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For more than 30 years, New York Pizza at 337 Tate St. in Greensboro has served hungry college students. Now the restaurant has a sister location. New York Pizza Bar and Grill (286-7667, 286-8336) has opened at 2704 Battleground Ave.

But, this location “is not Tate Street,” co-owner Eddie Gramisci says.

“It’s a brand new place. It’s one of the prettiest buildings around,” Gramisci says. “The neighborhood calls for it.”

The stainless steel, Art Deco-like building, formerly Buffalo’s Bar and Grill, is a familiar sight to many.

New York Pizza Bar and Grill offers specialty pizzas including caprese, spinach, meat-stuffed and pesto, a popular selection at the Tate Street location. Prices range from $16 for a medium to $25 for a large. Sicilian-style runs a little more.

Calzones and stromboli’s are also offered.

Pasta dishes include spaghetti marinara ($10.95), spaghetti pesto ($11.95) and baked ziti ($10.95).

Sandwiches range from an Eggplant Parmigiana ($6.95) to the NYP Sub ($7.95) stuffed with cold cuts, banana peppers, provolone and other fixings and topped with oil and vinegar.

Lunch specials ($5.50 to $9), served 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, range from a pizza slice and salad to a choice of manicotti, lasagna, baked ziti or spaghetti meatball. Check the board for the sandwich of the day.

Desserts include cheesecake, tiramisu, cannoli or lemonchello cake.

The restaurant offers 24 beers on draft and a wine list.

A patio will open in March.

New York Pizza Bar and Grill opens at 11 a.m. daily and closes about midnight Sunday through Wednesday and at 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.

New look, sleek menu

Since reopening at 5831 High Point Road over a decade ago, Giovanni’s A Taste of Italy has experienced some changes. The latest is a makeover that gives the restaurant a “clean, nice and very warm feel,” says owner Robert Holden.

And it’s a little less formal.

“We lost the tuxedos and ties,” Holden laughs.

The atmosphere is lighter with hardwood floors and a chic, remodeled bar, which is now separated from the dining room.

Holden says the restaurant has a more contemporary look.

A fire pit adds ambiance to the restaurant’s patio, which is now covered and heated.

Holden has been with Giovanni’s since cooking in the kitchen with founder Giovanni Carandola when the restaurant was on West Market Street in the 1980s. Holden became co-owner in 2004.

Carandola retired to Myrtle Beach where he died in December.

Giovanni’s has managed to consistently garner high marks over the decades. And with the latest makeover comes a newly streamlined menu with some new items and some old favorites including Fried Oyster Salad ($11.50), Lobster Parmesan ($29.50), Chicken Florentine ($18.50), Oysters Rockefeller ($8 for four, $15 for eight), Fried Zucchini ($8.50) and Rack of Lamb ($32).

The menu, which used to only feature a filet mignon, now offers more steaks, Holden says. There are four of them, in addition to an occasional prime rib.

Giovanni’s continues to offer many of the classic Italian dishes and also has gourmet pizzas.

Mardi Gras

Fincastles Diner (215 S. Elm St., Greensboro; 272-6889) is rolling out its fifth annual “Throw Me Somethin’ Mister” Mardi Gras menu today.

Boudin sausage balls ($7.50), skewered Oysters en Brochette ($8.95), Crawfish Tamales ($11.49) and even a Bread Pudding Milkshake ($6.25) are among the notable new items this year.

The menu also features old favorites like Chicken and Andouille Gumbo ($9.29 bowl/$26.99 quart-to-go), Crawfish Etouffee ($9.99/$29) and Red Beans and Rice ($8.49/$24).

From Fried Shrimp to Roast Beef, the Po’boy selection will leave them kicking and screaming for more.

The menu is available through March 14.

At 8 p.m. Tuesday a Mardi Gras party will be held with the band House of Dues.

Fincastles’ hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Local branding group

Lucky 32 Southern Kitchen (1421 Westover Terrace, 370-0707) will host the inaugural meeting of Piedmont Grown from 8 a.m. to noon Thursday.

Lucky 32’s Chef Jay Pierce is a member of Piedmont Grown, a program to promote a brand for food produced in North Carolina’s Piedmont region.

For more information, visit piedmontgrown.org.

Dinner and a movie

It’s comedy Italian style when Nico’s Restaurant and Bar (201-A N. Elm St., Greensboro) presents another food and film night starting with dinner at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 27.

A menu of Sicilian dishes paired with wine will accompany a screening of the 1964 comedy, “Marriage Italian Style,” starring Italy’s incomparable duo, Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni.

Cost is $35, which includes tax and tip. Call 285-9866 for reservations.

Chefs meet for event

Join more than 300 of the best chefs in America for the opening reception of the American Culinary Federation South East Conference, 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday at The Millennium Center at 101 W. Fifth St. in Winston-Salem.

The theme of the conference is “Celebrating Diversity, Sustaining Our Future.”

The reception is a fund-raiser for The Chef and Child Foundation and Second Harvest Food Bank Childhood Hunger Programs. Children from The Chef and Child program will prepare the food for the evening.

The event also features live music, an auction for a Gibson guitar and chance to meet many of the chefs.

Cost is $30. Visit thestockedpot.com or call 692-8622.

Coffee-themed art

Calling all right-brained java junkies. Tate Street Coffee House in Greensboro is accepting submissions for its annual Community Coffee Art Show.

Coffee, of course, is the theme. But the medium is up to you.

Deadline for submissions is March 31. Drop your work off a the shop at 334 Tate St.

The show will open with a reception on April 1.

For more information, call 275-2754.

Wine dinner

1618 Seafood Grille (1618 W. Friendly Ave., Greensboro) is holding a dinner featuring wines of Napa’s Beaucanon Winery at 6:30 p.m. March 4.

Cost for the five-course meal is $65. Call 235-0898.

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