Spanish Cooking With a Grandmother's Story in Washington

Casa Teresa makes a thoughtful Washington date night out of Northern Spanish cooking, with a family story woven through the meal. Chef Rubén García honors his grandmother, Teresa Espinosa Moreno, an activist who organized women workers and endured three years of political imprisonment after the Spanish Civil War. She also taught her family to cook from humble ingredients, a lesson that gives the restaurant a personal center. Paella, tapas and wine point toward a table meant for lingering, while the elegant dining room and attentive service keep the evening polished and welcoming, and the tradition of cooking from humble ingredients remains the clearest thread between Teresa and García.

At 919 19th St NW, the restaurant serves its dining room for lunch from eleven thirty AM to three PM, then again from five thirty to nine thirty PM Monday through Saturday. The tapas bar runs from eleven thirty AM to nine thirty PM on those days, leaving room for a full dinner or a more casual stop centered on shared plates.