What More Can be Said About Jose Andres? (DC)

Jaleo
Zaytinya


So this isn't a full review of Jaleo and Zaytinya. I've eaten at both so many times, but so long ago, that to recommend any one particular thing would almost be sacrilegious. I will just say this. Go to both immediately.

No, ok, I'll say more than that.

Jaleo is celebrating it's 15th year as a DC landmark. It's one of three options for absolutely traditional Spanish Tapas, and is quite possibly the cheapest and best tasting. Yes, Taberna is delicious. But Taberna costs a small fortune. Jose Andres' ability to offer delicious food cheap is what got this restaurant on Rachel Ray's $40 a Day, Washington DC Episode. Granted, she ordered calamari and a piece of endive (very poor choices, Rachel), but that's hardly an excuse to shy away from this place.

The most exotic sounding items on the menu are possibly the best - squid in its own ink is a personal favorite. I'm hesitant to pick favorites when going to Jaleo because it's all good. And that's just the tapas. The paella is out of this world.

Much the same could be said for Zaytinya, the greek/mediterranean counterpart to Jaleo. A little bit more expensive, a little bit more 'trendy', Zaytinya still delivers amazing flavors in the perfect mezze portions. I recently went with a group and we got a large table with a lazy susan to just keep the small plates passing. Zaytinya is also known for its bar, so while Jaleo should involve Riojas and Sangria, get something strong and potent at Zaytinya. The coffee martini is to die for.

Jose Andres needs no extra reviews. Having recently beat Bobby Flay on Iron Chef, starred as a guest judge on Top Chef, and begun hosting a cooking show on PBS, this local legend is off to bigger and better things than DC. But his starting efforts are still unquestionably the best.

-M.