A taste of Italy has come to one of Bermuda's oldest and most traditional plantation estates with the launch of Splendido Bar and Restaurant.

The restaurant, which is nestled at the top of the hill at Horizons and Cottages in Paget, lives up to its name with panoramic views across Elbow Beach and the surrounding areas.

But it is the team of general manager Angelo Buglione, who runs the place with partners Fatima Buglione and Bermudian Joe Fagundo, and head chef Manuel Sioli and pastry chef Michele Bonato, that makes Splendido an enjoyable dining experience.

Mr. Sioli and Mr. Bonato, who are both Italian, had their introduction to the restaurant business in Italy before moving on to work in London and then coming to Bermuda to ply their trade.

Mr. Sioli started his career in Milan, followed by landing a job at top restaurant Harry' Bar in Mayfair, London, returning to Milan to work in a five-star hotel and then Oslo in Norway to manage a European-style restaurant.

His speciality dishes include European cuisine using ingredients sourced locally from Bermuda, such as wahoo, lobster and rockfish, as well as rack of lamb with fresh herbs, fresh home-made pasta and risotto.

"Since the first day we opened there have been a nice number of reservations," said Mr. Sioli.

"There were just three of us, including myself, Angelo and Michele at the beginning and we were fully booked and now in the run in to Christmas we are open for lunch and dinner seven days a week.

"We try to do the European way to prepare the food using ingredients from Bermuda.

"I am surprised because we are in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, but in Bermuda you can find some nice ingredients and food."

Mr. Bonato set out in the Lake Garda area, prior to working at La Terrazza dell'Eden, a restaurant at the five-star Eden Hotel in Rome, and also joining Harry's Bar, where he worked alongside Mr. Sioli.

"I want to do a nice job so that people come here to try the food and I am excited about the future," he said.

"We try and do something with our dishes that gives people and new and exciting taste."

Mr. Buglione, who assembled the team and is originally from Pompeii, south of Naples, arrived on the Island 23 years ago via London, spending eight years as the assistant Maitre 'D at Fourways Inn Restaurant and was the restaurant manager at Waterloo House for 15 years until it closed in July and he opened Splendido in August.

"Basically this opportunity came up to open Splendido here at Horizons and we took it straight away," he said.

"We always wanted to create something that made us feel comfortable with what we were capable to deliver and I think so far we have been able to do that with the help of Manuel and Michele.

"So far we have had some very positive comments and people coming back for specialities that we do.

"We opened up in the beginning of August and for the first two months we were absolutely swamped, but now we are fully staffed and able to meet the demand."

The restaurant, which now has six chefs, seven waiters and a bar tender, seats up to 120 people inside, with capacity for 80 on the terrace, as well as a barbecue terrace which can accommodate 200 for birthdays, weddings and special events, and a bar terrace, which offers happy hours during the season between May and October. In addition there is a room for private functions which holds between 24 to 30 people.

At the moment it is focused on Christmas parties with special menus, including turkey dishes, on offer throughout the festive season, with the restaurant open for business for lunch and dinner on Christmas Day, New Years Eve and New Years Day. Tasting menus with wines are also available.

The lunch menu consists of the likes of fish chowder, yellow-fin tuna tartare and butternut squash risotto for starter, codfish cakes, beef sirloin and fresh home-made pasta for main course and hot chocolate fondant, ginger creme brulee and tiramisu for dessert. Vegetarian dishes such as home-made fettuccine and hand-made ravioli and mains of light-spiced Bermuda Wahoo and pan-roasted rockfish comprise the dinner menu.

The ambience of the restaurant, which has been getting a lot of business from a mixture of locals, tourists and some of Mr. Buglione's former customers at Waterloo House, is very much in keeping with its surrounds, according to the general manager.

"By creating Splendido in such a fine property as this, I think that so far our target has been achieved and we will strive to continue to do our best," he said.

"Because of the financial crisis everywhere, we have seen a decline in tourists this year, but we have been very grateful for the local support we have had."

Located inside the main building at Horizons, which dates back to 1710 and was converted from a hotel in a bed and breakfast in January this year, the Middleton Room is rented by managing company Brickman and leased out to Splendido.

The restaurant is open seven days a week for lunch between 11.30am and 2.30pm and dinner from 6.30pm to 10pm.

To make a reservation at Splendido contact 239-7411, email splendido@logic.bm or visit www.bermuda.com