The secret to getting a table on Catalina Island
Summer. The word alone is enough to evoke a vision of long relaxing days spent on the beach without a care in the world.
On the island, those long relaxing days also mean that there’s several thousand other travelers also intent on enjoying their summer without a care in the world, which can make getting a table on Catalina just a bit complicated.
Summer is without a doubt the busiest time of year on the island – a fact that isn’t likely to change anytime soon. Here’s a few of our favorite tips to summertime dining on the island.
Dine differently – at least at different times
The most effective secret to getting a table on Catalina Island during the summer is to adjust your dining time. Avalon’s restaurants are busiest from 6 to 8. Just like almost any other resort destination, if you choose to dine outside of those hours your chances of dinner without a wait go up exponentially. Earlier is usually better – arriving right at 5 will often result in getting a table also immediately. While some restaurants may close between their lunch and dinner hours, for those that are open all day, arriving even earlier – such as at 4 p.m. — can be helpful.
Pack your patience – and know what to expect
Getting a table on Catalina can be more complicated in the summer, but if you know what to expect – and pack your patience – summer dining on the island should be just another fun memory of your time in paradise.
- With one exception (The M Restaurant), Avalon restaurants do not accept reservations except for larger parties. If you have a party of 10 or more, be sure to reach out in advance to whatever restaurant you want to dine at.
- Wait times aren’t usually too extensive. For most evenings, plan on arriving about half an hour before you want to be seated for dinner. On particularly busy weekends, such as holidays, that wait time can swell to an hour or more.
- Bring your phone. Like restaurants on the mainland, more of the island’s dining establishments utilize a system that calls or texts you when your table is ready. Provided you have a phone with cell service, that frees you and your party to enjoy walking around Avalon and perhaps engage in a little retail therapy in the island’s many shops and boutiques.
Be flexible while dining on Catalina Island in the summer
One of the best secrets to getting a table on Catalina in the summer is to be flexible. Even on the busiest weekends, there are plenty of Avalon dining options if you are open to the options.
- Even the busiest restaurants will usually do meals to go during the summer. Get your meal to go and plan on a picnic on the beach.
- Head further afield. While the Avalon waterfront restaurants will nearly always be busy in the summer, you can find several restaurants a block or two from the harbor. Check out the Plaza Café, Sunset Bar & Grill or the Sand Trap for an off-the-beaten path dining option.
- Get it delivered. The Buffalo Nickel is happy to provide their pizza or Mexican favorites delivered directly to you. Or you can have just about any restaurant’s favorites delivered by working with Catalina Taxi.