HOT SPOTS : LOW CORKAGE, HIGH BOOKINGS.

Byline: Larry Lipson

Cafe Bizou, 14016 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, [phone]. By charging $2 corkage and moderate entree prices for outstanding plates of French-accented food, the ex-Shain's building is packed daily and nightly with wine and food lovers from all over town who bring their cellar's finest.

Down under in Northridge

Outback Steakhouse, 18711 Devonshire St., Northridge, [phone]. (Also in Valencia and elsewhere. Soon in Encino.) Big-draw, local outlets of reasonably-priced, fast-growing, national chain of Aussie-themed, casual meat and brew emporiums, obviously not worried about producing high sodium or cholesterol-packed fare as long as it tastes good. Which, most of the time, it does.

Where there's smoke there's wood

Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill, 5050 Cornell Road, Agoura Hills, [phone]. (Also 540 New Los Angeles Ave., Moorpark, [phone].) It's a true beef mecca at moderate tariff where the tri-tip's a trip, the porterhouse and prime rib are pretty and pink and a pound in weight, and the crispy string onions a blast. Lots of food. Lots of taste. And lots of customers.

Jaws in tortilla

Sharky's, 13238 Burbank Blvd., Sherman Oaks, [phone]. (Also in Northridge and Tarzana.) Fresh and fast, here's tasty shark, mahi mahi, shrimp, chicken and steak stuffed in burritos, tacos, tostadas and quesadillas. Ole. Ole.

Seafood spectacular

Water Grill, 544 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, [phone]. The definitive oceanfare destination when downtown, this clubby rendezvous is often picked as the number one for fish in L.A.

Prime time

Monty's Steak House, 5371 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Woodland Hills, [phone]. You'll find traditional and contemporary Americana here, from old fashioned, thick prime steaks to everybody's favorite, Chinese chicken salad. The wine list is a labor of love. And great jazz in the lounge a bonus.