The Washington Post - USA (2022-05-27)

THE

WASHINGTON

POST

.

FRIDAY,

MAY

27, 2022

EZ

8

Ask Tom

Excerpts from Post Food Critic

Tom Sietsema’s online discussion

Q: My partner and I will

celebrate a milestone

anniversary Sunday. We wanted

to go out to celebrate; alas, the

babysitter is not available. I

know many nicer restaurants

are no longer doing carryout or

delivery. What would your

choice be for a somewhat special

meal at home these days?

(Northwest D.C., Silver Spring or

nearby is preferred so food

arrives as it left the restaurant.)

A: You’re correct. A lot of

upscale places aren’t doing

delivery anymore. But you still

have some great choices in

restaurants including Convivial,

whose pastry chef comes from

the French embassy; Sfoglina

(various locations) for

housemade pasta and more; and

Q by Peter Chang for terrific

Chinese in Bethesda.

I hope those ideas help.

Happy anniversary.

Q: I am looking for a special

occasion restaurant that has

outdoor seating or, even better, a

rooftop. We prefer restaurants

that have seafood or vegetarian

options. We do not have any

price constraints. Do you have

any suggestions that would fit

this description?

A: One lofty idea is the glass-

wrapped Conservatory atop

Gravitas in Ivy City, whose

menu features dishes including

oyster crudo, fried whole

snapper, and a pasta springy

with morels and peas.

Q: My 80-year-old father is

visiting for Father’s Day

weekend, and I’m planning a

night out. His taste in food is

pretty adventurous. He’s hard of

hearing, though, and prefers an

early dinner somewhere quiet

and comfortable. We enjoyed

Corduroy in the past (in terms of

food, atmosphere and price), but

he’s interested in something

different this time. Northern

Virginia or D.C. would be most

convenient. Any ideas?

A: The key to a quiet meal is

knowing when to go; early is

better than late. If possible, you

should ask to be seated away

from music speakers, the bar —

areas that tend to be noisy.

I bet you and your father

would enjoy the eclectic menu at

New Heights in Woodley Park

(provided he can climb stairs)

and Iron Gate near Dupont

Circle for Greek-Italian cooking,

possibly on the lovely terrace.

Q: I am looking for an Italian

restaurant with outdoor seating

for dinner in June. I would like

to stay in the D.C. and Maryland

area.

A: I Ricchi in Dupont Circle,

Centrolina in CityCenterDC, La

Tomate in Dupont Circle and La

Collina on Capitol Hill all

feature alfresco spaces.

And from my spring new

dining guide, there’s Quattro

Osteria, which promises and

delivers an “alternative” Italian

experience: charcuterie served

on what looks like a little clothes

line, empty gold frames dressing

up the walls, bird cages

repurposed as chandeliers and

tiramisu staged in an espresso

pot. Fun!

Q: What restaurant would you

suggest for getting a gift card for

a wedding present? I’m looking

to have $200 cover dinner and

drinks for two people who eat

anything, but one member of the

couple is gluten-free. Northwest

D.C. is ideal, but could also do

Maryland suburbs.

A: I tapped a food-loving pal

who avoids gluten for advice.

She recommends Centrolina for

Italian, Maiz64 for Mexican,

Albi for Levantine flavors and

Chloe for a global menu.

Q: My partner and I, for various

health reasons with our tiny

child, are still hesitant to do the

indoor dining thing and won’t

feel comfortable with it for

another couple of months. But

with the weather warming up,

we’re excited to do date nights

outside. I feel like I’m looking

for the white whale of

restaurants: 1) a place with

decent food, 2) that takes

reservations for outdoor seating,

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BallePhoto by Keiko Guest Pthnic Dance Company in hotography.Sanctity. Photo by Ariel J. Cobbert.

Dance Theatre of Harlem in Balamouk. Photo by Christopher Duggan Courtesy of Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival.