HOT SPOTS : ARTY ITALIAN CHEAPO.

Byline: Larry Lipson

Milano's Italian Kitchen, 21550 Oxnard St., Woodland Hills, [phone]. (Also in Glendale, Westwood and elsewhere.) Everything is under $10 at this zingy, office building restaurant where the pastas, pizzas, salads and sandwiches are tasty triumphs of plate presentation.

Manhattan transfer

Kix, 343 N. Central Ave., Glendale, [phone]. Bright, airy, casual, smart and downright reasonable, here's where a transplanted, notable New York chef left his imprint of fixing trendy, light plates of fancy food for under $12 tabs. Call it the gastronomic Gothamization of Glendale for next to nix.

Piano bar Paoli's Pizzeria, 21020 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills, [phone]. This neighborhood sing-along hangout offers nightly entertainers, even a special piano performer for the early dinner crowd. Fare is robust, homey Italian with a signature super-rich, creamy, alfredo sauce-topped pizza.

It's a jungle in there

Amazon Bar & Grill, 14649 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, [phone]. Tropical fare a la Cha Cha Cha is moderately priced in this smash hit, art-eco, rainforest-themed cafe and bar where charity begins with regular donations from profits.

Chain champ

Daily Grill, 16101 Ventura Blvd., Encino, [phone]. (Also in Studio City, Brentwood, Newport Beach and across from the Beverly Center.) Retro grill-sans frill fare that's simple, good, moderately priced and a smash hit with all ages.

Belltower Italian Campanile, 624 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, [phone]. Here's where celebrity spousechefs Mark Peel and Nancy Silverton espouse great crunchy bread from their on-premises La Brea Bakery, cucina rustica par excellence and divine desserts. It's an L.A. food mecca.

Arnie's place

Schatzi on Main, 3110 Main St., Santa Monica, [phone]. Chez Schwarzenegger doesn't deserve the bashing it's received. It's a bright, cheerful, unpretentious cafe that has deservedly become a local hangout.

Bel Air's casual joint

Shane Hidden on the Glen, 2932 Beverly Glen Circle, Bel-Air, [phone]. Neighborhood pizza and pasta place of the rich and famous. Slightly Italian, some contemporary American leanings and a hint of Southwestern spice for the deep-pocketed folks who reside nearby. See stars and statesmen in sweats.