HOT SPOTS : NIFTY THROWBACK.

Byline: Larry Lipson

Moonlight, 13730 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks. [phone]. Dance to the pop hits of the '40s, '50s and '60s in this renovated, classy supper club as performed by serving staffers and a house trio. Nibble on tapas and dine on dishes made famous at celebrated dining venues of yesteryear. Big bands and/or musical acts on Sundays and most weeknights. Admission charges vary. So join the fun.

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.

Chicken souperlatives

Jerry's Famous Deli, 12655 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, [phone]. (Also in Woodland Hills, Encino, Los Angeles, Marina del Rey and elsewhere.) It's a 'round-the-clock movie-town rendezvous jammed with munchers and gazers of all ages checking each other out while slurping one of the town's best matzo ball chicken soups.

Catch of the week

Shiro, 1505 Mission St., South Pasadena, [phone]. You won't find a better plate of ocean fare anywhere. But don't look for handsome furnishings. This is a no-frills, reasonably priced cafe that has seafood fanciers jumping for joy.

Rocketing to fame

Johnny Rockets, 16901 Ventura Blvd., Encino, [phone]. (Also in Sherman Oaks, Westwood, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles and elsewhere.) No need to lie about the cherry pie. Or apple pie, burgers, malts and shakes here. Truthfully, Johnny is rocketing to fame across the land.

Artistic license

Cafe La Boheme, 8400 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, [phone]. Look up, look down, look around. It's so artsy - curtains, pond, tapestries, sculptures - you almost miss the fact that the food is superior and not too expensive.