I believe we went here every day we were on the island.... Ricky the bartender was simply amazing! The entire staff is friendly and welcoming. We even got to try some tequilas with the owner Rick! Totally cool dude! Glad we got to see them again one last time before we head back to the mainland! We tried a beautiful assortment of food and cocktails, prob about a thousand dollars worth lol. With tip of course. I'm pretty sure my man and I will return next month! After we go home and make more money. Lol We're from vegas, so obviously we appreciate amazing service and hospitality. Go sit at the bar! Ricky is phenomenal!!! read more

Bluewater Grill - Seafood Near Me - Avalon, California

See all

Service 5/5 -We came on a Thursday night so not busy, staff was friendly and efficient. Our table was constantly checked up on and food came out quick. Food 5/5 -Complimentsry sourdough bread and butter, warm bread with crisp outside and softness inside, no notes -Clam chowder $12, rich and creamy, great for dipping the bread in -Gemelli pasta w/ shrimp & scallops $33, pesto sauce was cream and fragrant, pasta was al dente with generous amount of decent size shrimp and 2 scallops. Great taste and portion size, no notes. -Rainbow trout amandine $29, everything was cooked correctly, fish and potatoes and green beans were all delicious, great taste and portion side, do wish the trout came without the skin. -I wish refillable water in glasses was an available option, instead of only bottled water. Ambiance 5/5 -Great view from both indoor and outdoor being right next to the water, heaters are available for outdoor seating. read more

See all

Stopped in at Bluewater Grill for happy hour and ended up having one of the best dinners of the trip. Sat at the bar and Bunny took care of us start to finish. Funny, quick witted, great conversation, and on top of the food and drinks the entire time. The kind of bartender that makes you want to come back. The crab and artichoke dip with handmade tortilla chips is incredible. Fish tacos were fresh and on point. Even the salsa was a step above. Everything we ordered was a hit. If you find yourself on Catalina, do yourself a favor and stop in. Ask for Bunny. 5 stars. read more

We arrived at Bluewater Grill around 5-ish, just before the dinner rush, and requested patio seating. They immediately walked us over to a side patio overlooking the ocean--honestly the perfect setup for those early evening, golden hour views. As the sun started to set and the chill rolled in, the staff brought out patio heaters, which made a big difference and kept things really comfortable. We started with the calamari, which was light, crispy, and not greasy at all. I loved that it came with a sweet Thai chili sauce instead of the usual marinara--it felt like a nice upgrade. My husband and I split the lobster roll (served warm), and I opted for the scalloped potatoes instead of fries--so glad I did, they were rich and flavorful and easily a standout. We wrapped up with a cocktail and a glass of wine, which felt like the perfect way to end the night. Service throughout was friendly, quick, and super efficient without feeling rushed. Overall, a great dinner spot in Avalon with a view that really elevates the whole experience. read more

Bluewater Grill - Lobster roll with scalloped potatoes - Seafood Near Me - Avalon, California

See all

First time visiting Catalina and stoped by Bluewater grill for lunch with a group of 7 girls. They have TONS of patio seating and we came on a Saturday in early May, 12pm and it was a short 20 min wait (i don't believe they take reservations so be sure to put your name down first!). Can only speak to what I got but complimentary sourdough bread was so fresh and warm and entree portions are big too! I got the rainbow trout, came lightly breaded with green beans and scalloped potatoes. For the price you pay I definitely think it's a good portion. So delicious and definitely a go to spot in Catalina. We sat in the corner of the patio and it's such a nice view, you can see the water and you can see the people on the street. read more

Bluewater Grill - Trout plate - Seafood Near Me - Avalon, California

Our first visit to Catalina Island and we were so glad to have dined at this water front restaurant and it completed our trip! Seafood themed meals. It's almost 6pm, the sun was setting, our returning ferry was 90 min away, we were looking for a dinner place before heading home after a long day on the island. This restaurant was recommended by ChatGPT, LOL, because it did our one-day-trip itinerary. We were pleasantly surprised. We were seated on the patio by the water, the Catalina casino is within sight and a man was swimming in the clear sea water just meters away. We ordered the signature salad and the Cioppino, we loved both dishes! Busy place, but large venue. read more

See all

Location is obviously amazing right in the middle of Avalon bay absolutely beautiful. They get cruise ships that come in, I happen to eat here right when they opened then watched how amazing they handled a massive rush. Whoever the manager was he's was on point, scanning tables like non stop. His floor presence I could tell made a big difference and example for the rest of the staff to follow. Food was bomb, and I normally don't like this restraunt chain. Although this location was great! Thanks for everything! read more

Bluewater Grill - Bloody Mary and the veiw - Seafood Near Me - Avalon, California

Stopped in here for a nice lunch sit out on the patio was the way to go beautiful scenery. The menu has lots of good items really fresh tasting food. My fish tacos were pretty awesome. The beer selection and the drink selection is A+. Service was great friendly and you can't beat the patio area with the views and the weather great place to go and eat lunch for sure I'll be back. read more

Bluewater Grill - Seafood Near Me - Avalon, California

Great place to eat if you're in Avalon, California. We got there when the restaurant opened so the weight staff was ready to go. We've got seated immediately since we were the second party in line. We sat right on the water great view of the harbor and casino. The Harbour and views transport you to a Mediterranean Oceanside Village. We ordered two lobster rolls, one hot and one cold. They were very good. I always recommend getting a warm lobster roll. Serve served with melted butter. You really match the taste of the lobster on the bread smothered with butter. I ordered a Coke, but my partner ordered the Arnold Palmer. I tried her on a Palmer and regretted my decision of the Coke. read more

See all

This is one of my regular stops when in Avalon. Their food is consistently good and, perhaps because they are part of a larger chain, their hours are consistent, which wasn't the case with some other local restaurants during my recent visit. Some of them just never bothered to open when weather forced the cancellation of all boats on 2 separate days. I was the only diner this visit, although there were a few locals in the bar. The large outdoor area with great views was closed due to the wind and rain. I ordered fairly simply--clam chowder and the sauteed sanddabs. The New England style chowder was thick as expected with a decent amount of clams, served with oyster crackers. The sanddabs were nice, prepared picatta-style with lemon, butter and capers, served with scalloped potatoes and spinach. I fortunately also got a hunk of their excellent sourdough bread, and an iced tea that luckily included refills, since Bluewater probably does not offer free tap water but charges for bottled, like all the other restaurants here. I brought my own water. A pleasant meal on a blustery rainy day. read more

See all

First time in Catalina and landed here for lunch. Overall, I would say the service is great, it was pretty slow on the island so there was no wait time. I think the food was exceptionally good, no major wow's and obviously no negatives to it. They only have water bottles so keep that in mind for your beverage. The inside is lovely and the patio area provides a great view of the island. read more

See all

Minus 2 star for pricing. I'm usually not this cheap but the amount vs type of food, I stopped myself from being a foodie. The soup was delicious though, except it was like ~$12 for it. And ~$15 for a plain salad with no meat. If you want to add protein it cost $10+. A lot of the delicious food such as steak and fish was priced at $40+. The portion looks small. So me and my fiance decided to go elsewhere instead. read more

See all

A restaurant with a view? Check! This place is perfect for afternoon lunch, or just to enjoy drinks and take in the scenery. The food is good, I wasn't blown away, but it is good, and the drinks make it even better. It's one of those restaurants you'll want to if you ever find yourself visiting Catalina. read more

Bluewater Grill - Mojito - Seafood Near Me - Avalon, California

See all

Bluewater Avalon review: what we got: * mussels * calamari * cioppino * blacked cod * roasted barramundi * aperol spritz started with fresh bread for the table. we had the best seat right by the water - gorgeous sea breeze with delicious fresh seafood! every bite was delicious, i'd order it all again. definitely an indulgent meal but when in catalina! service was super nice and attentive, they checked up on us all the time read more

The sea scallops with ponzu were sensational. The ambiance is great overlooking the water. You're paying a little more for a nice view of the sunset. Their "mug tai" was a great souvenir! All the food was good- would recommend if you're looking for a nice in town spot. The service was great- everyone was attentive and patient with our large group! Even helped us stir our buffalo milk properly! read more

Bluewater Grill - sea scallops in ponzu - Seafood Near Me - Avalon, California

Great spot right on Avalon with a really nice water view--that's probably the best part. Service was a bit mixed. Our server was friendly but seemed pretty busy, and the front/check-in staff wasn't the most welcoming. Food portions are big--definitely had leftovers. The chicken was really good, super moist with great seasoning. The ponzu scallops were solid too. The fish sandwich was a little dry though. Presentation is pretty simple, nothing fancy. Prices are reasonable considering the location and portion size. Overall a good spot, especially for the view. read more

See all

It's nothing to write home about, but it's pretty solid. The clam chowder bread bowl was good. Environment was nice. The outdoor patio has a beautiful view. read more

See all

We came here on a Tuesday afternoon for drinks. We were seated outside. The views were absolutely gorgeous. Our waitress Betty was fantastic. She was very friendly and quick. My spouse accidentally left his credit card. In our conversation with Betty, we had told her we were going to play golf. By the time we arrived, she had already called the golf course to let them know that my spouse left his credit card. She really went above and beyond with her customer service. We will definitely be back the next time we are on Catalina Island. read more

Bluewater Grill - Seafood Near Me - Avalon, California

Perfect experience on Catalina Island. I had the house cocktail and even splurged for the souvenir mug which I love. Calamari was great and the edamame was wonderful. I was disappointed that a recent storm had kept delivery of some of the options but what we had we loved. After the hike to the Wrigley memorial we deserved the treat. Great way to spend the day. read more

Bluewater Grill - Can not beat the view. - Seafood Near Me - Avalon, California

Great service The food was delicious and fresh we had a wedge salad with shrimp 10/10 The fish and asparagus m 10/10 Cucumber mojito no agave 7/10 Overall outdoor experience 10/10 read more

I had a really nice visit at Bluewater Grill Avalon. The location is hard to beat... great views and a relaxed atmosphere and the service was solid from start to finish. I wasn't super hungry, so I just ordered the gumbo. It wasn't bad, but it was definitely on the salty side for my taste. That said, everything else about the experience made up for it. Willie, our server, took great care of us and made sure we had everything we needed. I'd definitely come back and try some other items on the menu. read more

Came to Catalina island on cruise end of December. Saw this restaurant and they had a lobster roll. Had to try. They were pretty busy. It was 4 of us and name was on list. But we happen to see people getting up from a bar table ans took it. We ordered and got food right away. The clam chowder my husband had a thick and creamy. My lobster roll was delicious. They give you a side of butter. read more

See all

This was one of those restaurents where you feel it is just a overhyped one, but, it def it worth the wait!! Located right on the waters of the Avalon, this is perfect - date spot, family spot or just a good sit down area for a good glass of wine/beer/cocktail/s! We were walking around and stumbled upon this, and indeed there was a wait for 10 mins but that was ok as outdoors is so much better to sit in... We got a cosy spot near the water and it was just PERFECT. All the dishes were ordered were so FRESH and outstanding! The clam chowder and fish and chips stole the show!! If you can visit this place more times in your stay, def go here!! read more

See all

One of the more relaxing and incredible spots to eat on Catalina Island! We love sitting on the patio overlooking the water and enjoying some great seafood! Please start off with the Bakes Crab and Artichoke Dip! Mmmm! C'mon it is CRAB! Delish. As far as main meals, one of my top favorites is the Butterfish in a miso glaze, heaven. Just melts in my mouth. Salmon is a close second too as is the Seared Scallops. My husband loves the Wedge Salas and also the Cioppino which is packed full of shrimp, scallops, fish, clams, calamari and FLAVOR! Having that on a cool evening on the patio was fantastic, they even have the outdoor heaters if needed. Besides our favorites there are other favorites too; lobster & crab rolls, fish & chips, scallops, shrimp cocktail..... Hot day and want a nice cool drink in the ocean breeze? Here's your spot! Wines, beers, mocktails, mixed drinks - for the alcohol drinkers out there. Then you've got the fun non-alcoholic drinks like the Shark Attack, Root Beer Floats, juices, etc. Also fun desserts are on that menu as well... we would love them to offer caramel topping on their sundaes though (hint hint!). But the Mud Pie!!! Yeeehawwww!!! It is Catalina so the prices are going to be higher than the mainland, but still very reasonable, about $20 on up per person. Not hard to find Bluewater, right smack dab in the middle of the boardwalk area, on the water next to the beach. Service is decent. I want to say it is incredible, but it hasn't been. Kind of hit or miss, but the misses are not bad just not delightfully perfect is all. We love you Bluewater Grill!! See you again soon, we head to you first every time we step off the ferry! read more

Upon arrival, I was worried this would be a tourist trap since the restaurant is located on the main street right next to the water, however turned out to be a great experience and the best meal of the trip! We dined on Sunday evening, and had no wait for a table. Saturday night appeared to have a line out the door, so would recommend Sunday or a weekday for dinner. Also note that dining closes at 8pm on Sunday's, which felt early for a weekend. (This seemed common across the island - closing early on Sunday.) I ordered the Gold Spotted Sea Bass, and it was one of my favorite meals of the year! The ingredients tasted extremely fresh, and you could tell a chef prepared the dish with how incredibly the flavors meshed together. Lastly, I really appreciated that there were several non-alcoholic spirit mocktails. Typically you see mocktails with tonic water as a base, however here they had NA gin, tequila, and prosecco options! read more

See all

My surf and turf was amazing and my steak was done medium rare, and the service was prompt. Fine dining on the beach! The portions were well worth the price of the dish. read more

Bluewater Grill - New York strip steak, , a lobster tail, scalloped potatoes, and braised spinach. - Seafood Near Me - Avalon, California

I had the sand dabs with beurre blanc and scalloped potatoes with wilted spinach, and enjoyed everything on my plate. The service was quick and friendly and the views are unmatched. A great spot for dinner. read more

Bluewater Grill - The view from the patio. - Seafood Near Me - Avalon, California

See all

If you're an actual foodie and enjoy seasoning on your food I do not recommend coming here. The ambiance is the whole reason people come here (including us) to sit on the water and yes that was lovely. Service was okay about a 30 min wait for walk in and we hardly saw our server but I understand since it was a holiday weekend. My issue is the poor food execution. We wanted drinks and apps. I got a mojito and tasted no mint in it just liquor and lime and a lack of bubbles. My girlfriend got the gone with the gin and said it was watery. We ordered the clams in wine sauce, crab & artichoke dip, and chowder. Chowder was pretty good! Especially being from SF area and Monterey we can be picky. That was probably the only good thing here... They didn't reduce the wine sauce enough so it was too bitter. Tasted like clams and someone just poured some chardonnay on top and called it "sauce". Crab & artichoke dip was so bland. They were relying on the cream cheese and jalapeños as flavoring but news flash those are not spices. I couldn't taste the crab at all as it had no presence of any seafood flavorings. Looking at my dip its clear they used imitation crab instead of the real thing. I don't recommend at alllll. read more

See all

Pleasantly surprised that they were able to seat us so quickly. Excellent service- thank you John and team. John was spot on with his recommendations. Beautiful location over looking the ocean. Fabulous, fresh, clean your plate, I want more food. read more

See all

Such a great spot! I came with a group of five, and every single one of us loved what we ordered -- not one complaint around the table. I had the shrimp Caesar salad and it was so good. The shrimp were perfectly cooked, and the dressing hit just right. Honestly, how can someone mess up a Caesar, I know. My husband had the fish and chips and said they were the best he's had to date. Other items ordered: panko-crusted shrimp, blackened chicken, jalapeno lobster dip, spinach, and a kid's meal. The views were beautiful too -- definitely one of those places where you want to sit and soak it all in. And the service was great. Super friendly and on top of everything without being overbearing. We'll definitely be back! read more

See all

Came for the vibes, but then stayed for the food! Bluewater Grill is definitely on every Avalon itinerary as a dining option, serving seafood right by the sea. Snag a table outside if you can, which will seat you right along the water on their big wrap-around deck. It was getting chilly by the time we were dining with the wind factor, but they have heat lamps that the staff can readily turn on if you just ask. I'm not a big seafood fan so didn't order any of their trademark fish dishes, but it seemed like the Cioppino (serving for two) was very popular. Instead I opted for their New England Clam Chowder, which was very delicious, creamy with fresh bits of sea clam. Note that water must be purchased in bottles due to limited availability on the island. So if you're up for a drink, might as well order a cocktail featuring their own rum brand, Catalina Rum Company. I only learned after the fact that there are multiple Bluewater locations all over southern California, but I'm very glad my first experience was on Catalina Island. read more

See all

A cute little restaurant near the water. We had a party of 8 and had no reservations yet they quickly sat us and greeted us kindly! They sat us at a great table with water views. The weather was perfect and we happily sat outside. Drinks took some time to get to us but it's ok.. I'm patient. I recommend the lobster roll! Soooooo delicious! The food was good overall (fish and chips also good). I would skip the ribs although decent. Prices are a little high but it was overall a good meal. I would get the lobster roll again and the fries are also very good. Worth a shot if you're in the area! read more

See all

Location must keep this place afloat because that was the only thing that seemed worth it! We stopped in to try Catalina's famous Buffalo Milk. It wasn't blended very well and, at $15, was a bit disappointing. Staff were very busy which is not their fault, but it was difficult to flag anyone down even just to close the tab. read more

Bluewater Grill - Buffalo milk - Seafood Near Me - Avalon, California

My husband and I were on a cruise and stopped in Avalon. A friend who was cruising with us had been here before so we decided to have lunch here. It was a beautiful day so we sat outside on the patio. We had a great view of our ship. I ordered the Beer-Battered Fish & Chips, and my husband ordered the Seafood Louie Salad. Our friend ordered Crispy Calamari and New England Clam Chowder. I was planning to order the clam chowder, but she ordered it as an appetizer so I tasted it before I placed my order. I'm glad I did because it was so rich that I couldn't eat a cup. Everything we ordered was delicious, with the exception of the calamari. It was not crispy at all. The portion was huge, and we barely touched it. Their complimentary sourdough bread is to die for! I think we ate three loaves. I recommend eating here if you are ever in Avalon! read more

See all

The location is wonderful, the food was good, but the service was exceptional. So friendly, professional, and thoughtful. I had the blackened tacos, husband had the lobster roll and son had the grilled cheese (with edamame) . So glad we stopped here. read more

Bluewater Grill - Exterior - Seafood Near Me - Avalon, California

After a long day of exploring catalina, we stopped by here for dinner. We put our names down around 6 and had a 45 min wait. In the meantime we walked around the little shops. When it was our turn we got seated on the patio. We were given menus and bread to start. For drinks our group got a variety of drinks. We tried the buffalo milk, lemonade, soda, and water (not free, and bottled). -- crab cakes 9/10: I think the best thing we ate. It was very tasty with good sauce to compliment and you could tell the crab was real, not too much batter. it's 2 per order. -- miso butterfish 7/10: it was good texture, but no flavor. I had to get the tiny bits of sauce on the edge to have some of the miso flavor, but nothing on the actual fish. the rice wasn't cooked enough and asparagus was okay. For the seasonal fish and price, I don't know if I would get it again. Service 8/10: they seemed nice, had to wave people down for service tho. Ambiance 9/10: right on the water so the view was very nice. read more

See all

We were there on Aug 27. Our hostess was not very friendly and I feel like she doesn't want to be bothered. This was the opening vibe hence the 4 star. The food, ambiance and our awesome waiter made up for the rudeness of our hostess. We had margaritas and appetizers. The margaritas were definitely a must try. The calamari was crispy on the outside yet soft in the inside. I hate chewy calamari. There are not a lot of restaurants that hit the nail with regards to cooking the calamari just right. Clam chowder was delicious. Skip the breaded/cooked oyster. Our waiter was so helpful, attentive and professional. I think his name is Victor. We sat outside and the view was one of the best part. All of the restaurants in the island are pricey so expect this when you visit Catalina island. read more

See all

The breaded fish tacos (2) were cooked perfectly, but sadly without sauce or slaw. There was a small plastic cup of 'homemade' green salsa aka "avocado crema," but it had no spice, was super liquid-y and tasted sour. The other ingredients were cabbage, pico de gallo and a slice of avocado. The tacos were served on a bed of white, non-Mexican rice. The best part of the meal was the bread, which came out before the main dishes and was warm! Not great acoustics inside, but they have a super nice seating area outside. The service was ok. Not a fan of their fish tacos, but I've ordered other fish here before, and have enjoyed. read more

See all

Absolutely amazing service and food!!! Huge shoutout to Pancho for his hospitality. Pancho took really good care of us throughout our dining experience. The food was spectacular and every plate was cleared. Crab & Artichoke Dip could be a little spicer but that's my personal preference. I added some tapatío and it was the perfect amount of spice! I loved knowing the fish & chips are made to order. If you sit near the water just be ready for a little splash here and there! Definitely nothing major but definitely worth it. Listening to the waves was beautiful! read more

See all

Flavor (4/5): I tried the lobster roll here, not the best I've had but definitely hits the spot if you're craving one. The bread was soft and buttered up. I definitely could have used more lobster. The calamari was also a hit for the table! Instagram Worthy (4/5): We asked for a table on the water and it was decent! The food is also displayed with intention. Service (3/5): Put our name for a table and wanting it water side and it was about a 20 minute wait. We did get seated next to the back wall but on the water still. What got me really annoyed was that the waiters kept checking on us after an hour in not even kidding ever 30 seconds, a new person would be over to us to try to take our plates away when I'm clearly holding a fork in my hand. It's like hard to be talking to people when they kept interrupting every minute and clearly didn't get the hint that we weren't don't eating. Takeaways: Pricey but it's on the water. read more

See all