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With addition of a brand new kitchen, Manny's Universal Cafe (321 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive; 638-7788) in Greensboro's Southside development is now offering hot entrees for breakfast and lunch.

New entrees include Chicken Parmigiana ($5.65), Baked Ziti ($5.25) and Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad ($5.79).

Sandwiches and wraps ($5.25-$5.75), such as Grilled Chicken Breast or Roast Turkey, are offered for lunch. You can get them grilled panini style. A daily soup is also offered.

Owner Manuel Polanco offers daily lunch specials such as a Chicken or Turkey Wrap with a fruit cup for $5.99, or two hot dogs, chips and beverage for $4.99.

Breakfast items include freshly baked muffins and croissants, English muffins, scones and cookies. Want to make a breakfast sandwich from an English muffin or bagel? Just ask Polanco, and he'll cook to order.

Manny's offers coffee and espresso drinks, imported teas, energy drinks and special made-to-order Manny's Hot Chocolate.

It's hard to leave Manny's without grabbing a Key Lime bar, a hunk of cheesecake or a slice of Betty's Tres Leches (three milk) Flan.

Manny's offers beer and wine and Wifi. An outdoor patio provides a nice setting for lunch or listening to live music on the first Friday of the month.

Call or visit www.mannysuniversalcafe.com for information on catering.

Hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Big Easy-inspired brunch

Steak Street (3915 Sedgebrook St., High Point) has brought back its Sunday Champagne Brunch.

It's been a decade since the popular brunch was offered and Steak Street is serving up this special Big Easy-inspired brunch at 1999 prices.

Brunch items include Buttermilk Banana Pancakes ($7); Eggs on the Market ($7), poached over English Muffins with mushrooms and havarti cheese; Petty Street Panhandler ($12); Cajun salmon cakes with eggs and roasted red potatoes; Steak Street Shrimp Frittata ($9); and Steak Lover's Choice ($16), a choice of one of two steak selections served with poached eggs and roasted red potatoes.

A selection of appetizers (Carolina Crisp Oysters, Blue Crab and Popeye Spinach Dip, Voodoo Shrimp), Sandwiches (Crab Cake, Salmon, Low Country Po Boy) and salads (Beef Filet, Captain's Classic Tuna and St. Charles Old Fashioned Chicken) are also available, as is a children's menu and New Orleans-inspired desserts.

The brunch is served 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each Sunday through April. Champagne Mimosas are offered for $2.50 after noon during the brunch.

Steak Street is off N.C. 68 in North High Point. For a full menu, visit www.steakstreet.com.

Thai New Year celebration

April 13-15 is the traditional New Year celebration in Thailand. But those of us around here can celebrate through the whole month of April by stopping by Taste of Thai (1500 Mill St., Greensboro; 273-1318).

Owner Joe Thoopsamoot is offering a special menu all month.

In Thailand, pranks are a traditional part of the New Year celebration. At Taste of Thai, there's no fooling, but patrons can take advantage of a $10 door prize. Five will be given away each day. At the end of the month, one lucky customer will be drawn for a $500 gift certificate.

New hours at Noble's

Noble's High Point (101 S. Main St.; 889-3354) has changed its hours.

The restaurant is now serving 5:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and Sunday brunch 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For a look at the Sunday brunch menu, visit www.nobleshighpoint.com.

New menu at martini bar

The Mix Martini Bar and Restaurant (604 Milner Drive, Greensboro; 315-2100; www.myspace.com/mixmartinibar) in the space formerly occupied by Revival Grille, is offering a new menu that includes Seared Ribeye ($13), Chicken Pad Thai ($11) and Seared Scallops ($10).

Other items include Fried Calamari ($8), Shrimp Wraps ($8), Butternut Squash Ravioli ($9) and a selection of Italian-inspired pasta dishes and pizzas.

The Mix is owned by Matthew Medaloni, who formerly owned the Elm Street hot spots Much and N Club.

Knife sharpening offered

Along with the spring cleaning, give some of your hardest working kitchen knives a fresh edge.

Sur La Table (3334 W. Friendly Ave., Greensboro; 291-9962) at The Shops at Friendly Center is once again offering to sharpen two knives for free through the end of April.

The gourmet kitchen retailer will sharpen any additional knives at $1 per blade inch.

Meal and theater deal

Bert's Seafood Grille (4608 W. Market St., Greensboro; 854-2314) is helping to stretch the dollar for those looking for a nice evening out.

Patrons of productions at the intimate Open Space Cafe Theatre (4609-A W. Market St.; 292-2285; www.osctheatre.com) across the street need only bring in their ticket stub for 15 percent off an entree at Bert's.

By the same token, theater patrons can present their Bert's receipt the day of the show for 10 percent off the ticket price.

Seasonal treats

Jessie Podair of Sweet Temptations, a home-based bakery, says she has Passover desserts (strawberry shortcake, flourless chocolate cake, coconut macaroons and other goodies) ready for order.

And there still may be time to get an order in for Passover.

Visit www.sweettemptations.info/home or call 254-7219.

And goodies by Clara Marie's are now available at Carolina Coffee and Tea (400 State St.) in Greensboro and Rocking F Farm Country Store (6741 Monett Road) in Climax.

Clara Marie's is offering a new treat, Barry's Favorite Peanut Butter Balls. Visit www.claramaries.com to take a peak.

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