Catalina Island: Where To Eat & What To Do #CAMomsEscape

Catalina Island: Where To Eat & What To Do #CAMomsEscape

Imagine an island paradise where the food is just as amazing as the views. This isn’t an exercise in futility because there are many locations that fit the bill. But there is also a little island paradise off the coast of mainland California known as Catalina Island. And if you haven’t visited  this near perfect isle then chances are  you’re missing out.  The finer things in life come to those who actively seek them out. In a previous post titled Catalina Island: Where To Stay, I wrote about hotel accommodations on Catalina Island. In this piece I am shifting my focus on food and entertainment.  Keep in mind I only visited the island of Catalina for two days and I am certain I missed a lot. However I did make a small dent on my “things to do and places to eat list” on this bejeweled island location. So let’s dig into Catalina Island: Where To Eat & What To Do #CAMomsEscape

How To Get Catalina Island

For starters the Catalina Express Ferry is a great way to travel to and from the island from Long Beach, California.  During the ride I recommend training your eyes out over the open sea because you just might get rewarded by catching a glimpse of the flying fish which occupy the local waters. You also get a complimentary free drink and preferred seating with the purchase of a first class ticket.

I highly recommend paying a few extra bucks to get the preferred seating. And complimentary drink? I’ll drink to that.

When in doubt try the Bluewater Avalon

If you are looking for a great restaurant with a relaxed ambiance and above par dining the Bluewater Avalon is an excellent choice. This is a laid back affair with not too dim lights and low mellow music setting a tranquil mood. And even though we didn’t have a reservation the friendly hostess seated our  party quickly. The wait staff was pleasant and before long I had a tall frosty glass containing a Strawberry Smash.

If you like sweet and fruity drinks this one is perfect. But beware of this one because as unassuming as it appears it is nothing but. This cutesy mix girly drink is a wolf in sheep’s clothing and it packs a wallop. Its a strong concoction which has more kick than you might realize.  I was definitely “feeling it” and knew I better get something else in my stomach. For starters, after looking over the menu, that something else was the highly recommended crab cakes.

Now, I love crab cakes but whenever I see them on a menu I am dubious. Because there are mediocre crab cakes and then there are crab cakes that stand out and make you want to kiss your mama (or maybe the chef). The crab cakes at the Bluewater Grill in Avalon fall in the the latter group. These golden babies were served up hot atop a creamy house-made remoulade, drizzled with chive oil and garnished with fresh micro greens. The presentation was perfect! But when I cut into them they were crispy on the outside with chunks of delicate moist crab meat on the inside, and after I tasted them all I could say was yum!

I ordered the Cedar Plank Salmon for my entrée and again the presentation was good and it was paired with tender arugula and grape tomato salad with a roasted leek vinaigrette. I was very pleased but couldn’t manage to finish it all. Well, that’s what doggie bags were made for, right?

The take away:

The Bluewater Avalon possesses great atmosphere that is warm and inviting. The wait staff is friendly and gives you just enough attention without being overbearing or intrusive. There is also a well stocked full service bar with whatever elixir you may need to help you loosen up and relax. They have several local micro-brews as well as more familiar and mainstream beer choices. And there is an excellent wine list with lots of California wine varieties, but there are also favorites from Italy, France and New Zealand just to name a few. Also, this is a big place, it seats 260 and can easily accommodate both small and larger parties as well (parties of 10 and over need to make reservations). This is a family friendly establishment too, I saw several families with small children enjoying an evening dinner. The menu is moderately priced and has something for everyone. Oh and I almost forgot, they have delicious fresh baked bread which they bring out while its still warm before you order. Now, I have a love hate relationship with delicious freshly baked bread and I hate that I love it so much.

For more information check out additional reviews on TripAdvisor and if you’re a foodie like me who likes to earn freebies then download the Open Table app via iTunes or Google Play and start earning points towards a free meal at your favorite participating eatery.

Want a great steak? Better call Steve’s

Amid all there is to see and do on Catalina Island you won’t find a better steakhouse anywhere in sight, this is mainly due to the fact that Steve’s Steakhouse is the one and only steakhouse on the island. But there is also a certain pressure about being the “only one” but Steve’s consistently rises to the occasion. And it shows because Steve’s Steakhouse has been voted the number 1 restaurant on Catalina Island for years. Do I have your attention now? I’ll get right to the point without any messing around. If you love quality steak and great seafood this is “the spot” to get both. The restaurant takes beef seriously and they procure all of their excellent cuts from Newport Meat Company, ‘nuf said about that. The fish fare is acquired daily and is super fresh. The head chef Frank Blair is a certified freak foodie of nature, this man is more than accomplished, he’s at the top of his craft and has the awards to prove it. They don’t play here, so come hungry and you’ll depart with a more than satisfied bellyful of goodness.

This really is a restaurant all about producing a superior product and aside from the usual things you’ll find at a top tier establishment, like an inviting character, clean tablecloths and tableware Steve’s gets the attention to detail right. Our waiter Bryce is the son of the owner and he brought his A-game. He was all personality and professionalism, clearly one of the best waiters I’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing. The owner also showed up at our table, not because we’re special, but that’s the way he made us feel. He greeted us with a warm smile and thanked us for coming. I watched as he made his around the restaurant saying hello to locals and greeting new guests with equal regard and charm.

I ordered another mixed drink (Hey, what can I say I love fruity drinks), this time I chose a local favorite called the Cherry Bomb and boy was it better than good, it was “the bomb”.  The local paper gave this drink an award so what does that say?

Here at Steve’s Steakhouse I also ordered crab cakes again as my appetizer (I told ya’ll I have a crab cake problem didn’t I?), and I am glad I did because these were perhaps the best crab cakes ever. These weren’t your typical run of the mill crab cakes, these were Thai Crab Cakes and these beauties had a bit of spicy kick that I really enjoyed. For dinner I had a succulent 8-ounce Top Sirloin served with rice pilaf. This right here was a great steak, it was juicy and packed with lots of beef flavor.  Afterwards I was a very happy girl.

What else is there to do on Catalina Island?