City Perch Fort Lee Opens: Bergen County Restaurants

Summer movie season may be over, but there’s still one blockbuster at the local multiplex that you definitely don’t want to miss: City Perch Kitchen + Bar, a brand-new dining destination adjacent to the iPic Hudson Lights Theater, in Fort Lee.

Promising a fresh take on farm-to-table cuisine with an emphasis on ingredients sourced from nearby farms and waters, this intimately rustic New American restaurant is determined to indulge guests’ taste buds and expand their palates with a menu full of New American favorites.

Its leading lady? None other than acclaimed chef Sherry Yard, who cut her culinary chops at such legendary establishments as The Rainbow Room, San Francisco’s Campton Place, and the venerable Hollywood VIP eatery Spago. Her co-star? Corporate Sommelier/Executive Bartender Adam Seger, who has selected a stellar assortment of handcrafted cocktails and boutique wines guaranteed to have guests raising their glasses. 

We were fortunate enough to invited to CP’s opening-night premiere party and were more than impressed. For starters, the décor was straight up Hollywood glam: rustic wood tables, stone veneer walls, plush banquettes, curved-back leather dining chairs in simmering bronze, and a stunning ceiling display that must be seen to be believed. Then there’s the outdoor patio, with sweeping skyline views that are sure to make this place popular come date-night.

But it’s the food that’s really City Perch’s red-carpet moment: from the signature Perch Burger topped with bacon and a red onion marmalade to deluxe salads with your choice of chicken, shrimp, salmon, or tenderloin to piping-hot pot pies, super-fresh seasonal entrees, artisan pizzas, and raw bar specials, more than a few dishes would make a delicious double-feature. (Hint: make sure not to miss their award-winning build-it-yourself bread basket—excuse us, bread board—which might be even more addictive than buttered popcorn.

Now this is how you do dinner and a movie.