AN ARGENTINIAN steakhouse in Musselburgh has been given the thumbs-up by councillors.

Buenos Aires Cafe & Grill, run by Mohammad Nazim Ahmed, was given a provisional licence by East Lothian Council’s licensing board last Thursday morning.

The restaurant, on High Street, is on the site of the former Halimah Indian restaurant and opened late last year.

Alistair Macdonald, representing Mr Ahmed, was pleased to say that the restaurant had proven a great success in the short amount of time since it had opened.

He said: “He identified these premises and was of the opinion there was nothing similar in Musselburgh and the surrounding area to what is an Argentinian steak restaurant, specialising in steaks but alternatives as well.

“It has proven to be very popular – beyond his expectations.

“There are largely local residents that have gone in and he has received excellent feedback, including from some of the neighbours.”

Mr Ahmed has previously been involved in the hospitality industry on Edinburgh’s Princes Street, as well as at Gleneagles.

The newly-granted licence allows the business to sell alcohol on the premises, as well as with deliveries.

Mr Macdonald added: “He would like the ability to have deliveries and perhaps include alcohol in that as well. It would only ever be with food.

“It is a steak restaurant and it is perhaps not the type of food that is conducive to being delivered, but at the same time it is amazing the type of food that people like to have delivered.”

Alcohol could include Argentinian wines which are not typically found in local supermarkets.

The committee unanimously approved the granting of the licence.

Councillor John McMillan, who is part of the committee, which met in Haddington, was pleased to hear about the restaurant’s commitment to using locally sourced food and drink where possible.

The councillor, who is also the council’s spokesman for tourism and economic development, added: “I particularly welcome the mention of East Lothian food and drink on the premises.

“There are very good East Lothian steaks and East Lothian tatties for the chips.”