Bereket Turkish Kebab House

If Kate Winslet, Kate Upton or Kate Moss ever die, I wonder where they will Burykate. It's a question every sane person has wondered at one point or another. No? Just me?

There was a time when I was delighted to find Bereket. I mean, think of all the positives:

(1) They serve Doner Kebabs
(2) They used to be really cheap
(3) They are open 24 hrs
(4) They are right next to Katz's so it's Corned Beef and Kebabs all night long!

However I later realized

(1) The prices went up, fast
(2) The quality of the meat was at best, bland, and at worst, completely congealed, hard, and awful
(3) The taste of the kebabs just wasn't as good as I wanted it to be, unless I was famished
(4) I could no longer condone recommending this place to anyone other than my kittens

It would probably have scored a 3, but I found out that after all these years of kebabishness, they have closed down. Perhaps connected to the raised prices? I'm just speculating. It's sad.

So for that reason, I'm giving Bereket a 4, and now I'm off to look for a suitable cemetary for Ms Upton, since I play to marry her, worship her, grow old with her, and then be buried alongside her. Because that's going to happen.

I ordered the Grill Combination and that came with a side of cucumber salad, rice, lamb chunks (that are wonderfully cooked and seasoned - moist, tender, a little salty); thin gyro/lamb slices (had a very lamb-y flavor; was not a fan); comes with a pita bread over the entire dish. The baba ghanouj was very chunky and eggplant-y - the cucumbers and the tomato chunks on top was a nice touch. The grape leaves plate comes with 4 and with 3 slices of lemon - with a splash of lemon juice over it, I found the stuffed grape leaves to be very good!  I've had their 'unique' lemon/lime soda, and that was good (has a white/red design on the front - forgot the name).  Beware of the arabic(?) yogurt drink - it was just too much for me in terms of being way too sour!

+baba ghanouj
+stuffed grape leaves

I have read many a review on Bereket from fellow Yelpers. Some good; some so so, but a common denominator "great place for late night eats when under the influence of adult beverages".

While I was NOT under the influence of adult beverages; I was hungry late. So, my quest for doner kebab began. Driving over the 59th Bridge I was salivating delicious lamb being slice from a slow roasted spit. Yum.

I was ready with anticipation, but as things happen the doner kebab at Bereket was just OK to average.  The sandwich was not worth describing. It was a total disappointment. I had better doner kebabs at the food court in a mall.

Bereket we may one day have another fling. You may take advantage of my "adult beverage state" and sell me a delicious doner kebab, but until then we are just friends.

CASH ONLY.

Late night stick to your ribs, good food?! I'll take it!

I like to order:

~ Lentil Soup: with the right amount of spice and just so damn good
~ Shepard's Salad: veggies all fresh and dressing is yummy too
~ Falafel: Not the best I've had but still not bad
~ Grilled Kofte: nice crispy exterior but moist flavorful interior!
~ Donor Kebab: Nice amount of spices and addictive
~ Baklava: just sweet enough to end the meal

Looks it's not meant to be high end eating, just some good food to end an equally good night!

Guys, if you shawarma lover search no further. Finally authentic Turkish lamb shawarma with pita bread that doesn't tear up and leak , great tahini and humus on location, never had chance to really explore the menu but had a chance to seal the dinner with some Turkish cafe , and it was a win! Expect me there every time I'm in n.y .

I love this place. My favorite dish was the Kofte kebab, the red hot sauce was awesome, super spicy, use sparingly. Love the cucumber salad and the rice as well. Always a go to spot late night.

Sad that it is closing but I read that they will try to open up a new location nearby. I hope so!

The Turkish food here is legendary... in an "I'm drunk in NYC and will eat anything way."

Their doner kebab really hits the spot. They start by gathering a massive amount of meat shavings, while they prepare a generous pita pocket to be stuffed with glory. My inebriated ass does not remember the precise ingredients, but I recall a tomato, some lettuce, that crispy red stuff (cabbage?) and maybe sauce/hummus.

Actually, I am not sure if there is sauce at all, but what I do remember is that when you get down toward the bottom of the pita pocket, the delicious lamb/beef drippings are ripe for the taking.

Luckily, my sober friends eating across from me confirmed that it was some excellent shawarma, and I have no shame in sending individuals to Bereket looking for some greasy, delicious Turkish food. If the haphazard placement of the tables inside the restaurant are off-putting, try the window instead. This place has allegedly never closed by virtue of their non-stop operating hours, and I swear I have not had better shawarma elsewhere.

My bf was very happy to have found a place to satisfy his doner kebob craving. Its no comparison to its authentic Turkish cousin which is the standard my bf holds all kebobs, but it was tasty nontheless.

You watch the guy shred around the WHOLE gyrating meat and you think the meat is endless. Some is stuffed into the pita, topped with veggies and sauce and then stuffed with more meat. This place packs it! Yum.

Don't know if I would be back, but definitely would not hesitate to eat here if in the area.

Friend: You HAVE to get a doner kebab at Bereket.

Let's get a couple of things straight.

1. I don't HAVE to do anything.
2. I DO WHAT I WANT.

But I was drunk and nearby, so I decided to give it a shot.

The guy behind the counter loaded up a pita with everything. Seriously, LOADED. I appreciated the generous portion, and the way he stuffed lettuce and tomatoes and onions in before and after the meat, to distribute it evenly.

However, it was just sloppy; impossible to eat. I ended up using a fork and tearing away bits of it, because I couldn't open my mouth wide enough and white sauce kept ending up on my cheeks.* It was a mess.

This would be forgivable, but the meat was a sad grayish mess as well. It didn't pack the flavor gyro meat should, and I was disappointed by the amount of money I dropped on it. And this is why I don't listen to that friend when he makes recommendations.

Let me give you some actually good advice. If you're in the mood for a gyro, falafel, chicken kebab, whatever...walk a couple blocks northeast to Cafe Rakka. There you can get pretty much everything Bereket has, but actually tasty.
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*Some of them are just too easy.

Had the runs and threw up for 2 days because of this place. Nuff' said.

But if i didn't get the runs, this place would be 3 stars. But i did and i live in the neighborhood and i now get nauseous every time i walk by here. I'm getting nauseous right now as i write this review.