Created by the team at Long Shot Hospitality in partnership with Chef Gabe Erales, Ometeo is an upscale Tex-Mex restaurant at the Capital One Center in Tysons, Virginia.
The concept’s name combines the Nahuatl words Ōme (“two”) and teōtl (“God”) to create Ōmeteō, a word referencing the dual inspiration of Texas and Mexico throughout the cuisine, décor, and overall guest experience. Designed by award-winning architecture and design firm GrizForm Design Architects, the space includes expansive dining rooms decorated with antique, vintage, and handmade artisan goods. The restaurant includes multiple dining areas, a large outdoor bar, and a second-floor mezzanine lounge with private dining capabilities. Branding work for Ometeo was done in partnership with DC-based design firm And Wiser.
Entering the vestibule, guests are greeted by an expansive, double-height space. A fountain to the left heightens the feeling of a rancher’s horse trough, providing a sensation of authenticity immediately upon entry. Yellow, cream, orange, and purple acoustic panels clad the walls, reminiscent of kernels of heritage corn, serving to incorporate core ingredients of the cuisine seamlessly into the visual language of the space. An expansive tile archway leads to a raised dining platform with custom, hand-painted wall tiles and basket lights integrated throughout.
The middle of the main dining room is home to the lower-level bar, featuring overhead shutters and raised booths with custom light fixtures carved from old, knotted wood. This bar largely dominates the space, bringing energy and life to the surrounding area. Moving into a single-height dining room, the rustic aesthetic remains reminiscent of a gate at a Texas ranch, complete with mounted longhorn cow horns displayed above a dedicated tortilla-crafting station.
Moving upstairs, the upper mezzanine level boasts a private, intimate speakeasy for guests looking to unwind. A folding partition allows the space to be divided into two private dining rooms and can be moved aside to create a singular lounge space for flexibility as needed. Eclectic furniture, curated from authentic vintage antique dealers, populates the space, with terracotta incorporated in both the overhead light fixtures and floor tiling. Wall cut-outs provide a respectful, indigenous-inspired means of presenting curated accessories that reinforce the space’s aesthetic. A glowing bar in the back corner provides a focal point within the space, and a dedicated terrace with a railing allows guests to overlook the action below.
Outside, the hacienda-style area features woven accents, with terracotta and ceramic lights accenting the bar itself. A bright, richly-coloured tile bar top provides a splash of colour, and local fauna from Texas and Mexico provide a needed pop of greenery throughout. Custom patterned table tops featuring the Ometeo logo are tiled in, tying the outdoor space’s visual identity to the interior and overarching brand image. Overall, Ometeo stands as one of Virginia’s most authentic Tex-Mex locations, taking inspiration from a broad range of traditional processes and aesthetic cues to provide a genuine experience for guests.
Having opened in December 2023, Ometeo brings a vibrant energy to the burgeoning mixed-use development at the Capital One Center, which is set up to be Tysons, Virginia’s newest urban downtown destination.
