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Greensboro has a new sports bar. But this is not your average sports bar. REFS (3404 Whitehurst Road; 282-1501) sports bar and restaurant comes with a pedigree. That pedigree is operating partner Jim Slowin.

Slowin has 22 years of restaurant experience and 18 of those with Quaintance-Weaver, where he eventually became an operating partner and vice president of restaurants. What Slowin learned from his tenure at Quaintance-Weaver he brings to the table of REFS, a sophisticated concept that began with a dream by REFS owners Patrick and Kelly McMichael.

But getting the restaurant off the ground proved a challenge for the McMichaels. They were introduced to Slowin and things took off from there.

"We wanted something completely different," Slowin says. "No neon. No beer signs."

The result fits the two-story space perfectly. The ambience is a nod to the sleek sophistication of Niketown stores. What the restaurant lacks in sports paraphernalia, it makes up for with black leather seating and several black and white images of athletes embossed on 4-by-8-foot sheets of stainless steel. The referee-yellow linen napkins are a noticeable touch, and nearly 50 flat-screen televisions air almost continuous coverage from several sports packages.

"We wanted to be the opposite of what people think about in the sports bar arena," Slowin says, adding that REFS is "very female friendly."

Slowin brought in veteran chef Mark Lewandowski to help develop the menu. Lewandowski and Slowin had worked together in the early days of Lucky 32, and Lewandowski was a chef at the former Ritchie's in downtown Greensboro.

The two have developed a menu that offers starters such as Deep Fried Ravioli ($7.95), panko-encrusted slices of fried mozzarella ($7.95) and REFS Wings ($6.95 for six, $11.95 for 12). These aren't fried, but instead are slow smoked in the restaurant's smoker before being grilled and tossed in a homemade sauce.

A lot of what the menu offers comes from that wood-fired smoker, including St. Louis Cut Pork Spareribs ($10.95 half rack, $15.95 full), Rotisserie BBQ Half Chicken ($12.95), Carolina Pulled Pork Sandwich ($8.95) and even a Texas Beef Brisket Sandwich ($9.95).

REFS also offers a full menu of burgers and sandwiches including the Black and Blue Burger ($8.95), Bad Girl Turkey Burger ($8.95), Honey Chipotle Chicken Sandwich ($8.95), Fried Oyster Po Boy ($9.50) and Beer-Braised Giacomo's Bratwurst ($8.95).

Other entrees include a Filet Mignon or N.Y. Strip ($19.95), Grilled Mahi Mahi or Bourbon Pineapple Salmon ($17.95) and Sausage and Pepper Marinara ($12.95) featuring Giacomo's sausage.

REFS is nonsmoking, and the comfortable bar offers beer, a small wine list and martinis and signature drinks. A loft overlooking the bar offers more intimate seating and can be reserved for private parties. Live music will be offered Friday and Saturday, and billiards and a bar take center stage of the upstairs dining area.

"We want to build something the community can be proud of," says Slowin. He'd like to offer a home for alumni groups loyal to schools beyond the Southeast.

Hours are 11:15 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday and 11:15 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

Coffee curriculum

UNCG students now have a new major: Coffeeology (423-A Tate St.; 285-8686). It's defined as "the study, the art, the culture, the love of coffee."

The new coffee shop and restaurant, which has opened across from the UNCG campus in Greensboro, is the realization of a vision by owner Kyle Regan and his wife Karla. They brought in Nasi Kajana and Elisabetta Massa as owners. Kajana and Massa, who provide the beans and helped set up the concept, are both entrepreneurs who have owned and operated Fortuna Enterprises, a Greensboro coffee-roasting company and importer of Italian specialty foods, for the past eight years.

Although the coffee bar -- which offers hot and cold Italian coffee and espresso drinks, teas and smoothies -- is the focal point of the shop, the all-day food offerings are worth more than a glance.

The menu, created by Kajana with the help of Calvin Foster, who spent 12 years in the kitchen of the late Laddie & Dukes, is an expression in international creativity with a selection of waffles ($4.35-$5.35) that include Caramel Apple, Orange, Whole Wheat and Berries and even Banana Split. Stuffed crepes ($3.75-$5.50) entice with fillings such as Spinach and Asparagus, Prosciutto and Egg, Strawberry and Vanilla Gelato and the classic Suzette.

Coffeeology also offers panini-style sandwiches ($5.25-$6.25) such as Smoked Salmon, Beef and Mushroom Pesto, Veggie and one topped with mango, mint and prosciutto. Breakfast sandwiches can be stuffed with one item for $2.25, up to four items for $3 and include options such as sausage, cheese, egg and soy sausage on a choice of bagel, wheat bread or croissant.

It will be hard to head off to class without a fix from one of Coffeeology's 18 locally produced Italian gelatos in flavors like Baci (chocolate and hazelnut), Amadeus (cherry, chocolate and pistachio), Ginger and Mango.

The shop also offers soups and some baked items such as cheesecake, muffins and cookies.

Kajana says he plans to continue to tweak the menu to include items such as panini-style sandwiches on pita, a spicy chili and chocolate gelato and seasonal coffee drinks.

Hours are 6:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Dine out for a cause

The Claddagh Restaurant and Bar, Emerywood Fine Foods, Dry Dock Seafood and Peppermill Cafe are just a few of the restaurants donating a portion of their proceeds to the United Way of Greater High Point during Dining Out Day for United Way on Tuesday.

For a list of restaurants, visit www.unitedwayhp.org or call 883-4127.

Homegrown organic brew

Once again, Natty Greene's Pub & Brewing Co. (345 S. Elm St., Greensboro; 274-1373) is featuring the seasonal Piedmont Organic Ale.

The medium-bodied ale is brewed with organic malt and hops grown in North Carolina, including hops provided by Matt Russ of State Street Coffee House.

Russ provided hops for the specialty brew last year, and this year he planted extra acreage at his mountain farm to accommodate the demand.

Piedmont Organic Ale is available only for a short time.

New chef, new menu

Chef Josh Bohlen, from the Wilmington area, has joined the team of Solaris (125 Summit Ave., Greensboro; 378-0198).

The restaurant is also offering a seasonal menu featuring items such as Butternut Squash Bisque ($4 cup, $6 bowl), Cognac Pear and Gorgonzola Salad ($7 small, $11 large), Crab-stuffed Portobello ($9) and Bacon-wrapped Dates ($8).

Small plate items include Black Bean and Corn Cakes ($7), Bacon-wrapped Rainbow Trout ($10) and Apple Hollandaise Pork ($13).

Entrees include Roulade of Beef Tenderlion ($29) and Shiraz-peppered Duck ($26).

Dim sum offered

Taste of Thai (1500 Mill St., Suite 101, Greensboro; 273-1318) is offering traditional dim sum served from a cart from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. each Sunday. Prices range from $2.50 to $3.95.

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