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

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

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

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

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

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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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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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

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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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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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

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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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

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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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

We had an amazing brunch with wonderful service from Borna. Huevos Rancheros was amazing, kids rocked the banana pancakes and the Chilaquilas were awesome. The burger was superb also. We stumbled in here staring and had a fabulous experience with a gorgeous view! read more

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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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 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

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

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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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

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

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

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

We had a so-so experience here and I wouldn't recommend it to friends. First, the service was very slow despite the restaurant being not that busy. We even saw two people get up and leave after sitting at their table and not having been visited by a waiter. It took a while for us to get our food. I got the grilled fish and was totally underwhelmed with my dish. The fish tasted good, but my plate looked like a microwave dinner; just a plain piece of fish and steamed broccoli and steamed carrots. No sauces, spice or anything interesting. Would've loved for the carrots to have been oven roasted or have some sort of sauce on something. I actually left hungry because there wasn't any sort of starch either (would've been nice to have rice or something). My husband liked his dish but for the price, it was just a disappointing experience. Also, I know it's not the restaurants fault but there were some very very drunk people sitting behind us. I'm surprised the restaurant allowed them to come in and eat in their state. It was like 6:30 (a little early to be slurring your words) and they really ruined the dining experience for me with how loud they were. 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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Was debating between the popular spot, lobster traps, and this place. Ended up deciding to support the smaller lesser known place. Food was not good at all. The lobster benedict was so dry, and the potatoes were not good at all. French toast was not crispy on the outside at all, all mushy, and even though we asked for no whipped cream, the waiter prob didnt even input that in the order since it came out with it. If you're in a hurry then this is definitely not the place to check out. Took 20' from order to get our food even though the restaurant was very empty. Originally wanted to give this 1 star, but the bartender guy was very nice so I changed to 2 instead. When we got in, no one was avai to greet us or to collect our order. After waiting for 5', the bartender saw that and came to check on us himself. Go to one of the more popular spots like bluewater or lobster traps if you want consistency or quality service as this place seems to be definitely a hit and miss. read more

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

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The food was good. The service was excellent, and the view is to die for, we had the fried pickles, chicken sandwich and the fish tacos. There was nothing spectacular about the food, but it was good... The view however, was spectacular and the service was excellent. read more

Topside by NDMK - Grilled chicken sandwich with Barata and arugula - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Avalon, California

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Brought my in-laws in from the UK when they came to visit and we took a day trip to Catalina. The service was pretty slow, at lunch time they were already out of the fish for the fish sandwich my wife and mother-in-law were hoping to order...The burger I had was fine, the overall experience just wasn't the greatest and I wouldn't recommmend. read more

This was one of my favorite meals in Avalon, the food was delicious, the view was gorgeous, and the service friendly and attentive. The menu here was on the smaller side, though they still had a nice variety of handhelds, meat, and seafood. I went with the catch of the day, which happened to be Swordfish, and was absolutely perfect. I swapped out the truffle risotto for the saffron risotto that was with many other dishes on the menu and I am so happy I did because it was fantastic! The bok choy was a little fishy, but when paired with the risotto it wasn't as noticeable. They had bar, indoor, and outdoor seating, even though the outdoor seating was the best because of the view, the inside had a lot of natural light so the space felt bright and lively. read more

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Food is good and drinks are good. But be prepared to wait. Very slow unmotivated workers. We tried it twice and unfortunately it was the same both times. So disappointed as the view from their place is amazing. Sadly this place might now make it. To many other amazing restaurants on the island. read more

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

The good: I had the honey salmon and risotto, chicken tenders from the kids menu, and a fish sandwich with truffle fries. The salmon was nicely cooked and had a beautiful sticky and shiny texture and color. The risotto was soft and complimented the fish. The location is nice because it's probably the first restaurant you'll pass when you get off the Catalina Express. It's above the tour center. The bad: The chicken tenders were dry. It came on a giant. Ed of fries. The food was overall okay but not outstanding or memorable. The prices were high. The interesting: Their bathroom is slightly outside the building behind the restaurant. The interior has a bar area and a large open space with an art gallery wall. There's a balcony outdoor eating area. The ambience didn't feel warm and cozy in a restaurant way. It felt like it wasn't supposed to be a restaurant for some reason with the entrance, gallery wall, and open space. read more

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

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