Dan Tana's is a long standing West Hollywood Italian restaurant known for its classic red sauce dishes, celebrity history, and old school Hollywood atmosphere. Come here once or twice a year and the food is honestly really really good. I'd actually say it's better than Craig's or even Madeo in terms of straight up taste. That said the vibe is not great. The crowd feels a bit obnoxious just in a less bougie way than places like Craig's or the The Polo Lounge. It's loud chaotic and not really a comfortable dining scene. Usually pretty crowded and you have to wait a little. Reservations are by phone only which keeps it very old school Hollywood. Craig Susser worked here as a maitre d before opening Craig's West Hollywood! Overall I love the food and it really delivers. 4 stars only because of the vibe. I prefer a more elegant dining scene. Cool fact: Late Lakers owner Jerry Buss was a regular, and there's even a menu nod to him with shrimp scampi alla Jerry Buss. read more

Dan Tana's - Chicken Chicken , Marsala , Roger Lewis Penne alla Vodka! - Italian Near Me - West Hollywood, California

I had Dinner here in November of 2003 while on my first vacation to LA. The food was excellent as was the service. I even got to meet actress Drea de Matteo who was in "The Sopranos" and "Joey". I gave her a Yellow Rose (which I bought from some cat outside). I had no idea that Mike Gotovac was a celebrity of sorts. May he rest in peace. read more

Dinner was great, Lino, our waiter super alert spot service table. Steak a bit on dry vs m rare. Salad awesome. Scargot awesome. Got a nice $200 Bottling wine, but bar service failed. Vodka martini not chilled/ice so it was not shaken. So we leave to our show next door. But came back thanks to Justine Bieber show- did not know- Back for a drink at Dan Tana's for a drink, again bartender pretty rude wife n I 'blocking" pass for waiters ( it is small). Ok... but have some class. I spent $550 dinner for 2. The guy killed the mood. Lino the waiter you rock. And Luis the valet get, awesome. But take pic of stars coming to dinner man!!!!y. Must improve bar service. read more

Came here as a friend recommended this spot as a West Hollywood institution and I was always curious about it given that it's next to the Troubadour, but I would stay away from this, unless you like an overly expensive meal with overly touchy waiters. Came here in a group of 6 for Friday night dinner and had a reservation in advance. We ordered a Caesar salad to share; my boyfriend had the bolognese while I had the chicken Parmesan. The servings were solid but the price is absurd for the quality. Service was slow as we had to wait for 25 minutes to get the bill (despite asking 3 different people). At the end, our waiter also regaled us with a random story of the Midwest and also grabbed my bare shoulder to reiterate certain points. I think it was meant to be harmless but I was uncomfortable. As such, there are plenty of other Italian places in LA that have better food that I'd recommend going to instead. read more

See all

Dan Tana's is a staple in Los Angeles and I finally was able to get myself over there to try it! First off, walking in you just feel the old school, classic Italian restaurant vibes. We had a reservation (on a Friday) but surprisingly the bar almost always had at least one or two open seats, so definitely try to walk in and sit at the bar if you can't get a resy. I bet you won't be waiting long! The drinks were amazing! I got a dirty martini and my friend got a cosmo, and they were perfect. (and shoutout to the house red wine being perfect and a HUGE pour!) As for the food, I thought it was good but nothing insane. It's classic and I think you come more for the vibes and service, but the food wasn't the best I've ever had. The Tana's chopped salad was solid, and the fried ravioli were really good! The shrimp scampi was fine - not bad, just nothing special. The steak was probably my favorite item, but again, really good but not the best I've ever had. For the drinks and vibes alone, I'll definitely come back! (And I'm told I need to try the chicken and eggplant parmesans!) read more

See all

I've been coming here for years and was a regular for a while. I rarely stray from my usual order--a very dry vodka martini, the Caesar salad, and either a pasta or the Milanese. All perfectly good: classic, old-school red-sauce Italian. But the food isn't really the point. The point is being here--soaking in the decades of history, the celebrities who made this their second home, and the rest of us willing to spend $150 for the experience. It's watching the staff, who are not only incredibly attentive but often real characters in their own right. And the décor is in a class by itself: red-checkered tablecloths, vintage movie posters, and Chianti bottles that seem to have been dangling from the ceiling since the '60s. If you haven't been, do yourself a favor and go. You won't regret it. And get ready to bring lots of leftovers home - huge portions! read more

See all

Returned to Dana Tana's for the first time in a while, and sat at the bar for an early Sunday dinner. I got there right at opening, and it didn't take long for the room to get busy, loud, and pleasantly buzzy. It may have been Sunday, but it felt like Saturday night. As usual, the Veal Parm was perfectly prepared, the cheese quite properly browned, the sauce rich without being overpowering. I eschewed the side of pasta and ordered the Potatoes Beckerman instead: thinly sliced and crisply fried potatoes mixed with very crispy, addictive fried onions. I mean, you can get pasta at every Italian place, so why not have something different? It's a big portion, and if you're not dining alone everyone at the table will be able to enjoy them. My gin martini was made exactly as requested, was properly cold, and pretty much overflowing. The bartender was quick and attentive, but beware: he's got the gruff facade of the world-weary, I've been doing this since before even your parents were born variety, and you've got to be ready to give as good as you get -- and that's all part of the festive, communal experience of eating at the Tana's bar. My only complaint is that my appetizer of Clams Casino seemed more like the also-offered Oreganata preparation, without a noticeable inclusion of bacon and onion. The clams were tasty to be sure, just not what I was expecting. The price point of this Hollywood stalwart may make dinner here an infrequent event for many -- but if you've never been to Dan Tana's, or if you haven't been in a while, you'll definitely get a great meal and a fun time in exchange for the splurge. read more

Had a great time with friends, great food, a great waiter (son of a former waiter/bartender). We had a great table in the patio, which was heated, 4 big guys, round table could hold 6. We needed the space as we all got salads and a main entree. He kept a great eye on us, ensured food was great, waters remained full, and kept us laughing. Salad was fantastic, entree was fantastic, and the desserts were delicious. read more

See all

I didn't have high expectations for this place but my friend kept saying the place was really good. I mean he said they have a signature chicken parm everyone loves, but how good could a chicken parm actually be? Well, I guess I found out the answer to that and it's absolutely amazing! Definitely the best chicken parm I ever ate in my life. I didn't even know it was possible to get a chicken parm to be that soft and delicate and flavorful. I was completely blown away by the chicken parm and would come here again just for that. My mom ordered a fettuccine Alfredo, because she wanted a white pasta. I think that was the worst dish of the bunch and I wouldn't recommend getting that. My friend got a spaghetti carbonara, which was significantly better than the fettuccine Alfredo and quite tasty as well. I personally ordered a veal parm because my friend ordered the chicken and I thought it would be better to try both. While the veal was really really really good, the chicken parm actually outshines it. I never in my life would've thought a chicken parm could taste better than a veal parm, but omg was it fantastic. While the Caesar salad was pretty good, you can find other Caesar salads at places like Boa where they not only taste better, but prepare it table side too. I really enjoyed the bread. It was warm and had just the right amount of crunch on the crust and softness in the middle. The spaghetti side seems like something I could make at home, but it was free, so can't complain about that! Oh what you have to do here is order drinks. My friend and I both got casamigos neat and on the rocks. They pour these drinks so well here! I feel like we both got triple shots, which kind of evens out the cost of the venue when you look at their higher than average food prices. The ambiance is nice. Everyone is friendly. The place is lively. The service is great. It's all around a really cool historic spot. I'm gonna come back for chicken parm and drinks in the future for sure!!! read more

See all

This place is tiny but cute. It reminds me of old Hollywood. The waiters were like built in comedians which made things fun. He had us laughing a bunch and engaging with the table across from us. I like the old Hollywood charm this place has. It can get crowded fast though and hard to maneuver through the restaurant when it gets crowded, because it's so tiny. They seemed to have a lot of regulars who thoroughly enjoy. I had the fried raviolis to start. Those were pretty good. I would order them again. For dinner I ordered the gnocchi with pesto. I felt like the gnocchi should have been cooked a little longer and I wish the sauce had more flavor. But I enjoyed the dinner and experience here. The restrooms at this place definitely need to be redone. They are very small with one stall and rustic. We had to wait in the hallway til the person was done. It's definitely not a place where I would want to have multiple drinks and have to wait in a long line to use the restroom. And some people ended up sneaking in the men's restroom to avoid the wait. I'm not sure if I would return. If someone really wanted to go, I would go again, but it didn't impress me enough to want to go back. I am glad I can say I have at least been once. read more

See all

We came for our anniversary. We've tried to get in here for awhile, but we like to sit and the bar, and this spot is so full of regulars, that's almost impossible. The place opens at 5:00 and when you walk in at that time, the bar is already full. We finally made a reservation. Ambience: The ambience is incredible. The people watching is top notch. We were dining in the same room as 3 celebrities. Food: The pasta was just okay. Nothing to write home about. The shrimp had a bit of a off/oceanic flavor. Luckily the sauce drowned it out. The carbonara has big hunks of Italian bacon and it overpowered the flavor. Not pictured was the caprese and shrimp cocktail. It was the best cocktail sauce I have ever had. However, the shrimp... felt and tasted old. Cocktails: The drinks are small, but they are good. We got martinis and old fashions. Both are in the smaller glasses, but they do fill them full. Many classic places like musso and franks give you a little extra with these size glasses. Service: The service was 8/10. We had really nice servers, but they were busy talking to regulars and didn't check back when we needed them. I hate having to flag servers down, but that's what we had to do. Honestly, all critique aside, this spot is a classic and a must try. I may just order differently next time. read more

See all

A legendary spot, more than just food, an experience. Packed with nostalgia, history, and ambiance. Food? "good," to great. Relative. Had Linquine with clams, and although sauce was spot on, had a couple of "chewy" clams. hey, Whatayagonna do? Veal Parm was very good. Xcllnt salad!! A few drinks at the bar, and I was a happy camper. Be warned. Valet park. Parking's a real bitch in this neighborhood. read more

See all

Late on this review but 2 weeks ago a buddy and I went. Started with 2 GG dirty martinis. Perfect. Split a New York Strip and a Spaghetti and Meat sauce. Both hit the spot. I've been going here for years and have NEVER had a bad experience. It's very busy and is not the biggest spot so make reservations and still prepare to wait about 20-30 min. Bar is small too. Getting a drink was easy but you need to get out of the way as it is tight. Ambiance is really cool. read more

They should have to tell you when you reserve if they're going to seat you in the parking lot. Perhaps you have to tip the maitre-d to get a seat inside? When we asked about a seat inside, we were told there were none available. It was a cool night and this terrible outdoor area is empty and cold and about as inviting as the parking lot in which it has been constructed. We gave up. I told the Maitre-D as we left that they should tell us if that is where they will seat us and he suggested we not bother coming back. We won't. Of course, I see they recently were closed due to a rat infestation, so perhaps it was just as well. read more

We came here with a big group and sat outside on the patio, which was nice and had heaters nearby. We were able to order fairly quickly and the food came out relatively fast. As we were waiting, though, the wait staff did not check in with us super frequently, and I had wanted a few drink refills. The food was not worth the price point in my opinion and there wasn't anything very special about it. I found it to be pretty boring and lacking flavor. The desserts were pretty good, we had tiramisu, a cannoli, cheesecake, and pumpkin cheesecake. All were good, but nothing special. I don't anticipate returning anytime soon as this spot was kind of a let down for me. read more

Dan Tana's - Chicken, Parmigiana a la Nikola - Italian Near Me - West Hollywood, California

See all

While the walk-in wait felt a little long for a weeknight, the service caught up fast. The portions are big and the wait staff was friendly and quick. The vibe of the restaurant felt like an old school Italian spot in NYC. read more

Dan Tana's - Italian Near Me - West Hollywood, California

I kept going west on Santa Monica and after Barney's Beanery all I saw were gay bars until I got here, so this is where I landed. I'd heard of this place as some celebrity haunt. It's cute and very intimate, to the point there's no music or anything. It does seem stuck in time a bit, in a good way. Waiters all have red tuxedos. I got in as a walk in, not dressed for anything either, but as a single party it was fine. Food wise I just had fries since I already ate and kinda wanted to just be a bar lurker but there was no room at the bar. For what it's worth they have some awesome fries here. Clearly hand cut and they give a ton of them. The bread I could take a pass on, but I wanna say these are for sure top ten fries I've had in my whole life. Definitely prices for date night if you get an entree, just saying. They're all classic Italian dishes with a celebrity name attached. I'm not huge on Italian fare so not sure when I'll be back to be honest. But I appreciate there wasn't that huge snooty vibe I expected from a place like this. read more

Dan Tana's - Fries - Italian Near Me - West Hollywood, California

Incredible meal and service was also great . Just loved this place . Too bad I live in N.Y. If not, I would be here every night.

I waited a few weeks before writing this because I wanted to be sure my disappointment wasn't just an off night. Unfortunately, it wasn't. Back in the day, Dan Tana's was known for clean, high-quality food. Even the bathroom was clean. That standard is no longer there. I hadn't been here in quite some time and had a craving for their chicken parm, which used to be exceptional. This time, the chicken was hard and rubbery, and the crust was nearly burnt. The side of spaghetti was watery with very little sauce, and the bread tasted stale. It was extremely disappointing. We will not be returning. To make matters worse, as I was walking out, I was informed that a 20% fee had been added to my takeout order. This fee was not disclosed on the menu or mentioned when I placed the order. Under California's new "Honest Pricing Law," mandatory fees are required to be clearly disclosed. If not, it's illegal. I always tip on takeout but absolutely not 20% as an undisclosed charge. This is exactly why I always ask for a printed, itemized receipt. Many restaurants are now adding hidden fees, and customers should know they can ask for them to be removed. It feels like Dan Tana's is relying on its reputation from decades past, but the food quality today does not match that legacy. If this continues, longtime customers will not come back. read more

Not worth going to unless you're chummy with the maitre d'. You will then jump anyone's reservation and get a prime table. I saw this happen to many parties ahead of and those who came after us. We were seated outside which has its own vibe but I'm sure everyone's there to sit at a checkered table clothed table inside. The food is Olive Garden level with an exorbitant price tag. Fried calamari had no discernible batter with a rubbery outside, though there was some tenderness inside. The lasagna was very Stouffer's with ricotta cheese rather than a béchamel. I think I ordered veal scaloppine Francaise. I wanted the veal with asparagus on top so I had a chance to eat a vegetable. The waiter initially said that dish was the Florentine, even when I said, "Florentine usually means spinach but ok." He came back and corrected himself but I don't recall the name of the dish. The menu doesn't provide descriptions either. I'm sure there are better red-sauce-Italian spots in LA at a better price point. read more

See all

Great service. Friendly staff. Great food. Had the garlic bread, Caesar salad, half and half and the spicy shrimp. Everything was great. The shrimp were huge and the meat sauce in the half and half was great. Our waiter was outstanding. read more

See all

Once upon a time this was my favorite Italian American restaurant in LA. What the hell has happened to Dan Tanas? I was so shocked that I was able to get a table for four by calling on the same day, and the day after Christmas!!! That should have told me everything. They no longer make the Caesar salad table side to order. Cocktails were $25, portions got smaller, the food was not good & more overpriced than ever. The penne vodka tasted like marinara with a splash of milk and no salt. The aglio e olio had zero flavor, the once delicious veal parm was full of tendon and hard to cut and chew. The only thing that was good was the Cesar salad and garlic cheese bread. We took some friends for their first time and I honestly felt embarrassed that we paid $300 for bland food and zero vibes. This sadly isn't the place it once was and I don't think I will be back. read more

See all

What does one say about a restaurant that has already been reviewed 1.7 trillion times? Nothing much, I suppose... other than it remains one of my favorite Italian restaurants in the big city. The place just screams out "Old School," but in such a wonderful way. The decor, of course the food, and yes, the amazingly knowledgeable and friendly service. These waiters know what they're doing... big time. Got a question? They got it. Unsure what to order? Leave it to them. I would like to say that I've marched my way through the entire menu, but that would be a big fat fib. It's hard to get past the Eggplant Romana Parmigiana. It's just too damn good. It's about as big as a hubcap, there's no way you can finish it although you will want to, but box it up and finish it at home the next day. That's what I do. Repeatedly. Oh, and if you don't like the calamari and the Caesar salad, it's time to start going to church and praying for the demons to leave you. Because that is damn good calamari and Caesar salad and you MUST like it! Overall, a visit to Dan Tana's is like going to your Italian high school buddy's house for dinner. Lots of laughs, great food, and warm memories as you waddle home. read more

Dan Tana's - My dining companion posing over her Chicken Parmigiana a la Nikola. She wouldn't share. Communist! - Italian Near Me - West Hollywood, California

Took my lady here for our nine month anniversary. Fantastic setting and classic Italian charm. Waitstaff and host were extremely cordial and warm. Chicken parm hit the spot. I'd love to Clem back and visit. No wonder this place has been around for so long! read more

Born and raised in Southern California not sure what took me this long to visit Don Tana's. From the service to the food it was all excellent!! Also don't forget to enjoy desert - the chocolate cheesecake is to die for . read more

See all

We were next-door at the troubadour for our son-in-law's bands performance. We saw this cute little restaurant and thought we would check it out. We had no idea it was a reservations place, but they were so kind and accommodating and found us a seat outside. The staff was extremely friendly and very helpful. The food was absolutely amazing! My husband had spaghetti and I had cannelloni portions were definitely big enough to take home for seconds the next day. I highly recommend checking these guys out but definitely make reservations ahead of time. Parking can be a little tricky so he recommend the valet parking that they have. read more

See all

I hadn't been to Tana's for a long time, and had great memories of the meals I had there. I decided to celebrate a special occasion with Sam, to give him a feel of old time Italian, great food and service. We were on time for our 8:15 reservation. The host checked and showed us a small table set up in a server walkway, saying it was the last table available. I had 3 options: first, leave as it the table was net to the host's station, actually separated from the rest of the diners by a partition. Second, refuse the table and wait for who knows how long. Third, the worst option and accept the table. We had had a long and very difficult day, and I did not like the idea of finding a different restaurant on a Saturday night. I decided to accept the table. We then had a very nice time, despite where we sat. We split a starter of fried ravioli, OK, with a very good marinara sauce, about $20.00. Sam enjoyed a small $24.00 Dirty Martini. For Mains, I order Veal Parm, which was a huge portion, tasted OK, with a sad small side of limp pasta and the very good marinara sauce for $50.00. Sam ordered the Pasta Pescatore, which should have been called Pasta Calamari, as 80% of the seafood was calamari, with 3 nice shrimp, 3 scallops and a couple of pieces of fish for the ridiculously overpriced $65.00. I gave this place 2 stars, only because Jarrod, our server, did a very fine job, even though he was obviously squeezed in when he had to face us in the very narrow walking space, and the busser was also very professional. After paying the $215.00 bill, which included a very generous tip, I flagged the host. I proceeded to tell him that I have eaten at a great many restaurants, fine dining included, and this was the first time I had been seated at an "Extra table." He smiled, like saying thanks. I told him it wasn't a compliment, and I was disappointed being treated that way. He then launched into a long diatribe about how this table was called for by many prominent guests, blah, blah. If he had just said he was sorry we were disappointed, I would not be writing this scathing review, which no one will read anyway. I now realize why this once great establishment has an average of 3 stars out of 5. read more

This is small, family type place right on Santa Monica Blvd. Food is great as are the drinks. They don't use a computer system for booking reservations so you have to call ahead. Service is spot on with seasoned waiters. Celebrities with their families do go here. read more

See all

Ambiance on the patio was good - not as loud, more air flow, more room. Bread tasted a day old. Cheesy bread better. Caesars salad good a bit more shredded cheese desired. Ravioli pretty good as a half order replacement for spaghetti with the chicken parm. Chicken parm $49 too much sauce, soggy texture, breading much better at Craig's. Disappointed, I ate only 1/3rd of the chicken parm and wondered since it was served over an hour after we ordered it maybe it was not picked up for a while and then microwaved. Service was very poor in quality and efficiency. Friendly, support staff did almost all of the work and just the minimum. For example, no plates to eat the cheese bread. From 9-11pm on Saturday, almost non stop the list of numerous types of small service issues happened unintentionally and unexpectedly. The only feedback we did share was the bread tasted a day old, we were hesitant to share feedback on the service, and we were don't recall being asked at any time how good was the food and service. Valet was a bit rude at intake but the front desk host was friendly and a different valet staff member was fantastic at pickup with our vehicle parked outside the Dan Tana's front door. My prior visits were 3 then 5 stars and this 2 star visit is likely my last. In my experience and others a 3.6 overall rating represents a restaurant that is capable of being fantastic, always packed with reservations required and booked until 9pm, maybe a bit cheaper than Craig's 0.2 miles away, but too inconsistent, lacking a focus on customer experience and the rest rooms are very much in need of an upgrade and occasional oversight, My friend is nauseous and said he never writes Yelp reviews but he may. read more

Great service and I love the atmosphere. The places is expensive, but you're paying for the vibe.

Even though we had a reservation on a Tuesday night, we had to wait almost 30 minutes for our table. Throughout the night, the service remained poor. I had the caesar salad and the spaghetti and meatballs, which was nothing special and exactly what you'd expect. Friends enjoyed the eggplant parm and the chicken parm. Overall, I don't need to go back. read more

Dan Tana's - meatballs and caesar salad - Italian Near Me - West Hollywood, California

A total vibe at Dan Tana's !! Always have a great time; food and ambiance both great.

This is the definition of a place that is resting on it's laurels because of it's history and name in Hollywood. Not only is the place kind of gross (the bathrooms are a disaster and haven't been renovated in ages. But the prices are OUTRAGEOUS! This is Italian food last time I checked. $31 for shrimp cocktail served with a sauce that tastes like ketchup? Please explain to me how shrimp cocktail costs as much as their cheapest pasta entrees? Explain that logic to me. I've also NEVER seen a place charge an extra $10 if you want to split an entree, and an extra $5 if you want to split a salad. It's the same amount of overpriced food...what a scam. Don't waste your time with this place. The staff is rude and pretentious and don't want you there anyway. Don't give them your business and let them die out or go under new management. read more

Iconic! Legendary! Hollywood! First- Reservations a MUST if you go during prime time. Okay, you might get lucky and if the host likes you, you may (or may not) get a seat at the bar and have your meal there. Second- Don't be late! there is a 15 minute grace period but anything more than that, better give them a call Third- Establishment is not large so expect a packed house. You never know who you will see there Fourth-Menu short, sweet, to the point. Steakhouse pricing so don't be sticker shocked Fifth- Great martinis - Old school style We had linguine and clams (5 STARS), Chicken Parmesan (4 stars) and the Chicken parm comes a pasta side smothered with marinara sauce, Cannoli (5 stars) 1 order fed 3 of us. The table is served with warm french bread!!!! Don't fill up on the bread because each entree is HUGE. Street parking available if you are willing to walk or they have Valet ($16 for 2 hours) The staff, starting with the Valet is your typical Old School Hollywood... Definitely legendary. IF I go back there, I will order the clams iinguine for sure. I'd get the first seating OR the last seating.... Happy eating.... read more

We made a reservation, showed up on time, and were immediately told we could either have a table for only 90 minutes or squeeze into a tiny two-seater booth. We chose the booth, because nothing says "welcome" like being rushed or crammed in. The vibe inside is very old-school Hollywood -- dim lighting, classic tuxedoed staff, and a lot of "history." Freddy, our server, was actually very sweet and one of the few highlights of the night. The food, though? Honestly terrible. I ordered the gnocchi with meat sauce, and it was dry, bland, and just sad. My sister had the chicken parm, and it wasn't much better -- no flavor, cold sides, and nothing memorable in a good way. Even the bread was disappointing -- hard, bland, and served with cold, packaged butter you can't even spread. We spent over $100 for two bad meals, one drink, and a Caesar salad that was just okay. The valet is $16-$20 depending on how long you're there, and it adds insult to injury after the meal. The restaurant is definitely not handicap-friendly, and the bathrooms feel like they haven't been touched since the 70s. I know Dan Tana's is a "classic," but honestly? The only thing memorable about our experience was how fast we wanted to leave. I don't care if Tom Hanks, Beyoncé, and the entire cast of Friends showed up -- I'm not coming back. read more

See all

Est. 1964- You can just feel the vibes of the famous luminaries who have passed through this Classic LA restaurant. Dan Tana's is tiny, but it's mark on Hollywood culture is enormous. It's tough to get a table here, and It's even harder to get a seat at the bar. Both are usually taken over by regulars. But, with a 10 day advance reservation, we were able to get a booth for my first visit at Dan Tana's, and we had an excellent dining experience. Fried Ravioli Steamed Clams Homemade Lasagna New York Steak Martini's Everything we tried was very good. Dante did a nice job of keeping the Martini's flowing, and the staff made sure that our table was well maintained. Dan Tana's is an experience. For me, it's not a menu that I would crave by its self, but it is an evening which I would be happy to repeat. Also, they don't add any hidden fess to the bill. The coup de grâce is to eat here, and then see a show next store at The Troubadour. That's what we did, and we will do it again. read more

See all

Dan Tana's is an institution with quirky decor and service, and I would go at least once for that factor. We got a veal and chicken Parmesan, a green salad, a side of garlic cheesy bread, and a couple of glasses of Chianti. Both of the parmesans were delish and the wine was very decent. The salad, garlic cheesy bread, and the charge to upgrade marinara to meat sauce (for the pasta that comes with Parmesan) was insulting. All in all, I would go once for sure and maybe revisit if I'm in the area and in the mood for a veal/chicken parmesan and a glass of wine. read more

Make a reservation in advance. They don't do Open Table or anything else online so you will have to use that thing in your hand to make an actual phone call to a real person. REQUEST TO SIT INSIDE. If you are seated on the patio, you might as well dine elsewhere. You are coming for the experience, not the food. Good luck getting seated in the main room (that is for the A listers or regulars) or at the tiny bar which fills up the minute the restaurant opens. But do ask to be seated somewhere inside. This is a fun restaurant. It is loud and casual. It is filled with long-time regulars who feel perfectly comfortable hugging the servers, and tourists. That's about it. I saw many people dressed in shorts, t-shirts, and hats. That's not how I would dress at a restaurant like this (you don't have to dress up) but you can come as you like. Is the food amazing? No, it is not. Are the portions massive? Yes, they are. Get the chicken parmesan and split it (for an extra $10) with your dining companion. It is massive and has enough melted cheese to satisfy you for weeks. It is a perfectly fine, good dish. It comes with a big side of spaghetti in meat sauce. The garlic cheese bread is good, too. It is listed as an appetizer but you get complimentary bread at the start of your meal anyway, so order the garlic cheese bread to accompany your entree so you can dip it into your sauce. Martinis are well-made here. They are good and strong. My first one had two olives and the second had one. Was it something I said? The servers can seem gruff but really, they are grizzlies on the outside and teddies on the inside. Don't be so sensitive. Show them some humor and you will be fine. This is an old school place that oozes charm. The food isn't 5-star but you should still come for the fun, lively scene. read more

See all

I'm a 2nd generation native CA and there are certain restaurants in Hollywood that always hold a certain mystique and allure simply because of their reputation for being a gathering place for celebrities over the years. I've always wanted to visit and now that I'm back in CA, finally did. My friends visiting from out-of-state mentioned they wanted to go and I jumped at the chance. When we called, we were told the first open reservation wasn't until 9pm, but if we came early we could sit at the bar. We were wrapping up a busy day of my playing tour guide all day and were tired so opted for the early visit, showing up right before they opened. Good thing too because soon the sidewalk was crowded with groups of friends, families and couples all vying to get in. The maitre de is a master at handling the rush and deftly seated everyone with reservations, warmly greeting old timers and telling us we could sit on the patio if we didn't want to sit at the bar. The interior is extremely small, crowded, and dimly lit and the bar itself was full of people who seemed to have had a backdoor entrance because we didn't see any of them outside. All this to say, dress nicely, be polite, understand this is a special place and if you play your cards right, the man letting you in, will seat you so you won't have to hover around the 1 or 2 seats remaining at the bar.:) I preferred the outside patio because our waiter was personable, warm and informative helping us feel welcome and comfortable after snobby treatment by a group of regulars. It's LA, what do you expect, right? Now, the food is otherworldly! Fresh, served quickly and efficiently and huge portions. My favorite was the carbonara because we all shared tastes of each other's orders. If I come back, I won't get the ravioli again, but definitely order that! My friend had them add peas, but its not normally how it's served fyi. The patio is narrow and outside with fresh air which I liked. Perhaps if we stayed inside we might have seen someone famous, but we were so busy chatting and enjoying our time together we didn't need that experience to make our night perfect. I will say, the prices are more like a very upscale steak house so be aware of that, but there's plenty of options for all types of food preferences. We enjoyed our time very much and want to tell the staff keep on doing what you're doing and you'll outlast all restaurants in LA! read more

See all

Jamie W. and I have patronized quite a few of the classic LA eateries like Musso & Frank (review: https://yelp.to/p8t0hRAH4D) and Formosa Cafe (review: https://yelp.to/ZVurO7KxPU). Founded in 1964, Dan Tana's is not nearly as old, but I was intrigued when I saw the restaurant on our last WeHo visit when we saw a show at the Troubadour next door. So when we returned to WeHo for PRIDE last month, I decided to make a 5PM dinner reservation. Even at that hour, there were quite a few people waiting outside, mostly white and middle-aged. The restaurant was a yellow bungalow, quite small inside with a bar that was already filled with regulars. The decor was old-school - red walls with wood paneling, Chianti bottles hanging from the ceiling, dark red naugahyde booths. We managed to score a booth. As we were reviewing the menu, we experienced sticker shock. Lamb Chops for $95. Lobster Tail for $85. New York Steak for $79. Even Linguine with Clams cost $49. What felt initially like a family-friendly Italian restaurant suddenly became an upscale ristorante banking on its celebrity connections. We crinkled our noses as we selected our dishes with some trepidation. We started with the $12 Fresh Green Salad, which was pretty basic with iceberg lettuce, tomato, cucumber slices, and exactly one Kalamata olive, all of it drenched in oil & vinegar (photo: https://yelp.to/IfIJg66M5Y). The $21 Caprese Salad was unfortunately a mess - three tomato slices alternating with fresh mozzarella pieces (not slices), sprinkled with chopped basil, and drowning in balsamic and olive oil (photo: https://yelp.to/lKWZkdOqm2). We both went with pasta dishes because they were more within our price range. Jamie ordered the $34 Spaghetti with Meatballs (it came with two big ones - photo: https://yelp.to/a-G6AdiVNU), while I went for the same priced Spaghetti Carbonara (photo: https://yelp.to/NIP6f6FugG). Old school favorites for sure, but there was nothing outstanding about the execution. They were simply and blandly filling. No dessert for us. That was enough. FOOD - 3 stars...no standouts here, and the main dishes were exorbitantly priced AMBIANCE - 3 stars...old school Italiano decor seems at odds with the prices SERVICE - 4 stars...the longtime staff were appropriately gregarious TOTAL - 3 stars...not quite the classic LA dining experience we were looking for RELATED - Exploring WeHo? Here's my collection of places I've patronized and reviewed: https://bit.ly/3TBgdOP read more

See all