Open nickel plate at food terminal, new menu items at Grezi

Tyrel Reynolds and Nick Smith, former Mazurek bakery owners, converted a 7,700-square-foot space at the Food Terminal and opened Nickel Plate (1500 Clinton St.) earlier in May.

The menu includes strawberry goat cheese salad and veggie wrap, sharmable jumbo chicken wings, totachos (Tater Tot Nachos), and cheese-bacon served on a glazed donut bun. There are also sandwiches, wraps, burgers and salads that you would expect to find on a lunch menu. Reynolds described the offerings as “high-end bar food.”

The bar’s 12 rotating beers are all produced in New York State.

More than 100 Western New York businesses have signed on to sell their wares in the nickel plate. Stock your fridge and pantry with local foods including Babcia’s Pierogi, Joey G’s Wings Sauce, M&M Pickles, Niagara County Grown Produce, Issa’s Pita Chips, BBQ Stins and seasonings, Candys bc Candes Shoppe.

The Nickel Plate is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Diners can eat indoors or on the patio.

Shake Shack burgers, fries and crinkle milkshakes are coming to Amherst next year.

The national fast food chain plans to open a location in the Boulevard South Retail Plaza at 1579 Niagara Falls Blvd.

This will be the first Buffalo Area location for Shake Shack. Shake Shack also plans to open a restaurant in the Angola Thruway service area, which is currently closed and under construction. He opened a restaurant inside the renovated Clifton Springs service area last year.

Construction is expected to begin later this year African Heritage Food Cooperative In the Fruit Belt, a new $4.8 million market at 238 Carlton St. State officials expect the market to help address the food shortage on Buffalo’s east side.

Cluck Cluck Moo Moo, known for its burgers and chicken sandwiches, is beginning construction on its third location at 6035 Transit Road, East Amherst. It is ready to open in the fall.

Frontline Brewing Built an addition to its brewery at 4906 South Buffalo St., Orchard Park, to expand and replace its brewing plant. It will contain larger tanks and more equipment to support owners Shane Stewart and Michael Maiorana’s goal to grow the retail operation and sell their beer in more locations.

Three Taco Bell The restaurants are expected to open later this year, including a recently announced location on the site of a vacant gas station at 1361 Abbott Road, Lackawanna. Additional Taco Bell restaurants are planned for 1754 Grand Island Blvd., Grand Island and 750 Young St., Tonawanda.

TGI Fridays Only one location remains in the Buffalo area after closing its downtown Buffalo restaurant last week. Now that TGI Fridays on the first floor of the Holiday Inn Express (601 Main St.) has closed, locals can only find the chain’s happy hour deals at the Boulevard Mall (1209 Niagara Falls Blvd., Amherst).

Solé to Woodlawn Beach (3580 Lake Shore Road, Blasdell), a beach bar and event venue operated by Ilio Dipaolo’s, is undergoing renovations. Concept Construction Corp. expanded Sole’s outdoor patio, increasing kitchen space and reconfiguring the banquet hall to allow for more seating.

Grezi on Main (4543 Main St., Snyder) is launching a new bar menu and Happy Hour on June 3. PM All bar menu items will be $11 during happy hour from 2-5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

This little pig (10651 Main St., Clarence) has launched its summer menu, which includes a fruit and vegetable-filled Shrimp Tostada and a vegetarian (or vegan upon request) and pea risotto with local asparagus.

Anastasia’s Artisanal Bread Owner Anastasia Nikolaeva leads a workshop on Syrniki, an Eastern European breakfast that is a sweet and cheesy pancake made with farmer’s cheese. During the workshop, she will teach how to make syrniki and traditional farmer’s cheese, and send students home with Syrniki, Kefir Starter, Farmer’s Cheese, her own notes and recipes, and a book provided by Read It & Eat Bookshop . The workshop takes place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 2 at Rooned locally (27 Chandler St. No.204a). Tickets are $105 (readitandeatshop.com).

Buffalo Greek Fest returns May 31 to June 2 at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Buffalo (146 W. Utica St.). Find Greek specialties such as Souvlaki, Gyro, Saganaki (fried cheese), Spanakopita, Tiropita and Loukoumades (fried dough puffs dipped in honey and sprinkled with cinnamon). Admission is $3; 12 years and under admitted free.

Brunch with Stars of Rupaul’s Drag Race 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. June 1 at Riff City (166 Chandler St.) as Pride Month activities. Admission includes performances from Lake Darienne, Aggy Dune, Ms. Kasha Davis and Ambrosia Salad, Brunch Buffet and unlimited Mimosas. Tickets range from $75 to $90 (riffcitybuffalo.com).