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Tony Bowen and Wendy Walker are die-hard Food TV junkies. But unlike many who watch the show and dream of owning a restaurant, these two actually have some restaurant experience.

Bowen and Walker opened Gate City Deli and Grill (106 N. Westgate Drive, Greensboro; 294-9500) this week in a small location at West Market Street and Westgate Drive.

Their names might be familiar to people who work in the office parks clustered around Battleground and Bessemer avenues. For two years, they ran the Executive Sandwich Shop out of the Executive Forum office building.

"A lot of our menu items came from the sandwich shop," Walker says. Those menu items include deli sides made fresh daily, such as chicken and albacore tuna salad and pasta and potato salad.

"Our banana pudding was so popular, people would call us up and reserve it for lunch," Walker says, laughing.

The sandwich shop was a first for Walker, who had created many of the shop's specialties in her kitchen for years. But she and Bowen always wanted a larger space with a grill to offer a larger menu. They learned about a vacancy off West Market Street that seemed like a good spot.

Bowen, who worked in the sports department of the News & Record while in college, has years of restaurant experience with Spring Garden Brewery, Ham's and Applebee's. He's gregarious and loves his customers.

"You can eat or drink anywhere, so why come here?" Bowen asks with a grin. "Customer service."

Gate City Deli offers a selection of hand-pattied burgers that can be ordered as a single ($3.75), double ($5.25) or triple ($6.50). Deli sandwiches include Philly Cheese Steak ($6.95), Triple Decker Club ($6.95), Gobbler ($6.25) with roasted turkey and tarragon cream cheese, Sandy ($6.25) with roasted chicken salad and Oyster Po Boy ($6.95).

"The chicken in our chicken salad is roasted with garlic and olive oil," Bowen says.

There's even a create-your-own sandwich menu. All sandwiches are served with chips or carrot sticks with ranch dressing.

Some notable appetizers include Fried Pickles ($5.95), Gate City Wings ($6.95) with a choice of sauce, Railway Sliders ($6.95), which are three mini bacon cheeseburgers, and Train Wreck Fries ($6.95), topped with cheese sauce, chili, sour cream, guacamole and homemade salsa.

Salads, including Grilled Chicken Caesar, Cobb and Fried Oyster (each $6.95), are served with homemade dressings in a taco shell.

Gate City Deli offers indoor and outdoor seating. Ask about daily specials, side items, soup and dessert.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Rib shack opens

It's smoking at the Westover Gallery of Shops, and some of the fire fighters across the street at Greensboro Fire Department Station No. 5 are probably grateful.

Shane's Rib Shack (272-4696) has opened at 1410 Westover Terrace in Greensboro. The restaurant is Greensboro's second.

The Georgia-based chain serves barbecue pork, chicken and ribs along with a wide selection of sides.
For a menu, visit www.shanesribshack.com.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Noodle house opens

Pho Ha Vietnamese Beef Noodle House (2505 Battleground Ave., Greensboro; 545-4363) is serving traditional noodle and soup dishes.

Located in the old Healthy Spice space, Pho Ha offers a selection of beef Pho Noodle Soups that include steak, brisket, flank and tripe served in two sizes: small ($5.95) and large ($6.95).

The brothy soups can be accompanied by a selection of side items such as scallions, coriander, basil and bean sprouts.

Vermicelli bowls ($6.95) include prawns, sliced pork, fried rolls and vegetables.

Other items include Chicken Pho ($5.95 and $6.95), Shrimp Pho ($7.95), Carrot Beef Stew ($6.95) and Pho without Meat ($4.50 and $5.50).

Lunch specials include House Noodles ($6.95) with shrimp, chicken or steak; Grilled Chicken ($5.95) with vegetables and rice; Stir Fry Shrimp ($7.95); and a combination platter ($9.95) with shrimp, steak, chicken vegetables and rice.

Many items are served with traditional ginger, peanut, white or fish sauces.

Wing contest helps kids

A Wing Grill-off and Car Show to benefit Kids Path of Hospice and Palliative Care of Greensboro will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Pleasant Garden Community Center, 5024 Alliance Church Road in Pleasant Garden.

Admission is $3. For information, call 669-4923.

Blueberry celebration

Blueberries are ripening, and the Greensboro Farmers' Curb Market (501 Yanceyville St., Greensboro) is celebrating these great little sources of antioxidants with Berry Day from 6 a.m. to noon Saturday.

Cheesecakes by Alex will prepare a blueberry pancake breakfast for the occasion.

For information, call 373-2402.

Guide to farms and arts

The N.C. Department of Cultural Resources and the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service have created "Homegrown/Handmade: Art Roads and Farm Trials," a guide that combines authentic arts, agriculture, unique places and people in 16 self-directed driving tours.

A slide show presentation and book signing will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at Barnes & Noble (3102 Northline Ave., Greensboro; 854-4200) at Friendly Center.

Season wine dinner

Muse Restaurant and Wine Bar (3124 Kathleen Ave., Greensboro) in Friendly Center is offer a Summer Harvest Wine Dinner at 7 p.m. July 24.

Cost of the five-course dinner with six wines is $65. For reservations, call 323-1428.

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