The newly repainted diner car style restaurant on University Boulevard has a significantly brighter sign than just a few months ago. Once one of the Irene's Pupusa's locations, then empty for several months, the restaurant has been remade into the Island Hut.

Owner Phillip Johnson moved to the area from Florida, where he owned a similar business. Inside, bamboo-style blinds shade customers seated at either the counter or in one of a few booths. 

"It's a great location," Johnson said, "We're learning when the busy times will be."

Island Hut's big menu item is Caribbean jerk chicken, but they also offer a seafood dishes and sides from yucca to fried dumplings to mac n'cheese.

The restaurant, located at 2408 University Boulevard West, has been open for a few weeks now, after a month of work to bring the location back to full operation.