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Gitanos International Cuisine (3932-E W. Market St., Greensboro; 297-4009) has opened in a space formerly occupied by Pad Thai. It is next to a Verizon shop in a strip center near the intersection of West Market Street and Walker Avenue.

Gitano means gypsy in Spanish, and the menu certainly reflects culinary restlessness with Latin, Caribbean and Mediterranean influences.

The restaurant was opened by chefs Luis Osorio and Claudia Monzon. The two have experience from Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar and Mimi’s Cafe.

The two have created dishes such as Argentinean-style Gaucho Steak ($12.99), Veracruz Grilled Salmon ($11.99), Asian Tilapia ($12.99) and Walnut Crusted Chicken Breast ($11.99) over cheese ravioli.

Small plates include shrimp brocheta ($6.99), grilled chicken sliders ($7.99) and tomato and cheese gratinee tarts ($6.99).

Sandwiches include the Mexican Burger ($7.99) with guacamole, Gallego Cheese Steak ($7.99) and the Mexitalian Sandwich ($7.75) with turkey, ham, provolone and guacamole.

Gitanos’ vegan menu apparently has been a hit with items such as soy chicken fajitas ($8.99), veggie wrap ($7.99) with hummus and salad and a cauliflower steak ($7.99) with vegetables and roasted potatoes.

Gitanos offers freshly squeezed juice combinations from fruits and vegetables such as beets and apple.

Smoothies also are available.

Gitanos offers lunch and dinner specials and is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Green’s Supper Club won’t close after all

Jan. 1 is history. But Green’s Supper Club (4735 U.S. 29 North, Greensboro; 621-3444) is not.

The bank was to foreclose on the iconic restaurant at the first of the year. But another bank bought the restaurant, and owners Tommy and Kathy Baynes are leasing it from the new bank.

Good news for us. Bad news for all of those oysters.

For a look at weekly specials and bands, visit greensoysterbar.com.

Downtown eatery does ‘innovative’ Southern

Tavo Restaurant and Tavern is set to open soon.

Tavo, in the historic Kress Building at 212 S. Elm St. in downtown Greensboro, will offer “innovative Southern cuisine” in an upscale setting that includes a lounge bar and an amphitheater bar where patrons can survey the dining room.

It is the first restaurant to occupy the space since Rum Runners closed three years ago.

Chef Barry Moody will prepare gourmet catfish, pork chops and mac and cheese. Moody is a cookbook author and purveyor of Spice Delight, a line of spices and sauces. Many know him from his cooking demonstrations on WFMY (CBS, Channel 2).

Lunch will be offered with the average entree priced about $7.
Tavo will offer theme nights such as prime rib Sunday and “wine” down Wednesday, with a list of 20 or so wines.

Elevator service to the Greene Street parking deck will be available.

Pizzeria opening second location

For more than 30 years, New York Pizza has served hungry college students at 337 S. Tate St. in Greensboro. Now, the restaurant is opening another Greensboro location.

New York Pizza Bar and Grill is opening at 2704 Battleground Ave. in the space that formerly housed Buffalo’s Bar and Grill.

Eddie Gramisci, who co-owns the restaurant with Ray Mascali of Pizzeria L’Italiano, says New York Pizza Bar and Grill will serve specialty pizzas, salads and pasta.

It is expected to open by early February.

Burger shop opening

Guy and Jerry’s Burger Spot is opening at 3750-A Battleground Ave. in Greensboro.

Jerry Kizhnerman and Guy Bradley are opening the gourmet burger and hot dog restaurant in a space next to a convenience store at Battleground and Cotswold Terrace. It is the former location of Chef Jack’s Hot Dog Chili Shack

Many know Kizhnerman from Smith Street Diner and Bistro Sofia and for helping out at the Thanksgiving Day meal at Greensboro Urban Ministry’s Potter’s House Community Kitchen.

In addition to signature burgers, Kizhnerman says Guy and Jerry’s will offer build-your-own burgers with a choice of beef, ground turkey or house-made veggie burgers.

The restaurant will offer fries with dipping sauces such as garlic aioli, Parmigiano Reggiano and white truffle oil.

Everything in the shop, including slaw and sauerkraut for the hot dogs, will be made in house.

Guy and Jerry’s Burger Spot is expected to open in early February.

Olive Garden opening site in High Point

An Olive Garden will open this spring at 4006 Brian Jordan Place near the Regal Palladium Cinemas in High Point.

It is expected to open in April.

Seafood restaurant experiences transition

Bimini’s Oyster Bar and Seafood, 106-B Guilford College Road in Greensboro, has become Flip Flops Beach Bar and Grill (285-9787).

The name change is a result of a transition of owners. Along with a new name comes a new menu.

The menu, true to the casual island ambience, continues to offer lots of seafood, including flounder ($11.95), fried shrimp ($11.95) and crab cake ($14.95) platters.

Burgers include the 6-ounce Flip Flop ($4.98) with choice of cheese and Carolina on My Mind ($4.95) with chili. Sandwiches include shrimp po’boy ($5.95) and Hammock Time Chicken ($5.95), grilled with a choice of jerk, cajun or Key West seasoning.

Flip Flops offers a treasure chest of sides, including Lowcountry crab dip ($7.95), shrimp tacos ($7.95), seared ahi tuna ($7.95) and peel and eat shrimp ($5.95 quarter pound/$9.95 half pound).

Flip Flops offers beer, wine and full bar. Live music, including local favorite Jaybird, is scheduled regularly.

Flip Flops opens at 2 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 11:30 a.m. Thursday through Sunday and closes when the time is right.

Neighborhood market offers bistro’s bread

Bestway (272-4264) at 2113 Walker Ave. in Greensboro is stocking bread provided by Josephine’s Bistro (2417 Spring Garden St., Greensboro; 285-6590).

Sarah Keith, owner of Josephine’s and Lindley Park Filling Station, says Bestway owners Nancy and Roger Kimbrough approached the restaurant about providing some local bread after Simple Kneads Bakery closed late last summer.

Through the fall, Josephine’s pastry chef, Jacque Vodehnall, provided Bestway with foccacia rolls, French baguettes, white potato bread and whole wheat molasses. The restaurant also offered cinnamon rolls and wedding cookies during the holidays.

Josephine’s makes bread deliveries to Bestway on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

New sandwiches

The Loop Pizza Grill (1030 S. Main St., Kernersville; 992-4400) has added a Spicy BBQ Burger and a Spicy BBQ Chicken Sandwich to its menu.

Each is made with a chipotle barbecue sauce and served with a choice of steak fries, seasoned chips or steamed broccoli.

The items are available only through Feb. 28.

You also can find a The Loop at 320 S. Stratford Road in Winston-Salem.

Farmers’ market plans chili challenge Jan. 28

Strap on a bib. Greensboro Farmers Curb Market will hold the Farmers Market Chili Challenge from 8 a.m. to noon on Jan. 28.

Market vendors and their guest cooks will throw down for this cook-off. John Handler of Weatherhand Farms, Robert Roth of Rothchild’s Angus Farm and Loaf Bakery and writer Cecelia Thompson of the blog Mod Meals on Mendenhall are among the cooks.

The event is to highlight local beef, pork, chicken, lamb, goat and other meats.

It is the first of many events the market will offer since transitioning ownership to Greensboro Farmers Market Inc. at the beginning of the year.

Tasting begins at 10 a.m. Votes cost $1 each with proceeds benefiting the market.

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