Bereket Turkish Restaurant

"Jane and I rubbed our hands with glee when Carol, an old friend, first told us about Bereket a few years ago. Located in the back room of a filling station and serving painstakingly homemade Turkish food, it sounded like -- and it was -- a Roadfood bonanza. There were a few problems, like virtually no seating other than outdoor picnic tables and hardly even any room to stand inside. The experience was, to say the least, extremely casual. Of course, we loved it.  NOTE: THE NEW ADDRESS IS 2871 FAIRFIELD AVE., BRIDGEPORT, CT. 203-333-9393.  Bereket has since moved and become a real restaurant with tablecloths, waitresses, plastic-covered menu, and full-size kitchen hidden in back. There are plenty of seats, fair weather or foul. While I do miss the crazy informality of dining in the back of a gas station and the joys of observing experts in the open kitchen, one thing has not changed at all: the delicious food. Based on one big recent lunch, it might be better than ever.  I still love Bereket's humus, served with warm pita bread. The familiar chickpea paste is here uncommonly rich but also bright with a refreshing shot of fresh lemon juice. I ate plenty, yet brought home enough of the $4.99 appetizer for a couple more meals.  The spicy lamb meatballs known as kofte are available in a wrap or a full dinner. I chose the former and got four patties of expertly seasoned lamb still glistening hot off the grill, all nestled in a crisp salad inside the wrap. This is a very large and very, very delicious meal.  When I first visited, the rice pudding and baklava were still cooking. The only available dessert was kadayif, the pastry that looks like shredded wheat but turns out to be delicate, superfine dough mixed with unconsciounable amounts of sugar and chopped walnuts. My square was cut from a fresh pan, still piping hot. I would be tempted to use the word "sinful" to describe how over-the-top delicious it is, but I will not, for Bereket makes a point of serving only food that is halal (virtuous according to Islamic dietary law). I have since returned for rice pudding, which is superb." --http://roadfood.com/Restaurant/Review/6816-7278/bereket