restaurants say 1992 has not been the terrible year some may have expected.

That was the conclusion yesterday after a straw-poll of several local establishments.

And there are already signs that business may improve even further over the next 12 months.

Mr. Walter Sommer, owner of Fourways Inn, said last month was the "best November ever'' at Fourways.

But, though there were signs that Bermuda's restaurant trade was growing stronger, he said it was too early to get excited.

"It's going to be another 12 months of struggle,'' said Mr. Sommer. "We plan to cut all unnecessary expenses.

"Eighty-five percent of our business comes from the US and the US is slow getting out of their mess. And if the US sneezes we have pneumonia already.'' There was room for optimism, however, and early indications from the major hotels were that group bookings for 1993 were already looking healthy, he said.

Mr. John Roach, whose restaurants The Bombay Bicycle Club, Rosa's Cantina, Chopsticks and Shutters have a combined seating capacity of 365, said he had nothing to complain about.

His new restaurant, Shutters, was considered by some to be one of the year's biggest business gambles but it is already showing signs of paying off.

"For the first year, I'm very pleased,'' he said. "We've done about 700 people at Shutters in terms of Christmas functions alone. Shutters is right on target.'' "I've nothing to grumble about,'' said Mr. Roach. "I'm not in a grumbling mood at all. It's the wrong time of the year for that.'' Mr. Claudio Vigilante, manager of Ascot's, in Rosemont Avenue, Pembroke, said: "I've no complaints whatsoever. My Christmas business is booming. Christmas Day is fully booked already.'' This end of year glut of business follows what he describes as a "terrible'' summer.

"It's been a long year,'' said Mr. Vigilante. "But things began to pick up at the beginning of September.

"Locals are spending a lot more now than they were six months ago.'' Ascot's has managed to hold its own despite a fall in visitors to Bermuda because 70 percent of its business comes from locals, he said.

Mr. Frank Schmitz, manager of The Chancery Wine Bar, which seats 65 people, called the Christmas trade at his restaurant "phenomenal''.

"The whole year had been good because we cater mainly to locals,'' he said.

"The insurance business provides a big part of our business and that's not in recession.'' From December 3 until Christmas, there was a Christmas party booked in every day or night, he added.

Were there too many restaurants in Hamilton, as some retailers believe? "There's always too many of something if you're not doing your job right,'' he said.

"No matter what the economy is like, there's always a demand for something if you're doing it right.'' Glencoe Harbour Club, which is mainly a guest establishment, has closed its 85 seat restaurant for lunches between December 1 to December 21 because of private party bookings.

Owner Mr. Reggie Cooper said: "The hotel business is pretty good, as well.

We'll be full at Christmas.'' But he wasn't getting carried away. "It's been an average year on the whole,'' he said. "And we empty up totally in the New Year.

"We're principally a hotel but we've built up quite a good reputation in our restaurant.

"During the season, when there are tourists here, we average about 30 extra people a night on top of our regular guests.'' Henry VIII, located in the heart of the hotel industry -- the South Shore in Southampton -- had experienced a very successful 1992.

"It's been a very good year for us,'' he said. "Business has been excellent all the year through.'' "I put our success down to a combination of good food, followed by fine entertainment afterwards,'' said Mr. Allan.

While most of the restaurant's summer business was made up of tourists, locals flocked back once the season was over, he added.

He also admitted that a recession in Bermuda is a lot less harmful than a recession in most other parts of the world.

"We're very fortunate in Bermuda because we've not really experienced a proper recession, like they have in the United States and other countries,'' he said.

Mr. Nicky Russo, manager of La Trattoria, which, with 150 seats, is one of the Island's biggest restaurants, said business was still slow during the week, despite Christmas.

"It picks up at weekends and Friday late night shopping has been very busy,'' he said.

"The overall situation for this year is a little bit better than last year, which was a very bad year.

"We're more optimistic that the final results are going to be better.'' Business had been helped by La Trattoria's policy of not raising prices during 1992, said Mr. Russo.

"This increased the value for money and the response from our customers was good,'' he added.

At the 120-seat Tom Moore's Tavern, a spokesperson said the year had been "steady''.

"Instead of getting 180 one night and 30 the next, we seemed to be reasonably busy most of the time,'' said the spokesperson.

"We have a good reputation and did not suffer this year, although numbers were down.''