Surfside Grill: Best Food at the Beach
It’s all about summer fun at the beach for the Giltner family; from left, dad Mike, mom Anne, and their kids Andrew, Julianne, and John Michael in front of their Surfside Grill on Torrance Beach
The minute her husband rushed in to their house and told her the Department of Beaches and Harbors had presented the opportunity for the family to own the concession stand at 387 Paseo De La Playa, Anne knew it was her dream job.
“Not too many people would want to do this, but I love it. I said, ‘I don’t care, I’m gonna do it.’ It’s fun!” Giltner said. “This is where I hung out growing up, my parents brought us down here and we ate sandy French fries. And we’re still doing it.”
The quaint structure is more commonly known as the building at the end of the Strand. Previously, it was called Alfredo’s, but now, through Anne’s efforts, it has become the new and improved Surfside Grill.
“When I was younger, this was a shack that didn’t even have a name,” Anne recalled.
Surfside Grill is as close to the beach as you can possibly get – what little concrete that surrounds the building eventually fades into sand and the ocean is only a couple steps away. The view of the Palos Verdes coastline looms to the south and the Redondo, Hermosa, and Manhattan Beach piers are visible off in the distance to the north. The Strand is also a key player in this setting. It snakes right up to Surfside Grill, bringing tired cyclists and runners to the counter of the building, seeking cold refreshments.
“I’ve been to beaches in Spain, Portugal, I’ve been all over,” Giltner said. “But I’ll tell you, if you sit on that bench and you look out this way, you think you’re on a vacation and you didn’t even have to get in an airplane. And it’s right here, in our own backyard.”
Though the grey brick building itself is unremarkable, Giltner has made Surfside Grill her own. The building is surrounded by home-crafted wooden tables made by her husband, Mike. The tables are decorated with flowers and tablecloths and turn an otherwise bland rest stop on the bike path into a pleasant picnic spot. A homemade surfboard sign reading “Surfside Grill” hangs above the counter where customers order.
“We started here last summer not knowing what to expect,” Giltner said. “We couldn’t paint because we don’t own the building. But there is nowhere on the beach where you can sit on the sand like this. Paradise Cove is the closest place that you can actually find a place. You can sit in the sand; put your feet in the sand. Where else can you go? There’s nothing in the South Bay. This is our only place.”
The menu, which was developed by Giltner’s children, includes not only the basic cheeseburger, fries, grilled cheese sandwiches, hot dogs, and corn dogs, but also homemade malts and breakfast burritos. The chips and salsa are made from scratch daily and Gilnter has taken it upon herself to personally scoop ice cream for all the kids who visit.
“I want to give them something to look forward to,” she said. “I like to use good quality foods. I love to go to the store and get fresh lettuce and tomatoes. It’s really important to me. It’s the extra little touches that I think makes the difference.”
Anne has also found a way to involve local celebrities in her menu.
“Holly Beck is a professional surfer from Palos Verdes. We named a burrito after her. And Alex Gray, another professional surfer, has tacos named after him. I want an eight year old girl to be able to look up at the menu and say ‘Mommy, I want to grow up and be like Holly Beck,’” Giltner said.
Giltner has managed to get hot dogs from Pink’s and buns from In-N-Out through local contacts. She also supplies ice for families visiting the beach.
“We bought ten ice chests,” Gilnter said. “I will fill your ice chest for you, so you don’t have to lug it up and down the hill. These are little things only a mom would understand, and it makes a difference in life. We have ten ice chests ready, any day, and any time. And we also come out and serve you. It makes a big difference.”
The food and Anne’s consideration for her customers have won over not only the lifeguards, but also the locals.
“We want to make it better than what it was,” she said. “I can’t even tell you how many locals walk down and say ‘Thank you so much, I’m so happy with what you’ve done here.’”
Giltner grew up in Palos Verdes and frequented Torrance Beach with her family and friends for most of her life. After attending Bishop Montgomery High School, she worked as the recreation supervisor for the city of Rolling Hills Estates for twenty years, during which she also volunteered for the National Charity League. She and her husband have also volunteered for the Rolling Hills Little League for thirteen years and have three children: John Michael, who graduated from Peninsula High School and currently attends San Diego State, Julianne, who recently graduated from Palos Verdes High School, and Andrew, a freshman at Palos Verdes High School.
All three of her children often work at Surfside Grill, making this concession stand truly a family run enterprise.
“It’s a business, but it’s also fun,” Giltner said. “My thirteen year old son came up with the name. He said, ‘Let’s call it something about the beach, surf.’ So that’s why we called it Surfside Grill.”
Surfside Grill is open from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, seven days a week, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. However, Giltner has also found other uses for Surfside Grill. She’s begun using the building in order to make lunches for a local school, Riviera Hall. With a menu she’s designed herself – one that includes fresh turkey sandwiches, teriyaki chicken, pasta, and even apples dipped in carmel sauce – Giltner and her employees deliver meals twice a day for the kids. By doing this and also hosting birthday parties, end of the year parties, graduation parties, and more Giltner has made the Surfside Grill an enterprise that runs all year long, rather than a seasonal restaurant – anything that allows her to keep coming to her beloved little concrete shack.
Giltner’s drive for running Surfside Grill comes from her passion for this particular beach and the community that she grew up in. Surfside Grill is an extension of Giltner’s love of volunteering – although the concession stand is a business, she is most adamant about maintaining the restaurant for the people of her community. Giltner hopes to make more memories for not only herself and her family, but also for all the children who frequent the location.
“I only wanted this one building, and I wanted to make this one right,” Giltner said. “You can go ahead and run one, but to make it right – that’s different.”
To contact Anne to organize an event or party, simply visit Surfside Grill at the end of the bike path at Torrance Beach. PEN