Topside by NDMK

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We're a couple of Dive Bar aficionados. Thus, in advance of our few day visit Avalon, we…read moreresearched the Best Dive Bars in Avalon. I was truly excited to visit the legendary Marlin Club. I'd read glowing reports. I'll confess we arrived before noon on a weekday, but my experience there's a degree of hospitality and camaraderie that pervades a good Dive no matter the time of day. Certainly our fellow patrons were engaging, whereas the bartender was nowhere to be found. We waited. Certainly our fellow patrons were getting beverages from somewhere. We waited some more. It was getting uncomfortable. Finally. Finally! (I was about to walk a person wearing a cowboy hat emerged from the back. No greeting. Just a very cold "What can I get you?" Someone was having a day and. not a good one. After this drink, we departed. However, on the plus side, I will say the fabulously artful UNDER THE SEA wall decor was worth the visit.

Weird, weird vibes. A local dive bar that doesn't seem to be the go-to place for locals, just…read moremisbehaved tourists. Prices are normal and there's a reasonable amount of seating, but the crowd the is just strange.

Entrance

Bar seating

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Mini beer shot!

Luau Larry's

3.7(778 reviews)

The beers are 22oz! The burgers all come with crispy fried onions on top of the meat…read more One of the few authentic tiki bars left- the staff is so nice! Don't miss this!

Bro what a joke, look at this serving I got. Anyway I'm here to rate the food. The fish was deep…read morefried to oblivion, pretty bland as well, not much kick to it and the tartar sauce didn't help. The fries were like frozen generic slop you get at a them park. Overall the meal was far below average. They charge a grip too. Fish: 5.0 Fries: 6.4

Inside

Delicious Coleslaw

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Bahama Mama and Spicy Mexican Lolli

The Naughty Fox

4.1(458 reviews)

0.3 mi

We came here for the simple fact that I searched the BEST poke nachos multiples times (because of…read moreinternet issues) and they came up with an insane picture! Turns out the place more than matches the picture of just the nachos. Leah, our waitress, is simply fun. She was so welcoming and fuming to chat with that we should have just bought out her day-time pay rate + tips and had her sit with us! The view...cmon.. Avalon harbor...not too shabby. Checkout the pic! The one questionable...the Famous+Naked drink. The green chartreus threw me. No idea what it was, but Leah came to the rescue...she said...try a little taster of the green chartreus...so I did...and wow, a stronger version of a Jäegermeister with green pine needles thrown in. The drink...'amazing.... The nachos...ok, the nachos are simply the best we have ever had. No poke out matches the wonton chips, no bland poke stack...this was a legit flavor bomb of mangos, spicy mayo, tuna, with nori powder over every chip!!! Don't question it, just come here...

Seeing Poke Nachos on the menu was what led us to The Naughty Fox. It was the right move. Located…read moreright across from the beach and moorings, it was a great spot for people watching on a warm early May day. Small spot, so likely to always be busy. It was just a snack, so that's all we had to eat. The portion size was generous. I've had better Poke (Bear Flag in HB/NB for the win), but it was still very good. The crispy wonton chips were quite nice. Beer menu was slim, but they had one of my favorites... Mango Cart. If you want a refreshing fruited beer. This one is for you. Not quite 5 stars because the service was incredibly sloooooow. We were seated and not even provided a menu.

Bar

Chicken wings

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Ahi Poke and Catalina Salad. So high quality, delicious and refreshing after our hike and travel.

Coyote Joe's

2.9(625 reviews)

If you're looking for a spot that delivers comfort, flavor, and genuine hospitality, this Mexican…read morerestaurant is a must-visit. We spend every fall on the island, yet somehow had never tried this place before--and now we're wondering why we waited so long. The Buffalo Milk cocktail was absolutely delicious: rich, creamy, and easily a contender for the best on the island. The nachos were unforgettable--a towering plate of warm chips piled high with melted cheese, black beans, and tender steak. It was truly enough to feed a small village; I had to take half back to our boat for a late-night snack. My husband ordered the pork mole, another standout, with tender pork smothered in a spicy-sweet red mole sauce, served alongside perfectly cooked beans and rice. Portions here are incredibly generous. Just as impressive as the food was the service. The staff went above and beyond to make sure we were taken care of--checking in often and even making sure our dog was cozy and content. That level of warmth and attention is rare, and it made the whole experience feel especially welcoming. We'll definitely be back--and next time, we're bringing friends. This place is a gem.

The service was extremely slow. We didn't receive chips, salsa, or drinks until we received our…read morefood, which took forever to prepare. We asked for chips and salsa a few times while waiting, but they didn't bring anything out until our food came out. This was confusing to us because the restaurant was empty! Still, it took nearly an hour for them to bring out our food. The enchiladas I ordered were a mix of mole and verde. What I received was verde and red sauce, which wasn't even an option on the menu. The enchiladas were extremely bland and required a lot of hot sauce. The kids ordered Beyond Burgers, and I asked for these to be made with cheese only. They did not include cheese but charged us for cheese. It just wasn't a good experience in any way. The restaurant was also freezing cold! It was worth a try, but we won't be going back.

Special burrito they are known for. Shredded beef for Jake. Superb! Size for three people!

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Happy hour Paloma

The Locker Room

4.0(106 reviews)

0.2 mi

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Was excited to try the local dive bar, but the minute we stepped through the door, there was no…read moremusic playing, dead quiet, and a white man at the bar shouted at his other white friend a racial slur that neither of them should be using... Immediately walked out. Bummed that this behavior is tolerated here! Terrible vibe due to the lack of music, but also terrible ethics it seems... This was 8pm on a Friday.

Chuck the bartender is a bit salty but worth the work ! Come…read morehere for a Ball game or a Lazy day of drinking

Watermelon Mint salad

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Bluewater Grill

3.9(2.6k reviews)

0.2 mi

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The host was very nice Great service and food…read moreI had the fish tacos My friend ordered the calamari We will be back

We went to Bluewater Grill on Catalina Island for my birthday at the end of April, and overall I…read morewould say it was a good experience. The atmosphere was probably my favorite part. We sat outside with a really nice view, the weather was warm and pleasant, and overall it just felt like a very relaxing birthday dinner by the water. We both ordered fish, and it was good. Nothing super unique or unforgettable, but definitely tasty. The oysters were also fresh and really enjoyable. The only thing that felt a little off was the service. The food took a while to come out, and different servers kept coming to the table, which made things a bit confusing at times and caused some mix-ups with our order. But overall, we still left with a good impression. They even brought out a birthday dessert for me at the end, which was a nice touch. I'd say it's a solid 4 stars for me. Not perfect, but definitely a nice spot if you're visiting Catalina.

Picturesque views of the Casino!

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Crab Cake perfection!

Catalina Charlie's

3.6(73 reviews)

0.2 mi

Seriously, the BEST Mai Tai I've ever had and I'm pretty much an expert. Run don't walk to Catalina…read moreCharlie's and get your Mai Tai and top-notch Mexican food.! The service is amazing and extremely friendly. It's home away from home.

We had lunch (party of 5, 2 children) on Saturday. It was off season and the place was empty…read more Service was prompt and friendly. Prices are reasonable. The food was abundant and pretty good. the loaded fries were a big hit. The biggest drawback IMO is the noisy "sports bar" atmosphere. Even though we were the only customers, the TVs were loud and chairs scraping and other noises echoed. I would get their food again, but order to go.

Catalina Street dog (Polish sausage) on a toasted hoagie bun

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El Galleon

The best smash burger I've ever had I love it…read more Tha Cadillac margarita was missing Grand Marnea. Wife loved the fish tacos. Daughter liked the shrimp scampi

Nice restaurant on the main walkway by the beach. We got sat down pretty fast and the servers were…read morevery good. Always came by and asked if we needed anything. The food was just as fast. Got our appetizer, the spinach artichoke dip, then our entrees, ahi tuna Poké bowl and classic smash burger. All the food was delicious! A few things to note. The bathrooms are on the 2nd floor of the restaurant, which we thought was interesting. Their menu doesn't list their non alcoholic beverages, like sodas or teas. Just ask the server and they'll list them. Also doesn't serve tap water, only bottled. I'd recommend everyone go to this place for sure when visiting Catalina Island!

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The Lobster Trap

3.8(2.6k reviews)

Local place to get some good local catch lobster. Unfortunately the season for catching fresh…read morelobster was Oct-March. But they still have some frozen catch from the season. Food: * coconut shrimp *lobster-good but was drench in some cream/butter, wish I knew,I like it just steamed. *clam chowder - very good, very filling. *sea bass- fresh and tasty (lemon and garlic) * halibut- fresh and yummy (garlic and caper sauce) The seafood is very fresh, maybe not the healthiest prepared..., but a ll very tasty and casual atmosphere. Service is really good. Seems to be a local spot.

*Fresh fish- locally caught and sourced which is a huge plus…read more *Delicious and creamy clam chowder which I had both times I went and liked. * Got the Seafood Kabob- the swordfish was delish... but overall kinda bland when it came to seasoning/ flavor * clam strips were yummy *The monkey balls were tasty but a little too oily (yes I know they are fried) *Full bar with several beach favorite cocktails *Service was hit or miss. Went there when it was busy and the server was amazingly attentive. The second time was after the lunch rush and not very busy but our server was just not on their game.

Bread bowl

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Oysters Rockafeller $26

NDMK Fish House

4.1(827 reviews)

Came here for dinner and left very happy (and very full). We ordered the seared scallops, steamed…read moreclams, grilled teriyaki salmon with broccolini, and had two sakes. I originally tried to order the poke bowl, but they were down a sushi chef and warned it would take up to an hour. Totally fair, so I pivoted to the grilled salmon and I'm glad I did. It was delicious. It looks whatever in the awful photo I took, but trust me, it slapped. I usually don't even like teriyaki because it's often way too sweet, but theirs was perfect. Balanced, not sugary, and the salmon was cooked exactly how I like it. Everything we had was really good across the board. No misses. Huge shoutout to KJ, our server, fantastic service. They also have some fun merch, and we couldn't resist grabbing a hat. Great food, great service. Love this spot and would absolutely come back.

Service 5/5 -friendly staff and food came out quick…read more Food 3/5 -1/2 dozen oysters $18, tasted fresh and ponzu complimented it well -Rattlesnake roll $18, tasted the best out of the three, but nothing to write home about -Offshore roll $17, pickled red onion was interesting but get tiring after a couple pieces -Rainbow roll $16, least favorite of the three, the imitation crab mixture tasted drier and less flavorful than most that I have tried and made the roll taste dull -Salmon poke bowl $23, decent portion size but don't expect authentic poke, salmon is just diced and sauced at the time of order, refreshing overall -quality is not amazing but I think this is the only or one of few restaurants on the island that actually has sushi Ambiance 4/5 -Space is open and comfortable with plenty of bar seating around the perimeter that's great for people watching, there were a couple flies that lingering throughout the whole meal