigh area. Tom Sietsema: Sorry, I'm not familiar with the dining scene there. Chatters?
Out of date Boston recommendations: Hi Tom: I too, love Hamersley's in Boston's South End, but there are a number of great new (highly worthy) restaurants in town that your readers should know about. South End (trendy brownstone neighborhood, great little restaurants, outdoor cafes and shops). Flour Bakery for baked goods and sandwiches, Caffe Umbra for bistro style food North End (historically Italian neighborhoods, lots of middling restaurants) Ristorante Lucca, lively bar scene and great food (albeit LOUD on a weekend night)... two old, but great (and small) standbys -- Pomodoro for the best fried calamari and Daily Catch for all things seafood. The Modern for fresh filled cannolis. Back Bay (includes the vaunted shopping mecaa of Newbury Street) Via Matta in Park Plaza for up-to-date Italian, Bindi Bazzar on Mass Avenue for Indian and the Four Seasons for afternoon tea. Beacon Hill (one of the city's oldest neighborhoods, near the historic freedom trail): Lala Rohk for Persian, Paramount Cafe for breakfast and lunch and the Beacon Hill Bistro for dinner. Cambridge: Big city, tons of great upscale and ethnic food options, a few faves: Oleana for mediteranian food (but beware the small portions), East Coast Grill for grilled fare (and some great spicy selections), Craigie Street Bistro for a neighborhood place with great food. Am dying to try the new Upstairs at the Square, a Cambridge institution formerly known as Upstairs at the Pudding. I'm leaving out lots (Brasserie JO for reasonably priced French and great Frites, RedBones in Somerville for BBQ, etc). This is a city for serious eating! Tom Sietsema: I agree! I'm a big, big fan of Oleana, too.
Thanks for taking the time to put together sch a delicious list for us.
Re: Au Bon Pain: Because it sucks, perhaps? Tom Sietsema: Ouch.
Cannoli's: Tom - how could you miss Vacarro's in Silver Spring? By far the have the best. I went to kindergarten with one of the Vacarro daughters and went to the bakery where they make them on a field trip. On the tour we learned of the "secret" ingredient that they use in their cream. Tom Sietsema: And that secret would be ...?
Thanks for the additional tip. I hope our fellow chatter gets what she wants from hubby.
Alexandria, VA: Father's Day....appreciate the word about the food on the Odyssey. I like seafood my husband enjoys great lumb crab cakes but he also likes to have a good steak. I want a nice restaurant with good food, good atmosphere without being too stuffy. If jacket is required for men that's fine just want it to worth the effort. Tom Sietsema: Black's Bar & Grill in Bethesda would be a great place for the two of you to celebrate. And no getting sea sick!
Cannolis: Tom, If you haven't already tried them, I recommend the cannolis at Carlos in Hoboken NJ. Tom Sietsema: Several hundred miles out of the way, but thanks for the sugestion.
Re: Undiscovered Gems: I'd recommend Bacchus. I don't think it gets as much hype as it deserves! Tom Sietsema: I mention it now and then, no? It is much better than Lebanese Taverna, for sure.
Re: Matchbox: This is the type of place that needs to be promoted more, so I'm glad you covered it today in the Food Section. I've already had good experiences - its the type of local, non-chain, place that Capitol Hill needs!! Tom Sietsema: Capital Hill? More like Chinatown, don't you think?
At any rate, I left Matchbox eager to return.
Washington, DC: Re: Aruba. I had an unbelievably good steak at The French Steakhouse, which is near the Manchebo Beach Resort. Tom Sietsema: By the end of this chat, we might just have our island-bound chatter set with a week's worth of meals!
Alexandria, Va.: Aruba poster: It's been a few years, but we loved La Dolce Vita, El Gaucho--which is a fabulous Argentinian steak house and another begins with a "P" name escapes me. Island specialty is Red Snapper on a cooking stone and is not ot be missed! Tom Sietsema: See what I mean? We're getting closer.
Washington, DC: Tom--
You once mentioned a new divey joint near the U St. Metro. Salvodorean, I think. Any followup on that? Tom Sietsema: La Casona on 11th & U is what you're thinking about.
Durham! Durham!: Ooh! Ooh!
Do NOT miss Magnolia Grill; one of the best meals I've had in the States. Small, unpretentious, and terrific Southern-accented American food. I'm bummed my kid decided to go elsewhere to college; I'd have have used it as an excuse to go back frequently. Tom Sietsema: And here are some more ideas from felow posters:
For solitary dinner in Durham-Raleigh : Try the bar at 411 West in Chapel Hill.
Re: solo dining in Raleigh: First--Raleigh and Durham are two different places, so you need to specify!
Check out Raleigh's Spectator, which is like DC's City Paper, for suggestions. It has a "best-of" section.
For Raleigh-Durham: Crook's Corner in Durham for fine southern fare. It's in Chapel Hill, but A Southern Season where 15-501 splits with Franklin Street is a fantastic food store that has all sorts of goodies to take home, casual eats, and a wonderful cafe.
Re: Raleigh/Durham: Nana's is fantastic, Magnolia Grill, Provence (in nearby Carrboro), Cafe Parizade, just to name a few
Little Gems: Someone mentioned to me that there's a great little Italian place just a few doors down from Bacchus? Do you know the name or have a recommendation on that place? Tom Sietsema: Trattu? I like it best for its pastas.
Fairfax County, Va.: Dad is a vegetarian. Any suggestions for good veggie food in Fairfax County? Tom Sietsema: The Thai-flavored Sakoontra has some terrific meatless options, and I bet Artie’s does as well.
Adams Morgan, Washington, D.C.: I just moved to Adams Morgan, and I need to find some great places to eat in my new 'hood. Any suggestions, favorites? I'm interested in both nice dinner places and scuzzy little places with great delivery. Tom Sietsema: Lucky you. Think of a spot on the globe, and its cuisine is likely to be offered in your new neighborhod.
Addis Ababa is good for Ethiopian, La Fourchette is nice for a cozy French repast, Perry’s is fun for contemporary American (and its rooftop, in good weather), and Mixtec offers decent Mexican. That’s a start.
And this is The End. See you back here next week. In the meantime, stay dry and eat well.
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