JEDDAH – Al Ahlia Restaurants – Americana, franchisee of the T.G.I. Friday's brand in the Middle East, opens its 43rd restaurant in Rabiah District, Riyadh, and the ninth T.G.I. Friday's restaurant in Saudi Arabia. T.G.I. Friday's opened its first store in the Middle East in 1996 at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai. Then it stretched its wings to Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Jordan, and Lebanon. As as a result of the latest opening, Al Ahlia Restaurants – Americana now becomes the single largest franchise group in any casual dining brand in the region. The new restaurant in Rabiah District, Riyadh has 170 seats and serves a wide variety of Friday's menu items including Friday's famous steaks, Tex-Mex, pastas, burgers, chicken, seafood, appetizers, desserts and a range of non-alcoholic cocktails. Friday's caters to all age groups and is known for its great quality food served by friendly people in a fun atmosphere at affordable prices. The first restaurant was opened in 1965 at 1st Avenue and 63rd Street in New York City. Today, there are more than 900 restaurants in 61 countries worldwide. As the guests have evolved over time, so has the Friday's brand. Its revamped interiors are less cluttered and more contemporary chic with dark rich woods, stainless steel, and new lighting fixtures. Even the music has been updated to reflect the tastes and preferences of today's clientele. The most striking revamped feature is the fabled T.G.I. Friday's memorabilia, which has been brought back from retirement. The memorabilia reflects the iconic eras of the 40's, 50's and 60's. Built upon a legacy of a fun experience and fantastic food and drink, T.G.I. Friday's provides an environment where families and individuals alike can have a great experience in 61 countries around the world. — SG
