Move Over Poe, There's A New EDGAR In Town; Mayflower Hotel Celebrates 'Bar & Kitchen' Grand Opening

DUPONT CIRCLE -- Perhaps the only thing missing from Thursday night's grand opening celebration of the newly christened EDGAR Bar & Kitchen was a talking raven, but even a melancholic poet would have had a hard time not enjoying himself at the blowout bash.

With all of the pomp and circumstance befitting one of Washington's top hospitality venues, The Mayflower Renaissance Hotel rolled out the red carpet (well, it was really more of a purple one) for the hundreds of D.C. notables who turned out to fete the occasion.

From the spotlights flashing in the sky outside the entrance to flowing champagne, whiskey, and cocktail bars to a bottomless buffet of delicacies courtesy of Chef Andrew Morrison, no expense was spared during the three-hour event.

Models, clad in the latest "men's tuxedo-styled" fashions from Saks Fifth Avenue at Tysons Galleria, greeted guests at the door, amidst a barrage of photographer flash bulbs.

And once inside, beyond the flavorful feast that greeted them, attendees were further treated to a live performance by self-described piano iconoclast ELEW (born Eric Lewis), as well as a lively soundtrack mixed by DJ Adrian Loving.

While such posh pageantry was clearly a demonstrative display of luxe living, such is the experience provided daily by the top-rated hotel, which plays host to a revolving door full of celebrities, diplomats, and even royal families throughout the year.

EDGAR also has some pretty big shoes to fill with the bar and restaurant essentially taking the place of The Mayflower's former Town & Country lounge, which served as a clubby refuge for many of the District's elite for some 62 years before finally being shuttered in 2011.

Fast forward two years later and EDGAR is just the latest example of what has been a multimillion dollar renovation project for the hotel. Billed as "power dining for the 21st century", the upscale and modern eatery boasts a traditional American brasserie menu featuring everything from eggs benedict to crab cakes to flatbreads to charcuterie.

All joking references to the American poet/author aside, the venue actually takes its name from the old Town & Country's most famous regular: J. Edgar Hoover. The Federal Bureau of Investigation's first Director lunched there almost daily for more than twenty years during his tenure at the agency.

Clearly, EDGAR is a place where everyone knows your name.