The Washington Post - USA (2022-04-01)

THE

WASHINGTON

POST

.

FRIDAY,

APRIL

1, 2022

EZ

10

Ask Tom

Excerpts from Post Food Critic

Tom Sietsema’s online discussion

Q: My dad is turning 80 in June,

and my mom and I wanted to

plan something special for him.

They live in Baltimore but often

visit me in Alexandria, so

anything between here and there

would work. Would look to invite

8-12 of his close friends as well.

My mom suggested reserving a

private room at their favorite

restaurant in Baltimore, but I

wanted to see if you or others

had any more intriguing ideas. I

suggested a dinner cruise but am

a little concerned about the

quality of the food. Our budget is

probably $150 per person max,

and the setting should be

intimate.

A: How about a private room in

the District and cooking from a

former White House chef?

Annabelle in Dupont Circle,

starring Frank Ruta, offers both.

The stylish restaurant was my

No. 3 favorite in my last fall

dining guide.

Q: My son is graduating from

high school in June, and we want

to go for a nice dinner afterward.

My daughter is vegan. Can you

please suggest any good options

downtown?

A: When people are looking for

ambiance and interesting

vegetable dishes in the city, I

tend to point them in the

direction of the alluring Rasika

West End. It’s modern, fun —

and some of the best Indian

cooking I’ve had in this country.

Q: My parents are coming in for

Easter weekend and love eating

out in the D.C. area (and haven’t

since before the pandemic). I’d

love to take them to a newer

place in town (they would swoon

over good Italian), but my father

has trouble enjoying himself in

loud restaurants because of

hearing loss. Any suggestions for

a really tasty spot, not too

adventurous, in the Maryland-

D.C. area where the conversation

is easy? We’re flexible on price.

A: Your request for peace and

quiet rules out the excellent, old-

school Caruso’s Grocery and the

posh L’Ardente, but not the

neighborly Tortino near Logan

Circle. The hideaway dresses its

tables in linens and its servers in

tie, but offers its entrees,

handmade pasta included, for an

average of $24.

Q: We will be visiting Old Town/

Del Ray after moving away from

the area about five years ago.

When we left, the restaurant

scene was, frankly, mediocre.

Has anything changed?

A: Let me point you to a couple

bright spots for your upcoming

trip: Kismet Modern Indian in

Alexandria, a spinoff of the very

good Karma Modern Indian in

the District, and the just-opened

Matt and Tony’s All Day

Kitchen + Bar in Del Ray. The

first is dashing and delicious (be

sure to try the tangy grilled sweet

potato, among other dishes); the

second, which I have yet to

sample, offers the possibility of

breakfast throughout the day

and a homey menu of fried pork

chops, salmon cakes and sweet

potato doughnut holes.

Q: I have friends in town for

lunch on Friday and would love

to host them somewhere in

Northwest D.C. I don’t want to

suggest anything deep into

downtown as they’ll be driving

from Chevy Chase, but open to

many different neighborhoods.

A: Et Voila in the Palisades,

Rosemary Bistro across from

the original Politics & Prose and

La Piquette near Washington

National Cathedral are all good,

end-of-the-workweek lunch

destinations. They’re also all

French.

Q: Cousins from New York City

(in their 70s) are coming to D.C.

for the first time in many years.

They’ll be staying between

Dupont Circle and Logan Circle

and don’t mind walking. Where

should we send them beyond Le

Diplomate?

A: Lots of choices there! Among

the best are Maiz64 for upscale

Mexican, Estadio for Spanish,

Sushi Taro for Japanese and

Iron Gate for Italian/Greek in a

cozy dining room (or intimate

patio).

Q: Where should my husband

and I go for our third

anniversary and first time

celebrating (thanks to the

pandemic and a rough

pregnancy)? We’d like

somewhere that makes us forget

that in the last three years we

went from fun, cool newlyweds

to boring, old parents. The catch:

Our anniversary is in two weeks

and we’ll need a Friday night

reservation. On the plus side:

What may now be a little passe

will still be new to us as we

moved away from D.C. five years

ago. We are adventurous eaters

and want to stay in Northwest

D.C. close to the baby/

grandparents.

A: I can’t promise you a 7 o’clock

table, but I know you’ll have fun

catching up on the city’s progress

at restaurants including the

jungle-inspired Seven Reasons;

Rooster & Owl for strange-

sounding combinations that

make wonderful sense in your

mouth; Anju for first-rate

Korean in Dupont Circle; Chloe

for global fare near Nationals

Park; and Del Mar for Spanish

fare at the Wharf. I could go on

(and on), but one of those dining

destinations ought to be able to

seat you.

Q: My friend and I are in search

SEE ASK TOM ON 11

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