Kate L.

We went to a show at the Bijou Theater tonight so booked an 8:00 reservation here after the 6:00 show. I'm a big foodie and this place was nominated for 2025 Restaurant of the Year in its county. Show was done early so came here and sat at the bar. Cool drink menu and nice bar. The bartender could have used some help as he was very busy and all by himself with a full bar and restaurant. He actually forgot to make my drink so had to remind him. I got the sweeter of the two "margaritas." It was pretty good. The Crimson. Got to our table around 8:15 or so. One guy was running around as the hostess (no real hostess stand) so we awkwardly went up to him to ask if we could be seated as he was cleaning tables and seating people. Cons - the smoke and smell of fried food coming out of the kitchen was crazy and my clothes still smell of it hours later. They need to figure out a better ventilation system. I also almost got locked in the bathroom as the door wouldn't open! Scary! It's also really loud in here as the tables are very close together. Service isn't great so don't expect that here. We knew that based on other reviews. They had two waitresses for one side of the restaurant. I had to ask for water twice. Pros - the food was what gave this place 4 stars for me. Caesar salad was incredible. Maybe the best I've ever had. Shrimp and grits very tasty. Three large shrimp and grits done well. The man got the Striped bass and he loved it. Nice kick to it. We also split the carrots which had an Indian flavor/spices. Incredible. Clove flavor to the sauce. I convinced the bf to get this and split with me and he was raving about them. The nicest part about this place is the chef comes to your table and asks you how everything is. That rarely happens - really nice. I would say If the service was a bit more on point and they got the ventilation system under control I would give this place 5 stars as their food is so unique.

Erika S.

I went here for dinner randomly, saw that it was black owned, and was very excited to try it. We tried the smoked new fashion, which has a lovely presentation, crab balls, ribeye, and the halibut. There was a small issue with the order, which caused a bit of a wait but it was rectified. Everything was pretty tasty although the ribeye came with a 'black pepper sauce' that tasted like regular barbecue sauce and did not compliment the steak at all. other than that it was good. It's a cute little restaurant with a nicely decorated vibe and I look forward to giving it another try.

Elizabeth S.

I went here with three friends for an early Saturday night dinner (6pm) after a play at the downtown Bridgeport Cabaret. Parking is on the street or paid a lot around the corner. It is a litt tight if there are other events going on nearby. The restaurant was not very crowded when we arrived and we were greeted with a warm welcome. Fortunately we did have a reservation because the restaurant started filling up as we were enjoying our meal. Service was excellent. We had Garfield who was attentive and friendly. The owner Wesley was in the house and stopped by to chat. My friends ordered three small plates. They were the tomato and burrata salad, Jollof Fried Rice, with fried okra, baby bok choy, and herbs and the Grilled Lamb Chops, harrissa, ginger, yogurt, mint, micro chives. My friend said that there was a little more ginger on the lamb than necessary. we had the Copps Island oysters with pear & sake granita, lemongrass oil, pickled chilies, local micro greens to split and then we both ordered the halibut which was tremendous. The restaurant is nicely decorated. It was calming and a nice place for date night. I definitely will be back.

Kathleen L.

This a black own business that's run fantastically I was pleasantly surprised by my dinner because my young waitress at first made a couple faux pas at first; it was quickly remedied by her enthusiasm and recommendations . The food was superb delicious flavorful my steak was perfectly cooked my other half tacos were tasty.next time we are in the area we already want to return try a few more items on their menu. Just remember it's street parking .

Food and ambiance was great. Service was excellent too!! Food came quickly and has flavor and hot!

Xenia M.

Everyone, stop what you're doing and come support this amazing Black owned business!! I came here for Valentine's Day and had such a phenomenal experience. Every detail from the hospitality to the food was just spot on. For V-Day the place was packed but thankfully we had a reservation and were seated right away. The servers here are so warm and welcoming -- I would return just for the service! The food was also very good. A tad salty but I can over look that because everything else was so great. They are on the pricier end, but most of their ingredients are locally sourced, which they mention on the menu. I definitely recommend the 12 oz rib eye and the scallops!

Alejandra P.

I go to sleep at night still thinking about this place. I intentionally chose this place to celebrate my boyfriend for a few reasons: their commitment to fresh ingredients in their creative menu, the ambiance, and that it is minority owned. Every single thing we ordered was amazing. You have to order everything at once and that was troublesome because I wanted to order the whole menu. The fish was phenomenal: perfectly crispy and seasoned so well. The broccolini was one of my favorites. I'm so glad I live an hour away because I'd be in trouble if I were closer. Street parking wasn't hard to find. People were nice. We didn't sit at the bar area but it looked really cool. The decor you can tell the owners spent time making it comfortable, welcoming and sleek. I love this restaurant. It's prob the best restaurant in the whole state of Connecticut. Please try the Brussels sprouts. Try everything!

Shanina S.

My daughter was celebrating her birthday, and I gave her a couple of restaurants to choose from. She decided to try this restaurant. I was happy that she chose this restaurant because it's new, black-owned, and one of the restaurants I had on my bucket list. My daughter and I ordered the braised short ribs with polenta, I ordered the charred broccolini, and my son had the crispy chicken sandwich with fries. The food was fantastic and flavorful, and the broccolini was the best. I call it yum yum goodness because that's all I kept saying while eating it. The short ribs were cooked to perfection, and the polenta was creamy. It's an upscale restaurant, so be prepared to spend a nice chunk of change, but it's well worth the money. The ambience is very relaxing with soft jazz music playing, and it is very intimate. I would highly recommend this place for date night. The customer service was excellent, and the executive chef and owner came over to our table and asked us how our food was, which is a plus. I want to meet the person behind the food. The other co-owner also came to the table to ensure everything was okay. Great restaurant. I would definitely be back again.

Mark O.

I recently went up to Bridgeport University to celebrate a graduation. It was recommended to go to 29 Markle for dinner so my family and I went. We tried a good amount of the menu. Can't lie.... Everything was fantastic. My favorite appetizer was the Brussel Sprout. The entrees all had a distinct vibrant flavor to them but the snapper blew my mind. The seasoning and spices made this dish stand out. The chef came out to greet us as well. Great experience overall.

Blake D.

Without a doubt, my favorite restaurant experience since moving to Connecticut three years ago. The location is unassuming, just a free hundred feet down Markle Ct off the main strip, but as soon as you walk in, the vibes feel immaculate. Beautifully decorated and spotless, the space is warm and inviting. Service was attentive and kind. We got the papas rellenas as starters and they both were excellent. My wife got the fish sandwich (only available on Sunday). The type of fish changes, but today it was halibut and was so tasty. The spicy sauce that comes on it is a perfect compliment. I got the basil pesto and it was excellent as well. So nice finding REAL, fresh crabmeat in the dish. The executive chef came out to introduce himself towards the end of the meal and to shake a hands which was lovely (and apparently something he does quite often). The cocktails looked really fun as well, though we didn't get any this time, and the bar area was very sleek looking. This meal was so far beyond what I expected (and I knew it would be good because I had read so many great reviews!). 29 Markle, you've got something special going here. Keep it up and see you again, very soon.

Zoey R.

My husband and I visited 29 Markle Ct for his birthday dinner. We're always on the lookout for new places to try. We ordered chicken fingers and fries for our kids, while my husband indulged in beef short ribs. I opted for the salmon special, which should definitely be on the menu. It was absolutely incredible--crispy, juicy, and buttery soft. I highly recommend trying this place for yourself. The drinks and food are simply outstanding!