now own their own business together.

Mr. Pebi bought out one half of the business from Marino Bortoli, to become partners with his friend in the Monte Carlo restaurant in Victoria Street.

The restaurant, which is a well-known haunt for business people on the Island, will now get a face lift, but they are keeping the trade-mark hand-painted walls.

The restaurant specialises in Mediterranean cuisine, has 12 staff and can seat between 70 and 80 at a time. Mr. Fergio, who is Italian but is married to Bermudian Shelly Bradshaw, has been a partner in the business for a year and a half as chef wner. Mr. Pebi, who is also Italian and is also married to a Bermudian, Christine Williams, will now become owner aitre d'.

The men met more than ten years ago while working at a hotel in Portofino in Italy.

"We are very good friends and always dreamed of owning a restaurant together,'' said Mr. Pebi. "And now we have realised that dream.'' Mr. Pebi originally came to the Island in 1993 to work at Fourways Inn but has worked in Tom Moore's Tavern for the past six years, moving from waiter to maitre d'.

His friend joined him a year later in 1994 when he came to work for Little Venice and have been planning to work together ever since.

The two will now open up outside the restaurant for eating "al fresco'' and have a new menu, new wine list and new crystal and linen.

Mr. Fergio said: "We welcome Bermudians to the restaurant. We have a lot of speciality food and can cook to order, do pan fried fish, any kind of dish. We want to encourage everyone to come here, not just businessmen.'' The two men are about to buy a truck to help with an ever-growing outside catering business.