how do you research?

[Ericandblueboy]

what resources do you draw upon to determine how to spend your dining dollars?

I check out Washingtonian, Tyler Cowen, Washington Post, Zagat and Chowhound. Is there a DC resource that I'm not taking into consideration?

[Minger]

I like Cowen's comprehensiveness, but he lacks taste, so his contribution is as valuable as the Yellow Pages.

I'll add Yelp to your list. A lot of the reviews are bandwagon jumping, but some are critical, eg reviews for Kopitam.

[hill food]

and sometimes just take a chance and a dive.

it's called living off the land (urban-style).

seriously, if all those together don't give you an idea (and I'd discount about half of the "reader reviews" unless they're recent and not over-cranky) well...

[Smiles2008]

In addition, from your post and Washingtonian have you looked at:

http://www.donrockwell.com
http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?act=idx
http://yougonnaeatallthat.blogspot.com/
http://www.dcfoodies.com/
http://www.metrocurean.com/

[Ericandblueboy]

I think I'll bookmark those istes

Thanks!