Football was calling me home." can hide in the shadows of its dimly-lit interior). Ruby reds, strung chianti bottles and a dizzying array of memorabilia from the worlds of sports and entertainment define Tana's eclectic and eccentric charm. . chicken piccata, New York steak, French fries and two Dan Tana salads. character on "Vega$.". publicity-shy celebrities like BobDylan Those days are gone. Why Dan Tana's is a Hollywood Restaurant Popular With Celebrities. You'll also get very generous drinks at Dan Tana's. Dan Tana's is well-known for being a place where the most famous people in the city show up for meals. The story says that after Croatia declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, he worked in Libya for a factory belonging to a Yugoslav construction company. budget. James Woods and Steve Martin sat by Evel Knievel as the daredevil lit cigars with $50 bills. Did you stay open past close?Do I say that? Dan Tanas is one-of-a-kind. The story follows the somewhat obscure career of Mihajlo Perenevi, a wealthy Croatian businessman. The restaurant is known for its spaghetti and meatballs, chicken Parmesan and calamari fritti. But she kept her promise, says Tana: I am happy that after five years, nothing has changed., Hollywoods Top 25 Power Lunch Spots Revealed, Where Should I Dine Tonight? THRs Restaurant Game Has Your Answer, How a Wolfgang Puck Disciple Plans to Change Movie-Theater Food, Hannibal: Meet the Chef Who Makes Cannibal Cuisine Look So Delicious, Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. was paid but no real estate actually was transferred. Good looking and charming, he quickly took the podium as matre d at Hollywood hotspots like Villa Capri and La Scala. When you first walk into Dan Tana's, you cannot help but feel like you're traveling back in time to old Hollywood. Dan Tana's Review - West Hollywood - Los Angeles - The Infatuation [11] Simultaneously, the owner continuously tried to generate some celebrity buzz for the restaurant by inviting friends/acquaintances such as Robert Mitchum, Cary Grant, Glenn Ford, etc. They love Dan Tanas and not without good reason. Dan Tanas offers gift certificates for those who want to treat a loved one to something truly special. [2], Working as a dishwasher Tanasijevi was recognized by a Serb who had seen him play in Canada. A fire had burned down almost the entire restaurant. John Cusak Drew Barrymore has been a patron since she was in diapers, and media magnate Sumner Redstone has cited Dan Tanas as his favorite restaurant worldwide. for helping to push his disabled car off the road and trying to start it Then in the mid-70s, Troubadour [the legendary West Hollywood rock club] started having big shows. The dessert menu features a delectable chocolate truffle supreme and a . [4] As a result of the increased demand, Tana had to hire a lot more staff as the restaurant only had two waiters and one bartender. Now its everything vodka martinis. [5] Some of them, such as singer Linda Ronstadt[22][23] starring at the time in a Broadway staging of The Pirates of Penzance, went even further; upon hearing of Tana facing a multiple-month delay just to get building permits approved by the city, she asked her boyfriend, California governor Jerry Brown to help. This restaurant is high-end and is a good place to go if you want to spend a bit on a meal that you wont soon forget. The restaurants business continued to thrive. Dan Tanas A celebrity haunt with great food. Hes the man in the red jacket with the neatly trimmed mustache and a Croatian accent. got permission from the owner of the restaurant to use the name. ins.dataset.adClient = pid; Says Variety columnist Army Archerd: "It remains Welcome to Red Sauce America, our coast-to-coast celebration of old-school Italian-American restaurants. Keeper of tales & cocktails, Gotovac has tended the bar for 47 of Tana's 50 years. Celebrating its 50th anniversary Oct. 1 with a private party at the restaurant, Dan Tanas is as it has ever been: same white shutters, bordello-red banquettes and Chianti bottles dangling from the ceiling. But it notes that reporters have When I first started working, it was all gin martinis, Rob Roys, and Manhattans. ins.style.display = 'block'; heard before it on a popular TV show. George Clooney In the 60s and early 70s you couldnt sell anyone a bottle of wine.. I think I belong here. He resigned from the Brentford board in 2002. checkered-tablecloth Italian restaurant in West Hollywood been open for In addition, the post mispelled Daryl Halls first name as Darryl. In the old days we did until five or six oclock in the morning. Gotovac was in his early 20s when he started a few years later. Due to being one of the rare NPSL executives maintaining active connections to individuals within European club football, Tana's involvement with the NPSL project went beyond just the franchise employing him, the Toros, as the new North American soccer league went about staffing nine other new franchises with players, coaches, and executives. In 1978, producer Aaron Spelling named the lead character in his hit TV series Vega$, Dan Tana (played by Robert Urich). [1] The group of hopefuls attending Corey's classes with Tanasijevi included young Natalie Wood, Kim Novak, and Angie Dickinson. Dan Tana's (photo) Lakers chief JerryWest Cameron Diaz had her first meal at Tanas when she was 16 (she now favors the off-the-menu chicken piccata). [2] Anderlecht offered Tanasijevi a four-year contract, but as a defector he could not play club football in Belgium for two years. Dan Tana - Wikipedia Copyright1999-2022-Gary Wayne [3] The father ended up serving a year before being released and finding employment in the now state-owned kafana that he had owned before the war. They went home together, kind of old-fashioned feel. One of the first things Dan Tana, Yugoslavian expat, former soccer star and sometime actor, changed when he took over the old Dominicks in West Hollywood in 1964 was to keep the kitchen open until 12:30 a.m. Tana was mystified that in Hollywood, There was not a decent restaurant serving until 1 a.m. You had to go to a coffee shop., Having served as maitre d at La Scala and Villa Capri, Tana grasped that the industry needed a place where stars could commingle in anonymity. While in Belgium, Tana saw the senior Red Star Belgrade team play Anderlecht, and was spotted in the crowd by the Red Star captain Rajko Miti. ins.style.minWidth = container.attributes.ezaw.value + 'px'; Although the restaurant was in no position to dish out freebees, Dan asked the chef to send them a few appetizers, hoping theyd stay and order more. #StJudeChildrensResearchHospital. Meeting with the English playwright Willis Hall, Hall invited him to join a regular football gathering, which included broadcaster Michael Parkinson and the football personality Jimmy Hill. Dan Tanas prides itself on giving everyone the same excellent treatment and the same caring service. Gotovac doesnt mention these generations include people whose mantles are cluttered with golden trophies, statuettes and gramophones as well as the savvy dealmakers behind such luminaries. Down the street from the Troubadour, it was and still is frequented by the artists who performed there -- The Mamas and the Papas, Simon & Garfunkle, Bill Cosby, Elton John, Rod Stewart, Drake, and Maroon Five (one of their Gold Records is mounted on the restaurants cluttered walls) among others. By Maggie Lange. Calling on his Yugoslavia football connections, Tana put the new Oakland Clippers NPSL franchise in touch with his former Red Star Belgrade boss, dr. Aca Obradovi, who would soon reach an agreement to become the Clippers general manager and in turn bring a head coach and number of Yugoslav footballers from Red Star, FK Partizan, and OFK Beograd to Oakland: head coach Ivan Toplak as well as players such as Ilija Miti, Mirko Stojanovi, Momilo Gavri, Dimitrije Davidovi, Milan op, Ilija Luki, Sele Miloevi, and Dragan uki. Hes never changed the Bolognese recipe, making it the same way his predecessor made the sauce. In the midst of this success, Tana received a phone call in the wee hours of August 1, 1980. Tana was subsequently asked to join the board of Brentford, a privilege for which Tana bought five shares at 50p each. Mike Gotovac has been behind the bar at Dan TanasSanta Monica Boulevards little yellow house with the raucous late-night scenesince 1968, serving everyone from Elizabeth Taylor to the Eagles, who wrote their chart-topper Lyin Eyes about the cheatin side of town at table four. was spotted at DanTana's picking up an order of chicken Parmigiana, West Hollywood, CA. two doors down from the famous Troubadour nightclub (where Elton Woods and LaurenHolly Never trendy, its It used to be down the street on Melrose, so this was the perfect place to stop and have dinner, says Angie Dickinson, who attended acting classes with Tana. In the old days, a lot of actors would hang at the bar and have a drink. But after revealing the scandal, Magnitsky himself was arrested and then found dead in jail in 2009. Dress is reasonably casual, and they He is from Yugoslavia. Dan Tana's history is not just in the walls but on the menu. Iconic Dan Tana's Restaurant Celebrates 50 Years as a Beloved Hideaway Looking Sharing success: A limited run of 25 fine art prints of this specially commissioned 50th Anniversary work will be sold to the first bidders with all proceeds benefiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (minimum bid $1000).. Info: dt50art@gmail.com. [2], Simultaneously, young Tanasijevi began drama lessons with Jeff Corey in Malibu to improve his accent when speaking English as he tried to break into acting. The food is amazing. While Studio 54 partied through the disco era, a similar scene flourished at (and under) the restaurants tables sans the mirrored-ball. reminds them of New York. The producers of "Vega$" liked the name so much that they [2] He decided to remain in Hollywood and began working as a dishwasher. Its very messy, with the eggs and cream. Yet, even as the nightly party rages on behind its single, narrow door, Dan Tana's remains a little, yellow clapboard abode, sitting charmingly quiet on Santa Monica Boulevard, under a lucky horseshoe sign. Thank god nobody orders that anymore. And we have customers whove been coming in for yearsthird and fourth generationso if someone gives us a hard time they jump in right away: Hey, you gotta leave! Our long-time customers have our back. Dan Tanas has been referenced in several Hollywood memoirs and films and provided the setting for numerous celebrity editorials. We call it the Star Wars bar, after the films infamous cantina scene. [12] Tana received an outpouring of support from regulars encouraging him to rebuild Dan Tana's just the way it was. Above all, on its 50th Anniversary, the restaurant celebrates its loyal patrons -- the cast and the characters, famous and aspiring -- who have built Tana's storied past and who are making its history today. Every customer is treated like a celebrity at Dan Tana'sincluding the throng of actual celebrities who frequent this Hollywood hotspot. It's been around for 60 years, is impossible to get into, and the food is second-rate. The West Hollywood connection is that Mihajlo Perenevi purchased Dan Tanas in 2009 from Dan Tana himself, who opened the restaurant in 1964. var lo = new MutationObserver(window.ezaslEvent); The Los Angeles Toros relocated to San Diego, becoming the San Diego Toros, ahead of their first season in the NASL. For others, it [2] Tana has produced eight films. On a Friday night in 1976, business was less than booming not a single reservation. He is an actor and producer, known for Coriolanus (2011), Twilight Time (1982) and Poseban tretman (1980). Working on the 50th Anniversary piece brought back many memories I will always treasure, says Tana. [12] Tana renamed his newly-acquired venue after himself, Dan Tana's, changing its concept to New York City-style Italian dinner spot with a small bar and hiring chef Michele Diguglio to run the kitchen. Following the 2001 //-->, Seeing Stars: Where the Stars Dine.. [For an Besides, we treat everyone like a VIP, comments one jacketed waiter, who, like most of the staff, has been with the restaurant for decades. endorsements by them of any kind, and are used by the author solely to Dan Tana's restaurant, in West Hollywood on Santa Monica Boulevard, is an "Old Hollywood" institution. In When it comes to the crowd, you have someone who looks like a homeless person sitting next to a movie star next to the richest guy in America and they all have a fun conversation, enjoying the food and drinks, said Gotovac, who has seen four generations of some families come into the restaurant. Jay was dining near the columnist when a man came over and thanked him Now there are 40 to 50 Ubers lined up on weekend nights. Dan Tana's income source is mostly from being a successful Actor. Ever since first arriving in California in 1956, while attempting to transition professionally from playing football (soccer) to acting, Tana took various odd jobsworking in a tuna cannery and washing dishes at the Villa Capri restaurantas his main source of income. [1] While working for Leon at La Scala, Tana was part of the restaurant's staff that also included Matty "Matteo" Jordan, Joe Patti, and Piero Selvaggio each of whom would later go on to launch successful and long-running Italian restaurants of their own around the Los Angeles area. Media inquiries: contact Kevin Mark Lodie at kml(at)diversifiedluxury(dot)com. Dan Tana's Turns 50: Secrets Behind Hollywood's Star-Studded Eatery A number of old-school celebs or prominent entertainment industry execs have dishes named after them. The move to open his own restaurant was a big gamble, hedged only by Tanas personal drive, contacts and magnetic personality. Thanks to Linda and Governor Brown, in only six weeks we were open again, recalls a still grateful Tana. You may even see your favorite movie star, or a couple of them, dining at a nearby table! Thats why theyre happy coming in: because we protect them. Then he went to Here's Why", "Dan Tana's isn't the place for authenticity or innovation, but it treats regulars like celebs", "Dan Tana, center, shares a laugh with a couple of his patrons at his restaurant, Dan Tana's, Tuesday", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dan_Tana&oldid=1161395818, Mihajlo and Sonja Perenevi (2009present), Favorite of Hollywood elite and other celebrities, This page was last edited on 22 June 2023, at 12:13. [12] As a result of Ronstadt and governor Brown intervening, the restaurant was able to re-open in six weeks. His net worth has been growing significantly in 2022-2023. WeHo Gay Bars Pour Out Vodka to Protest Russian Anti-Gay Laws, Trademark Board Lowers Standard for Fraud - AEON Law. Dan Tana was born in 1933 in Belgrade, Serbia, Yugoslavia. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); They listen to us. ", Jay Leno (1946-2002) Synopsis. OCCRP reports that Velesstroy has rented part of an estate on the Black Sea called Putins Palace, which it describes as an effort to help finance it. ins.id = slotId + '-asloaded'; [8], In 1964, twenty-nine-year-old Tana launched his own eatery by taking over the Dominick's hamburger restaurant on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood from an art-gallerist friend Chuck Feingarten for US$30,000 (US$287,000 in 2023)[9] with a three-year payment schedule of US$10,000 annually. Embracing the restaurant's indelible atmosphere, the event will be decked in Dan Tana red with strung chianti bottles, live music and, of course, abundant Italian dishes served up by Chef Neno Mladenovic who has run the combat zone that is Dan Tanas kitchen for the past 27 years. var alS = 1021 % 1000; window.ezoSTPixelAdd(slotId, 'stat_source_id', 44); All Rights Reserved Stars" is not affiliated with any business or celebrity that might [3] With the outbreak of World War II in Yugoslavia following the April 1941 German invasion, Dobrivoje's father moved to the countryside, staying with his parents (Dobrivoje's grandparents) in order to avoid conscription. northeast on Santa Monica Boulevard (about one mile) to just past Doheny When she learned that the biggest hurdleTana faced was a delay of at least two-months just to get pre-building permits approved by the city, she asked her boyfriend, then and now Governor Jerry Brown what he could do. [15] Prior to the effusive 1966 LA Times review, the restaurant had reportedly been doing about 25 dinners per night, however, after the review, the number increased to 200 dinners per night. Jim Woods Dan Tanas is well-known for being a place where the most famous people in the city show up for meals. Reservations are hard to September 10, 2014. Have the drinks changed?They change by generation. Dan Tana's specializes in Italian cuisine and serves all of its meals with delectable authenticity. var slotId = 'div-gpt-ad-wehoville_com-medrectangle-3-0'; At Dan Tanas, such legends sit elbow-to-elbow with neighborhood regulars and folks just looking to indulge in food, drink and a 7 nights-a-week social scene. Mihajlo Perenevi apparently still maintains a home in Loinj, a Croatian island that is a popular destination for German, Italian, and Slovenian tourists. Charlies Angels of the 70s and the 2000s as well as the actors and real life inspiration for HBOs Entourage have enjoyed heaping plates of calamari fritti and Chicken alla Parmigiana. for dinner seven days a week from 5 PM to 1 AM. Mike Gotovac, a bartender at the legendary West Hollywood celebrity hangout Dan Tanas, looks back on half a century in the biz. Dan Tana Net Worth. [14] The Eagles' guitarist Glenn Frey and drummer Don Henley were said to have been inspired into writing their 1975 hit "Lyin' Eyes" after once eating at Dan Tana's while observing the many beautiful women in the restaurant, many of whom were with much older wealthy men. Click here to return St. Felix Hollywood Club Crawl starts here. It happens in every place, but we never allow that here. Like any great Hollywood story, there was a critical turning point. [10][11] For decades prior, the location had also housed food hospitality venues: first, Black's Lucky Spot Caf counter-style lunch joint catering to the workers doing maintenance on the Pacific Electric's old Red Car Trolley that ran outside along Santa Monica Blvd. for something in particular? But yeah, we stop people right away. They dont like to hang with the crowd.. @media(min-width:0px){#div-gpt-ad-wehoville_com-medrectangle-4-0-asloaded{max-width:336px!important;max-height:280px!important;}}if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'wehoville_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_7',197,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-wehoville_com-medrectangle-4-0'); The Dan Tanas purchase came after Mayco Financial Holdings, an offshore company registered in the British Virgin Islands, made nine transfers of money totaling $24.2 million between 2008 and 2010, OCCRP reports. Later they would want to have a table right away. Follow her @Jenn_Harris_. If America needed English football, England needed American facilities."[2]. The Best Hispanic Actresses Under 25 In 2023, Celebrities W/ Dishes Named After Them at Dan Tana's, VEAL SCALOPPINE, Florentine, James Woods: $30.00, VEAL CUTLET Parmigiana, Jerry Weintraub: $30.00, NEW YORK STEAK, Dabney Coleman-16oz. If you want to buy him a shot, youll have to catch him on Thursday or Friday nights. His accent is Croatian. Bon Apptit may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. of the stars from that telethon stopped at Dan Tana's to watch the (tape-delayed) Eventually he made the move to Russia, and since 2010 has been head of Velesstroy, a Russian construction company that also has valuable contracts with Transneft. Today, a mix of Hollywood celebrities, tourists who come to ogle at celebrities, and dedicated locals keep the red leather booths full. offshore companies it has been transferred to. Worried about The Resist March? One main course I frequently order is the Mace Neufeld which is a USDA Prime ground sirloin served with porcini mushrooms in a wine sauce. Fifty Years of Dan Tana's in Pictures Los Angeles Magazine Don Henley and Glen Frey scribbled out the lyrics to Lyin Eyes while observing a tryst from the bar. [2], Brentford were at the bottom of the Fourth Division at the time of Tana's involvement and had large debts and poor attendance. There was no service, but we would sit and talk, have a few drinks. In part, that's because the food here is good (and perhaps partially because [19], Since accumulating a number of regulars over decades, Dan Tana's began naming dishes after them thus offering veal Jerry Weintraub, scaloppine Karl Malden, braciola Vlade Divac, chopped salad Nicky Hilton, steak Dabney Coleman, and shrimp scampi Jerry Buss. She has a BA in literary journalism from UC Irvine and an MA in journalism from USC. American actor Robert Urich is best known for his role as Dan Tanna in Vega$. And when Gotovac is drinking, its shots of Pelinkovac, a Croatian bitter liqueur. Their Dabne Coleman is a USDA Prime New York Strip steak that will not disappoint any true meat lover. Some of my favorite appetizers include their shrimp scampi in a delicious white wine sauce and their fried zucchini (perfect for table sharing). If youre very famous and fierce about your privacy, you sit in the other room. and Matt Damon Hunting.". He resisted the now-quaint custom of bringing telephones to the table, even after infuriated studio exec Ned Tanen (American Graffiti) threatened to buy and burn down the place. [3], Growing up on Kraljice Natalije Street near the Zeleni Venac open market in Belgrade, young Dobrivoje, nicknamed Bata, was a lively kid with a keen interest in football. Celebrities W/ Dishes Named After Them at Dan Tana's this page also do not constitute [3], With the post-war transformation of Yugoslavia from a monarchy into a Titoist people's republic under the Communist Party (KPJ) rule of Josip Broz Tito, Dobrivoje's father Radojko, despite not participating in the war as part of any armed faction, was adjudged by the new communist authorities to be class enemy and sentenced to 12 years in a labour camp while his pre-war kafana, Slona braa, was nationalized. Dan Tanna was the name of Robert Urich's character on "Vega$." But Dan Tana's restaurant isn't named after the TV character - it's the other way around. Three to try now, The official bottled water power rankings, This couple is making Pride wine in the Santa Ynez Valley to uplift the LGBTQ+ community, The secret to the most delicious jam Ive ever tasted? or celebrity.. A limited edition of only twenty-five (25) fine art, gicle prints of the original work are available to the first bidders starting September 10 (minimum bid is $1000). To further celebrate this landmark anniversary, Dan Tanas has commissioned an original artwork by artist Andrea Tana to capture the iconic interior and vibrant energy that characterize a night at the restaurant. An old-fashioned cash register remains behind the bar. We have estimated Dan Tana's net worth , money, salary, income, and assets. OCCRPs story illustrates the George Clooney, Richard Burton, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kathy Hilton, and Ryan Phillipe are just a few of the many known to dine there. Hollywood took notice, and soon it was hard to book one of Dan Tanas 17 tables. And if someone doesnt know, we tell them, and make sure the celebrities are not bothered.. It still features the red-and-white-checkered tablecloths, hanging bottles of Chianti and countless photos of its celebrity clientele on the walls. the House of Blues Feldman. Over the decades, George Clooney has used the restaurant to throw a private post-Oscar bash, Liz Taylor and Richard Burton made Dan Tanas a popular dinner spot, and the staff watched Drew Barrymore grow from a baby to punk teen to Americas sweetheart. Leanna Lins Wonderland LA Art and Charm! there: From Rodeo Drive, go The restaurant in 1964 with the horsehoe sign newly bearing Dan Tana's name. nor do they represent an endorsement of the website by any such business [14] While conducting an interview on the show with Richard Burtonanother Dan Tana's regular who had been playfully complaining about being turned away from the eateryCarson even proclaimed Dan Tana's to be his favourite restaurant in Los Angeles. Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC. Back then people would get Brandy Alexanders, the Golden Cadillac. His restaurant, Dan Tanas, opened in West Hollywood in 1964 and is known for its celebrity []. Playing in Montreal, he won successive Canadian league titles and the Dominion Cup. [4], As a result of the nearby Troubadour club beginning to book big stars like Elton John and Van Morrison, Dan Tana's did away with its customary 11 p.m. closing time, keeping its kitchen open late until 12:30 or 1 a.m. in order to cater to the concert-goers looking for a late-night dining spot after the shows ended. to Dan Tana's Now they drink more wine. Copyright 1997-2015, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC. It was a favorite of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, and still is for Angie Dickinson and Don Rickles. [2] The series ran for three seasons with Tana reportedly receiving US$500 per airing (first-run episodes, re-runs, and syndication) in royalties, altogether making US$500,000 that he donated to charity.[11]. 9071 Santa People come in, regulars and they say, Thank you, thank you, Gotovac said with a grin. Do I talk about that? Tana left for the night. On the perimeter of both affluent Beverly Hills and the modest Norma Triangle neighborhood, and just a few doors down from the Troubadour and its burgeoning 60s rock scene, Tanas was poised to attract a diverse cross section of L.A. society and subculture, but business was painfully slow and often on the brink of going bankrupt. Ad Choices. [4][18], Chef Diguglio left after five years, in 1969, at which point Tana hired another fellow Yugoslav, Mate Musta, who had been working on Italian cruise ships, as the new chef. The restaurant, which is dark and intimate, features small red booths, waiters who are dressed in ties and red jackets, and wine bottles decoratively hanging from the ceilings. Amid LAs mere handful of long-running establishments, Dan Tanas has discretely held its turf as one of Hollywoods most popular haunts. Nobody drank wine. {top.location = self.location;} 1088 reviews Claimed $$$ Italian, Cocktail Bars Closed 5:00 PM - 11:00 PM See hours See all 534 photos Restaurants Italian Dan Tana's Write a review Add photo Menu Popular dishes View full menu Chicken Parm 12 Photos 131 Reviews Caesar Salad 15 Photos 128 Reviews New York Steak 4 Photos 21 Reviews Chicken Parmigiana 6 Photos 28 Reviews White Fish Michael Connellys series of novels featuring the Lincoln Lawyer, Mickey Haller, often has the character dining at Dan Tanas as well as several other popular Los Angeles restaurants. You can revoke your consent any time using the Revoke consent button. Reach out to the author: contact and available social following information is listed in the top-right of all news releases. The venue was Blacks Lucky Spot Caf -- a counter-style lunch joint with a horseshoe-shaped sign displaying its name. Cooking advice that works. It is this blend of movers & shakers, artists (famous and struggling) and local characters, all bottled within the confines of a sanguine red interior laden with memorabilia that create Dan Tanas rare vintage. Dan Tana's Los Angeles - A celebrity haunt with great food The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. So the place just became busy. If youve stopped into Dan Tanas, the red-sauce Italian restaurant on Santa Monica Boulevard, anytime in the past 47 years, chances are head bartender Michael Gotovac has served you a drink.