Where’s the party?

YOU can imagine the poor schlubs from “The Office” throwing their annual office party.

“If Pam was planning it,” says Jenna Fischer, imagining her role as the receptionist on the popular television series, “she’d probably book it at Poor Richard’s. Poor Richard’s is a real place in Scranton, and it also has a bowling alley attached. So it would actually be ideal because everyone from the office could eat and then bowl together.”

It might get a lot of laughs, and surely it would turn out badly, as things invariably do on the beloved sitcom.

But it’s much more festive to imagine Fischer, the ascendant actress, feting and feeding her family and friends from the Midwest in the warm confines of Vitello’s Italian Restaurant in Studio City, as she has in years past. It’s likely to remind her of the family eateries in her adopted hometown of St. Louis -- and “great, because you can be loud in their private area upstairs,” she says.

Indeed, the holiday season is upon us, and with it the desire to make merry outside the home . . . in a manner that doesn’t involve days of preparation or hours of cleanup. But how to do so without subjecting the general populace to your obnoxious co-worker Michael’s bad Santa jokes? You can reserve a private room at any number of Los Angeles bars or restaurants and party like a star, or at least a Midwesterner-made-good.

Which is what Fischer has found at the neighborhood-y Vitello’s. “The food is inexpensive but good,” she says. “It’s a great place for out-of-town guests who don’t necessarily want to eat, say, fennel and cilantro. . . . L.A. restaurants, even casual ones, are so expensive. Vitello’s has great ravioli and meat dishes and they have a side room that you can ask for. When you get all my friends and family together, it can get noisy and I don’t want to worry about disturbing other people.”

Fischer is actually going back to St. Louis for the holidays this December. Despite the fact “The Office” has stopped production due to the Writers Guild strike, she has plenty to celebrate, including her first starring role in a major film hitting screens nationwide on Dec. 21. “I’m lucky that really great scripts keep coming my way,” she says. Fischer plays Darlene opposite John C. Reilly in Sony’s “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story.” “I’m the love of Dewey Cox’s life. I’m that one woman who can love him through his genius and madness.”

And although Fischer has legions of fans (including, presumably, her 127,500 “friends” on MySpace) from her role on “The Office,” this is her first leading role (she had a supporting role in “Blades of Glory,” and a sizable role in “Quebec,” due next year).

“As an up-and-coming actress, for me, success meant you could buy whatever you wanted at Pottery Barn. Now my house looks like a Pottery Barn catalog, so I guess you can say I’ve made it,” she says.

Her Pottery Barn cosmopolitan shaker has surely been getting a workout lately, as Fischer loves to entertain at home. “I love having people over,” she says. “I love entertaining, but I’m not so great at cooking for large groups.”

In that way, she is like a lot of Angelenos who have discovered the dizzying array of semi-private dining options available throughout the Southland. In New York, people entertain large groups outside of their small apartments because they are forced to; here we do it because we want to.

“We get so many requests for private parties -- this time of year especially,” says Brian Sayers, director of special events for both Republic and Romanov restaurants. “People here are willing to pay whatever it takes to get the exclusivity.” Sayers says December is one of his busiest times of the year. “You get the last-minute people scrambling for a room this time of year. We have more of an opportunity to hold out for more money -- not that we are extorting or anything, it’s just that we want to make money too.”

Fear not, procrastinators. You won’t have to pay through the nose this year if you have yet to secure a space. In L.A., the large number of restaurants and bars means you can shop around for the best rate more than in a city such as New York, say Alice Dubin, L.A. bureau chief for event planning trade magazine BizBash. “L.A. has a better selection of venues for throwing private parties than any other city in America,” she says. “It’s about being imaginative and knowing where to look for the perfect, secret venue.”

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(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)MEET AND FETE

On a budget? Here are some of the Guide’s (and Jenna Fischer’s) picks for office or personal party rooms this season:

Bar Lubitsch 7702 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood. (323) 654-1234.

Groups from the talent agency CAA and the consulting firm Whittman Hart have been among those to party inside Russian-themed Bar Lubitsch’s spacious back room. It’s typically less than $500 to rent, and many nights are still available in December.

Outtake Bistro 11929 Ventura Blvd. Studio City. (818) 760-1111.

www.outtake bistro.com

Diners can feast on foods as different as won ton soup and Ukrainian borscht at this modest Valley restaurant that features reasonably priced dishes. Outtake has a room off to the side available for rental for parties of 20 or more at no charge.

Vitello’s 4349 Tujunga Ave., Studio City. (818) 769-0905.

www.vitello srestaurant.com

The restaurant may now have some notoriety, thanks to Robert Blake, but it remains a festive L.A. staple every year around the holidays. Two private rooms are available -- one upstairs and one downstairs. There is no charge for either room, as long as food is ordered.

86 Lounge 6533 Hollywood Blvd. (below Lift Restaurant), Hollywood. (323) 461-4224.

Looking to celebrate Christmas the Al Capone way? Then be among the first to see what will soon be one of Hollywood’s hottest bars. Although not yet officially open, this cozy onetime speak-easy is booking private events through December.

The Wine Cellar

at Ambrosia 801 N. Main St., Santa Ana. (714) 550-0811.

www.oc pavilion.com

There is no actual room charge for this rentable wine cellar with an arched, exposed brick ceiling, just the charge for food (which can be pricey, granted). A minimum of 10 people is required, and the room seats up to 20.

Private Lounge

at Republic 650 N. La Cienega Blvd., L.A. (310) 360-7070.

www.the republicla.com

Groups of 25 to 40 people can fit snugly into Republic’s private lounge, which oozes holiday coziness. It typically runs around $500 to secure this room on a weeknight; it comes with a bar, two fire pits, an alligator-leather- print wallcovering and a glass roof that opens up to the sky.

Taylor’s Steakhouse 3361 West 8th St., L.A. (213) 382-8449.

www.taylors steakhouse.com

Decorative and formal without being overbearing, Taylor’s is the model of a vintage steakhouse. If you’re looking for a venue to host a holiday dinner for 8 to 15 of your closest friends, be sure to ask for their downstairs private room (no charge).

Mucho’s Ultima Mexicana 903 Manhattan Ave.,

Manhattan Beach. (310) 374-4422.

www.mucho mb.com

This new modern Mexican restaurant from the same people behind the sleek Shade Hotel in Manhattan Beach (also a great choice for parties) offers a sectioned-off semi-private area for around 30 people from 9:30 until closing.

Private Room at

Fat Fish Koreatown 3300 W. 6th St., L.A.

www.fatfishla.com

If you want to celebrate the holidays in futuristic style, snag the side room at Fat Fish’s new Koreatown location, where the Kartell furniture is sleek and modern, and the floors glow underneath. $100 gets you and up to 25 friends the room for four hours. BYOB here means you’ll save even more money.

Warszawa 1414 Lincoln Blvd., Santa Monica. (310) 393-8831.

www.warszawa restaurant.com

A fine Polish restaurant that boasts “the best martinis in town,” Warszawa also has a heated back patio with a stage, a projection screen, lots of comfy couches and room for 250. Rates are negotiable, depending on the amenities requested and your plans for the back bar.

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PARTY LIKE THE PROS

L.A. event planners are used to throwing lavish parties, but we were curious where these venue-savvy Angelenos entertain on their own dime. Their picks:

Sharon Sacks,

Sacks Productions The Tower Bar, 8358 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. (310) 848-6677. www.sunset towerhotel.com.

When thinking of a chic and unique place to entertain, it’s the Sunset Tower Hotel that comes to mind. The Tower bar is the rebirth of Bugsy Siegel’s apartment and just across the lobby is the beauty of the Terrace Room. Pick your number of guests and they will make sure you entertain in privacy.

Brent Bolthouse, Bolthouse Productions Giorgio Baldi, 114 W. Channel Road, Santa Monica Canyon. (310) 573-1660.

www.giorgio baldi.com

The small room in Giorgio Baldi is by far my favorite place to entertain. It’s the best food in Los Angeles. I love that it’s family-owned and they are amazing people.

Cara Kleinhaut, Caravents Inc. The Oviatt Penthouse, 617 S. Olive St., L.A. (213) 488-9951.

www.oviatt.com

You enter this classic, Art Deco downtown jewel through a secret elevator. It is an amazing, private suite, fully furnished with original Art Deco furnishings from the ‘30s. A private patio is adjacent to the penthouse space, allowing expansive views of downtown and giving a true urban vibe to your party.

Craig Donohue, The Donohue Group

Eno, One Ritz-Carlton Drive, Dana Point. (949) 240-2000. www.ritzcarlton. com/en/ Properties/Laguna Niguel/Dining

Eno feels like a private wine cellar and showcases wine, artisanal chocolates and cheeses. [They have] 300 to 500 varietals of wine from around the world, offered by the bottle, glass or flight. Chocolate lovers can select from an ever-changing menu of handmade truffles crafted by local chocolatiers.

Mary Micucci, Along Came Mary Productions Mozza, 641 N. Highland Ave., L.A. (323) 297-0100.

www.mozza-la.com

A perfect pick for a holiday gathering is the private room at Pizzeria Mozza. I’m addicted to those delectable pizzas and artisanal wines. And wait until the private room at the Osteria opens next year.

Mark Yumkas,

Angel City Designs Baked It Myself, 14543 Erwin St., Van Nuys. (818) 787-0601.

www.bakedi tmyself.com

This company makes homestyle foods from its catering kitchen in Van Nuys. The owner has a chef’s tasting table in the front part of this contemporary loft space. I personally did a party [20 people] for my sister here where the guests came and we each made our own hors d’oeuvres then sat down to an incredible Tuscan-style dinner.

Marley Majcher,

The Party Goddess Smitty’s Grill, 110 S. Lake Ave., Pasadena. (626) 792-9999.

www.smittys grill.com

My favorite place for entertaining small groups is “The Grill Room” at Smitty’s Grill in Pasadena. They have valet parking, no room charge (just a reasonable food minimum) and are located away from the hustle and bustle of Old Town and the Paseo.

Lauri Taylor,

Marquee Events Maestro’s, 246 N. Canon Drive, Beverly Hills. (310) 888-8782.

My favorite place with private rooms to rent is Maestro’s. For a smaller group of about 10 to 12, I love the Chef’s Room, where guests are welcomed by the executive chef himself, and they are treated to his wisdom/presence throughout dinner. It’s a bit pricey but worth the attention and exclusivity.

Matt Stoelt,

Stoelt Productions Inn of the Seventh Ray, 128 Old Topanga Canyon Road, Topanga. (310) 455-1311.

www.innofthe seventhray.com

Situated deep in Topanga Canyon sits an overwhelming and truly transforming venue. Each table as well as all of the private rooms evoke the juxtaposition of the big city with the stillness of nature. I love this spot to get away from it all, to dine and entertain, on some of the best organic food L.A. has to offer.