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Considering the Egyptian artifacts and art, patrons might feel as if they are dining in a museum when they visit Cleopatra’s Restaurant (1310 Westover Terrace, Suite 107, Greensboro; 274-5003)

The restaurant, which opened last week in the space formerly occupied by Basil & Co. at the Westover Gallery of Shops, offers Egyptian specialties and Middle Eastern-inspired dishes.

“It’s not just about food but more of a cultural experience,” proprietor Yasser Abdel-Aziz says.

Abdel-Aziz, a native of Egypt, says he has always wanted to share his native cuisine with Americans and was inspired, in part, by the civil demonstrations against the Egyptian government earlier this year. An “Egyptian culinary revolution” is what he calls Cleopatra’s.

“Egypt was a junction of cultures in the Old Word,” Abdel-Aziz says. “The Romans, the Greeks, the Persians, the Arab Muslims, they all left an imprint. I want to share that.”

With the guidance of Chef Samir Shalout, the restaurant offers specialties such as Lamb (or beef) Shawarma ($14.95), Egyptian eggplant moussaka ($13.95), Macaroni Belbashamel ($12.95) baked with beef and bechamel sauce and Tagine Fasolya ($13.95), green beans and beef in a tomato sauce.

Vegetarian dishes include koshari ($11.95) with rice and lentils in a tomato sauce and fewl (fava beans) and falafel platter ($12.95).

Sides include bamya (okra in tomato sauce) and gollash belgebna (filo layered with feta cheese).

Black lentils cooked in olive oil and cumin ($3.45 for one, $5.95 for two), Banba Ghannoush ($3.45/$4.95) and fried eggplant with garlic and vinegar ($3.45/$5.95) also are offered.

Cleopatra's offers many entrees as slightly cheaper lunch options. Lunch sandwiches such as chicken shawarma ($7.95), sheesh kabab ($9.95) and kofta ($8.95) are available.

Freshly squeezed juice, specialty teas and coffee and smoothies also are available.

Visit CleopatrasRestaurant.com or the restaurant’s Facebook page.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. The restaurant is available for private parties after 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Bakery opens

Sweet Meg’s (3709-G Battleground Ave., Greensboro; 676-6674) has opened at Brassfield Shopping Center.

Meghan Pope took over the space that was formerly Sullivan’s Cupcake and Sweet Shop after it closed in November.

Pope, who has been baking since her college days, decided to open the shop after baking for a couple of years out of her home. She developed a strong following of customers through a large company her mother is employed with.

The new bakery specializes in custom birthday and wedding cakes, but retails items such as cupcakes in flavors that include Key Lime, red velvet, bananas foster and seasonal flavors such as pink Champagne for New Year’s Eve. Vanilla, chocolate and lemon flavors always may be found. Check Sweet Meg’s on Facebook for daily flavor updates.

The shop also offers cheesecake bites in flavors such as New York-style and chocolate almond. Like the cupcakes, seasonal flavors might include praline or chocolate peanut butter.

You can also find whoopie pies and cake by the slice.

With lots of pink and white, the shop’s cozy sitting area could be a parlor for a princess. Pope says she can accommodate small groups for showers or parties.

For now, the shop’s hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. But the shop may eventually remain open longer on Friday and Saturday.

Grill opens dine-in

Business was so good at Coleman’s Grill in Reidsville that owner John Coleman closed the take-out-only restaurant at 221 Graves St. That was so he could open a new location: Coleman’s Grill (234 S. Scales St., Reidsville; 348-1280), with a dining room.

“I had customers telling me they were tired of eating in their cars,” Coleman, says laughing. “It was demand from customers that made me open up the new restaurant.”

John Coleman runs the grill with his wife, Demetria (“Dee”), and other family members.

Coleman’s offers entrees, sides, sandwiches and burgers.

A Reuben “piled high” with Boar’s Head meat is $5.85. Six wings “any way you want-them” will set you back $3.50. A freshly grilled chicken salad is $5.85. Corn dogs are a buck each.

Coleman, who has 22 years in the restaurant industry, says one of his customers likes the restaurant’s pork chop sandwich so much that she has a standing order to get several dozen sandwiches to go each Friday to take to her third-shift crew at a U.S. Postal Service office in Greensboro.

Coleman’s offers banana pudding and daily cakes.

“We offer Koolaid and old-fashioned lemonade with the lemons in it,” John Coleman says.

Hours are 11 a.m to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

New sandwiches

Georgio’s Pizza (309 Huffman Mill Road, Burlington; 584-6997) in Holly Hill Mall is offering some new sandwiches that include a BLT ($3.39), Club ($4.59) and Turkey and Cheese ($3.69).

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