A LA CARTE : LAST-MINUTE THANKSGIVING DINING.

Byline: Larry Lipson

Turkey Day is almost here and most of us have dinner plans. But the procrastinators among us have yet to make a decision.

For them we offer a few local restaurants that could still have a table or two unfilled (call to make sure) and are certainly worth consideration:

Bob Burns

Address: 21821 Oxnard St., Woodland Hills.

Phone: [phone].

Cuisine: American.

Menu information: Thanksgiving dinners include an iced relish dish, a choice of Caesar or mixed green salad or smoked corn chowder and a dessert choice of pumpkin pie with gingered whipped cream or apple pie with brandy sauce. In addition to a traditional roast turkey entree there are six alternatives (grilled Norwegian salmon, roast Long Island duckling, New York sirloin steak, roast prime rib of beef, New Zealand lamb chops and roast prime rib of pork.

Prices: Turkey: $24.95 (children 12 and under $12.95); pork, salmon and duckling: $26.95 each; prime rib: $28.95; New York: $29.95; lamb chops $30.95.

Miscellaneous: This is the final Bob Burns Thanksgiving dinner here. The restaurant will vacate the building following its last hurrah, the New Year's Eve party on Dec. 31. The remaining Bob Burns is in Santa Monica.

El Torito - Woodland Hills

Address: 6040 Canoga Ave., Woodland Hills.

Phone: [phone].

Cuisine: Mexican.

Menu information: The annual Thanksgiving buffet here is served from noon to 10 p.m. and consists of three starters (Caesar salad, menudo, tortilla soup and Mexican-style rolls called bollilo bread), three carved entrees (turkey breast, roast beef, ham) with mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potatoes, greens bean casserole, rice, beans corn cake, stuffing, steamed vegetables, cranberry, and seven desserts (fresh fruit, pumpkin pie, apple pie, flan, rice pudding, jello, soft-serve ice cream).

Prices: $12 per person (children 2 to 10 $6).

Joe's at Melisse

Address: 1104 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica.

Phone: [phone].

Cuisine: New American.

Menu information: Three-course prix-fixe dinner with amuse bouche (small introductory mini-dish). Appetizers include lobster brandade with baby greens, mushroom ravioli, pumpkin soup, pistachio-crusted goat cheese salad and a mixed green salad. Entrees include roasted turkey, crepinette of pork, slow-roasted Maine salmon and littleneck clams and (for $10 extra) roasted turkey breast with white truffle risotto. Desserts are millefeuille of pumpkin mousse, apple tarte tatin, chocolate souffle cake and creme brulee with chocolate and bananas.

Prices: $40 per person ($20 children 12 and under).

Polo Lounge

Address: Beverly Hills Hotel, 9641 Sunset Blvd., Beverly Hills.

Phone: [phone].

Cuisine: Euro-Asian.

Menu information: Four-course prix-fixe dinner consists of blue crab cake, butternut squash chicken chowder or Caesar salad, choice of three entrees (roast turkey with trimmings, beef tenderloin, Chilean seabass), variety of desserts (pumpkin pie, pumpkin creme brulee, walnut and pecan tart, chocolate dome).

Prices: $59 per person.

Twin Palms

Address: 24300 Town Center Drive, Valencia and 101 W. Green St., Pasadena.

Phone: Valencia: [phone]; Pasadena: [phone].

Cuisine: Californian.

Menu information: In Pasadena the prix-fixe meal (1 to 8 p.m.) is four courses and starts with a choice of five starters (baby mixed greens, romaine hearts with Maytag bleu cheese, house-smoked salmon with Waldorf salad, roasted corn soup, oyster and spinach soup) and a glass of chardonnay or cabernet sauvignon (Tessera label). Main course choices are roasted tom turkey, prime rib, smoked double pork chop, seared salmon, vegetable plate. Desserts are pumpkin pie, pecan sugar pie, double chocolate cake, ice cream or sorbet and cookies.

Prices: Pasadena: $35 (children 12 and under $9.95 for turkey dinner, spaghetti or cheese pizza with pepperoni option). Valencia: $15.95 (children 12 and under $6.95).

Miscellaneous: Jazz entertainment at both restaurants.