Richland’s newest waterfront restaurant opens with rooftop deck in time for summer

Wendy Culverwell
·2 min read

Perch Cantina, Richland’s newest waterfront restaurant, is now open.

Perch Cantina, the latest offering from Cindy and Brian Goulet, opened last week at 592 Columbia Point Drive, about 10 months after construction began on a site next to its corporate sibling, LU LU Craft Bar + Kitchen.

The Goulets opened LU LU in 2016 and 3 Eyed Fish Kitchen + Bar, also in Richland, three years before that.

Perch brings the family’s take on “modern Mexican” to the Richland waterfront and fulfills their commitment to develop two restaurants between Columbia Point Drive and the Columbia Point Marina.

Cindy Goulet and daughter Paige Goulet Jordan pose outside the family’s newest restaurant, Perch Cantina, which opened last week at 592 Columbia Point Drive in Richland.
Cindy Goulet and daughter Paige Goulet Jordan pose outside the family’s newest restaurant, Perch Cantina, which opened last week at 592 Columbia Point Drive in Richland.

The city of Richland leased the two sites on the condition both be developed in keeping with its vision of bringing amenities to the river.

Perch was supposed to open within five years of LU LU, but was delayed by the pandemic. The project broke ground last summer.

The new arrival is a thoroughly family affair that involved Goulet’s daughter, Paige Jordan, and son, Macoy Goulet. Jordan helps run the family restaurants. Macoy Goulet oversaw Perch’s construction as a project manager for Chevenell Construction, the contractor.

The interior of Perch Cantina.
The interior of Perch Cantina.

Jordan has helped manage both LU LU and 3 Eyed Fish for eight years but hadn’t opened either. With Perch, she played a key role in developing the concept and opening it to customers.

Mother and daughter traveled the American Southwest, sampling Mexican offerings and selecting dishes they thought would translate well in the Tri-Cities. Guacamole Nogada, Brussel Sprout Nachos, Birria Gnocchi and Birria Tacos are some of the offerings they adapted for the menu.

Nachos at Perch Cantina.
Nachos at Perch Cantina.

The 5,500-square-foot restaurant is a sibling and neighbor to LU LU, but the design is entirely its own.

Designed by HDG Architects of Spokane, it is open and organized around an expansive bar.

The Mexican-influenced restaurant opened in May and features dishes like ceviche.
The Mexican-influenced restaurant opened in May and features dishes like ceviche.

It seats 150, with room for an additional 150 on the Columbia River-facing patio and its rooftop sky deck. The sky deck hasn’t opened — it’s still waiting for tables — but should be ready for guests in June.

Sharp-eyed diners may spot a goat perched on the Perch Cantina logo and throughout the restaurant.

A look at the new Perch Cantina at Richland’s Columbia Point Marine.
A look at the new Perch Cantina at Richland’s Columbia Point Marine.

BrandCraft, a Tri-Cities marketing firm, helped the team create a bit of tongue-in-cheek mythology around Perch and its goat mascot. The goat serves as a reminder to celebrate adventure, slow down and have fun.

“Embrace the goat,” Goulet said.

Perch opens at 11 a.m. weekdays and 9:30 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Call 509-410-4440 or go to perchcantina.com for information.

Go to perchcantina.com or follow the restaurant on Facebook or Instagram.

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