Jaleo – Restaurant Review | Condé Nast Traveler

cuisine

Spanish

Tell us about this place: what does it look like, smell like, taste like?
There’s a lot to see at Jaleo, José Andrés’ flagship restaurant in Penn Quarter, from the dramatic beaded curtains over booths, to the red modern chandeliers, to the croquetas served in see-through dishes shaped like sneakers (complete with laces) to the glass-topped foosball tables you can eat off of. It’s a surrealist fantasy, albeit one that serves pan de cristal and has a serious dedication to eggs, Spanish omelettes or otherwise.
Who else are we likely to see there?
The proximity to the National Mall draws tourists who are into both food and museums, along with locals who make a special trip for tapas brunch. Open since 1993, this is a D.C. dining monument of its own.
What can we expect, drink-wise?
The cocktails aren’t quite as out there as some of the other elements here, but they are still inventive. The classic Bloody Mary is reborn as a “Bloody Gazpacho,” which makes this tomato and vodka-based drink even heartier. Ask for the “mimosa del día,” with cava and a roll-the-dice choice of that weekend’s freshly-squeezed juice. Or, stray off the brunch menu for a large selection of sangrias and gin and tonics.
Main event: the food. Give us the lowdown—especially what not to miss.
If you can’t choose between Benedicts with jamón ibérico de bellota or smoked salmon on cristal bread, order the tapas-packed tasting menu, and let the kitchen decide. These are the flavors of Spain as experienced through the madcap lens of Andrés, D.C.’s national treasure of a chef.
What’s the main reason we’d come here?
You want a steady stream of potato, egg, and tomato dishes to keep arriving at your table—all served with Spanish flair.