All Lined Up

Keep an ear cocked for the grand opening festivities later this month at Peter Divris’ Greek Bistro in Encino.

Divris opened the Greek Bistro three months ago, taking over a spot that once housed the China 28 Mandarin seafood restaurant. But the restaurant business being what it is--that is, one in which you don’t bite off more than you can chew--he’s planning his grand opening only now.

“We did a total remodel, long and very extensive, and just to open up I had to get a lot of ducks in a row,” says Divris. “Now I’m in the process of planning our grand opening festivities. I want to do a monthlong program of things.”

Divris’ Greek appetizers range from stuffed grape leaves to hummus to pan fried cheese and tabbouleh--finely chopped parsley mixed with cracked wheat, green onions, olive oil and lemon juice with a topping of diced tomato. Prices go from $3.95 to $6.50.

Entrees include a souvlakia of swordfish and another of beef, a moussaka with eggplant, potato, zucchini and ground beef topped with a bechamel, a marinated and charbroiled lamb tenderloin, and a charbroiled vegetable platter with eggplant, zucchini, bell peppers, tomatoes and green onions served with rice or a Greek pasta called pastitsio.

Prices are from $10.50 to $19.95.

The Greek Bistro is located at 17337 Ventura Blvd., Encino, (818) 789-2888.

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Chef Jose Prado has added a potful of specialty items to the menu at the Amazon Bar and Grill in Sherman Oaks.

Prado took over as head chef in December, and the new specialties represent his first overhaul of the menu at the Amazon, which strives to be eco-friendly.

New dishes include seafood linguini with sauteed scallops, bay shrimp, calamari, tomatoes and green onions in a wine sauce, and a “rain forest rigatoni” topped with chicken, sauteed garlic, sage, marjoram and fresh and sun-dried tomatoes in a white wine sauce.

Prices on the specials go to $15.95.

Elsewhere on the menu for both lunch and dinner you will find a sandwich made with what owner Steve Cuccio calls “dolphin safe” tuna caught off the coast of Thailand--safe because the waters are too cold for dolphin.

Seafood dishes include Brazilian rice with grilled shrimp and vegetables and fresh pesto, and “earth chicken”--marinated chicken breast in a spicy cocoa-based Caribbean sauce.

Lunch prices range to $12.95, dinner prices to $14.95.

Amazon Bar and Grill is located at 14649 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, (818) 986-7502.

* Juan Hovey writes about the restaurant scene in the San Fernando Valley and outlying points. Call (805) 492-7909, fax (805) 492-5139, e-mail JHovey@compuserve.com