JALEO means "uproar" or "melee" and also "revelry" and "merry-making". We knew it was the perfect name for our restaurant after seeing John Singer Sargent's painting, El Jaleo, at the National Gallery of Art in 1992. The dramatic Andalusian dance captures the passionate essence of Spain. The concept is owned and managed by ThinkFoodGroup (Jaleo DC, Bethesda, and Crystal City; Cafe Atlantico, Zaytinya and Oyamel), under the culinary direction of Jose Andres - winner of the James Beard Award and Bon Appetit's Chef of the Year. The designs and murals were created by G&G Arte Inc. from the design firms of Walter Gagliano and Aurelio Grisanty. JALEO invites you to explore the spirit and cuisine of Spain. JALEO is a festive, casual dining experience with its menu centered on a large selection of tapas, the "little dishes" of Spain. Tapas, a centuries-old tradition, have recently gained impressive critical and popular success in the U.S. Renowned too are our paellas.