November 28, 2014 1.42 pm This story is over 113 months old

Lincoln Indian restaurant to be transformed into charcoal grill

Tito’s Restaurant and Grill: Popular Indian restaurant and takeaway Castlegate in Lincoln is to be transformed into a charcoal grill after the business closed suddenly.
Lincoln restaurant owner Amador Abruneiras. Photo: Emily Norton

Popular Indian restaurant and takeaway Castlegate in Lincoln is to be transformed into a charcoal grill after the business closed suddenly.

The iconic building, located at the foot of Lincoln Castle’s West Gate, has been acquired by local businessman Amador Abruneiras, with a December opening date in mind for his new venture – Tito’s Restaurant and Grill.

Amador, who opened his first traditional Spanish tapas restaurant Ole Ole in August 2013, worked in restaurants, hotels and cruise ships across Spain and the UK and spent 8 years as the manager of the Lincoln Gino’s restaurant.

The former Castlegate restaurant in uphill Lincoln. Photo: The Lincolnite

The former Castlegate restaurant in uphill Lincoln. Photo: The Lincolnite

After hitting a successful one year benchmark with Ole Ole, Amador says he began looking at ways to expand his existing premises. While the plan is still under consideration, he leapt at the chance to open a new restaurant with an inspiration close to his heart.

“The name Tito’s came from my father who passed away recently, he used to be a chef himself and I though it would be a pretty fitting idea.

“We made quite a quick decision due to swiftness of the closure of the former business. I heard about the opportunity on November 18 and I had made the decision by November 19.

“We hope to be serving a Spanish-style dish from outside the former Castlegate premises for the Christmas Market and the new restaurant will be open in mid-December.

“When I thought about a concept, the same way I did with Ole Ole, I tried to think about where there was a gap in the market.

“It’s not just going to be a grill, it’s going to be a restaurant with international cuisine and I have a team of very special chefs that I really believe in.”

The new restaurant will create a minimum of eight new jobs, with the possibility of further recruitment in the future.

“The menu will have an eclectic mix of meats, fish, pasta and one of our specialities will be chateaubriand steak”, Amador added.

“It’ll be good quality, locally sourced food with great service. We’ll also have a great cocktails menu and we have an experienced bar tender.

“I’d love eventually to open another Ole Ole, I think we really have a formula that works and our phone is like a hotline. More weekends and certainly until January we are fully booked.

“I’ve organised a pre-application with the local council to expand our existing premisses but obviously the new venture will take up a lot of time.”

Castlegate was not contactable regarding the restaurant closure.