There will be fewer choice words uttered and it will be done without a pugnacious, blond-haired chef barking orders.
But the owner of Paprika Bistro is nonetheless undergoing the same kind of overnight reinvention more common on the Food Network than in Oak Bay.
Geoff Parker will make the switch next week.
On Wednesday, he'll flip a switch and Paprika, which opened in 1998 in Estevan Village, will become Padella Italian Bistro.
"It will be more of a premier, casual-style, traditional Italian restaurant doing lunch and dinner five days a week, possibly moving to seven days a week," said Parker, who bought the business in 2009.
He acquired the restaurant from George and Linda Szasz, who now operate Stage in Fernwood.
Parker said he probably should have made the changes three years ago, starting fresh rather than having to deal with the loss of some business when the couple moved on.
Part of the motivation to change is to redefine the space and people's perceptions of a restaurant that has always been held in high regard.
"This is to regenerate some interest in the bistro in the area. It's had a great run since 1998, but there's a perception out there that it's a higher-end restaurant for special occasions," Parker said.
"We have been trying over the last three years to break out of that, but we haven't been able to do it.
Re-branding and changing the name will hopefully get us out from under that shadow."
The restaurant has also had to deal with the combination of factors that have taken a piece out of the restaurant industry locally - slow economic recovery, the HST and tougher drinking and driving laws.
Hospitality industry consultant Frank Bourree said Parker may be doing the right thing.
"If you want to reinvigorate your restaurant, the best way is to change your name and your concept.
Without a name change, you're not going to be able to communicate enough change to draw new patrons. People want to see what's new and fresh," Bourree said. "This can do a lot for a restaurant like that - they will attract a lot more attention, and it always had a good reputation."
The new bistro will also set itself apart from Paprika, which opened only for dinner, by offering a lunch menu.
"Oak Bay loves lunch," said Parker, noting Estevan Village buzzes from around 8: 30 a.m. until most of the shops close at 5: 30 p.m.
"This will help capture the local market as they are in the area and give them the awareness we are here in the night time."
Parker said he knows how important it is for Padella to hit home runs right out of the gate.
"It's very important to start strong, people here are social media savvy and big on reading reviews before they go out and they believe them," he said. "It's important we do it right, right off the bat."
The actual changeover should be seamless as most of the renovation work was done last fall.
"Everything is still really fresh. This is more of a flip - change the name, the logo and menu and bring in a new chef," he said.
The new chef is John-Paul Turions who has worked at Stage, Camille's, Devour and Vancouver's Les Faux Bourgeois.
