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Tom Sietsema Drops His 2012 Spring Dining Guide

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Jaleo
Jaleo
Photo: R. Lopez

Today was the long-awaited drop of Tom Sietsema's annual Spring Dining Guide for which he revisited 15 restaurants, some that have undergone chef shuffles or revamps and others that Sietsema hadn't reviewed in some time, or, in one case, ever. A third of the restaurants received one star or less, with O'Learys in Annapolis and the Foggy Bottom Founding Farmers location both getting slammed with just a half-star — the latter Sietsema dubs "Alice Waters' nightmare." At the top end, meanwhile, Sietsema awards Blue Duck Tavern three sparklers under new chef Sebastien Archambault's direction, the same rating he gives the newly renovated Jaleo.

Another interesting tidbit from the guide is that Sietsema hasn't visited Le Vieux Logis in Bethesda since he became a critic in 2000 — the last critique the Post has on file is from Phyllis Richman in 1996. That said, maybe the restaurant was better off without a drop-by from Sietsema, nabbing just a single star for food that "tastes dated."

Bar Pilar: 1 star
Bartlett Pear Inn: 2 stars
Blue Duck Tavern: 3 stars
Cork: 2.5 stars
Eventide: 2 stars
Founding Farmers: 1/2 star
New Heights: 2.5 stars
Trummer's on Main: 2.5 stars
Le Vieux Logis: 1 star
Mourayo: 2 stars
Pizzeria Orso: 2 stars
O'Learys Seafood Restaurant: 1/2 star
Passionfish: 1 star
Jaleo: 3 stars
Ray's the Steaks: 2.5 stars

· Tom Sietsema's Spring Dining Guide [WaPo]
· All Previous Tom Sietsema Coverage [-EDC-]

Trummer's On Main

7134 Main Street, , VA 20124 (703) 266-1623 Visit Website

Jaleo

480 7th Street Northwest, , DC 20004 (202) 628-7949 Visit Website

Pizzeria Orso

400 South Maple Avenue, , VA 22046 (703) 226-3460 Visit Website

PassionFish

11960 Democracy Drive, , VA 20190 (703) 230-3474 Visit Website

Cork

3636 Mckinney Ave., , TX 75204 (214) 780-0373 Visit Website

Blue Duck Tavern

1201 24th Street Northwest, , DC 20037 (202) 419-6755 Visit Website

Ray's The Steaks

2300 Wilson Boulevard, , VA 22201 (703) 841-7297 Visit Website

Eventide Restaurant

3165 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22201 703 276 3165

Founding Farmers

1924 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20431 202 822 8783

Bar Pilar

1833 14th Street Northwest, , DC 20009 (202) 265-1751 Visit Website

Mourayo

1732 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 202 667 2100 Visit Website

New Heights Restaurant

2317 Calvert Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 202 234 4110 Visit Website