After renovations, Lucky Star to reopen

Several Beach Eats readers have emailed to ask what was happening with The Lucky Star restaurant in The Westin Virginia Beach Town Center. It was closed in late December.

The main dining area of the restaurant is being converted into private meeting and banquet space.

The hotel bar area is being renovated and is expected to reopen in March under the name Westin Restaurant and Bar, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner to hotel guests and the public. Chef Scott Bernheisel will oversee food service at the restaurant, and catering for meetings and events at the hotel.

For more information, call 557-0550 or visit www.westinvirginiabeach.com.

APPRECIATING THE MILITARY

Mannino’s Italian Bistro is hosting Military Appreciation Week from Jan. 23 to 28 at both Virginia Beach locations. Ten percent of combined gross profits will benefit the Wounded Warrior Project.

“Living in the Hampton Roads area, you can’t walk down the street and not see a person who is or has served in our nation’s military,” says Chef John Mannino, one of the restaurant’s owners. “(This is a way to) give a little something back to them and say ‘thank you.’?”

Mannino’s is at 1608 Pleasure House Road. Call 226-0019. There is also a location at 4402 Princess Anne Road. Call 474-4446. Visit www.manninositalianbistro.com.

A NEW ROUTE TO INDIA

India Palace Restaurant has opened, offering traditional Indian fare in an upscale, but casual setting.

A daily lunch buffet offers separate islands for vegetarian and meat dishes, as well as changing selections of curries, rice, naan bread, condiments such as chutneys, and desserts.

On the weekend, the menu is augmented with specialty items such as dosa, a style of savory pancake/crepe.

India Palace Restaurant is at 5600 Virginia Beach Blvd. Call 552-7060 or visit www.india palacevb.com.

RIB CITY RIDES INTO TOWN

Rib City, a Florida-based chain that opened its first store in Fort Myers in 1989, has opened a location in Virginia Beach.

The restaurant is in the Woodtide Shopping Center on Princess Anne Road between Kempsville Road and South Plaza Trail, and is open for dinner and take out. Lunch will be offered at a later date. This is the 17th franchise for Rib City.

Principally offered is a menu of barbecued meats with specialized sauces: a brown sugar-based sweet sauce, vinegar-based tangy sauce, Carolina mustard sauce or hot sauce.

Side dishes include baked beans, coleslaw, fried okra and three-cheese fries. Other dishes, such as fried shrimp, and desserts round out the menu.

Rib City is at 4688 Princess Anne Road. Call 961-3690 or visit www.ribcity.com.

A RECENT CLOSURE

Citing economic reasons, Annette Stone, an owner of The Green Onion on North Great Neck Road, says that the Virginia Beach location closed in late December.

The Green Onion on Colley Avenue in Norfolk’s Ghent section remains open, however.

Visit www.thegreenonion restaurant.com.