WORKING -- Tina Roy

SHE IS

The popular girl you remember from school.

HOLDING THE HOT PLATE

For 16 of the 20 years that Cantamar has been serving up some tasty

dishes to its loyal customers in northwest Huntington Beach, Tina Roy has

been handling hot plates and cervezas for the restaurant’s hungry and

thirsty.

“You just get to know everybody who comes through these doors . . .

especially our regulars,” Roy said. “It’s a great, great atmosphere to

work in.”

Just like the theme song from that classic, Emmy-winning television

show built around a Boston bar, it seems everybody knows her name.

Better yet, Roy seems to know the name of everyone who enters

Cantamar’s doors.

A LOYALTY OATH

Patrons are loyal to the restaurant, with some making it a weekly

habit -- whether plain citizen or one of Huntington Beach’s finest. A few

celebrities also dine here and one, boxing’s Julio Gonzales, worked for

owners Ray and Sally Gutierrez one recent summer.

Gonzalez will fight Roy Jones Jr. Sunday night for the

light-heavyweight championship of the world at Staples Center.

“You know, people come here because they can eat great food and know

that they’re getting friendly service,” said Roy, who belies her 41

years. “I love it here -- I’m just a people person.”

FILLING HER OWN FIX

Her people skills were sharpened during her years at Huntington Beach

High, where the popular student, a 1978 graduate, met her husband,

Darren.

Her ties to Cantamar run deep, too. While in the hospital after the

birth of her first child, she sent Darren to Cantamar to get her “fix” of

their food.

What has kept Roy at Cantamar for 16 years?

“Roy and Sally (Gutierrez) have created a fabulous atmosphere at

Cantamar,” she said. “Sally has been like a grandmother to my kids, and

they make this place a home away from home. It’s a family atmosphere here

for everybody.”

Her “extended family” includes fellow servers Jean Zech, who has been

at the restaurant for 13 years, Delia and Dalia, cooks Chuy and Efrain,

busboys Cristino, Neco, Juan, Jesus and Alonso and the owners’ daughters,

Sylvia and Alice.

EVERYONE’S FAMILY

While Roy’s children, Darren, 21, Jason, 20, David, 19 and Alicia, 18,

have been around the restaurant since childhood, her sentimental customer

favorites are her parents, Lily and Robert Cobos.

Still, she treats everyone as though they are family.

“What makes this work place special is that customers can come in

here, dressed very casually, they can bring the kids, and know that they

are welcomed,” Roy added. “It’s a very casual hangout. Our customers are

from the Huntington Beach area, and I also see people from Huntington

Beach High. This place is packed most nights, but it’s so much fun.”

Story by Mike Sciacca