I am thoroughly impressed with everything about this restaurant. Let's start right there. 29 Markle Ct is now, undoubtedly, the flag bearer of Bridgeport's culinary renaissance. The Park City has had quite a few restaurants and bars open in the last few years, but the ambitions and aims of the proprietors has been scattered at best. Is Bridgeport classy? Is it aspiring to be more? Is it just as low class as ever, differentiating its current scene from its past only in that the "Henny" is now in a Pina Colada? 29 Markle Ct answers the question with a definitive menu and ambiance that announces to the Talented Tenth (aka "Grown Folks with good jobs and money) of Fairfield that they are welcome, understood, and appreciated. Bridgeport is becoming... more. 29 Markle's menu itself is inspired. Gone are the usual, boring soul-food fares of rasta pasta and oxtails. Instead, Chef Damon completely reimagines obscure regional American fare and does the totally delightful and completely unexpected. Instead of the usual fried chicken sandwich, the thigh is smoked, then wet batter fried to a heavenly texture that is both divinely crunchy and melts in one's mouth. Haitian black rice is reinvented in the Italian arancini style with fresh blue crab and an Old Bay sauce that would make any native of Maryland proud. These boys are doing the damned thing over here. Nothing about the bar is "per usual" either. You won't find the expected lower end to mid-level spirits as flavored Ciroc and D'usse. Instead, you'll discover excellent, well-bred wines, crafted small batch spirits and notable drafts from artisanal breweries. Finally, Bridgeport has, at last, a date night spot for people who actually want to converse with their dinner partners. The owners have opted to banish loud, vulgar, club music in favor of softly played, top tier jazz in a space where you can wear a formal gown or a pair of jeans and fit right in. Magnifique! read more

29 Markle Ct - Black rice and crab - New American Near Me - Bridgeport, Connecticut

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Shout out to 29 Markel! We celebrated my birthday there, and it couldn't have been better. This farm-to-table gem absolutely delivered. I had the halibut--unreal. My wife had the scallops, my daughter went with the pesto, and my son had the fried chicken sandwich. Everything was so good, we were all sharing. Our server was fabulous--warm, attentive, and even made sure I got the dessert I was really craving, even though we hadn't ordered it. That's the kind of service that stands out. The chef came by to check in, and Wesley (who I believe is one of the owners) was professional, friendly, and clearly proud of what they've built. This is exactly what a restaurant should be. We'll absolutely be back! read more

Interesting flavors! Every item multi layered with interesting combination of ingredients. Room decor was upbeat ! read more

At Bridgeport's newest restaurant, 29 Markle Ct, executive chef and co-owner Damon Sawyer has rolled out a menu that's like throwing down smooth lyrics over a sick beat. While there is plenty for vegetarians, 29 Markle keeps carnivores happy, too. Braised short ribs, creamy polenta, and crispy sage is a perfect appetizer on a chilly winter's night. Sandwiches at 29 Markle include a smoked, then fried chicken sandwich that I'm 100% ordering next visit, plus a fried maitake mushroom sandwich, and the "Markle Burger" with demi glacé, onion, cheddar, and gem lettuce. At Bridgeport's newest restaurant, 29 Markle Ct, executive chef and co-owner Damon Sawyer has rolled out a menu that's like throwing down smooth lyrics over a sick beat. But before we dive into Sawyer's style of smoked cooking that's intertwined with fine dining, soul food, handmade pastas, and seasonal, local vegetables at 29 Markle, it's important to tell his story of how he got to this point. Sandwiches at 29 Markle include a smoked, then fried chicken sandwich that I'm 100% ordering next visit, plus a fried maitake mushroom sandwich, and the "Markle Burger" with demi glacé, onion, cheddar, and gem lettuce. The Napa cabbage salad (shaved fennel, basil, mint, chilies, citrus, toasted pistachio dust) is one that should flex off the menu, but with all hope, it'll be back. The basil, the fennel, the mint, the touch of heat from the chilies, and the crunch of the pistachios will make you glad, for once, that you ordered a salad on a night out. If there are menu mainstays, the first is Manmita's black rice and crab, essentially a soul food version of arancini. The balls are deep fried and crispy on the outside and filled with tender grains of rice and delicate blue crab on the inside. The Old Bay crème each sits on provides fat and salt, while the Haitian inspired pikliz brings vinegary heat. The second signature is the spiced & smoked half bird that'll make you rethink the whole "chicken is boring" stereotype. Sawyer is keeping this signature dish a bit of a secret, only revealing that it's brined for 24-hours and "slow-smoked some hours." It's not only juicy, but you can taste the smoke and secret seasonings, and you probably won't even need your knife to cut it. When you get to the leg and the wing, just pick that bad boy up and get in there. Stop caring if you're being judged. read more

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Really poor value, despite occasionally great food. For appetizers, broccolini is yummy but ugh the prices; potatoes are potatoes; and the Brussel sprouts were large, meaty, undercooked, uninteresting. Service was surly. Mains ranged from bad (linguini) to mediocre (duck that tasted like steak) to good (half chicken) to excellent (shrimp with grits) to wonderful (an especially fine cut of salmon). Drinks were godawful, made without any conception or clue for proportion or taste like advertised (lavender came out more like strawberry). Service was surly by one waiter and obsequious by another. Desserts were unavailable, except for one choice: chocolate cake. read more

29 Markle Ct - New American Near Me - Bridgeport, Connecticut

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Amazing food, great atmosphere and just the most wonderful dining experience. Staff was friendly, the owner came to the table and was very cool. Braised ribs with potato purée was so good as was the prime rib. The Black rice crab balls were the best thing I ate in a while. Also, the Pear drink we had was delicious. 100 out of 100 highly recommend. read more

29 Markle Ct - Mamacita Black Rice & Blue Crab balls. - New American Near Me - Bridgeport, Connecticut

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Food was great! Good wine and cocktail selection. Really nice place. Halibut was very flavorful. Shrimp and grits were excellent. read more

29 Markle Ct - New American Near Me - Bridgeport, Connecticut

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29 Markle is fantastic! Its hands down one of the best meals I've had on CT. The food is delicious. Way to go Chef! The service was great. The ambiance is unique for CT and reminds of restaurant cafes in Brooklyn. It's a great addition to the CT food scene. Definitely check it out! read more

All I can say is FINALLY....a truly great restaurant. We have visited quite a few places over the past year in the Milford and Bridgeport areas. This place nailed it! This family owned and run restaurant takes great pride in its food AND customer service. The staff was extremely pleasant, attentive, and was able to answer all our questions knowledgeably without hesitation. We started out with the roasted glazed carrots which were incredible and quickly pivoted to the mussels. Wow! The mussels had this light broth full of curry and coconut flavor that just worked exceptionally well with the mussels. We tried the saffron risotto with scallops that had the slightest drizzel of Piri Piri sauce on top. The rissotto was rich and creamy and mouthwatering. For the main course, we tried the Spiced & Smoked Half Bird. The sweet potatoes were sliced thin which provided a nice way to roll the chicken and bbq sauce into a mouthwatering bite. The sauce was not too sweet and left this subtle heat on the end which brought out the best of the chicken. The halibut was fresh and clean and cooked perfectly. Overall, the flavor combinations for each dish worked well and showcased what can only be described as a creative and talented chef. The restaurant itself was cozy and comfortable. Can't wait to go back next time we are in town. read more

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New Black Owned restaurant located in downtown Bridgeport. If you haven't been yet then you're totally missing out!! This restaurant is top notch. First you're greeted by Wesley!! Suited up and ready Next you're seated and ready to order. Our waitress was so jolly and was excited to make recommendations. I ordered the the gnocchi and fish tacos while hubby ordered 2 burgers...yes 2 plates lol. I couldn't believe how amazing the fish tacos were with that extra kick. I'm a spicy gal. And the gnocchi was delicious.....I wanted to lick my plate but ummmmm we too fancy for that lol. I think next time I would have 2 orders in one bowl. I'm so ready to go back again...as I already have mapped out what I would order next. Great place, great vibes, beautiful decor and great music. Make your reservations now!!! read more

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Looked up best places in 2023. This place is worth the hype! Lots of energy in the place. Friendly staff. Out waitress made great recos. The chef came out to meet us! Started with signature cocktails. One better than the next. Yum! We were all happy with our choices - dirty martini with blue cheese olives, lions punch, and apple something (tip: ask for half the syrup). For dinner we shared apps: Lamb skewers, shaved fennel salad, and curry dumpling soup. All were good. The dumpling soup was more like dumplings with a sauce. The curry was yummy and not overpowering. The lamb was cooked perfectly. For entrees we had halibut (well a bunch of us had this) and a chicken dish. The fish was fresh and perfectly prepared. The chicken had lots and lots of flavor. We sampled a few desserts. They were ok in comparison to the amazing dinner and apps. Pro tip: parking is a challenge. Look for a spot on the road or there is a lot at the end of the block, you have to pay to park. The chef said he is inspired by travel. His fav food is Italian and he will be busting out new things in the Italian space in the spring. We will be going back! Dinner was so good I forgot to take pics. read more

The food is good but we had an annoying and not too friendly experience. We got there at 5:30 and cheerfully announced that we were starving. We ordered cocktails and said we'd like to order a couple of appetizers but were refused because ( "have to order the whole meal to get anything"). No bread No nothing No budging on this policy. This lets them make sure that people dont fill up on an app and then not order a more expensive main course. Also to save the kitchen with only one order. We were the only people in The restaurant. So since we couldn't have anything soon we just ordered a main course. It was upsetting. I guess you have to pretend to only order apps and then see if they later let you order more because you're still hungry. Not trying to make people happy for sure. Angering read more

Awesome team that really seems to jive. Bar is sophisticatedly charming as are the craft cocktails. Bartenders knowledgeable on their offerings. We did not stay to eat, but we should have. Food coming out smelt and looked delicious. Restaurant was full by the time we left at 5:30. read more

29 Markle Ct - New American Near Me - Bridgeport, Connecticut

Cute, hidden spot. Great bar and food. The lightening and ambience is nice. I hope they stay a staple in Downtown Bridgeport bc it's such a nice place. read more

Food was outstanding. We had a large table with various dishes ordered. Scallops and short ribs were excellent. Five stars and a well deserved ovation. The service however, was at the opposite end of the spectrum. Painful delays in receiving both drinks and our food. Miscues on the order. Had to approach other staff to get the waitress to our table. This was the second time eating here and we experienced the same outcome. read more

The excitement before the reservation: I studied this menu as if I was preparing for a quiz! I couldn't wait to eat. I knew it was upscale when I tried to order takeout back in October 2022. I thought I could run in/call in my order for pick up. Only to be told by a nicely dressed man in a bow tie, "we do not have takeout." He politely offered me a seat at the bar. I declined and said I would have to come back. BTW I was coming to order that maitake sandwich I never see on any local restaurant menu. Parking: Know before you go! Monday thru Friday, if it's before 6 pm, you will need to feed the meter (meter accepts credit/debit/coins). If you come after 6pm its free street parking, and weekends are free! The street the restaurant is located on is a one-way street, narrow, and is not too busy. Great location that's low-key with parking surrounding the block. It is within walking distance of the Total Mortgage Arena and The Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater. Ambiance : I was seated at the best table in the restaurant. I was able to view the breathtaking art & portraits of Louis Armstrong and of Bridgeport, CT. It was nostalgia seeing the Pj Murphy Moving & Storage building, I believe one portrait was of Father Panik Villiage, and my memory is not serving me with the rest. As I mentioned, I studied the menu, so I was prepared to order my drinks, app, and entree. I like to dine early so my reservations were for 5:30pm. There were a few men gathered at the bar as I sat. Customer Service: I was greeted by Rhoshenae. She was polite, nice, and attentive. She was very cautious when bringing my beverages and food. I noticed she was the only waitress on staff. She did great managing tables and was able to accommodate each table with their orders in a timely fashion. Music: This is one place that knows their audience. They play a bit of everything. There were some throwbacks, jazz, and island tunes. It made me feel as though I was at home unwinding after a long day at work. Food & Drinks: I decided to have alcoholic beverages with each meal. After all, have YOU seen their drink menu? Initially, I was planning to drink mocktails. After reviewing the drink menu with Maria, I went for it! My1st drink was Lavendar mist. This is a martini that was strong and did not disappoint. It had a nice taste to it. I decided to try Manmita's black rice and crab as my appetizer. Oh my! This was hot to touch. It was fresh out of the oven, crispy on the outside, but when I cut into it, you could see the steam, taste the crab, and the moist black rice melted in my mouth. I never tried black rice before, but the chef outdone himself with this one! I savored every bite. My 2nd drink of choice was penicillin! It's delicious the way the ginger notes come through. Penicillin is givingfalll! It was so delicious! I found out the maitake is a seasonal entree. It was not on the menu. I was a little disappointed because I so wanted to try it. 2nd runner-up was the Mushroom bolognese. I enjoyed seeing that the restaurant has meatless options that are well thought out. Most places put pasta and throw in beyond meat, and viola the dish has been veganized. Nothing against beyond meat, but seriously, restaurants need to be more creative. This dish was also hot to touch. The pasta is handmade, which is also an A+ in my heart. Oh baby! This dish was so darn good I had to put my glasses on bc it was giving braised short ribs (im not sure if this is cooked in a beef broth/browning/homemad tomato sauce/or wine but it was frigging amazing!)...it was so savory and the flavors were hitting. I literally took my time with this because I did not want it to be over. There was not a piece of food left on that plate (picture not, incl). I asked my waiter for the dessert selections , which were a poached pear with ice cream... Don't ask me what kind of sauce i forgot. The 2nd selection was chocolate chip ice cream sandwich. I really didn't want that either as I was hoping they had a chocolate cake to go with my 3rd drink Tall, Dark, & Handsome. I decided to go with the ice cream sandwich since the drink was giving chocolate drizzled fudge for my dessert. The cookies were fresh and delicious! The drink complemented the dessert. The chef comes out of the kitchen... I had the pleasure of meeting and thanking him for the amazing dishes, ambiance/decor and beverages! Thank you, Markle CT for being a place that I can dine at in my hometown. As more customers were pouring in, they were very kind social and asked what I ordered. What kind of drink I chose. Sharing how excited they were to eat here as they've heard so many great things about this place. One customer who sat next to me even shared how happy she is that they are in Bridgeport. Which made me smile! It's good to know that I can dine at an amazing restaurant in my hometown instead of driving 20-30mins to the next town. read more

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A beautiful, relaxing atmosphere. Absolutely amazing food, cooked and seasoned to perfection (and obviously with a passion) All the staff were warm, friendly, and attentive. I haven't had such a pleasurable dining experience in a long time. Can't wait to dine here again! read more

OMG. Everyone is so nice here and the food was absolutely amazing!! My husband and I are eagerly anticipating our second visit. The halibut main course was so juicy and crispy and the shrimp and grits were out of this world. The chef came out to see how everything was - everyone was very warm and welcoming. So so so good!! read more

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I highly recommend this restaurant. Just open 10 months, this family run restaurant with a masterful self-taught chef, arguably served the best meal I have had in years, so good Michelin better take notice. We have already reserved our seats for the 6-course meal next Friday, and there is still room if you want a fantastic dining experience. The scallops were cooked to perfection, the short ribs were tender and flavorful, the curried muscles were drunk with subtle spices and if you think the Caesar salad cannot be innovated, think again...I will be dreaming about this salad all week. It was our 29th wedding anniversary and we took a chance going to this restaurant with 29 in the name, and this may have turned into one of our favorite spots. Bravo chef. read more

29 Markle Ct - Caesar salad, curry muscles, seas scallops over risotto, short ribs over polenta, Moscow mules. - New American Near Me - Bridgeport, Connecticut

Went to dinner for a date night with my husband. Made a reservation since it was Saturday night. We arrived on time and in stead of seating us in the main room we were brought to the dark "basement" type area with additional seating. There was another couple down there but shortly after they were leaving. We wanted to atmosphere so we asked if we could be seating upstairs. They obliged with some mild irritation. Once seated the waitress said she would be right with us. This is now been 20 minutes since we arrived and no order drink or otherwise has been taken. We each ordered cocktail and waited for the waitress to return. We ordered a small plate and shareable for our apps. The waitress took our entree order at the same time. When the food finally came out it was all at once. We didn't even have enough space on the table for all of it. By the time we ate the apps the entree as cold. The waitress was clearly busy but at not point checked in with us. We had to flag (this is a small room) her for a glass of wine. By the time it came we had finished eating. The food was overpriced and over promised in the menu. Would NEVER eat here again. Horrible service. The waitress clearly hates her job. read more

This place is just vibrant and gorgeous. What an amazing vibe. We stopped in before a show at Harbor Yard and sat at the bar. We were very well taken care of by our bartender Ray and our friendly server whose name I've forgotten. The lamb kebabs were delicious- we weren't very hungry and split the plate, and I need to be hungrier next time. The owner was gracious and welcoming. Their signature cocktail is really good- sweet and strong and juicy, and we sampled a couple others, the most refreshing of which I thought was the rosemary lemonade. A charmer. Visit!!! read more

Good food in a cute space - especially love the artwork and images of BPT throughout. Chef Daniel came out to say hello which was a nice touch. We'll be back! read more

This was my second time at this restaurant as I needed to bring my partner back so she could experience the food after my first time. The entire experience was exactly what you want from a date, night restaurant. The service, the food, the wine, all Superb. We even had a bonus of having a couple two tables over with whom we were able to have a very nice long conversation during our meals. Highly recommended. read more

This small, intimate restaurant in Bridgeport is an absolute gem - cool vibe, knowledgeable, attentive staff, and a menu that is focused on a smaller number of options where the chef can focus. I have never had such amazing food, flavor combinations that are mouth-watering. We had lemon grass mussels, halibut, salmon, goat cheesecake and apple tart - all outstanding, all delicious, all with creative attention to detail. When you see review after review rave about the hospitality, creative menu and amazing dishes served in a sophisticated yet friendly place - go!! read more

This place can be a vibe. I feel they need a bigger scene then where they are. The food was great. The night I went seem busy so the wait times for the food was a little wait but worth it. read more

29 Markle Ct - New American Near Me - Bridgeport, Connecticut

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Love everything about this place! Staff, chef, the space... and the food! Hard to decide what to have....started with the charred Broccolini and for entrees had the Halibut Fillet and the Farro Cacio e Pepe & Wild Mushrooms ... outstanding. Chef visited every table and I had to hug him when we left....can't wait to go back! read more

Great food and great people. Garfield (our waiter) was very kind and attentive. Day (the chef) came out several times to check in on us and see how we were doing. Every one of us cleaned our plates. Best wishes to everyone there. read more

We enjoyed a dining experience like no other tonight. From the service, to the the ambience and the food itself, there was not one moment that wasn't perfectly enjoyable. We tried almost every small plate and specialty cocktail and can't wait to come back to be wowed by the main plates. BRAVO!! Unlike any culinary experience in Fairfield County read more

Super yummy. Had asparagus and scallop risotto. Staff was super friendly. Food was great.

So yummy! Tacos app is killer and my favorite is the shrimp and grits! Definitely worth a trip!

Great all around experience- Garfield's service was friendly and efficient, and everything we ordered was great. The smoked half chicken was a standout. Cozy lovely atmosphere. read more

Fantastic food, drinks and service! Really nice and comfortable atmosphere. Looking forward to our next visit already! read more

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I am late to the EXPERIENCE! Hands DOWN 5 stars! Atmosphere, service, food! Congrats to the owner and the staff for NAILING greatness and black excellence! I couldn't ask for a better way to kick off my birthday weekend! read more

Wonderful, passionate people work at providing their interpretations of classic dishes and the results are amazing. One of the finest restaurants I've ever had the pleasure of dining in. You need to try every offering. They have a bar chef, Becca a passionate knowledgeable woman who is so pleasantly unforgettable. You won't be sorry if you love great food. read more

I really want to selfishly keep this a hidden gem for fear of never being able to get in again to fill my belly with their outstanding creations. I don't often review places unless they're 5 star in my book, and this has been the best new restaurant we've been to in a very long time. Such an incredibly beautiful space, Art Deco meets modern pop, but remains with a neighborhood joint feel. The attention to detail with every dish and cocktail, you really felt the love put into everything by the chef and mixologist. The beets, roasted glazed carrots, manmitas black rice & crab, smoked chicken sandwich, spiced and smoked half bird, all flawless and unique. Can't wait to see you again! read more

29 Markle Ct - Bar - New American Near Me - Bridgeport, Connecticut

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This is a new place we heard about, and my husband knows the chef from back in the days. We went on a Tuesday night because, why not?? We had reservations but there were plenty of tables open. The ambience is nice with cool paintings and really good music. The old school R&B was getting my heart flowing with feel good vibes. Add liquor and we are partying all night, know what I'm sayin? Service was on point, attentive but not suffocating. We started with drinks: blood orange chipotle margarita (say that 4 times fast!) and the lions punch. Strong, delicious and just as described. We ended up getting 2 rounds. Oh, and a glass of Malbec. For food, we had a little bit of everything so that we could dilute our liquor: salt roasted beets & citrus salad, roasted glazed carrots, charred broccolini, fingerling potatoes, fish and pickled chilis tacos, braised short ribs and polenta (those were all appetizers!!!), maitake mushroom burger, and the gnocchi cacio e Pepe. Chef Damon Daye knows how to take vegetables to the next level. I love veggies and eat them often so trust me when I say that the broccolini was like none other. And the fingerling potatoes were perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The fish tacos could have used some sauce and/or more flavorful sauce to improve them. The braised short ribs were just divine! Tender meat, well seasoned, and the perfect combo with the creamy polenta. Must have if you come here! But you know what was so unexpectedly delicious??? The freakin maitake burger!! Again, I have had a bunch of veggie burgers in my lifetime. I'm not vegetarian but I love to eat veggies. And when a veggie burger is done right, I gotta give props. This-is-one-of-the-best-veggie-burgers!!! I wish we had ordered it earlier so I could have eaten more but my stomach had unfortunately met it's quota after 2 bites. I was really sad!! Embarrassing as it may be, I had to unbutton my pants because I ate so much! Lol! We clearly didn't have room for dessert so nothing for me to say about that. Come support this new spot! People around us were laughing, enjoying life, eating, and living! It's near a comedy place we have been to as well. Bridgeport is coming up!! read more

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Restaurant Feel: The art! When first looking for a place for dinner the art at 29 Markle caught my attention as well as the menu. The front of the restaurant was beautifully decorated however, because we had a larger party we were seated in the back room. The backroom left much to be desired. There was not as much attention to detail and décor as the front of the restaurant. Food: The food was pretty good, our party order several different items off of the menu the black rice crab balls were by far a heavy favorite as we ordered it multiple times throughout the night. The curry chicken ravioli was not a favorite for the table, mainly because it seemed to be lacking in flavor. The half chicken was good, however, missing some additional flavor as well. Service: The service was prompt however, our party could tell there was a time limit on the table even though the restaurant was supposed to be open until 1:00am and our reservation was for 7:00. In fact the staff started to prep table place settings across from us while we were still eating, even though no other people were present and there seemed to be ample openings. I do understand table limits when the restaurant is busy, I do not understand when there is plenty of openings. Its not a nice feeling to feel rushed. read more

The food was delicious but it just took longer than expected to come to our table. Garfield though was excellent!

Me and babes went here for Valentine's dinner a few weeks ago. The service was so cool and nice. The dinner was perfect with a nice touch of music, beautiful people, and some great drinks. Definitely would recommend it. read more

First time visiting this restaurant and definitely not the last. The ambiance was elegant, but mellow and cool. Wouldn't be surprised if they had jazz musicians come in from time to time. The halibut dish I tried was amazing. I also tried a bite of my girlfriends salmon meal and was also very impressed. Ordered a few cocktails and were excellent. Restaurant was pretty busy, but the service was still attentive and quick. Definitely found a new top go to restaurant and maybe bar to come to and unwind. read more

29 Markle Ct - Salmon - New American Near Me - Bridgeport, Connecticut

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