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Tonight marks a return. After an absence of over a decade, Paul and Joan Shepherd are once again serving French cuisine at The Madison Park Cafe and Marketplace (1310 Westover Terrace, Suite 107, Greensboro; 275-3755).

But, in addition to a new location in the old Casaldi's Cafe spot at the intersection of Wendover Avenue and Westover Terrace, The Madison Park Cafe offers affordable French dishes (around $8-$20) in a new concept.

"We wanted to keep the restaurant, but offer the cafe," says Paul Shepherd. "To be relaxed and casual. To have fun."

Starting today, dinner will be served from 5 to 9 p.m. and offer traditional specialties like Beouf Bourguignonne, Bouillabaisse, Poulet de Pot, Veal Blanquet and Foie Gras.

The difference is the much more informal cafe atmosphere and the chalkboard menus hung over the refrigerated display cases holding most of the food on the menu. So you can order at the counter and get it to go, or you can grab one of a handful of nearby tables and tell your server what you'd like.

The Madison Park will open for dinner from 5 to 9 p.m. today, tomorrow and Saturday. Starting Monday, the restaurant will begin serving a variety of fresh lunch items, including house-baked breads, pastries and homemade ice cream and sorbets, at 11 a.m.