One of Bermuda’s most popular restaurants has re-opened under new ownership.

The Spot has been purchased from long-time owner Thomas “Ted” Powell by Ronnie Lau and Kayalvizhi Srinivasan.

It has been re-named Spot Restaurant & Bar to reflect that a liquor license has been granted to the Burnaby Street, Hamilton venue.

Srinivasan Nandagopal, head chef at the eatery from 2012 until 2016, will serve as executive chef and will oversee the overall operation of the restaurant.

He is married to Ms Srinivasan; they are also among the co-owners of the Anchor Restaurant and Bar in Dockyard.

The head chef is Satheesh Kumar.

Ms Srinivasan, who will serve as restaurant manager, said it will open for breakfast and lunch initially.

The restaurant has re-opened with eight Bermudian staff, including full-time and part-time employees.

Ms Srinivasan, resident on-island for 17 years, said: “We are taking over a restaurant that has been there for so, so many years, and has been part of the tradition of Bermuda.

“Other places like it have been closed, and we didn’t want The Spot restaurant to close down.”

Now 74, Mr Lau is retired from a career as a chef but said he will work in the restaurant “on and off” in an advisory/supervisory role.

Mr Lau and Mr Nandagopal worked together at Traditions, the West End restaurant formerly owned by Mr Lau, for about 10 years.

Mr Lau, resident in Bermuda since 1974, said: “We will make some alterations to the menu and combine The Spot and what we had at Traditions for the best of both worlds.

“We will try to update for the times to keep up with present-day demand.”

Mr Nandagopal, a resident for 21 years, said: “I have always wanted to do a proper local restaurant. Local food, home-cooked meals presented in a restaurant style.

“We will serve shark hash, conch stew, paw paw casserole, and Johnny bread. We are bringing back all those things.

“We can’t do 100 per cent but we want to use the old Bermudian delicacies.”

Mr Nandagopal said many of the restaurant’s traditional favourites – including pancakes, waffles, hot beef, hot turkey, and club sandwiches – will remain on the menu.

The “Thursday specials” such as corned beef and cabbage and beef stew will also continue, he said.

But Mr Nandagopal said some new loquat-flavoured dishes – chicken wings, chicken tacos and ice cream – will be introduced, along with desserts such as panna cotta and ice cream made with Surinam cherries.

Ms Srinivasan said that only cash payments can be accepted until online banking capabilities are added later this month.

The restaurant was first opened by entrepreneur Arthur Foote in 1945.

Mr Powell took over ownership of The Spot in 1971.

He closed the restaurant in mid-March last year when the Covid-19 pandemic began to impact Bermuda, and it remained closed until yesterday when it re-opened with both indoor and outdoor seating.

Spot Restaurant & Bar is open Monday to Saturday from 7am until 5pm, and Sundays from 8am until 5pm.