Cranes Spanish Kaiseki

Cranes in Washington D.C., a Michelin-starred restaurant since 2021, combines Japanese and Spanish culinary influences in a unique way. Its Spanish Kaiseki menu highlights seasonal ingredients, features artistic presentation, and offers a thoughtfully balanced dining experience.I recently dined here during D.C Restaurant Week and it was a wonderful experience. The prefix menu features 5 courses for the price of $65 pp. You can also add drink pairing for an additional $35.The ambiance and decor were hip and zen. Dimly lit; it's a great atmosphere for dates. The service was impeccable and attentive. Each dish was explained and the attention to care was superb.Food:1. Mushroom soup: Delicious, creamy and robust mushroom flavors2. Shrimp: The citrus dashi adds the perfect burst of acidity to the dish3. Smoked Salmon Socarrat: Many different flavors in this dish that work together in harmony4. Wagyu: One word: perfection5. Coconut Chocolate Cremeaux: Decadent and deliciousIn conclusion, the dining experience was nothing short of exceptional. The balance of flavors, the artistic presentation, and the use of fresh, seasonal ingredients made each course memorable. It wasn't just a meal; it was a journey of culinary mastery that left a lasting impression, making it a dining experience well worth savoring.

This is a tough call because the food at Cranes is well composed and tasty, but ultimately the service and ambiance just isn't it for me. Waiting for our reservation feels silly in a space this big - are they that overbooked? Servers near jogging between tables - understaffed? Drinks took a fair bit to come out and only when two did were we told that they'd 86'd a couple of mocktails our party ordered? For fine dining, it's just not the experience you expect. The speed bumps behind us, let's focus on the goods: the food. Mushroom dumplings were not a revelation, but had a good umami pop and a creamy sauce moment. Crab dumplings were phenomenal, the wrapper itself maybe left something to be desired, but the flavor of the crab and it's accompaniments has my mouth watering now. Tempora veg is good, fried, crispy, not overdone and nice variety. Chicken satsu sandos were tasty but I was a little disappointed that the bao was broken in the back and the katsu was cut off larger portions of breast so the breading wasn't all over - I know I know, picky picky - what can I do. Th unagi paella was a real highlight - fusion can so often feel forced and out of synch - this was just the right kind of cultural blend of crispy, fishy, umami. Tasty. Dessert is similarly inventive combining Japanese and Spanish technique and flavor with regard for both. A really pleasant way to end a meal. Cocktail program is cool but leans a little heavy on vodka for my taste. That's kind of what you might expect from a restaurant whose interior might also pass for a nightclub in a smaller city. We were also served some very warm sake in a wine glass which I found off-putting given the care paid to other Japanese aspects of the experience. So, it was a mixed bag. I'd probably keep looking if you were me, but if you're a different person entirely, I could see this being just the spot for you.

We celebrated my friend's birthday this past week at Cranes DC and tried their Pim Pam Pum. This experience was priced at $46 for unlimited tapas and was only available on Wednesdays. They have a pretty large dining area that quickly filled up around dinnertime. The service was a bit slow at first, but our server was knowledgeable and attentive.I really enjoyed the concept and the variety of tapas they offered. However, I felt that most of the dishes were very one-note and lacked depth. The two dishes that stood out to me were the Mushroom Yakitori and the Miso Glazed Tofu. Most of the dishes were overly salty and fried, which became tiring pretty quickly. I found myself craving something refreshing or acidic to cut through the greasiness of the meal.The entrées on this menu--the fried rice, vegetarian ramen, and curry udon--were the most disappointing, in my opinion. As an Asian fusion restaurant, I expected a more authentic taste than what was presented. There was an odd sourness to the curry udon that completely overshadowed any curry flavor. The fried rice had a huge dollop of garlic aïoli that I felt was unnecessary and possibly made the dish worse. The vegetarian ramen lacked flavor and was overall disappointing.I am very interested in trying other menu items outside of this experience. However, knowing that this was meant to be a sampler of what the restaurant has to offer does not make me enthusiastic or excited to return and try the rest of the food.

I was really excited to go to Crane's for their Pim Pam Pam menu. This was also to celebrate my friend's birthday and they gave us a cute card and a special dessert, which was nice. You can't really beat the food price for unlimited plates at $46, but I was definitely a little underwhelmed. Our waiter was great and let us order one of everything, which he portioned out throughout our dining experience. The initial service was a tad slow. My main issue with the food is that it was VERY salty, and I'm a salt lover. This wouldn't be a huge deal normally, but every dish had an abundance of salt and there was just no reprieve from this. There was also a lot of fried food and the batter for the tempura was very thick. I would have preferred if there were more vegetable or refreshing options to just had some variety. Also, the sauces were a little odd. A lot of the food could have benefitted from some acid in general, even just a little lemon squeeze. My favorite dishes were the mushroom and chicken yakitori, and the miso glazed tofu-- two of the non fried dishes. It was a decent experience, but I wouldn't return for the pim pam pam experience. I am curious to see how they're a la carte menu, but probably not curious enough to go back. Oh well!

You can't beat their happy hour at the bar!!! The food and drinks deals are great for the area. Enjoyed the skewers, okonomiyaki tots and paella croquettes and churros with some sake and a cocktail.cocktail. Jappy hour is basically all night from 4pm to closing but after 8pm(?) the prices are $1 moremmore.

This review reflects my experience dining out with celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder that requires me to maintain a diet free of gluten (including cross contact).SERVICE: 3/5 starsDRINKS: 3/5 starsFOOD: 1/5 starsAMBIANCE: 4/5 starsVALUE: 2/5 starsOVERALL RATING: 2/5 starsI was very much looking forward to returning to Cranes. Three years ago, I visited with friends and had a lovely time. Unfortunately, my second dining experience did not go well.Cranes provides an annotated menu that identifies allergens for each dish available á la carte. When the server came to take our orders, I was told that some of the gluten-free options were not truly free of gluten--they did not contain any ingredients with gluten, but they were unavailable to me because of cross-contamination exposure. After my friends ordered two dishes each, I requested the mushroom rice (the same meal I ate four years ago). I watched my friends receive their side and main dish, eating it before my food came. Eventually, the server came by again to tell me that, unfortunately, the mushroom rice dish was not safe for consumption by persons with celiac disease but that they could make something else with rice that I could consume. I was very disappointed and elected to skip eating entirely. Later that night, a person whom I assumed was a manager came by with that modified rice dish, offering it to me on the house; I declined, as I had already told the server I would not be eating that night.In lieu of food, I had three glasses of Albariño wine. Unfortunately again, the bar did not have cranberry juice in stock (preventing me from ordering my usual Madras). The wine was lovely, though I would have preferred a cocktail.No service fee was applied to our bill. Likely, I will not return to Cranes, as I can't eat or drink there easily.

Cranes in Washington D.C. is a 2021 Michelin star restaurant offering a creative blend of Japanese Spanish culinary traditions through its Spanish Kaiseki menu focused on seasonal ingredients, artistic presentation, and balanced courses. AMBIANCESleek metal, wood, concrete finishes, visually dark and light, zen lounge SERVICEFriendly, funny, attentive, fast-pacedFOOD (Happy Hour Menu)5/5 CURRY UDON Japanese curry, carrot, rice pearl (aromatic)5/5 KARAAGE CHICKEN rayu aioli * scallion a nori (crisp, tender, flavorful)5/5 YAKITORI tsukune| pork belly | shitake mushroom (tender, flavorful)5/5 MISO GLAZED TOFU chives, pickled onion a sesame (umami, soft)4.5/5 PAELLA CROQUETAS SPC saffron chorizo (crispy exterior, briny interior)4/5 PESCADO FRITO market fish, almond picada, mache salad (crisp)3/5 SEAFOOD RAMEN gaspachuelo, shrimp, fermented piguillo & beansprout (flavors didn't blend well)DESSERT5/5 BROWN BUTTER CHURROS freshly fried, rolled in cinnamon sugar, and served with a chocolate sesame and caramel miso dip - this is Japanese Spanish fusion at its finest. 4/5 TOCINO DE CIELO chilled gel-like custard (cooked egg yolk and sugar) with a glossy caramel top, served with a yuzu sorbet DRINK3/5 Smoked Wagyu Japanese Whiskey delivers exactly the flavors as named with an enoki mushroom. The combination isn't my favorite PARKINGby the streetThis was a unique experience. I'd gladly come back to try their main dishes.

I came here because I saw they had churros. Then got kinda enticed by their happy hour so sat by the bar. Had some Devine churros plus paella croquetas, and chicken karaage.The churros was good, albeit far and few and small. But it was goooood! The rest was ok.This place is a hybrid between Japanese and Tapas inspired fares, at least some of the bar food. Service was good but the bartender was slightly hinting that we order drinks. He was a funny chap but i came here for the churro and I told him that much.While sitting at the bar, noticed that this place was a Michelin star rated. Then further saw that they indeed were back in 21-22 era years.Pricewise, bar food happy hour wasn't that bad, I would imagine this place can rack up the bill.Verdict - maybe worth a return trip?

VERY HONEST REVIEW: TLDR - not worth a second visit.(This is regarding Wednesday Pim Pam Pum $46pp unlimited)Service: 10/10, super attentive waitress. Came here for my anniversary and they had a card and setup for us to remind us of our special day.Ambience: 8/10, a bit too dark but good for a date.Food: 6/10. Honestly I can see why they lost a Michelin star because I didn't have a Michelin-like food experience at all. Dishes come out so slowly. I had specific review of the food in the photos below, but overall the only worthy items were tempuras and desserts. Perhaps the squid appetizer dish. Otherwise, wagyu beef burgers was so average with overcooked meat. Overall I'm just very disappointed. For $46pp, I think it's a good deal for this place however I've had way better food elsewhere. Pro tip: use the InKind app and get $25 off $75!

I went here with some friends during happy hour. The ambiance was sleek, modern, with dim lighting. Our waiter was friendly and attentive to my friend's questions regarding vegan options. I got the seafood ramen and brown butter churros. Both were delicious but the portions were very small. My friends and I were hungry again shortly after we left so I would be mindful of that if you go for happy hour.