BEST OF THE VALLEY : READER'S PICK.

These days it seems everybody has an opinion about everything. Just ask them.

So in our never-ending quest to improve your quality of L.A. Life, we decided to put this energy to good use and asked our opinionated readers to work alongside our Daily News critics.

We have solicited the Best of the Valley's restaurants, nightclubs, family outings, services and shopping spots. We spent days counting hundreds of reader ballots, and in each of 30 categories below, you will find our readers' top picks, as well as critics' choices offering a second option.

We'll welcome reader letters and suggestions in the coming weeks on other out-of-the-way spots that deserve mention in the San Fernando and surrounding valleys, and nominations for additional categories to poll in the future.

Here, now, are what our readers find worthy to be called Best of the Valley.

Let the arguments begin.

?5Best Splurge Restaurant

For a special occasion worth afew dollars more, readers say checkout Saddle Peak Lodge in Calabasas, known for elegantly prepared game such as venison, pheasant, buffalo and ostrich, in addition to the more commonplacesteak, chicken and seafood offerings. It's heavy on hunting-lodge atmosphere, but leave the Eddie Bauer regalia at home and plan to dress for dinner.

2. Todai Restaurant,locations in Studio City and Woodland Hills.

3. The Odyssey, Granada Hills; Monty's Steak House, Woodland Hills;Benihana of Tokyo, Encino.

Critic's Pick

Pinot Bistro, 12969 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, [phone]. This is the highly acclaimed Valley branch of Patina's celebrity chef-restaurateur Joachim Splichal and his talented protege partner Octavio Becerra. You can spend plenty here, but if you have high food and drink standards, you'll never feel cheated.

Best Restaurant for Cheapskates

Reader's Pick

Denny's won by a grand slam. Those popular breakfast specials and blue-plate-type dinners found at 10 valley locations apparently swayed voters.

2. Make a run for the border to Taco Bell, which hassome 300 L.A. locations.

3. McDonald's, withabout 60 pairs of golden arches inthe Valley. That ranking maychange in the future since many respondents also recommended it as a good place to take a screaming baby.

Critic's Pick

Out Take Cafe, 12159 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, [phone]. In this narrow, somewhat crammed space, you'll find food that looks like uptown, upscale stuff - notice the clever use of oversize platesand bowls - at extremely moderate prices.

Best Restaurant to Take Out-of-Towners

Reader's Pick

For those who want to knock thesocks off their relatives in from the Midwest, a good bet seems to be the Odyssey in Granada Hills. Its American cuisine isn'texotic - prime rib, lobster, steaks,chicken and fish - but an eye-pleasing panoramic view of theValley is a big attraction. TheOdyssey also offers early-bird specials, weekday buffets, weekend champagne brunches and Top 40music in the lounge.

2. Todai Restaurant inWoodland Hills, an all-you-can-eat assortment of fresh fish, shellfish and other dishes; and the Cheesecake Factory inWoodland Hills and Calabasas.

3. Gladstone's 4 Fish,found in Malibu and UniversalCity Walk; and Cafe Bellissimo in Woodland Hillsand Thousand Oaks.

Critic's Pick

Saddle Peak Lodge, 419 Cold Canyon Road, Calabasas, [phone]. In the middle of the mountains between the Valley and the ocean, this rustic hunting lodge-type dining spot brings a hint ofadventure to visitors along with an always superb kitchen.

Best Vegetarian Restaurant

Reader's Pick

Valley vegetarians have found heaven on earth - the Good Earth, that is. The restaurant chain, found in Northridge, Studio City and Encino, caters to a meatless palate with a menu that includes fresh spinach ravioli, whole wheat mushroom sorrentino, tofu omelette, an eggplant sandwich, nine-vegetable saute and its very popular meatless Planet Burger.

2. Follow Your Heart, Canoga Park.

3. Piccola Roma, Woodland Hills, with ahealth-conscious Roman Italian menu.

Critic's Pick

Samata, 12321 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, [phone]. If you're eating veggies all the time, you'll appreciate the variety of textures and flavors this Indian kitchen produces.

Best Mexican Restaurant

Reader's Pick

In one of the closest calls of the survey, Acapulco Mexican Restaurant y Cantina won by a tortilla. The menu is similar tomany others; Acapulco says the combination plates and fajitas arethe biggest sellers. Ira James, vice president of marketing, says what sets Acapulco restaurants in Burbank, Glendale, Northridge, Sun Valley and Woodland Hills apart from the crowd is the ``quality and flavor'' of the food and the ``hospitality and warmth'' of the employees. Anything not flavorful or hospitable might be forgiven on Margarita Mondays, when the 14-ounce cocktails aremarked down from $3.95 to $1.25.

2. El Torito Mexican Restaurant and Cantina, which has Valley locations in Granada Hills, Northridge, Tarzana, Valencia and Woodland Hills. El Torito should find someconsolation in its strong showing in several categories, among them Best Bar for Meeting People and Best Restaurant for Cheapskates.

3. Las Fuentes Mexican Food, Reseda; Presidente, Northridge,Woodland Hills and Mission Hills.

Critic's Pick

El Abuelo, 452 N. Maclay Ave., San Fernando, [phone]. The food here is not the quasi-Mexican fare that's so popular these days; it's the real thing.

Best Happy-Hour Spread

Reader's Pick

Belly up to the bar with a plate of complimentary south-of-the-border savories at the nearest El Torito. From 4p.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays El Torito serves up hors d'oeuvres, salads, vegetables and various hot dishes such as taquitos, burritos and enchiladas. Wash it all down with a 15-1/2-ounce margarita for $2.50 or a $1.99 glass of the house wine.

2. Monty's Steak House, Woodland Hills.

3. Acapulco, in Burbank, Glendale, Northridge, Sun Valley and Woodland Hills.

Critic's Pick

Elephant Bar, 1825 Madera Road, Simi Valley, [phone]. It makes good sense to go where they do these spreads regularly and efficiently. Here it's a 4-to-8 p.m. weekdays event featuring a fruit platter, a vegetable platter and a cheese platter plus a changing hot food recipe or two. One day recently this was fajitas and nachos.

Best Mall Food Court

Reader's Pick

Readers say after you shop till you drop you should grab a bite at Chowzer's Food Court in Topanga Plaza. The choices: 1 Potato 2, Great Steak and Fry, Hana Grill (Japanese), Hot Dog on a Stick, La Salsa,Nature's Table, Orange Julius/Dairy Queen, Panda Express, Paradise Bakery, Sbarro (pizza), Tommy's, Wazwan (Indian), Cinnabon.

2. Northridge Fashion Center, which coincidentally also has a Cinnabon stand.

3. Fashion Square in Sherman Oaks.

Critics Pick

There are individual preferences in every mall, but for a combination of diversity, quality, comfort and general enjoyment, the food courts at Topanga Plaza and Sherman Oaks Fashion Square get my nod.

Best Sunday Brunch

Reader's Pick

The runaway winner was Sagebrush Cantina in Calabasas, which has an all-you-can-eat champagne buffet and actually encourages its guests to linger for a couple of hours in the casual setting to sample a little of everything. The groaning board includes a fresh seafood bar; omelettes, waffles and pasta dishes prepared to order; barbecued brisket, ham, turkey and pork ribs; blintzes; bagels; potato pancakes; salads; and desserts. The feast costs $21.95 for adults and $10.95 for children 7-11, while those 6 and younger are free. Check out the weather forecast - about three-fourths of its seating is outside.

2. The Odyssey, Granada Hills.

3. El Torito, with Valley locations in Granada Hills, Northridge, Tarzana, Valencia and Woodland Hills.

Critic's Pick

Cafe Sierra, Universal City Hilton & Towers, 555 Universal Terrance Parkway, Universal City, [phone]. The tables are heaped with probably the best assortment of food of any of the local brunch spots. That includes some excellent Chinese food cooked by an ex-Harbor Village chef, a variety of fresh seafood, all the continental and American dishes that you'd expect prepared by a separate chef and staff, and for the $29 tab a refillable glass of methode champenoise Domaine St. Michelle sparkling wine.

Best Restaurant for a Hot Date

Reader's Pick

Judging from varied readers' responses, people will take a date just about anywhere. Maybe the most important ingredient is theright pairing of diners. But thosewho need atmosphere andsensuous foods to set the mood willwant to check out the threerestaurants that tied for first: Cafe Bellissimo in Woodland Hills and Thousand Oaks with its singing waiters,Inn of the Seventh Ray in Topanga (which may bring back memories of the Summer of Love), and Amazon in Sherman Oaks for that tropical rain-forest feel.

2. Cheesecake Factory, Woodland Hills and Calabasas

3. Moonlight Tango Cafe, Sherman Oaks.

Critic's Pick

Posto, 14928 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, [phone]. My favorite female companion, my wife, says this is her choice as the Valley's most romantic restaurant. I find absolutely no reason to disagree.

Best Place to Take a Screaming Baby

Reader's Pick

Let's all give thanks to our totally considerate readers who say they hustle off their wailing babies to the one location where the rest of us can't hear them: home. Just don't forget to shut the windows.

2. Otherwise, haggard moms are most likely to seek the calming, distracting effects of the park.

3. When all else fails, they flee to ... Grandma's. Lucky her.

Critic's Pick

Wood Ranch, 5050 Cornell Road, Agoura Hills, [phone]. There was one very loud, unhappy infant near us during most of our meal time here at the last visit. And other wailers could be heard in the distance. So, if you like really good tri-tip, meaty barbecued babybacks or an above average steak and perhaps a martini to keep you mellow at a restaurant that welcomes families, this is the place.

When Fido has just got to be free, Valley residents head for the Sepulveda Basin Off-Leash Dog Park at the corner of Victory Boulevard and White Oak Avenue in Encino. On 10 acres of lush, fenced-in grass, pooches can pal around with oneanother, leash-loose and fancy-free.Fire hydrants included.

2. Readers also picked Balboa Park as a favorite haunt for their four-legged friends

3. ``Your own neighborhood'' got an honorable mention. Dishonorable mention goes to several of you who suggested ``someone else's lawn.'' You were only joking, right?

Critic's Pick

The five-mile walk around Westlake Lake is my favorite because you can visit neighbors, feed the ducks, look at the lake and window shop all on one jaunt. The neighborhood walk has a bike path, and you'll see a number of skaters, but it's most popular with dog-walkers (leash and pooper-scooper are required). Those from out of the neighborhood can park at the marina on Lindero Canyon.

Best Video Store

Reader's Pick

It seems Blockbuster Video is apace with Starbucks to stake a claim on every corner in the Valley. With 3,900 stores nationwide and an average of 7,000 to 10,000 titles to choose from in each store, Blockbuster' sample and varied selection made it a readers' favorite for finding everything from ``Sleeping Beauty'' and ``The English Patient'' to ``Inventing the Abbotts.''

``I like that they have so many of the latest releases,'' said Joyce Yovannone, 45, of Woodland Hills. ``They don't just put five on the shelf; they have a ton. You can also find offbeat, avant garde and foreign films.''

2. Tower Video.

3. Wherehouse.

Critic's Pick

Eddie Brandt's Saturday Matinee, 6310 Colfax, North Hollywood, endeavors to have a copy of just about everything ever put on video. Begun 29 years ago as a westerns-centered memorabilia enterprise, the operation has expanded to include an exhaustive film collection, a huge TV section that includes early broadcasts from the 1940s and a brisk trade in movie posters and other show-biz collectibles.

Note that the place keeps weird hours: 1 to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. A massive mail-order business and the daunting task of organizing all that inventory are responsible for that. But do try to devote a few hours to a visit; Brandt's is a hotbed for trivia discussions and a great venue for questions and answers.

And if you're interested in something you can't find on the shelves or in the 43,000-item catalog, just ask. They're full of surprises.

Best Place to Beat the Heat

Reader's Pick

When temperatures sizzle, most Valley-ites make a beeline for their nearest mall to bask in the air conditioning and artificial light.

2. Others head for the cool, dark relief of a movie theater.

3. Another option is the pool. (One reader suggested the library -what a novel idea.)

Critic's Pick

Islands, 101 E. Orange Grove Ave., Burbank, [phone]. Here's a cool air-conditioned bar with a cool clientele and the coolest drinks in town. Get Johnny the Bartender's icy, pink Cool Breeze ($2.98), made with pina colada mix, strawberry and banana; or the Shipwreck ($4.28), a 16-ounce chiller containing Malibu rum, Midori, pineapple and orange juices, and grenadine.

Best Place to Buy Clothes forMen

Reader's Pick

Maybe it's those groovy piano players near the escalator. Valley shoppers choseNordstrom, pants down. Nordstrom has a reputation for its huge selection of sizes in shoes and clothing. They've also got their own tuxedo line that looks like a Ralph Lauren design at about half the price, plus free alterations.

2. Macy's.

3. Structure.

Critic's Pick

You'll find men's clothing in department stores, off-price stores and designer boutiques, but serious shoppers discover each has its own cachet.

Like readers, I find Nordstrom has a savvy men's department, but I like the colorful Italian shirts and sweaters at Luigi Basile at the Promenade in Westlake Village.

Best Place to Buy Clothes for Women

Reader's Pick

Readers again picked Nordstrom, which is famous for its own line of affordable career clothes as well as designer gowns. And its shoe department is huge, with lower-priced trendy styles upstairs in the juniors department.

2. Macy's.

3. Robinsons-May.

Critic's Pick

For really stylin' ensembles, heavy on the leopard and rhinestones, my favorite store is Cachet, a boutique in several malls, including Topanga Plaza. They've got designer looks for glamorous galas, like tulle-skirted ball gowns and feathery stoles.

Never mind the film. The main attraction at the AMC Promenade 16 megaplex is the comfy, tiered seating with high backs, cup holders, retractable arms and extra leg room between rows. The opening last year of the 16-screen behemoth that seats 3,000 breathed new life into the Woodland Hills mall, which had high vacancy rates after suffering extensive damage in the Northridge Earthquake.

2. Universal City 18 Cinemas.

3. Any Mann's Theater.

Critic's Pick

The AMC Promenade 16, on the Oxnard Street side of the Promenade Mall in Woodland Hills, actually makes the whole depressing multiplex trend look good. The smart thing here is that the theaters were designed to enhance the viewer's experience, not - as is usually the case - to cram as many people into as small a space as possible.

Big, curved screens and steep seating slopes ensure that everyone in the house gets a full, unobstructed view. The big, cushy chairs, with their conveniently raisable armrests, have been compared to airplane seats, but I find them noticeably more comfortable. Of course, sound and projection equipment is state-of-the-art. And the spacious, neon-dappled lobby and ticket areas, with their plentiful concession stands and registers, make lining up as pleasant and quick as the process gets.

Tower Records, no question, because of the huge selection. Plus they usually play really cool background music.

2. Blockbuster Music.

3. Virgin Megastore, Burbank.

Critic's Pick

Moby Disc, Sherman Oaks. Knowledgeable staff, good ska, jazz, blues and used sections, and timely shipments of import music and mags from London.

Who says you'll never meet anyone special in a bar? Cupid must have paid a visit to Weber's Place, 19312 Vanowen St., Reseda. So many couples have met and gone on to marital bliss that the owners hosted a reunion a couple of years ago - more than a dozen couples showed up to renew their wedding vows.

Other Weber's regulars say it's a great place to unwind after work. ``I've made a lot of friends in there,'' said Brian Perlman ofAgoura. ``Every week I go in there,it's smiling faces. The atmosphere is very casual, very homey ... It's the place to be.''

2. T.G.I. Friday's, 5919 Canoga Ave., Woodland Hills.

3. Bobby McGee's, 107 S. First St., Burbank.

Critic's Pick

Residuals, Studio City. Cozy, friendly neighborhood watering hole with comfortable booths for hanging out and shooting the breeze over a beer or three.

Best Bar for Romance

Reader's Pick

To wine and dine the object of their affections, our readers head to Saddle Peak Lodge, 419 Cold Canyon Road, Calabasas. Cozy rooms, some with fireplaces, help get sparks flying in the rustic lodge. An extensive wine list and exotic fare such as broiled quail, duck liver, vodka-cured salmon and ostrich served on fine china is sure to impress your date, or at least help the conversation along. After dinner, take a stroll on the veranda and take in the view.

2. Readers can also sweep their beloved off their feet to live swing, big band, Latin and jazz music at the Moonlight, 13730 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, which recently redecorated and now resembles a plush, hip Las Vegas lounge.

3. Another hot spot is Cafe Bellissimo, 22450 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills (and Thousand Oaks), which features singing servers: ``When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie that's amore.''

Critic's Pick

Carmichael's (formerly Stanley's), Sherman Oaks. The last of the fern bars, but still a warm environment for a premovie date.

Best Jazz Club

Reader's Pick

1. La Ve Lee, 12514 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, is a cozy, low-lights cabaret that brings in Brazilian and other types of jazz and world music.

2. Baked Potato, 3787 W. Cahuenga Blvd., North Hollywood

3. B.B. King's Blues Club in Universal CityWalk.

Critic's Pick

Baked Potato, North Hollywood. It's been around forever, but still a draw for local jazz heads and top musicians that drop by for the occasional late-night jam session.

Best Country/Western Club

Reader's Pick

The Cowboy Palace Saloon, 21635 Devonshire St., Chatsworth, is a true Old West hangout. Customers still arrive by horsepower: Mustangs, Harleys and the four-legged kind. A hitching post outside the saloon lets the real-life cowboys and cowgirls feel right a home. Wear your cowboy hat and boots and take free line dancing and two-step lessons every evening.

2. Borderline, 99 Rolling Oaks Drive, Thousand Oaks.

3. Rawhide Bar, a gay bar at 10937 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood.

Critic's Pick

Cowboy Palace Saloon, Chatsworth. Class-A honky-tonk complete with pony hitch out front, attracting good bands and line dancers alike.

Best Rock Club

Reader's Pick

Our readers say The Rock, 7230 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Canoga Park, uh, rocks. Six nights a week, the barnlike room with an expansive stage is jumpin' with live bands that play all kinds of rock 'n' roll, from alternative to punk. There's also a wide-screen television most likely tuned to sports, several dart boards, seven pool tables and pinball. Open mike night starts this Monday.

2. Mancini's Restaurant and Nightclub, 20923 Roscoe Blvd., Canoga Park.

3. Hard Rock Cafe in Universal CityWalk.

Critic's Pick

Cozy's Bar & Grill, Sherman Oaks. This is the spot for rockin' blues, the whole blues and nothin' but the blues.

Best Latin Club

Reader's Pick

With two dance floors and live norteno and banda music nightly, Salon Corona, 11700 Victory Blvd., North Hollywood is the readers' pick. A second room features rock en Espanol.

2. La Ve Lee, 12514 Ventura Blvd. in Studio City.

3. Villa Wahnsinn, 8751 Van Nuys Blvd., Panorama City.

Critic's Pick

La Bamba, Pasadena - A fine Caribbean restaurant that doubles as a showcase for memorable Latin performers.

Best Flea Market

Reader's Pick

If you're in the market for a new house plant, hot lunch, funky dresses or framed posters - all at bargain prices, readers say they find it at the Valley Indoor Swap Meet, 6701 Variel Ave., Woodland Hills. Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays Admission is $1. Seniors and children under 12 admitted free.

2. Rose Bowl Flea Market, 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena.

3. Saugus Swap Meet, 22500 Soledad Canyon Road, Saugus.

Critic's Pick

The Rose Bowl in Pasadena is the greatest, especially if you go at dawn with a flashlight and discover treasures as they're unloaded from trucks. The place is so big they divide the area into areas: antiques, garage sale stuff, clothes and new items.

Best Place to Buy Offbeat Gifts

Reader's Pick

When a box of chocolate or a tie just isn't good enough, readers head to Aahs, a gift and card shop that focuses on the trend of the moment. The store carries wacko stuff with a Hollywood theme, lots of Betty Boop and Marilyn Monroe-themed items, plus adult gag gifts. They've always got a holiday collection of party fare and gifts, bulk candy for the kids and some handmade jewelry. Locations include Sherman Oaks at the Galleria and at 14548 Ventura Blvd.

2) Spencer Gifts in the Northridge Mall.

3) Tuesday Morning Inc., 11239 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, and 21524 Victory Blvd., Woodland Hills.

Critic's Pick

For bugle-bead picture frames, artsy candlestick holders and conversation pieces for a friend's coffee table, I like Pottery Barn at the Promenade Mall pin Woodland Hills.

Best Place to Shop for your Home

Reader's Pick

Sofas, tables, desks, baskets, bowls - you name it, IKEA Burbank, 600 N. San FernandoBlvd., has almost anything for your home, say our readers. The place is big on colorful furnishings with a Swedish theme.

2) Consumer's Furniture, 21048 Golden Triangle Road, Saugus.

3) Home Depot stores.

Critic's Pick

My favorite place for small accessories is the Bombay Company, which specializes in moderately priced reproductions of antiques from eras such as Queen Anne and Chippendale. Elegant boudoir dressingtables with mirrors, vitrines to hold keepsakes and ladylike writing desks are among the inventory. It also has a lot of gift ideas, crystal vases and brass book ends.

Best Dance Club

Reader's Pick

What is it about this place? Sure, the vibe is friendly. The staff is laid-back. And there's more than 110 bottled beers to sample. Regulars at Weber's Place, 19312 Vanowen St., Reseda, are so loyal they chose the bar as the hottest place to boogie, even though there's dancing only on Friday and Saturday nights. To make way for a dance floor, they move a couple of rows of tables.

2) Aftershock Nightclub and Restaurant, 11345 VenturaBlvd., Studio City.

3) Yankee Doodles, 21870 Victory Blvd., Woodland Hills.

Critic's Pick

La Ve Lee, Studio City. Warm, dark and cozy, this ultra-cool nightspot also boasts a dance floor that has been known to erupt with the latest Latin or funk moves.

Best Pamper Palace

Reader's Pick

When it comes to getting the works - hair, nails and massages, Michelangelo Hair Creations rated tops with our readers. They've got Jacuzzi chairs for pedicures, a makeup bar, foot massages and hair styling. They serve customers coffee and pastries seven days a week at 19750 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills. Phone is [phone].

2) Le Papillion in Pasadena.

3) Shawny's Beauty Oasis in Palmdale.

Critic's Pick

When I think of pampering, I think of a place where I can relax in a vibrating chair while my feet are soaking in a whirlpool bath, followed by a foot massage and pedicure. There are several great places, but my neighborhood pamper palace is John's of Italy in Westlake Village.

Best Family Outing

Reader's Pick

Readers overwhelmingly responded that a park - any park - was their favorite place to take the kids.

2) But when they specified a particular park, the winner was Warner Center in Woodland Hills for the free Summer Concert series.

3) Lake Balboa at the old Sepulveda Dam and Griffith Park were also at the top of the list.

Critic's Pick

My summertime family favorite is a picnic dinner at Will Geer's Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga and an evening with the Bard.

It's the best way I can think of to introduce children to Shakespeare, as it's performed outdoors under the trees and stars the way people in Shakespeare's day enjoyed it. And best of all, you can wear jeans and don't have to pay a parking fee.

Best Hike

Reader's Pick

Forget the stroll in the park. When it comes to hikes, our hearty Daily News readers want achallenge and a rocky terrain. The favorite spot is Chatsworth Park, where you've got plenty of boulders along rugged trails and a great view at the top. There's also a picnic area and bathroom facilities.

2) Griffith Park.

3) Santa Monica Mountains.

Critic's Pick

When I think of a hike, it's more likely a parking space that's really far from the mall. But Millard Canyon Falls above Altadena is a real treat with its 50-foot waterfall at the end of the trail.

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(5--Cover--Color) The Valley's doggone best...everything; From restaurants to nightlife, bargains and where to walk your pet, our readers' picks