washingtonpost.com - Dining: Tom Sietsema

Southern Comfort

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST

Art and Soul 415 New Jersey Ave. NW 202-393-7777 www.artandsouldc.com

A Handsome Letdown

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST

Redwood 7121 Bethesda Lane, Bethesda 301-656-5515 www.redwoodbethesda.com

Surf's Up at Glover Park's Surfside

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Surfside 2444 Wisconsin Ave. NW 202-337-0004 www.surfsidedc.com

Upscale Bangers and Mash

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EDT

CommonWealth Gastropub 1400 Irving St. NW 202-265-1400 www.cwgastropub.com

Volt: Frederick's Electric Addition

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Volt 228 N. Market St., Frederick 301-696-8658 www.voltrestaurant.com

Great Expectations

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Darlington House 1610 20th St. NW 202-332-3722 www.darlingtonhousedc.com

The Real Deal

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Shanghai Tea House 2400 Wisconsin Ave. NW 202-338-3816

Weird Tips and Missing Fries

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

A periodic peek at the Post food critic's e-mail, voice mail and inbox.

A Beautiful Disappointment

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Hilltoppers at the Goodstone Inn & Estate 36205 Snake Hill Rd., Middleburg 540-687-4645 www.goodstone.com

London Calling

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Victoria Gastro Pub 8201 Snowden River Pkwy., Columbia 410-750-1880 www.victoriagastropub.com

Chocoholic Heaven

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Co Co. Sala 929 F St. NW 202-347-4265 www.cocosala.com

Double the Pleasure

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Sushi-Ko Chevy Chase 5455 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase 301-961-1644

The More Things Change. . .

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Corduroy 1122 Ninth St. NW 202-589-0699 www.corduroydc.com.

Potomac Pleasures

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Moon Bay Coastal Cuisine 210 Waterfront St., National Harbor 301-965-2000

An Earned Exclamation

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Et Voila! 5120 MacArthur Blvd. NW 202-237-2300 www.etvoiladc.com

Water's Edge

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT

EVERY SUMMER FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS, I have vowed to return to Maine for a lobster roll fix, and, every season, something gets in the way of my fulfilling that mission. I'm not going to Maine -- again -- this summer, but that's not as great a disappointment as before, because Maine has come to me.

Journeys Close to Home

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT

** Casbah Cafe

Unfulfilled Promise

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 18:38:40 EDT

If I had a dollar for every time someone told me "I want your job!" I wouldn't be typing these words -- I'd be sipping a margarita next to a pool and arranging to buy a pied a terre in Barcelona.

New and Improved

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT

** 1/2 Indebleu

Unexpected Delights

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT

WHEN I INTERVIEWED for this job eight years ago, one of the things I told my bosses-to-be was that I was interested in more than fancy restaurants -- that if I found good food in, say, a bowling alley, I wanted to be able to share the news with readers.

Robo Restaurant

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT

[Poor] Alto Plaza SOUND CHECK IN THE AP ROOM: 65 decibels on non-music nights; Conversation is easy

Unextreme Makeover

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 25 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Dish + Drinks 924 25th St. NW 202-338-8707 www.dishdc.com

Thai Appeal

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 18 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Thai Ki 216 E. Dover St., Easton 410-690-3641. www.thai-ki.com

Eclectic Menu, Eclectic Results

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 11 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT

* (out of four)

A Gem Among the Chains

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 04 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT

** 1/2 (out of four stars) Sound Check: 80 decibels, Extremely loud

Wrong Turn

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT

* (out of four stars) Sound Check: 75 Decibels, Must speak with raised voice

Chinese Lessons

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT

** out of four stars

Meatloaf, Tobacco & Butane

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT

A periodic peek at The Post food critic's e-mail, voice mail and in-box.

Cautiously Classic

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EDT

** 1/2 2941

What's Goin' On?

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EDT

** Marvin 2007 14th St. NW 202-797-7171 www.marvindc.com

In Search of 'Wow'

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EST

* 1/2 Kemble Park Tavern 5125 MacArthur Blvd. NW 202-966-5125 www.kembleparktavern.com

Great Expectations

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EST

** 1/2 Westend Bistro by Eric Ripert

A Welcome Addition in Arlington

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST

** Me Jana

A Chef's Second Act

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST

** Nicaro

All Over the Map

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST

** Hudson Restaurant & Lounge

First-Class First Courses

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 00:00:00 EST

** Grapeseed

A New Source for Notable Food

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 00:00:00 EST

Wolfgang Puck's first Washington restaurant is serving up some mouthwatering dishes

Hot Plates and Other Gripes

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 00:00:00 EST

Every Wednesday morning, I log on to find as many as 300 questions or comments waiting for a response on my online food chat.

Hungry for Bargains

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 00:00:00 EST

IT'S NINE DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS, and you've already broken last year's vow not to overspend on the holidays. It happens. One easy way to cut back is by spending less money eating out. Before you cry heresy, let me remind you that there are a slew of delicious restaurant deals around Washington; some of them are even in the shadow of the stores you'll be patronizing on your last-minute shopping rounds. My early gift to you, then, is a handful of meals that are sure to make you merry for $10 or less.

Flavor Enhancers Needed

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 00:00:00 EST

* 1/2 Il Fornaio

A New Fishing Hole

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 00:00:00 EST

** Hank's Oyster Bar Old Town

Back to Basics

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 00:00:00 EST

** Ray's the Classics

Sublime for Wine

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 00:00:00 EST

** Dino

Cuisine for the Calorie-Conscious

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 00:00:00 EST

** Rock Creek at Mazza

Fired Up for Pizza

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 00:00:00 EDT

* 1/2 RedRocks

Delivering Flavor

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 00:00:00 EDT

** Station 9

What's in a Name?

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 00:00:00 EDT

** Cynthia's

Pasta Paradiso

Tom Sietsema — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 00:00:00 EDT

** 1/2 Locanda