I’ve never been one of those DC dwellers that can’t stand leaving the city. Maybe it stems from my obsession with travel, but I’m always excited to check out a new scene in the DMV. So I was thrilled to spend some time last week at the new Pike & Rose development in Bethesda. We were invited by City Perch Kitchen + Bar to taste their current seasonal menu, and we were in for a major treat.
City Perch is one of the premiere restaurants in the area, connected to the luxurious iPic Theater. It’s the first independent restaurant concept by Chef Sherry Yard, three-time James Beard Foundation Award winner, with Executive Chef Andre Miller at the stove. The restaurant’s centerpiece is the infinity terrace overlooking the charming street below.
The interior is sleek and sexy in keeping with the look of the theater next door, which features fully reclining seats with blankets and pillows and your own private server.

Photo courtesy of iPic Entertainment
The “farm-to-glass” beverage program offers fresh takes on classics like a rosemary martini with three-cheese stuffed olives and a Blackstrap old-fashioned with Smooth Ambler West Virginia rye with Blackstrap molasses and kitchen spice bitters. The use of local spirits was definitely a nice touch in these well-crafted cocktails.


As much as we wanted to devour the whole thing, our server cautioned us to save room for what was to come. The fare at City Perch tends toward the decadent, and we had a lot of eating left to do.



For mains, we tasted three hearty and flavorful dishes starting with the roasted Long Island duck with southern inspired fixins. The Chinese butter buns made a return appearance, and our server suggested we stuff the pulled duck into a bun topped with pickled vegetables and fresh cilantro. We loved the customizable little sliders and Tom raved about the crispy skin.






We’ll definitely return next time for dinner and a movie, and maybe a second dinner inside the theater which boasts a completely separate full menu.
City Perch is conveniently located in the new Pike & Rose development, just up the escalator next to iPic Theaters and is open for lunch, dinner, brunch and happy hour seven days a week.
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