Tom Sietsema

Washington, D.C.

Food critic

Education: Georgetown University, School of Foreign Service

Tom Sietsema has been The Washington Post's food critic since 2000. In leaner years, he worked for the Microsoft Corp., where he launched sidewalk.com; the Seattle Post-Intelligencer; the San Francisco Chronicle; and the Milwaukee Journal. A graduate of the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, he has also written for Food & Wine, Gourmet, GQ, Travel & Leisure and other national publications. In 2016, he received an award from the James Beard Foundation for his series identifying and rating the "10 Best Food Cities in America" the previous year.
Latest from Tom Sietsema

Have questions about dining out? Ask our food critic.

Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema entertains your dining questions, rants and raves.

March 29, 2023

Dining Q&A: How do you handle a loud dining neighbor in a restaurant?

Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema entertains your dining questions, rants and raves.

March 22, 2023

Peter Chang’s restaurant empire expands to Columbia, Md. Lucky diners.

A onetime chef at the Chinese Embassy, Peter Chang introduces Yangtze River beef and other delights at his 14th restaurant.

March 17, 2023

Dining Q&A: Is it cool to take leftovers home from restaurants?

Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema entertains your dining questions, rants and raves.

March 15, 2023

The Bazaar by José Andrés is his dream come true in Washington

The Bazaar, set in the Waldorf Astoria hotel, is a spectacle designed to be a "fun" special occasion retreat.

March 10, 2023

Dining Q&A: Is there a way for restaurants to enforce dress codes?

Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema entertains your dining questions, rants and raves.

March 8, 2023

Foraged in Baltimore celebrates a few of the chef’s favorite things

Chris Amendola loves mushrooms and pork, which get lots of love on his "hyper-seasonal" menu in Station North.

March 3, 2023

Dining Q&A: How do I deal with a rude dining companion who happens to be my dad?

Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema entertains your dining questions, rants and raves.

March 1, 2023

Virginia’s Darling throws my kind of dinner party in Alexandria

Chef Nicole Jones reveals a sense of humor, on and off the menu, at Virginia's Darling, her latest neighborhood attraction in Old Town.

February 24, 2023

Dining Q&A: ‘We sat near a social influencer in a restaurant. We were ignored.’

Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema entertains your dining questions, rants and raves.

February 22, 2023