Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy
Yesterday we had the scoop about the opening of Ankara Turkish Restaurant on Houston and Orchard ... from the owner of longtime LES favorite Bereket Turkish Kebab House.
After 19 years in service, Bereket was forced to close in June 2014 to make way for the new luxury condo via Ben Shaoul on the block. The property housed a single row of storefronts, including Bereket, Ray's Pizza and Lobster Joint — all demolished. (As Shaoul told the Times back in 2017, the small businesses that closed were "part of evolution ... You call it gentrification, I call it 'cleaning it up.'")
EVG contributor Stacie Joy returned to the quick-serve restaurant, which debuted last week...
... and met with Ramazan Turgut, who owned Bereket and now Ankara Turkish Restaurant, which has two outposts in Brooklyn...
... and manager Aydın Günaydın...
Ramazan said that he always wanted to return to this neighborhood and that it wasn't his choice to leave.
In the interim, he opened the two restaurants in Brooklyn under the Ankara name. When Bereket closed, he said he didn’t want to open a Brooklyn restaurant with the same name because it was special, and the name belonged to this area.
He signed a lease when this space at 183 Houston St. (the former Dr Smood) became available directly across the street from the previous outpost.
Since there are two other Ankara Turkish Restaurants, he decided to keep the name for continuity. Still, he wants people to know it's still Bereket (hence the "Bereket is Back" banners on the storefront).
The menu items remain unchanged — including the famed vegetarian red lentil soup...
... and the variety of gyros (the chicken gyro option is new)...
There are also a variety of Turkish beverages (no alcohol!) ...
Ramazan said several former customers have come in and confessed how much they missed Bereket. One customer even started crying, which prompted tears from the staff too.
During this soft-opening mode, the hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, with plans to expand to 4 a.m. soon.
This makes me really happy. It's great to hear a success story - victory for the neighborhood!
ReplyDeleteWhat ever happened to ol' Ben? He was such an awful presence in our lives for a time, and now seems to have disappeared.
so excited for this welcome return!
ReplyDeleteHighly recommended!!
ReplyDeleteOhhh! Finallyyyy🤩🤩 ım soo happy and excited! Welcome Ankara 3!!
ReplyDeleteWelcome back
ReplyDeletelahmajoun,lahmajoun!! words fail to describe the joy of Bereket's return so many great memories in the old spot cant wait to make some new one's at Ankara! who's cutting onions in here ...much success to them never close again ..Please
ReplyDeleteNo lahmajoun! :^[
Deleteawesome!
ReplyDelete"As [Ben] Shaoul [said] back in 2017, the small businesses that closed were "part of evolution ... You call it gentrification, I call it 'cleaning it up.'"
ReplyDeleteGod, what a greedy scumbag. And RE developers get upset that people hate them. And the "luxury" condo there is pretty dumpy.
Anyway, hooray, it's good to have Bereket back. After losing Habib's Place and then Bereket, I just gave up on this type of food in the EV or LES.
Now if they can just bring back Habib's Place.
ReplyDeleteLove
DeleteEspecially missed talking with him about Morocco and there outstanding World Cup performances. Great man.
soup!!!!
ReplyDeleteI remember partying late and ending up at Bereket. It was always consistently good, clean and professional. No matter the time of night! Welcome back
ReplyDeleteIt was always consistently clean, good food and the atmosphere was efficient and professional no matter what time of night we were there! So glad to hear they’re back!
ReplyDelete