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Much has traded fire dancers for roasted red peppers and risotto. The downtown hot spot has transformed its exotic second-floor dining venue into Carmine's Restaurant (113 S. Elm St., GB; 691-8020), serving Italian dishes from the northern and southern regions of the country.

Owner Rocky Scarfone named the restaurant after his late father. As a family, the Scarfones loved to go out to Italian restaurants. Scarfone says the name was a fitting tribute to his dad.

"The concept mimics Cafe Martorano in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., owned by a friend of mine, Stevie Martorano," Scarfone says. "I've always been impressed with his concept and we felt that it was something that meshed with Much."

The concept incorporates fine Italian dining with an upbeat atmosphere. Scarfone says that though the concept of the restaurant has changed, the martini bar Much, on the ground level, will remain the same. A separate entrance has been created for Carmine's so that diners can bypass Much if they choose.

Scarfone has hired Scott Leard to helm the kitchen. Leard is a familiar name around these parts, having been the chef and proprietor of Pinot's in Sedgefield and worked with Giovanni Carandola at Giovanni's restaurants in Greensboro and Myrtle Beach. Most recently Leard was with Southern Roots in High Point.

Carmine's serves imported Italian pasta such as Linguine with Clams ($19), Smoked Chicken and Sun Dried Tomatoes in a roasted garlic cream sauce ($17), and Spaghetti and Meatballs with Mama Scarfone's red sauce ($12). Risotto of the Day, Rigatoni Herb Chicken ($16) and Penne Pasta with Shrimp Puttanesca ($17) round off additional pasta selections.

"It's true Italian cooking," Leard says. "Our meatballs are the size of a tennis ball."

Chicken Parmesan ($16), Pan Roasted Grouper with roasted peppers and artichokes in a sherry vinaigrette ($24), Rocco's N.Y. Strip ($28) and Veal Piccata ($18) are just a sampling of dishes from the chicken, seafood, beef and veal menus.

And with the purchase of each meal, a complimentary serving of lemoncello, an Italian lemon liquor, will be offered.

For starters and lighter fair, Carmine's offers a large selection of antipasti, including Steamed Mussels ($13) and Lump Crab Cake ($13), and salads.

Carmine's serves dinner from 5 to 11 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, with a late-night menu offered from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m.

On Saturdays from 7 to 11 p.m., Carmine's opens its rooftop, formerly the club Heaven, for open-air dining.

But fans of Heaven needn't put away their dance shoes. The rooftop club continues to party into the night each Friday starting at 10 p.m.

Tortillas before your eyes

Freshly baked tortillas made to order? No, this ain't Texas, folks, it's North Carolina.

The state's first Panchero's Mexican Grill (www.pancheros.com) has opened at 210 Huffman Mill Road in Burlington.

"We make our tortillas in front of the customer," says owner Ron Hezar.

The franchise specializes in big burritos made with tortillas pressed freshly from dough and baked on the spot for each order.

"All of the items in the cold and hot bar we make fresh every day," Hezar says.

Panchero's signature items include quesadillas ($4.65), burritos ($5.60), fajitas ($5.25), tacos ($4.25) and salads ($5.25) filled with a choice of steak, chicken, pork or grilled veggies.

Sides offered include beans, rice and homemade salsas that include corn, pico de gallo and mild and hot tomato salsa.

Hezar plans to open a Panchero's in Greensboro early next year.

For now, stop by the Burlington location from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.

Beneficial burgers

There have been plenty of burgers sold for a cause recently.

Earth Fare's (2965 Battleground Ave., Greensboro) Burger For A Buck Grill Out netted $1,200 for Red Dog Farm, a Summerfield animal rescue network, on July 28.

The July opening of Red Robin Gourmet Burgers (3110 Waltham Blvd., Burlington) in the Alamance Crossing Shopping Center raised $3,213 for the Burlington Fire Department during its Burgers With A Heart event.

Do-it-yourself venue closes

Dream Dinners (3720 Lawndale Drive, Greensboro), the first of several do-it-yourself meal preparation venues that opened in 2004, has temporarily closed.

According to a company spokesperson, the franchise will reopen soon under new management.

Have restaurant news for Short Orders? Contact Carl Wilson at 373-7145 or cwilson@news-record.com.