Where Dining and Dancing Are the Thing

The lavish Regent Beverly Wilshire Dining Room has added something to its menu: entertainment.

The elegant dining-and-dancing scene that unfolds here Friday and Saturday nights may be the best-kept secret in Beverly Hills since oil was discovered here in the early part of the century.

Soft jazz and big band sounds have filled the grand Dining Room for more than a year, attracting a steady and regular clientele, many of whom discovered the posh venue almost by accident and have returned each weekend.

“We were looking for a place like this and kind of stumbled on it,” says Elliot Stahler of Bel-Air, who comes to the Dining Room twice a month with his wife, Danielle. “It’s one of the only places around here where they have dancing and dining. It was hard to find.”

It’s no surprise that this venue has been so well received in night-life-starved Beverly Hills. Maitre d’ George Pagani said the addition of the Arthur Hanlon Trio has doubled the number of weekend visitors to the 68-year-old restaurant.

The Dining Room is reminiscent of old European establishments. Oil paintings span the walls from floor to ceiling and French windows provide a view of the stone walkway outside. The high ceiling along with the robust mahogany pillars and banisters give the establishment a sense of grandeur.

It is the patrons, however, who make the classy look of the room with their chic fashions and polished dance moves. When the trio breaks into a subtle rendition of “Moonlight Serenade” or “New York, New York,” the dance floor is filled with women dressed in their designer best gliding gracefully in sync with their tuxedo-clad partners.

When the trio plays a well-known tango, old pros show off their years of dance lessons. The Stahlers waltz across the floor with cheeks pressed, arms stretched and Danielle’s frilly skirt swaying.

The music--also perfect background for those who prefer dining to dancing--engages the dancers in classic waltzes and tangos. Many of the dancing couples suggest a new adage: Like wine, dancing gets better with age.

Harriet and David Glickman of Encino, married 40 years, come here often and mention that they enjoy each other’s company, especially on the dance floor. David spins his wife gracefully. Harriet smiles.

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Where: The Dining Room at the Regent Beverly Wilshire, 9500 Wilshire Blvd. (310) 275-5200.

When: 8 to 11 p. Fridays and Saturdays.

Cost: The room is open only to those ordering dinner. House chardonnay, $6; mixed drinks, $7.50; veal tenderloin, $32; Chilean sea bass, $29; caramelized apple crepes, $8.