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After four years of serving the weekday lunch crowd at Center City Cafe in downtown Greensboro, owner Darren Worley decided to take things to a new level. So late last fall, he walked away from the cafe and has now opened Center City Bar and Grille (219-A S. Elm St.; 271-4227) in a space formerly occupied by Rim.

"We decided to take the training wheels off," Worley says. "Downtown is what we know. We decided to bring our name 1,000 feet down the road."

The latest incarnation of the address isn't a far cry from its history. In the 1950s, the space was a Crystal Burger. Building owner Milton Kern remembers going there as a kid. And from the street, the small space, adjacent to an alley featuring a cascading water sculpture, appears to be a take-out only joint. But follow the pendant lights down the hall past the kitchen and you'll discover a spacious dining area and inviting bar where folks having a Black Angus burger and a craft beer watch football playoffs on big-screen televisions.

Most evenings, Worley's partner, James Baker, will be tending bar while Worley and fellow cook Robbie Smith mind the kitchen, filling orders for signature sandwiches such as a Ribeye Steak ($8.99); the Worley Bird ($7.95) chicken breast sandwich with homemade pimento cheese; a Chicken Philly ($7.99); and the North Cackalacky BBQ ($6.99), the restaurant's own style of barbecue.

Black Angus burgers include the Tarheel ($7.49) with chili and slaw, the Uptown Mushroom Swiss ($7.49) and the Old Southern Favorite ($8.49) with pimento cheese and bacon. The restaurant also offers a Venison Burger ($10.99) topped with Cackalacky barbecue sauce.

Feeling brave? Try The Bully ($13.99), 21 ounces of Angus beef topped with three kinds of cheese and the works.

Fried Green Tomatoes ($4.99), Wings ($6.99) and Fried Pickles ($4.99) are among the starters.

Center City offers some "backyard" micro brews, including some Tarheel favorites such as Boone Brewing Company, Cottonwood and Duck Rabbit. Worley plans to eventually rotate through the dozens of other North Carolina breweries.

Center City offers daily specials and a soup. Worley plans to offer more traditional southern fare (chicken and dumplings and a meat and two sides specials), items that were a favorite at the old cafe.

A daily beer special is offered, and Thursday night is half-price wine. The restaurant offers karaoke on Wednesday nights and a DJ on Friday and Saturday nights. Worley and Baker are exploring the possibility of partnering with fraternities and sororities for fundraisers.

Hours are 11 a.m.-midnight Monday through Wednesday and 11 a.m. to 4 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.

By the way, the old cafe is under new ownership and is now Broadway Cafe (114 N. Elm St.), serving lunch Monday through Friday.

Downtown getting pizza delivery franchise

Downtown Greensboro will be getting a Donatos (www.donatos.com) pizza and subs restaurant.

The franchise, at the Smothers Place Lofts at 360 S. Elm St., will focus primarily on delivery and take-out but will offer some indoor and outdoor seating. Target opening date is early February.

Scoop shop opens in Summerfield

Summerfield Creamery has opened in Golden Antiques and Treasures (4537 U.S. 220 N.; 643-6994).

The shop is owned by Jim Hall, Wally Becker and Jim Marmion. This is the trio's first scoop shop, but they are not strangers to the ice cream industry. They, along with chef Paul Godino, formerly of Ganache, are partners in Advanced Gourmet Equipment and Design, a company that specializes in frozen dessert equipment for retailers.

For 15 years, this Greensboro-based company has developed ice cream and gelato equipment and assisted retailers in setting up shops across the country, including some in Greensboro.

"We decided to do something in our own community," says Jim Hall.

So they opened their own scoop shop in a fledgling mall.

In addition to ice cream and sorbet, the shop offers their specialty gelato, custard and other frozen desserts. You can also get a cup of coffee from beans roasted locally, and baked goods created by Advanced Gourmet partner Godino.

Hall says the venture has been rewarding.

"After years of traveling, it's nice to do something right here in the community."

And Summerfield Creamery is trying to keep it local by using regional ingredients whenever possible.

The community mantra extends to working with PTA groups, churches and other local organizations in fund-raising efforts. A portion of the proceeds from 9 a.m. to closing on Saturday will be donated to the VFW Post No. 7999 Memorial Project.

Summerfield Creamery hours are 9 a.m. to around 7 p.m. daily.

Program focuses on eco-friendly McDonald's

What prompted McDonald's restaurant owner Ric Richards to go green with the recent reconstruction of a McDonald's restaurant in Cary? Find out at the next meeting of the Piedmont Triad North Carolina Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Volvo Communication Building, 7900 National Service Road in Greensboro.

Richards' McDonald's has been designated as the first LEED-certified McDonald's in North Carolina and the third in the United States. He will talk about sustainability for business and lifestyle during the free program. For information, visit www. usgbc-ptnc.org.

Dessert contest scheduled

Raleigh's Crossroads United Methodist Church, 716 Guilford College Road in Greensboro, is looking for the sweetest dessert in Guilford County.

The competition will be held at 3 p.m. Feb. 13. An $8 entry fee is requested to benefit a scholarship fund. For information, call 294-4325.

Avenue dinner spotlights local wine producer

Explore wines from Guilford County's own Grove Vineyards during a dinner at 6 p.m. Jan. 27 at Avenue Restaurant, 201-205 N. Elm St. in downtown Greensboro.

Chef and proprietor Mitchell Nicks will serve a six-course menu for the event. Cost is $65. Call 617-5321.

Demonstration showss quick and easy recipes

Learn to prepare quick and easy recipes, such as Chilean Sticky Chicken, for planned parties or impromptu gatherings during a free Fresh Flavors cooking demonstration from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at The Fresh Market (855-6114), 1560 Highwoods Blvd. in Greensboro.

Some specials

Angelia's Pizza has added some daily lunch and dinner specials.

From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, get a half sandwich with fries and side salad or drink or a small one-topping pizza or 10 wings and drink. Cost is $5.99. Get a hamburger combination for $5.25 or a pizza slice and drink for $3.25

Daily pizza specials range from an extra large with four toppings for $15.25 on Sunday to a free small cheese pizza with extra large pizza purchase on Thursday. Call for the daily special.

Angelia's Pizza locations are 1314-B N.C. 62 East (676-1661) in Climax and 5315-A Liberty Road (674-0060) at Forest Oaks in Greensboro.

Catitude Cafe (718 W. Market St.; 617-8354), in the Shops on West Market near downtown Greensboro, is offering Hogan's Groovy Gourmet soups and wraps. Get a wrap, chips and iced tea for $3.99 or a wrap and soup combination for $6.50.

The coffee and smoothie shop is also offering a large coffee and a brownie from Spring Garden Bakery for $3. And warm the chill with a White Chocolate Mocha Latte for a limited time.

T.G.I. Friday's (4423 W. Wendover Ave., Greensboro; 294-3707) is offering a Three for $12.99 Dinner Menu allowing guests to choose their own appetizers, entrees and desserts.

The Loop Pizza Grill (1030 S. Main St., Kernersville; 992-4400) is adding fried calamari to its appetizer menu.

Carrabba's Italian Grill (3200 High Point Road; 323-6069; and 1653 New Garden Road; 218-0623) in Greensboro offer two seasonal specials that include a Sirloin and Spiedino (shrimp and sea scallops) platter and Lobster Mac and Cheese.

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