SMALL BITES ST. PETERSBURG IN STUDIO CITY.

Byline: - Larry Lipson

The new owner of the longtime Cabaret Tehran site in the heart of Studio City at 12229 Ventura Blvd., is hoping to open it by September as Romanov Restaurant & Lounge.

Mikayel Israyelyan, currently proprietor of the recently opened Republic (previously his Bliss) on La Cienega Boulevard and the adjacent more casual eatery on Melrose Place dubbed Prana Cafe, also intends to introduce a second Prana Cafe next to Romanov.

With obvious facade changes denoting its Russian theme, Romanov will present upscale dining and entertainment by modern Russian musical and dance acts.

A grand dining hall seating 180 persons will offer mahogany and oak floors imported from Russia and ``lavishly designed chandeliers.''

One room will be a duplicate of the private dining room at the czar's residence in St. Petersburg.

A proposed Romanov menu has three entrees carved at tableside: whole roast duck ($26), whole baked pheasant ($30) and dry aged prime rib ($29 and $32).

Starters include soups ($10 to $12), blinis ($18), tableside-prepared steak tartare ($22) and four types of caviar at market prices.

Information: Romanov: [phone]; Republic: [phone]; Prana Cafe [phone].

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON: Second-generation restaurateur Oliver de Mori knows what the words ``following in his father's footsteps'' mean.

The younger de Mori now operates his own restaurant called Sopra in exactly the same location as his father's first Los Angeles-area restaurant, Pane Caldo at 8840 Beverly Blvd., West Hollywood.

Silvio de Mori, Oliver's dad, went on to own or front various restaurants from the eponymous Silvio (now called Ago) to a partnership with Jean-Pierre Bosc in Mimosa and Cafe des Artistes.

Currently he is a partner with former Le Dome owner Eddy Kerkhofs at Il Piccolino, 350 N. Robertson Blvd., West Hollywood.

Information: Il Piccolino: [phone]; Sopra; [phone].

SIPS AND NIBBLES: Former Mayor Richard Riordan, pretty well known as the proprietor of The Pantry in downtown L.A., is expanding his restaurateur role. He has also become the owner of Gladstone's, 17300 Pacific Coast Highway., Pacific Palisades. Information: [phone]. ... Replacing Dakota's which has moved to 1555 Simi Valley Center, the restaurant on the hill at 2525 Stow St., Simi Valley, is now titled Candlelight Kitchen and Bar. Information: Dakota's: [phone]; Candlelight: [phone].