A LA CARTE LAST-MINUTE MOTHER'S DAY DINING.

Byline: Larry Lipson

It's hard to find a restaurant in America that isn't doing something special for moms today. And most of them are reserved to the hilt.

But for those who have procrastinated, we checked around - and for this, the biggest dining-out day of the year, the following restaurants advised us they might still be able to handle a few more customers. We suggest you call ahead, anyway.

Buggy Whip

Address: 7420 La Tijera Blvd., Westchester.

Phone: [phone].

Cuisine: American.

Comments: Has seating from noon to 3 p.m. Famous for huge slabs of beef, mammoth potatoes, stone crab claws, and green goddess dressing.

Picks: Complete roast turkey or ham with fruit sauce dinners ($16.95, children under 12 $7.95) that include dessert and, for moms only, a glass of champagne.

Greek Bistro

Address: 17337 Ventura Blvd., Encino.

Phone: [phone].

Cuisine: Greek.

Comments: This can be a fun experience, with loads of food, dancing and entertainment (from 5:30 p.m.), and a chocolate rose to each mom. It's a large restaurant and expects to have a sprinkling of seats available in all time slots from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Picks: In addition to the regular menu, there's a four-course special meal for $18.95 that would normally cost $26.

Steak Joynt

Address: 4354 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood.

Phone: [phone].

Cuisine: American.

Comments: Favored local hangout of the meat-and-potatoes crowd. Opens at 11 a.m. for lunch. Has multi-option, three-course, prix-fixe dinner ($19.95) starting at 4 p.m. along with regular dinner menu.

Picks: Chopped steak, pork tenderloin with Jack Daniels sauce, any steak.

Gallo's Bar & Grill

Address: 5425 Farralone Ave., Woodland Hills.

Phone: [phone].

Cuisine: American/Italian.

Comments: Longtime Love's barbecue spot is now a friendly, moderately priced bar and grill. Several Mother's Day tables available throughout the day.

Picks: Special sit-down brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with choice of egg dishes, pastas, fish, steak or prime rib with starters and desserts plus champagne is $21.95 (children under 12 $10.95).

Eric's (Clarion Palm Garden Hotel)

Address: 495 N. Ventu Park Road, Thousand Oaks.

Phone: [phone].

Cuisine: Californian/continental.

Comments: Former Holiday Inn is refurbished, has new owners and new full-service restaurant with probable seat availability all day.

Picks: Serving brunch and dinner with a la carte, sit-down brunch menu with main items from $7 to $12 and dinners featuring appetizers from $4.75 to $12 and entrees from $10 to $29.

Rix

Address: 1413 Fifth St., Santa Monica.

Phone: [phone].

Cuisine: Eclectic.

Comments: Spiffy-looking dining spot not usually open Sundays is serving moms and families from noon to 7 p.m.

Picks: Special a la carte menu offers appetizers from $8 to $15, entrees from $20 to $26 and a trio of dishes for children under 12 at $12 each.

Matterhorn Chef

Address: 13726 Oxnard St., Valley Glen.

Phone: [phone].

Cuisine: Swiss/Austro-German/Italian.

Comments: Former Westside celebrity chef now has his own successful Valley restaurant. Open from 2 to 9 p.m. with entertainment starting at 3 p.m.

Picks: Special three-course meals (include schnitzels, sauerbraten, salmon, pork, ham, steak and lobster and veal steak entrees) priced from $21.50 to $29.50 with many options.