Tom Sietsema

Tom Sietsema is the longtime food critic at The Washington Post, where he reviews restaurants in Washington, D.C., and beyond and leads high-impact service coverage such as seasonal dining guides and trend analysis. In 2024–2025, he publicly shifted his review format by eliminating star ratings from his critiques, emphasizing nuanced assessment over numeric scores, a change discussed widely in the local dining community and tied to his Post reviews. His recent social profiles continue to list him as Food Critic at The Washington Post, confirming his ongoing role with the paper. Over a career spanning decades, Sietsema has been known for incisive, consumer-focused service journalism and influential reviews that can shape a restaurant’s trajectory in the D.C. market. He frequently blends dining criticism with practical guidance—highlighting hospitality, consistency, and value—while reporting on chef movements and neighborhood dining ecosystems. His writing is noted for vivid scene-setting, attention to detail, and clear standards applied across price points. He has covered the evolution of D.C.’s dining scene from chef-driven fine dining to fast-casual innovation and regional cuisines, and he periodically undertakes citywide surveys and roundups that inform where readers eat next.