WHERE WILL THE ELITE MEET TO COMPETE?

Byline: Natalie Haughton Food Editor

So what will be the next hot celebrity restaurant? We asked several experts - among them Andrew Harris, producer of ``The Restaurant Show'' on KABC-AM 790, a talk-radio show in Los Angeles; Richard Martin, managing editor of New York-based Nation's Restaurant News; Betty Goodwin, author of ``Hollywood Du Jour'' and ``Chasen's''; and Amy Spector, Southern California bureau editor, Nation's Restaurant News. Here are their predictions:

Martin noted that ``Wolfgang Puck created his successor when he opened Spago Beverly Hills. It seemed that most of the heavy hitters from the entertainment industry gravitated to that restaurant almost immediately.''

Globe, 72 Market St., Venice. Joseph Manzare and Mary Klingbeil are teaming up to open Globe, their third restaurant, in about a week. (They also run Globe in San Francisco and Mucca in Glen Ellen.) Experts believe it's bound to be a celebrity magnet because Manzare, who was formerly a chef at Spago Hollywood and Granita, is known in the entertainment community and has a good reputation. Serving American fare, the restaurant plans to be affordable, unpretentious, comfortable and open late.

Moomba, 665 N. Robertson Blvd., West Hollywood (in the former Luna Park space). Known in New York for its scene more than for its food, the Los Angeles branch is scheduled to open the first week of April. It's a restaurant with an entertainment space, designed to appeal to hip, young Hollywood, and should be chic and trendy. Moomba hired Donnie Masterton, formerly of San Francisco's popular Azie, as chef. Our experts think this will be a place to see and be seen.

Tres Margaritas, 10543 W. Pico Blvd., West Los Angeles (on the site of Primi). Pepe Ruiz, the head bartender at Chasen's for more than 30 years, is planning to open this moderately priced Mexican restaurant in May with many of his celebrity friends as investors. Plans include a patio and late hours. Like a living room for mature Hollywood, it should be friendly, fun, comfortable and homey, with a congenial and personable host/owner. Ruiz will be preparing his fancy drinks tableside from a specially designed beverage cart. Martin Garcia, executive chef at Michael's in Santa Monica in the early '90s, is coming from Mexico City to be the chef.

Manhattan Won Ton, 151 S. Doheny, Beverly Hills. This restaurant, formerly on Melrose Place in Los Angeles, is reopening in new digs by the end of this month. It's predicted that this spot will have outstanding food and be low-key, hip and very comfortable - and a good place to hang out.

Chadwick, 267 S. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills. The Hollywood connection here is Harrison Ford's son, Benjamin, who is the owner/chef in this intimate place that serves Cal-Med cuisine. Lots of celebs are often spotted around the energetic room.

The House Restaurant, 5750 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles. Recently opened, this restaurant is destined to be popular with celebs as it's located across from Paramount Studios in a little Craftsman-style house. The location is fabulous, the food is good, and it's comfortable and homey. It doesn't have a lot of attitude.

Hamasaku, 11043 Santa Monica Blvd., West Los Angeles. This place where Michael Ovitz, co-founder of Creative Artists Agency, is an investor has connections to the studios and draws stars due in part to its excellent Cal-Japanese cuisine. The serene setting has more to offer than just sushi.

Mojo, 930 Hilgard Ave., Los Angeles (in the W Hotel). It's currently hot with celebs and is ``the'' place to be seen.

Ago, 8478 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood. Robert Di Niro is a high-profile partner in this venture serving Italian and Tuscan fare and jammed with celebs.

Others to watch:

Sushi Roku, 8443 W. Third St., Los Angeles (also in Santa Monica and Pasadena); Temple, 14 N. La Cienega Blvd., Beverly Hills; Josie's, 2424 W. Pico Blvd., Santa Monica;Pig 'N' Whistle, 6714 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood; Sunset Room, 1430 Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood; Buddokan, opening soon in Hollywood; and Balboa, a retro steak house opening in the Grafton on Sunset hotel in West Hollywood.