DINING BEAT PRICES NO LONGER ALTO.

Byline: Larry Lipson

It's not often that a restaurant adjusts its prices downward.

Imagine my surprise when recently, following a nearby theater visit, I discovered that one of the Los Angeles area's best pizza purveyors, Alto Palato, 755 N. La Cienega Blvd., West Hollywood, had lowered some of its prices.

One of my favorite soups, the fresh pea with fried leeks and polenta croutons, was no longer $8, but $7.45.

And the traditional margherita pizza has come down from $11 to $9.95.

In addition, the burrata cheese appetizer, a superb way to start any meal, had been knocked down from $11.50 to $7.95.

You might say these prices are still high compared to your favorite neighborhood Italian restaurant.

But I'll bet you won't find either the fresh pea soup or burrata cheese (a sort of white, fresh mozzarella infused with cream) on the menu.

And it's doubtful that the margherita pizza comes even close to being as good as Alto Palato's.

Check it out.

Information and reservations: [phone].

FRANCE IN L.A.: Following Marseille-Provence Week successes in New York and Chicago in prior years, L.A. has been chosen as the 2001 city for the series of culinary and cultural events.

The French promoters have made arrangements with a dozen top local chefs who know how to cook Marseille-Provence food well, especially bouillabaisse, Marseille's renowned seafood stew, for the event, which is set for Jan. 27 through Feb. 3.

Participating restaurants and chefs are La Cachette (Jean-Francois Meteigner), Lavande (Jeffrey Nimer), L'Orangerie (Ludovic Lefebvre), Lunaria (Gregorio Saldivar), McCormick & Schmick's Beverly Hills (Peter Lehmar), Melisse (Josiah Citrin), Pastis (Jean Pierre Gauthier), Patina (Joachim Splichal), Spago (Wolfgang Puck), the Dining Rooms of Hotel Bel-Air (Thomas Hanson), the Regent Beverly Wilshire (Fabrizio Schenardi) and the private Regency Club (Patrick Jamon).

Details: [phone].

NAPKIN NOTES: Sorry to hear that both Cafe Med, 10151 Riverside Drive, Toluca Lake, and Twin Palms, 24300 Town Center Drive, Valencia, have closed ... Meanwhile, it looks like Cajun is enjoying a mini comeback. Uncle Darrow's, for six years at 5301 W. Venice Blvd., Venice, [phone], has opened a second Uncle Darrow's at 2560 Lincoln Blvd., Marina del Rey. Its grand-opening party Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. means free coffee and beignets to all customers. Information: [phone].