Bereket Reinvents Itself

Walk into Bereket, a Bridgeport Turkish restaurant, and you’ll likely be greeted with a smile and the smell of good things to come. During a recent lunch, we were welcomed by Sule Kaya and Metin Gumaudim, Bereket’s ambassadors to Fairfield County.

Bereket's initial incarnation was a small space, hidden behind a gas station, and they trafficked mostly in take-out orders. The new space, located at 2871 Fairfield Ave. in Bridgeport, is much larger and brighter.

As we settled in, we took in the warm, inviting space and the almost unbearably good aroma of fresh pita. Bereket's dining room cozy and simple enough to let you know that the traditional Turkish cuisine and the genuine hospitality are what you’re there for.

We wasted no time and set to ordering: hummus, falafel, shepherd salad, a traditional mix of tomato, cucumber, onion, parsley, green pepper, feta cheese, olives and olive oil. And we couldn't resist a mixed platter of kebabs that included chicken, lamb and veal.

Here's the thing about Bereket. Everything -- every tomato, every chick pea, every succulent piece of meat, every everything -- is fresh. There’s no mistaking it. And the preparation is wonderfully authentic.

Since opening the new space three months ago, Bereket has remained a BYOB establishment. But the buzz last week was that they should have their liquor license secured by early May. "Then, we willl be able to introduce customers to some wonderful Turkish wines," Metin, our waiter, told us. "We'll have wines that people know and love, Pinot Noir, Pinot Grigio, but we'll have some things that maybe they haven't tried, too."

Over some Turkish tea, Metin, who hails from Istanbul and has worked in the hospitality industry for more than 30 years both in Germany and the United States, told us of other plans for Bereket. "We would love to offer outdoor seating, too. We are working on that." 

Despite all the newness -- a new location, a new wine selection and possibly a new outdoor scene-- Bereket is holding onto its delicious and hospitable roots. Metin told us he came to the restaurant's previousy location initially as a customer. He and his wife became regulars, he told us with a smile. “That’s how I came to work here,” he said. “And being somewhere I can speak Turkish and be around the food and the flavors, it’s wonderful.”

Have you tried the new Bereket? Where do you find the freshest hummus in Fairfield County?

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