Launch El Chico Café and Cantina Laredo in the UAE

Dubai, May 7th 2008 - The Saleh Bin Lahej Group Hospitality Division, franchise holders for the popular restaurant chain Chili's, has merged with US based Consolidated Restaurant Operations to form Consolidated Restaurant Management in the region. To mark the occasion key executives launched EL Chico Café at Dubai Marina and officially inaugurated Cantina Laredo in Abu Dhabi. The new group will be launching a planned 75 restaurants in the region over the next seven years.

The launch event at El Chico Café saw Mohamed Saleh Bin Lahej, Vice Chairman Saleh Bin Lahej Group and John Harkey Jr, CEO Consolidated Restaurant Operations host dignitaries and partners for the first meal at the family oriented restaurant.

"The tie up between the Saleh Bin Lahej Group and CRO has given the region its first authentic taste of Mexican cuisine. We pride ourselves in bringing true taste sensations to the region for over a decade and El Chico Café and Cantina Laredo add their unique personalities and flavours to our expanding portfolio of restaurants," commented Mohammed Saleh Bin Lahej, Vice Chairman, Saleh Bin Lahej Group.

El Chico Café is the casita-style, family-oriented Mexican restaurant with a heritage dating back to 1940. The restaurant strives to be authentic and colourful with an eye to families who are looking for freshly-prepared, original-recipe, savoury Mexican food in a welcoming, casual atmosphere. Its varied menu strives to cater to every tastes with its signature Top Shelf™ menu choices include everything from Fajita Chicken Burritos to Chicken and Mushroom Quesadillas, with those looking for something a little different can try Sirloin and Camarones, a nine-ounce sirloin and sautéed shrimp.

While Cantina Laredo offers similar authentic Mexican cuisine, it is specifically caters for patrons looking for a more epicurean dining experience. Cantina Laredo is a sophisticated Mexican restaurant offering vibrant contemporary dining that rewards guests with a gourmet taste of Mexico. The restaurant also boasts authentic in-house sauces and incomparable table-side preparation of various dishes.

Commenting on their decision to partner with Saleh Bin Lahej in the region, Consolidated Restaurant Operations CEO, John Harkey Jr. said, "Over the past 10 years, the Saleh Bin Lahej Group has had tremendous success with a number of international franchises.  That combined with this region's exponential growth and want for choice and innovation, makes the tie up to form Consolidated Restaurant Management a very attractive and significant decision for us and patrons in the region." 

The UAE is one of a number of locations where we plan to launch El Chico Café and Cantina Laredo over the coming seven years, including all the other Emirates and further afield; Egypt, Pakistan, Malaysia and Brunei to name but a few," commented Osama Salhin, President, Saleh Bin Lahej Group.

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© Press Release 2008