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

Are you planning to head to Catalina Island for a day trip or weekend getaway? I have all the tips on what you can do and where you should eat: Catalina Island: Where To Eat & What To Do!

Catalina Island: Where To Eat & What To Do

Imagine an island paradise where the food is just as amazing as the views. This isn’t an exercise in futility because many locations 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 island, 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 that I only visited the island of Catalina for two days, and I am sure I missed a lot. However, I did make a small dent in 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. 

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 be rewarded by catching a glimpse of the flying fish that inhabit the local waters. By purchasing a first-class ticket, you also get a complimentary free drink and preferred seating.

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.

Even though we didn’t have a reservation, the friendly hostess quickly seated our party. 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.

It’s a potent concoction that has more kick than you might realize. I was “feeling it” and knew I better get something else in my stomach.

After looking over the menu, I noticed something else: the highly recommended crab cakes.

Now, I love crab cakes, but I am dubious whenever I see them on a menu. 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 latter group. These golden babies were served hot atop a creamy house-made remoulade, drizzled with chive oil and garnished with fresh microgreens.

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. After I tasted them all, I could say they were yummy!

I ordered the Cedar Plank Salmon for my entrée, and again, the presentation was good. 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 a great atmosphere that is warm and inviting.

The wait staff is friendly and gives you 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 and more familiar and mainstream beer choices. There is an excellent wine list with many California wine varieties, but there are also favorites from Italy, France, and New Zealand, to name a few. Also, this is a prominent place; it seats 260 and can easily accommodate small and large parties (parties of 10 or more need to make reservations).

This is a family-friendly establishment; 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 it’s still warm before you order. 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. If you’re a foodie like me who likes to earn freebies, 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. This is mainly due to the fact that Steve’s Steakhouse is the only steakhouse on the island. There is also a certain pressure about being the “only one,” but Steve 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 procures all its 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. In addition to the usual things you’ll find at a top-tier establishment, like an inviting character and clean tablecloths and tableware, Steve’s gets the attention to detail right.

Our waiter, Bryce, is the owner’s son, 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 were special, but because that’s how he made us feel. He greeted us with a warm smile and thanked us for coming. I watched him make his rounds 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 a spicy kick that I really enjoyed.

For dinner, I had a succulent 8-ounce Top Sirloin served with rice pilaf. This was a great steak—juicy and packed with lots of beef flavor. Afterwards, I was a very happy girl.

What else is there to do on Catalina Island?