CRO Announces Entry Into Europe With Cantina Laredo Opening in London

By Consolidated Restaurant Operations Inc., PRNE
Monday, August 2, 2010

DALLAS, August 3, 2010 - Consolidated Restaurant Operations, Inc. (CRO), which operates and
franchises 117 full-service restaurants encompassing seven different brands,
announced the opening of Cantina Laredo at the fashionable new shopping and
dining destination, St Martin's Courtyard in Covent Garden, London. The
restaurant is the first of 35 Cantina Laredo restaurants slated to open in
the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.

"The restaurant opening in London marks the first Cantina Laredo in
Europe, bringing the authentic taste of gourmet Mexican cuisine to another
major market. It represents further significant expansion of the footprint of
our brand and solidifies our global appeal," said John D. Harkey, Jr., Chief
Executive Officer for CRO.

To enter the UK and Ireland, CRO selected Oriole Restaurants Limited to
be the first European franchisee of the Cantina Laredo gourmet Mexican
restaurant brand.

Oriole Restaurants Limited CEO Jackie Ginsberg commented on the gap in
the market for high-end Mexican cuisine, "In the UK, we consider Tex-Mex and
Mexican food to be one and the same. Tex-Mex restaurants really don't
represent the depth and variety of authentic Mexican food, nor the skill
required to prepare it. That's where Cantina Laredo steps in."

Cantina Laredo in Upper St Martin's Courtyard spans two floors measuring
7,218 sq ft. Cantina Laredo has 220 seats and features a bar specializing in
tequila for the connoisseur and a private dining room.

CRO currently operates and franchises restaurants in 12 states, UAE and
Cairo, Egypt. Its brands range across the gourmet Mexican, casual Mexican and
Steakhouse segments and also include III Forks, Silver Fox, Good Eats, Luckys
Cafe, El Chico and Cool River Cafe. CRO had system-wide sales of US$214
million
in 2009.

Mr. Harkey said U.S. franchise concepts such as those under the CRO
umbrella have attracted international franchise partners for three main
reasons: strong brand identification, sophisticated distribution networks and
well-defined, proven operating systems. CRO has development agreements in
place to build 170 restaurants over the next seven years. Mr. Harkey said the
company is now considering further expansion into the Asian market.

Bill Watson, Vice President Marketing of Consolidated Restaurant Operations, Inc., +1-972-888-4232, bwatson at croinc.com. NOTE TO EDITORS: Photo available on request

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