New restaurant Island Fusion is a tropical oasis in urban Bridgeport in the Arcade

Sure, you walk into downtown Bridgeport and the last thing you think of is tropical islands. Sure you might think of some nice restaurants and concrete barriers, but island getaways? Never.

Moses and Esther Mohammed are out to change all that with their beautiful new restaurant Island Fusion, a new oasis in the nearly barren yet newly renovated Arcade mall on Main Street in downtown Bridgeport. Yet if more businesses such as Island Fusion start popping up in this underutilized space in the heart of the city, the Arcade Mall will soon be rocking on a daily basis.

“We wanted to come to downtown Bridgeport, it’s the center of the city; it’s where people work and spend their time,” explained Moses, who lives in Newtown with his wife Esther. “And we believe what we are doing here is unique to Bridgeport.”

Island Fusion is definitely unique in the heart of the Park City. In fact, you might say it is an island in the middle of downtown, no pun intended. And that is the way the husband and wife intended it.

Upon entering, a customer finds a relaxed atmosphere bathed in turquoise and coral and immediately is far removed from the hustle and bustle of Bridgeport balderdash.

The bar itself was handcrafted by Mohammed and when sitting there in sipping one of Esther’s exquisite mango martinis, a patron and see the ripples of the sea skillfully ingrained into the surface of the bar. Close your eyes and you are not on the shores of Long Island Sound, but on the white sand beaches of a Caribbean Island.

“We wanted to bring a cuisine that neither is familiar nor found in Bridgeport to the city,” explained Esther who is the head chef as well as co-owner with her husband. “It’s a combination of Mediterranean and Caribbean and seven some Asian foods with our own specially blended spices. It’s proven to be very popular.”

Among the dishes that are being raved about by patrons are the various styles of chicken, lamb and fish but to Moses the most succulent dish is the jerk pork with mixed vegetables. The only problem is he can’t eat it.

”I’m a vegetarian,” he laughed. “But I can smell it. And I know our customers love it.”

It’s not surprising that Esther can uncork such an enticing entrée as she is a woman of many talents. She is am award winning poet who has written a book of narrative poetry entitled “Wild Butterflies” in response to the Sandy Hook tragedy similar to how Walt Whitman chronicled post-Civil War America in his the classic book of poetry “Leaves of Grass.”

In short, if downtown Bridgeport is going to revive it needs establishments like Island Fusion. The restaurant stands like an oasis in a sea of urban chaos. And maybe that’s just what the Park City needs.

Island Fusion also offers delivery every day, just call 203-870-6350.