Cranes chef Pepe Moncayo is going jamón with a new Spanish restaurant
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Arrels opens with Spanish specialties like an Iberico board (left) and rabbit paella. Photo: courtesy Leading DC
Cranes chef Pepe Moncayo has room to play at the brand-new Arlo Hotel near Chinatown, where he just opened a swanky Spanish restaurant and daytime cafe, plus a rooftop bar coming next month.
Why it matters: The Barcelona-born chef cooked at Michelin-starred restaurants in Spain and Singapore before coming to D.C., and with restaurant Arrels (translation: roots) he's returning home.
Dig in: Arrels showcases coal-fired Catalan cooking from a Josper grill and regional Spanish flavors. The menu is designed to share between tapas, paellas, rice dishes, and "big proteins" like Suquet (fisherman stew), whole charcoal-grilled fish or Iberico pork shoulder.
- Moncayo riffs on classics like gambas al ajillo, here with charcoal-grilled shrimp and a lemony chili-garlic crunch. And showcases lesser-seen Spanish ingredients and dishes like fried chipirones (tiny squid) or his mother's recipe for Conejo y Alcachofa (rabbit shoulders with artichokes).
The intrigue: Spanish-style happy hour starts next Monday with a wallet-friendly lineup of bar bites under $10 (and as low as $2) like pinxo skewers, croquetas, oysters and more.
- The lineup also includes trendy Spanish tinned seafood and $8 cocktails and wines.
Diners can drop in for breakfast or lunch, starting next week, or try the cafe-like Bodega. It serves snacks, Spanish breakfast and lunchtime sandwiches, and quick paella (Moncayo likens the dish to fried rice).
What's next: The ART DC rooftop, which boasts a bar and lounge, is slated to open in December (a pool and Arlo After Dark entertainment will launch next year). Moncayo is serving Japanese bites like hand rolls and yakitori.
Zoom out: Arlo Washington DC is the seventh boutique property for the indie brand (NYC, Chicago, Miami) and takes over a 19th century Romanesque Revival style building with 445 guest rooms and multiple public spaces — all catered to by Moncayo — including a bar and fireplace lounge for winter cozies.
If you go: 333 G Street NW.