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    Frontrunner Restaurant

    3.5 (119 reviews)
    ModerateNew American
    Closed 11:30 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Frontrunner Restaurant Photos

    FRONTRUNNER RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Pesto Fettuccine with Scallops
    Nooshi B.

    Not the best and certainly not the worst. The Frontrunner is a solid option for those who want to relax inside an air conditioned restaurant and watch the races. $10 a head allows you to keep your table for the day, which is great! The service is slow, as others as have mentioned, but everyone was nice and friendly. Some cons were that they were sold out of the rose by the glass at noon, the fries that accompanied my husbands burger were served luke warm at best, and my scallops were pretty salty. Overall, I'd come back again simply for the ambiance, but I'd also be happy grabbing seats outside as well.

    Mural
    Tamara T.

    Park by the entrance off Holly. If you want to minimize the walk from the parking lot do valet. We asked our dad in May where he wanted to go for Father's Day and he remembered the Frontrunner experience from years ago and so we had to make it happen. I looked online to book a reservation and noticed they had tables for either 4 or 2 but not 5. I then called to make a reservation over the phone and let them know we were a party of 5 and they were able to accommodate us. We paid around $550-ish up front and were set for our reservation at noon. The only thing I remember about Santa Anita race park is that it feels so much hotter here in the summer time so dress like formal, but more floral, flowy, comfy. We arrived and were given wrist bands for the Father's Day brunch. Our hostess said she upgraded our seats to a level closer to the buffet and we said thanks, but once we arrived to our table we were not happy with the set-up. They added an extra chair at the end of our table, which blocked the aisle and the party behind us would basically be eating with our back against their table. We informed the hostess that this wasn't going to work, not only for us, but for everyone involved: the servers would have to go all the way down to another stairway or we would have to get up and move the chair out of the way for servers to pass or the guests sitting behind and next to us to use the shorter route to the buffet. There was a little huffing and puffing, but she made it work and moved us up another level to a table for 6 people, next to a party, who was also sitting at a table for 6 with 5 people in their party. Our server sucked and after 2 rounds at the buffet and one of us flagging him down, he finally showed up, BUT not after checking on the party of 5 next to us, first. Food tasted great this year, but I will say there was no beef available as an entree. they had very fancy and great tasting French style chicken and at the carving station was double ham. That's right, 2 carvers, carving the same exact meat, ham. I'm not going to lie, that ham was DELICIOUS, but in 2016 they did have sliced beef or steak as a protein. They had chipotle mashed potatoes and although it was very good, the first bite and I could taste richness of the butter and almost felt guilty if I ate too much. It was worth it. They had a really good fig salad with goat cheese and the summer veggies were so good! I didn't try any dessert, but I saw they had carrot cake and bread pudding as an option. My sisters tried the bread pudding and they weren't fans of the anglaise. I also accidentally bit into what I thought was a shortbread dessert and it ended up being a lemon bar and that was very good. One other thing to note is it gets warm on that side of the room and I'm not sure if it's because there are so many bodies on that side or if that's just how it is. Obviously it's not as hot as outside, but it does tend to get stuffy on that side so don't expect cold air blasting on that side of the restaurant. It might also be the huge glass pane walls that face the track might be trapping heat? I'm not sure. While the food is great, Our server and original seating situation weren't and ham is ham, but hopefully they add beef next year. We would probably go back, but skip the buffet side and just sit on the restaurant side next time and order one entree for Father's Day.

    Diana L.

    We've lived in the area for 20 years but today was our first time visiting the Santa Anita race track! We weren't sure about the food at the concession stands so decided to visit the Frontrunner for lunch. This week was the opening week so the restaurant was really full. We were seated at the other side of the finish line which was fine. But honestly the restaurant is situated really high up so it felt kind of removed from all of the action on the race track. Each table has its own small tv, everyone seemed pretty excited for the race. Service was just alright... wish they had more servers. We ordered the margarita pizza, chicken bbq pizza, chicken wings, and a carafe of Arnold Palmer. The foods were all.... Okay...I wouldn't order them again for the price point. But the Arnold Palmer was great, $10 and refillable. Btw the table is yours to keep for the entire day so you can go to other areas of the venue and they save the table for your use. Just leave a credit card with them and they'll just charge the tab at the end of the day.

    Toma C.

    We came for a day at the races function. The food was average but the experience was a fun day to spend with friends and family. The service was amazing and the food was better than expected. They have a wood burning oven for their pizzas and the salad was delicious.

    Margherita pizza
    Ryan W.

    Frontrunner is the restaurant located inside the Santa Anita Park. It's on the inside area and you need to reserve your spot or if it's not too busy you can walk-in too but regardless there's and extra charge to enter. There's a few spots where you can place bets so it's not like you need to go outside to do that. Think of the Frontrunner as the VIP box suites at the Staples Center if you're into watching basketball or hockey. I can see why people would like to sit outside since you can feel more of the crowd energy and probably hear the horses footsteps but I was pretty comfy sitting at a table with the AC on On Yelp there's not many pictures and the pictures that they do have are a few years old. I had low expect coming in here but the food was actually pretty good and I enjoyed it. A lot of people in previous reviews complained about the hostess but the girl that helped us was very friendly and helpful. // FOOD // ARTISAN BREAD: Think of an assortment of dinner rolls. Most of them were white but we did find a couple that looked to be whole wheat and almost like an everything bagel. 3/5 CHARRED BRUSSELS SPROUTS: Lemon, pecorino cheese, spice rub. Charred and crispy pieces of Brussels. The pecorino added a salty touch to the dish which was good. 4/5 GOLDEN BEET CARPACCIO: Feta cheese, sweet pecans, arugula, peach vinaigrette. The beets were golden and thinly sliced. Off to the side was the arugula salad with feta cheese. The sweet pecans were really good on top! 4/5 MARGHERITA PIZZA: Buffalo mozzarella, heirloom tomato, fresh basil, garlic. Great crisp and the pizza was really good! I would definitely order this again. 4/5 CALIFORNIA CLASSIC ALL BEEF BURGER: Tomato, cheese, green leaf, garlic aioli and served with fries. It's in the name - your classic cheeseburger and fries. No complaints on my end. 3/5 APPLE STREUSEL CHEESECAKE: Graham cracker crust, cinnamon, apples and a drizzle of caramel. A pretty solid cheesecake and I loved the bites where you get more cinnamon too. 3/5 MOCHA MUDDER: Whipped mocha ice cream, Oreo shell, smoked almonds. This was delicious and I would recommend this over the cheesecake. 4/5 Overall, I had a great time coming to the racetrack and also Frontrunner. So why the 3 stars? For 7 people the food and dessert plus tip and the payment for entry/reserved spot came out to roughly $100/person. I can think of a lot of restaurants in which you will get much better food for half the price BUT this was also a meal and the experience. If you're into horse racing then I would definitely recommend coming here. I do plan on coming back eventually.

    Service Dog In Training (K9 Bodhi) posing next to the Mike Smith poster outside of the gift shop.
    JJ H.

    We had a wonderful time at the Santa Anita Racetrack & The Front Runner restaurant. I require a service dog due to two physical disabilities and one mental which makes my K9 partner a multipurpose service dog in training. I contacted the track prior to going and they told me they follow ADA guidelines and protocols. Well this is not my first service dog (my third partner and I also train working dogs for a living as well) and I have had issues with access before (asking for registration which does not exist) and I was prepared to argue about the laws which I typically have to do (thanks to the Karen's with fake service dogs!). Well they were so so so amazing. Everyone at the track understood the laws (I was so shocked) and they asked the two questions they can and everyone was so professional and great around Bodhi. We went through security, they wanded us both (this was Bodhi's first time in security) they asked the appropriate questions and told us to stay away from the horses (which I was my plan!). The officer who worked with us was amazing. I got very anxious and was not myself and was having issues with my PTSD. My service dog went into work mode, correctly alerted and responded while we spoke with the officer. When we headed up the the front runner we did get a few looks which is normal (especially because he is a large dog). We had called ahead and informed them so they were waiting for us. The host was such a good guy (I believe his name was James!) and he and my bf walked around to find the best table for us to sit at. He sat us at the perfect table (we were against the wall and tucked into a corner so Bodhi could still see the horses walking in front of the glass but wasn't in everyone's way or in a way that we would get a lot of attention). We tucked Bodhi under the table and he loved it. Our waiters were great, they didn't even notice I had a dog until I told them and pointed him out. They worked around us with no issues and they completely ignored him and Bodhi ignored them as well. Everyone was so professional, so nice and everyone was shocked by Bodhi (because he is a legitimately trained service dog) and they were all shocked at how well he did. To anyone who has a service animal who wants to come here the two biggest things we were told was "the dog cannot go near the horses" (of course! No reason for a 30k dog and a million dollar racehorse to meet!) and that if he barked we needed to leave (he has a passive alert which is either nosing or pawing me, I know some handlers do use a more active alert and this could be an issue). We will definitely be back, I was so blown away. It was such a great trip.

    Michelle T.

    Great view of the Races ! Worth paying extra for air conditioning and table service, definitely. Also the betting windows right in the penthouse restaurant made for a luxurious racetrack experience. The charming trumpet player for the races even stopped by , with a pleasant greeting and some "low key "trumpet playing! The table service however ....was spotty at best ? The waiters are practiced and skilled at avoiding eye contact . We enjoyed a cocktail, pastry and coffee for "breakfast "and had planed to order lunch somewhere between the 3rd and 7th race but were unable to flag down our waiter for so long it became laughable. We finally decided just leaving before the 8th race and going somewhere else to dine was for the best .

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    5 months ago

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    10 days ago

    The view is fantastic of the entire race track food is good service is good the air conditioning is poor on a hot race day outside

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    1 year ago

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    11 months ago

    The best views in the San Gabriel Valley. The banana pudding was excellent. Great service and high quality food. We will definitely be back.

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    3 years ago

    Went for Mother's Day brunch. Poor quality food, no service and very disorganized. Line for the buffet was very long. Never going back.

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Frontrunner Restaurant

    Are kids allowed at the front runner?

    Yes, kids are allowed.

    What is the dress code at the front runner?

    Wear whatever you'd like, I've seen men in suits and men in jeans, women in dresses and women in jeans. The nice end of casual and up, I'd say.

    View All 4 Questions

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    GRANVILLE

    GRANVILLE

    4.2
    (2.6k reviews)
    5.1 mi
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    Locally owned & operated
    Locally sourced ingredients

    My family and I tried Granville per my brother's recommendation from a previous positive experience…read morehe had in the Studio City location. Upon walking in, you'll find an upscale bar on the right and variety of tables on the left-hand side of the restaurant. Our hostess had a phone call when we first arrived, but she still greeted us brightly and promptly seated our party of 4. Jorge's customer service was on point throughout the night. He was polite, knowledgeable about the entire menu, and did his due diligence in accommodating my noted food allergy. We ordered: - the trio of tacos - peri peri half chicken - ahi tuna & noodles - branzino - flourless chocolate cake - oasis mocktail Tacos were fantastic! I recall my mother really digging the shrimp taco, while my brother loved the chicken taco. The big plate of chicken was a huge hit in my family's table. Apart from the half chicken itself, there was an abundance of mashed potatoes and broccolini. My brother devoured his ahi tuna steak and noodles, I guess that's the plate I'll have to try for myself for future visits. I myself, enjoyed the branzino plate - but for the price tag, I would have liked a slightly bigger portion of beets and perhaps a small salad to complement my fish. Still an overall fantastic dish, I was the first to clear my plate. If you're driving or cutting back on alcohol, they have a small mocktail menu. The Elixir, Oasis, and Velvet were the three drinks featured. Pricing is a bit steep at $12, but I will say the Oasis Mocktail I ordered was quite refreshing.

    Parking can be a little difficult at this location, but so is most of Pasadena…read more I've only been here once, I had a good experience, at this location. The food and drinks were beyond expectation if it wasn't for parking I'd probably visit this place more often. Service was prompt and helpful. The inside of this location had very cool ambience and artwork

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    Sharing
    Sharing
    Superfood salad
    Superfood salad
    Variety of housemade Big Plate Entrees

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    Marketplace Cafe at Nordstrom

    Marketplace Cafe at Nordstrom

    4.2
    (304 reviews)
    0.5 mi
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    Still great service and yummy food. It's been awhile since we had lunch at the cafe. We were so…read morehappy to see some of our favorites still on the menu. We ordered the ginger sesame salad (Chinese chicken salad) and the honey Dijon club salad. My husband wanted a sandwich which he used to get years ago and they were able accommodate him. It was the vegetarian garden grill sandwich. We really appreciated the friendliness of the staff at the cafe and their willingness to accommodate my husband's order. We went on a Saturday afternoon but were able to find a table. There are also tables on the patio as well. They have 2 bathrooms for customers. Great casual ambience.

    The food at the Nordstrom Café was actually really great. I have celiac disease, so I can't consume…read moregluten, and it's not always easy finding places that have genuinely good gluten-free options. I really appreciated that and was excited to eat my meal. Unfortunately, the experience was overshadowed by how I was treated by one of the staff members. I had ordered online ahead of time since I only have a short lunch break and planned to dine in. There were plenty of open tables, but I was told I couldn't sit because online orders weren't considered "dine-in" and that seating was reserved so staff could make tips. That explanation didn't make sense and honestly made me feel unwelcomed as a paying customer. I was really looking forward to my meal, and the interaction completely killed the vibe. If you plan on eating here, I would recommend ordering in person to avoid any confusion. I'd also suggest the café clarify this policy, because the inconsistency took away from what would have otherwise been a great experience.

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    Marketplace Cafe at Nordstrom
    Marketplace Cafe at Nordstrom
    Marketplace Cafe at Nordstrom

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    Nick's South Lake Avenue

    Nick's South Lake Avenue

    4.5
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    Nice atmosphere, classy-chill vibes, but not I absolutely have to dress up, but you can I guess…read more Anyway to the most important part, the food, I tried some of my friends Deviled Eggs, which were the best I have ever had, but I am kind of whatever about deviled eggs to be honest, so take that for what's it's worth. However, the Original ribeye melt was to freaking die for soooo good, excellent! This place is a little on the pricey side, but everything is going up fast currently so there's that. But I must say, you owe yourself, treat yourself to something nice every now and then. The service was nice, the atmosphere was superb, and the food was excellent. I hear the drinks are great as well, not really a drinker so I would not know, I normally get a water and unsweetened ice tea everywhere I go. I'm just a Yelper, foodie, explorer, and pop culture enthusiast from Los Angeles making his way in world, all the best to you and yours, enjoy

    Aesthetically pleasing of course…read more Prosecco not served here. None, zero. The champagne they market is rough. No Cava either. Fine with me, but.... My steak; first cold, second time salty, third time a bland rubbery set of what looked like two hamburger patties slightly bigger than a quarter-coin. (Sad) Dessert was good. Nick's, you are a hype. It was a Saturday night. I didn't pick the spot. I had no choice. I don't think I'd come back, ever. Adriana, our server with the right attitude. Chef seems to over complicate things on the menu. I wanted a Caesar with my steak, as a side. Nope, not at Nick's. If it's about upselling, you got me. Yeah- no. Nick's is not really for me. Oh, the restroom situation is a bad situation. It's tucked away on the second floor and up a stair case where a server almost crashed against me with cocktails in his hands. Terrible..... Never again.

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    Asparagus Fries | A Nick's Original
    Asparagus Fries | A Nick's Original
    Nick's South Lake Avenue
    Nick's South Lake Avenue

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    Basin 141

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    This is a great place to have dinner...my dinner was out outside on a cool Friday evening...same…read morenight as the street market. Very good staff and great service. The menu has a great mix of dishes and variety of excellent appetizers to select from. I had the French Onion soup with braised short rib as my appetizer...sooooo good. This is a must have. For dinner I had the Fish and Chips...a great amount of fries came with the fish. This place is always busy and packed. I'd eat here again. I recommend this place.

    First time patronizing Basin 141. I was joined by 2 friends…read morevisiting from out of town who wanted to catch a playoff NBA game. The staff was very accommodating in making sure the action was visible on a couple of their many large TV screens. It was a Monday afternoon so there was lots of open seating. We arrived during Happy Hour and were pleased to find a nice offering of a variety of items on the food menu. Tried all of the taco variations and enjoyed them all. We found the assortment of cocktail options inviting and ordered several rounds of drinks. We were not disappointed by any of the different choices. My only wish being that some of these delicious cocktails could be found on the Happy Hour menu. With any luck they will be the next time I visit, with or without traveling companions.

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    Interior
    Interior
    Seared Ahi Salad
    Seared Ahi Salad
    Breakfast burrito was delicious.  Ordered it without the beans but so good with that spicy ranch sauce.

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    Breakfast burrito was delicious. Ordered it without the beans but so good with that spicy ranch sauce.
    The Arbour

    The Arbour

    4.3
    (979 reviews)
    5.1 mi
    $$$

    The Arbour is a fantastic restaurant in Pasadena. I came with a reservation for a weekend dinner…read more The atmosphere inside is classy and almost romantic, the perfect place for a nice dinner. Although there's no dress code, most folks dressed in business casual or nicer. The food was delicious. Because it was shared family style, they split it across two plates, which kept the presentation nice and clean. The corn agnolotti is a must - the brown butter sauce, roasted corn, shallot, and ricotta cheese combination was perfection. The shrimp penne was also excellently executed. I also ordered the sea bass. The fish was good, but the sauce and vegetables lacked flavor depth. The drinks were also great. I got the berry mojito mocktail - it was one of the best mocktails I had. The service was above and beyond in all aspects. Think of the most ideal type of service at a restaurant - that's what I received. Overall, I had an incredible meal and dining experience at The Arbour. I'd come back for a special occasion and I recommend others to visit.

    Came for my bday dinner and it was delicious! Had the tagliatelle appetizer which was flavorful…read more The fennel flavor came through boldly- like on a pizza. Then had the lobster risotto and sea bass. Seabass comes with bok Choy. Oftentimes the bok Choy is mushy but I was pleasantly surprised that it was firm and crunchy.

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    Cozy dining room.
    Cozy dining room.
    Birthday cake for my friend
    Birthday cake for my friend
    Filet mignon with gai LAN and potatoes (potatoes under the steak)

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    Filet mignon with gai LAN and potatoes (potatoes under the steak)

    Frontrunner Restaurant - newamerican - Updated June 2026

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