The Gryphon Opens for One Day Preview March 2nd, Will Properly Open March 13th in Dupont

1337 Connecticut Ave, NW

UPDATE: From a new press release:

Dupont Circle upscale gastropub The Gryphon will open its doors to the public on Wednesday, March 13 for both bar and dinner service, starting at 8 p.m. Due to construction delays, the new sports lounge will push back their opening date to accommodate hungry Washingtonians in time for March Madness.

A lot more info on the Gryphon coming to the former Heritage India space in Dupont. While there will be a preview March 2nd for the DC Leprechaun Lap the Gryphon’s normal hours will start sometime “mid-March”. I’ll update when an exact date is known. From a press release:

On March 2nd, Dupont Circle welcomes The Gryphon, the marriage of a gastropub and an upscale sports bar. The 5,000 square-foot eatery boasts the social dining atmosphere of a restaurant, the heart of a pub and the view of a stadium. Executive Chef Joseph Evans of brother restaurant Lost Society has crafted a hearty, refined menu that modernizes the classic bar bite. Gaming accents and vintage decor evoke the grand, private lounges of the 1920s and 30s, while contemporary touches such as an interactive, state-of-the-art integrated media system will ensure that guests catch every play from any spot in the house – no bleacher seats here. The restaurant will open to Washingtonians as part of the DC Leprechaun Lap, a massive bar crawl featuring over 20 Dupont establishments.

The Gryphon is where Washingtonians will go to indulge their competitive side and unwind in style. The eatery will feature two bars, 192 seats and standing capacity for 350. Sporting events – from mainstream to middle-of-nowhere – will screen for guests on 31 televisions located throughout the establishment. The DJ booth, located behind the back bar, is housed in what was previously the vault of the historic Hamilton National Bank – a prior tenant of the space.

Continues after the jump.

Innovative plates from Joseph Evans, the culinary mind behind U Street steakhouse Lost Society, complete the cozy, sophisticated ambiance. Guests can expect to enjoy palate-tantalizing appetizers like chili-and-soy gryphon wings and duck rillette with crostini as well as re-imagined pub favorites such as oyster po’ boy sandwiches and fried oysters with arugula, smoked maple hot sauce and worcestershire beurre blanc. Main courses like braised short ribs round out this robust lineup.

To ensure a visually and aurally consistent media experience throughout the space, the Gryphon worked with Casaplex LLC to install Crestron DigitalMedia HD Video distribution technology, a comprehensive media integration system. The system allows bar managers to control displays via iPad or Android tablets, set all screens to specific games in under 30 seconds and display the Gryphon Twitter feed, allowing patrons to engage with the bar via real-time social media. Operators can also draw on any screen via tablet – a favorite technology feature among sports newscasters.

Dark-wood furnishings, bucolic decor pieces and rich yellow accents contribute to a uniquely masculine – but distinctly sexy – environment. Transporting details such as tin ceilings, distressed leather chairs and generous ceiling heights gesture to glamourous Jazz Age abodes. Accent pieces like “betting” chalkboards behind the bars, oversized tufted leather sofas and antlers hanging from the walls and ceilings reinforce the warm, “gaming” nature of the venue while retaining its fresh and witty ambiance. Guests can cozy up in cushy booths for quiet conversation, perch on the edge of their bar seats during extra innings or spread out for a celebration.

The Gryphon, a mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle, is regarded in myth as the king of beasts. Just as the being is known for guarding treasure, so too will The Gryphon cultivate a uniquely warm and majestic experience for its guests.