SMALL BITES GIVE THE GIFT OF EATING OUT.

Byline: - Larry Lipson

Most promotion-savvy restaurants produce gift cards or certificates that are good year-round.

Obviously these are very handy right now for friends or relatives who might be hard to please with regular department store gifts.

Currently Arnie Morton's aka Morton's The Steakhouse, in Burbank at 3400 W. Olive Ave., also in downtown L.A. and West Hollywood, is promoting its gift card program by giving a $100 bonus gift card for every $500 in gift cards purchased. The only catch is that the bonus card must be redeemed between Jan. 2 and March 31, 2006.

Morton's gift cards can be purchased online at www.mortons.com, or at Morton's restaurants. Information: [phone].

The Patina Group, which has a slew of restaurants around these parts that include Pinot Bistro in Studio City, the new Eat on Sunset (formerly Pinot Hollywood) that's actually on Gower Street, and five downtown spots headed by flagship Patina in the Walt Disney Concert Hall, offers gift certificates in any denomination. Call [phone], or visit www.patinagroup.com.

On a less expensive level, gift cards for Carrows restaurants run from $5 to $100. Find the location nearest you at www.carrows.com.

And popular Cafe Cordiale, 14015 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, produces holiday gift certificates that are available on site. Information: [phone].

WISHES FULFILLED: Diners at the Parkway Grill and adjacent Arroyo Chop House at 510 and 536 S. Arroyo Parkway in Pasadena, two of the several restaurants owned by brothers Bob and Gregg Smith, have been able to do good turns for Christmas thanks to a couple of novel methods.

At the Parkway Grill there's a Garland of Hope and at the Arroyo Chop House an Angel Wish Christmas tree. Both hold paper ornaments containing the names, ages and wishes of abused and/or neglected children from the Hillsides, a Pasadena treatment center.

Diners have been taking the ornaments home and returning with unwrapped gifts that answer the children's wishes.

Deadline is Christmas Eve. Information: Parkway: [phone]; Arroyo: [phone]; Hillsides: [phone].

NAPKIN NOTES: Would you believe a restaurant named Nine Thirty actually serves food until 2:45 a.m.? The Nine Thirty - obviously named for its address - located in the W Hotel, 930 Hilgard Ave., Westwood, is now offering its late-night menu from midnight to 2:45 a.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Information and reservations: [phone]. ... English Christmas plum pudding (served flambe with heavy cream and brandy butter sauce) is available fresh-baked today only at the Riverside Cafe, 1221 W. Riverside Drive, Burbank. Advance orders suggested. Call [phone].