Tableside acts

Dinner and a movie is so conventional when compared with dinner and a mariachi or dinner and an Elvis impersonator.

Vibrato

Marc Boussarie, former chef at the North Hollywood bistro Maximilians, is newly installed as executive chef at this classy jazz venue that attracts top music talent. (Surely, it doesn’t hurt that jazz legend Herb Alpert is one of the owners.) The acoustics are great. And the food, like roasted duck breast with huckleberry gastrique, doesn’t disappoint.

* Duck, $34. 2930 Beverly Glen Circle, Bel-Air, (310) 474-9400.

El Cid

Two or three flamenco dancers, accompanied by a guitarist and singer, take the stage about 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays for an hour at this spot where paella and red meat (specifically the carne a la chimichurri) rule. The building is notable too. According to the restaurant folks, D.W. Griffith had it built to screen “The Birth of a Nation.”

* Three-course dinner and show, $29.95. 4212 Sunset Blvd., L.A., (323) 668-0318.

Frank & Dean’s

Frank Abbadessa, a.k.a. “the other Frank,” opened this old-school-style paean to the Rat Pack five years ago. Most evenings, there’s live music in the lounge, but every so often there’s a special dinner show. On Sunday, Elvis impersonator Raymond Michael takes the stage. Appropriately, given Elvis’ appetite, a buffet will be offered.

* Elvis show and buffet, $36.95. 3768 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, (626) 793-1847.

El Mercado

This tri-level Mexican version of the Farmers Market has three restaurants on the top floor: La Perla, El Gallo and El Tarasco. The extensive menus are identical. Think seafood cocktails, barbacoa, tacos and carne asada. But it’s the mariachi performances (at 7 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays), sometimes supplemented by comedians and dancers, that draw the big crowds.

* Carne asada, $8.75. 3425 E. 1st St., East L.A., (323) 262-4507.

Dar Maghreb

It’s impossible not to get into the spirit at this Moroccan fantasy, especially when the belly dancer appears. She usually makes her first appearance about 6:30 each night and returns throughout the evening so guests can dig into their bestila, couscous and such without distraction.

* Prix fixe dinner, $37. 7651 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, (323) 876-7651.