When he started the process of opening a restaurant, Mike King had one mantra he kept returning to. 

“If you have good food, people will come,” King said of his soon-to-open restaurant at the Bainbridge Marina.

Scooter’s Sunset Grille will have its soft opening March 4 and a grand opening March 6. The restaurant is named in honor or King’s cocker spaniel that frequently goes to the marina with him. The dog has been part of King’s family for more than 10 years.

King took over the marina last year and has been working on getting a restaurant going since.

“It’s been an adventure,” King said. The process took over a year after extensive renovations to the kitchen and making sure everything was just right.

Scooter’s will feature American-style foods like steak, pork chops and fresh grouper by head chef Nick Thomas from Tallahassee, Fla. It will be open for dinner Wednesday through Sunday and lunch on Saturday and Sunday.

“[Thomas] came highly recommended,” King said. “He’s going to do a good job.”

King said that he already has a kitchen staff hired and just needs to get servers in.

The renovated dining area can seat about 60, and a screened, outdoor seating area can hold 40.

“I really enjoy it down here,” King said. “A bunch of good people come through.”