MOTHER'S DAY DINING SPOTS ENTICE WITH ARRAY OF EXTRAS.

Byline: Larry Lipson Daily News Restaurant Writer

Brunch buffets continue to be the favored meal for Mother's Day diners this year.

And as usual, a variety of enticements are offered. In addition to the usual discounts, flowers or free meals, moms may find such creative lures as a complimentary head-and-shoulder massage as an inducement to have brunch in one of the major hotels next Sunday.

Often the best choice for a special occasion is a restaurant with which the diner is familiar. You will know the strengths and weaknesses of the place, and the staff should know you, so you'll get better service.

With all this in mind, here are a few local opportunities for Mother's Day dining:

THE HOTELS

Hotels are generally good choices for Mother's Day brunches because they're experienced in serving Sunday brunches to large crowds on a regular basis. They often have the resources and kitchen capabilities to outdo independent restaurants. Some hotel possibilities:

The Radisson Valley Center Hotel, 15433 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, will serve brunch in its ballroom from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The buffet spreads will feature carved prime rib and pineapple-glazed ham, breast of chicken marsala, baked whitefish veronique, bow-tie pasta with sun-dried tomatoes, steamed vegetables and numerous traditional breakfast items. Salads, cheeses, lox and bagels, pasta salads, cucumber salad, cold cuts, baked goods and desserts plus champagne, orange juice, coffee and other soft beverages will be poured. The tab: $18.95 per person ($6.95 children under 12, free children under 4). Reservations: [phone].

At the Universal City Hilton, 555 Universal Terrace Parkway, Universal City, the all-you-can-eat brunch in the hotel's enlarged Cafe Sierra from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. is priced at $28 and children under 11 will have their own buffet for $14.

While a jazz pianist plays, diners can munch on omelettes, Belgian waffles, bacon, sausage, smoked chicken crepes, shrimp cocktail, crab claws, bagels, lox, salads, pasta salads, marinated duck, carved meats (free-range turkey, beef and ham), Alaskan salmon, eggplant gorgonzola lasagna, Thai lamb curry, dim sum kung pao scallops, sweet and sour pork, pies, pastries, fresh fruits, California champagne and fresh orange juice. Reservations: [phone].

At the Century Plaza, 2025 Avenue of the Stars in Century City, the Los Angeles Ballroom will be the scene of a buffet brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. featuring a giant ice sculpture of a mother and child. The $25 meal ($12.50 for children 6 to 12, free to children younger than 6) includes salads, cheeses, fruits, chilled seafood, hot breakfast dishes, pastas, bouillabaisse, seared tenderloin in pastry with exotic mushrooms, strawberry shortcake, fruit tartlets and chocolate pecan pie. And mom gets a free shoulder massage and aromatherapy. Reservations: [phone].

The Westwood Marquis Hotel 930 Hilgard Ave., Westwood, renowned for its Sunday buffet brunches, boasts more than 100 items for its Mother's Day offering that will include assorted caviars, unlimited jumbo shrimps, oysters, clams, rack of veal, roasted leg of lamb, Wellington tenderloin, salads, sushi, made-to-order pastas, sparkling wine and numerous desserts. A string trio plays and seating will be in both the Garden Terrace and Cafe Perroquet. There's an orchid for each mom. Cost: $45 (children 5 to 12 $27. under 4 free). Reservations: [phone].

At Windows on Hollywood, the revolving 23rd-floor restaurant atop the Holiday Inn, 1755 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood, a continuous brunch buffet from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. presents everything from appetizers to desserts, juices, coffee, four carving stands (baron of beef, roast turkey, honey-baked ham, roast leg of lamb) and a fish of the day. Price: $19.95 (seniors $18.95, children $9.95). Tott's bubbly is $4.95 a bottle. Reservations: [phone].

The buffet brunch from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the spectacular five-story glass atrium lobby of the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel at 1700 Ocean Ave. is $39.50 (children from 3 to 12 will be charged $1 per year, free for those under 3). There's a puppet show at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the hotel's Catalina Room. The large spread includes omelettes, seafood, meat carving stations, sushi and tempura stations, hot entrees, breakfast favorites and assorted desserts. Reservations by credit card only with 72-hour cancellation policy: [phone].

Disneyland Hotel, 1150 W. Cerritos Ave., Anaheim, will be doing its annual ``supercalifragilistic'' Mother's Day buffet from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (So what happened to ``expialidocious?'') where Mom and the family can pose with Disney characters. Kids get their own buffet spread. Tab is $38.50 (children 3 to 11 for $13.50, kids under 2 cost $4, people older than 59 receive a 10 percent discount). Reservations: [phone].

WEST VALLEY

A three-course Mother's Day dinner from 5 to 9 p.m. will be served at Tartine, 21826 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills. The $14.95 meal begins with a choice of black bean soup or one of three different salads, then an entree (lamb osso buco, flank steak with shiitakes, salmon with mustard tarragon sauce, rosemary lemon garlic chicken) and dessert (choose from a variety of pastries). Reservations: [phone].

India's Tandoori, 19006 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana, (others in Burbank, West L.A. and midtown L.A.) is offering a free buffet brunch from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. to all moms (limit one mom per table). The rest of the party pays $8.95 each. Reservations: [phone].

The sit-down brunch at Papashon, 15910 Ventura Blvd., Encino, (others in Beverly Hills and Pasadena) is set from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and priced at $25 per person (children under 13 half-price). Diners get assorted breads, muffins, scrambled eggs with caviar, bacon, assorted sausages and country potatoes to start. Then there's a choice of fruit with yogurt, a salad or gazpacho. Entree choices are strawberry crepes, french toast, omelettes, vegetable pasta, baked salmon, leg of lamb or baked chicken breast with a wine and fruit sauce. Assorted petits fours end the meal. Reservations: [phone].

Mothers receive a red rose at Monteleone's, 19337 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana, where there's an early dinner from 4 to 6 p.m. for $10.99. Reservations: [phone].

And moms get free lasagna at Bambino's, 6846 De Soto St., Canoga Park, with the purchase of any regular dinner. Reservations: [phone].

MID-VALLEY

Mother's Day brunch at Posto, 14928 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, is a sit-down affair of three courses for $30 with seven appetizer choices (warm oysters, smoked salmon, prosciutto and melon, carb and potato pancakes, porcini crepes, sauteed shrimps, onion and porcini frittata), seven entrees (veal scaloppine, spaghetti with shrimp, chicken with ham and fontina, lamb osso buco, broiled sea bass, grilled white fish, lasagna bolognese), five desserts (poached pear mascarpone, banana tart with vanilla ice cream, tiramisu, truffle cake, sorbetti and berries). Two children's dinners (under 13, $15). Also serving dinners from 5 to 10 p.m. Reservations: [phone].

The gospel brunch ($26.95, children under 13 $12.95) at Moonlight Tango Cafe, 13720 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, has three seatings (noon, 2 and 4 p.m.) featuring Mary and the Voices of Honor and Glory. Southern soul-food buffet includes fried chicken with cream gravy, roast prime rib, baked ham, leg of lamb with peach kumquat chutney, omelettes, fried catfish, shrimp Creole, cheese grits, mimosas, cornbread and bread pudding with bourbon sauce. Regular dinner service, dancing and entertainment by the Palm Beach Trio resumes at 6:30 p.m. Reservations: [phone].

NORTH VALLEY

It can be a touch of academia for mom at the University Club at California State University, Northridge (CSUN), 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge, where the complete buffet brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with waffles, omelettes, carved prime rib, roast turkey, salads, breads, desserts, sparkling wine, fresh orange juice and coffee is $12.95 (children's buffet for those under 13, $6.95). Reservations: [phone].

EAST VALLEY

Wine Bistro, 11915 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, is serving a prix-fixe, three-course dinner for $24.95 with a choice of appetizers (crab cake, asparagus and smoked salmon), entrees (filet of sole, rack of lamb, roast duck with apricots) and desserts. Reservations: [phone].

Mom gets a free breakfast-brunch (7 to 11 a.m.) with one purchased at regular price ($7.95) at Leon's Steak House, 10945 Victory Blvd., North Hollywood, which also serves a four-course champagne dinner from noon to 9 p.m. of prime rib ($11.95), turkey with trimmings ($7.95) and tropical baked ham with Hawaiian brandy sauce ($7.95). Reservations: [phone].

St. Moritz, Toluca Lake Tennis Club, 6711 Forest Lawn Drive, Los Angeles, is serving brunch with six entree choices ($18.50) from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and dinner with soup or salad, four entree choices, dessert and coffee or tea for $25 (children under 12 $12.50). Reservations: [phone].

VALENCIA

The recently opened Valencia Inn, 25684 Tournament Road, Valencia, offers a quintet of special dinners from noon until 9 p.m., each with an appetizer, salad, coffee and dessert. Entrees: salmon lasagna or spaghetti and New Zealand mussels ($11.95 each), veal roast or sea bass with wild mushroom ragout ($12.95 each) and medallions of beef with mustard sauce ($13.95). Reservations: [phone].

At Sisley Italian Kitchen, 24201 W. Valencia Blvd., Valencia, (also at 10800 W. Pico Blvd., West Los Angeles) the Mother's Day special fare from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. includes complimentary champagne with a Norwegian smoked salmon pizza ($11.95), shrimp ravioli with a lobster-tarragon cream sauce ($12.95) and baby mixed greens with smoked chicken and grilled portabello mushrooms ($9.95). Reservations: [phone].

PASADENA

Pianist Bill Maldonado plays from 5 to 9 p.m. at Stoney Point Bar & Grill, 1460 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, where the 4 to 9 p.m. menu offers salads ($4.50 and $4.95), appetizers of crabcakes, escargots and beef carpaccio ($7.50 and $7.95) and entrees from a pasta combo ($14.95) to rack of lamb ($19.95) and prime rib, sand dabs, chicken Oscar, lobster diavolo and swordfish dishes from $15.50 to $17.95 as remaining options. Reservations: [phone].