The Chamberlin and La Bodega are teaming up for a waterfront wine dinner on Nov. 20.

The “Sip, Savor and Indulge the Finest Wines” evening begins at 6 p.m. at the historic hotel now a senior living facility. The five-course menu features lobster-butternut squash bisque, scallop & fennel carpaccio with rose salt, a palate cleanser of basil-blood orange granita, pumpkin seed-crusted pork chops and grilled peach & mascarpone tartlet. Each course will be accompanied by a specially selected wine.

Cost is $55. Call 637-7200 for reservations. The Chamberlin is located at 2 Fenwick Road at Fort Monroe in Hampton.

The First Ladies Tea Parlor restaurant expands its hours this week serving dinner with entertainment from 5 to 10 p.m. Fridays beginning Friday Nov. 12 and serving brunch from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturdays beginning Nov. 13.

Located in Port Warwick in Newport News, the shop features foods and teas prepared in European fashion. It’s available for bridal showers and birthday parties.

First Ladies Tea Parlor. Port Warwick, 2170 William Styron Square, Newport News. Regular hours: 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Reservations are suggested for the afternoon tea that takes place from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. 223-5800.

Daily Press photo/David Nicholson

The Greene Turtle plans to open up Nov. 26 at Peninsula Town Center in Hampton.

The restaurant and sports bar is known for its comfortable sports-themed atmosphere, big-screen-TV sports broadcasts, live entertainment and family-friendly accommodations. The menu includes appetizers, burgers, salads, sandwiches and entrees. More details to come.

Other comings and goings:

Hibachi Grill & Supreme Buffet (next to Haverty’s Furniture) at 11883 Jefferson Ave. in Newport News will be opening soon.

Texas Steakhouse has closed in Jefferson Commons in Newport News.

Deutsche Ecke German café has closed in the Warwick-Denbigh Shopping Center.

Daily Press Photos/David Nicholson

Norfolk’s Ghent neighborhood has a new ethnic restaurant.

Lola’s Caribbean Restaurant specializes in the foods of Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. It opened up on Sunday Nov. 7 in an historic building on 20th Street that has been the home to several other restaurants over the years.

Inside Lola’s, the atmosphere is relaxed and a little elegant with white tablecloths, colorful flower arrangements, brick walls, large banquets and soft chandeliers made of small glass petals. A small upstairs room provides private dining, and an outdoor patio can be used in warmer months.

The eclectic menu features exotic items such as Bacalao con Yucca (braised cod topped with avocados and served with mashed cassava) and Monfongo de Camarones (mashed plantains served with pork rinds and shrimp). I stopped in with friends the other night and ordered Zancocho, a rich, flavorful stew made from oxtail, flank steak, chicken, Dominican sausage and shrimp. Entrees come with two sides, and there are sweet desserts as well.

Lola’s Caribbean Restaurant. 328 W. 20th St., Norfolk. Lunch, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; dinner, 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. 314-1141. www.lolasghent.com.

It looks like The Wine Loft will not be opening at Peninsula Town Center in Hampton as planned.

No one is saying much about the change. Calls to the Wine Loft company headquarters in Baton Rouge, La., were not returned.

“We are actively meeting with other restaurateurs and showing the space, and we are confident it will be re-leased relatively quickly due to its prime location facing Town Square,” says Raymond Tripp, general manager of Peninsula Town Center.

The Wine Loft offers cheese and meat platters plus other entree items along with featured wines. The nearest location is Richmond.

Wendy’s fast food chain will be offering natural-cut “skin-on” fries with sea salt, marking the first redesign of the company’s classic fries in its 41-year history. The Wendy’s press hype says the move is “designed to give french fry lovers a hotter, crispier taste experience with an enhanced potato flavor and texture.”

The new fries are made from 100 percent Russet potatoes and cooked in the chain’s secret oil that contains no allergens and has 0 grams trans fat per serving. They are finished with a dusting of natural sea salt.

Wendy’s natural-cut fries will be priced the same as their current french fries and will be offered in the same four serving sizes. Introduction of the new fries begins nationwide on Thursday Nov. 11, with all restaurants expected to be serving the new fries by the end of the following week.

The launch will be supported by nationwide marketing activities, which include a Facebook “Fry for All” campaign at www.facebook.com/wendys and a holiday gift card promotion awarding a coupon for free fries of any size with the purchase of each $15 Wendy’s gift card.

Here's one more deal for veterans and active duty military. Enjoy a free entree to Max & Erma's on Veterans Day Nov. 11.

Daily Press Photo/David Nicholson

Seafood platter/Photo courtesy of Olde Towne Tavern

The Olde Towne Tavern opened up last month in the Phoebus neighborhood of Hampton.

The location is a familiar one to folks who have dined there over the years. For many years it was known as Old Point Steak and Spaghetti House before a succession of restaurants, including Sirens, fed customers.

This is the first venture for co-owners Randy Holtman and Donald Boyce along with Holtman's mother, Florence. They’ve turned the front room into a pub with pool tables and dart boards. There’s a bar area and dining room in the rear, where you can enter off the rear parking lot.

“It’s kind of a casual place with wooden tables and an old tavern feel,” says Holtman. “We’ve received a very warm welcome from the community.”

Olde Towne’s menu includes burgers, sandwiches, soups and salads plus general pub fare such as hand-cut potato chips and french fries. Entrée items include chicken, steaks and seafood platters.

Olde Towne Tavern. 31 E. Mellen St., Hampton. Hours: 11 a.m. to midnight daily. Reservations accepted but not necessary. 251-2636.

My fellow blogger Nicole Paitsel wants you to know that veterans and active duty military members can eat free on Thursday Nov. 11 (Veterans Day) at Applebee’ and Chili’s restaurants.

In South Hampton Roads, the Texas Roadhouse location in Chesapeake also is offering free meals to current and former military members from 4 to 10 p.m. Nov. 11. And at Outback Steakhouse locations, service members can get a complimentary Bloomin’ Onion and beverage that day.

Here’s one more. From 5 to 9 p.m. Monday Nov. 15, service members can eat free at Golden Corral buffet locations.

Daily Press Photo/David Nicholson

Danny’s Deli Restaurant is celebrating a milestone - 50 years in business - on Friday, Nov. 12.

The Newport News eatery was opened by Danny and Mimi Green in November 1960. In 1976, it was purchased by Morris and Renee Salken who operated it for 13 years. After that, the deli was briefly owned by Michael and Janice Jakubowski before the current owners, William and Deborah Vaccarelli, purchased it in 1990.

Over the years, the deli has kept its same name and has become a popular destination for the community. Many long-time employees still work there.

On Nov. 12, there’ll be drawings for Danny’s gift certificates and T-shirts, bags of goodies for the kids, and everyone gets a piece of birthday cake. Happy birthday!

Danny’s Deli Restaurant. Warwick Shopping Center, 10838 Warwick Blvd., Newport News. 595-0252.