Jaleo DC

Doesn't Recommend

Kevin S.

Joined 1 month ago

Went to Jaleo with reservation for a party of four for dinner on a saturday night at 9:45 pm. I had purchased a dinner for four including two bottles of wine at a benefit silent auction for quite a bit of $$$$. Anyway, we were seated on time for our dinner. I presented the waitress with our silent auction reward and was told we could not order off of the menu and that everything would be sent out by the chef. Hmmmm, OK...not what I expected or wanted but we'll see. The wine and was selected by someone, it was OK. A few LOW END tapas arrived (some repeats) and were staggered with large periods of dead time in between. At one point we almost got up and walked out but food arrived and we kept expecting things to get better. They never did. Plus, we were jammed into a extremely small table for four that would be acceptable for two. Very, very tight!!! After a few small servings of low end tapas we were told that was it. Nothing even close to dinner ever showed up. Overall, a very negative experience. We left hungry and went to McDonald,s. A total rip off. We won't be back.

Doesn't Recommend

CJAndrews

Joined 2 years ago

BAD SERVICE - FOOD POISONING - WORSE MANAGEMENT. BAD SERVICE: Waiter only interested in maximizing tip. Only recommended most expensive items and literally refused to bring complimentary bread until we were "ready to order some Tapas".

FOOD POISONING: Wife and son sick for two days from lamb dish. FUN!!

NEITHER OF THE ABOVE WERE THE WORST PART: Politely contacted manager, who promised to refund $150, plus forward voucher for free meal...NEVER HEARD FROM HIM AGAIN. Emailed manager and corporate office on multiple occasions. NEVER HEARD FROM ANYONE AGAIN.

If you want BAD SERVICE, FOOD POISONING, and EVEN WORSE TREATMENT FROM MANAGEMENT - Dine here! Otherwise go to a real restaurant…like Applebee’s. Better service, better food, less expensive, and probably won’t poison you.

Using power of the internet to warn people away. NICE JOB JALEO MANAGEMENT TEAM!!

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Lauren Sloat

Joined 4 years ago

Citysearch Editorial Review. This vibrant Penn Quarter restaurant just blocks from the Gallery Place Metro serves up gourmet Spanish tapas under the culinary direction of celebrity chef Jose Andres. With larger-than-life murals of flamenco dancers on the walls and floor-to-ceiling windows looking out on busy downtown, it's a lively spot and busy nearly every night of the week--indeed "Jaleo" translates to "merry making" in Spanish. Find suit-clad business types unwinding over pitchers of Jaleo's famous sangria, as well as romantic twosomes sipping glasses of cava and sharing small plates, which range from caviar on fried eggs to more simple variations of arroz, or rice. By far the most popular menu option, Andres excels when it comes to paellas; find six different versions—from vegetarian to squid, shrimp or chicken—available after 5pm during the week and all day on the weekends.

Recommends

Lisa Mathias

Joined 3 years ago

Classic Tapas, Andres Style. Jaleo is great for when you're craving tapas but also want something a little new - this Jose Andres institution offers plenty of the patatas bravas and gambas that we all know and love, but also gives us some very unique options - sea urchin, anyone? Come here for lunch, dinner or even brunch and you won't be disappointed. And don't forget the sangria - it's one of the best you can find here in DC.

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dk20009

Joined 3 years ago

Great Tapas, Horrible Service. If you're looking for Spanish tapas, you've picked the right place! Before Jaleo started to become really popular, this was a great place, it wasn't as cramped as it is now, so ladies, if you're a little bit larger, stick to one or two small plates so that you can navigate between tables and chairs on the journey to the ladies room. The eggplants have a great combination of sweet and salty; the cuttlefish in the paella (to be shared with others, of course) has a great texture and tastes like fish that isn't too "fishy". Of course it takes a good 15-20 minutes for the server to realize that you need a refill for your drink and to clear your plates or realize that he or she has forgotten to take your order, so if you're impatient, try ordering take out.

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butterbaxter

Joined 8 years ago

A-1 on my List!!!. Jaleo has my heart! When I first dined @ Jaleo back in the 90s, I knew this would be one of my favorite restaurants. However, over the years, it has become my "favorite" restaurant hands down--no competitition. Whenever I'm asked "where do you want to go" my answer if always a resounding Jaleo! The Sangria, the Sangria, oh my the Sangria. I could go there for breakfast and still order the Sangria. I love a restaurant that stays constant with their menu and atmosphere. Everytime I go, I'm guaranteed to have a wonderful time. Keep doing what you're doing and I'll keep coming back.

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Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

Small dishes, large crowds at this downtown Spanish eatery.. The Scene
Located next door to the Shakespeare Theater and a few blocks from the MCI center, Jaleo is teeming with activity almost every evening. Specializing in tapas, the restaurant rewards curious diners with scores of options and seasonal specialties. The flexibility of the tapas approach makes it a fun place for groups and families, giving everyone a chance to taste many things but still hoard a few favorites. There's also a bar area, with an extensive wine list and homemade sangria.