had a delicious dinner here! service was so incredibly amazing, they are extremely nice, helpful, friendly, and kept checking in on us! this is on the second floor located right next to the trailhead conservancy. they had an outside patio but also from the inside you can still overlook the beautiful water. my smashburger was great but the FRIES were great with it omg. its cut like a potato chip style and i really enjoyed it the lobster was amazingggg they also have us the lobster claws but we couldnt even break it apart, we brought it home and hammered it down lol overall amazing dinner, would definitely come back when i visit catalina. i totally recommend this place! read more

Topside by NDMK - orange mimosa - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Avalon, California

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Unfortunately, our experience at Topside by NDMK was extremely disappointing. We first waited 30 minutes because the hostess missed our name on the list. Once we were finally seated, another 15 minutes passed without a server acknowledging us. We asked a busser for water, and he said he would get our waiter. We watched him speak to a male waiter, who looked directly at our table but returned to chatting with the bartender. Four other nearby tables that had been seated after us were also left without service. When the waiter eventually headed in our direction, he walked past all of the waiting tables and stopped to talk with guests who had already been served. After sitting for 35 minutes without even receiving water or being greeted by a server, we left. The couple at the table next to us left as well. It truly felt as though the waiting tables were being deliberately ignored. There are many wonderful places to eat on Catalina Island, but based on this experience, I would avoid Topside. read more

Overall, I would recommend Topside by MDMK, especially because of the location and atmosphere. We stopped in while waiting for our boat to head back off the island, and it was a great place to relax. The restaurant is on the second level and has a balcony with what is probably one of the best views of the harbor on the island. The location itself is fantastic, and the space has a lot of potential. The food was overall pretty good. I wouldn't recommend the breakfast burrito, but the breakfast tacos were very good. I'd give the food overall about a 7 out of 10. Unfortunately, where this place really needs improvement is organization and service. The staff was nice and friendly, but they appeared to be overworked and understaffed. Just sitting there and watching the operation, it seemed like there wasn't a lot of organization or training. Service was very slow, and the restaurant itself looked somewhat messy. There were dirty rags on the floor and cleaning supplies sitting on top of the reception area near the front entrance. I really believe this place could be a gold mine. The location, views, and overall atmosphere are awesome, and the food has a lot of potential. With better organization, improved training, more attention to cleanliness, and stronger service, this could easily become one of the best spots on the island. I hope they get things dialed in because this place has everything it needs to be something special. For now, I would still recommend giving it a try, but they definitely have room for improvement and need to do better overall. read more

Topside by NDMK - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Avalon, California

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We went when it was the dinner rush, but there were still a few tables left. It took us a while to get seated given that there was only one group ahead of us and there were empty tables. Once we were seated though, we were happy we go to pick a seat by the window for dinner during sunset, so it was a really nice way to end the night! I liked the dark seas pasta the most since they gave a decent amount of lobster and shrimp and the noodles were nicely al dente. I wish the sauce was creamier and less gritty from the cheese. The lobster roll was good, but honestly there was a bed of spinach on the bottom under the lobster which felt a little cheap given it was a pretty small lobster roll to begin with. I'm not sure if this is a Catalina Island thing since we noticed this across several restaurants there, but give the people more fries! I shouldn't be able to count how many there are. The broccolini was good as well and nice and soft, but again the portion size was tiny--I paid $6 for 5 broccolini...Overall, it's a great option on the island where they probably have to import most ingredients. read more

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The food was good . I had the 3 taco plate but the service was not so good. Our waiter charged us a 20% gratuity for a party of 4. Who does this? He also charged my daughter's party of 3 a 20% gratuity. I would advise anyone to try a different place to eat. read more

Overall we did not enjoy our lunch here. There was hair in a salad we ordered. The waitress forgot one of our drinks, even though it wasn't a busy day. The view of Catalina is nice but the restaurant is not very clean. read more

Unfortunately forgot our servers name (he's a true Catalina local), but we thoroughly enjoyed the banter and his energy. He was lively and informative (had a fun background too!) Food was great, view is amazing (we came on an overcast morning so I can only imagine a true blue sky). I had the lobster Benedict, my husband had a burrito, and our daughters had pancakes. All was flavorful and well portioned. Would suggest! read more

We came in for some quick drinks. The margaritas were great and my husband enjoyed his painkiller. The empanadas were tasty but could have used a tab more sauce. Cool spot to hang out with some friends. Especially on the rooftop bar. read more

Topside by NDMK - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Avalon, California

Multiple levels, beautiful veiw from floor 2 and up top. The happy hour was great!! Service was attentive and thoughtful. read more

Topside by NDMK - Seagull on second floor - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Avalon, California

Came here to stay for a birthday weekend, and had not booked in advance, but was lucky enough to get a booking for a large group. The drinks were nice, the food was spectacular and the ambience, was outstanding., Given it was rooftop it made it more special! They also gave the kids colors and paper to engross them in activity. Each dish was a good portion size and amazing tasting! The dark seas pasta is outstanding! Since it was a birthday, it was a good surprise with the most amazing chocolate cake! This a def a go to while in Avalon!! read more

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overlooking the island while we enjoyed a great breakfast. we're party of 13, they got big comfy space that can accommodate a large group. We were seated immediately? YES. Great friendly service from Jose and Omar. Walking distance from everything. Would definitely come back and come visit this place too! read more

Topside by NDMK - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Avalon, California

Last time we came was in January and the service wasn't great. This time there were more staff and the service was much better. Our server seemed to be a female bartender -- she was super nice and welcoming. She made me a really good mimosa and even helped us take photos. We had a great experience this time. 5/5. read more

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I only had a beer and would come back again as their 2nd floor outdoor views of the marina is really nice. Barely anyone was in here when I stopped in and I went right up to the bar to grab an afternoon beer. I remember I had been walking around awhile so it was nice to quench my thirst here. Bartender was very nice and I had a Stem cider chilli guava on draft here. A good friend of mine suggested it to me and thought I would enjoy this beer as she knows I don't like sweet ciders and she was so right! I really enjoyed this beer! I took my beer to the 2nd floor and watched the beautiful marina while I enjoyed my drink. Life can be so beautiful sometimes. Definitely come here if you want a Stem Cider on draft with beautiful views! read more

Topside by NDMK - Stem Cider Chilli Guava on draft - sooo damn good and look at that view!! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Avalon, California

Quick and friendly service. They made me a pina colada on request even though it's not on the menu. Dark seas pasta was really good but a tad bit too much cheese/heavy. Loved the lobster roll and housemade fries! read more

Topside by NDMK - Pina colada, lobster roll, dark seas pasta - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Avalon, California

Small appetites so, We ordered the fried pickles and tried there Oyster Rockefeller. I also had an opportunity to explore their bar tap and cocktail menu. After being informed the Moscow Mule were unavailable, the bartender made me a fair alternative. read more

Great food and atmosphere! A friend tells me the new chef is "fire". Well the clams in spaghetti were great tonight! read more

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STEPH JUDGEMENT: Nice rooftop area with great view of Avalon's main drag. We had some time to kill before our ferry back, and thought we'd hang out here, as it was very convenient to the docking area. We were in time for their Happy hour, which runs from 3-5, so we grabbed a couple of beers and headed up to their rooftop patio, which was nicely deserted on that particular weekday afternoon. It's not a very high rooftop (it only goes up to 3 stories), but had plenty of seating and turned out to be a fun spot to relax and watch all the activity going on below. read more

Topside by NDMK - View from the observation deck - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Avalon, California

Service here was impeccable! All the staff were so nice and attentive to their guests providing insight of the island as well was a nice touch. We ate on the outer upper roof deck with a beautiful view of Avalon! Now the food. Fried pickles I'd say was a 6/10, there was a little too much batter for my preference & the sauce was basically just ketchup and mayo. The pickles themselves were nice and tangy! I did find it funny the random leaf as decor tho LOL! The swordfish tacos were a 7/10, mainly because I feel there was not enough sauce causing the taco to be quite dry. It came with a side of chips and salsa as well which was also okay. The star of the show was the dark seas pasta. 100/10!! The noodles were perfectly al dente, sauce was cheesy and creamy & there was an exceptional amount of seafood! Mixed with lobster, shrimp and scallops. I couldn't believe how much lobster was jam packed inside, they DEFINITELY do not skimp out! Our experience all together was a 10/10 due to amazing service and the pasta. I would come back and try something else other than the swordfish tacos & fried pickles tho. read more

Topside by NDMK - Fried pickles - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Avalon, California

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Best food I've had in Catalina, beyond amazing, as long as you order the right thing. Wouldn't go in here to get steak/lobster, but for burgers and similar stuff, it's fantastic Ive tried almost all of the best/fanciest burgers in So Cal and this place is among the top! Fiancée said it's the best one she's ever had. Highly recommend stopping by and getting a smash burger! Drinks were excellent, especially the margarita read more

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Topside is located right at the entrance of Avalon as you're getting off the ferries. The restaurant itself is very clean and organized. The waiters are attentive and take care of you while you're there to the fullest. We had a large group of people eating there after a wedding ceremony. They accommodated us well. The drink selection was really good. I tried a few drinks and none of them disappointed. The bar is located in there if all you want are some drinks. They all had good flavor and you could taste the alcohol in them. The food we ordered was a plethora off the menu. Everything that was ordered came out had good presentation and even better taste. The food was very delicious. I had a black ink pasta. Around me were other plates such as the steak, the Cuban sandwich, and the chicken Marsala. All were delectable. I would definitely recommend stopping by Topside if you guys ever come to Catalina Island. Top tier food and service. You won't be disappointed. read more

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Came here for a friend's birthday dinner and everyone so accommodating! We had about 8 people in our group and right when we got there (on a Saturday night with a reservation), they swiftly brought us to our table. We sat up on the rooftop/patio area and it was quite lovely. We started off with drinks and the drinks were delicious! I also ordered a round of shots (decently priced in my opinion coming from an LA girl). We then ordered food, my friends and I shared the truffle scallops - they were so good, fresh, and had a truffle taste that wasn't too overpowering. I also ordered the burger which I thought was tasty and honestly it was too much food for me, so I didn't even finish it. All of my friends' food looked great as well, but I will say that the only thing that looked off was the caesar salad... I would skip it. Overall, great experience. Food was good. Drinks were good. Service was great. Would definitely return when I'm back in Catalina! read more

Nice view of the harbor as the sun set and the lights turned on. The food was very good. Our son loved the smash burger and fries. He got brocolini on the side and it was perfectly steamed. We shared the Dark Seas Pasta. The scallops were amazing, the shrimp big and tender. The lobster was in little bits in the cream sauce, which was unexpected. The brocolini, carrots and mushrooms were expertly cooked. The service was good, Overall a great experience. read more

Topside by NDMK - Smash burger with fries and brocolini - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Avalon, California

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Worst service on the island. Waited for 20 minutes. Tables were open and just needed to be cleaned. Then they seated people that came in after us at the table they told us was being cleaned for our family. Can't speak to the food or drink since we didn't even get a chance to try read more

I had really high hopes for my dining experience here. My husband and I had dinner here on our last night on the island. It's spacious inside, really clean and modern. There's also seating outside, which we decided to do. There's really pretty views of the harbor from the patio. We were really excited about being able to enjoy the view while eating. Our servers were nice. They were quick with taking our order and getting everything to our table. Pretty standard dining service. The food was hit or miss. We ordered the beef empanadas as an appetizer which we both liked. As an entree, I had the chicken Marsala. I thought the chicken was cooked well and it wasn't dry. But the sauce was really runny...to the point that I felt like I was eating pasta noodles in a soup. The sauce was also on the saltier side. The burger that my husband had was good, but nothing special. Both dishes were almost $50, which I think is a bit overpriced for the quality of the food. It was an overall okay dining experience. read more

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Great service and amazing view. Shared the surf and turf with lobster for our anniversary and it was a perfect celebration. Shout out to Nicolas for great service! (Also loved the calamari with chipotle aioli substitution for dipping;). Thanks for a worthy anniversary meal! read more

Topside by NDMK - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Avalon, California

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Great food and location. Perfect for sunset. Service was a little slow for it not being too busy when I went, but overall good experience. It can get a little loud. read more

Topside by NDMK - Lobster - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Avalon, California

Nicco was absolutely amazing! Great service! Food was great. Definitely will be back!

A nice spot in the afternoon when the sun is on the deck. It has a birdseye view of the town and harbor. And even a bird or two to enjoy the view with you. Local flavor, comfortable seating. read more

Topside by NDMK - Steve. A local that likes to hang out with tourists on the balcony. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Avalon, California

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Stood at the front, was ignored for a while by every staff. There was a total of 6ish parties in the establishment so not that busy at all. We asked someone if we could sit anywhere, he said yes. We grabbed our own menus from the hostess stand and sat outside where MAJORITY of the parties were sitting. a party that came after us, received water/drinks and were able to order. After 20 mins, no one came over and we were able to call over a person who said they would get a server. We waited a little while longer and realized no one was coming. We got up and left. It wasn't just us. Other tables were unable to get their servers as well, just awkwardly sitting around with their finished food and no one to close out tab or take additional orders. Laughable. read more

Consistently excellent. Why is this the best pasta I've ever had? Try the dark seas pasta! Fantastic service and the perfect ambiance. No Wicki wacker crowds here. Just beautifully romantic views of the ocean and Casino. read more

Topside by NDMK - Lobster ravioli - local lobster caught near Catalina - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Avalon, California

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Love love love the view! Such a beautiful place to get some food. The breakfast was pretty good :) I liked the potato's and french toast. read more

Topside by NDMK - Breakfast sandwich and banana french toast - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Avalon, California

Breakfast was delicious with generously portioned entrees. Our waiter is good but the hostess was not accommodating. The place wasn't busy when we got there so we preferred a bigger table and she said no. When we left, the table we wanted was still empty. In fact all the tables inside were all empty. Thus the 4 star. The food was a solid 5 star. read more

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Wow! This was the first restaurant that my boyfriend and I stopped to try while we were waiting for our hotel to be ready. Couldn't have asked for a better place to eat after spending a while in a ferry. The fires picked were so good! The chicken was cooked very well, the fries were amazing, the sliders were delicious, and my boyfriend destroyed his burger and said it was one of the best burgers he's ever had! The view here was great and our server was super friendly and recommended things to do on the island. Would definitely come here again!! read more

Topside by NDMK - Chicken sandwich, fried pickles, sample sliders, and burger - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Avalon, California

Back again! Yesterday lunch. Had the Swordfish tacos. So good. The chipotle aioli topped them off perfectly! I recommend them. Today it was a Birthday Belini with my wife that certainly didn't disappoint. I had a Bloody Mary. Both expertly prepared! Thank you topside for also suggesting the rooftop deck to enjoy. So good! read more

Topside by NDMK - Drinks at topside rooftop! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Avalon, California

Our favorite happy hour on Catalina island that we came back with more friends! The loaded truffle fries were just incredible with so much cheese and toppings! My husband loves the wings. Service was awesome, fast, and incredibly accommodating! I loved the buffalo milk and spicy prickly pear margarita. They have great happy hour deals for beer too! read more

Topside by NDMK - Loaded fries and buffalo wings - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Avalon, California

Service was great. Very attentive and kind. Food was great! Lobster roll was tasty. The truffle fries stole the show tho. Loved the openness with the large windows and had a great breeze. read more

Great food, great ambiance and friendly service. Everything was well prepared and good looking. Very fresh and tasty. Will be back! read more

Topside by NDMK - Grilled fish tacos - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Avalon, California

We were running a bit later than expected in the morning before our ferry departure and dropped in around 10:00 for a quick bite. The ambiance is not quite as pleasant as it could be but the food made up for any shortcomings. I had the pancakes and was very pleased after my first bite. Very tasty- light and delicious! Yes, pancakes aren't very exotic or upscale but I highly recommend a serving. The 4 plate-sized cakes were too much for me alone and I had to volunteer others at the table to help me. Not crowded and very attentive wait staff made this a place I will put on my go-to list on my next visit. Cheers! read more

Went around 1pm on a Thursday and it was not busy. We were able to get a seat outside which had a nice view. The service was nice and quick. We ordered the fish tacos one with and without the chipotle sauce. The sauce was good but was a little too much on the tacos. Tacos 9/10. Would definitely order again. read more

Topside by NDMK - Fish tacos - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Avalon, California

My friend and I stopped in for lunch. Our server Borna was very nice, checked in on us. We had the smash burger and the beef empanadas. They were both delicious and I like their fries a lot. Actual potatoes! They were out of figs so I didn't get to try the Fig mule so went for the prickly pear margarita. Views are excellent and vibes were relaxed. Would recommend. read more

Topside by NDMK - Views from 2nd floor deck. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Avalon, California

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