Bermuda’s Muslim bakery is back in business. And while Steak n Take has returned as Bermuda’s hottest sandwich, the Court Street business has not been able to keep up with demand for the original.

After several years of closure, Zaki’s Bakery has reopened as Court Street Bakery.

The new establishment, in the same location at 40 Court Street, is run by Raymond Smith, nephew of former owner Zaki Muhammed.

“When I retired last December, my uncle called me and said, ‘I want you to take over the bakery’,” Mr Smith said. “He said, ‘I want you to open it and carry on the family legacy’.”

Mr Smith was happy to do it for his uncle, who is in his nineties.

“People are very excited about us opening,” Mr Smith said. “The bakery has been crowded every day since we opened two weeks ago. The bakery has been closed for a couple of years. My uncle retired and then had someone else run it for a few years.”

The last update on their social media page was in 2019.

Now, customers are coming from one end of the island to the other to get their old favourites, or experience the food for the first time.

Popular items include bean pies, raisin muffins, fish boats, potato wedges, chicken or beef rolls and birthday cakes, but the stars of the show are definitely their Steak n Take sandwiches.

Before opening, Mr Smith had to learn how to make the sandwiches the way they were done during the days of Zaki’s Bakery.

“People wanted the original flavour,” Mr Smith said.

He seems to have mastered the recipe since he cannot keep the sandwich in stock.

“We are making about 200 a day,” Mr Smith said. “We are going to have to increase that.”

When The Royal Gazette visited the bakery at 11am on a Wednesday, there were seven or eight customers already there, who all walked away with one or more steak sandwiches, in addition to other items.

People start reserving their Steak n Take first thing in the morning.

“Sometimes they want nine or ten for their staff,” Mr Smith said.

It can be a challenge sourcing enough beef to keep his customers happy.

Mr Smith has a staff of seven, many of whom are family members.

For example, his granddaughter, Dynasty Smith-Burgess, 18, is helping out in all areas of the business. On Wednesday, she was stationed at the cash register, while her grandfather and two others made what appeared to be an endless stream of Steak n Takes in the kitchen.

Ms Smith-Burgess said it was good to be carrying on the family legacy.

“It keeps us busy,” she said.

Mr Smith said that so far Court Street Bakery has been easy to operate.

“It is just about keeping it going,” he said.

During Mr Muhammed’s time, the place was popularly known as the Muslim bakery.

“It is still a Muslim bakery,” Mr Smith said.

The business is cash only at the moment.