Variety will be on the menu when St. George's latest new restaurant opens its doors tonight, in time to bring in 2009.

Polaris bar and restaurant, which is based at St. George's Dinghy & Sports Club on Cut Road, will serve everything from breakfast, brunch and lunch to dinner, offering different Bermudian cuisine, including freshly caught lobsters and local fish.

The restaurant, which will be run by Abdul and Carolann Amjath, business partner Henry Ascento and manager Michael Williams, will also provide some respite for the town which has suffered from the current economic crisis, with a number of businesses struggling or being forced to shut down as a result of the credit crunch.

"We are planning to promote local, Bermuda-based food," said entrepreneur Mr. Amjath, who also runs General Marine Services and first came up with the idea of running his own restaurant when the opportunity arose, having already had 12 years' experience working as a chef and got the backing of the Dinghy Club's commodore Andrew Burch and Brian Otley and the other members.

"We will be using local lobsters and fish because we get it right off the dock. Also, we plan to make the prices very reasonable because of what is happening with the economy at the moment.

"We are planning to bring the spirit of Bermuda back and since it is the 400th-year celebration all the Tall Ships will be coming in and being based here, so St. George's will be a great place to be.

"We will be working side-by-side with the Dinghy Club to support the members and visitors and provide the best service we can to make it a great experience in Bermuda."

The restaurant opens from 6.30 p.m. to 12.30 a.m. or 1 a.m. on New Year's Eve, with a five-course menu including lobsters and various surf-and-turf delicacies, accompanied by a glass of champagne, all for $75, while the New Year's Day celebrations kick off with a "hangover brunch" from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

The lunch menu ranges from light snacks, salads and soups to sandwiches and desserts, while dinner comprises a three or four set menu of choice including a bottle of wine or a choice of dishes, with a different menu every week depending on the season. Breakfast on Sunday, which runs from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., consists of the traditional codfish and potatoes and brunch, between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m., features a buffet meal.

The first week of every month there will be a family day, including a bouncy castle to keep children occupied, while parents can enjoy the dining experience.

Barbecues will also be held on Saturday evenings from March through the summer, with themed Cajun and Mexican servings planned, as well as a themed night on the first Friday of the month such as an Indian and Chinese buffet.

Patrons can dine outside on the terrace and listen to live music and entertainment, while the businessman can take advantage of the facilities for holding seminars and meetings and can use the free Wi-Fi access available to all diners.

The bar and restaurant, which comprises a see-through satellite kitchen so customers can see their food being prepared while they wait, can accommodate 60 to 70 people and is open for birthday and private parties, weddings and social functions. It also caters for those dining out with packed lunches, with collection from the dock, especially useful for boaters looking to pick up a quick snack.

The restaurant, which will be adorned with nautical props like sails, will be open on Wednesday from 8.30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday to Saturday between 8.30 a.m. and 11 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. It will be open seven days a week in the summer.

Plans are also afoot to open a hookah lounge complete with different types of tobacco and organic natural teas from the Middle East, as well as wine and rum-tasting events in the future.

For more information, call 333-1467 or e-mail amjath@gms.bm. The website will be up and running from the first week of February at www.polarisrestaurant.com