SOUTHEND already boasts so many wonderful places to eat.

We have many favourites across the city such as Pipe of Port, Roslin Beach Hotel, Il Pescatore, Aurum Restaurant, the Boatyard, Sands by the Sea, and Fellini's Dolce Vita.

And us foodies are set to be spoiled with even more choice, with a number of exciting restaurants on their way to Southend.

Here we take a look at some of the names on the horizon.

ZINNIA

Echo:

ZINNIA, run by the Elysium Gorup, is set to be opened this summer as part of the £125million Clifftown Shore 51-apartment development on Southend seafront.

The restaurant will offer food lovers a pan-Pacific inspired menu designed around the geographic and culinary fusions of the western shores of North and South America, the Polynesian islands, eastern Asia and Australia.

The menu is best described as a melee of fresh, colourful dishes such as California sushi rolls, ahi tuna ceviche and beef tataki to Japanese A5 wagyu and miso cod.

Picante

Echo:

A new Italian restaurant is set to be opened in Leigh Broadway, on the site of the former TUI travel agents.

Meaning ‘spicy’ in Italian, Picante are owned by the same people who run nearby independent restaurant The Brunch Company at 69 Broadway, which serves food and cocktails.

Wagamama

Echo:

The chain - which specialises in Asian cuisine inspired by the flavours of Japan - is looking to open a restaurant in the former Bella Italia in London Road, near the Victoria shopping centre.

The brand is loved for its ramen, donburi, teppanyaki, curry and kokoro bowls.

Taco Bell

Echo:

Taco Bell is aiming to convert the former Moss Bros store at 84 High Street into a restaurant and takeaway.

Plans for the site show 25 tables would be installed in the restaurant, which will serve dishes such as tacos, nachos and burritos.

There are currently fewer than 100 Taco Bell currently operating in the UK but more than 7,000 open in the US.