Seven is the lucky number for a mother and daughter team who marked their latest milestone with a complete facelift of their restaurant and extended its menu and opening hours.During their time at the helm, owner/manager Audrey Tucker and her daughter and manager Alicia have turned Island Cuisine Restaurant into a real Bermudian institution.Offering delicious local and international fare in a family friendly atmosphere, the pair have transformed the place into a bright and airy eatery which has firmly established a regular following of loyal clients.Entering its eighth year in business, having been set up on April 1, 2004, the well-reputed establishment located on Middle Road by Heron Bay continues to pull in big crowds from construction workers, taxi drivers and tourists to doctors, lawyers and businessmen, and even clergymen and high-ranking politicians.“It has always been a dream of mine to open a restaurant so when this came along it was the perfect opportunity,” said Ms Tucker senior.“When we first came here we changed a lot of things and have continued to upgrade the place over time.“My philosophy is to give the best food for the best price and the best service in a clean environment and we have stuck to that.”Indeed it is a mantra that has served the restaurant well, with the use of only the best fresh homemade and wholesome ingredients, free of MSGs and trans fats, as well as sourcing local produce such as Bermuda carrots and pumpkins, winning it a lot of plaudits.Among the most popular dishes are the Bermuda codfish breakfast, all-day breakfast, roast turkey, lamb, curried chicken roti, rockfish, patties, potato salads and soups, above all, Ms Tucker junior's renowned Johnny Bread, but every item sells, according to Ms Tucker senior. The restaurant also serves up daily specials with wine and beer available to dine-in customers and on Friday the deep fried fish and chips are in great demand, not to mention the award-winning coffee which has Island-wide repute.“I think that we are set apart from other restaurants because of what we do,” said Ms Tucker senior.“We started out doing Island food because we were so popular people asked us for particular dishes from around the world and we have grown to where we are today.“People here are so well developed and knowledgeable about their world foods that we have had to adapt our menus to cater to all tastes, including vegetarian.“We have a little saying that if you come to Island Cuisine and can't find something you would like to eat then there is something wrong.”While they have added extensively to the menu over the past few years, the restaurant itself has undergone a big makeover. Gone is the old decor to be replaced with a colourful pink with blue trim walls adorned with Ms Tucker junior's other passion her floral photography artwork (a theme reflected in the fresh flowers on the tables), as well as new seating, lighting, air conditioning and stereo system.Repeat business has been the key to the restaurant's success, with 75 percent of patrons being regular customers, some of whom come in three times a day.As mother and daughter, the pair admits they have had their differences in the past, but both have grown to respect each other and work together as a team alongside their 15-strong staff, including head chef Mark Rozario.“We love our food and we cook our food with love,” said Ms Tucker senior.“That is why were are still here even through the recession although it was hard for us because we have a passion for what we do and for serving the people of Bermuda and I think they appreciate that and reflected in how popular this place is.“You really have to love the restaurant business to be successful and the amount of people who come here and the food we cook is testament to that it really is a labour of love.“All my staff are fantastic they want to work and serve people and are very courteous to the customers.“We are proud of what we have done and accomplished and while we are not perfect that is something we always strive for to take it to a new level.”In fact, the restaurant has earned such a reputation for its high standard of service that Bermuda College students enrolled in hospitality courses come to watch the staff in action first hand.Island Cuisine is now open on Sunday evenings between 5pm and 9pm, in addition to its normal hours of operation from Monday to Saturday between 6am and 9.45pm and Sunday from 7am to 3pm.When she retires, Ms Tucker plans to pass on the business to her daughter, who has been working there since leaving school. But for the moment she plans to stick to a winning formula and continue doing what they do best serving good food in a warm and friendly environment.“We just want to get the message out about this great little restaurant serving really good food,” said Ms Tucker junior.For more information contact 238-3287 or visit the website at www.islandcuisine.bm