Gulfstream, a new restaurant on the South Shore Road in Southampton, was to open quietly last night, but by yesterday afternoon, the word was out.

While The Royal Gazette was visiting the newly renovated premises yesterday afternoon, the telephone rang several times and reservations were made.

“I want to get it open,” said the restaurant’s new owner, Odilio Angeli, who was setting tables and instructing the arriving staff as he talked about his newest restaurant venture, located right across the road from the entrance to Horseshoe Bay.

Rustico in Flatts Village is another of the restaurateur’s Dining Bermuda group of three, and is a much loved restaurant Island-wide. And Hamilton Parish-Smith’s neighbourhood residents have a remarkable loyalty to it. The Dining Room, situated in Gibbs Hill Lighthouse in Southampton, is another of his group, and one of Bermuda’s most unique eating spots, located under the turning beacons and with stunning views during the day and at night.

Gulfstream was formerly the Tio Pepe Restaurant, and had been a west end fixture for decades.

Mr Angeli said that when the restaurant building became available, it was too good an opportunity to let pass.

Once it was in his hands — while not making any changes to the structure — he has redecorated the premises giving it a clean, contemporary look reflecting the Atlantic’s dominant ocean current. Cool and blue, the walls are hung with art depicting the creatures of the deep ocean, while live ones — lobsters — sit in a large tank at the restaurant entrance, awaiting selection by a customer.

Outside, on the restaurant’s long veranda, which was always a popular spot for beach-goers to have drinks after swimming and sunbathing on Horseshoe Bay, are new Italian seating and tables and decorated with contemporary elements such as opaque cube lights, making it reminiscent of the Floridian epicentre of style, South Beach. Mr Angeli acknowledged: “The restaurant was in need of a little TLC. We completely decluttered it — we took everything off the walls, we gave it a coat of paint, put in new fixtures, and we changed all the fixtures and fittings in bathrooms as well.

“My passion is to set up new restaurants, and see them working.”

Gulfstream’s menu is ‘continental’ in style. “We’re not sticking to any particular cuisine — we want to offer good, affordable food.

“We’ve got rib-eye steak and lobster, crab cakes, and a huge selection of thin-crust pizza. We have some sushi, fajitas, gazpacho — there is definitely something for everybody. I always have a veal dish on my menus, and at Gulfstream we have veal piccata. Scampi and scallops done in a vodka and saffron sauce. Lobster mac and cheese.”

The dessert menu is international as well, and includes both tiramisu and sticky toffee pudding. Mr Angeli added: “And we have a children menu as well.”

A family-friendly restaurant, it has the flexibility for the ambience to become more sophisticated for adult parties and business dinners and the hour grows later. The bar is in the style of European contemporary with LED lighting that changes hue depending on the mood the restaurateur wishes to create — and Mr Angeli showed how he can change those colours using his smart phone. “I love technology!” he said.

The wine list is mid-range with a focus on New World labels. “It will be constantly changing because wine is constantly changing. Now, Malbec and Sauvignon Blanc are popular, for example. We want to offer good value for money. And, we have big glasses!” he said, bringing out an impressively large goblet from behind the bar to illustrate the point.

The cocktail menu has plenty of variety as well, featuring the ubiquitous dark ‘n’ stormy, alongside martinis and the South American favourite, Caipirinha. There’s also a wide selection of beers including the Italian Peroni brand and Schneider from Bavaria in Germany.

In opening the new restaurant, Mr Angeli said: “I never learn — I should stop doing this! But it was an opportunity that I couldn’t let pass.”

Winter hours are 11.30am to 5pm for lunch Wednesday through Sunday, and dinner from 5.30pm to 10pm.

Useful website: http://www.bermuda-dining.com/Bermuda_Dining/Gulfstream.html. Telephone: 238-1897