FOOD FOR FEET

Dining and dancing -- the ultimate romantic combination , but not always the easiest to find . If you’re dying to rumba, boogie down or just glide cheek-to-cheek, try these places on for size: CACHE, 2395 Glendale Blvd., Silverlake (213) 660-6154. Although this seems like a traditional English steak house at first glance, it is actually the Latino nightclub in Los Angeles, hosting a bilingual, cosmopolitan crowd. The menu offers both Latin and continental foods. The real action begins when Orchestra Cache take over, kicking in some lively salsas and Colombian cumbias . Open Tue.-Sun. for lunch and dinner. Orchestra: Wed.-Sun., 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Dress code: sport jackets for men, no jeans for women. All major credit cards. Reservations recommended on weekends. Valet parking. Dinner for two (food only): $20-$60.

CAFE COLORADO, 2425 Colorado Ave., Santa Monica (213) 828-5057. Located in a maze of office buildings and white-collar hang-outs, this restaurant has the charm of a sterile mall lobby. Nevertheless, it does serve a mean vertical chicken (roast chicken mounted on a vertical rack) but vegies are a la carte. Dion the DJ spins discs from the ‘50s and ‘60s Thur.-Sat. Open for dinner Mon.-Sat. Full bar. Visa, AE and MC. Reservations recommended. Dinner for two (food only): $30-$50.

EMILIA’S, 2101 East 1st Street, Santa Ana, (714) 542-3131. A cluttered museum of quaint, amusing things, Emilia’s is sleepy most of the time, but on Saturday nights it’s all the rage. There are two Tonys who keep the joint running--Tony the accordionist and Tony the boss--who both participate in turning the place into a frenzy of song and dance. And the food’s good too--dinner’s a set seven-course affair (breaded zucchini sticks, antipasto salad, eggplant parmigiana, two pastas, meat or fish.) Then a simple dessert followed by cappucino. Open for lunch and dinner daily, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. MC, V accepted. Reservations recommended on weekends. Dinner: $15 (wine, coffee and tax included); lunch: $5 plus beverages.

THE GREEK CONNECTION, 401 N. La Cienega Blvd., L.A., (213) 655-7214. Those seeking a quiet evening should look elsewhere--the Greek Connection is for fun. It’s very Greek despite a sleek, modern look and contemporary Greek menu (including mousakka, calamari, dolmas and spanakopita ). There’s dancing every night, usually led off by a waiter (or whoever has the urge), to the accompaniment of a bouzouki band. On some nights, there’s a featured dancer in a restrained belly dance. Open daily, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Dancing nightly, belly dancing Wed.-Sun. All major credit cards accepted. Valet parking. Reservations advised. Dinner for two (food only): $40-$50.

L’ESCOFFIER, Beverly Hills Hilton, 9876 Wilshire Blvd. (213) 278-4220. Considered the most romantic place in town by restaurant critic Lois Dwan, this place is usually frequented by the post-yuppie set. The dishes are French and classic, preparation is honorable and service is formal and circumspect. Atmosphere is most amenable, complete with view, music, dancing, soft lights, fine wine and plenty of luxury all around. The tasteful music is provided nightly by Geri Galian and his group. Open Mon.-Thur., 6:30 to midnight, Fri.-Sat. 6:30 to 12:30 a.m. All major credit cards. Valet parking. Reservations advised. Dinner for two (food only): $60 to $90.

TEA ROOM ST. PETERSBURG, Beverly Center, Beverly and La Cienega boulevards, L.A., (213) 657-8830. An ersatz, kitsch version of czarist Russian splendor complete with “crystal” chandeliers and walls of deep crimson, this restaurant is frequented mostly by groups--as in tables for 4, 8 or 20. Feast on heaping portions of banquet food: boiled potatoes, herring and pirogi and steaming borscht. A floor show featuring Russian folk dancers starts at 9 p.m. on weekends and by 10 the house band is in full swing. Open daily for lunch 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m.; dinner, 6 p.m.-2 a.m. Shows, Fri.-Sun., with $6 cover charge. Major credit cards. Full bar. Reservations recommended. Dinner for two (food only): $50.