Pirate's Den, a new downtown restaurant and bar, has opened in the former location of Café Caribe at 113 E. Fifth St.

The restaurant is owned by Euro Pubs Inc., the local partnership group that operates Christy's Euro Pub and formerly operated Café Caribe. After the sublease of the space to another business owner didn't work out, Euro Pubs Inc. decided to try the new Pirate's Den concept there.

Greg Eans/The Daily Reflector (ENLARGE)

Pirate's Den owner Christy Gouras with a table of prepared food at the restaurant on East Fifth Street in Greenville.

The restaurant has been renovated over the past three months to give it an entirely different atmosphere, changing it from a light, tropical-theme space to "an atmosphere that makes guests feel as if they have just walked onto a real-life pirate ship," said general manager Anna Melissa Stainback, "a complete 180 from Caribe." The restaurant features a large stained wood bar, televisions and an arcade.

The menu at Pirate's Den spotlights casual American fare, some with whimsical names from the buccaneer's dictionary. "Arrr-petizers" include Peg Legs (mozzarella sticks), Loose Cannons (jalapeños stuffed with cheese), and Long Boats (potato shells stuffed with cheddar cheese, bacon bits and jalapeños) and fried pickles. Starters range in price from $5.99-$8.99 for a sampler.

Pirate's Pub offers 10 varieties of half-pound Angus beef burgers, from the Sloppy Sloop Burger with chili, cheese and coleslaw to the Captain Bleu Beard Burger topped with sliced ham and melted Swiss cheese. Burgers range in price from $5.49-$8.99.

Signature dishes include chicken wings and boneless wings with a choice of 10 different sauces including honey barbecue, barbecue, terriyaki, honey mustard, chipotle barbecue, Caribbean barbecue, mango habanero and spicy Buffalo ($5.99-$19,99); baby back ribs ($8.99 for a half-rack); a variety of sandwiches ($3.99-$6.79); salads; and entrees including Bath BBQ Plate, fish and chips and Tortuga Tuna Steak ($7.99-$11.99) Desserts — for $3.50 — include Snickers Pie, Oreo Cookie Bash Pie, Peanut Butter Reese's Pie and New York cheesecake topped with strawberries.

The late-night menu includes wings and Arrr-petizers.

The full-service bar features beer, wine and cocktails.

Pirate's Den has seven flat-screen TVs and six others, "four of which are personal table TVs so each table can enjoy their favorite games or shows with out disturbing the table beside them," Stainback said. The restaurant carries satellite television sports packages including NFL and NBA, as well as other sports channels.

The game room includes five pool tables, air hockey, foosball, pin ball, a jukebox and several other arcade-style games. After 10 p.m., patrons must be over age 21.

Hours are 4:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Mondays-Fridays, 11:30 a.m.-2 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Full menu is available until 10 p.m. daily, and the late-night menu until 2 a.m. Call 551-9020.

United We Dine

Go out to eat Thursday night at one of Greenville's independently owned restaurants, and 10 percent of the food sales will be donated to the United Way of Pitt County.

Local restaurants participating in the United We Dine fundraiser include Basil's, Beef Barn, Boli's 5th Street Pizzeria, Chefs 505, Chico's, Christinne's Chop House and Seafood Grille, The Daily Grind Café, Debu Café and Catering, Dr. Unk's and Wimpie's Steam Bar and Cajun Café.

For more information, call Lindsay Brown at 758-1604, ext. 209.

Cubbie's Downtown

The downtown location of Cubbie's, 501 S. Evans St., is now serving breakfast on weekdays.

Owner Turner Mudge said the full breakfast menu includes eggs cooked any way, pancakes, omelets, grits, hash browns, bacon and sausage. Cubbie's Big Breakfast ($4.55) features two eggs, bacon or sausage, hash browns or grits, and toast.

The downtown Cubbie's joins the Winterville location, at 657 Worthington Road, as the only Cubbie's serving breakfast.

Breakfast hours at the downtown Cubbie's are 7:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Mondays-Fridays. Call 752-6497

Vinnie's Steak House

You may notice that the black letters on the exterior of Vinnie's Steak House at 658 E. Arlington Blvd. in Arlington Village have been removed and are being changed.

A newsletter from the upscale steak house, signed by owners Nick Sarrocco and Alan Arcara, notes that "effective immediately, our name will be V's in the Village. This does not change our service and commitment to outstanding steaks and seafood."

Call 756-3700.

Lopaus Point

holiday to-go

Lopaus Point Market can help you create a memorable Thanksgiving meal with market-made appetizers, side dishes and desserts.

"The holidays are wonderful but can create unwanted culinary stress to steal some of the joys of the day," said Lopaus Point owner Stacey Skinner. "Let us help you round out your meal or the meal of your host with our market-made appetizers, side dishes and desserts. Our selections are not mass-produced but are made in small batches by our staff that you have come to know and trust."

In addition to the market-made dips and spreads available everyday, Lopaus Point Market will offer special holiday starters including ready-to-bake maple-pecan baked brie ($13.95 for half-pound); smoked salmon spread prepared with Norwegian smoked salmon and fresh dill ($14.95 per pint); fresh cranberry sauce made with fresh apple cider ($6.95 per pint); and pimento cheese ball rolled in toasted pecans ($12.95).

"Our dips and spreads are made using only reduced-fat dairy and mayo, and we offer a wide selection of fine crackers and canapés," Skinner said.

Thanksgiving side dishes include savory fruited stuffing, herb Yukon mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole and turkey gravy, all for $12.95 per quart; and fresh green beans with roasted shallots and toasted almonds for $10.95 per quart. Sweet potato biscuits and cheddar herb biscuits (minimum order of six) are $7.50.

The market will offer 10-inch deep-dish pies (which will serve a minimum of 10-12 guests), including Maple-Pumpkin and Very Chocolate with Fresh Cream (prepared with Lopaus Point Market's slow-cooked pudding), both for $15.95, and Black Bottom Pecan with Chocolate Drizzle, New England Apple Pie and Ultimate Chocolate Chip with nuts, for $24.95 each. Pints of maple whipped cream are available for $4.95 for topping pumpkin, pecan or apple pies.

Other goodies include Maple-Apple Crisp ($12.95); spicy pumpkin bread, plain or with cream cheese frosting ($10.95); and giant orange-iced pumpkin-shape sugar cookies ($2.25 each, with a minimum order of four).

All orders must be placed by Nov. 17 and may be picked up the Tuesday or Wednesday before Thanksgiving Day.

Wine also is available at Lopaus Point Market.

Extended hours for the holidays are 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Mondays-Fridyas and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays.

Call 321-FOOD or visit www.lopauspointmarket.com.

Daily Grind birthday

The Daily Grind, 1909-A East Fire Tower Road, will celebrate its fourth birthday beginning at 5 p.m. Monday.

A wine tasting featuring four wines will be held from 6-7 p.m.; cost is $4, and participants will receive $4 off the purchase of any bottle of wine. Live music will be performed by the Adam Sebti Trio from 7-10 p.m. Owner Jennifer Shearin will offer appetizer, entree and drink specials.

Call 830-2233.

Nibbles

Chili's Grill and Bar, 3050 S. Evans St., is in the process of undergoing what manager Brice Baxter calls "a million-dollar makeover." Crews are working to renovate the restaurant during the overnight hours, and the restaurant is remaining open during regular operating hours. "Hot Dish" will have more details on the renovation in a later column.

Greg and Trish Hayes have closed The Upper Crust Bakery at 212 E. Fifth St. in downtown Greenville. Caterer Sheila Hall has taken over the location. "Hot Dish" will have more information in an upcoming column.

The Riz Continental restaurant, 2601 E. 10th St., has closed. The owners could not be reached for comment.

Aroma Café, 3197-C E. 10th St. (beside A Cut Above Salon) has closed, according to a sign on the door.

A sign beside the CVS pharmacy on Fire Tower Road says Greenville is getting a free-standing Starbucks coffeehouse location there. Other locations include La Promenade on Greenville Boulevard. Stanton Square at Arlington Boulevard and Stantonsburg Road, and Campus Crossing at 10th and Evans streets.

Lopaus Point Market, 620 Red Banks Road, will hold a wine tasting from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday. Selections will include Schumann Sparkling Riesling, 2007 North Coast Chardonnay, Chateau Recougne Bordeaux Sauvignon Blanc, Tilia Merlot, Postino Zinfandel, along with market nibbles. Tasting fee is $5.

Emerge Gallery, 404 S. Evans St., will hold a culinary workshop, "Working the Plate: The Art of Food Presentation," with instructor Karen Groot from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Nov. 13. Cost is $25 for members and $35 for others. Call 551-6947 to preregister.

Hot Dish is a weekly column of restaurant and food news. To submit items for consideration, call Jane Hudson at 329-9577, fax 754-8140 or e-mail jhudson@coxnc.com.