Diners can get their Tex-Mex fix in Tysons, with the early-December opening of Ometeo. The expansive indoor-outdoor restaurant, located at the Capital One Center, is the newest venture from Washington, DC–based Long Shot Hospitality, which brought The Salt Line (one of our 50 Best Restaurants for 2023) and Dauphine’s to the region.
“Chef Kyle [Bailey] and I had been talking about this Tex-Mex concept for a while,” says Long Shot Hospitality partner Jeremy Carman. “We were interested in this opportunity at Cap One. They’re a great partner; they’re really interested in activating this campus and creating some good energy out here.”
Carman says the McLean–Great Falls area is an underserved market, so the restaurateurs hope to attract diners from these communities in addition to the Tysons corporate clientele.
“We’re leaning into what Long Shot Hospitality does with seafood and The Salt Line, so there will be a little bit more of a seafood focus on certain aspects of the cuisine,” chef and partner Gabe Erales says. “Our lobster tostada is going to be kind of the signature item after the opening.”
The restaurant owners enlisted Austin-based chef Erales to co-lead the project, relying on his expertise for the menu. The El Paso, Texas, native says the chef-driven, independently owned restaurant’s name, Ometeo, comes from the Nahuatl word meaning “from two gods” and, to the restaurant creators, signifies the two regions of cuisine — Tex and Mex.
“The spin will be Gabe’s obvious knowledge of Tex-Mex — being from there — coupled with some mid-Atlantic ethos from The Salt Line; we’re sourcing responsibly, we’re looking to sustainability within the region as much as we can,” says chef and partner Kyle Bailey.
Ometeo’s executive chef, Manuel Perez, will take on the day-to-day tasks of leading the culinary team. Perez was previously with the award-winning Seven Reasons Group and DC’s Oyamel.
Ometeo’s menu will offer tempting takes on traditional Tex-Mex cuisine, serving dishes like chips and queso, fajitas, seafood chile relleno, clam tamales, as well as an inventive quail dish reminiscent of chicken fried steak.
Beverages will be in great supply at Ometeo, with refreshing options for thirsty guests. The drink menu will lean into agave and margaritas, frozen swirls, and Texas whiskey cocktails.
“It certainly will be fun and playful,” Carman says.
As the saying goes, everything is big in Texas, and Ometeo follows suit with an expansive restaurant offering multiple dining areas, indoor and outdoor bars, and a large patio. Carman says the indoor space is approximately 11,000 square feet.
“There’s a ton of outdoor space here,” Carman says, noting that the patio is dog friendly. “The opportunity to have a dynamic outdoor space — those spaces are not plentiful, so that was an attractive piece of the real estate for us as well.”
Ometeo offers seating for at least 360 in a dedicated dining room, a semi-private dining area with bar, an outdoor bar, and a mezzanine lounge area with a bar. The restaurant will add to the burgeoning collection of dining and entertainment options at Capital One Center. The eatery’s vibe will be lively and eclectic, offering outdoor spots for an after-work margarita, dining rooms for traditional dinners, and private dining spots for groups.
To start, Ometeo will be open for dinner seven nights a week but plans to expand to brunch in January and lunch next spring.
“Hopefully it’s a night out as well as a great dining experience,” Carman says.
1640 Capital One Dr., Tysons
Feature rendering courtesy GrizForm Design Architects
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