It just seems that way to me Brian. I guess I exaggerated a bit although I haven't analyzed a year's worth of items. Plus I think I remember reading someone say that in a note to him, so it's just not me. Maybe also I've been just reading more Tyler Cowen lately and he covers all sorts of cheaper Northern VA restaurants that Sietsema never mentions (and he throws 'digs' at Sietsema too re some of Sietsema's dc faves)
― curmudgeon, Monday, 23 February 2009 18:24 (fifteen years ago) link
yeah, Cowen is valuable but also has a tendency to list places that have been closed for two years, and a lot of his feedback (by necessity) is based on single visits.
Sietsema generally tries to highlight places with the best food, which (not coincidentally) tend to be the higher end places. I think he's largely beyond reproach in his taste and fairness. There are always balancing complaints for him - some readers think he doesn't cover enough cheap places, an equal number of readers get upset when he does cover a mom & pop joint and throngs of people show up. Some complain he doesn't cover enough restaurants outside the beltway, some complain he doesn't cover enough in DC.
Do you read T0dd Kl1man's coverage in Washingtonian? He's very good and does tend to highlight less expensive places, his dirt cheap eats list especially has a lot of worthwhile finds.
Tim C@rm@n, who writes for the CityPaper, kind of specializes in finding the rare or unsung dishes and places on the cheaper side, but often errs on the side of overpraising an establishment based on a compelling backstory rather than the actual quality of the meal or experience (lol typical altweekly review problem, amirite?).
― Tina Fey's narrative bonsai (I DIED), Monday, 23 February 2009 20:39 (fifteen years ago) link
also Cowen mentions too many places he hasn't actually been to (although he does always mention this).
― Tina Fey's narrative bonsai (I DIED), Monday, 23 February 2009 20:47 (fifteen years ago) link
I like Kliman best, then Cowen and Carman. Maybe I need to splurge some time on one of Sietsema's "best Food" places and I would appreciate him more. I kinda feel like he overrates decor.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 24 February 2009 05:13 (fifteen years ago) link
As a restaurant designer, I may be in the wrong position to judge there.
― Tina Fey's narrative bonsai (I DIED), Tuesday, 24 February 2009 05:39 (fifteen years ago) link
I shoulda tried a Sietsema fave during restaurant week
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 24 February 2009 13:26 (fifteen years ago) link
oh man restaurant week is the worst time to go to a nice restaurant - they're way overbooked, the menu is typically dumbed down, and the servers are overworked. Better to find a place that has a good pre-theater or special menu (T0sca, R@y's the Ste@ks, 2941) or a lunch deal (V1dalia, Pr00f, Restaurant 3ve).
There is a pretty broad consensus on what the best restaurants are - all four of the Washington P0st's four star restaurants are in the W@shingtonian's top 10, an overlap you'd rarely find with music, movie, or art critics.
― Tina Fey's narrative bonsai (I DIED), Tuesday, 24 February 2009 14:16 (fifteen years ago) link
Thanks. So have you been to Inn at Little Washington, 3ve or any of the other pricey ones that always top the lists? Do you think they're worth it?
Will I really like them better than the Sichuan food at Hong Kong Palace out in a strip mall near a Home Depot in Falls Church, or Mynamar, a Burmese place out in Merrifield, or any of several Eden Center places?
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 24 February 2009 16:09 (fifteen years ago) link
I have eaten at places all over the map, and the tasting room at Restaurant Eve remains the best meal I've ever eaten. 2941 is second. But those are "occasion" places; I'm not even sure I use the same scale for those as for Eden Center meals (which are also grebt, btw).
― Ye Mad Puffin, Tuesday, 24 February 2009 16:30 (fifteen years ago) link
I haven't been to Inn at Little Washington - it's 100 miles away and it seems really over the top frou frou from what I've seen. But I have been to the other three and I think two of them (CityZ3n and K0mi) are absolutely phenomenal - the other is very good but I didn't think it hit the same heights.
I don't know if you'd like them better than suburban asian joints. I can tell you they have better food, better service, and better atmosphere - and I say that as a fan of the aforementioned suburban asian joints. The staff at these places is as passionate and engaging as they come, they love what they're doing and they want you to have the best meal of your life. I don't think that's necessarily the case with a lot of older more formal high end restaurants.
Just like with lower end restaurants, you'll get out of the meal as much as you put in. If you go to Hong Kong Palace and don't engage with the server and order the most americanized dishes you're not going to think it's a great restaurant. It's the same with going to a place like CityZ3n - if you're nervous and don't let the sommelier help you with the drinks, don't ask the server about what might fit your tastes, and don't really engage with the meal, you're not going to have a great experience.
― Tina Fey's narrative bonsai (I DIED), Tuesday, 24 February 2009 16:43 (fifteen years ago) link
Oh and the Sietsema web chat often teases out mentions of / shoutouts to some less hoity-toity places - just because a review is necessarily confined to one place, and the chat is more able to touch on a larger sample.
― Ye Mad Puffin, Tuesday, 24 February 2009 16:49 (fifteen years ago) link
anyone eaten at brasserie beck? i stopped in there for a drink last week--delicious smells, very friendly bar staff, atmosphere felt very 'this is a goood restaurant'. my stomach was full of teatr0 g0ldoni restro week duck so i stuck to drinks.
― W i l l, Tuesday, 24 February 2009 18:46 (fifteen years ago) link
I had lunch there on Sunday. They have very very good beers (best Belgian selection on the east coast at least?) but I'm always happier when I think of it as just a bar and ignore the restaurant part.
― Tina Fey's narrative bonsai (I DIED), Tuesday, 24 February 2009 19:06 (fifteen years ago) link
ah. got any specific beer recommendations?
― W i l l, Tuesday, 24 February 2009 19:55 (fifteen years ago) link
Ask them if Thor is working and get a suggestion from him - he's great. Otherwise, the De Regenboog Kerst they have on tap now is fantastic. If you sit at the bar when it's not busy they're usually happy to give you a sample of whatever they have on tap to help you decide.
― Tina Fey's narrative bonsai (I DIED), Tuesday, 24 February 2009 20:31 (fifteen years ago) link
Back for keeps. Have a long 'locked out of apartment' story but too tired and embarrassed to tell it. All well now though. Need for wireless access dictated Cosi as dinner spot.
― ljubljana, Friday, 27 February 2009 01:56 (fifteen years ago) link
Not amazing, but some decent photos in dcist.com show at Flashpoint
― curmudgeon, Monday, 2 March 2009 01:11 (fifteen years ago) link
good luck snow
― W i l l, Monday, 2 March 2009 02:23 (fifteen years ago) link
Aww man, the Feds will only cancel if it goes over 8 inches or something
― curmudgeon, Monday, 2 March 2009 12:29 (fifteen years ago) link
so i finally went to the gibson last night. great place. had my first vieux carré, very nice. my friend was joking with t1ffany the bartender about quizzing her on ingredients in mystery cocktails, and i asked if she could identify the specific ingredients and brands in a cocktail just by drinking one. she says, "no, but this guy [I DIED's name, i think??] comes in here and does that sometimes." and said you designed the place, too? if so, wow, nice job!
― W i l l, Thursday, 5 March 2009 21:40 (fifteen years ago) link
lol I am famous only to bartenders
― Tina Fey's narrative bonsai (I DIED), Thursday, 5 March 2009 21:43 (fifteen years ago) link
a good crowd to be famous to imo
― W i l l, Thursday, 5 March 2009 21:49 (fifteen years ago) link
that is a+ fame
― mookieproof, Thursday, 5 March 2009 21:50 (fifteen years ago) link
man this same bartender made my friend what she called an escalade, a manhattan with 23 year willett, dunno if it's a real drink or custom-made, but WOAH that was a good manhattan
― W i l l, Thursday, 5 March 2009 21:56 (fifteen years ago) link
oh man anything with the 23 year willett is bound to be great, I have made myself a manhattan with that at home and it is unbelievable. And not really available outside DC!
― Dane Cook's Illustrated (I DIED), Friday, 6 March 2009 08:12 (fifteen years ago) link
Where'd that guy go who used to be at brasserie beck with Thor?
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 17 March 2009 02:49 (fifteen years ago) link
idk what this thread even is but brad pitt was rumored to be in new orleans the same week i just was. i didnt see him though :(
― moonship journey to 51 (k3vin k.), Tuesday, 17 March 2009 03:53 (fifteen years ago) link
(xpost) he's beer director at the de vinos stores now.
― Dane Cook's Illustrated (I DIED), Tuesday, 17 March 2009 11:11 (fifteen years ago) link
How's this Out of Hours thing at the Hirshhorn? Anyone been?
― ljubljana, Wednesday, 18 March 2009 23:32 (fifteen years ago) link
Er, After Hours I mean
― ljubljana, Wednesday, 18 March 2009 23:33 (fifteen years ago) link
generally good, but very crowded and sceney.
― Dane Cook's Illustrated (I DIED), Wednesday, 18 March 2009 23:35 (fifteen years ago) link
better to see most exhibits during regular hours and focus on the special installations/music at the events.
thanks, might give it a go. I saw some of the regular exhibits last week. I loved this:
― ljubljana, Wednesday, 18 March 2009 23:43 (fifteen years ago) link
The NY Times on the Obamas and D.C.
How about a tasty meal? The Obamas have enjoyed white-tablecloth dining at Equinox, Bobby Van’s Steakhouse, B. Smith’s and Georgia Brown’s, and street-corner casual at Ben’s Chili Bowl and Five Guys Burgers and Fries.
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 26 March 2009 21:09 (fifteen years ago) link
awww pretzel walrus and his gf gave me THE WAY THINGS GO DVD for my bday in january!
― 69, Friday, 27 March 2009 20:09 (fifteen years ago) link
Ummmm, I just don't get the cherry blossom thing.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 7 April 2009 14:14 (fifteen years ago) link
aw c'mon, they're pretty!
― quincie, Tuesday, 7 April 2009 14:28 (fifteen years ago) link
I have similar looking trees in my Arlington neighborhood and no tourists are stopping by to look at them.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 7 April 2009 19:07 (fifteen years ago) link
I did the compulsory foreign transplant visit to the Tidal Basin on Saturday at 8am and it was already pretty packed. I like them. There's one across the street from my apartment that I can gaze on.
― ljubljana, Wednesday, 8 April 2009 01:15 (fifteen years ago) link
so, i probably won't have at least my same job, or maybe any job at my organization, by the end of may. change is good & all, have an idea of what kind of place i'd like to work for & what field, but on the other hand.. have some time to think on it & wondering if i should take the opportunity to pick up and move out of dc.
― the shep (shepard smith ha ha) (daria-g), Wednesday, 8 April 2009 01:50 (fifteen years ago) link
Oh noes! To lose you and 69 in so short a span would be too sad!
― quincie, Wednesday, 8 April 2009 14:09 (fifteen years ago) link
Is 69 going to Cali or elsewhere?
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 8 April 2009 18:33 (fifteen years ago) link
already gone to SF :(
― quincie, Wednesday, 8 April 2009 19:39 (fifteen years ago) link
missin mah doggz
― 69, Wednesday, 8 April 2009 19:44 (fifteen years ago) link
<3
― Mr. Que, Wednesday, 8 April 2009 19:45 (fifteen years ago) link
...although this tasty 2.75 BBQ pork bánh mì is easing my grief
(btw amy d sent me a link yesterday about new phở place in columbia heights that is supposedly good but is charging like NINE DOLLARS for bánh mì. UH isnt the point that it's cheap??? stupid TARGET mark-up. it's just gonna end up another place that's shittier than what langley park and annandale and columbia heights potbelly can offer)
― 69, Wednesday, 8 April 2009 19:52 (fifteen years ago) link
DOESNT ANYONE CARE ABOUT MY TROUBLES
― 69, Wednesday, 8 April 2009 22:17 (fifteen years ago) link
dead to us
― J0rdee Z. (I DIED), Wednesday, 8 April 2009 22:21 (fifteen years ago) link
charging like NINE DOLLARS for bánh mì.
Saw this on dcist.com Apparently they're pushing a combo, the banh mi sandwich and soup and sumptin else for $9, but you can get just the banh mo for half that (but it's not obvious on the menu)
― curmudgeon, Friday, 10 April 2009 12:49 (fifteen years ago) link
I went to Beijing earlier this year - mid February, so it was still cold and rainy - and actually saw people lining up to take picures in front of multiple fake cherry blossom trees in front of a few department stores on the main shoppig drag of central Beijing.
Crazy.
― Baffleck!!!! (B.L.A.M.), Friday, 10 April 2009 19:23 (fifteen years ago) link