Disoriented and Seeing Stars
WaPo reviewer Tom Sietsema has released his 2007 Washington Post Dining Guide online. You can catch it on newsstands this weekend.

At the top, Cathal Armstrong’s Restaurant Eve has broken through to the four-star category, and his revamped Majestic also made the list. Newcomers Central Michel Richard (3 stars), Proof (2.5), Farrah Olivia (2.5), and Hook (2.5) also made it onto the list. A surprising omission was Brasserie Beck, which Sietsema deemed to have taken a downturn from its earlier days.

While I am happy to see some great little ethnic spots making the list like Ruan Thai, Bob’s Noodle 66 (Taiwanese), Oegadgib (Korean), and Etete (Ethiopian), this is where we see the failings of the star system. It would be useful if The Washington Post reviewers would publish information on how they determine ratings. From all appearances the star system provides an overall combined rating for quality of food, alcohol, service, presentation, and atmosphere; it naturally pushes pricier and fancier restaurants to the top of the list. Meanwhile, the system penalizes small hole-in-the-wall restaurants that may get neglected if customers choose restaurants only on the basis of stars.

One glaring omission from this list that may have lost out due to the system is Eamonn’s, a Dublin Chipper, which is another Armstrong creation. It may not be a posh spot with a big menu, they put out some excellent fish n’ chips that would beat the pants off the food from some of the other restaurants on the list. Many major newspapers as well as the Zagat Guides display separate ratings for their criteria, giving diners an opportunity to make a more informed decision about where to eat. If The Washington Post could be as “progressive” as that, it would be a great contribution to the eating public.

Restaurant Kolumbia Closing October 27
I’m sad to report that Restaurant Kolumbia will be shuttering on October 27; renovations to their building have caused them to lose their lease. Their awesome $9 bar lunch was a Godsend to hungry K Streeters and much tastier than Teatro Goldoni’s down the street. One of my favorite memories of the place was watching Owner Carolyn Stachowski rocking a baby while her parents were trying to grab some lunch. I’ll miss the place and hope that Chef Jamie’s dream to open an Eastern European bistro will materialize in D.C. and not over the dreaded river.

Photo courtesy of bethanyll22