Surf’s up

Jogger watching

If you breakfast on an asparagus herb omelet at Pedals, you’ll see joggers trotting by on the beach. If you’re there for seafood stew at lunch, roller-bladers will have taken over. At dinner, all you’ll hear is the crashing surf while you eat Mom’s meatloaf and mashed potatoes. Desserts include s’mores that use homemade marshmallows. (Asparagus and herb omelet, $13; coastal seafood stew, $19; Mom’s meatloaf, $17; s’mores, $6.)

Pedals, Shutters on the Beach Hotel, 1 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, (310) 587-1707.

Foot therapy

There can’t be many restaurants in the world where you can literally dig your feet into the sand while you brunch on pasta, blueberry pancakes or a salad that includes crispy potatoes and blue cheese. But that’s Back on the Beach on the Santa Monica stretch of Pacific Coast Highway that goes by the name of Palisades Beach Road. (Breakfast pasta, $7.75; blueberry pancakes, short stack $4.75, large stack $6.25; Fred’s salad, small $6.95, large $9.75.)

Back on the Beach, 445 Palisades Beach Road, Santa Monica, (310) 393-8282.

Catch a wave

Surf memorabilia line the walls at both beach locations of Duke’s, named for Duke Kahanamoku, pioneer surfer and Olympic swimming star. The menu features a long list of fish prepared six ways, including herb-crusted parmesan. On Tuesdays, there are fish tacos: fried, grilled or Cajun. (Fish entrees, $21.95; fish tacos, $2.)

Duke’s, 317 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach, (714) 374-6446; 21150 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, (310) 317-0777.

-- Jessica Strand