An elegant, spacious dining area with black and white wood-paneled walls is the first thing you’ll notice upon entering the newly opened Bergeron’s City Market—after the aroma of whatever hot, homestyle meal is currently simmering, of course.
Formerly and fondly known as Don Bergeron’s Mid City Market and Catering, City Market opened the doors to its new 8200 Jefferson Highway location March 1.
Customers who frequented the Mid City location might remember the tiny parking lot, lack of seating and an overall cramped feeling. That location fared OK for the catering side of the company, marketing director Linda Thomas says, but it needed more storefront space for the growing day-to-day business.
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“This has been tremendous for us,” she says. “A few regular customers were hesitant for us to make the change, but I think everyone will be pleased with a more efficient serving area, the option to dine in and more parking.”
Now customers won’t have to circle the block waiting for a parking spot, she adds with a laugh.
The interior is casual but charming, adorned with white flowers in glass vases, tall black and mahogany stools and original artwork on the walls.
A TV perched above the serving line displays the day’s offerings, which change daily. Lunch and dinner at the City Market feature home-style entrees such as hamburger steaks, country-fried pork chops and stuffed bell peppers. And don’t forget the desserts, such as homemade bread pudding, cheesecake and chocolate pecan cake.
If comfort food isn’t your thing, the kitchen prepares heart-healthy options and a variety of salads daily. Weekly menu options can be found on the restaurant’s website.
Perhaps the most anticipated feature of Bergeron’s move is Saturday brunch. Open Saturdays, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., the market now serves several classic Southern brunch options. The menu for the debut brunch this weekend includes shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles, breakfast casserole and bananas foster bread pudding.
In addition to the expansive dining area, Bergeron’s City Market boasts an impressive retail area, stocked with “take-and-bake” meals both fresh and frozen, local products such as Hanley’s Foods salad dressings and Bocage honey, and a variety of quirky quick snacks like single-serve cheese wheels, biscotti and focaccia bites.
The take-and-bake meals are made entirely in-house and span a variety of palates. Some options include ground beef and eggplant casserole, shrimp and crab lasagna and shepherd’s pie. House-made cheese tortes and desserts are also available for takeout.
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Though the new, larger market features a wider array of dine-in and takeout options, the company’s catering offerings remain the same. Catering menus are always customizable, Thomas says, and patrons can opt for to-go catering: customers provide trays, order from a specific menu of items that require little-to-no last-minute prep and pick up the finished presentations from the store.
Thomas says the transition has been “quite a turnaround,” but she is confident market patrons will be surprised with what they’ve been able to accomplish.
Bergeron’s City Market is open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Friday. Hot lunch is served 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and hot dinner is served 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Brunch is served 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturdays. The restaurant is at 8200 Jefferson Highway.