Catalina food question

[PandJ60]

We'll be on the Carnival Imagination this December going to Catalina and Ensenada. We've never been to Catalina. What’s your best food recommendations?

[ATSEAMYLIFE]

We did a long weekend on Catalina in January for our anniversary.  We very much liked Steve's Steakhouse and Maggie's Blue Rose Mexican.     

[KeepCalmBearOn]

I've never been in Avalon when a cruise ship is in town so not sure how crowds are, but Steve's, Buffalo Nickel and The Lobster Trap are three of my favorites. Do be sure and order a Buffalo Milk while there (hint: doesn't really contain any buffalo and very little milk).

Edited August 28, 2019 by scottca075

[ATSEAMYLIFE]

We tried to get to the Buffalo Nickel as the menu looked good when we flew in.  It's in the parking lot of the heloport.  But it didn't open until later in the day (might be different when a ship is in port) and it's a little bit of a walk from downtown where our hotel was located.  Lobster trap got good reviews but we didn't try it as there's no view.  

[VentureMan_2000]

Just visited Avalon for 4 days this past June.  We were there both days when a ship was in.  Really, Avalon was not that crowded, except for the golf cart rentals.  Definitely more quite when the ship leaves.  

 

Catalina Cantina -- a Mexican food place out front on Crescent Ave was really bad.  Don't be fooled by the open-air front.

Bluewater Avalon Seafood -- was very good, and was nice eating outside.

 

Lobster Trap was very good... decent prices too.  It had a lot of traffic, which means the food is fresh with all that turnover.

 

We did enjoy cocktails and nachos at the Descanso Beach Club... outdoor seating at the beach and water.  Very casual.

 

Maggie's Blue Rose Mexican -- was told this was very good by a long time local.  The is the Mexican restaurant that we meant to eat at, but got confused and ended up at Catalina Cantina -- Yuk.

[KeepCalmBearOn]

17 hours ago, VentureMan_2000 said:

 

Maggie's Blue Rose Mexican -- was told this was very good by a long time local.  The is the Mexican restaurant that we meant to eat at, but got confused and ended up at Catalina Cantina -- Yuk.

 

That's a shame. Catalina Cantina is a fine place to drink and eat chips to watch a football game, but not much beyond that. Maggie's Blue Rose is a really nice place with good food.

[ATSEAMYLIFE]

On 8/30/2019 at 7:42 AM, scottca075 said:

 

That's a shame. Catalina Cantina is a fine place to drink and eat chips to watch a football game, but not much beyond that. Maggie's Blue Rose is a really nice place with good food.

Whatever you do don't eat at Coyote Joe's it was mediocre food and worst service of any place I ate in the last five years.  Only good thing was they forgot to charge us for a round of drinks and one appetizer.  It still wasn't enough compensation for the service.