The Jewel Of Bathurst is open and ready to welcome locals

Residing in the old Elie's Café building on William Street, the new restaurant officially opened last Sunday with Mr Cheema very happy with the response.

"We all know the history of the place but I think it's time for change," he said.

"It was a very good turn out, we had a lot of locals and a lot of people from surrounding suburbs.

"Elie's name is the one everyone knew this place by and I knew Elie personally ... that's in the past now and I think the more you hold onto the past you don't really move on and I think Bathurst needs to move on and this is for Bathurst."

Mr Cheema and his father have run restaurants for over 45 years, from steak houses to continental food, and they have a vast range of experience that they've brought to Bathurst.

The Jewel offers breakfast, lunch and dinner with a range of flavours and cuisines to suit everyone's taste buds.

Mr Cheema said people have a misconception that the restaurant is Indian and he wants people to know they're more than that.

"It's a local diner during the day and then something more unique at night," he said.

"The flavours that we bring at night time you've probably never seen. It's not just Indian it's Pakistani, Indian, Persian cuisine, I can't categorise it as one thing.

"We don't make food and freeze it, we make fresh food as you order and the Indian cuisine is in a way that it has to be fresh to appreciate the flavour."

Mr Cheema owns successful restaurants in Sydney but was drawn to Bathurst as he felt it was a great place for his father to settle down and retire.

After working very hard to create a name for himself Mr Cheema's father, also named Ali Cheema, has earnt the right to relax.

"When I look at somebody who's an aspiration for anyone, any young adult now days, I see my dad," Mr Cheema said.

"That guy has gone through places where he's worked three jobs, four jobs in a week, and 18 hours, 24 hours continuous work."

Mr Cheema sees Bathurst as a great fit and he hopes the locals accept and embrace the new restaurant.

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