News Bites

Spring has been busy for actress Cathy Moriarty. she’s been featured in two major films, “Forget Paris” and “Casper,” and the new Encino branch of her Mulberry Street Pizzeria opened March 7.

The New York-born actress opened the first Mulberry Street eatery, named for a major thoroughfare in New York City’s Little Italy district, three years ago in Beverly Hills.

The Encino eatery, the first branch operation, serves New York-style pizza by the pie and the slice. Slices, huge by Los Angeles standards (pies are 20 inches in diameter), go for $2 for thin crust and $4 for Sicilian thick crust. A full thin crust pie is $13.95; the Sicilian is $25.90. Extra toppings are $2. It also offers a fresh spinach white pizza for $17.95 and a pie with eggplant, tomato and basil for $21.95.

The restaurant, decorated with production stills from many of Moriarty’s films, including her first, “Raging Bull” (1980), plus autographed photos of other celebrities, also serves sandwiches ($7.95) and pasta dishes ($6.50 to $9.95).

Mulberry Street Pizzeria, 17040 Ventura Blvd., Encino, (818) 906-8881. Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to midnight Thursday to Saturday. Delivery available.

KIDS FOR FREE

Motorists on Ventura Boulevard have noticed the sign on Adam’s Rib in Encino boldly proclaiming in large print, “Kids under 90 eat free.” Before packing up everyone in the family except grandpa to go eat there gratis, one must read the small print.

Children under 90 pounds and under 12 years old can eat for free between 5 and 7 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The young ones, who must be accompanied by a paying adult, can choose from a special kids’ menu featuring ribs, chicken, burgers, hot dogs, grilled cheese sandwiches and a pasta bar.

The adult menu features steaks, ribs, seafood, chicken and salad specialties. Prices are $8.95 for salad or pasta bar, $11.95 for both, $14.95 for a 24-ounce rib eye steak and $19.95 for a New York steak.

Adam’s Rib, 17500 Ventura Blvd., Encino, (818) 990-7427. Hours: 5 to 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, 4 to 11 p.m. Saturday, 4 to 10 p.m. Sunday.

THE WURST IS YET TO COME

Before Rubin’s, before Der Wienerschnitzel, before the Wiener Factory, Cupid’s Hot Dogs was the tube steak place in the San Fernando Valley. The first opened in 1946 and, on May 1, the seventh Cupid’s opened in Tarzana.

Conveniently located next to the Tarzana Car Wash, Cupid’s offers the much-maligned, but still admired and appreciated standard American wiener with bun and the usual fixings for $1.75, fries for $1.25, chili fries $1.65. And for a highbrow epicurean touch, this Tarzana location also offers Haagen Daz ice cream for dessert for $2.25.

Cupid’s Hot Dogs, 19336 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana, (818) 774-1150. Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.

MORE OPENINGS

A new Taco Bell is being constructed at the far south end of the El Camino Shopping Center, on Valley Circle Boulevard in Calabasas. And a new Kenny Rogers Roasters restaurant is being built near Vanowen Street and Fallbrook Avenue in the Fallbrook Mall.

Houston’s, an Atlanta-based restaurant chain, will open June 5 on Owensmouth Avenue in Warner Center. This will be the second Houston’s location in Los Angeles. The first opened about three years ago in Century City. The restaurant features an oak grill and oven, and specializes in steaks, chicken, pizza and other familiar American specialties. The Warner Center location formerly was a Rusty Pelican.

Houston’s, 5921 Owensmouth Ave., Woodland Hills, (818) 348-1095. Call for hours.