Santa Catalina Island is California’s only resort island, but considering that it’s just 22 miles across the sea from Los Angeles, it’s surprisingly rustic and casual. Almost all the restaurants on Catalina reflect this casual atmosphere, and most are located right on the harbor in the main town of Avalon, so it’s easy to look them over while strolling around and make your selection.
Here are our five top picks for where to eat on Catalina Island during your Mexico cruise:
The Ristorante Villa Portofino (101 Crescent Avenue, Avalon) is known for its pastas, antipasti, and seafood entrees, and the dessert menu groans with wonderfully rich pastries. Cuisine is northern Italian and Continental, and the quality of the food is suitable for a special meal. If it’s a nice day, you can dine on the harbor-view patio. Otherwise, the indoor Tuscan décor is pleasant, and, while dress is casual, the tablecloths and lighting make for a nice atmosphere. Don’t forget to try some of their fine wines or order a cocktail from their full service bar, Ristorante Villa Portofino is a four time winner of the Avalon annual Taste Around Avalon event for “Best Cocktail”.
Places to Eat on Catalina Island During Your Mexico Cruise.Photo Courtesy of Ristorante Villa Portofino
The Lobster Trap (128 Catalina St., Avalon) specializes in fresh fish and, of course, lobster. In winter (October-March), try the spiny lobster, where most of the meat is in the tail. But you can always get a lobster taco or a variety of fish tacos, all reasonably priced. Oysters, clams, and seared ahi tuna are also on the docket, as is ceviche and poke, a Hawaiian specialty. The owner often reels in the days’ catch himself out on his boat.
Places to Eat on Catalina Island During Your Mexico Cruise. Photo Courtesy of The Lobster Trap
Antonio’s Pizzeria and Cabaret (230 Crescent, Avenue, Avalon) takes “casual” to a new level and is especially good if you have kids in tow, or just want to sit on the patio and relax with a great harbor view. The floor is typically littered with peanut shells that customers toss there by encouragement of the management (peanuts are complimentary). Come for the pizza, the Mamma Mia Day Old Spaghetti (which tastes much better than it sounds), and the excellent sourdough garlic bread, and wash it all down with buckets of beer. Antonio’s has a smaller location, Antonio’s Original Pizza, at 114 Sumner Avenue in Avalon.
Maggie’s Blue Rose (417B Crescent Avenue, Avalon) is a newish Mexican restaurant run by the same people who run the long-established and also admirable Steve’s Steakhouse – in fact, it’s located right below it. At Maggie’s, you can get creative Mexican dishes like crab and corn enchiladas, mole braised duck taquitos, pork adobo with pineapple salsa, or grilled skirt steak tacos. Margaritas – try the cucumber and jalapeno margarita — and a wide variety of other cocktails are a big part of the mix, and if you just want to stop in for a drink and an appetizer, that’s fine. Maggie’s is open for breakfast as well as lunch and dinner.
Places to Eat on Catalina Island During Your Mexico Cruise. Photo Courtesy of Maggie’s Blue Rose
The Harbor Reef Restaurant is the place to go if you’re out and about and you find yourself in the little community of Two Harbors, situated on the isthmus on the northwestern reaches of Catalina Island. In fact, it’s the only place to eat in Two Harbors, but – except for slightly elevated prices – they don’t take undue advantage of their monopoly: the food and “South Seas casual” atmosphere are both inviting. The menu reflects the restaurant’s harbor location; fresh-caught seafood, sometimes with Asian or Hawaiian touches, is the star. (Watch for the “swordfish flag” flying in summer to signal freshly caught swordfish is on hand.) But steaks and several different burgers are also available, and there’s an extensive, eclectic appetizers menu. The bar is lively and an outdoor patio beckons for drinks, including “buffalo milk” (a local take on a white Russian cocktail), and good margaritas.
To book your cruise to Mexico and eat your way through Catalina and beyond, call our travel advisors today at (888) 804-CRUIse (2784), visit us at www.CruiseExperts.com or email us at info@CruiseExperts.com to find out the best cruise deals for Mexico!