The IPIC Theater located at Pike & Rose in North Bethesda should issue a warning: Seeing a movie at this luxury theater may ruin not one but two of your favorite things because you may never be happy doing them anywhere else. They said they had a simple goal of combining the two most common forms of entertainment: going to the movies and dining out. But don’t let that fool you. In truth, their diabolical plan ensures that seeing a movie or dining out anywhere else will forever seem inferior. These people have thought of everything.
The gorgeous lobby resembles a five-star hotel. Prior to the guests’ arrival, the crew has carefully placed a monogrammed blanket and pillow on each theater seat. The comfy recliners feature push-button maneuvering. Each seat also has its own swivel table and, on each table, there is an elegant leather-bound menu and a cloth napkin. Silverware is missing, but it is no mistake. The theater’s signature Dine in the Dark menu is expressly designed to be easy to eat at your seat while watching a movie, without the need for cutlery. Their goal is to deliver chef-driven quality dishes and handcrafted cocktails directly to movie seats. In addition to gourmet comfort foods, they offer gluten-free, low carb, low sugar, keto-friendly selections.
IPIC’s robust menu is in response to consumer preferences and is also ahead of the curve. The company wants guests to enjoy all the creature comforts of their home and lifestyle, including healthy eating habits. IPIC’s new “Guiltless Pleasures” section of their Dine in the Dark in-theater menu is geared to accomplish this. They describe these new menu items as health-minded and with nutritional content. The Guiltless Pleasures menu items include a variety of cocktails, appetizers, entrees and desserts so guests can get, as they say, “thinner and a movie.”
The Food
Notable Montgomery County personalities gathered at the IPIC Theater at Pike & Rose in North Bethesda to taste-test Guiltless Pleasures selections from the theater’s new Dine in the Dark menu. Each item in the taste test is essentially gluten-free, low carb, low sugar and fits in a ketogenic diet.
According to Healthline.com, following a very low-carb, high-fat ketogenic diet puts your body into a metabolic state called ketosis. There are studies that show weight-loss and overall health benefits to a keto diet.
Strawberry Basil Delight
Keto Surf-and-Turf
Keto Caesar Salad Bowl
Keto Buttermilk Fried Chicken
Keto Cheesecake and Berries
The Judges' Rankings
Danielle Nations, partnership manager with Visit Montgomery, @visitmoco
1. Surf and Turf
2. Chicken
3. Strawberry-Basil Delight
4. Cheesecake
5. Salad
Mike Bishop, senior community director of the Maryland burbs for Yelp, @yelpmdburbs
1. Chicken
2. Salad
3. Surf and Turf
4. Cheesecake
5. Strawberry-Basil Delight
Jess Bousa, CEO Exponential Media, @exponentialmedia
1. Chicken
2. Salad
3. Surf and Turf
4. Cheesecake
5. Strawberry-Basil Delight
Alex Tsironis, founder, the MoCo Show, @TheMocoShow
1. Chicken
2. Cheesecake
3. Salad
4. Surf and Turf
5. Strawberry-Basil Delight
The Verdict
Overall, the fried chicken came out on top. “Amazing taste. Very meaty,” Alex said. Jess thought it was "very robust and substantive.” Natalie added, “The breading is fantastic.” She also loved that she could get an upscale meal at the movies. Mike thought the strawberry drink was very refreshing and enjoyed the unexpected “nice spicy kick of the surf-and-turf skewers.”
