Restaurant Critic Roundup: 2 Restaurants Under 1 Name At Washington, D.C.'s Daikaya
This week in restaurant reviews, critic Michael Bauer reviews San Francisco restaurant Padrecito, a more local and sustainable version of popular older sister restaurant, Mamacita. Much of the produce at Padrecito comes from co-owner Sam Josi's family farm, and the restaurant "follows the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch guide, using sustainable fish such as mahimahi and arctic char."
In Washington, D.C., critic Tom Sietsema claims the only issue at Daikaya, a common space housing two restaurants, is whether to eat upstairs or down. Owned by Daisuke Utagawa, the co-owner of Sushiko in Washington and Chevy Chase, Md., the downstairs restaurant features a ramen house, and the upstairs is a Japanese tavern.
In New York, critic Pete Wells reviews restaurant Caravaggio. Giving the restaurant just one star, his review is packed with criticisms: "Caravaggio is defiantly elegant in an age that sees white tablecloths as a medieval relic whose sadistic power to stand in the way of a good time is second only to that of the chastity belt. The tables are draped with linens, ceiling baffles keep the noise to a low burble, and streamlined chocolate-leather chairs offer a quaint amenity known as lumbar support."
As always, the ratings range from stars to bells to beans, but every review offers specialized insight into the food, atmosphere, and service of eateries in each city's dining scene and the critics eating at them.
Restaurant Critic Roundup: 5/14/2013
| Critic | Publication | Restaurant | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Katie Johnston | Boston Globe | Boston Chops | 2.5 stars |
| Stan Sagner | New York Daily News | Alder | 4 stars |
| Ryan Sutton | Bloomberg | Corton | 4 stars |
| Pete Wells | The New York Times | Caravaggio | 1 star |
| Michael Bauer | San Francisco Chronicle | Padrectio | Bomb |
| Brad A. Johnson | Orange County Register | Brü Grill | 2 stars |
| Tom Sietsema | Washington Post | Daikaya | 3 stars |
| William Porter | Denver Post | Beast + Bottle | 3 stars |
| Eric Doksa | Charleston City Paper | Republic Reign |
Click here for The Daily Meal's "Top Chefs Review — and Rate — America's Food Critics."
Tyler Sullivan is The Daily Meal's assistant editor. Follow her on Twitter at @atylersullivan.