Restaurant of the Month: Polly's on the Pier.

South Bay Events presents its pick of the month for July 2013!

Naturally, the smells, sights, and ocean weathered businesses that dock along Redondo Beach Pier are beholden to bounty of the sea and the fruit of the economy, but maybe there are other forces keeping matters afloat. Could there be an endemic sea salty God (or Goddess) hidden inside the deep recesses of the Santa Monica Bay governing the ethos of Redondo Beach Pier and its quintessentially charming and sometimes tacky vibe? Maybe. Some things will never change and that’s OK.

One particular coffee shop that readily looks away from change serves breakfast and lunchtime standards at reasonable cash only prices by the sea. Meet Polly’s on the Pier. This down-home simple dine in or sit outside sailor’s delight has a treasure chest full of on the water views, genuine customer service, and greasy breakfast plates that can ease hunger or remedy a hangover.

The menu is two sided, one for breakfast, one for lunch and Renee, the server, will kindly address any and all patrons by “Hey doll” or “Sit anywhere you like baby.” She knows the menu by heart and will steer any unsure eater toward a good decision. The coffee is black and bottomless. Breakfast is what most eat here but feel free to honor a craving for a meatloaf sandwich or bowl of chili. The omelets are stacked with cheese and stuffed with plenty of variety like, Polish sausage, machaca, spinach, real crab, bacon, or chili.

The Polish Sausage, spinach, mushroom, and cheese omelet comes topped with Jack and Cheddar cheese, while the inside delivers at least a pound of sausage, big slices of mushroom, and mouthfuls of spinach with a side of homemade salsa. The hash browns are extra crispy on the outside but good and greasy on the inside. Renee will most likely recommend the machaca with eggs or the Huevos Rancheros to folks looking for a spicy morning meal. The Old Fashioned Breakfast comes with choice of two eggs with bacon or sausage accompanied by either buttermilk pancakes or French toast. The buttermilk pancakes at Polly’s are large and excellent.

Polly’s is located on the Sport Fishing Pier, the smaller pier just north of the Redondo Beach Pier, where anglers can drop a line dockside or line-up for a seafaring excursion aboard the Voyager. Polly’s is an authentic eating escape to a slower pace of life that is uniquely pervasive throughout the Redondo Pier. Fair warning, diners sitting inside Polly’s may succumb to the sway of the ocean as incoming swells can create the sensation of motion during mealtime.

Polly’s on the Pier is at 233 North Harbor Drive and is open daily 5 a.m – 2 p.m., cash only. Validated parking in marina lot equals about one dollar for two hours.