#93 - 15 new restaurants- Jaleo

This is going to be such a fun goal to complete!  I love food, going out, and trying out new places.  I've been looking forward to getting a start on this one and my husband and I kicked it off with Jaleo, a spanish tapas restaurant in Bethesda, MD.

About Jaleo:
Under the direction of famed chef José Andrés, Jaleo offers an impressive assortment of tapas, the traditional small dishes of Spain, as well as savory paellas, superb sangrias and a fine selection of Spanish wines and sherries in a festive, casual atmosphere. Created in 1993 by Rob Wilder, Roberto Alvarez, and José Andrés, Jaleo has become a DC institution.

What we ordered:
Cava sangria- Sparkling wine sangria with Cava, Liquor 43, strawberries and mint
$18 for a half carafe
This was delicious and VERY strong.  We got about 3 drinks total out of the half carafe size which makes it $6/glass.  Pretty normal price for Bethesda.  This drink was worth the price and I would order it again.

We decided to split the $20 for three tapas lunch deal, and I think it was a great value for what we got.

"Gambas al ajillo- The very, very famous tapa of shrimp sautéed with garlic"
About $6.50 for 7 small shrimp
Wow these were good.  They were moist, garlic-y, buttery, and so very tasty- pretty much like a shrimp scampi.

"Cordero a la brasa con salsa de romero- Grilled lamb T-bones with rosemary sauce"
About $6.50 for two 1 oz steaks
We ordered these medium and they came out well done.  Still, they were tender and had the most delicious light barbeque and rosemary sauce.  Despite not being prepared to order, they were very yummy.

"Croquetas de pollo- Traditional chicken fritters"
About $6.50 for 5 croquettes
These were little croquettes filled with what tasted like Thanksgiving-style chicken stuffing.  They were frickin amazing, like Thanksgiving just exploded in my mouth.

Final bill:
$40 not including tip

Service:
Very good.  When we walked in, we were seated almost immediately. Water glasses were always full, our sangria and food arrived promptly, and he asked us how the food was. When we asked for the check we got it quickly and were able to get in and out of there in less than 45 minutes.  Which probably could have been even less if we had been trying to have a quick lunch.

Overall impression:
I loved everything about eating here.  The decor was pretty and fun, the service was great, the food was amazing, and value for our money was decent.  I will most definitely be going back. Though next time I think I'll get a group together and try out their paella. They are served in a traditional paella pan, and take over 30 minutes to cook. Maybe I'll go for my birthday dinner and sit at this cute private curtained-in table... buen provecho indeed!