SMALL BITES TAPAS ON THE PLATE AT STUDIO CITY SPOT.

Byline: - Larry Lipson

The success of tapas restaurants likeMinibar near Universal City and A.O.C. on Third Street as well as others has inspired owner Patrice Lambert of the shuttered Tournesol, 13251 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, to go the tapas way.

Lambert and partner Eman Talei will formally open Ole! Tapas Bar next week, specializing in tapas-style small plates, Spanish wines, sangria and specialty cocktails.

Full-size entrees will also be served.

Spanish native Richard Crespin of San Sebastian has been named executive chef of the new restaurant, which has been redesigned and redecorated by Georgios Apostolidis and Tracy Redwood of Innovation Creations.

Crespin, a graduate of the French Culinary Institute in New York, has cooked at Manhattan's Jean Georges, also locally at Wasabi and Mum's in Long Beach.

Ole's burnt-orange and brown interior features a wall mural and Spanish- influenced furnishings and accents. It has a stand-up dining bar for tapas, a full cocktail bar, a lounge, a dining room with booths and a boulevard patio.

Information: [phone].

ICE CREAM AND HOT DOGS: Later this month, Top Dogg Grill & Ice Cream Parlor will replace New York Scoop at 20040 1/2 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills.

Set to seat up to 80 people, the renovated facility will continue as an ice cream parlor but will specialize in regional versions of hot dogs plus a few specialty frankfurters.

Additionally, Top Dogg has announced it will serve Chasen's chili and the Original Brown Derby Cobb salad.

Owned by the Hoag Family of Oak Park, the new enterprise will serve gelato, sorbetto, Italian ice and Carbolite, previously featured items at Scoop.

The Hoags are the creators of Le Saucier Frozen Gourmet Sauces.

Information: [phone].

SUSHI UPDATE: And sushi rolls on.

Replacing Baja Bud's at 20042 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills, (adjacent to the aforementioned Top Dogg) is SanSai, a fast-food sushi and Japanese grill outlet with 13 locations in Southern California, three in Missouri and one soon to debut in Portland, Ore. Information: [phone].

Meanwhile, on Sushi Row at 16733 Ventura Blvd., Encino, the seven-location chain of Octopus sushi and sashimi cafes has unveiled its latest ``fusion'' restaurant replacing Sushi Q. Other Octopus eateries are in Burbank, Glendale, Camarillo and Ventura. And yes, it serves a spicy octopus salad. Information: 9818) 380-0855.

NIBBLES & SIPS: Norman's, 8570 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, goes after the tapas crowd with a new five-selection tapas menu ($6 to $10) along with its classic smaller plate offerings ($8 to $16 plus caviar for $95) that includes macaroni and cheese ($11). Reservations: [phone]. ... To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Angeli Caffe, 7274 Melrose Ave., presents a special buffet ($60, with cocktails $80). Celebrants may also opt for early cocktails and appetizers at 5 p.m. ($45) instead. Reservations mandatory: [phone]. ... A plate featuring half a dozen Sonora-style, rolled, grilled tacos done three ways with a red pepper dipping sauce, rice and beans ($9.99) is one of the new items on the new chef's special menu (through March 29) at your nearest El Torito (locations in Burbank, Encino, Northridge, Sherman Oaks, Tarzana, Thousand Oaks, Valencia, Woodland Hills and elsewhere). ... Microbrew fanciers get their kicks at Barney's Beanery (West Hollywood and Santa Monica), where more than 100 domestic beers from 12 states include such oddities as Dog Fish Head Raisin brew from Delaware, Reaper Deathly Pale ale from California, Left Hand milk stout from Colorado and Cave Creek Chili brew from Arizona. That's along with the 65 variations of Barney's chili. Information: West Hollywood: [phone]; Santa Monica: [phone].