FrontRunner at Santa Anita Park

4.5

357 Reviews

$30 and under

Californian

Good for special occasions
Great for scenic views
Good for groups

*INCLEMENT WEATHER MAY CANCEL RACING.
* Due to the Coronavirus, and the safety of all our patrons and track personal, the track will be closed during the month of March.

You may watch and wager on-line.

PLEASE ARRIVE BEFORE THE FIRST POST IN ORDER TO KEEP YOUR RESERVATION.

Live racing returns to Santa Anita December 28 - June 21, 2020.

FrontRunner is located on the 5th floor of the Club House. There is a $10 Club House admission fee for adults 18 and over.

Sitting above the track with a resplendent panorama of the San Gabriel Mountains as the backdrop, the FrontRunner truly leaves guests on top of the world. Radiating casual elegance since its opening in 1999, the FrontRunner is among the best ways to experience the beauty and excitement of a day at Santa Anita Park. Restaurant features a 215-foot long bar and a seasonally revolving menu.

We look forward to seeing you at The Great Race Place.

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Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Californian, Mediterranean
Hours of operation
Thu–Sun 11:30 am–4:00 pm
Phone number
(626) 574-1035
Website
http://www.santaanita.com/reservations/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Business Casual
Executive chef
Paula Smagacz
Catering
Parties of 20 or more must call our Group Sales Dept. at 626.574.6400.

Location
285 West Huntington Drive, Arcadia, CA 91007-3439
Neighborhood
Arcadia
Cross street
We sit between Santa Anta Avenue & Baldwin Avenue
Parking details
Please use Gate 5 or Gate 8 for Parking. FrontRunner is located on the 5th floor of the Club House. Club House Admission is $10. for Adults 18 and over. Directions to Parking: http://mobile.santaanita.com/calendar/directions
Public transit
Take Metro! Take the Gold Line to the Arcadia Station and use our free Shuttle.
Entertainment
Santa Anita Park is a premier horse race track. Watch and wager on some of the most competitive racing in the world.
Additional
Banquet, Bar Dining, Beer, Entertainment, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Bread Basket$2.00
Pink Sea Salt | Sweet Butter
Garlic Parmesan Edamame$8.00
Bavarian Pretzel$10.00
Aged Cheddar Beer Dip | Grainy Mustard
Vegetable Spring Rolls$9.00
Sweet Chili Sauce
Adena Corn Dog Bites$11.00
Honey Mustard
Queso Fundido$11.00
House Made Chorizo | Monterey Jack | Poblano | Tortilla Chips
Crispy Chicken Wings$15.00
Maple Bourbon, Buffalo or Plain
Roasted Beet Salad$14.00
Goat Cheese | Pumpkin Seeds | Clover Honey | Orange Reduction
Organic Kale Salad$16.00
Mulled Wine Poached Pear | Quinoa | Spiced Pecans | Cider Vinaigrette
Caesar Salad$15.00
Parmesan | Focaccia Crouton | Light Garlic Dressing
Seasonal Fruit Plate$14.00
Honey Yogurt

Warming Up

Soup of the Day$8.00
Clam & Shrimp Chowder$10.00
Leek | Potato

In the Gate

Mediterranean Hummus$13.00
Rosemary Feta | Kalamata Olive | Grilled Zucchini | Pita Bread
Jumbo Gulf Shrimp & Watermelon Cocktail$17.00
Horseradish Cocktail Sauce
Artisan Cured Meats & Hand Crafted Cheeses$21.00
Cornichons | Grain Mustard | Fig Chutney | Toasted Baguette
Turkey Sandwich$15.00
Turkey Breast | Candied Bacon | Cranberry Aioli | Spinach | Ciabatta
Swedish Dill Toast$19.00
Smoked Salmon | Tiger Prawn | Baby Shrimp | Cucumber | Crispy Caper
Buffalo Chicken Sliders$16.00
Apple Celery Slaw | Buttermilk Ranch Aioli | Blue Cheese Crumbles | Hawaiian Sweet Buns

Stretch Run

Maryland Crab Cake$29.00
Asparagus Potato Salad | Grilled Lemon | Sriracha Aioli
Atlantic Honey Thyme Roasted Salmon$27.00
Chickpea Succotash | Citrus Grainy Mustard
Chicken Breast$25.00
Sweet Potato Hash | Forest Mushrooms | Cipollini | Merlot Reduction
Classic Steak Frites*$27.00
Parmesan Fries | Herb Butter
Adena Farm Beef Burger*$17.00
Tomato | Butter Pickle | French Fries
French Onion Dip Burger$19.00
Caramelized & Crispy Onions | Gruyere Cheese | Au Jus
Vegetarian Black Bean Burger$15.00
Avocado | Onion Marmalade | Quinoa Almond Salad
Margarita Pizza$15.00
Fresh Mozzarella | Tomato | Basil
Pizza Bianca$17.00
Italian Sausage | Caramelized Onions | Parmesan Cream
Glazed Pork Belly Mac & Cheese$21.00
Cavatappi | White Cheddar | Garlic Crumbs
Farm Egg Omelet$15.00
Roasted Breakfast Potato | Ham | Cheddar Cheese or Mushroom | Spring Onion | Tomato

Finish Line

Apple Strudel$8.00
Vanilla Whipped Cream
Maple Creme Brûlée$8.00
Vanilla Bean
Flourless Chocolate Cake$9.00
Cappuccino Cream | Hazelnut Grissini | Raspberry Compote
Grand Marnier Cheesecake$9.00
Candied Cranberries | Burgundy Cherry Ice Cream
Dessert Pizza$8.00
Nutella | Bananas | Torched Marshmallows | Focaccia Crust
Fosselman's Ice Cream & Sorbets$8.00
Ice Creams - Vanilla | Chocolate | Marshmallow Yam | Seasonal Sorbets - Strawberry | Coconut | Passion Fruit

Beverages

Soft Drinks$5.00
Lemonade$5.00
Hot Chocolate$5.00
Milk$5.00
Regular or Lowfat
Double Espresso$6.00
Latte$6.00
Cappuccino$6.00
Café Mocha$6.00
Regular Coffee$6.00
Decaf$6.00
Tea Selections | Iced Tea$6.00

Beer

Draft

Modelo Especial$8.00
Stone IPA$8.00
Firestone 805$8.00
Stella Artois$8.00
Shocktop$8.00
Bud Light$7.00

Bottles

Amstel Light$8.00
Heineken$8.00
Corona$8.00
Dos Equis Ambar$8.00
Sam Adams Boston Lager$8.00
Ballast Point Sculpin IPA$8.00
Newcastle$8.00
Guinness$8.00
Saint Archer Blonde Ale$8.00
Beck's Non-Alcoholic$8.00
Budweiser$7.00
Bud Light$7.00
Coors Light$7.00
Miller Lite$7.00
Michelob Ultra$7.00

Hard Cider

Reverend Nat's Revival Hard Apple Cider$9.00

Signature Cocktails

Baldwin Buck$12.00
Woodford Reserve | Ginger | Honey Simple Syrup | Lemon | Grapefruit | Pechauds Bitters
Mucho Macho Mary$12.00
Citron Vodka Macerated | Farm Fresh Vegetables | Santa Anita's Housemade | Bloody Mary Mix
Apricot Julep$11.00
Old Forester Bourbon | Fresh Mint | Giffard Abricot
Horseshoe Margarita$12.00
Herradura Silver Tequila | Lime | Orange Zest | Agave Nectar
Otterhound$12.00
Slane Irish Whiskey | Lemon Juice | Port Wine | Honey Simple
American Thoroughbred$11.00
Tito's Handmade Vodka | Ginger Beer | Lime
Justified$12.00
Aged Rum | Ginger Syrup | Pineapple Juice | Lime Juice | Angostura Bitters
Smoky Saddles$12.00
Mezcal | Chambord | Fresh Blackberries | Lime | Agave Nectar

What 357 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

4.5

4.5 based on all time ratings

4.2Food
4.3Service
4.6Ambience
4Value

Noise • Moderate

357 Reviews

E
Emily
Los Angeles
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on March 8, 2020
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Cost is high but not surprising, service was great.
Is this helpful?
CS
CoachSG
Los Angeles
5 reviews
4.0
5 reviews
Dined on March 7, 2020
1. Overall 4
2. Food 3
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Had a great time watching races and visiting with old and new friends. The shrimp and clam chowder was a tasty mix. Also had chicken Caesar which was super flavorful. In all candor, not enough chicken, too garlicky and drenched in dressing(ease it up chef). Service is friendly and they try, though not nearly a speedy service experience. Given you’re there for a number of races, don’t expect to be in a rush. My favorite serve is Aurora. She is simply a special phenomenal energy and spirit.
Is this helpful?
A
Anonymous
Las Vegas
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on March 7, 2020
1. Overall 5
2. Food 3
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 3
The FrontRunner isn’t meant for dates. It’s only if you like horse racing.
Is this helpful?
D
Dayattheraces
Orange County
16 reviews
5.0
16 reviews
Dined on March 7, 2020
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We always have a great time at the Frontrunner. The staff all work very hard to ensure that the food orders are correct & that they get to our tables as soon as they are prepared. We enjoyed the delicious Macho Mary to start, and ordered the meat & cheese plate, the warm artichoke dip with pita bread, and the giant Bavarian soft pretzel. All were very tasty! The only thing we were disappointed in was the so-called 'bread basket'. They used to have wonderful sourdough rolls, along with pretzel roll & an oat bran roll or brown bread roll. There was a thin crispy cheese cracker, one roll (cold) and hard, and just wasn't worth spending money on. I understand they have to account for food costs, but they can do without the cracker & put in two rolls at least so we can share, and make one that nice sourdough one!
Is this helpful?
D
Doug
Greater Boston
5 reviews
2.0
5 reviews
Dined on March 6, 2020
1. Overall 2
2. Food 3
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 1
Made my reservation two 1/2 months in advance, was seated in the second to last row. To start my day off, after I was seated, a couple came to my table and told me I was sitting at their table so I had to go back downstairs to tell them they seated me at a table already occupied. Service was slow and I would not return.
Is this helpful?
BK
BKGee
Los Angeles
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on February 23, 2020
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 4
Service and food not up to Santa Anita's usual good standards. Sorry. May be it will be better next time.
Is this helpful?
C
richardC
VIP
San Diego
9 reviews
5.0
9 reviews
Dined on February 16, 2020
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
We always enjoy the Front Runner. Their quesadilla 'special' needs to be put on the menu permanently. The website says'business casual' dress but unfortunately, many people dress like they are the horse groomers. The attire needs to upgraded to keep it a 'special' restaurant
Is this helpful?
LG
LauraG
Los Angeles
5 reviews
3.0
5 reviews
Dined on February 16, 2020
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
for watching races. Menu is pretty limited. This time server was excellent. Last time server was sub-par
Is this helpful?
BB
BridgetB
Palm Springs
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on February 16, 2020
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Frontrunner at Santa Anita is a spectacular venue for dining and watching thoroughbred horses run thrilling races. The menu changes a lot and they just keep finding new treasures to prepare, ours was a chicken and shrimp quesadilla that was loaded with scrumptious ingredients, and heavy on the chicken & shrimp!! It was a fabulous day from beginning to end. The only bummer was the really loud birthday group near us. They brought a dozen kids and Santa Anita racetrack really isn’t for kids. At least not in Frontrunner.
Is this helpful?
TH
ThomasH
Los Angeles
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on February 15, 2020
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Best steak ever
Is this helpful?

FAQs

FrontRunner at Santa Anita Park is rated 4.5 stars by 357 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Not available on OpenTable

Unfortunately, this restaurant is not on the OpenTable booking network. To check availability, please contact them directly.

Is this your restaurant?

Claim this listing

Google Map for FrontRunner at Santa Anita Park

285 West Huntington Drive, Arcadia, CA 91007-3439

Additional information

Cross street
We sit between Santa Anta Avenue & Baldwin Avenue
Neighborhood
Arcadia
Hours of operation
Thu–Sun 11:30 am–4:00 pm
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Californian, Mediterranean
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
Please use Gate 5 or Gate 8 for Parking. FrontRunner is located on the 5th floor of the Club House. Club House Admission is $10. for Adults 18 and over. Directions to Parking: http://mobile.santaanita.com/calendar/directions
Public transit
Take Metro! Take the Gold Line to the Arcadia Station and use our free Shuttle.
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Paula Smagacz
Entertainment
Santa Anita Park is a premier horse race track. Watch and wager on some of the most competitive racing in the world.
Additional
Banquet, Bar Dining, Beer, Entertainment, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.santaanita.com/reservations/
Phone number
(626) 574-1035
Catering
Parties of 20 or more must call our Group Sales Dept. at 626.574.6400.

FrontRunner at Santa Anita Park

Not available on OpenTable

There’s more to explore

Additional information

Post Parade

Bread Basket$2.00

Garlic Parmesan Edamame$8.00

Bavarian Pretzel$10.00

Vegetable Spring Rolls$9.00

Adena Corn Dog Bites$11.00

Queso Fundido$11.00

Crispy Chicken Wings$15.00

Roasted Beet Salad$14.00

Organic Kale Salad$16.00

Caesar Salad$15.00

Seasonal Fruit Plate$14.00

Warming Up

Soup of the Day$8.00

Clam & Shrimp Chowder$10.00

In the Gate

Mediterranean Hummus$13.00

Jumbo Gulf Shrimp & Watermelon Cocktail$17.00

Artisan Cured Meats & Hand Crafted Cheeses$21.00

Turkey Sandwich$15.00

Swedish Dill Toast$19.00

Buffalo Chicken Sliders$16.00

Stretch Run

Maryland Crab Cake$29.00

Atlantic Honey Thyme Roasted Salmon$27.00

Chicken Breast$25.00

Classic Steak Frites*$27.00

Adena Farm Beef Burger*$17.00

French Onion Dip Burger$19.00

Vegetarian Black Bean Burger$15.00

Margarita Pizza$15.00

Pizza Bianca$17.00

Glazed Pork Belly Mac & Cheese$21.00

Farm Egg Omelet$15.00

Finish Line

Apple Strudel$8.00

Maple Creme Brûlée$8.00

Flourless Chocolate Cake$9.00

Grand Marnier Cheesecake$9.00

Dessert Pizza$8.00

Fosselman's Ice Cream & Sorbets$8.00

Beverages

Soft Drinks$5.00

Lemonade$5.00

Hot Chocolate$5.00

Milk$5.00

Double Espresso$6.00

Latte$6.00

Cappuccino$6.00

Café Mocha$6.00

Regular Coffee$6.00

Decaf$6.00

Tea Selections | Iced Tea$6.00

Beer

Draft

Modelo Especial$8.00

Stone IPA$8.00

Firestone 805$8.00

Stella Artois$8.00

Shocktop$8.00

Bud Light$7.00

Bottles

Amstel Light$8.00

Heineken$8.00

Corona$8.00

Dos Equis Ambar$8.00

Sam Adams Boston Lager$8.00

Ballast Point Sculpin IPA$8.00

Newcastle$8.00

Guinness$8.00

Saint Archer Blonde Ale$8.00

Beck's Non-Alcoholic$8.00

Budweiser$7.00

Bud Light$7.00

Coors Light$7.00

Miller Lite$7.00