SMALL BITES VALENTINE'S ALL WEEKEND.

Byline: Larry Lipson

Some restaurants are taking advantage of the fact that Valentine's Day falls on a Friday this year, extending the celebration to a weekend.

Case in point, the popular Steak Joynt, 4354 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, which will be serving two special three-course dinners at $22.95 and $29.95 as well as the regular a la carte menu.

Reservations and information: [phone].

Also in the weekend mode is the highly acclaimed Napa Rose at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel, 1600 S. Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, where a four-course repast for $85 will be offered both Friday and Saturday evenings. Four premium wines will be added for an extra $45 per person. Reservations and information: [phone].

APHRODISIAC FACTS:But beware of those who claim they're serving aphrodisiacs on Valentine's Day.

``There is no research showing any food is actually an aphrodisiac,'' says psychologist Alexandra W. Logue, vice president for academic affairs at New York Institute of Technology and author of ``The Psychology of Eating and Drinking.''

She reminds us that there is no proof that oysters are aphrodisiacs, but for a Valentine's meal she recommends chocolate.

``There's almost nobody who doesn't like it,'' she says, ``and it makes everybody happy. It's expensive and elegant - that's romantic. Oh yes, I like it: I have my hiding places for it.''

ROMANCE UNDER $40: Pricewise, the recommendable prix-fixe romantic dinners under $40 are at Tommy Tang's (Thai), 7313 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, [phone] (four-course $35); Tantra (Indian), 3705 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, [phone] (three-course $35, five-course $75); Max, 13355 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, [phone] (four-course $38); Cafe Provencal (French), 2310 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, [phone] (four-course $38); Locanda del Lago, 231 Arizona Ave., Santa Monica, [phone] (three-course $39, four-course $49).

UNDER $75: Prix-fixe options under $75 worth considering are Ca' Del Sole, 4100 Cahuenga Blvd., North Hollywood, [phone] (five-course $45 plus Italian statuette gifts to some women diners); TasteBuds at Ramsey's, 6711 Forest Lawn Drive, Toluca Lake, [phone] (three-course $50 includes dancing to 21-piece big band); Wine Bistro, 11915 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, [phone] (three-course $59.95); Linq, 8338 W. Third St., Los Angeles, [phone] (four-course $65); Le Sanglier, 5522 Crebs Ave., Tarzana, [phone] (three-course $65); the Palm, 1100 S. Flower St., Los Angeles, [phone] (three-course with champagne $130 for two); Moonshadows, 20356 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, [phone] (three-course $65); Breeze, Century Plaza Hotel, 2025 Avenue of the Stars, Century City, [phone] (four-course $65); and the Grille, Fairmont Miramar Hotel, 101 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, [phone] (four- course $70).

$75 AND UP: With offerings at $75 and above are Tengu in Westwood ($75), Bistro Garden in Studio City ($78), La Cachette in West L.A. ($80), Windows, downtown L.A. ($85), Saddle Peak Lodge in Calabasas ($85), Polo Lounge, Beverly Hills Hotel ($200 a couple) and L'Orangerie in West Hollywood ($140 per person).