DINING BEAT\Taking off at Landing.

Byline: Larry Lipson

Restaurateur Giancarlo Zaretti, owner of the popular Caffe Zaretti in Northridge, has taken over the former Mel's Landing at 25864 Tournament Road in Valencia with plans to open it as the Valencia Inn next month.

Zaretti, who founded and later sold Pontevecchio in Santa Monica and L'Etoile in West Hollywood, also had a half-interest in Caffe Napoli in Van Nuys before concentrating on his eponymous Northridge restaurant.

He said he has completely renovated the onetime seafood eatery, putting in windows, and new floral-patterned booths and harmonizing carpet - generally theming the inn in mostly green and beige pastel tones.

A contemporary continental menu will incorporate such favored items as veal Orleans (with fresh tomato, calamata olives and capers), a ribeye steak with mustard sauce, osso buco, pork rollatini, calamari fritti, and both a chocolate souffle and chocolate fondue as desserts.

Pasta meals all will be priced under $10 and, as all entrees do, will include soup, salad and house-baked focaccia bread.

Generally, Valencia Inn's entrees, including a trio of fresh fish plates, will be ticketed under $13, he said.

For information, call [phone].

Seeing stars

The new California and the West edition of the "Mobil Travel Guide" (Fodor Publications Inc.; $14.95) has promoted L'Orangerie in West Hollywood from three stars to five for 1996, making it the only five-star restaurant on the West Coast.

A dozen four-star restaurants in California include five in the Los Angeles area: Patina, the Dining Room of the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel, Rex Il Ristorante, Abiquiu and Fenix in the Hotel Argyle.

The Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills and the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel made the five-star lodging list. The Westwood Marquis and the Wyndham Checkers snagged four-star lodging awards.

Etc.

The onetime India Palace at 4523 Sepulveda Blvd., Sherman Oaks, has been refurbished and replaced by Jewel of India. Surprise: Look for Greek as well as Indian food here. Reservations: [phone].