A LA CARTE : SALUTE TO SECRETARIES.

Byline: Larry Lipson

Although the calendar tells us that Wednesday is Secretaries Day, a few of the more promotional-minded restaurants are offering incentives all week, April 22-26, to get bosses to spring for one or more lunches.

In some cases, the secretary receives the benefit. In others, the boss gets a discount.

And some restaurants are leaving nothing to chance. They're giving both the secretary and the boss a reason to visit.

Here are a few worth consideration:

Chitra Address: 9634 Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills.

Phone: [phone].

Cuisine: French-Thai.

Comments: Unusually good mix of Thai-influenced French dishes and French-influenced Thai recipes, all at reasonable cost.

Picks: Secretaries receive a special complimentary house dessert during the week of April 22-26.

India's Tandoori  Address: 19006 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana, and 142 N. San Fernando Road, Burbank.

Phone: Tarzana [phone]; Burbank [phone].

Cuisine: Indian.

Comments: These are the San Fernando Valley locations of a four-restaurant mini-chain with a good reputation and always ready to promote its fare on special days, including national or religious holidays.

Picks: Secretaries receive a complimentary dessert, and there's a 10 percent discount for the entire table during the week of April 22-26.

Jewel of India Address: 4523 Sepulveda Blvd., Sherman Oaks.

Phone: [phone].

Cuisine: Indian and Greek.

Comments: Here's a kitchen that promises Indian food cooked without oil or butter. And yes, it's still tasty.

Picks: Secretaries eating here on Secretaries Day only - Wednesday - may choose any dessert on the house.

Otto's Grill & Beer Bar Address: 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles.

Phone: [phone].

Cuisine: Mediterranean Grill.

Comments: Now run by Restaurant Associates, Otto's features an antipasti bar, fresh fish, steaks and pastas as well as a dozen microbrews on draft and a large selection of specialty beers.

Picks: A special chocolate dessert created by pastry chef Chris Herrera is available to every secretary lunching here between April 22 and 26.

Papashon Address: 15910 Ventura Blvd., Encino.

Phone: [phone].

Cuisine: Eurasian.

Comments: This restaurant serves a type of fare - European or Mediterranean with strong Asian influences - that is singular on the main culinary thoroughfare of the San Fernando Valley.

Picks: On Secretaries Day, Wednesday, only, secretaries dining here may take advantage of a complimentary dessert of ice cream, strawberries and a chocolate cookie with a message on the rim of the bowl saying ``merci beaucoup.''

Parker's Lighthouse Address: 435 Shoreline Village Drive, Long Beach.

Phone: [phone].

Cuisine: Seafood.

Comments: Parker's boasts a great view and easy access from the Promenade Tram and downtown run-about area.

Picks: The incentive here is for a boss taking a secretary for lunch to pick up a frequent diner Gold Club card and start getting it punched. The sixth lunch visit earns a complimentary lunch valued at $8.95, and so does every ensuing sixth lunch visit.

Trattoria Grande Address: Doubletree Hotel, Los Angeles International Airport, 5400 W. Century Blvd., Los Angeles.

Phone: [phone].

Cuisine: Italian.

Comments: Currently this restaurant is being promoted as the only Northern Italian restaurant in the area around Los Angeles International Airport.

Picks: Bosses entertaining secretaries for lunch April 22-26 will receive a 20 percent discount off of their check. And the secretaries will receive a gift bag of dried pasta and a card signed by Trattoria Grande's chef Jacob Stark inscribed with a recipe of one of his signature pasta dishes.

MEMO: Do you have a question about restaurants? Mail it to Larry Lipson, P.O. Box 4200, Woodland Hills, Calif. 91365-4200, and look for the answer in a future dining beat column in L.A. life.