The $10 million authentic barbecue restaurant, Virgil’s, has opened for business at the Atlantis Paradise Island resort.

Officially opened on November 1, the eatery brought 182 new jobs on-stream–half of which were newly hired by the resort, with the rest of the staff transferring in-house.

“It was not a re-do of an existing restaurant,” explains George Markantonis, president and managing director of Kerzner International Bahamas. “It was a closed space for more than two years.”

Virgil’s is a part of the Alicart Restaurant Group–a New York-based family of restaurants that offers a wide range of dining concepts. One of the group’s more legendary eateries is Carmine’s, a family style Italian restaurant also at Atlantis in Marina Village.

Virgil’s Atlantis seats 350 indoors and another 150 outside. It was designed by Jeffrey Beers, who also designed The Cove at Atlantis, which has 600 luxury rooms.

In addition to serving up a big country breakfast, Virgil’s menu features barbecued ribs, chicken, brisket, lamb, and pork, along with daily fish specials.

“They produce fantastic barbecue,”?says Markantonis. “This is not a restaurant for vegetarians.”

The initial plan called for the restaurant’s exterior to be opened for lunch and the entire restaurant at night.

“In its first five days we have had so much volume at lunch that we have been obliged to open the interior as well,” says Markantonis. “It is good news for the employees who work there because that means there is more revenue coming into the restaurant. There is more gratuity going to them.”

Atlantis has in excess of 30 food and beverage outlets–a mix of in and outdoor, fine and casual dining, cafes and food stalls.

tblair@dupuch.com