Whiz Biz: Hanna's Restaurant and Bar

Whiz Biz: Hanna’s Restaurant and Bar

Address: 22195 El Paseo, Rancho Santa Margarita

Phone: 949-709-2300

Website: www.hannasprimesteak.com

What’s Nearby: , , .

Employees: 50

What Makes It So Awesome: One of Rancho Santa Margarita’s finest culinary experiences, Hanna’s was recently voted by Open Table as one of the top 100 restaurants in the United States for best service.

What’s The Scoop: It is no surprise that Dave Hanna ended up in the restaurant business. After all, his grandfather served as a cook in the Army and later went on to work at White Castle burgers back East. From there, his grandfather opened his own restaurant, The Lone Star, in Pennsylvania and moved his family to southern California in the 1950’s, where he established several more restaurants. Dave Hanna settled in the Rancho Santa Margarita community in 1990 and opened up RSM’s first coffee shop, Haute Café. After opening a second café, he sold both in 1997 and opened his restaurant, , in 2005.

Hanna’s quickly found its niche in the community and was voted one of three best new restaurants in Orange County in 2006, and in 2007 Best Restaurant and Chef in Rancho Santa Margarita by Orange County Register readers. When the economy took a turn for the worse, Hanna seized the opportunity to do whatever possible to make his restaurant stand out and stay afloat.

“I did everything during that time,” he said. “I waited tables, worked the bar, you name it.” Since then, Hanna’s has secured a name for itself as one of OC’s finest restaurants and most recently was awarded one of the top 100 restaurants in the United States for best service by Open Table.

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Hanna says it best on his website: “The pursuit of excellence and attention to the smallest details is my focus.” He believes the restaurant business is about much more than food; it is about the entire experience from the moment a person walks through the door to the moment he takes his last bite. In a shaky economy, Hanna recognizes that the combination of impeccable service and unforgettable food is essential to keeping customers coming back time and time again.

Sean Reynolds has been the top chef at Hanna’s for nearly four years. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in New York, Reynolds brings with him a vast amount of knowledge and creativity. He enjoys selecting the finest seasonal foods and enjoys mixing up the menu several times a year.

“Last night, I went around and asked the customers what they’d like to see more of on the menu,” said Reynolds. He takes these suggestions seriously and constantly looks for ways to improve.

“No” isn’t a word Reynolds and Hanna include in their vocabulary. While many chain restaurants must stick to the menu, Hanna’s has the flexibility to meet the need of each customer. “Even if it’s late at night, we’ll run out and get something if a customer requests it,” said Hanna. This is just one of the many reasons Hanna’s has become more than just an upscale neighborhood restaurant, but a truly unforgettable dining experience.

Despite its national recognition, Hanna said most of his customers are locals. “We’re on an island,” Hanna admitted, referring to Rancho Santa Margarita’s “off the beaten path” location. He is honored when customers come from afar, but he considers his primary clientele local and enjoys mingling with familiar faces as they come in.  

These faces occasionally include the Real Housewives of Orange County, many of whom live in the RSM area. And while Hanna welcomes them, he says, “We strive to treat everyone like they are a celebrity and make them feel special.”

Mingling with his customers is one of Hanna’s favorite parts of the job, and many have become his good friends. In April, Hanna plans to take 20 of these friends, including chef Reynolds, to the Masters Golf Tournament in Augusta, GA. An avid golfer himself, Hanna enjoys “hitting balls around” at Dove Canyon Country Club or Tijeras Creek Country Club in his free time.

What’s Unique: Dave Hanna’s philosophy about the restaurant business is evident in every detail of his place, from the elegant décor to the sprawling bar to comfortable patio. Perhaps most impressive is the new Davino Room, an extension of the restaurant that opened last fall. One step through the private plush curtains and one finds himself surrounded by 2,500 bottles of wine on the wall, all hand selected from the finest wineries around the world by Hanna himself. This private banquet facility boasts 48 private temperature-controlled wine lockers as well as two large wine “vaults.” The Davino Room can hold up to 40 guests and is the perfect place to host a baby shower, birthday party, corporate function, sports banquet or wedding rehearsal dinner.

Hanna’s menu is just as unforgettable as its ambience. The lunch menu boasts a variety of options, from the Hanna’s Steak Salad to the $5 burger to Dave’s Vegas Wrap, an entrée that includes grilled Jidori chicken and artichoke hearts. Hanna’s is best known for its steak, including the finest cuts of filet mignon and top sirloin. A variety of side sauces are offered, including bleu cheese, Portobello mushroom and garlic cream.

The Chilean Sea Bass is another popular item and includes a delicious roasted artichoke creamed corn. Chocolate layered ganache cake, complete with layers of chocolate and red velvet cake, is just one of the many tantalizing dessert options. Catering service is also available.

Of course, one cannot forget about the drink menu. In addition to a large variety of fine wines, Hanna’s offers unique drinks like the Pommtini, Cucumber Peartini and The Last Temptation Martini, comprised of raspberries, lemons, citron vodka, cranberry and pineapple juice. On Mondays, Hanna’s presents $6 house martinis; on Tuesdays, $6 margaritas; on Wednesdays, half-off all wine by the glass, and Thursdays are vodka night with half-off all Ketel One drinks.

What’s New: “One of the great things about the restaurant business is that it gives you a platform,” Hanna said. Along with other local businessmen, he helped form , a coalition of businesses committed to assisting the schools in the local community. The goal of the coalition is to supply the funding necessary to cover the expenses of critical school programs that have been cut during the state budget crisis. Hanna’s passion to give back to the community is just one of the many attributes that makes him such a standout businessman. His attention to detail, desire to provide a personal, pleasant dining experience and his goal to provide a truly unique culinary experience are all reasons why Hanna’s restaurant will continue to thrive and receive well-deserved recognition for years to come.