gnatharobed Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 I think this comes out online today. Anybody got the scoop? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oliveDC Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 I'm wondering what will happen with the star system. Sounds like things were going to change a bit, maybe with half stars...or a whole new system? I'm still voting for the scale of 100, as sanitation grade-ish as it may sound... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TedE Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 I think this comes out online today. Anybody got the scoop? It should actually be published sometime tomorrow morning if they go by previous schedules. In all likelihood it will appear at this URL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Wabeck Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 Let the hand-wringing begin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TedE Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 Let the hand-wringing begin Hmm, no realignnment of the stars. Not a bad segregation topic-wise, but aforementioned hand-wringing will ensue in the form of "Why isn't X in Y category?". Meh. You can't please everybody. Maybe the chats will become a lot more boring. Every "Tom, I'm in the mood for X" request will be answered with a link to the dining guide Aside: I am going to Kotobuki TONIGHT before this gets in the hands of the non-chat-reading public. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jm chen Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 (edited) Landrum is "tall?" Yeah, I got nothin'. Half-stars, that's an improvement, but I think I've decided that my tastes don't align with Sietsema's, so his recommendations aren't for me. Edited October 13, 2005 by jm chen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweaked Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 No Komi, what up with that??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B.A.R. Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 The half-stars are great for the casual diner that wants an even easier way to differentiate between restaurants. And the people that don't actually, you know, read the reviews. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capital Icebox Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 "Meatless Meal" is a contradiction in terms, isn't it? And why no Corduroy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lackadaisi Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 And why no Corduroy? Exactly what I was thinking! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bookluvingbabe Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 Or Firefly? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perrik Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 Interesting collection this time around... and I'm sure Tom's Monday chat will be innundated with "why isn't (fill in the blank) included?" posts, as if the restaurants listed in this year's guide are the only ones he would ever recommend. Okay, I wouldn't have picked Vegetable Garden to be the sole Chinese representative in the guide, but then again I fear soy-based "meat". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jarad Slipp Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 You are never going to get all the restaurants you want to see in the dining guide, because you are not he. And he, only has so much room. But wait a month for the book. From a restaurant perspective this is huge. I remember speaking with Tom the day he introduced the star system. I said, "I really wish there were half stars." And he agreed, through the editors weren't feel'n it. I'm glad to see he was able to sway them. There can be quite a distance between ** and ***, and from *** to ****. Not all restaurants with like stars deserve to be on the same playing field. This rectifies that. Eve deserves the nudge up, while others needed a slight downgrade. Probably most readers won't think much of this. But behind closed doors you can rest assured that there are plenty of restaurantuers saying; "Thank the sweet baby Jesus, I was tired of the company we had to keep." Kinda like some nights at BDC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe H Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 "The end of the star system" might simply mean differentiation such as a. A half star which many papers and guides use, i.e. **1/2, ***1/2 with **** representing the top. b. Numerical scores such as Gayot and Gault Millau use within their system of 1 to 4 toques. It was inevitable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meaghan Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 Firefly and Coduroy. Among others things, the two fall in the category, "In the mood for spring rolls and great wine" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonRocks Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 This list of restaurants, taken as a whole, is light-years beyond what any major publication has done in the past. Cafe Saint-Ex and Circle Bistro as pre-theater dining? Etete, Kotobuki and Gom Ba Woo as three of five cheap-eats? 2 Amys and Urban Barbeque as family places? Palena listed next to Citronelle and Maestro as a gastronomic temple? Inn at Little Washington NOT listed as a gastronomic temple, but simply under romantic dinners? Lewnes' Steakhouse and Ray's The Steaks as two of three restaurants in the meat list? Jerry's Seafood and Sushi-Ko as two of the three seafood restaurants? Andres' stars falling from 8 to 2.5? No Equinox, Obelisk, DC Coast, Galileo or various other tired amputations? Remember: this is the mainstream Washington Post. This was a very strong statement and a fine, thoughtful, interesting piece of work by Tom Sietsema. Cheers! Rocks. p.s. Hey Tom since when is Middleburg "a country drive?" Been out Route 50 lately? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barbara Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 Still, no Firefly and no Corduroy. Sheesh! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ustreetguy Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 (edited) I hope the general public doesn't read this list as a "top 50 list" of restaurants in the area. Sietsema chose to highlight three or four restaurants in fairly specifc categories. While I too thought at first, "Why no Firefly, Komi or Corduroy?" I'm not so sure any of those restaurants comfortably fall into the top of any of the categories he decided to include. I don't think it's an intended slight on those restaurants - they are just places that didn't seem to fit into his theme. Personally I'm glad he's mentioned places I haven't even heard of ... Jerry's Seafood? Gom Ba Woo? Aster? It just gives me more places to try (although I would've probably put Tosca in under the pasta category). Edited October 14, 2005 by ustreetguy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tastedc Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 All hold the power to put you in a better mood. What's that mean? Is this a "Dining Guide" or is this Post Mood Swings? I just read that, that pretty funny!!! Seriously, what that heck is that? Dining Guide? Tom reminiscing? So now when I go out to eat, I don't care if the restaurant is any good, I just want it to fit my mood...hmmm, ummm, ya know, maybe this food critic thing is a bunch of BS and we should just ask the chefs when we eat out "what are you trying to do here"...I mean LITERALLY walk into the kitchen of every DC restaurant we eat at, and talk to the chef, engage him/her and find out if they're serious about their food... Question: what if the chef is in the wrong "mood", then how do we judge his/her food? Tom, what a bunch of crap... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonRocks Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 Tom, what a bunch of crap... Could you do better? I seriously doubt it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brendanc Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 What's that mean? Is this a "Dining Guide" or is this Post Mood Swings? I just read that, that pretty funny!!! Seriously, what that heck is that? Dining Guide? Tom reminiscing? So now when I go out to eat, I don't care if the restaurant is any good, I just want it to fit my mood...hmmm, ummm, ya know, maybe this food critic thing is a bunch of BS and we should just ask the chefs when we eat out "what are you trying to do here"...I mean LITERALLY walk into the kitchen of every DC restaurant we eat at, and talk to the chef, engage him/her and find out if they're serious about their food...Question: what if the chef is in the wrong "mood", then how do we judge his/her food? Tom, what a bunch of crap... Charlie, It was a suprise to me that Tom would put Circle Bistro in this guide. The category system was also suprising, but if you want a list of restaurants use Zagats or Washingtonian. I often have extremely different opinions about the restaurants that get reviewed and as such I definitely do not believe him to be the final word on food or the first for that matter. I am lucky enough to have a group of colleagues to discuss who is doing what around town. What I have a serious problem with is people like yourself. Why do you take this dining guide so seriously? Where is your outrage coming from? How did he scorn you? Sure the format may be disgreeable to some, and I am certain that a lot of restaurants are upset at being left off, but the people with confidence in their product and their passion are just fine. It is just a magazine, a magazine. As for a chef and determining their mood, go f yourself if you cannot see a publication for what it is maybe you should check your "taste" at the door. Oh and by the way the rest of the chef's in his dining guide are really happy with you for pointing out that the restaurants in the guide aren't "reallly good". But then again who cares what you think. Brendan Cox "Always in a fine mood, except when belligerent" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jarad Slipp Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 Charlie, go f yourself Sweet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrescentFresh Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 (edited) I'm wondering what will happen with the star system. Sounds like things were going to change a bit, maybe with half stars...or a whole new system? I'm still voting for the scale of 100, as sanitation grade-ish as it may sound... No comments to make really on the restaurants that were or were not named. He's got X number of pages and words to work with. No surprise he has to limit it. Glad to see our friends who were listed. The stars in realignment, though? Really. The whole thing is mighty stupid. So it used to be a scale of 1 to 4. Now it's a scale of 1 to 8. Please. Toques, forks, thumbs up the butt, whatever. "But these amps go to 11." Big fucking deal. Edited October 14, 2005 by CrescentFresh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Wabeck Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 Charlie, don't walk into my kitchen, 'cause I'll be pissed off. Yeah we made it the last two years. We didn't this year, I'll still sleep well. But lots of deserving places did. I think Citronelle is the only one to make it all three years. I for one can't bitch about that. Who can bitch about Eve being so close to 4? And yes I have beef with some, but it'll take a of booze to get that out of me. 40 or so places, mostly (in my opinion) worthy. What else can you ask for? It's so easy to slag off someone than to do it yourself. Or to sell used cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Slater Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 Sweet Dude and then??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillvalley Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 What's that mean? Is this a "Dining Guide" or is this Post Mood Swings? I just read that, that pretty funny!!! Seriously, what that heck is that? Dining Guide? Tom reminiscing? So now when I go out to eat, I don't care if the restaurant is any good, I just want it to fit my mood...Tom, what a bunch of crap... It's cold(ish) and rainy. I walked into a couple of nightmares at work. I'm in the mood for some soup or comfort food. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdt Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 Wow looks like someone needs a copy of this! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPW Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 I, for one, like that Tom tried a new taxonomical twist. I think that it shows that he tries to draw on his chats to understand how people really want to use a guide. The categories are reflective of the questions he gets. Is it for foodies? No. Nor should it be. There are 500+ people on this site and millions of diners in the DC metro area. Which audience would you write for if it was for a paycheck? The same goes for the star system. I think that he really did need to distinguish amongst the 2 and 3 stars which make up the vast majority of his ratings. Stars may not be for us, but we're not his audience. Of course there are restaurants that we all wish would have made it into the guide. Free publicity is priceless (yes I know how idiotic that sounds). My only quibble would be that I wish he would have made a more explicit statement along the lines of -- "These are some, not all, of my favorites. This is not an exhaustive list of the best restaurants in the city". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tastedc Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 I'm learning to say nice things too, so here it goes: I really like the online photosin the title of the Guide that change with the moods, that's SWEET! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B.A.R. Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 Stars may not be for us, but we're not his audience.Precisely.Tom's guide is pretty easy to follow, thematically, and I think it's very clear even to the most daft readers that it is not a listing of the city's best restaurants. If this guide can wrangle just a few of the hundreds of lemmings from the wait list at Cheesesteak Factory to (insert name of listed restaurant here) the entire restaurant community is well served. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nadya Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 (edited) I, for one, am not devastated that Komi is not on the list. It's already hopping, people. Do you really want to be so inundated that you cannot get a table without providing dubious favors to the entire staff of OpenTable? Not that Komi is on OpenTable. Of course, Rocks would urge me to put aside my selfish needs and wants. But I am happy about Kotobuki gettin' some ink because every time I ate there, it was seriously empty. And these guys deserve to be busy. Delighted for Eve. Bummed for Corduroy. Power crew deserves serious success. Totally agree with grouping places by "what are you in the mood for." So often, too often, when one reveals one's foodie inclinations, civilians ask: "So, what is YOUR favorite restaurant?" As if there can be one answer!! "Well, what are YOU in the mood for?" Edited October 14, 2005 by Nadya Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC in DC Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 Totally agree with grouping places by "what are you in the mood for." So often, too often, when one reveals one's foodie inclinations, civilians ask: "So, what is YOUR favorite restaurant?" As if there can be one answer!! "Well, what are YOU in the mood for?" ITA. Mood is everything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delyn Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 Dudeand then??? no and then!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Radigan Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 Take the guide for what it is to the masses. I agree that we are a small-ish group compared to the tens of thousands of Post readers. The way I look at it from a restaurants view is that it WOULD be nice to make the list, but in the end we know where we stand in the grand scheme of it all day in and day out. Another way to eyeball the list, a friend of mine is a bartender at Argia's in Falls Church,for which they had the cover of The Washingtonian magazine for top 100 restaurants with a picture of one of their dishes. He said that for weeks on end people came in demanding a table with said issue of Washingtonian in their hands. He also noted that many were 'one-timers' never to be seen again. Tom did a good job compiling the list, and I hope to try some of the places. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barbara Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 If this guide can wrangle just a few of the hundreds of lemmings from the wait list at Cheesesteak Factory to (insert name of listed restaurant here) the entire restaurant community is well served. Word. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 (edited) The breakdown, without regard for such things as writerly themes: Upgraded Johnny’s Half Shell: 3 stars from 2 stars Rays the Steaks: 2.5 stars from 2 stars Restaurant Eve: 3.5 stars from 3 stars Samantha's: 2.5 stars from 2 stars Unchanged Maestro: 4 stars Michel Richard Citronelle: 4 stars Inn at Little Washington: 4 stars Charlie Palmer Steak: 3 stars Buck’s Fishing and Camping: 3 stars 2 Amy’s: 3 stars Sushi-Ko: 3 stars Palena: 3 stars Thai Square: 3 stars Inn at Easton: 3 stars Colorado Kitchen: 2 stars Urban Bar-B-Que Company: 2 stars Downgraded Bob Kinkead’s Colvin Run Tavern: 2.5 stars from 3 stars New Additions 1789: 3 stars 2941: 3 stars Bangkok 54: 3 stars Circle Bistro: 2.5 stars Capital Grille: 2.5 stars Lewnes’ Steakhouse: 2.5 stars Al Tiramisu: 2.5 stars Amici Miei 2.5 stars Osteria del Galileo: 2.5 stars Poste: 2.5 stars Kotobuki: 2.5 stars Oval Room: 2.5 stars Occidental: 2.5 stars Sunflower Vegetarian Restaurant: 2.5 stars Ceiba: 2.5 stars Tabard Inn: 2.5 stars Delhi Club: 2.5 stars Aster: 2.5 stars Oyamel Cocina Mexicana: 2.5 stars Black Market Bistro: 2.5 stars Cafe Saint-Ex: 2 stars Gom Ba Woo: 2 stars Mandalay: 2 stars Etete: 2 stars Jackie's: 2 stars Jerry's Seafood: 2 stars Layalina: 2 stars Taberna Del Alabardero: 2 stars Mitsitam Café: 2 stars Nirvana: 2 stars Vegetable Garden: 2 stars Not Included Laboratorio del Galileo: 4 stars Komi: 3 stars Zaytinya: 3 stars Corduroy: 3 stars minibar: 3 stars Mannequin Pis: 3 stars Nectar: 3 stars Jaleo: 3 stars Sakoontra: 3 stars Cashion’s Eat Place: 3 stars Equinox: 3 stars Heritage India: 3 stars Majestic Café: 2 stars Guajillo: 2 stars Tasting Room: 2 stars Firefly: 2 stars Taqueria Tres Reyes: 2 stars Raku: 2 stars La Flor de la Canela: 2 stars Tavira: 2 stars DC Coast: 2 stars O’Learys: 2 stars Pesce: 2 stars Huong Que/Four Sisters Restaurant: 2 stars Addie's: 2 stars Breadline: 2 stars Four & Twenty Blackbirds: 2 stars Sweetwater Tavern: 2 stars A&J: 2 stars China Star: 2 stars Bistro Francais: 2 stars Montmartre: 2 stars Tutto Bene: 2 stars Sorak Garden: 2 stars El Guajiro: 1 star 2005 Dining Guide 48 restaurants reviewed 3 restaurants w/ 4 stars 1 restaurant w/ 3.5 stars 3 restaurants w/ 3 stars 20 restaurants w/ 2.5 stars 13 restaurants w/ 2 stars 85.4 % of restaurants in the 2005 Dining Guide received either 2 or 2.5 stars 14.6% of restaurants in the 2005 Dining Guide received 3 or more stars 2004 Dining Guide 52 restaurants reviewed 4 restaurants w/ 4 stars 20 restaurants 2/ 3 stars 27 restaurants w/ 2 stars 1 restaurant w/ 1 star 90.4% of restaurants in the 2004 Dining Guide received either 2 or 3 stars 46.2% of restaurants in the 2004 Dining Guide received either 3 or more stars I may have miscounted or mistyped some things, if so let me know and I'll be happy to correct them. Edited October 14, 2005 by brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oliveDC Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 Wow, nice breakdown. Another thing I'm starting to like about this list is the "tell me something I don't know" factor. A lot of these places don't get regular mentions in his chats. Sometimes I feel cornered by the repetition of the same great old places. I love Zaytinya, Firefly, Komi, etc and find myself recommending them...all the time. This list makes me feel like stepping out of my little box... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perrik Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 Quick correction to the breakdown - Samantha's is included (under "Family-Friendly"), and was upgraded from 2 to 2.5 stars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 Done, thanks. I think the most intriguing things on the list are the Galileo’s listing going from 4 stars for the Laboritorio to 2.5 for the Osteria and, as Don pointed out, the de-Adresization of the list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffAlex Posted October 15, 2005 Share Posted October 15, 2005 OK, speaking of omissions, here's one from another angle... Why are there NO restaurants in the guide which are located in Bethesda? I know he can't necessarily spread his reviews by geography, and he's trying to get the base of reviews to expand beyond the immediate Metro Washington area. I get it. But here is a neighborhood with one of the highest concentrations of restaurants in our region, which is frequented by many many people, and he can't give at least ONE recommendation of someplace that people may want to try there? I'm not saying that Bethesda deserves more coverage due to its location--but if people go there to eat, it stands to reason that at least one or two are worth pointing out as places to go for SOME kind of function (party, romance, whatever). Unless Tom is trying to diss the entire neighborhood, which IS justifiable (too crowded, too mass-market, too many chains, etc.)--but in that case, just SAY it, right? IMHO, of course. JeffAlex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TedE Posted October 16, 2005 Share Posted October 16, 2005 OK, speaking of omissions, here's one from another angle...Why are there NO restaurants in the guide which are located in Bethesda? ...... Unless Tom is trying to diss the entire neighborhood, which IS justifiable (too crowded, too mass-market, too many chains, etc.)--but in that case, just SAY it, right? I think he actually DOES dis Bethesda pretty regularly in his chats, unless someone says that their logisitics confines them to Bethesda. In that case he will usually say Raku (or Jaleo, but he seems pretty down on that location recently). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveBVI Posted October 16, 2005 Share Posted October 16, 2005 no and then!!! "SWEET! DUDE!!!" FOOD Reviews from Ashton and Jason, and the first one who makes a seafood joke is gettin' a Kknuckel-Sand-Wich! Actually, jokes make my day, and, after further review, remember, for the next two weeks, you can go to the places who weren't included and get in without reservation 3 days ahead. and, in defence of Tom S., how boring would it be if, the same rest. were in the guide every year. At that point, it would be Tom's favs, and how they did this year. To my pals who needed the pub, sorry. As i've said to my staff, did we really need a 3rd restaurant week, ... again? Smilin' Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Pressley Posted October 16, 2005 Share Posted October 16, 2005 Take the guide for what it is to the masses. I agree that we are a small-ish group compared to the tens of thousands of Post readers. The way I look at it from a restaurants view is that it WOULD be nice to make the list, but in the end we know where we stand in the grand scheme of it all day in and day out. Another way to eyeball the list, a friend of mine is a bartender at Argia's in Falls Church,for which they had the cover of The Washingtonian magazine for top 100 restaurants with a picture of one of their dishes.He said that for weeks on end people came in demanding a table with said issue of Washingtonian in their hands. He also noted that many were 'one-timers' never to be seen again. Tom did a good job compiling the list, and I hope to try some of the places. Try a new restaurant on which day off? Workaholic freak!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monica Bhide Posted October 16, 2005 Share Posted October 16, 2005 I really liked this guide. I love the moods idea - many times that is how we pick a place. Nicely done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lydia R Posted October 16, 2005 Share Posted October 16, 2005 [Note: Thanks to DR for allowing this "do-over"] My comments relate to the on-line version of the dining guide and don't apply to the hardcopy version on everyone's doorstep this morning. On Thursday evening, I posted that Colorado Kitchen's hours in the 2005 Dining Guide included weekday breakfast hours. Seems the on-line version has inaccurate, old (oh, about three years) business hours that aren't in the paper version (which notes just lunch/dinner/brunch and no specific operating hours). From Tom's on-line Colorado Kitchen profile: "HOURS: Tue-Fri 7 am-11 am Fri 11 am-2 pm Sat-Sun 11 am-3 pm Tue-Sun 5-10 pm" Next day, I had Friday lunch at CK and did some community-spirited fact-checking (paid Post staff were probably checking more important factoids). Yup, CK stopped serving weekday breakfast around the time of the Fall 2002 sniper incidents (better for Chef to take her children to school than send them by bus) and CK hasn't resumed weekday morning service. Somehow, the Post hasn't updated the old on-line info - even for a restaurant that made it into both the 2004 & 2005 Dining Guides... I'm OK now, Robin served walnut-dense banana miniloaf bread with mango sorbet at Friday lunch and I've a dodged a serious donut bullet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPW Posted October 17, 2005 Share Posted October 17, 2005 OK, speaking of omissions, here's one from another angle...Why are there NO restaurants in the guide which are located in Bethesda? JeffAlex Resisted as long as I could..... Because there aren't any good restaurants in Bethesda. OK OK a little exageration as Green Papaya does Vietnamese well and Passage to India is good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrichstar Posted October 17, 2005 Share Posted October 17, 2005 Methinks that JPW is from Virginia or maybe DC? Admittedly, I am from Bethesda, but Tom and other sources of ratings, as well as my own palate in all cases noted below, would disagree with you on there not being any good restaurants in Bethesda. In addition to the two restaurants you noted, I would submit Black's Bar and Grill, Grapeseed, Jaleo, Olazzo, Persimmon and Raku as restaurants with excellent reputations. And for a small region, 8-10 good restarants to choose from ain't bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian Posted October 17, 2005 Share Posted October 17, 2005 (edited) In addition to the two restaurants you noted, I would submit Black's Bar and Grill, Grapeseed, Jaleo, Olazzo, Persimmon and Raku as restaurants with excellent reputations. And for a small region, 8-10 good restarants to choose from ain't bad. I think Tom agrees with you - he praised Raku and Jaleo in last year's dining guide. Having included Black Market Bistro in the guide this year he may have been reluctant to include another by the same restaurateur (Black Salt wasn't included, either). Many of the new additions in the dining guide this year were either new places or ones that had changed considerably since their last review, and after a spate of openings a few years ago the Bethesda dining scene has been relatively static compared to, say, Silver Spring. Unless you wanted him to include Old Homestead. Edited October 17, 2005 by brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPW Posted October 17, 2005 Share Posted October 17, 2005 Methinks that JPW is from Virginia or maybe DC? Admittedly, I am from Bethesda, but Tom and other sources of ratings, as well as my own palate in all cases noted below, would disagree with you on there not being any good restaurants in Bethesda. In addition to the two restaurants you noted, I would submit Black's Bar and Grill, Grapeseed, Jaleo, Olazzo, Persimmon and Raku as restaurants with excellent reputations. And for a small region, 8-10 good restarants to choose from ain't bad. In fact I live near downtown SS. I'll give you Black's (although I much prefer Addie's among the Black operations), but my last meal at Grapeseed made me not want to spend any more money there (granted it was a while ago). Jaleo is not what it once was. The others I have yet to try. However, there are better restaurants in each category that Tom organized his guide around in DC and VA than there are in Bethesda. Nor would I exactly call Bethesda a "small" region. It's really the focal point of a large area and population from Silver Spring to Rockville to parts of NW DC. Not to mention that "8-10" restaurants out of the legions to be found in Bethesda isn't exactly a high ratio. Placing tongue back in cheek. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrichstar Posted October 17, 2005 Share Posted October 17, 2005 Tongue worked well in cheek until you mentioned specific restaurants in the first posting. Would have let it ride if you left the two restaurants out. Agree with you on the poor ratio in Bethesda. You've got to know where to go. Would encourage you to try the others listed---they are quite good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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