THERE'S been plenty of hype surrounding the opening of the new concept TGI Fridays this week at Bournemouth's new £50 million leisure complex.

TGI's is the first in a number of restaurant chains that will be opening at BH2 over the next few weeks.

It's been more than 20 years since I last visited a TGI Fridays so I wasn't exactly sure what to expect apart from a brand spanking American style diner.

The place is cavernous with an array of seating options - in fact no one was sure exactly how many people it can actually cater for - the best guest was around 210.

The menu is big too. There are so many different options and various quirky sounding combinations such as bacon lollipops.

One of the highlights (if you're a big eater) has to be the Endless Appetizers which sound too good to be true.

There's Endless Apps for £9.99 where you pick one option and keep refilling, or there's Endless Choice for £12.99. You can literally have as many starters as you can stomach. (I'm planning on bringing my teenage son next time to put this to the test!)

The company has obviously got a good staff training programme in place - our waitress Liz was superb.

She knew the menu well which was a good job as I wasn't sure where to start. She recommended one of the house favourites for starters - the Jack Daniels Sesame Chicken Strips.

This was one of a choice of starters on a set three course menu called Uptown for £15.99.

Crispy chicken breast strips tossed in the JD special glaze and topped with sesame seeds and chilli flakes which was exquisite.

For mains I had the Blackened Chicken Fajita which was served sizzling in a skillet nestling in a bed of peppers and onions, with warm tortillas in a separate dish and mini ramekins of sour cream, guacamole and chilli sauce.

For dessert Liz recommended the Birthday Cake Sundae which was a meal in itself.

I was genuinely surprised with the quality of the food, portions sizes and menu deals.

Although TGI's might not be ideal if you're not a big eater or carnivorous, there are enough veggie options.

If the rest of the other restaurant chains that are due to open here over the next few weeks are even half as good, then BH2 looks set to be a real asset to the town.