DINING BEAT CLUBGOERS GET PROHIBITION.

Byline: Larry Lipson

In its heyday it was the Moonlight Tango Cafe, a glitzy Sherman Oaks restaurant and nightclub operated by Ernie Criezis. Waiters sang a la the Modernaires and celebrities came in to eat dinner and trip the light fantastic to a band whose members wore white suits and played white instruments.

Then Criezis died, the place was sold, and all of a sudden it was shuttered for a long time.

Eventually it reopened as the Arlequin, but the glitz disappeared and the showmanship of Criezis was noticeably missing.

Now, according to veteran restaurateur Charles Gallo, lately of Gallo's Bar & Grill and Charlie G's, it's on the verge of becoming The Prohibition Supper Club with a speakeasy theme and French-Italian fare.

Look for the name change to become official on Feb. 8, says Gallo, who has joined the management of the new venture.

Arlequin/Prohibition Supper Club is located at 13730 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks. Information: [phone].

TO THE MAX: Chef Andre Guerrero of Linq has revealed he's signed a lease agreement to take over the recently shuttered Joe-Joe's space at 13355 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks.

Guerrero says he plans to stay at Linq through mid-February. He'll open his new Cal-Asian restaurant, named Max after his son, on April 1. His managing partner and maitre d' will be Michael Lamb, a former manager of Saddle Peak Lodge.

STATE OF THE UNION: The closed Rix at 1413 Fifth St., Santa Monica, reopens Feb. 1 as Union.

Owner of Union is Jeff Peterson, who, in 12 years, vaulted from busboy to proprietor of Geoffrey's in Malibu.

Peterson has picked James R. Grey, recently at Les Deux Cafes in Hollywood, as Union's chef and Chuck Craig, former general manager at Spago in Beverly Hills, as director of operations and managing partner.

His manager at Geoffrey's, Brian Norris, moves to Union as general manager-partner.

The new restaurant, initially serving dinner only, will purvey contemporary American food.

Information and reservations: [phone].

HE'S GOT A PLACE CALLED JODY MARONI'S: You can still order some of Ben & Jerry's dipped ice creams here, but the place that was previously an ice cream parlor at 14318 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, is now a casual cafe owned by the well-known ``haute dog'' guy Jody Maroni and appropriately titled Jody Maroni's.

Valley boy Maroni grew up in Encino and his father, Max, had a butcher shop in the Stop & Shop market in Studio City.

At his eponymous cafe, Jody Maroni serves new sausages like chicken Cubana with plantains and garlic and Venetian chicken with sun-dried tomatoes, along with such old faves as Yucatan chicken with cilantro, chicken Andouille, smoked chicken apple, Louisiana hot links, Italian, Polish and bratwurst.

Information [phone].