US-based casual dining restaurant chain Chili's Grill & Bar has opened its new location in Merced, California, next to Merced Mall.

Chili's Grill & Bar general manager Angel Flores was quoted by the Merced Sun-Star as saying: “We have a very welcoming atmosphere here at Chili’s.

“Team members–we feel like they love their job here. We feel like they’re going to express it with the service that they provide for the guests that come into Chili’s. It’s the connection that we want to bring to all of Merced.”

The restaurant chain will offer various food items to its guests, including burgers, ribs, fajitas, margaritas and crispy chicken crispers.

So far, the restaurant company has hired more than 50 employees for its Merced location.

Flores explained that the diners can also pay their bills through an interactive Presto screen available at the table.

He added that the screens will also give diners access to games and allow them to sign up for the Chili’s rewards programme.

Flores concluded: “The location was previously scheduled to open around the end of January. Unfortunately, extreme weather throughout the Central Valley earlier this year pushed the opening date back to Monday 25 June.

Chili's Grill & Bar was founded in Texas in 1975 by Larry Lavine and currently operates 1,610 locations across the US.