Our culinary duo visits one of the Eastside’s most upscale eateries.

Jon: If there were was ever a restaurant/bar that encapsulated what the Bellevue scene is all about, it’s Pearl. Sleek lines and a simple color scheme of silver and black complement the eatery’s lively staff, locally sourced menu and educated wine list. With these expectations, Erin and I once again hit the town – albeit, a town that’s much further east than usual. This year, Pearl celebrates its three-year anniversary, and when you have something as great as they do, waiting for five is just too long.

Cocktails

Erin: Jon and I began our meal with signature cocktails. He ordered a Pearl Manhattan ($11), classically prepared with Gentleman Jack Rare Tennessee Whiskey, sweet Vermouth and bitters.

I, on the other hand, opted for the Pearl Cosmo ($10). A potent concoction Pearl plum vodka, muddled with fresh oranges, topped with a lime and refreshed with cranberry juice, this libation has “Sex and the City” written all over it.

Appetizers

Jon: Whenever I see crab cakes on the menu, I have to order them – call it OCD, if you will. Served with a roasted pepper remoulade and celery root-apple salad, Pearl’s Dungeness Crab Cake ($14) is a crunchy little number filled with warm, rich crab meat, drizzled with sweet corn puree and served with a bit of truffle.

Erin: Did you say truffle? Although there are hundreds of truffle species out there, the prized fungus’ salty richness perfectly accompanies and enhances many red wines. We settled on Lachini “Estate Vineyard” 2007 Pinot noir ($84/$21 per glass) from Oregon’s Willamette Valley, since the vintage is currently peaking – though it was initially snubbed at the time of its release. Funky, earthy, seductive and rife with cherry flavor, the wine’s attributes matched those of the all-encompassing truffle, while its acidity got along quite nicely with the sweet corn and rich crab.

Entrées

Jon: Pearl gave me two choices for an entrée: the lush, Americanized center-cut prime Black Angus filet mignon with peppercorn demi-glace and caramelized onion smashed potatoes ($36), or broiled duck breast with herb jus, sweet potato hash and Brussels sprouts ($25). I ordered the duck, while Erin chose the steak (luckily, neither of us are opposed to sharing).

The duck breast rewarded me with deep, gamey flavors, which were counterbalanced by the hash and peppery Brussels sprouts. All in all, the perfect dish for a misty winter’s night. On the other hand, the filet mignon was a generous cut of tender beef. The glaze greatly enhanced its flavor, and the large onion ring served on top was a nice touch.

Wine

Erin: Playing it safe with both of our dishes, I rolled out the dreaded Merlot — Three Rivers 2008 Columbia Valley Merlot ($48/$12 per glass), to be exact. Concentrated in dark red fruit and silky with tannins, the wine was friendly to the duck, yet assertive enough to run with my medium-rare steak.

Dessert

Jon: For dessert, I chose the closest thing to pie on the menu – a Bartlett pear tart. The top crust was flaky and stiff enough to hold up a slicing fork, and provided a sweet base for the drizzled red wine syrup and sifted sugar. A few crumbles of blue cheese were served on the side, which, when eaten with a forkful of fruit, provided a complete sensory experience. It even made my nose tingle — which is a good thing, I swear.

Erin: Naturally, I took a nibble of Jon’s dessert — but as a woman, I have to finish with chocolate. The Triple Chocolate ($9), to be exact — a warm cake coated in Valhrona chocolate sauce and served with fudge ice cream and toasted marshmallows. It was an appropriate end to an opulent evening.

Pearl  |  700 Bellevue Way N.E. (Suite 50), Bellevue  |  (425) 455-0181