About Dan About Town
Party photographer Dan Swartz’s diary of bashes, benefits, and galas.
Famed Columbus, Ohio-based restaurateur Cameron Mitchell marked his first foray into Washington last week, with the opening of his latest Ocean Prime restaurant and lounge.
The 8,556-square foot eatery located inside the historic Colorado Building represents the 13th location of the coast-to-coast modern American restaurant concept, with a 14th scheduled to bow by year’s end in Naples, Florida.
Thursday’s public debut was preceded the night before by a packed VIP party, which drew hundreds of the city’s influencers. Ocean Prime had partnered with local nonprofit Share Our Strength for the occasion, with 100% of the proceeds from gift cards sold that night earmarked for the No Kid Hungry campaign which works to end child hunger in America.
Executive Chef Jason Shelley treated guests to an impressive spread, which sampled from many of the restaurant’s from-scratch menu items, including White Truffle Caviar Deviled Eggs, a diverse raw bar, and homemade Ten Layer Carrot Cake.
Live music, one of the lounge’s signature features, was piped in throughout the event, as Ocean Prime’s sharply dressed bartending staff prepared a diverse selection of handcrafted cocktails intermixed with long pours of wine and champagne.
Located just steps from the White House, the 140-seat restaurant joins the ranks of a handful of nearby upscale steakhouse concepts designed to charm the District’s growing ranks of powerbrokers. Indeed, architect Mark Knauer‘s chic interior layout boasts not one, but four private dining rooms, for just such a purpose.
As they say, a little midwestern hospitality goes a long way. And Ocean Prime seems primed for success.
Check out all 119 photographs from this event here!
