Resturant recomendations, Avalon Catalina

[scottmandue]

20 year old daughter and a friend are visiting next week on college break and we are planning a few days in Avalon.

As usual my wife is losing her mind trying to orchestrate the perfect time together.

I have been tasked with finding food options, I am gourmet but they are not, maybe one fancy meal but we will be up for low end foodies too.

I believe I asked this same question a year or more ago but those brain cells have gone by the wayside.

TIA

[Cajundaddy]

We were there with family recently and had dinner at this place. Food and service were very good, price was high. Other restaurants are rated at this site which is pretty useful.

Ristorante Villa Portofino, Avalon - Menu, Prices & Reviews - TripAdvisor

The twentysomethings all went zip-lining and loved it. Us older folk went snorkeling at lovers cove and were surrounded by 10,000 fish looking for handouts. Even a couple of huge black sea bass. A golf cart tour of Avalon is a must do if it's a first time visit. Lots of great photo spots.

[scottmandue]

Yeah, the girls are doing the zip line... being a 12 year old in a 57 year old body I wanted to join them but wife vetoed that.
My family used to vacation there... my brother even lived there for over a year... but that was back when dinosaurs ruled the world.
Should be interesting to see how Avalon has changed.
I love snorkeling but water temp is 65... not sure my old bones would dig that.
Thanks

[Cajundaddy]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

Yeah, the girls are doing the zip line... being a 12 year old in a 57 year old body I wanted to join them but wife vetoed that.
My family used to vacation there... my brother even lived there for over a year... but that was back when dinosaurs ruled the world.
Should be interesting to see how Avalon has changed.
I love snorkeling but water temp is 65... not sure my old bones would dig that.
Thanks

You could rent a wetsuit. I'm sure no one ever pees in em.
A morning kayak adventure is also pretty cool.

[tevake]

Got no restaurant suggestions, but the old bus trip up to the airport is fun and interesting. Lots of cool small planes fly in for lunch. We had time for a walk on the flight line. Neat narration of the area on the way up.
Also the theater is a neat thro back to another time.

I love the ride out there from Long Bch. Leaving all that bustle behind. The bost trip is just long enough to shift gears to be ready for the mellow of Avilon.

Have fun, Richard

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by tevake

I love the ride out there from Long Bch. Leaving all that bustle behind. The bost trip is just long enough to shift gears to be ready for the mellow of Avilon.

Have fun, Richard

I will try, just hope my wife doesn't have a nervous breakdown worrying about her daughter.
Personally I would be happy just hanging on the beach with a good book.
Kinda bummed... doesn't appear they have the old flying fish boat anymore. They had this huge open wood boat with an equally huge spotlight mounted on it (probably WWII vintage). They would go out at night and shine the spotlight on the water and the flying fish would come... well, flying up out of the water!
I never got up to the Wrigley mansion... maybe we will have time for that.

[Scott Douglas]

You might want to check and see if you need to bring your own water. The drought has hit the island hard.

[Craig T]

I have several wetsuits. I don't know your size, but you're welcome to borrow my 4/3 or 6/5. You're welcome to borrow a snorkel mask and fins too. With the 6/5 you'll float like a cork and might take a weight belt with 10 lbs.

Send me a PM.

[Evans, Marv]

Too bad about them not having the flying fish boat anymore. If I remember right, it had two spot lights from a WWII battle ship - at least that's what they said. Great fun seeing the fish come out of the water. A couple of times fish came right into the boat. Last time we were there, maybe 15 years ago, we liked the submarine ride (sort of a submarine) too. Catalina/Avalon might not have too much happening this time of the year I would suspect. Winter and the onset of darkness at 4:30 might put a damper on things. Last time we were there, a couple of places had standup comedy routines. They might have the visitor's center open, and you might try calling to find out about current happenings, restaurants, etc.

[Flat Six]

Originally Posted by Cajundaddy

We were there with family recently and had dinner at this place. Food and service were very good, price was high. Other restaurants are rated at this site which is pretty useful.

Ristorante Villa Portofino, Avalon - Menu, Prices & Reviews - TripAdvisor

The twentysomethings all went zip-lining and loved it. Us older folk went snorkeling at lovers cove and were surrounded by 10,000 fish looking for handouts. Even a couple of huge black sea bass. A golf cart tour of Avalon is a must do if it's a first time visit. Lots of great photo spots.

^^ +1 on Portofino

Don't forget mojitos and karaoke at El Galleon . . . .

[scottmandue]

Looks like we have dinner handled with Portofino and El Galleon, thanks for the recommendations!
Also thanks for the wetsuit lending offer, we are only there for two day and wife is not a swimmer so I think we will just hang out around town.
We are sailing out Sunday and hope the storm has blown through by then!

[tadink]

slight hijack - so what's the deal with Catalina? I'm a NorCal guy and have zero knowledge about the island, the appeal, the towns, etc.

Seems a cool venue - anyone ever lived there? Is it beach town slum or island cool?

weather?

thx

td

[Cajundaddy]

Originally Posted by tadink

slight hijack - so what's the deal with Catalina? I'm a NorCal guy and have zero knowledge about the island, the appeal, the towns, etc.

Seems a cool venue - anyone ever lived there? Is it beach town slum or island cool?

weather?

thx

td

Avalon is a small Mediterranean-style village 20 miles offshore from LA. A nice escape for a few days as Napa might be for someone in SFO. Picturesque, very mild climate year round, lots of touristy things to do or you can just hole-up somewhere and people watch. A very different vibe from the big city.

We used to do quite a bit of sailing and have been all around the island. I actually prefer solitude, swinging at anchor and diving over there but Avalon is certainly entertaining. Surprise your honey and whisk her away for a weekend getaway. Off season is best.

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/usa/california/catalina-island

[nostatic]

My college g/f was born-raised on Catalina and I spent a fair amount of time there during a couple summers in the mid-late 80's. Very small (by LA standards). Avalon is a tourist town. If you have a boat you can get around the island. Only residents can drive around the island (and most of that is dirt roads). In fact most of the residents own/drive golf carts as Avalon is pretty tight. There are a few small settlements along the leeward side of the island, and a camp/research spot at Twin Harbors which is at the north end of the island.

I got to drive around the whole island with my then-g/f and the windward side is spectacular. Totally undeveloped and rugged, with many completely empty beaches. And buffalo! They were brought out for a movie shoot in the 20's and still have significant herds. The culture in Avalon is that of a tourist town, and there are some odd dynamics if you stick around long enough. Some percentage of locals who are born there leave and go "over town", leaving Catalina. Some other number though just don't like or can't handle the massively different vibe of the LA area so they stay there. Since the economy is about 100% tourist based, you have limited opportunities. Fair amount of alcoholism and everyone knows who is sleeping with whom, etc among the locals.

[scottmandue]

Fun facts, entire island was owned by the Wrigley family at one point, The CUBS baseball team use to have a camp there.

[scottmandue]

Thought I would throw out some restaurant reviews from out visit.
Being the single male traveling with three females I was outvoted at almost every decision however.

First up:
C.C. Gallager - kind of a wine shop that serves everything from sushi to chicken sandwiches, food was excellent, nice décor (if you don't mind eating in wine shop) and nice view right on the front street, they also have espresso and gelato, service was a little slow but we were there early for lunch and don't think the kitchen was totally up to speed yet... also I always expect slow service in a resort town.

Mi Casita - Good basic Mexican food, nice traditional Mexican décor.

Bluewater grill - Fantastic location and view of the bay, snuck away from the ladies and had a few beers and oysters so can't comment on food but what I saw coming out of the kitchen looked good.

El Galleon - Old school Avalon, good food and bar, not too fancy but worth a visit (or may I say a must see).

Antonio's Pizzeria & Cabaret - This was totally random and a surprise, really good pizza and sandwiches, full menu with sandwiches and pasta, full bar, outside seating overlooking the bay, fun old school Avalon restaurant, they bring you a bowl of peanuts and you throw the shells on the floor.

The Lobster Trap - Second big surprise, I overheard a cutie asking the deckhands on the ride over for good places to eat and the recommended this joint. Pro-large portions of seafood that were probably caught that morning. Con-Veggies were over cooked and soggy and the (small) place is half bar half restaurant, that didn't bother me but if you are put off by the locals having a few and being boisterous ten feet form your dinner not your kind of place.

Many more places to try but that was all we got to on our (much too) short visit. If anyone would like to sponsor me and provide a boat ticket and a room I would be happy to return and write more reviews.