Scalini’s in Jesmond has been refurbished by the  Malhotra Group as a Mexican eatery, El Paso, which opens on Easter Sunday. The restaurant will offer a varied menu from tacos and tapas to omelettes and tostado, plus a grill section of steaks, chicken, prawns and salmon. The menu has vegan and vegetarian choices too. Brazilian head chef Bruno Palma says: “I have tried to ensure is there is a dish to suit everyone, no matter what their taste or what time of day they visit.”

El Paso’s range of sauces, salsas, and spices includes what the restaurant claims is “possibly the hottest sauce in the north east” and says its Almost Death sauce “is definitely not for the faint hearted”.

Mexican restaurant El Paso opens on Osborne Road Easter Sunday

According to Francesca Wood, marketing coordinator for Malhotra, the change is the result of work with focus groups in Jesmond and is one of several investment plans scheduled for 2018. The £5m Jesmond development also includes changes to the adjoining New Northumbria Hotel that will create 13 apartment rooms.

The group’s latest financial results show that turnover for the last year increased 6.7% to £32.2m with good performance across its care, property and leisure divisions. Wood says that Scalini’s in Gosforth will remain open throughout the group’s £5.6m development of the Three Mile Inn which will become a 64-bedroom hotel with bar and restaurant.

El Paso is open from 10am to 11pm, with a brunch menu served between 10am and 2pm. To book, visit: www.elpasojesmond.co.uk.