After five months of closure Chiko’s restaurant and catering service is back and in a new location.

Owner Michiko Campbell has reopened on the second floor of the Bermudiana Arcade in Hamilton sharing space with speakeasy Evolve Bda.

Chiko’s now offers a daytime menu from 11am to 3.30pm, before Evolve Bda takes over the space for evening service and pop-up events. It marks a significant reset for the business, which was previously based at Devonshire Recreation Club.

Last year, he made 4,000 fish cakes as well as other Easter goodies. This year, because he has only been in the new place for three weeks, he has limited his output to 1,000 fish cakes.

Chiko’s regulars have responded positively to the reopening.

“It has been a very warming feeling, because a lot of people have said they missed us,” Mr Campbell said. “The location here has worked out pretty good.”

He described his brand as “fresh, local and tasty”.

“Everything we sell is made from scratch, excluding the fries and breaded chicken wings,” he said. “The most popular menu items are our fish sandwiches, loaded nachos and homemade burgers.”

Mr Campbell started out in 2014 selling his own line of spice blends, Chiko’s Smokey Rubs. Eight years later, he opened a catering arm which quickly took off.

For the last year, the rub side of his business has been hit hard by American import tariffs and supply chain snafus.

“Some of the hardest things to get are my salts,” he said.

Some of his ingredients are sourced in Hawaii, an American state, but that has not made them any easier to access.

“They are telling me to ship it through Europe,” he said.

Ingredients for his most popular rub, a garlic fusion blend, has also been challenging to import.

“As of right now, we still have a little bit of product left, but not in my usual range of flavours,” he said. “Everybody is looking for the garlic fusion and that is the hardest one to get because of the amount of garlic I need.”

He has two staff members in Hamilton.

The restaurant seats 55, but he is also offering lunch takeout and a bar. Chiko’s also sells fresh juice boxes made by Evolve Bda.

“Working with Evolve Bda is a very good collaboration,” Mr Campbell said. “It was the best choice I have made, so far.”

His ultimate dream is to have his own fine dining restaurant.

• For more information see www.chikosbda.com