It’s good to know the right people. In my case, many of my connections were forged during my early career as a bartender. So last night, when I received a call from Theo G. (my good friend, old boss, and general Bad Ass About Town) to attend the soft opening of Buddha Bar DC, I jumped at the chance.

I’ve had my eye on Buddha Bar for a long time. The DC location, situated in a beautiful office building on 4th and Mass, was supposed to open last October, but was held up in construction. Its hip concept received previous acclaim in Paris, Dubai, Las Vegas, and other world hot spots, and has become the standard for “the lounge.” Ambient music (which has spawned a collection of cds played by folks who just want to chill out), luxe decor and a sexy staff will certainly make this location of Buddha Bar the new place to be.

Buddha Bar offers more than just a selections of drinks. We dined on a variety of offerings, including sushi, appetizers and entrees. A few of the table’s favorites included the Buddha Roll, which was a cross between a summer roll and a traditional roll, with no rice or seaweed, Tempura-fried Rock Shrimp with Spicy Mayo, and the Sea Bass, which which was served with a sauce that was indescribably delicious. The wine list was fantastic, with generous portions and fair pricing, and although the cocktail menu wasn’t published yet, the MOCKTAIL menu was extensive enough for me to try a Fizzy Dragonfly, which was some combination of fruit puree and seltzers. Overall, the flavors were superb.

The posh atmosphere might be better suited for New York or Las Vegas; it will be interesting to see how this type of place does so close to Capitol Hill. It seems well suited for those who live in “Young Washington,” who have embraced the new establishments in Chinatown and 14th Street alike, and who (like me) don’t identify with the scene on the Hill.

I will say, I haven’t seen a place like this in Chinatown or the East End, and it brings me back to the early days of 1223 – when people came to see and be seen. In my experience, these places make a huge impact for a few years and then fade away… but perhaps with the luck of the Buddha, it will be here to stay.