SMALL BITES MASTRO'S TO STEAK ITS CLAIM IN T.O.

Byline: - Larry Lipson

A new Mastro Steakhouse is set to open Feb. 10 in Thousand Oaks.

The Scottsdale-based Mastro Cos., which also plans to open a steak house in Costa Mesa's South Coast Plaza in November of this year and a fish house called Mastro's Ocean Club in Newport Beach in August, currently operates six restaurants, including Mastro Steakhouse in Beverly Hills.

The upscale Mastro's Steakhouse due in the Conejo Valley will replace the former 2087 - An American Bistro at 2087 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., currently shuttered.

Mastro's director of marketing, Suzanne Ayers, confirmed that the new Thousand Oaks restaurant would have a similar menu to the Mastro's at 246 N. Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, though the prices, she said, may be a trifle lower.

The Beverly Hills Mastro's, listed in the 2005 Zagat Survey as being even with Spago and Patina in the 27-point (out of 30) second-place category for food in the L.A. area, specializes in hand-cut USDA Prime steaks and chops.

Its 16-item list of steaks and chops ranges from an 8-ounce petite filet for $29.50 and a 22-ounce steakhouse chicken dish for $25.95 to a 40-ounce double-cut porterhouse for $68.50.

With 22 different vegetable and Idaho potato a la carte side options, numerous appetizers and salads, and several lobster and seafood opportunities, Mastro's provides something for every palate, usually top quality at top price.

Information: [phone], www.mastrossteakhouse.com or www.mastrogroup.com.

STEAKS REIGN: Meanwhile, steaks have taken over at the former Sunset Room, 1429 Ivar Ave., Hollywood, now dubbed Sterling Steakhouse. And ironically a former Mastro's chef, Katsuji Tanabe, has taken over there.

Sterling is owned by the people who run Hollywood's popular White Lotus and Pig'n Whistle. Sterling prices its 20-ounce porterhouse at $44 and its 14-ounce dry-aged New York at $34. But it is pushing an off-menu 22-ounce Kobe porterhouse at market price that is served under a silver dome.

Sterling's bar stocks an extensive collection of single malt scotches.

Information and reservations: [phone].

ANGEL CAFE TAKES WING: Onetime Spago, Hollywood, cook Nobu Kusakawa, owner of the popular Topanga Pizza, 22994 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills, [phone], has opened Angel Cafe, 5687 Kanan Road, Agoura Hills.

With a top entree price of $14.95, Angel has most of its pasta and chicken plates ticketed under $10. It also offers a number of salad, pizza and submarine sandwich items.

Angel Cafe serves beer and wine and charges $5 corkage.

Information: [phone].

NIBBLES & SIPS:A $45 prix-fixe tasting menu is now available every Tuesday evening at the posh Diaghilev in the Wyndham Bel Age Hotel, 1020 N. San Vicente Blvd., West Hollywood. Reservations: (310) 854-11111. ... Formerly a breakfast and lunch spot, Flora Kitchen, 468 S. La Brea Ave., now serves dinners (and flowers) until 10 p.m. or later. Reservations: [phone]. ... M Cafe de Chaya is the new macrobiotic (meatless, no refined sugar, eggs or dairy) dinery of the Chaya Group (Chaya Brasseries, Chaya Venice) at 7119 Melrose Ave. Information: [phone] or www.mcafedechaya.com. ... La Salsa has introduced a beanless, riceless burrito. ... Celebrating its 78th birthday, Taix French Restaurant, 1911 Sunset Blvd., is presenting its roast chicken dinner with soup, salad and dessert for $8.95 weeknights during August. Reservations: [phone] or www.taixfrench.com.