Dan Tana's
Italian restaurant · Norma Triangle ·
Italian red sauce classics & martinis in a clubby, celeb-frequented spot
Italian red sauce classics & martinis in a clubby, celeb-frequented spot
"Every city has its old-school red sauce joint—and in Los Angeles, that’s Dan Tana’s. Around since the 1960s (which, in L.A. years, means it’s practically a historic landmark), Dan Tana’s serves Italian-American cuisine’s greatest hits within its iconic crimson red dining room: chicken parm, penne alla vodka, and veal Milanese… which they call “alla George Clooney,” as the actor is one of their regulars." —Elise Taylor"
"I come for one of Los Angeles’s most dependable chicken Parmesans, but going only for the Italian American food misses the point. In front of the butter yellow bungalow on Santa Monica Boulevard, steps away from the still-kicking Troubador, light from the neon-green signage splashes across the sidewalk; inside, a tuxedoed gentleman flips pages in an encyclopedia-thick and weathered reservations book — I hope he has my name, because the place, especially on weekends, always seems packed with regulars, travelers, and first-time locals looking for a slice of classic Los Angeles. I get it here with attentive, irreverent service (a pepper grinder whirs from table to table as salads and pastas land), strong martinis, and checkered red tablecloths that haven’t seemed to fade. The restaurant’s founder, restaurateur and former actor and athlete Dan Tana, died on August 16 at age 90, his legend already fortified within the walls of his namesake place." - Eater Staff
"A steadfast Old Hollywood time capsule along Santa Monica Boulevard, this 17-table red-sauce joint that opened in 1964 became a celebrity magnet after a 1966 Los Angeles Times review, shifting from quiet nights to more than 200 covers and keeping the kitchen open until 1 a.m. for late-night martinis and pasta. The menu remains largely unchanged — veal Parmesan, chicken marsala, New York steak, and a table-side Caesar salad — and the chicken Parmesan is still one of the best in the city, even if not all the food is memorable for the right reasons. Fans embrace the timeless Italian American fare and plates named after famous regulars, while detractors scoff at celebrity-riddled booths. Inside the little yellow bungalow, tuxedoed servers, checkered tablecloths, and phone-only reservations penciled into a thick date book preserve the pre-modern ritual; cross the threshold and the outside world seems to disappear, and the room still fills every night." - Rebecca Roland
"The half block trek between The Troubadour and Dan Tana’s is one of the great date night pilgrimages in this city. Go eat some chicken parm and caesar salad inside the West Hollywood institution, get more drunk on red wine than you had expected, and go get weird at the very famous music venue next door. Dan Tana’s is a place where regulars get preferential treatment, which isn't surprising when reservation books date back decades. Calling last minute rarely works. Calling six to ten days in advance will usually result in a table." - amy clark, brant cox
"When you think of the places in LA that have survived the test of time and more or less become integrated into the fabric of our city, Dan Tana’s is high on the list. You come here to eat classic, no-frills Italian dishes (like their glorious chicken parmesan), drink perfectly made martinis that arrive in the blink of an eye, and experience what’s probably the most quintessential old-school Hollywood vibe in the city. Dan Tana’s is a place where regulars get preferential treatment, which isn't surprising when reservation books date back decades. Calling last minute rarely works. Calling six to ten days in advance will usually result in a table." - jess basser sanders, brant cox, sylvio martins, arden shore
