This place would get four stars if the service was halfway decent. The food was good (my bf ordered the chicken sandwich special and I had the popcorn shrimp). His alcoholic drink wasn't that good because it just tasted like a random mixed of alcohol. Good food but pricey, like the rest of the island. The service, however, was nonexistent. Our server never checked up on us and had to be waved down for every little thing, including a Coke refill and getting our check. The table next to us also had to wait for a long time to get their food from their server. They did not look happy and actually had to get up and search for their food. We do want to come back though to order the drink that comes with the silly straw hat. Darn gimmacks. read more

Stopped in to grab some grub after bike riding most of the day. Ordered Ice Tea - it must have been days old, tasted like mud. Made second mistake of ordering a margarita. Worst ever in my entire life. Tasteless. Decided after that to find someplace else to eat. read more

Like others recommend, get the wiki whacked drink for $9.99 - it comes with a fun straw hat or bumper sticker. I got the grilled swordfish - it's like a fish steak with steamed veggies, white rice, and garlic bread. Interesting combo but it was good and I ate almost all of it. :) Fun place to eat, chill, drink, and watch bull riding on tv. read more

I'm a sucker for tiki bars so naturally I had to check this place out! The Wiki Wacker is a must! You get an awesome straw hat with your order! The Spicy Mexican Lollipop drink is also delicious! I only ordered the coconut shrimp to eat as I was more concerned with drinking than eating. It came with six small shrimps, but it was good and came with a tasty mango spicy sauce. Definitely make a stop here if you're visiting the island! read more

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This place had a great location along the beach and seems to keep a crown all time. I went with my family to celebrate...well being family. We sat in a booth and were waited on by a sweet girl who had a perpetual smile. She dealt with us and our drunk hilarity with patience and poise. I was impressed. We racked up a $200 bill, mostly alcohol, and for that patience she was rewarded with quite the nice tip. I was happy to do it for a staff that took care of us. I had a swordfish sandwich that was simply wonderful and the appetizers were awesome. A few of our people even got "Wiki Wacked"!!! You should ask about it and find out what I mean. I was not impressed with much in Catalina and Avalon, but this was overall a victory. Thanks Luau Larry's staff!!! read more

Great place. The Buffalo Burger was really tasty! The fried onions on top we're a nice touch. There are not a lot of choices for beer drinkers; They only have a few beers on tap. The bartender on duty yesterday and today is pretty fun to watch -- smiling, bottle slinging, and unfazed by all the mayhem around him. They need to get him some help! read more

On previous trips when I would go to Catalina I would always wonder where people would get these straw hats from...and come to find out its from here. If you order the "Wiki Whacker" you get a free hat or sticker. The drink itself is not bad--a little fruity for my taste but I still think it's a must-do when you're here. I like the taste of the island specialty drink better--Buffalo Milk. It's got vodka, Kahlua, and bananas. If you go at s time when its not too crowded you might be able to sit in the "cave" in the back. It can probably hold 5-6 people but it's a cute and fun way to be secluded. This restaurant/bar is off the main drag and easy to find. I've been there three times now and still plan on going back. read more

Our first stop on the island for food: I just wanted a good old-fashioned cheeseburger and fries so I could run and hide in my hotel room and take a power nap. "Hamburger Kona" was cooked will done with bacon and cheese, curly fries, and tropical fruit. Was not aware that they had any special drinks because I didn't see it advertised anywhere. I only caught on because of the single lady in the dining area wearing a straw hat. One guy was serving all the tables inside so we had to ask for our check because you could tell he was a bit overwhelmed. read more

We arrived from the ferry at 11:30 and Luau Larry's was the first restaurant we came upon. It was a cute place inside, especially the table inside the "treehouse" The menu looked appetizing. Unfortunately most of us didn't enjoy our meals. I got the French Dip Honi Sandwich and the meat was gray, flavorless, and rubbery. The au jus came in a small, disposable, plastic container. Not nearly enough au jus for the sandwich and I could barely dip because the container was so small. All the meals came with curly fries which are not my favorite but the others at our table liked them. My daughter got the Hawaiian Chicken and said it was just ok but not something she would ever order again. It was very messy. My nephew liked his wings. My husband asked what kind of bread his Chicken Waiu sandwich came on and the server simply said, "bread". It came on a bun with raw onions, something he hates. The menu never stated it came with onions. The restroom toilet was clogged so we had to go across the street to use the public restrooms. Next time, we're going to skip Luau Larry's. read more

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You can't come to the island without getting your Wicky Whacked at least once. (I just really wanted to type that). Food is solid. One of the best boardwalk, people-watching spots on the island if you can grab a corner bar spot in the window. read more

After our couples massage, my fiance and I were hungry! He really wanted to have a bison burger, so our masseuse recommended Luau Larry's. The restaurant and bar is kind of on the small side. They had three TVs showing three different college football games, which we appreciated. However it was hard to see if you were sitting anywhere aside from the bar. I kind of wished it was a bit better appointed inside. Service was good, our server overhead us talking about nachos so she immediately checked in and took our order (of nachos)... Now that's service!! Haha. -chicken nachos: on the plain side (just chips, cheese, and chicken with sour cream, salsa, guac, and jalapeños on the side) but it satisfied us -buffalo burger: juicy and delicious! Highly recommend, comes with crispy onion strings in the burger and fries on the side -buffalo milk: a white Russian with some banana mixed in, delicious but I kind of wished it didn't have the banana! -margarita: exceptionally smooth! read more

I was in Avalon with my boyfriend last weekend, and we visited Luau Larry's 3 times! It's a great place to kickoff your Catalina weekend. Order the Wiki Wacker first--it's a tasty drink, but the best part is the hat they give you to wear. You might feel a little silly (if so, order a couple more), but it's so much fun to walk around downtown Avalon, see other people wearing the hats and say, "Hey! Wiki Wackers!" The buffalo burger here is SUPERB. We went back to get a second one because the first was so tasty. I highly recommend that. The clam chowder (in a bread bowl), was also very tasty. The first two times we went to Luau Larry's was during the afternoon, and the third time was for dinner, and that last time is the reason I can't give it 5 stars. Whereas the restaurant was perfect during the day, with great, fast service and delicious drinks and food, it was a bit too much of a party when we went for dinner. There was a live musician Saturday night who screamed more than he sung, removing all ability to have a conversation. The bar is so small that there wasn't enough room for both those who wanted to dine and those who wanted to party. The service was slow and uncaring--when my burger came back severely undercooked, the waitress rolled her eyes when I asked it be cooked longer, and pulled the plate away without saying anything. It left a sour taste in our mouth, especially after we'd had two previous exceptional experiences. I will definitely be going back to Luau Larry's, but just for some afternoon drinking/eating. read more

Tried the appetizer platter, nachos and hot dog. I recommend asking for a side of jalapeños with the hot dog. The food was okay, the fries were probably the best thing I ate, but it is really hard to mess up french fries. I don't drink, but my friends tried the wikki wacky and said it was really sweet, and another tried the Buffalo milk and said it tasted like an ice cream shake. read more

The chicken sandwich was pretty good. My server - because apparently sitting at the bar is the "place that matters" - didn't really pay any attention to us. Like... at all. We had to call him over for water. Then drinks. Then to order. Then for our check. I tipped my server out of sheer habit, because no way did he earn a dollar from any service we got. I was seriously going to scratch it out once I realized it, and decided that maybe he just needs a class on serving people. Tuition, buddy, from me to you. We came in because we saw the goofy straw hats, and nobody - NOBODY - ever told us how to get one. I only know NOW because of the reviews here on Yelp that you have to order a signature drink to get one. Seriously! They failed at their own marketing shtick. Who does that? I'd have ordered one! Why didn't anyone say so? I'll tell you why I think: The server was more interested in being a bartender, and absolutely DISinterested in being a server. We were on the island for 6 days, and this was by far the most forgettable experience on the island. That's as in... "FORGET - ABLE". It's a shame. Good chicken sandwich. Great atmosphere and Tiki concept. Even an almost competitive nightlife with entertainment. Blah service. I'll be back, maybe, just to get the souvenir hat. But I'll be damned if I'm not sitting at the bar when I get it so someone acknowledges us. read more

Best Place ever to visit while on the Island for many ways. The Breakfast and food is good as well as the drinks. Been coming for Decades and its always been great to meet new friendly patrons of he bar. read more

Good drinks and cool interior. If you want a straw hat, get the wikiwacky (unsure how to spell it). The specials are super fruity and not strong tasting which is to my liking. Definitely recommend for a quick drink or two. read more

This was our last stop on the way out of Catalina. After noticing their daily specials we decided to stop in and get out of the rain. After perusing the menu a bit, we decided to get the buffalo burger and the clam chowder bread bowl. The buffalo burger was surprisingly tasty and came with delicious fried onion strings on it and a side of fries. The fries were even crispy and hot which was nice on the cold day. The star of the meal thought had to be the clam chowder. Though the top of the bread bowl was a bit odd (almost like they had chopped off the cone of bread that they cut out and used it for another appetizer), it was still really delicious. A generous helping of clams and served piping hot, it really was a great ending to our dining experience on Catalina. We didn't know what to expect stopping in, but were glad we took a dive. This place also gets busy for happy hour and drinks and looks to be a fun dive bar type place at night. read more

Came here with a group of seven and only one person liked their food/drink (the clam chowder). We ordered some guacamole and chips, which tasted stale. We let the waitress know, who apologized and went to bring us new chips. Instead, she came back and told us that the chips she had originally brought us were freshly cooked... which means their fresh chips taste completely stale. We said nevermind and sent the chips back, because no one would eat them. Their coconut shrimp was okay, and the popcorn shrimp was mediocre. We also ordered "Buffalo Mix" cocktails, which (according to the menu) has vodka, dark cocoa, creme de banana, milk and fresh bananas. It was probably the blandest drink I've ever had. It tasted like... water with a tiny, tiny hint of banana. Two stars, because of the coconut shrimp, clam chowder and because the waitress was nice. Wouldn't come back for the food or drinks. read more

Fun and entertaining place. Great drinks ,awesome Swordfish Tacos and friendly staff, what more can a girl ask for. Oh, the Clam Chowder is very good also. read more

Luau Larry's - New American Near Me - Avalon, California

Great Buffalo Milk!!! Didn't get a chance to try the food but the service was nice, great atmosphere! read more

Luau Larry's - New American Near Me - Avalon, California

Awesome food, good drinks, a must try is the red headed slut shot lol, very good, clam chowder bowl was amazing, highly recommended.

Catalina has become a once a year mini-vacation for my boyfriend and me and every time we go we MUST stop at Luau Larry's. We love their NACHOS- they have extra cheese and its perfectly melted over the beans and everything on the side so you can customize each chip (huge plus for me since I am picky and my boyfriend wants everything on them). It also the best bar to get drinks. They have SO many different kinds and each are tropical and so yummy. Of course, you have to get the WIKI WACKER, just a tradition. Other notable drinks: Blue Hawaiian, Kona Ken's, and GUMMY BEAR COCKTAIL! Always a recommendation of mine to those going to Avalon. read more

Avoid for breakfast at all costs. Stopped in on a Sunday for what we thought would be a quick breakfast and turned out to be disappointment on all fronts. I am not unreasonable and I realize that this is primarily a bar, but don't try serving breakfast if you aren't equipped for it. We were sat in the very back corner by the bathroom, trapped by others tables to the point that the first server just yelled across the blocked area of other guests for our drink order. I get that it's busy and a small place, but that was not an elegant start. We got a different server, who I will say up front, was fantastic and dealt with her terrible kitchen/team as best she could. We ordered simple breakfasts, and after a half-hour the server comes over to tell us that the kitchen lost our ticket and they were preparing it ASAP and would be out momentarily. When it didn't come for another 15 she came over to apologize and let us know she would discount the bill for the inconvenience. As other tables of two who were seated after we ordered begin to get their food while our table is empty, I begin to get really frustrated. Finally the food comes - a breakfast burrito that was hot and tasty for my boyfriend. My standard egg plate was missing the cheese I ordered on the (cold) eggs, had no toast and the sausage links were stone cold. Not edible and sent the plate back for a hot and correct version. After 10 minutes of no food, I walked back to the kitchen myself and told them to forget it - I will just eat half of the breakfast burrito because we had now been there over an hour and I am starving. Bill comes - no discount, only the plate that I didn't eat removed, as it should have been. At that point, I was so eager to get out of the corner I had been stuck in that I didn't even have the energy to fight it. Bottom line: seemed like a great place for drinks and late night fun, but to start your day here is likely going to get the day off on the wrong foot. Next time, I will stand in line for one of the more popular island breakfast joints that are proven on both service and quality. read more

Crowded, fun food and good local talent. It's a throw back to the 1960-70's when laughter and lingering were encouraged. Especially fun for the 20's, 30's & young at heart. On the week ends it feels more like spring break in FT. Lauderdale than Aval read more

This place is fun & festive! Beyond that, the customer service is pretty dang awesome. My wallet fell out of my beach tote, and by time I realized it was missing I was sailing back to the mainland. I immediately called the restaurant and spoke with Omar, the manager, who was very professional and eased my angst about the forgotten wallet. He mailed it out to me the next day and sent over the tracking information, which was much appreciated. I will definitely be back and don't anticipate leaving anything behind next time! =p read more

Staff members are quiet interesting no employees that work their smiles at all .. we ordered oysters and they are as big as my pinky .. terrible I sent it back .. poke is decent and calamari is bland and breading is not great .. read more

Luau Larry's is totally worth the hype. Cozy chic place on the island. We got Wiki wacked Omg! Its such a bomb drink and its sure to give you a kick. They give you free straw hats which is so much fun to wear around the island. Go get your wiki wacked at Luau Larrys!! read more

Luau Larry's - Famous Luau Larrys on Catalina Island! - New American Near Me - Avalon, California

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Very very average and below average careless service. Ordered a tuna melt off the menu and got a tuna sandwich. The food was below average and does not match the high price tag we paid. We were charged for water but were never told ahead of time. They HAVE to inform customers of this as it is deceptive and does not reflect what a upscale business in Catalina island would do.The place is lively which is good but the customer service does not match the happiness which is a let down. There are many better choices in Catalina island to eat so spend your hard earned money else where read more

Good food. Fun atmosphere. When we went on a Saturday night around 9pm it was pretty busy, lots of large groups but our server was fast and efficient. I thought I had read somewhere that they have live music or something but that wasn't the case when we went. They have a veggie burger on the menu so that's what I ordered and it was really good. I didn't try the signature cocktail but they looked good. read more

It certainly wasn't what I was expecting. I was expecting an island vibe and I didn't really get that from this place. The drinks and appetizers were good but I found this place to be a little pricy for the quality/quantity of the items. Then again, it was one of the better options on the island so if I ever go back, I'd probably stop by for happy hour. read more

My friends and I are out here for the weekend trying different shots and Angel really helped that experience. We love a good atmosphere and the waitress was everything! Great attentive staff, good vibes, and a waitress named Angel with great recommendations Thanks Luau Larry's! read more

This is the best place we ate for lunch while visiting Catalina. The place had a funky musty smell, the drink I ordered tasted like watery alcohol, not tasty at all. The food had great flavor though. I ordered the roast beef roasted pepper sandwich it wasn't the freshest but it sure was tasty. The person I was with got the hot dog he really enjoyed it. The customer service was very friendly and attentive. we went before noon so the place was empty, after passing by later around 5 we seen that the restaurant and bar was packed. I would give this place another try. read more

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I WISH i knew our waitress' name. Let's describe her: pretty, tall brunette with long hair, pink nikes on, grew on on the island and is getting her masters on the main land LOL! I'm good at being nosy. She was WONDERFUL!!! The sweetest thing ever and sooo helpful and attentive. We were there from 5-9pm. When we got there it was a mad house, every jack and jill trying to get wiki wacked. Standing room only. Then, as soon as we sat down and got a table, everyone cleared out like a fire drill. A very un-cool feeling for us, like we pooped the party. Be warned, this is the late afternoon slump where the 4pm wiki wasted head back to their rooms to freshen up for dinner later. So we missed the lively action until 8pm when the live music started up, which is precisely when we couldnt hear each other speak anymore. The buffalo milk was favored amongst our boys (i know, imagine that) its a banana slushy type vodka drink. I got the Ken's punch...twice, and the wiki wacker. I dont really like the wiki wacker which is rum-based, and only got it for the tiki hat they give you! I got the club sandwich which was just okay. Friends got the bison buffalo burger which looked like it was 6 inches tall. Got the oysters too. They seemed to enjoy them, but they were too slimey and exciting looking for me this time around. Im boring. The live music was cover songs like, sweet home alabama, and other 80's that got some old people up and dancin. Fun atmosphere. Everyone has to get wiki wacked once :) read more

Luau Larry's - Gettin intimate with the wiki wacker, cadillac marg, and a new castle - New American Near Me - Avalon, California

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Luau Larry's is by far the most fun bar in Catalina. The drinks are super yummy and a very good price. Everyone in this place seems to be having a great time. If you are looking for a place to have fun, have some drinks and enjoy the day make sure you check it out! read more

Stopped here for lunch before leaving Catalina. The service was okay, though we had to seat ourselves and I heard several other patrons ask how they could get a table and how they could order food. It didn't seem to be very organized or welcoming for those walking in, but the service was fine once we were seated. I ordered the fish and chips special and was a little surprised when it came out because I was expecting more food than what there was. There were just 3 smallish pieces of fish, a very small portion of fries, and no cole slaw. I thought fish and chips always came with cole slaw. It tasted good, just wish I had left feeling a little fuller. Considering the small portion sizes, I thought the price was a little high. read more

I liked the music (80s hair metal) but not my type of crowd at this bar. My friends and I are almost 30, and we were probably the youngest ones there. What's funny to me was that this place is supposed to play live music. The live music for the night was of a guy playing his electric guitar to to a back track. read more

Going solely on the drinks and atmosphere. It's a cute tiki bar with an impressive drink list. Went here to try the Wiki Wacked drink. It's a fruity alcoholic beverage that came with a silly tiki hat. Atmosphere seems to give me the impression I'm in Hawaii and the staff are very attentive. read more

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Horrible service - complete rip off - serves you food we did not order and insists you pay for it. Avalon has great bars - avoid this one!!!!! read more

This place was literally so gross. I had ordered French toast with fruit and my fruit tasted like it had been sitting in soap water and the frenchtoast looked like something you'd get out of the freezer isle. It was incredibly over priced and if you have an issue with your food you have to "convince" the cook to believe you to fix it. read more

Came here on a Thursday night (11.9.12) at around 6 pm. Due to rain, there wasn't many outside activities to do, so my boyfriend and I decided to have an early dinner at Luau Larry's as it seemed like a great place to have a small bite and a drink. We unfortunately started out on a bad note, for as soon as we walked in we were told to seat ourselves, and the man at the bar was rude to my boyfriend. He said something along the lines of "Grab a menu for yourself and your lady right now, otherwise she's going to be pissed." I'm not sure if he was trying to be funny, but in saying it without a smile, if left a sour note in my mouth that stuck with me through our dining experience. The tables are large, with great amount of seating for a group of 6 comfortably per table. I can say that as a pro for this establishment, but that's about it. It took the gentleman at the bar, who seemed to be running the bar, taking orders and bringing out food all by himself, a good 9-12 minutes to walk over to us (at the table right across from him on a slow night with just two groups sitting down) and take our order. The gentleman offered to take our drink order first, and when my boyfriend listed what he wanted to drink, the waiter told him that he would not like that drink, and that proceeded to list off his own recommendations. I'm sorry, but what waiter (maybe owner?) tells a customer what they will and won't like off their own menu? My boyfriend got the wacky drink at his recommendation...a drink that was meant to come with a hat or sticker, my boyfriend was not offered either but paid the outrageous price for it anyways in the bill. LUAU LARRY'S DOES NOT CARD FOR ALCOHOL. We are 23 and 26 respectively, and we not asked for our ID's once. The waiter did not card any other guests that came in and ordered drinks while we were there either. We ordered the appetizer platter that cost $16 for two chicken wings, three poppers, two fried cheese sticks, and five onion rings. WIth only two other groups seated, and two gentleman having beer at the bar, it took 32 minutes from the moment we placed our order to when we received our food. 32 minutes. The waiter did not apologize for the wait once, and while he didn't refill our waters, seeing that they were empty, kept pushing for us to buy more alcohol. No thanks. The food was cold, and the onion rings were not only still partially frozen, but three of the five had water come out of them instead of oil. I've never had that happen and I buy onion rings all the time. I'm not sure if that is because they were frozen and not put in the oil long enough or what, but it was really strange. This was the only food we had there, but this specific menu option tastes like they bought frozen food and simply dropped it in the fryer for too short of time. Nothing was fresh, not even the old lettuce that was browning, that was placed under the store bought frozen food. All in all, it took around an hour and 45 minutes for us to place our order, receive our food & bill, and be able to walk out. Not once was our water filled, not once did our waiter ask to give us anything other than alcohol, not once were we offered the hat that was meant to be given with the drink order, and yet we were insulted three different times. I'm hoping it was just a bad night, and that this place isn't always like this. I'm sure if you're in a big group you can make your own entertainment and have a great time, but if you're a couple or a family, be prepared for extremely slow service, having to walk up to the bar to ask for your bill, and in our case have rude service. We don't go to Catalina often, but when we do, from now on we will not be dining at Luau Larry's. read more