A chic new seafood concept, Dauphine’s, has arrived in Washington, DC with all the glamour, grit, and charm of New Orleans. Locally based GrizForm Design Architects crafted the alluring eatery to echo the French and Spanish design vernaculars found throughout the Louisiana city—warmly transporting diners to the bayou.
“The design for Dauphine’s evokes the best parts of New Orleans through a filter of great nights dining out in the ‘Big Easy’ and the 1,085 miles between our office and the front steps of Galatoire’s,” says GrizForm founder and principal Griz Dwight. “The trick was to bring in the essence and mood of the city without being thematic or too direct, and every material and detail ties into the narrative.”
Classic style infuses Bourbon Street across Dauphine’s in the form of custom oak parquet floors, walnut millwork, mosaics, marble, tile, and hand-cast wrought iron. The open 145-seat dining room greets visitors upon arrival with a variety of banquettes, tables, and hanging pendant lights that illuminate a color palette defined by warm wood tones and soft whites. Metallic, leather, biophilic accents also visually ground the aesthetic.
The custom raw bar and wood charcuterie case inject a midcentury-style flair into the space while kitchen views add a dose of action. The convivial bar area is punctuated by suspended greenery that dares to descend toward the marble bartop or high-top tables as well.
Located on the mezzanine private dining conveys a darker, richer New Orleans character with black, gold, and embossed crocodile skins. A 150-seat outdoor patio complements the design of Dauphine’s with its glass box-style design that includes a bar, fire pit, and custom fountain inspired by the iconic courtyards of the Big Easy.
“The Napolean House, the Garden District fountains, the kids blowing horns on the corner, the cocktails, and the food all found their way into the restaurant to make it the success that it is,” adds Dwight.
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