The Main Course — Muriel Stevens: Enlarged takeout menu available at Grape Street restaurant

Friday, Nov. 12, 1999 | 9:42 a.m.

Muriel Stevens' dining column appears Fridays. Her shopping column appears Wednesdays. Reach her at muriel@vegas.com or 259-4080.

Just in time for the holidays Grape Street restaurant and wine bar at 7501 W. Lake Mead in the Summerlin Plaza has expanded it takeout service. In addition to takeout of the regular menu items, Grape Street is offering party-size pizzas; a variety of salads, including the popular house salad and Caesar; orange chicken; a chopped salad and two pasta salads -- tortellini and Greek pasta salad. Prices start at $3 per person for a small salad, $6.95 for a large.

Served on a 27-inch baguette, the sandwiches can be cut into four regular-size subs. My favorite, the Portobello Philly, is included. There's a plethora of appetizers -- puff pastry tartlets with assorted fillings are priced from $3 each. Brie en croute (in pastry) with sun-dried tomatoes and pesto is $3.50 per person. A poached salmon platter with asparagus and all sorts of garnishes will serve 10 to 12 people ($50). A tapas platter with roasted garlic, Greek meatballs, roasted vegetables, goat cheese "cigars," Kalamata olives and toasted baguette slices is priced at $5 per person.

Entrees of eggplant Parmagiana, lasagna, chicken Gorgonzola, bow tie Primavera and chicken piccata are priced from $7 to $9 per person. Dessert trays are $5 per person.

Among the many individual take-home items are: stews of all kinds; pot pies; super meat balls; sauces of every kind, from marinara to buerre blanc; frozen or fresh soups -- chicken dumpling, creamy tomato, cream of broccoli. Many items, such as pasta and the marinated flank steak that is used on the signature Grape Street salad, are sold by the pound.

Grape Street will also do wine tasting parties in homes, offices or at the restaurant.

Grape Street's wine pricing structure is terrific. Diners pay just $5 over the retail price for the wine of their choice. The selection changes weekly, but always includes at least 400 wines. More than 70 wines are available by the glass.

For Grape Street restaurant and catering menus call 228-9463.

Lobster by mail!: I just happened to be in the Sun lobby when Fed Ex delivered a pile of large cartons that had been sent from Hackensack, N.J. One was for me, so I immediately opened it. Good thing. Inside was a sizable live Maine lobster. There was nothing on the box to indicate the contents were perishable. There were no instructions for the care and cooking. Fortunately, I didn't need any. What I did need was information on why someone was sending live lobsters. A call to the local agency whose name was on the Styrofoam inner box told me all.

China Grill Management company has closed its China Grill Cafe in Mandalay Bay and reopened it as Rock Lobster. Featured, as the name implies, is Maine lobster in all its glory. The briny crustacean is the star, but is also included in a variety of dishes. The menu also offers salads, hamburgers and many side dishes, including those awesome lobster mashed potatoes served with mahi mahi in the China Grill restaurant -- chunks of lobster meat wrapped in silky, seasoned mashed potatoes.

On Thanksgiving Day Rock Lobster will honor nontraditionalists who opt for lobster rather than turkey by donating 100 percent of the day's proceeds to the Andre Agassi Foundation.

Bacio Organico Thanksgiving: Bacio Organico, Las Vegas' only Italian organic restaurant, is offering a takeout organic Thanksgiving dinner for 12 people. Included for $150 is an 18-20 pound turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, peas and carrots, garlic mashed potatoes, escarole soup, manicotti, homemade bread and homemade sweet potato pie or peanut butter pie.

Dinners can be picked up all day the Wednesday before Thanksgiving or Thanksgiving Day until noon. Call 699-9980.

Bacio Organico is not a vegetarian restaurant, although it does feature meatless dishes. Try the chicken Vesuvio. It's excellent.

Short orders

Bock beer at Gordon Biersch: Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant will offer its fourth and final seasonal beer, Winter Bock, from Nov. 23 -- until it's gone. Available only during the beginning of winter, Winter Bock is a full-bodied dark beer with a history dating back to the 11th century. As with all of the seasonal beers there is a special menu to go with the brew that will be offered from Nov. 23 to Dec. 11.

Philips Supper Club has new owners: Veteran Philips Supper Club, 4545 West Sahara, is undergoing extensive renovation. New owner Martin W. Herbert acquired the longtime favorite Las Vegas eatery a short time ago and intends to restore it to its former luster. Supper Club will be dropped from the name since Herbert intends to give diners more options. Beginning Dec. 6 lunch will be served daily. A late-night menu is planned and the bar will be enlarged. The restaurant remains open during the redo from 4:30 to 11 p.m. For reservations call 873-5222.

Itchy's Pizzeria opens: Itchy's Pizzeria at 5645 S. Eastern has been open only two months, but it's already making its mark. Dubbed Itchy's by the owners because "everything is made from scratch," the menu offers pizzas in sizes up to 24 inches, more than a dozen hot and cold "sub-liminal" subs, pasta, wings and chicken fingers at moderate prices. Lunch specials ($4.99), well-priced daily specials and some super Monday Night Football specials make Itchy's a good bet. More for takeout than eating in (four tables), Itchy's offers free delivery in areas close to the eatery. Call 891-5054.