Dan Tana’s

My family and I had the Cheesecake Deanne. Again. It’s truly out of this world and quite possibly the best dessert I’ve ever had!

Would be a 4 based on food and atmosphere, but tough to overlook being mistreated by the maitre d’. Don’t get things wrong – this is a place for regulars, and if you’re not one of them (reservation or not) expect to be treated differently. My party of 4 was seated at 8pm for a 7pm reservation, and while waiting up front saw several tables for 4 go to regulars that arrived after us. Received no apology in the slightest; this is not a place for apologies, just doing things their way.
Food is classic red sauce Italian; don’t expect anything too exciting, but solid renditions of the classics. Chicken Parm and Ceasar Salad are standouts.

Love this place the food is great, we got el seated super fast we got there at 945, valet was 10 $ we drove around until we found a parking space. Walked over to r the restaurant, waited 2 mins. Sat down they brought us thick, sliced Italian bread with butter. It was so delicious. We ordered the lasagna, the clams linguini, and the Half an d half, half ravioli and half spaghetti it was so good. Shot of Ciroc, Grey Goose and grapefruit juice and two Coronas the service was good the atmosphere was great and our servers or cool.

This is a fabulous historic LA restaurant located on Santa Monica Blvd near the Troubadour. My husband and I have been here on several occasions, sometimes dinner, and sometimes for drinks and dessert after a show at the Troubadour. We’ve always experienced excellent food and outstanding service here and last night was no exception. We showed up with friends after the show was over. We didn’t have reservations but I asked the host if they had anything available and that we were here for some drinks /​desserts. He was graciously accommodating and quickly seated us. I was surprised at how busy this place was, people ordering steak dinners at midnight. Overall, it was a great time the food and drinks were delicious! We will definitely be back!

I heard good things about Dan Tana’s so we decided to come for dinner. I called and made reservations for 9 so I assumed if we get there at 9 we would be seated within 5 or 10 min based on my 25 years of experience eating at restaurants. Once we arrived we literally waited 35 min in front of the host table but the host never acknowledged us. Then we started to notice that people were just arriving and getting greeted by him (I assume they were regulars). He said he would seat them shortly. After I saw that I walked out

Very small old school vibe where you’re sure to see a D actor or two. Best New York strip I’ve had anywhere in the city. It’s so small that you’ll feel like a sardine when you come in. Service and pasta is a bit average but love the experience and the vibe at this well known Weho establishment. I will be back for the steak… Yum.

Dan Tanas never disappoints! Best old-​school Italian style steakhouse in all of Los Angeles hands-​down. Depending upon your age most of the waiters have worked there longer than you have been alive. The complete opposite experience of one of those new tourist trap chain steakhouses. Everything on the menu was rocksolid from the seafood specialties to the awesome cuts of steak. Old-​school Italian style food served with a flare by the best waiters in LA.

If you’re looking for good Italian food with an old school Los Angeles vibe and are itching for a celebrity sighting this is the place for you! The food is traditional Italian cuisine (think ooey gooey cheesy Parmesans and killer tomato sauce). I highly recommend getting the mozzarella marinara to start. The eggplant Parmesan and chicken florentine will not disappoint. I recommend getting a side of pasta with their meat sauce which is hearty and delicious. The restaurant is filled with red checker tablecloths, sharply dressed wait staff and dim lighting. The vibe is definitely old Hollywood. There’s a good chance that you may bump into a celebrity here. The last time we came we ran into Jay Leno, who was extremely friendly! This place is fairly pricey, but what do you expect? You are in West Hollywood dining with the rich and famous. Trust me, it’s worth it!

My wife and I went here for the first time a few weeks ago and all I have to say is this place is a total trip. It was packed, the people watching was on point, and the food was great. My only complaint is the food was a little overpriced but if you can’t hang then go to Apple Bee’s. As packed as it was, our server was really cool and we didn’t feel rushed which I thought was really cool considering the long line.
Our order:
Caesar Salad
Chicken Parmesan with a side of spaghetti
Meatballs on the side
Word of advice, make a reservation and split everything. They serve large portions and there is no way my wife would have been able to finish an entrée of Chicken Parm on her own.
I’ll be back.

Dishes are great, american italian cuisine, very nice crew, cozy ambiance.
Late night you can see a couple of people crouding on the bar.
Good late night option.

I dig it! This is basically the kind of Italian food you get at average hole in the wall places on the East Coast, except it costs 3X as much. You’re paying for classic Hollywood ambiance. Plus, this type of standard Italian fare is hard to find in these parts. Dan Tana’s is a great place for people watching as much as the food – eating here is an event. The waitstaff is hilarious.
Also, I gotta say, one of the best cannolis I’ve had in LA.

I somehow managed never to visit the entire 15+ years I lived in LA. But stopped by on a recent trip, since they were the closest place serving food at 12am. I only tried the linguine clams but it was really bland. And the clams were rubbery though plentiful. Service was better than I’d expected, especially after the valet guy wouldn’t let me park my bike at the far end of a completely empty spot two spaces down from the valet stand, but really the place was nothing special. Plenty of better options out there for late night or ambiance or both. Next time I won’t be so lazy in just picking the closest spot.

Okay, listen up Unilocalers; forget about the negative reviews about Dan Tana’s. Go if you want a taste of old school Italian, LA style. It’s an institution with regulars (I am from LA and have been going for years, starting with my parents taking me for Sunday dinners) and it’s a wonderful taste of old school, no bs LA.
I hate to even write this review bc I almost don’t want more people going let alone a bunch of out a towners that complain about the prices, service and food.
The food is actually wonderful. Yea, it’s old fashioned and leans towards NJ red sauce but it’s legit with fresh ingredients and pastas. What to get? Caesar salad (garlicky, cheesy and fresh), chicken parm, veal (any way), linguine vongole (white sauce) and dessert, always the cappuccino ice cream.
Is it progressive? no but what you do get are waiters and bussers that have been there years (along with their brothers and cousins) and Christian as the maitre’d. I have seen Unilocal reviews complaining about Christian (as they do with dimitri at the Tower Bar), but what people don’t get is that they are institutions themselves.
Christian knows every table, every person and seats accordingly. If you have never gone before, be there on time for your reservation, don’t crowd the host stand and tell him you will wait at the bar for your table to be ready. He will be kind, efficient and awesome.
There are few places left like Dan Tana’s and everyone tries to replicate (Craig’s etc), but try the original and get why it’s been THE place for over 40 yrs.

Usually, I am not a big fan of Italian American food, but this place is not just about the meal it’s an institution and a dinner here, if you are a resident of the City of Angels is definitely a must. The food is undoubtedly very tasty and portions are more than abundant (I shared my main course and I barely touched my part), but I was more interested in drinking and chatting. So I started with an apple martini, their signature drink, follow suit by a dirty martini, and it was definitely the real deal with just enough brine :) I must go back!

Well… Sunday 3÷13÷16 was my first experience here. The chicken Parmesan was ok, shrimp penne was OUTSTANDING. Pesto sauce was great! Spaghetti was good too. Service was good as well although I forgot my servers name he was a little rushy BUT I understand being they allowed us to be seated just as it was about to be last call in the kitchen.

This is perhaps the worst and most expensive Italian meal that I have ever had in my entire life. Shamelessly bad. Dan Tana has been riding on it’s once glorious days for sometime now and it’s pretty much on par with eating food at Disneyland or any theme park for that matter. The pasta is over cooked, all the food comes out quickly because it’s frozen in the back kitchen. Ravioli was bland with no seasoning, the chicken parm was barely edible covered in cheese and greasy sauce, the service while entertaining was not attentive. Yuck, yuck, YUCK!!! And let’s not forget how expensive this place is. I could eat at Mastro’s for less!
Ugh, this meal really pissed me off.

This place is awesome. The characters, the energy, the food… so good. Old-​school joint with perfect food. We had the lamb, the New York steak, caesar salad, shrimp cocktail and added sides of pasta. We both felt the lamb and steak were the best we’ve ever had (and we’ve eaten everywhere). We couldn’t have enjoyed it more. Great martinis too!

Old school Italian spot with pretty good classic dishes. We had spaghetti with meatballs and chicken parm and both were tasty. I like the ambiance more than the food.

The Best Italian restaurant! Always a good time here. The service is excellent and the food is delicious. I love the ambiance. It’s a very small place so you have to have reservations.

Too crowded, waited 40 minutes past are reservation time to get seated. Food is good but, not anything special, just average. If you think your special and you want to see someone special then this may be your place but, as far as food is concerned any place serves better.

We love the food and the energy and the regulars.
Not cheap, but it’s always good. You go here for the outstanding food.
Some waiters are snarky and arrogant with no rule against employees drinking on the job. Add the three and you may perceive you have an ass hole for a server because you probably do.
But that’s Dan Tanas and it works for ok us.
Most always very crowded, small tables but a really terrific crowd.
Excellent steaks cooked perfect any style or way you want them, excellent parmigiana’s.
The way to visit Dan Tanas is with a warm heart not expecting anything special and you won’t be disappointed because it’s all special.
Guys; wear a shirt with a collar, girls doll yourself up a bit and you’ll fit in fine. Not an elegant nor fancy place, it’s an Italian restaurant.
Have a reservation even if you’re famous. Have a big bank wad, it’s not for the budget minded diner so don’t come in here bitching about the cost.

Well, after 10+years, I finally gave in to Dan Tana’s.
I’ve kept putting this place off since friends had no desire to eat here, or the timing never seemed to work out right. But their spaghetti with meat sauce has been in several dreams over the past years that tonight, after having a long night at work, I finally figured it was now or never.
Luck was on my side as I found street parking on the same side. I had phoned in my order prior for my spaghetti along with their house bread. I’ve never been inside Dan Tana’s, but I wouldn’t go rushing in, as you’d crash right into the host stand directly in front of you. I gave this place a quick once over and noticed it wasn’t filled to capacity, but certainly couldn’t be called dead on this Monday evening. Half the booths were filled, the bar in particular had a fun crowd of ladies and a couple of gents whose back was to me. Would have loved to have seen his facial expression as the brassy, blonde lady of the few loudly asked him if he ever messed around with his secretary. In actuality, it looked like a fun group, and I probably would have joined them had there been space, and time.
Now I’m no spring chicken but damn, I felt as though I was the baby in the house. A couple of these bar patrons turned to look at me, probably wondering what business I had there, and even some staff members gave me the one eye. A party of 4 or so was a little obnoxious and barged in past me, announcing their party of four. That’s okay, he’s on his way out way before me in other ways, so I didn’t really mind.
After a few minutes, a nice guy finally came and asked if I was being helped. I believe he was the one who took my call, as he rushed off to pick up my order.
$ 25.10 later, I’m stuffing my face in the comfort of my own home, cutting my spaghetti with a knife since that is probably forbidden on the premises, and enjoying every bite. DT knows their stuff, as they provided me with more than enough butter for my bread and a mountain of parmesan cheese for my meal.
I’ll be back for takeout someday, but it’ll probably take me a few more years to mature in order to enjoy eating here. I highly recommend–

Dan Tanas is an LA landmark restaurant that is a true authentic Italian taverna style bar and restaurant and they keep it that way with an Italian staff. I love the intimate feel of this place with the old school décor and long bar. The Caesar salad is just right with tons of flavor in every bite and the ciopino soup is in a hearty tomato broth with a great variety of seafood. It is a large portion though so I do suggest sharing this. I also love the veal piccata with the pasta on the side on a tiny plate which I appreciate because otherwise I end up eating way too much. I always opt for the al’olio pasta because i love the simplicity of the flavor as opposed to the bolognese which i find to be too sweet for my taste. Don’t forget to order the cappuccino ice cream for dessert. Its made custom by Carnation and has crunchy coffee bits that i love.

For years & years I’ve been told it’s the best steak in town. Went there a couple times and was underwhelmed.
Turns out I was ordering the wrong thing.
My friend took me there and he’s a regular and I let him order. OMG!
I’m a believer now.
It’s the Large Cut N.Y., Chard & Medium Rare.
That’s all.
You get a little side of spaghetti or sliced tomatoes with it.
Went to Mastro’s Ocean Club a few weeks later and ordered the same thing. Not even a close second. More $, no side and eh.
I’m only having steak at DT’s. Spoiled me.

This place is awesome, tacky but in a way that is awesome
I went with a girl, with the intention of just having some wine and a small bite but the waiter, who looked liked he had been there for over 50 years (again in an awesome way) convinced us to try the lasagna. It was great but the star was the Caeser salad, which the server tosses in the middle of the diniing room and was out of this world.
I recommend this place for anyone that wants a great restaurant with perfect ambiance

Love it love it love it
Wish I could afford to go and hang out there every night
The drinks and strong and the food is awesome
Always packed so make a reservation

What can be said that hasn’t been said? Old school NY-​style Italian eatery, decent to good to great food, service can be so-​so. Ass-​to-​elbows seating, casual. Due to the crowd you would come here for the experience otherwise eat here when it’s not busy if you’re in it for the grub.
And I swear to god I saw John Stamos and that chick from Family Ties

My all time favorite restaurant. I’ve had the privilege of coming here over the past 15 years and the staff is like family to me.
Everything on the menu is awesome. Fun atmosphere, great time, and a place to go to whenever you have the time to just relax and enjoy!

A classic. Been coming here since 1986. What an Italian restaurant should be.
The Caesar salad is the best anywhere.
Always a great evening and the bar is one of a kind.
Chicken a la Tana is great, Seafood Pasta without the pasta is like cioppino.
Cappuccino ice cream is the best anywhere.
Classic old school.

Walked in after catching a show next door at the troubador. We didn’t have a reservation, but were seated immediately. The staff was super friendly and attentive. Paired our spaghetti with white wine. The staff surprised me with a
Chocolate dessert at the end of my meal once they found out it was my bday weekend. Treated me like a queen! Can’t wait to go back.

What a nice, classic, old school spot. Came here at 9:30 on a Sunday night and the place was packed! We were easily accommodated, however, despite not having a reservation which was nice. Our waiter, Igor, was charming and entertaining. He made our special anniversary dinner even better. He was super helpful in picking out a nice wine to go with our dinner and steered us well through the menu. We got the calamari, lasagna, and chicken parmesan. So much food and so tasty. I preferred the lasagna over the chicken parm. Since we were celebrating our anniversary we got a free dessert with a candle, a luscious chocolate cheesecake that we tried very hard to finish off. Overall, we had a lovely time and were glad we ended up celebrating here. I would happily return.

I have eaten at Dan Tana’s on occasion the last 15 years. It is considered an «old school» Italian restaurant in Los Angeles. The food and service have always been adequate at best, but last night they set a new low bar standard for food and service not just for LA, but the U.S.
Your experience at a restaurant starts with your Maitre D. Mine began with ours not remembering I had changed the time of my reservation. He and I went back and forth and his brilliant solution was imposing a time limit on our meal. In the end, even the time limit imposed (which seemed placed arbitrarily on us), was in dispute.
We were escorted to our booth which would have been comfortable for three people. We had four people in our group but I digress.
This shabby treatment was a bellwether of what was to come and we should have left the restaurant immediately.
Lets get to my meal: Clams Casino appetizer: The clams were small shriveled and dry. The combo breadcrumbs and bacon were tasteless and underwhelming.
Main course: Chicken Marsala: The chicken was bland and drenched in sauce. It reminded me of cafeteria quality food. You seriously might get a better meal at Olive Garden.
As we are finishing our meal the Maitre D began staring us down to hasten us to leave. Is he a Maitre D or a UFC fighter in training? Staring at your customers at an over-​priced establishment is unacceptable and rude.
It is without question I will never go back there. Not that Dan Tana’s even cares, but it’s best days are behind it.

Old staple spot! Come her if you want that old NY Italian vibe. Great fast food! Busy busy busy and tiny.
Drinks and food are great! Lots of Garlic!
Came here with some friends and felt like we were at home. Gnocchi was made fresh! All the pasta was tasty. The chicken Parmesan was everyone’s fav. I didn’t care for the bread or garlic bread covered in cheese.
Desserts and coffee were delish!

I’ve been coming to Dan Tana’s since I was a sprout. My parents would come here every Thursday night with me in tow many of those times.
It was always my first date place back in my single days. So, I have some serious history here and a real love affair for Dan Tana’s.
I am more comfortable in this restaurant than any other in the city. To say this will be a prejudice review is an understatement.
So Dan (the man) is gone. He sold the place and moved permanently to Europe. That hurts. But, the food and much of the staff is the same; and that’s good.
Tana’s has one of the best Caesar salads in the city. Anchovies abound the very cold crisp lettuce. The steaks are still amazing and cooked to perfection. The fried onions are a must when ordering a steak. All of the pastas are very good; but my go to dish is the veal parmigiana. Wow, do I love how they do this one.
The martini’s are huge and very good. Only have one! The Tana’s special coffee after dinner is a great way to end the evening. The wine list is not the greatest, but after a maritini one glass of Chianti is enough for me.
Now, the ladies of the evening and the bar flies are gone. So is Jimmy the maitre d’ who would tap his pencil at your booth if you stayed 1 minute past your allotted time allowed for dinner. Much of the record industry peeps have moved to newer haunts and the celebs have dispersed to nouveau chi chi restaurants.
But if these walls could talk. Oh my, the tales of Hollywood and Los Angeles in the last half of the 20^th century would be screaming scandals.
I love this place — and that’s that!

I used to come here with my husbands family many years ago. The food and service have always been great. I’m not a big fan of dark crowded restaurants but people love the vibe in this place. It’s always crowded so always make reservations.
We ordered the following:
Caesar salad ($ 18): Very good, huge portion.
Mozzarella Marinara ($ 14): Very good, I love cheese!!!
Linguine and clams (white sauce) ($ 34): Excellent. With the fresh clams, I was afraid that it would be gritty but it was delicious.
Veal Scaloppine, with fresh peppers ($ 33): My mother in law ordered it and she loved it.
Veal Scaloppine Karl Malden ($ 33): my husband loved it
We loved everything we got.

Disclaimer: I dine here 2 – 3 nights a week when I am in town.
Very old school. I grew up in Boston and worked in the financial district for years. Dan Tana’s has a non-​LA-​scene vibe, so I felt comfortable here. I’m a total Brahmin — tradition. Classic joint for West Hollywood when most are trendy. I’ve also seen a number of notable stars walk in («A-​Lister» caliber) with Entrée’s named after several of them. While its likely you may see a celeb it’s not a place about being seen — which is probably why it’s so cool.
The bar scene is off the charts (but small with maybe 12 seats). You will meet both locals and folks out of town who have been visiting for years. If you visit on Thursday/​Friday when Mike the bartender is on, here since the 1960s, you are in for a real experience.
Food is good to excellent depending on what you order. Notables are NY Strip, Chicken Parm, and Shrimp Cocktail (really, you will see — it’s buterflied and ask for the atomic horseradish on the side). The table-​side Caesar Salad is excellent. Dark and cozy atmosphere — just be prepared for a huge wait w/​o reservations. Bar seating you must arrive when the door opens at 5 unless you get lucky on an off night.