When I spend time with Laura D, I can always expect to be in the coolest spot - especially when it's 90 degrees outside! We had some time to kill, and empty tummies to fill since we arrived a couple hours before the first post. When we heard about Frontrunners, we went to check it out and were pleasantly surprised - with the food. After our tickets were taken and our hands were stamped at the front desk, we walked the length of this HUGE restaurant that overlooks the entire track, noting the expansive bar, the TV screens at each of the the tables, the betting cages and machines, the open kitchen at one end, and the bakery case along the way. As soon as we were seated, our server came over and recognized Laura from when she used to come in a couple years ago. I was impressed with his memory! At this time, it was still pretty early - and quiet in the restaurant. After taking our drink orders and bringing an impressive bread basket of rolls, breadsticks and crisps with butter, more tables filled up with groups coming in for lunch. Bussers brought our food to the table and unfortunately nobody, even our server, ever came back to check on us. We shared: Garden Salad - a simple yet fresh and crisp salad of field greens, cucumbers and tomatoes, tossed with the perfect amount of blue cheese dressing, and served with a few crisps on the side. We both had: Grilled Angus NY Striploin ($29.75) - since I'm a ribeye fan, the NY usually doesn't satisfy me. But this one did! It was fatty and juicy enough to make my fatty meat tooth happy, topped with sauteed mushroms and baby arugula, and not overly salted. It came with a tomato-y eggplant ratatouille that was very good. Instead of the baked potato it came with, I requested grilled asparagus - which were smoky and slightly charred and very good. While not great, the food here was very good - and it was a very comfortable way to watch the races in air conditioned comfort. When we were ready for the check however, it took some tracking down our server to get it - and we realized that as soon as he took our orders, our service declined to practically nil. For an upscale restaurant, I have higher expectations for service. Were it better, I'd have given them one more star easily - but today, they didn't win or place. I'd say they barely were able to show. read more

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Came here for our first horse race. Over all everything was good. The food isn't the greatest that we've had but the whole experience was good. Staff was okay. They came by constantly to ask if we needed anything. And came to refill often. Some of the staffs seem to be new but the other staffs were kind enough to help out and make sure our orders were right. Dessert was definitely the best part. read more

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Thank you FrontRunner, for saving what would have been a horrible Valentine's Weekend (see my review for Aquarium of the Pacific). This review is for our visit on Saturday, February 15th. FrontRunner exceeded all expectations. The 5 star experience started off with Sharri (Sharry? not sure of spelling). She took my reservations over the phone and was very helpful throughout. She delivered as promised, and reserved us the best available seats in the house (perfect window view of the finish line). Upon arrival, we were greeted by Armond (again, not sure of spelling), who was very professional and courteous in directing us to our table. Once seated, Jonathon (pretty sure about the spelling this time), our server for the day, continued their pattern, and provided us with top notch service for the duration of our stay (from noon to 5pm-ish). Flawless service is hard to match, but the food did come close. My wife and I shared a caeser salad, cheeseburger, and clam chowder. The caeser salad was huge, and tasted great. I was more than happy with my portion even after splitting it in half, which is saying a lot. The cheeseburger (swiss) was juicy and delicious (cooked medium), and also sufficient in size. My wife did not share her clam chowder, so I assume she loved it. I also did not try their pizza this time, but plan to the next time we visit. Another big positive about this place was their in-restaurant betting section. FrontRunner customers have their own section to place bets, and do not have to walk to or deal with the other betting areas in Santa Anita. I highly recommend FrontRunner for anyone looking for a fun, relaxing alternative to your typical day at the races. I will definitely be back. read more

Frontrunner Restaurant - New American Near Me - Arcadia, California

Absolutely beautiful view. Hostess was great, very friendly. The wait staff was fast and attentive. The food.... Deeeelish!! I had the new york steak (opted for green beans instead of fries), it was amazing. My Dad had the chicken with mushroom risotto, he loved it. Great atmosphere. A must try. I will be back! read more

Great day for the races. Spent the afternoon at the FrontRunner today with the family. Things started great with a nice Bloody Mary. Then I started betting the horses. Santa Anita Park showed no mercy. I got kicked in the head in the 1st race. Had my lunch money taken away in the 2nd. Received a wedgie in the 3rd. Got a bloody nose in the 4th. Punched in the stomach in the 5th. Got a MMA arm bar in the 6th. Made some really bad decisions in the 7th. Started drinking heavily in the 8th. 9th Race. I need the #1 horse to come in to get the late pick 4. If she comes in, it's $850.00 to me, and my day will be avenged! #1 Does not finish in the top four horses, and I get kicked in the bollocks in the 9th! Oh Benecia, you broke my heart. Food was pretty good and they keep the drinks flowing. Mahi Mahi and Shrimp Tacos. I was told they were bland. $14.50 Chcken sandwich on Naan Bread with spicy mayo and swiss. This was very good. $14.50 Angus Burger with Cheddar. Good burger. $14.50. Medium rare, of course. I will return! read more

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A windowside table here is a perfect way to spend an afternoon at the track. It was my first time visiting the restaurant and I was impressed with the casual setting and of course, the amazing view. We reserved two tables directly in front of the windows by the finish line and were able to watch all of the races while enjoying some food and drinks in an air conditioned dining room. Definitely a better choice than sitting in the sun on a warm day, especially if you plan on staying for hours. We ordered a bunch of different things to share but there wasn't anything that really stood out food wise. The spinach pear salad was dressed nicely and came freshly prepared, and the shrimp gorgonzola flatbread had some good flavor despite being a bit soggy in the middle. The cured meats presented on the charcuterie board were not exactly impressive, but along with the hummus feta & pita, made for a good dish to share. But honestly, I don't think too many people come here seeking a great meal. We came here looking for a casual way to enjoy a day of horse racing, and FrontRunner more than met our expectations. A few things to note: - Get clubhouse admission when entering the park, which costs $5 more. - You can make reservations 3 days in advance starting from 10am, which is highly recommended if you want the best window seats. - Each table has their own TV so you can watch the action from any table. - Betting windows are conveniently located inside the restaurant, next to the bar. - If you notify them of a special occasion, Jay the Hornblower will come visit your table. - You reserve your table for the entire day, so you can stay however long you want. If you're coming to Santa Anita for a day of horse racing, there are not many options better than FrontRunner restaurant for all your eating, gambling and drinking needs. We came here with a large group of 12 and got some pretty good service as well. So considering that we all ended up having a pretty good time, I would definitely recommend this place. read more

Came here for my good friend's mother's birthday. She hadn't been in 20 years and her family wanted her to experience her youthful years. The staff was so hospitable. Our party was super late but they had our tables reserved. There is a charge of $5 to enter the restaurant but it's so worth it. The view of the track is like a painting. The sky was so beautiful that day, almost heavenly. You can see the horses going to the holding spots and see them run the entire track and each table had a television as well. The food was delicious! Also, you don't have to leave the restaurant to place your bets, they have machines in the middle of the restaurant behind the bar. My only pet peeve would be them charging $5 per person to serve brought in cake, we had 21 guests and we brought cupcakes which require no cutting. The waitress was nice enough to ask if that charge could be reduced and they did but still, they were cupcakes. Anyway, I loved it and I want to return. And did I say the food was good?? Because it is! read more

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Unfortunately, I can after numerous years enjoying both the venue and food no longer support. I've never been asked to leave anywhere in my 57 years; until opening day at the SA track. The hostess was dismissive, rude, obnoxious, unprofessional, plan nasty, and used her authority to bring security after her and staff were not truthful with me for over 2 1/2 hours about accommodating me for seating. I don't want to go into further embarrassing shady hostess details other than it was suggested I only deal with restaurant GM "Billy" moving forward. Santa Anita should really consider retraining your main hostess at Frontrunner. I am disabled and she was simply terrible. I'm certain there is a report with the nice security officer that did a walk and talk with me as I voluntarily departed. She's not worth my energy; however I thought other people attending and track management may want to consider exploring this unfortunate face/voice of your facility. Hard Pass...Everything else about the FrontRunner gets an honest 3+\4- read more

Food is below average and beer selection is below average. Races are every 20 minutes ~ish, but if you can make the best of it then it can be a good day. BYOB and BYOF Family friendly No smoking It's hot here, like 90s, so bring sun screen read more

Frontrunner Restaurant - New American Near Me - Arcadia, California

Get here early and sit in the front row. :) So..... when you pay to get into the park... pay for the Clubhouse Admission and it covers entrance into this restaurant. It's an indoor restaurant that is seems like it is all windows so you have great views of the track all around. You get a table for your party for the entire day which also has a TV on it so you can watch other races that happen to be running in other locations. Sit back.... Order a bottle of wine and some appetizers and Enjoy the day. Remember... the table is yours all day so tip your server generously for pampering you all day long. This is not a let's see how fast we can turn tables kind of restaurant. They also have their own betting windows inside the restaurant so you don't have to leave the restaurant to place your bets. The food was 'ok'... nothing really memorable... other than the basket of rolls they give you to start seem to be made of some addicting substance because I ate like 4 of them. Ugh... that was not the plan. Anyways.... We didn't have dessert but the bread pudding looked exceptionally delicious and I overheard that it was their specialty. Next time we are at Santa Anita... we'll make sure to get here early and grab a table closer to the windows. :) read more

We got free Clubhouse entry from the Turf Club. Without Clubhouse entry, Frontrunner restaurant costs extra. We had no intention of coming today and it was super last minute. Reservations for frontrunner are STRONGLY recommended and need to be made pretty much the Thursday Morning prior. There are regulars here. We came right when they opened and put our name on the wait list. Then we sat at the bar and had brunch. The bar is first come, first serve seating and no reservations are required. If you are a fan of bloody marys, they infuse their vodka with vegetables daily at the bar. They will set you back about $12 and aren't huge. My husband got the cheeseburger and I got a Caesar Salad. We found both to be amazing. Our bartender never let our coffees be empty, which is nice when they cost $5.50. After the first race, per their instruction, I joined the 25 or so people at the front podium to inquire about the wait list. We were 6th on the list and were able to get an amazing table for two right on the window. It was worth the wait. We can see everything. Here, I got a champagne and a cheesecake, and my husband got clam chowder. Both were great! The only thing was that the cheesecake is advertised to be served with blueberries, strawberries, oranges, and kiwi, but the oranges and kiwi were replaced with blackberries and raspberries. Overall this place is fairly priced. You keep your table for the day and have freedom to roam about the restaurant without being pressured to keep ordering food. You can place your bets at kiosks and windows inside the restaurant, and watch the race up close on your table tv. Plan ahead and guarantee a nice comfy place to bet on the ponies. read more

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You pay $5 more for club house admission. You get: 1) great tables with awesome views of the race field 2) air-conditioning 3) your own little TV 4) FREE WIFI !! Super fun atmosphere with everyone cheering for their bets. I'm happily bonding with my friends and hubby while getting some work done, thanks to the wifi. Win-win! Minimum order $10/person. We got iced tea ($5), ice cream and sorbet ($6.5) and mud pie (around $8). 3-star quality. You are really paying for the view and betting services. Make sure to reserve a table ahead of time! :) good luck! read more

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That's the way to enjoy the Santa Anita Park Horse Racing on a lazy Sunday afternoon, especially followed by a President Day the next Monday: Sitting at a window table of the restaurant right next to the ending line of the trace tracks, with a birds view of the layers of the blue sky, brown mountains, brown/red bricks booths, green grasses/trees along with moving objects (horses, riders and people), being served with delicious steak burgers, crab cake salad, looking at the odds of each horse from the ever changing display board, heading to the self-serving machines conveniently located inside the restaurant to place the bet or going to a dealer and being asked for the ID to bet at my age. It is truly a memorable experience with excellent company. Thanks to Brian, our group leader who is a frequenter there, 5 hours slip away before I even realize. To win or not to win, it seems optional. read more

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Had a great day at the Frontrunner, the service (Roy) was outstanding. He made the experience fun. The Frontrunner is a beautiful place to hang out, betting or not. read more

Food was cold when it got to our table. Our waiter was friendly. Nice area to watch the races.

Here today for Father's Day. Have been coming here for birthdays, mothers days, and today we are also here for my grandparents 58th anniversary. Every time we come, something goes wrong. We placed our orders and also a few appetizers. 40 minutes later we get our ENTREES and they are cold. Still no appetizers. We asked for another soup, (because it was ice cold,) and it took another 20 minutes to get here. By this time, we cancelled our appetizers. When the server arrived with the soup, he was a good 10ft away from our table looking clueless. We want to order dessert but don't know if it'll take another hour to come. I don't know if they are understaffed because of the holiday, but we have been continuously disappointed here. I don't know how many Father's Days and anniversaries are left for my grandpa. I'm truly upset that this Father's Day with him is ruined. Update: Still bad We decided to order dessert it's been 35 minutes and it's still not here. We got a cake for my grandparents (it's sugar free because my grandpa is a diabetic) and it is singlehandedly the worst cake I've ever had. Absolutely terrible. It's sucks because it was decorated beautifully. Very very very disappointed in the place. For the amount of money my party of 11 is spending here today, this was a disaster. If I could give a half a star I could. We were told by our waitress that there I only 1 pastry person in the whole restaurant. We talked to the managers and they even had the whole kitchen taste the cake. Everyone said it was disgusting. If we didn't complain we would've had to pay $100 for that crap. Also, my cousin can't eat nuts. She specifically asked the waitress if the apple strudel had any an she said no. As shown in the second picture, it does contain nuts. read more

Frontrunner Restaurant - Walnuts in the Apple Strudel. - New American Near Me - Arcadia, California

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Server was informational, polite, energetic but did not check on us too frequently. We had to track her down on multiple occasions. We had a great time even though the French Fries were not fresh nor hot. read more

A party of 3 or 4 of us visit Santa Anita a half dozen times a year. We enjoy the races very much,and always make reservations in the Frontrunner. The past few times we were there, food and service really took a turn for the worse. Saturday October 15 2 of us ordered a Wedge Salad, and asked for dressing on the side. As other reviews mentioned, service can be hard to find once they get busy, so we ordered well before post time. The person who took our order was very friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu. HOWEVER, the person who brought us the food was a kid who didn't seem trained in food service, judging by the careless way he dropped the food off and disappeared without checking to make sure everything was OK. Needless to say, it wasn't. First of all, the lettuce wasn't a "wedge"; it was leaves of iceberg lettuce cut in 4x4 inch pieces. Dressing was not on the side, it was glopped all over the salad, about a cup of it, at least. And the ranch dressing was not made in house, it was some cheap kind from a bottle that was disgusting. We took a couple bites and couldn't eat it. Other reviewers have correctly said, you cannot find anyone to help, so I had to walk about 6 furlongs to find our original waiter to replace the salads. The branzino our 3rd member of the party ordered, with the mashed potatoes under it, was tepid. Not a very nice lunch for $81.00. The time before was not much better - the food ordered was not as requested. We ordered a wood fired pizza and asked that a topping be left off, it wasn't, and to " correct it" the server took it away and brought it back, having picked off most (but by no means all) of the undesirable topping. By then it looked like it had been run over by American Pharaoh. These are easily corrected problems; seems like nobody's minding the store. You guys need an expediter, at least. Especially now that we have to prepay thru Ticketmaster, with the extra fees. Such a beautiful and classic venue deserves better, and so do it's patrons. read more

Had a GR8, tyme@The Santa Anita Race Track's Front Runner. Melinda recommended the Salmon and the Apple Strudel A'La-Mode. Omg omg omg omg Omfg. The service was great, very attentive. No Birthday celebration though read more

Frontrunner Restaurant - Yummmmmm And Yummmmmm - New American Near Me - Arcadia, California

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Been 3 times now, last being closing day last weekend. I am not much of a gambler but this is my happy place. Comfortable and amazing views of the races and grounds. Food is good and you can sit here all day enjoying time with family and friends. read more

Frontrunner Restaurant - New American Near Me - Arcadia, California

Little disappointed to have to write this review. My 1 Star goes for what I saw on my way out. Otherwise then that their food was good, and Melinda rocked it as our waitress. So, if you've dined here you know that their kitchen is open and visible to everyone. As I was walking out to leave we walked past the kitchen. There was 2 swerves & 2 food runners standing in the kitchen talking, waiting for order to come up. Up in the window there were 2 plates of fries. 1 of the younger food runners was standing there and proceeded to grab fries off the plate and eat them!! He saw that I saw him grabbing the fries and completely avoided eye contact. read more

George, our server, was great! The clam and shrimp chowder was delicious. The veggie burger with quinoa was good too. But I think my favorite was the pesto spaghetti (not pictured). Views are great and everyone is incredibly kind! The chocolate bar was soooo good. read more

Frontrunner Restaurant - New American Near Me - Arcadia, California

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Had an amazing experience after a bit of confusion from Kitty and Cassandra. The food and the service was better than expected and we had a great time at the restaurant!! We will be coming back read more

Food too horrible for words. $18 pepperoni pizza that looks like it came from a cheap box of marked down frozen pizza. And $$8 for a bowl of soup. Even Campbell's soup is better. Ditch the menu. Start over. P.S. cash only. Seems shady af. read more

Santa Anita Park is up and running, and I have already had the pleasure to make it out a few days for this current meet. Many have tried to feed the masses but have come up short -- Dodger Stadium, Staples Center, the Rose Bowl - so I can honestly say that FrontRunner (Santa Anita Park's restaurant and bar) offers top-notch food. It's not that I don't enjoy a $7 hot dog at Dodger Stadium, but there so many levels of enjoyment when dining at the race track. Sure, you can go to the concession stand and get a dog and a beer, but I recommend going to one of the many carving stations and getting one of arguably the best sandwiches this side of the 405 freeway. Roast beef, corned beef, turkey, and ham all sliced in front of you, under $9, and you can get it your way. Rye bread? Sure, they have it. Pickles a must? You got it! I got mine with just mustard. Nothing beats getting a sandwich and a beer and sitting in the Club House with an unobstructed view of the San Gabriel Mountains... and of course the ponies running in front of you. Feeling like a big shot and still want the killer views? I have your answer at FrontRunner. Prices here are still very reasonable for some top notch food, and the kitchen is in great hands with Executive Chef Maranowski and Chef Mike Davis. I am a creature of habit so I always order the "real deal" Chesapeake Lump Crab Cakes ($27.75) breaded with a panko crust, and really enough crab for two to share. I have gone to a dozen or so "seafood houses" in the San Gabriel Valley that serve crab cakes for $10, and let me give you a tip: pay more and be happy. I started with the Creamy Clam Chowder ($8.25; the menu said famous , so I had to have that, right?) For you steak fans, my partner, Marty, enjoyed his Grilled Angus New York Striploin with ratatouille of eggplant, vegetables and herbs, butter, sour cream, scallions, and cheddar roasted mushrooms at just ($29.75). I had no room for dessert, but the server said that all were made on the premises, so next time I will try one! Tip: my hi-roller friend Carl D. swears that the pepperoni pizza ($13.25) is one of the best in town. Chef shared with me that when his dad is in town he, too, is a creature of habit and orders the Lamb Osso Buco. One thing I know is that fathers always know best. Saving the best for last, the view from FrontRunner is a true postcard. And the bar, I am told, is the longest bar west of the Mississippi. There is a true "cool buzz" when hanging around FrontRunner. If you just want to hang out at the aforementioned bar with a bowl of clam chowder or dine-in you can't go wrong with either pick. Keep in mind the dining room does get busy on special race days, so not only do I recommend an advance reservation, please bring a little patience with you. As always: prices are subject to change, light dress code, and parking and admission are additional. read more

Great service and if you get lucky you get a good view of the trackk A bit pricy

I ate at FrontRunner inside Santa Anita on 6/12/2014. I've eaten there many times before. It's the best place to view the races. There were two of us so we tried their cheeseboard ($14.00) which was very good. The soup of the day was $7.25 while coffee was $5.50 (it comes in a pot). My Aunt Darlene had the Cuban Sandwich ($14.50) while I had the Cheeseburger ($14.50). A very pleasant way to spend the day at the races (plus she had a $2.00 bet pay $73.20). Our server, Jessica, did a fine job as well. read more

Frontrunner Restaurant - Photo taken 6/12/2014 - Jay, the Hornblower, sometimes can be found (and heard) at FrontRunner. - New American Near Me - Arcadia, California

Simply the worst I have experienced in a long time. Highlights of the bad experience include: 1."miss?" "Yes I'll be one second.." Waitress disappears. Twice. I walked along myself looking for a bartender to fix my drink instead of her. I had to go pretty far because no tenders were working on our side of the restaurant. 2. One bartender was amazing! He knew the ratio of a simple cherry coke and made mine to perfection. The next one threw a fit when I asked for more cherry. He tried to dump the whole canister in. Actually this is not abnormal. You get awesome bartenders or you get the guy who is soooo upset that you asked for more cherry they dump half a bottle in there. Thats actually common. But you are a bartender so... Isnt it part od the job to make unique drinks to your customers taste? Oh yes and I visited the tender three times because our waitress would pretend she was coming back and never did. 3. Soggy and cold. My cheeseburger was not edible. I ate half because of starvation. The bun was soggy, the fries were soggy, and there was nothing awesome about the burger despite its price and promises of it being an awesome burger. The meat was good but there was very little cheese and everything was lack luster. 4. If you order the creme brulee understand despite it'd name it is just regular creme brulee. It doesnt taste any different than any other I've ever tried. Same with the hummus. Store bought tastes about the same. You can put a line of sriracha on your own hummus and have a better experience because you didnt wait eons for your waitress to bring it. 5. View is nice and bread was great but this did not make up for the horrid service and soggy fries :( imagine I had tried to send back the fries.. Then they'd probably blacken them. Like the guy with the cherry. Cmon... Have a few servers for a large party. This girl was NOT ENOUGH and she was also rude to everyone. Not just me. read more

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I would like to start off by saying I'm a waitress so my "perception" of time is actually accurate and I KNOW what it's like to work in a high volume restaurant. I came in yesterday for lunch and was sat promptly. Sat there for AT LEAST 15 minutes before being acknowledged. Another 10 minutes (at least) to place drink order, then another to place food order. Surprisingly the food came out quick, but very cold and underwhelming. It was ridiculous. No apology, no sense in urgency, just nonexistent service. Yeah it was dollar day and Presidents day HOWEVER there was basically no turn over, just the same guests so why everything took so long blew my mind. If I hadn't been on a date, I definitely would have said something to a manager. I won't be coming back. It was a very disappointing way to start of the day on my first ever experience at the race track. Smh, sometimes an apology goes a long way, I'm a very understanding person Jorge. I even left you a good tip on that check that I shouldn't have even had to pay for. read more

Elegant and fun at the same time. A perfect view of the race track and the lush San Gabriel Mountains with great sight lines due to tiered seating. A gigantic serpentine bar is on the top level. The design is mahogany and ash with hand-carved wood sculptures and big dome chandeliers. Oh, and the food is amazing and pleny of appetizers, entrees and desserts/pastries to choose from. read more

First off, make sure you make a reservation. You can make a reservation beginning on the Thursday of the upcoming race weekend starting at 10:00 am. When I made a reservation, I requested a window which the lady on the phone told me she would "write down." When I got up there today, I was disappointed to see that we were not near a window. We were on the 3rd level away from the window which made it difficult to see the finish line. However, there are TVs at all of the tables, so you can see the race from the TV. Our server was nice, but not that attentive. It took awhile for her to take our food orders, and we had to ask random servers for bread and water refills because we didn't see our actual server that much. I think she may have been overwhelmed with the number of tables she had because it looked like a lot to me. The food was good. I had a hamburger and would recommend it. It was pricey, but I think you're paying for the atmosphere up there, not just the food. Overall, it was a good experience and I look forward to going back when I turn 21 (and can drink!). read more

Was delighted to go here for a birthday party, having never been before to the clubhouse. Once you enter the track gates, you pay $4 for parking. First dip in the pocket.. Then you are directed to the East Gate where it has the quickest access to the Frontrunner restaurant. You mention where you are going and it's another $8.50 per person. Um k. Then you take the elevators upstairs where they verify you indeed paid the $8.50 just to be allowed INTO the Frontrunner. This $8.50 did not include food. yeah!!! We met our party and were greeted with an assortment of breads. Thank god those were free. They had different types of rolls and cracker bread. The butter was shaped into cute little balls of yumminess. I ordered a hot english breakfast tea thinking it's cheaper than a cocktail. Um, when I got the bill, $4.50. WTF? water and a tea bag? great... The only thing cheap on the menu was clam chowder and that was still $7.50. I ordered the mahi mahi fish tacos. The waitress said they were known for their seafood and that was the best bet. Ok. They were good but not GREAT. For the $15 for it, I expected more. The people I was with ordered the cheeseburger and clam chowder. Their menu says the clam chowder is world-famous. Um, I think we need a reprint. and no FRIES? burgers without fries? They just have chips. Was it too expensive to put a fryer in the kitchen when you built the restaurant? So confused. The ambiance is nice. Every table has it's own monitor. But because of the angle, you only see the far track, not when they are in the final stretch of the finish line. But it was a nice way to spend a lunch with friends. I like how you can watch the races in a climate-controlled environment, even though it was a perfect SoCal day. Ambiance = A+ but over-priced food = B- Good for events but I wouldn't make a habit out of it. read more

The restaurant is really something, long, serpentine, with a glass kitchen. There are like three levels: the window level, the bar level, and the back level, where you see kind of like a thin horizon of the track. If you score on a window seat, you have a wonderful wrap-around view of everything. The drinks are stiff, the pizza is gooey and yummy, and the crabcakes are amazing, made of real crab and as big as a golf ball--the best I've ever had. The service was very good, and our busser was way cool, explaining how we can go anywhere we want cuz the table's ours for as long as we want. We walked to the Paddock, to general admission, to the infield, to the box seats, before plopping back to our table. The only drawback to the Frontrunner is that you're a little removed from the track and while everyone else in the restaurant are yelling as the horses near the finish line, it doesn't quite have the vibrancy and excitement of being outside with the crowds screaming and cursing. Still, this is the place to be if it's hot or cold outside. read more

First off let me start off by saying this restaurant is a top class restaurant from the food to the service. Me and my group had a table on the glass which had the most beautiful view! Our server Adrian was awesome he was very polite and made sure we always had our bottomless mimosas filled up! He recommended the steak and eggs which our entire group enjoyed! We will definitely be going back and enjoying a day at the races! FYI the Baldwin Buck is very refreshing! read more

Too bad there is no negative number of stars for this review. My grandson and I went to the races yesterday, New Year's Eve, 12/31/17. As a Thoroughbred member I receive offers all the time in the mail for free Clubhouse admission and other perks. I go often to the races it is always a day of fun, good food, and exciting races. Yesterday we wanted to have lunch at the Front Runner. We did not have a reservation, but we arrived around 1:00 p.m. and had our name put on a waiting list. The hostess told us to go have a seat in the bar area, and that we were seventh on the list. I ordered coffee at one of the tables in the bar area and sat there drinking coffee for about a half hour. At that point, I went to check on how much longer it would be. The hostess shook her head and said, it didn't look like they would actually be able to accomodate us, and we should go to one of the other restaurants on site. There were several empty tables in the restaurant, as there had been when we arrived. I noticed on her list that some of the names listed when we got there had been crossed off, and it looked like we were about fourth on the list. However, we were instructed to go elsewhere. The young woman had a very snobby and snooty attitude enjoying a sort of power trip while making seating arrangements at the the up scale restaurant. I had already had a couple of cups of coffee there in the bar area and I was astounded at this announcement. I believe her dismissive attitude was unacceptable. Then, I had to investigate how to get to the other restaurant areas, and which staircase led where after exiting the Front Runner. Thanks to Raul, the matre'd at the restaurant at the next level down from the Front Runner we were seated and eventually served lunch. Perhaps I was supposed to slip a $20 all to the hostess at the Front Runner in order to get a table!!! If that's true I am even more disappointed. Santa Anita staff is usually so helpful and nice, I don't know what kind of training they give the staff at the Front Runner, but they need some classes in customer relations!!! read more

Race, drink, eat...repeat... My friend is moving back to Chicago and she wanted to experience a bit more of Cali before she goes back to -30 degree weather, so what perfect place screams Cali than betting on thoroughbreds while dressed up like we're going to a wedding? (I know, not really a stereotypical Cali thing to do, but we're all kinda eclectic aren't we?) I actually enjoyed the dressing up part (check out my pics - I'm the Filipino one in the black hat). NO I'm not wearing a witch hat, we were attempting to be very chic like we were going to the Kentucky Derby. I was trampy & vampy, and my other 2 friends were much more ladylike, lol... First off, you pay about $4 for general parking, then you pay another $3.50 just to WALK INTO the Front Runner and get a hand stamp. We had a reservation for the Front Runner and if your whole party doesn't show up on time, they start giving away your table. Like Scott H. described in his review, it does give you the best view of the track, instead of being out in the heat, and you do feel, dare I say, PRIVILEGED? (Now put your pinky finger up to the corner of your mouth like Dr. Evil). Back story - being Filipino, I'm used to going to buffets, and their kitchen was enclosed behind glass walls with a 'counter' which I thought would be where you slide your buffet tray, hahahahahaha...yup, I'm so silly. It's their kitchen alright, but only the wait staff goes in to pick up orders. I'm still laughing at myself! Anyhoo, I had a Mojo Mojito, and like a dumb bunny, I pronounced it Mo-joe, like the character from the Power Puff Girls, lol...The waiter quickly corrected me, but hey you'll be feeling like you got a lot of MOJO after you toss it back! We ordered a 'sampler' platter with assorted cheeses, breads, and spreads. My friend ordered a cheese pizza, and another ordered a chicken salad sandwich. All delicious, but not AH-Mazing. ALTHOUGH, my friend did order a strawberry dessert concoction which they absolutely loved. I didn't partake, cause I was trying to avoid making my dress look like a sausage casing. My friend who's moving away, kept betting and winning. I get this weird sinking feeling if I bet, cause I hate losing money, plus after the first round of bets, my competitive alter ego comes out and then 99.9% of the time I end up losing. So, all that said, I bet once and lost $5 on 3 horses, one of which was named 'Coming Almighty'. I thought, if God's involved, this horse has got to win, right? It placed fourth - back to the mojito. Overall - I'd do it again! read more

Denise and Melinda were amazing! We never saw the bottom of our champagne flutes. Best waitresses ever!

Best service TJ great waiter. Must do the buffet. You can eat, bet and have a wonderful day here. Bottomless mimosa for $25. Will do this again read more

This place is great! What's better than watching the ponies whilst eating the best crab cakes I've ever had! read more

Adrian hooked the whole family up during the races today. His service was excellent and made the whole experience with the family enjoyable. The buffet was really great. He even helped the only vegan in the family find options. We will be back. read more