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The opening of Avenue Restaurant and Bar (201-A N. Elm St.; 617-5321) in downtown Greensboro is set for Friday.

The upscale restaurant is a centerpiece tenant on the first floor of the Center Pointe, developer Roy Carroll's condominium project created in the old Wachovia building at North Elm Street and Friendly Avenue. The restaurant will be operated with executive chef Mitchell Nicks.

The restaurant seats 72 and has an open view of downtown streets and a chic, clean ambiance with a menu to match, including Wasabe Fried Oysters ($10), Seared Ahi Tuna and Avocado ($12), Wine Poached Shellfish ($19 and $14) and Skillet Charred Locally Raised Beef Rib Eye ($24). A vegetarian menu includes Truffled Potato and Parmesan Pierogi ($16 and $12) and Warmed Artichoke Hearts (418 and $14) with Ricotta and White Asparagus. Most dinner entrees come in large and small portions.

"We use locally grown ingredients from sustainable farms," says Mitchell Nicks who makes frequent trips to the Piedmont Triad Farmer's Market.

Nicks is a former chef with the Greensboro City Club and he brings the artisan ingredient mentality from Muse, his former restaurant at Friendly Center, to the table of Avenue.

A mix and match bistro menu includes selections of fresh beef and fish with choices of accompaniments and sides. Bread and desserts, such as Warmed Peach Dartois with Honey Ice Cream ($8) and Key Lime Tartlette ($8) are made in-house.

Avenue offers a weekday business lunch buffet featuring fish, meat, vegetables and salads and soup of the day for $12.

A selection of salads, starters and sandwiches, such as a Half Pound Kobe Beef Burger ($12) and Fried Oyster Sandwich ($12), are offered for lunch.

Avenue also offers a modestly priced late-night menu to accompany local jazz and blues musicians who will perform on Friday and Saturday evenings. And a Sunday brunch is being considered.

Avenue stocks a global wine list of more than 100 selections and a full bar offers a selection of Southern-infused martinis such as Honeysuckle, Cucumber, Apple Calvados and a Raspberry Mojito.

Avenue can accommodate theater patrons with two courses before the show and a dessert voucher to redeem after the show.

Call the restaurant for information on one or two private rooms that seat up to 20 each.

Avenue hours are lunch 11:30-3 p.m. Monday through Friday and dinner 5-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 5-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. A late night bar and menu with live music is 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Friday and Saturday. And a Sunday brunch will be offered starting Aug. 23.

Men will cook

Don't forget to sample what dozens of amateur and professional chefs have to offer during Men Can Cook, a benefit for the Women's Resource Center, from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the Special Events Center of the Greensboro Coliseum Complex (1921 W. Lee St., Greensboro).

Tickets are $40. Canned-food donations will be accepted for Second Harvest Food Bank. Call the Women's Resource Center at 275-6090 or visit online at www.womenscentergso.org for information.

Wine awards

223 South Elm (223 S. Elm St.; 272-3331) in Greensboro and Steak Street (3915 Sedgebrook St.; 841-0222) in High Point have both again won an Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator.

The basic award is for wine "lists that offer a well-chosen selection of quality producers, along with a thematic match to the menu in both price and style."

Old world cooking class

Old World Flavors Meets New World Wines during a cooking class and wine pairing luncheon at noon Saturday at Green Valley Grill (622 Green Valley Road) in Greensboro.

Join Chef Leigh Hesling and certified wine educator Julia Schiavone for a three-course meal with wine. Cost is $68.95 per person (includes tax and gratuity). Call 854-2015 for reservations.

Greek night

Journey to Greece for a three-course meal with a glass of wine during Greek Night from 5 to 10 p.m. Aug. 19 at Bistro Sofia (616 Dolley Madison Road) in Greensboro. Cost for the meal is $25. Call 855-1313 for reservations.

Italian wine dinner

Explore Vini d'Italia at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 19 at The Undercurrent (327 Battleground Ave.; http://undercurrentrestaurant.com) in Greensboro. Cost for this Italian wine dinner is $55. Call 370-1266.

Contact Carl Wilson at 373-7145 or carl.wilson@news-record.com