Dantanna's — Restaurant in Atlanta

Reposting as I suspect them being suspicious of hiding reviews to not affect their reviews:

Disappointing Experience — Felt Discriminated Against

I arrived at the restaurant at 7:11 PM with two friends who were already inquiring about an outdoor patio table. We were told there would be a wait and were asked to wait by the bar, which we were okay with. We proceeded to grab cigars from the in-house cigar shop — the service there was great, no complaints.

While waiting, we ordered mocktails at the bar. Our bar server was excellent, giving thoughtful recommendations and making great drinks.

However, we noticed at least three other parties (of 2-3 people) being seated outside ahead of us, even though we had been waiting longer. One of my friends asked the hostess multiple times to confirm we were on the list, but was met with dismissiveness.

After nearly an hour of waiting — and with the restaurant only about 50% full on a Monday night — my friend came back from a walk around the venue and said we should leave. He believed we were being discriminated against and not going to be seated.

Soon after, the manager approached, claiming my friend was “offensive” for raising his hand — not in anyone’s face — but in a common gesture meaning “please stop” or “I’ve heard enough.” This was interpreted as disrespectful, and the manager abruptly ended our service for the night.

My other friend and the manager began a civil conversation, discussing how poorly we had been treated as paying customers. The manager claimed we had never even put our name down — an accusation easily disprovable via their security cameras, which she refused to check. Her reasoning? It would take “too much of her time.” It became clear she had no interest in correcting a potential mistake or valuing our experience.

We are not the first to experience this. A past reviewer, Anna Hernandez, described an almost identical issue. That, combined with our treatment, makes me confident this was targeted discrimination — potentially Black on Hispanic bias.

When I began recording using my Meta glasses, the manager became visibly more hostile, claiming we were not allowed to record. However:

Under Georgia Law: • O.C.G.A. § 16-11-62: It is unlawful to record private conversations in private spaces. However, this does not apply to public areas like a restaurant floor. • O.C.G.A. § 16-11-66: Georgia is a one-party consent state. I was part of the conversation, so I had the legal right to record.

There were no signs prohibiting recording, and I recorded only once it was clear the situation was escalating.

At the end of the conversation, after we paid and tipped our bar server (who, again, was wonderful), I made the same gesture my friend had — raising my hand near chest height, calmly signaling that the discussion was over. The manager immediately claimed that this was the “same offensive gesture,” proving that the entire situation was overblown, inconsistent, and rooted in something deeper than manners.

We left feeling disrespected, undervalued, and singled out unfairly. It’s disappointing to be treated this way in an establishment we intended to support...

My husband and I visited Dantanna’s at Lenox Square for dinner this evening, and let’s just say — we won’t be going back. While reviewing the menu, my husband asked our server for an appetizer recommendation. She suggested the “lobster bites” — which, by the way, are not listed on the menu.

The presentation was decent, but the flavor was average — nothing memorable. Then the check came. To our surprise, we were charged $40 for a lobster tail. Naturally, we asked the server for clarification, thinking it was an error. She casually informed us that the charge was correct — that was the price for the appetizer.

Unacceptable. And deceptive.

We asked to speak to a manager. Lisa, the floor manager, came to the table, and tried to spin a completely illogical explanation, claiming that if servers told guests the price of the lobster bites, people would be offended. Really?

When my husband asked why the item and price weren’t on the menu, Lisa actually said — because it’s a secret. I’m sorry, what? That logic is about as sound as a screen door on a submarine.

Let’s be clear — nothing under appetizers on the printed menu was over $20. But somehow, we’re expected to accept a $40 charge for an unlisted item that the server can’t disclose the price of?

My husband refused to pay until Lisa offered a 20% discount — which we accepted simply to be done with the situation.

Bottom line: Don’t fall for the bait-and-switch. If you’re offered something “off-menu” without a price, ask anyway. And if they refuse to tell you, walk away. We won’t be dining at Dantanna’s again.

RESPONSE TO OWNER REPLY: Thank you for your response. While I appreciate the apology, I must be honest—this situation was not just a "misunderstanding." It felt deceptive. Recommending a “secret” menu item without clearly stating the price, especially one that costs $40, is not transparency. In case you didn't know, a "Bait and Switch" is against the law.

If you truly value customer satisfaction, then every item—secret or not—should be disclosed with full details, including price, before the customer agrees to order. Relying on table tents while promoting items not on the actual menu puts the burden on the customer and opens the door to miscommunication. In our case, no price was mentioned by the server, nor were we directed to any tent card.

I hope your review of off-menu policies results in better transparency going forward. For now, we won’t be returning, but we do hope Dantanna’s takes this as an opportunity to improve how customers are informed...

Dismissed, Ignored & Disrespected

As a business owner, writing a negative review never comes easy. I know firsthand the challenges of running a service-based company. That’s why I waited a week to reflect on that night and asking myself honestly: were we overreacting, or were we truly disrespected?

Rather than retell the full story here, I encourage anyone reading this to view the detailed reviews from my friends, who describe the situation and timeline clearly. Their experiences reflect mine exactly.

During that week, I visited a few other restaurants and encountered nothing but excellent service—welcoming, attentive, professional. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for Dantanna’s.

I’ve been to Dantanna’s several times over the years, and sadly, I’ve seen the guest experience decline. So when I invited two close friends for what was meant to be a relaxing evening of cigars and dinner, I expected better. What we encountered instead was dismissiveness, inconsistency, and a level of treatment that raised serious concerns.

Let me be clear: discrimination—whether overt or subtle, intentional or systemic—is never acceptable. No guest should ever feel unwelcome, ignored, or devalued simply for showing up in good faith. That kind of experience doesn’t just reflect bad service—it reflects a deeper issue with the culture of the establishment.

To make matters worse, the restaurant owner’s public response to my friend’s review was polite in wording but dismissive in tone, and lacked real accountability. Phrases like “we sincerely apologize for your unfortunate experience,” “there was a miscommunication,” or “we felt it was best if you dined somewhere else” completely sidestepped the core issue: a group of paying guests were treated as an inconvenience rather than valued customers.

I understand that no business is perfect. Mistakes happen—but it’s how leadership responds that defines the culture. When a customer raises a concern, the goal shouldn’t be to deflect or defend—it should be to listen, acknowledge, and make it right. That didn’t happen here.

We came in with good intentions, supported the business, remained respectful—and still walked away feeling dismissed and unseen. That’s more than just poor service. It’s a sign that somewhere along the way, this business lost sight of who it’s...