Le Diplomat, on the ever expanding food boulevard of 14th Street, Washington, D.C., is a typical Steven Starr restaurant — and that’s a good thing.
What does the human think: From a Johnny-on-the-spot bartender, to balanced cocktails, to the Pittsburgh style steaks, to making a vegetarian dish tasty, this is a solid spot to eat and drink– and for D.C. that is a somewhat rare thing… But one starter deserves a closer look, the Mediterranean sardines.
Mediterranean sardines
It’s an aesthetic dish… But the sardines are overly fishy. How fishy?
What does Proximo think: Proximo didn’t get a chance for a taste. But if I could speak for him and say this dish made me think of Purina One Tuna Entree for cats. I can say after staring at me like I had a penis on my face after serving Proximo the Tuna, he does not like it.
Comparison: I agree with Proximo that the tuna is weird. It’s fishy and a strange “something” lingers at the back of the palate. The Starr dish is fishy but does not have that strange little “something.”
Grade: The Purina Tuna Entree is near inedible for cat or man. The Starr sardines are edible. Just a very very weak dish compared to the rest of Le Diplomat’s menu.
katupintxos 