The Week in Review

What people are talking about locally...

... The nominees for the RAMMYS, the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington's annual awards, were announced Wednesday. New restaurant of the year nods went to Black Salt, Acadiana, Hank's Oyster Bar, IndeBleu and Willow. Here's the full (pdf) list of nominees. ...

... Rustico opens in Alexandria, and an early report from Going Out Guru Erin Hartigan, who liked Rustico's grilled squid with white beans, indicates that the restaurant is already packed. ...

... News that the Chesapeake's blue crab population is slowly rebounding comes just before the April 1 crabbing season opens. ...

... The new Vienna restaurant Bazin's gets previewed by Tom Sietsema. ...

... Shimba Hills, a new coffee shop in the Verizon Center, was expected to open. Anyone been by yet? ...

Comments

Anonymous said…
Hanks Rocks.
17th St now has two (Hank's and Komi) of DC's top chef-owned restaurants within a small and unassuming strip.
3/26/2006 4:56 PM
Anonymous said…
If you get a chance you need to check out bistro123 in Tysons Corner not a bad little french style bistro.
3/26/2006 8:37 PM
Anonymous said…
willow and indeblue are very over rated i went there and the food was so so Black Salt is spot on though I hope the get it.
3/26/2006 8:39 PM
Anonymous said…
Sietsema was really unfair on Bazin's granted he did say some good things but still the place had only been open eight days they still had bugs to work out. Seitsema going to the place before they had a chance to dial all their staff in was just a junior varsity move on his part. So was his phoneing in the article in the magazine today reviews for chicago, new york , and san francisco, you gotta be kidding me. why not review the french laundry in napa or England's fat duck while you are at it. If I'm in another city I'll find thats cities critics to give me advice on where to eat.
3/26/2006 9:01 PM
Amanda said…
Agreed on Hank's and Komi.

And to the last commenter, I know a lot of people had serious problems with Tom's Weekly Dish on Bazin's. But I feel like most of his readers know that those blurbs are usually an early look at a place and not a full review. He often points out dishes he liked and didn't. He's been doing that for a while, but it seems this one really pissed people off.

All restaurants need time to settle in, but you could argue that once you start charging customers for food, the place should be running somewhat smoothly. If the staff isn't ready, don't open yet.

The cut-throat reviewers in London usually show up on opening night and then slam restaurants the very next day in print. I'm not saying that's right, but Tom's hardly throwing unfair punches. If a friend went to a restaurant and there were some major glitches, wouldn't you want him to tell you?
3/27/2006 10:59 AM
Anonymous said…
true but Tom is not a friend He says go and the metro area can't get enough of the place he says don't go and they will avoid it like the plague. I'VE SEEN IT HAPPEN. I'm not saying it's his fault it's just that he should be more careful with the power he has. The NoVa area is struggeling to get decent restaurants and it's hard when the ones it's has don't get as much coverage or support as those in DC or even Md unless they are opened by dc chefs.
3/27/2006 6:38 PM
Amanda said…
Just to give a nod to NoVa: Have you seen the RAMMY nominees for fine dining restaurants this year? Four out of five (Eve, 2941, Maestro and Colvin Run) are NoVa spots.
3/28/2006 10:48 AM
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