Upscale gastropub The Gryphon opened in Dupont Circle last night with a VIP Preview Party, in the space that used to be Heritage India (which moved two blocks over to 1633 P St NW). Executive Chef Joseph Evans of sister restaurant Lost Society served up towering plates of bite-sized menu highlights, including gator bites, mini grilled cheese and tomato soup, crawfish mac-n-cheese and barbacoa tator tots con queso. Guests were also treated to an open bar, house-popped popcorn and Evans' signature raspberry-topped chocolate torte as they explored the new eatery and watched games on the pub's 31 televisions.
Guests included: Owners Tony Hudgins, David Karim and Rich Vasey; NBC's Doug Kammerer and Danielle Leigh; DC Senator Paul Strauss, Roxanne Bannon, Dannia Hakki, Maha Hakki, Leo Schmid, Marissa Schneider, Ryan Seelbach, Kunal Shah and Little John.
[Photos by Salaam Mufti and Travis Vaughn via MoKi Media]
[Rich Vasey, Tony Hudgins, David Karim]
[Gator Bites] [Barbacoa Tots]
[Paul Strauss, Doug Kammerer, Tonya Williams]
[Marissa Schneider, Roxanne Bannon, Kunal Shah]