Mr Opperman said when the restaurant opened on December 13 it would provide seating for 70 patrons inside and 20 in the outside dining area and employ 25 fulltime staff.
"I have always wanted to establish a restaurant in this area and had planned to do so about six years ago but the timing and location was not right."
Mr Opperman said he was working with an Auckland artist about the decor for the inside.
"We want to make the restaurant nice and light, and modern-looking inside, and we will be using lots of natural woods and other natural materials, including local fauna," he said.
Mr Opperman said the menu was a fusion with Southern American-style food with kiwi influences. "We don't profess to be fine dining but we offer good wholesome food with a menu which caters for most people's tastes. All our food is made on site with fresh ingredients, and our menu includes gluten-free and vegetarian choices."
Mr Opperman said the restaurant would be open 6am to 10pm.
Mount Mainstreet manager Leanne Brown declined to comment on the new restaurant because it was outside her promotional area.
But she said it was another sign of business confidence in the area and followed business activity increasing in downtown the Mount, with a number of new businesses setting up in the area in past few weeks and a number of businesses having rebranded.
This included the recently opened The Good Room, which opened in Prince Avenue, and sold trendy skateboards and skating gear, Crocs Shoes which opened next to Sisters - Discovering Fine Fashion store in Maunganui Rd, and Tank Juice Bar on the corner of Pacific Ave and Maunganui Rd.
Sol Delicious Cafe in Maunganui Rd had recently rebranded as The Food Gurus Kitchen, and The Captains Table was now known as Molly's Cafe and Tea Shop.
Smith Sports Shoes is set to open in Maunganui Rd in a couple of weeks.
Ms Brown said: "It's all good news and provides customers with added choice in terms of their shopping experiences."
