Restaurant Incident Under Investigation

MOORPARK —  In what may become the most famous slap since Zsa Zsa Gabor belted a Beverly Hills cop, authorities are investigating an incident in which the wife of 1960s teen idol Frankie Valli has been accused of hitting an owner of an upscale Moorpark restaurant.

No charges have been filed in the incident involving Randy Valli, the wife of the singer made famous by such hits as “Big Girls Don’t Cry” and “December, 1963 (Oh, What A Night),” but an investigation is underway, Ventura County Sheriff’s Capt. Keith Parks said Wednesday.

Sandra Sofsky, who co-owns the Secret Garden dinner house with her husband, Bob, contends that Randy Valli slapped her across the face on the night of Oct. 7 as the Vallis dined with crooner and actor Frankie Avalon and his wife, Kay.

In a sheriff’s report filed that same evening, Sofsky also alleged that the two couples, who have homes in Thousand Oaks, left without paying their $178 tab.

“Apparently, it was just an argument over the bill and the service,” Parks said.

Not so, say the proprietors.

“They came walking in with an attitude,” Sofsky said.

Not surprisingly, the Avalons and the Vallis are singing a different tune.

After the couples were seated at a window table, Sofsky said, they harassed maitre d’ Phillip Ceballos, complained about the $30 entrees and then ate a meal that included wine, rack of lamb and sorbet.

“The incident was going on all evening,” Bob Sofsky said. “They were insulting to every server in here.”

Sandra Sofsky said she was grabbed on the arm by Frankie Valli and then slapped by his wife after Sofsky asked the group to leave the restaurant.

“Maybe it’s because we didn’t make a big deal out of them and give them a free dinner and treat them like movie stars or singers,” she said.

Valli’s agent, Fred Lawrence of International Creative Management in Los Angeles, said he had no knowledge of the incident. Lawrence also said he had recently spoken to Valli.

Frankie Avalon said in a telephone interview with The Times on Wednesday that Sandra Sofsky was the aggressor.

“I saw Mrs. Valli defend and protect herself,” Avalon said. “This woman came over on two occasions and tried to push her out of the chair.

“She was defending herself from this woman who became a maniac,” added Avalon, who was made famous with songs like “Venus” and who appeared in films from “Beach Blanket Bingo” to “Grease.”

Avalon also said Sofsky grabbed Randy Valli’s purse, swinging it and striking Frankie Valli.

The melee occurred, Avalon said, after he was recognized by the maitre d’ earlier in the evening, who asked him how he was enjoying the restaurant.

Avalon said he told the maitre d’ he thought the food, ambience and service were good, but that the prices were a bit steep.

“I was asked for an opinion. I gave him an opinion,” Avalon said.

As the couples were waiting for their check, Avalon said, Sandra Sofsky came from the kitchen and began objecting to Avalon’s earlier criticism and then pulled on the back of Randy Valli’s chair and demanded the group leave.

“You don’t know what’s going to happen,” whether someone will go get a gun or knife, Avalon said of the group’s quick exodus.

The following day, Avalon said, he mailed Sofsky an apology and a check for $200.

“We are celebrated people. We have been in the business for many, many years. If somebody can take a shot at you,” they will, he added.