Spanish cafe culture has arrived on Capitol Hill courtesy of restaurateur Javier Candon and his new eatery, Joselito Casa de Comidas. The 70-seat spot near Eastern Market, named after Candon’s late father, channels a lively old world caféteria with marble tables and antique mirrors.
Madrid-born chef David Sierra comes from sister Spanish restaurant SER in Arlington. His menu reflects a traditional way of dining, with a large Andalusian influence from Southern Spain. Dishes are divided between hot and cold, and all can be ordered in three sizes: tapas, half-racion (entree-sized), or racion (family-style).
The food itself is more contemporary, with items like sherry-steamed clams, Iberian pork shoulder grilled a la plancha, or egg pasta tossed with crab, sea urchin, and shrimp butter. Anyone feeling the aftermath of last night’s sangria can return for Sierra’s reimagined hangover soup: a hearty chicken broth that’s brought to the table in a siphon coffee maker, infused with cured ham and mint, and served over a raw egg that’s gently cooked in the consommé.
Starting next Tuesday, the kitchen will serve an all-day menu through lunch and dinner. Afternoon guests will find a few extras like sandwiches, while evenings will bring specials such as stews and paella. Deal-seekers should drop by for daily “Hemingway hour,” where everything on the menu is offered at a 20-percent discount from 4 to 7 pm.
The restaurant is still in its opening (i.e. learning) phase, and so it’s offering a 20-percent discount on food and beverages through Sunday, Jan. 15.
Joselito Casa de Comidas. 660 Pennsylvania Ave., SE; 202-930-6955. Regular hours (starting Jan. 17): Open Sunday through Thursday, 11:30 am to 10 pm; Friday and Saturday, 11:30 am to midnight. The restaurant is currently open for dinner only, starting at 5:30.
Anna Spiegel covers the dining and drinking scene in her native DC. Prior to joining Washingtonian in 2010, she attended the French Culinary Institute and Columbia University’s MFA program in New York, and held various cooking and writing positions in NYC and in St. John, US Virgin Islands.
