customer's wallet but his palate.

So far, the management and staff of M.R. Onions restaurant on Par-la-Ville Road have managed to do both.

With a wide variety catering to lovers of seafood, Italian, vegetarian and just plain old American style, the eatery has hit on the perfect combination, drawing a large following.

"We just offer a very good meal at a reasonable price,'' said owner Mr. Brian Hetzel. "Our goal is to try and satisfy the customer.'' With the re-opening of the restaurant on March 9 after a five-week closure for renovations, the facility presented residents with a newer version of its already successful menu.

"I figured it was time for a change,'' said Mr. Hetzel. "I planned the menu with contributions from the kitchen staff. There are a few new dishes and some of the old favourites.

"We now have a vegetarian platter and vegetarian lasagna. They've already proven to be quite popular in the short time since we've reopened. We also have cajun dishes -- blackened fish and chicken and potatoes.

"From our new surf 'n' turf section, customers can mix and match from a choice of seafood and beef. We also have a few new Italian dishes. And we've bought an espresso machine which will be operating in the near future.'' The 3,000 square-foot restaurant employs three management staff, five kitchen staff, six waiters and a bartender to ensure the smooth functioning of the facility.

Its new menu was designed by Mr. Walt Horton, the same artist responsible for the popular `onion' caricatures that cover the restaurant's walls.

"With the old menu, a few people contributed to the designs. With one person doing them, it appears that there is some similarity in the style.'' An old hand at the restaurant business, Mr. Hetzel should know his stuff as former owner of The Hog Penny and Fisherman's Reef.

"I've been a lot more successful with this than those,'' he said. "We've been busy since we first opened September 27, 1985.'' The business still offers a nightly special -- Wahoo Wednesday, two for tuna Tuesday, attack a rack (ribs). And its Early Bird menu boasting a three-course meal for $12.50 between 5 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. offers great selection and value for money.

A menu especially for kids available from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., accompanied by a free balloon, ensures that no family member will be left dissatisfied. And all children's entrees include French fries, soda and an ice cream sundae at no extra cost.

Separate dining areas make eating for non-smokers possible without them worrying whether smoke will drift from the smoking section into theirs.

The restaurant's kitchen is airy and bright, located in what was once office space with large windows all around.

"It's the only kitchen in Bermuda with a view,'' said Mr. Hetzel. "Chef Fulvio Columbo been with us ever since started.'' The restaurant also operates a bakery from the premises, making the free onion bread customers receive with every meal particularly fresh.

"It supplies food to Lindo's, Miles, Memory Lane Deli, Hickory Stick and some parts of Ariel Sands,'' said Mr. Hetzel.

"When we used to serve lunch, we used to run a 24-hour business. The cleaners would come in at 8 a.m. when the bakers left.'' An Onions speciality has dummy wine bottles on the table with a list of the wines offered at the restaurant.

"We've cut down on our wines offering only the most popular from our previous list,'' said Mr. Hetzel. "With some of the less-popular ones, if people order a glass, the bottle will sit until someone else makes a request. We now have Sutter home wines, individualised bottles that ensure each customer receives a fresh glass.

"Although they're not on the list, we still have bottles of Port and Dom Perignon on hand in case they're requested.'' The restaurant is extremely busy during the in-season period, with an average of 200 dinners served per night.

"Wednesday to Sunday are the most popular nights,'' he said. "It's not essential but I suggest people make reservations on most evenings or else they could be in for a long wait.'' Although the restaurant is now closed for lunch-time business, plans are in the works for its opening in the future.

"We're planning to start up lunch again once the office complexes in the area are finished being built,'' Mr. Hetzel said. "Once the buildings are erected and the new Bank of Bermuda building is completed, it should infuse a lot of people into the area.'' WATERING HOLE -- M.R. Onions bartender William Freeman offers a drink to a restaurant patron at the facility's newly renovated bar.

GRILLIN' IT UP -- M.R. Onions chef Mr. Fulvio Columbo shows off his stuff in the restaurant's airy kitchen. Mr. Fulvio has been with the business since it first opened in 1985.

M.R. ONIONS CREW -- Shown with restaurant owner Brian Hetzel, centre, are some of the staff: (back row) Andrew Shirt, Boo `Shawn' Yeam Toh, Fulvio Columbo and William Freeman; (centre, from left) Kelly Cooper, Ada Powell, Rachel Jones and Bernette Daniels. Seated are Maha Turner and below, Erica Vaughan (left) and Irene Lim.