DRAGO CVITANOVICH

Drago’s desire to open a restaurant was inspired by his brother-in-law, Drago Batinich who owned a restaurant, also called Drago's, on Harrison Avenue in Lakeview

After that restaurant closed, Drago Cvitanovich continued to hone his skills shucking oysters for another two years at the Acme oyster house. Eventually, Drago used his vast experience with selling and shucking oysters as the basis for his own place, naming it Drago's.

In his 80’s, Drago is still one of the best shuckers in town. He often makes the 200-mile round trip to Plaquemines Parish to buy oysters and to hang with his pals, the oystermen. These days Drago has a new favorite occupation. Grandpa. He's pretty good at it, too. Just ask any one of his eight grandchildren.

TOMMY CVITANOVICH

Tommy Cvitanovich is the second generation proprietor of Drago’s Restaurant. As the son of Drago’s founders, Drago and Klara Cvitanovich, Tommy knows a thing or two about the restaurant business. He started in grade school bussing tables in his uncle’s restaurant. When Tommy’s parents opened Drago’s in 1969, he peeled shrimp in the kitchen.

Thirty years later, he has taken the restaurant his parents started to new heights, reaching annual sales of over 10 million.

Under Tommy’s direction, Drago’s has opened the family’s second location at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside. This new location will offer the same delicious menu items such as the dish that made the restaurant famous, Charbroiled Oysters. And both restaurants will continue to be guided by Tommy’s philosophy, “Everything is about and for the customer.”

Tommy Cvitanovich is the founder of the wildly popular spring fundraiser at Lafreniere Park, Taste of the Town, which benefits restaurant employees. He is a member of the National Restaurant Association, State Director of the Louisiana Restaurant Association, and former President of the Greater New Orleans Chapter of the Louisiana Restaurant Association. He is a member of the Louisiana Seafood Promotion Board and serves on countless other boards and associations.

In September of 2006, Tommy received the prestigious Restaurant Neighbor Award given by the National Restaurant Association for serving 77,000 free meals in the weeks following Hurricane Katrina.

Tommy married the former Leanne Flick in 1995. They have four children—Madeline, Joseph, Carson, and Callie. The Cvitanovich family resides in Metairie, La.

KLARA BUCONIC CVITANOVICH

Klara B. Cvitanovich is usually found at the front door of the restaurant, personally greeting and seating each customer as they come in. She is also responsible for all administration, accounting, and payroll duties for Drago’s large staff. Yet some of Klara’s greatest achievements come from her community involvement and contributions to relief efforts for her homeland.

Klara left Yugoslavia in 1957 after completing high school on a tourist Visa to visit her Aunt in New York. In 1958, she married Drago Cvitanovich, who escaped from Yugoslavia in 1954 and had permanent residency in Canada. They lived in British Columbia for four years, where Drago worked on a construction site in the kitchen as a waiter for 1,200 people. Their two sons were born in Canada. In 1961, they permanently moved to the United States (New Orleans, LA) where Drago worked for his sister in her restaurant for nine years. In 1970, Drago and Klara opened their own restaurant, Drago’s Seafood Restaurant, in Metairie, Louisiana.

Some of her many honors include receiving the “Red Danice Krvatske” award given to her by Frano Tudman, the President of Croatia. This was in recognition of her tireless work to send aid to Croatia and Bosnia and increase awareness of the Croatian and Bosnian plight in the United States. Another honor was the President’s Award given to her and her husband, Drago, for lifetime achievement from the New Orleans Chapter of the Louisiana Restaurant Association. She was also named one of the 50 “Woman of the Year” Finalists from CitiBusiness.

Klara continues to make enormous contributions to relief efforts. And just about any night, you can still find her greeting each of Drago’s customers with a warm welcome and a smile.