The Washington Post - 30.08.2019

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THE WASHINGTON POST

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019

Ask Tom

Excerpts from Post Food Critic

Tom Sietsema’s online discussion

Q: In September, we will be
celebrating my mother’s 85th
birthday. I’m looking for a venue
in Alexandria or D.C. that can
accommodate 12 to 16 people
around one table. While most
are adventurous eaters, there
will be several with meat-and-
potatoes preferences.
A: You don’t mention your
budget or cuisine preference
(the more details the better, dear
readers!), so I’m going to throw
out some time-tested
restaurants that may be able to
accommodate you. They include
Tosca for Italian, the Oval
Room for creative American,
Iron Gate for Mediterranean
and Kinship for French-
influenced fare. “One table” may
involve multiple tables pushed
together. Good luck.

Q: I’m retiring Oct. 3(!) and
looking for a festive place to
celebrate with my wife and adult
son. Three restaurants that have
my attention right now are
Momofuku, Masseria and Del
Mar. Thoughts?
A: They are very different
venues. If you want something
on the casual side, go with
Momofuku, where the Asian
food comes out fast and the
clientele is on the younger side.
Masseria and Del Mar are more
formal and pricier. I enjoy both
for their Italian and Spanish
cooking, respectively.

Q: I’m going to NYC next month
and would appreciate
recommendations for unique
places to eat. I don’t need to go
to the hippest or most expensive
restaurant but would like an
experience that is unique to
NYC. Ideas?
A: A hot dog with onion sauce
and mustard at Gray’s Papaya is
definitely unique to the Big
Apple — and counts no less a fan
than former Gourmet editor
Ruth Reichl — but my hunch is,
you want to sit down for a taste
of the city. I’m always happy to
find myself at the bustling, old-
timey Grand Central Oyster
Bar for a pan roast or oysters on
the half shell or Katz’s
Delicatessen for a mile-high
sandwich. Just for starters.

Q: I’m not able to try many of
your recs, but I am so excited to
finally get to Jaleo! I’ve looked
over the menu, and there is just
so much to choose from, I don’t
know where to start. Could you
please give me some insight on
your can’t-miss dishes? No price
restrictions, only allergy is
mussels. I am an adventurous
eater, but my husband is less so,
so maybe a couple of options
that are more meat and
potatoes-ish?
A: You’re right. The menu at
Jaleo is epic, which is part of the
restaurant’s appeal. If you’ve

never been, try the Spanish

omelet built with potatoes; the

shrimp sautéed with garlic;

spicy chorizo wrapped in fried

potato; a salad (maybe apple,

fennel and manchego cheese);

and something fried. Chef-

owner José Andrés loves frying.

Q: I read about Three

Blacksmiths before all the hype

and was able to get reservations

for me and six friends on my

birthday weekend earlier this

year. We all spent the night at a

nearby bed-and-breakfast and

had a fantastic time. I would

love to do a similar weekend for

my next birthday. Are there

other incredible restaurants that

are one to three hours away that

would make for a fun overnight

getaway for a group of eight

friends?

A: Closer, and more convenient,

is Flamant in Annapolis, which I

wrote about in my July roundup

of favorite restaurants. The back

dining room, Nordic in feel,

would make a lovely rendezvous

for your next special occasion.

Q: My dad is retiring after 39

years in mid-September. My

sisters and I are coming down to

D.C. to surprise him on his last

day of work and we’d like to take

him out for a nice meal to

celebrate. Anywhere in D.C.

would work, but we’d prefer

something in the Penn Quarter,

Logan Circle area. There will be

nine adults and two kids (ages 6

and 8). Everyone (including the

kids) are adventurous eaters.

A: I was recently treated to a

lovely dinner at the Belgian

restaurant B Too on 14th Street

NW. Picture steak tartare,

shrimp croquettes, mussels (of

course) and roasted venison. A

table near the open kitchen

could be a lot of fun.

In Penn Quarter, check out

Fiola for formal Italian or

Oyamel for spirited Mexican.

Q: Do you have any favorite,

moderately priced restaurants in

Richmond? Going this weekend

to visit my son and his girlfriend

(in their 20s), so it’s short notice.

We like a variety of cuisines,

American included.

A: Perfect timing. I was just

down there, for a forthcoming

story. At the top of your list

should be Longoven and

Alewife, for creative fine dining

and seafood, respectively. And a

quick lunch at Temple, which

serves Laotian cooking, also

proved rewarding.

Q: I get to take my last long

summer Friday lunch this week

— am looking for great food in a

cool location. Someplace we can

eat and enjoy a great view and

drag the whole thing out by

ending with a few cocktails.

Next week my office switches

back to full day-Fridays and my

lunches become businesslike

again.

A: I know I sing its praises a lot

here, but I’d be hard-pressed to

come up with a better lunch-

with-a-view than Del Mar at the

Wharf, especially if you’re seated

in the sunny front dining room

off the entrance.

Q: I’ve seen posts pop up

recently about solo diners and

how some people think they

should sit at the bar. This is

crazy to me. If a person wants to

go have a nice meal alone at a

table, just let them! As a server, I

personally enjoy waiting on solo

diners. I had a lady come in a

couple of months ago who, in

response to “How many for

dinner?’ said “Just one, but I can

just sit at the bar if that works

better.” How disheartening. I

told her not at all, I’m actually

going to give you my best

window table. I don’t

understand why it bothers

restaurant staff or even less so

why it bothers other guests if a

person is dining by themselves.

To all those people who are

going out on your own for a nice

dinner, don’t let the restaurant

or anyone else bully or shame

you into not sitting at a nice

table!

A: Solo diners thank you for the

feedback and warm invitation to

sit wherever in a restaurant. I

love the way you think. And I

bet you are very good at your

job.

 Tom Sietsema hosts a weekly

Q&A on Wednesdays at 11 a.m. at

live.washin gtonpost.com.

MADDIE MEYER/THE WASHINGTON POST

A table near the open kitchen of B Too on 14 th Street NW could be a fun place for a family celebration.

Be sure to try the steak tartare, shrimp croquettes, mussels and roasted venison.

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