Debbie Bean, the new owner of Grannie’s Kitchen, is working to enhance the restaurant’s reputation as the place to go for home cooking and Bermuda fishcakes.

The establishment on North Shore Road, in Pembroke, has been operating for many years. However, it is now under new management.

Ms Bean and her family team relaunched the business this week, and there is a clear vision for what Grannie’s should be.

“I want people to associate Grannie’s with fresh Bermudian fishcakes and home cooked meals,” said Ms Bean.

She has always loved to cook and bake, and would sell her homemade items to friends and colleagues. For a time she cooked once a week at The Spinning Wheel, on Court Street.

“The clientele loved it. But it was not enough,” she said.

“My dream has always been to own a restaurant.”

When she saw an advert in the newspaper announcing that Grannie’s Kitchen was for sale, she contacted owner Allan Martin and struck a deal.

The kitchen restaurant officially reopened on Monday. However, Ms Bean has been serving up food in the evenings during July so that she could get a feel for the business and make customers aware Grannie’s would be extending its opening hours into the evenings on most days.

Grannie’s has a breakfast bar-style counter where customers can place orders and have a bite to eat. The kitchen area is on the other side of the counter, customers can therefore watch their order being prepared while chatting with staff.

In one corner there is a wall-mounted TV, while elsewhere there are a couple of small tables where clients can sit and enjoy their food.

Grannie’s also caters for customers who pop by to collect a takeaway or a snack.

The menu features many Bermuda favourites, including fishcakes and fish sandwiches, omelettes, burgers, chicken tenders and wings, sandwiches, hot dogs, fries, together with fish, shrimp, chicken and seafood platter dinners.

To beat the summer heat some thirst-quenching slushies, made by another local entrepreneur, is on sale.

Expanded opening hours now allow Grannie’s to serve breakfasts, lunches and dinners.

Ms Bean hopes to win new customers with the welcoming feel of Grannie’s, together with its home cooked menu of Island favourites. She has already seen an increase in repeat customers during the restaurant’s limited opening in July.

“The response has been very good. It’s wonderful to see repeat customers,” she said.

When asked to sum up Grannie’s, she said: “It’s a very easy-going place. It feels like home. We’ll have specials and fast food, but our emphasis is on the home-food side, and we try to maintain reasonable prices.”

There is a small parking space next to the business, and customers are also allowed to use the parking lot at the First Church of God on the opposite side of the road.

Grannie’s Kitchen is one of 40 restaurants entered in Bermuda’s Best Fish Sandwich competition, organised by the Bermuda Tourism Authority. Ms Bean is particularly proud of her fishcakes.

“Fishcakes were one of my best sellers at The Spinning Wheel. I only use Bermuda fish,” said Ms Bean.

The business is very much a family affair with Ms Bean’s mother and aunt both busy in the kitchen.

After launch week is over, Ms Bean will return to her day job at the Bermuda Paint Company, but she intends to help out at Grannie’s in the evenings when she will prepare many of the home cooking menu items, such as the fishcakes and the rolls and breads which are all baked on the premises.

She has a vision for the future which could involve a delivery service and an outdoor seating area beside the water’s edge.

But for now she is focused on making Grannie’s renowned for its friendly service and home cooking delights.

She said: “I’m excited and pleased when I see people coming in.”

Grannie’s Kitchen is open Monday to Saturday from 7.30am. Most days it stays open until 8pm. On Mondays it closes at 5pm, while on Fridays it stays open until 10pm. On Sundays it is open from 6.30am until 11am.