It’s a Star Steak-Out at North

Everybody was kung fu fighting to get a table at North Saturday night. An unusually early dinner crowd led to a mad seating rush at the Sunset Strip venue, though it’s easy to see why. Its porterhouse steak is bigger than my living room, not to mention that it’s fun to rub elbows with Oscar-winning writers.

Among the diners were “Shakespeare in Love” co-scribe, Marc Norman, who was hanging out with director Taylor Hackford (who gave us last year’s freaky styley check-yo’-head flick “Devil’s Advocate”). We just missed the Cloonster by a night, too. Yep, Gorgeous George was in on Friday, as was Denzel Washington (imagine--two of People magazine’s Most Wanted stone cold chillin’ at the same place at the same time). . . . Speaking of sexy actor types, actress Rose McGowan lit up the dance floor--literally and figuratively--on Saturday at Make-Up, the monthly glam club at the El Rey Theatre.

Cameras were flashing as dolled-up gals, guys and he-shes asked the starlet if she minded posing for pictures. She graciously accepted all invitations, and why not? The “Scream” siren was looking hot, in leather pants and a teensy pink sparkly halter top that fit precariously loose around her hotty body. . . .

Now, we all know Chris Rock is a comedian, but he sure ain’t like those other comics--funny in public, tragic in private. In fact, he’s even funnier when he thinks no one’s watching.

Rock was hanging with Def Jam’s Russell Simmons and writer Nelson George in the House of Blues’ Captain’s Room, the toniest level of the already tony Foundation Room. The event was Def Jam’s recent Pioneers of Hip-Hop show (where surprise guest Doug E. Fresh joined Slick Rick for the first time in an~os, and the crowd erupted with funky joy). Simmons ordered the veal tagliatelle off the newly revamped menu, but only after the waiter assured him it came with eight pieces.

At one point, Simmons got up to go to the next room, and Rock grabbed his fork and jacked two of the pieces right off the plate. Simmons did a head count when he returned, and gave the poor waiter a talking to. Rock played all innocent, the taste of the spicy treat still lingering in his mouth. There’s little doubt, the man can act.