A new year means a fresh new start for The Dining Room at Gibbs Hill Lighthouse in Southampton.While the restaurant was closed in January due to refurbishments to the outside working structure of the lighthouse, owner Odilio Angeli took the opportunity to retool the menu with the addition of a new chef.Hailing from England, Vincent Purcell will bring a new bistro feel to the hilltop eatery, which is now open to customers.Before arriving in Bermuda, Mr Purcell was the head chef for the Irish Olympic team during the summer Olympics in London. Prior to that he was the managing director and chef of Vince’s Restaurant and Pizzeria in the seaside resort town of Marbella, Spain.The Dining Room’s menu will change every week but diners can expect five starters, five main courses and five desserts along with a selection of ever changing specials.“Very few restaurants change their menus frequently,” said Odilio Angeli, owner of restaurant group Dining Bermuda, which also includes Rustico and Flying Fish. “Through Vincent’s experience and travels he’s collected different way of cooking and he has a really good knowledge of English gastropub type food. It’s nice to bring in some new experience.”For instance, the restaurant’s new burger bar will feature five different types of burgers, ranging from the Truffle burger which is topped gruyere cheese, roasted Portabello mushrooms and finished with truffle mayo, to the Dangerously Hot Burger featuring jalapeños and red onion along with homemade chipotle ketchup.Truffle fries and sweet potato Parmesan fries are offered as mouth watering side dishes.This week diners can order pan roast duck, risotto parmagiana and “proper” British fish and chips. Those that want to eat in the comfort of their home can also order from a take out menu.Prices are reasonable says Mr Angeli, with the main courses all under $30 and appetisers under $16.“We’re excited about the new direction,” he added. “Every once in a while a restaurateur gets stale on what they do and they lose motivation and this new direction gives me a boost to get off on the right foot for the new year.”The inside of The Dining Room also received some attention — from kitchen upgrades to retiling the floor to repainting the interior.The restaurant can seat up to 50 people inside as well as at the bar and, in the summer, up to 100 outside on the terrace overlooking both the South Shore and the Great Sound.The Dining Room also offers ten wines by the glass and now have a selection of beer on draft.Regulars will be happy to know that breakfast is still available and very soon a traditional English Sunday lunch with roast beef, lamb and cottage pie will be on offer.The Dining Room is open for dinner every night, but serving breakfast and lunch Thursday-Sunday.For more information visit www.bermuda-dining.com.