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Fargo just rode into town. Not the Pony Express. Fargo Cattle Company (294-7162) is a new restaurant that has opened at 3501 High Point Road, the former location of Oh! Brian's.

Fargo, a Western-themed steak house with another location in Zebulon, offers aged beef including slow-cooked prime rib ($16.99-$21.99), Filet Mignon ($17.99 and $19.99), Big Daddy Porterhouse ($22.99) and Baby Back Ribs (416.99-$21.99).

You can also get your beef on a bun, such as The Grilled Prime Sandwich ($8.49) and Prime Dip ($7.99).

In a nod to "Spaghetti Westerns," Fargo offers pasta dishes such as Linguini with Red Clam Sauce ($13.99) and Homemade Lasagna ($10.99).

The menu also includes a selection of chicken and seafood dishes, such as Hawaiian Chicken ($13.99) and Grilled Mahi Mahi or Atlantic Salmon ($15.99)

Fargo offers a 30-item all-you-can-eat soup and salad bar. The lunch menu includes items from the dinner menu, but in smaller, more affordable portions.

And, the restaurant makes its own caramel for Caramel Fudge Ice Cream Pie.

Fargo offers beer, wine and a full bar.

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

Looking for new location

The Madison Park Cafe (1310 Westover Terrace) has closed again.

In a statement, owner Paul Shepherd says, "We have stopped doing business at our present location."

He says he is exploring other restaurants sites and will follow up with details.

Italian celebration

Riva's Trattoria, L'Italiano Restaurant and Cheesecakes by Alex are just some of the restaurants that will be serving their best food for Festivale Italiano.

The outdoor festival celebrating an Italian state of mind is from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday in the 300 block of South Elm Street between Washington and McGee streets in downtown Greensboro.

In addition to the food, there will be arts, entertainment and a cycling event called Gran Fondo.

Admission to the event is free.

Wine will be sold for enjoying within the festival area.

For more information about the event, visit www.festivaleitaliano.com.

Solaris Tapas closes

Solaris Tapas Restaurant and Bar, 125 Summit Ave., is closing.

"I don't think tapas quite caught on the way it has in other sizable cities," says Jack Reynolds, who owns the restaurant with his son Christian, who is the executive chef.

Reynolds says business has been down 10 to 20 percent recently. So then they were approached by a couple looking to open a restaurant in Greensboro, they took the offer.

"Once this offer came, we just couldn't justify staying open," Reynolds says.

Solaris opened over six years ago bringing tapas -- a concept made popular in Spain of serving small portions with wine -- to downtown Greensboro.

Two years ago, Rim Tapas and Fine Wine Bar gave the concept a run on Elm Street before closing last August.

Reynolds says the new owners plan to open the restaurant under a new concept. The transition will happen fairly quickly with the new owners opening for business in just a few weeks.

Gelato shop to open

Gnam Gnam Gelato is opening at 3712-K Lawndale Drive in Greensboro.

The shop, which is next to The Fresh Market, will offer gelato and sorbetto made on the premises. The shop will also offer espresso, pastries, Italian sodas, micro brews and wines. Breakfast, lunch and dinner items will be served.

The shop is expected to open later this month.

Benefit chefs auction

Just a reminder that the 18th annual Signature Chefs Auction to benefit March of Dimes is set for 6-9 p.m. tomorrow at the Empire Room in downtown Greensboro.

Chefs from Avenue, Painted Plate, Ganache and B. Christopher's are among the area restaurants and caterers who will showcase their talents for the event.

Tickets are $100. For more information, call the March of Dimes at 231-3766 or visit www.marchofdimes.com/northcarolina.

Sample holiday offerings

The Fresh Market is showcasing its fully prepared holiday meal options with a Taste of the Holidays sampling event from noon to 6 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

Sample the likes of smoked salmon, standing rib roast, pies and cakes, coffee and eggnog.

Greensboro has two Fresh Market locations. One at 1560 Highwoods Blvd. (855-6114) off New Garden Road and another at 3712 Lawndale Drive (282-4832).

Cookbook on sale

"Recipes of Note," the cookbook for the Greensboro Symphony Guild, will be on sale this weekend during the guild's annual homes tour.

The 25th annual event is Saturday and Sunday. For information about the tour or the cookbook, visit www.gsoguild.org.

Honoring veterans

Applebee's Neighborhood Grill and Bar is honoring U.S. veterans and active duty military with a free meal on Nov. 11 for Veterans Day.

Guests must provide proof of current or former U.S. military service to get a choice of six signature entrees. The deal is available for dine-in only at lunch or dinner.

Applebee's locations are 4406 W. Wendover Ave. (299-5565) and 3200 Battleground Ave. (282-7100) in Greensboro, 3865 John Gordon Lane (841-3910) in High Point and 3103 Garden Road (584-3344) in Burlington.

For information, visit www.applebees.com/vetsday.

Beer and brats

Who says the fun ends in October? It's a Beer and Brats Novemberfest from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Company Shops Market (268 E. Front St.) a cooperative grocery in downtown Burlington.

The event features food from Cane Creek Farm in Snow Camp, Ninth Street Bakery in Durham, brew provided by Red Oak Brewery and live music. Brats and burgers are $4 each, and the brew is $2 each. Visit www.companyshopsmarket.coop for information.

Fall menu items

Chef Mark Freedman is offering a new small plates menu at Level 2 Restaurant and Lounge (113 S. Elm St.; 691-8020) above Much Martini Bar in downtown Greensboro.

The menu features many of the items on the regular menu, but in smaller, more affordable portions.

Some notable items include Fried Mac and Cheese with Creole Mustard Sauce, Teriyaki Meatballs with Sauteed Bok Choy, Grilled Andouille Sausage with Onions and Peppers, Cuban Pork Sliders with Chimichuri Sauce, breaded hand-made Tater Tots with Spicy Marinara and Calamari Fra Diavolo, a sauteed calamari steak with fried spinach.

Items range in price from $7 to $10.

And don't forget to ask what homemade ice cream or sorbet Chef Freedman has whipped up for the week.

Wine dinner planned

Steak Street (3915 Sedgebrook St.) in High Point is holding a Robert Mondavi wine dinner at 6:30 p.m. today on the restaurant's inclosed bistro patio. Cost for the four-course meal is $65.

Call 841-0222 for reservations.

New sandwiches

For a limited time, T.G.I. Friday's (4423 W. Wendover Ave., Greensboro; 294-3707) is adding a Big Mex Burger, a Teriyaki Bacon Burger, a Honey Mustard Chicken Sandwich and an Ultimate Sicilian Chicken Sandwich to its menu.

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