Mr. Gioacchino Di Meglio, manager of the Cafe Lido Restaurant, has guided his restaurant through the doors of change, and into a new dimension of dining extravaganza for Bermuda. "I want to create a restaurant that portrays Bermuda as it is,'' Mr. Di Meglio said. "A restaurant in town could be anywhere in the world, Cafe Lido is unique...different.'' Cafe Lido has been open for three years, and in that time, it has thrived into a concession that controls the main portion of the Elbow Beach front. The view, the sounds and the atmosphere of the beach reflect into the layout of the restaurant and make dining at the Lido an experience that one cannot forget. "We attract about an average of 200 people a night,'' Mr. Di Meglio said. "Most of them are locals, probably 60 percent, the rest are visitors looking for something different.'' Mr. Di Meglio said the restaurant is perfect for business dinners with a smart-casual dress code, eloquent service and great food. "Functions such as wedding receptions and benefits are Lido's speciality,'' he noted.

"Lido is licensed for 900 people, we can bring in a tent and some live music, the patio is great for a party.'' Cafe Lido is the perfect spot for romantic dinners also, the dim lights, secluded tables and soft jazzy music calls for couples who want to get away from the regular dining. The new decor adds to the spaciousness of the renovated restaurant. The ceilings are high and open, with pickled wooden beams and skylights. Large decorative chandeliers dangle from the roof, spilling soft light onto the dining room. The tables are laid with pink-peach tablecloths and napkins. On one side of the restaurant there is the greenhouse, with accentual lights to produce a jungle effect. On the other side of the restaurant, large open windows face the sea. Fireplaces recessed into the walls provide a warm cozy feeling for the winter and a quiet romantic dinner. Cafe Lido is probably the best restaurant in Bermuda, and John Jefferis, Managing Director of The Elbow Beach Development Company, seems to feel the same. "We are extremely satisfied with Cafe Lido,'' Mr. John Jefferis said. "It provides a different style of dining for our guests.'' Mr.

Jefferis came up with the idea of a restaurant about three years ago, and took the facility, now known as Cafe Lido, and made it a separate concession. "We feel that M.E.F. Enterprises Limited is the leading business in the restaurant field, Mr. Di Meglio is the ideal man to run it,'' Mr. Jefferis continued.

When I asked Mr. Di Meglio what he thought of his creation, he smiled and told me he was happy with it. "I feel that Cafe Lido compliments The Elbow Beach Hotel in a positive way, we are unique and different. We urge people to come and try our food themselves, and then judge us for what we are,'' Mr. Di Meglio said. PHOTO OPEN FEELING - The spacious main dining room at the Cafe Lido restaurant has been newly refurbished.

THE MEN BEHIND THE IDEA - Manager Mr. Gioacchino Di Meglio (on left) and executive chef Mr. Serge Bottelli smile with pride for their restaurant extravaganza.