HOT SPOTS : LOW CORKAGE, HIGH BOOKINGS.Byline: Larry Lipson Cafe Bizou, 14016 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, (818) 788-3536. By charging $2 corkage cork·age n. A charge exacted at a restaurant for every bottle of liquor served that was not bought on the premises. corkage Noun a charge made at a restaurant for serving wine bought elsewhere 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 Outback Steakhouse is a casual dining American restaurant chain based in Tampa, Florida with over 900 locations in 23 countries throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. , 18711 Devonshire St., Northridge, (818) 366-2341. (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. Fast and fresh Baja Fresh Baja Fresh is a restaurant chain of Fresh Mex restaurants founded in Newbury Park, California, United States in 1990 by Jim and Linda Magglos. Categorized as a "fast-casual" restaurant, the quality and preparation time of its food is between that of a fast-food restaurant and a Mexican Grill, 19960 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills, (818) 888-3976. (Also in Studio City, Westlake Village, Newbury Park, Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. , Woodland Hills and elsewhere.) New-style, light Mexican food made from fresh ingredients, served quickly and inexpensively. Splendor under glass Bistro Garden at Coldwater, 12950 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, (818) 501-0202. The main dining room's magnificent skylit ceiling and fancy setting draws the cognoscenti co·gno·scen·te n. pl. co·gno·scen·ti A person with superior, usually specialized knowledge or highly refined taste; a connoisseur. from the hills and dales of the Valley. A turn to French-accented fare is an appealing improvement. Italian delight Toto di Notte, 15627 Ventura Blvd., Encino, (818) 981-9293. (Also in Van Nuys as Toto, 5658 Sepulveda Blvd., 818-781-0144.) It's a spacious cafe, bar, entertainment lounge and pizzeria that serves crispy crisp·y adj. crisp·i·er, crisp·i·est 1. Firm but easily broken or crumbled; crisp. 2. Having small curls, waves, or ripples. pizzas, perfect pastas, mussels and clams, all with a very strong, authentic Italian accent - and all at low prices. And yes, it really does deliver its pizzas - at least the larger orders - by limo. Celebrity hangout Morton's, 8764 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood West Hollywood A community of southern California northeast of Beverly Hills. It is mainly residential. Population: 36,600. , (310) 276-5205. Peter ``Hard Rock Cafe'' Morton's relocated (in former Trumps site) show-biz cloutspot occasionally serves up some pretty good food. That's if you can get in. Good luck. |
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