(Written by Mike Grass and Kanishka Gangopadhyay)

It was perhaps one of most lavish non-political parties Washington has seen in quite some time. The much talked about opening of IndeBleu on Saturday evening saw limos pulling up on G Street, photographers deployed to the entryway, all the while champagne greeted guests at coat check and at least one woman, painted as a forest nymph, walked about the place in A Midsummer Night’s Dream-esque fashion.

Even though the finishing touches were completed just hours before the opening, the evening seemed to go off well considering the crowds. We heard that of the 900 people invited to the soiree, the Bleu Group only expected 300-400 to show up. But more than 1,200 people made their way through the place during the night. The place was crowded. Coveted seats in the lounge’s C-shaped suspended seating consoles were filled, as was the downstairs bar area. Upstairs, the hallway between the secondary bar and the kitchen was packed, many people lining up to snatch hors d’oeuvres up as they came out of the kitchen. Chef Vikram Garg was stationed by the chef’s table greeting guests.

The Bleu Group, which put a lot of energy into its service, had tip-top waitstaff out and about, some brought in from the U.K. Despite being overwhelmed at times, they did a marvelous job, with one overly courteous staffer meeting a drink request of ours when her assigned role was to only dispense hors d’oeurves. It was an unexpected move, but the Bleu Group intends to have the best service in the city at its restaurant. It seems like they are poised to do just that.