Another local favorite restaurant and bar in Avalon. But this place is far from the dock so you would definitely need to have/rent a golf cart to get here. It's at the helicopter port so you get to see helicopters from time to time. Place is small and cozy with a nice patio. For food I like ceviche and tuna melt. The Buffalo wings and nachos are very good too. They make good burgers and sandwiches as well. Sister usually orders a sweet Bay Breeze to go with her food. This is a local gem so ppl know each other here. One of the servers likes to talk to sister and I in simple Chinese that's cute and fun. A good casual place for comfort meals. We frequent this place often cause it's always open! read more

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Get. The. Nachos! Overall a cute spot. They are near the helicopter pad. A bit of a walk from the main street butttt if you call them they will send a van to pick you up! I got the Buffalo Burger and a Buffalo Milk (can you sense a theme?). Both were ok... nothing too crazy. But then... then we got the nachos. Got one regular and one with carnitas! These were so good (like, not for you, but like taste-wise)!!! Good portion and lots of cheese! Yum! Service is also good and people are super nice! Overall a great spot to try when on the island! Stay Cheerful read more

Our favorite restaurant on the island. We spend summers here and go to BN at least a few times a week. Always great food-consistent every time for every dish. Love all of the servers-loyal, longtime employees who are so attentive. Drinks and food are better than anywhere else on the island. Great prices. Good for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I almost hate leaving a review because I don't want it to get packed with people but it's just too good so I have to leave a review. I don't think we have ever had to wait for a table. Nice, out of the way, location. read more

Nice(?) decor of bison, deer and other game hung around. Two TVs, but one of them is out of order. And it seems like they only have limited channels (running YouTube TV). If you are coming to watch a game (like I was), please check with the team before you come. Also ask if they have the TV at the bar fixed - only working TV was placed on the backside of the bar patrons (bar stools were fixed and didn't rotate 180 degrees). Food was good. Soup portion was pretty small (even for an appetizer). However the dinner portion was larger. I do not like using big plates and not generously filling it. Just keep the portion size the same and use smaller plates to give the illusion of more food. But the food was good - left me satisfied. Even better than the food... Pedro. Service was top notch. Great team was able to take care of all the guests (and it got busy!) I will be coming back just to see Pedro and team! Hopefully not on a gameday. read more

First off the Service was AMAZING here! The Bartenders, Bar Backs and Servers were spot on. The food was made perfect. Compliments to the Chef. I had thee tastiest Tilipia ever on this Island. Nothing beats it. Be sure to grab a couple BUFFALO MILK drinks. They are a dessert treat for "alcohol enthusiasts"! read more

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This is where the "locals" go to eat. Always great drinks and food. The staff remember us year after year. It's truly like family here read more

Loved this place! Great food and service. Tasty cocktails. Super laid back atmosphere. You won't find it if you're walking around the town since it's down the road a bit. Very much worth the short drive. It's cash only so bring $$. read more

The food was amazing, and there was a lot of it. I could barely finish my sandwich, but it was so good. The service was exceptional, the food got to us in very good time. The restaurant itself was very charming, I loved the setup of it. Overall, I would recommend coming here when you're at Catalina Island. read more

Great food - awesome location & kid friendly. Went with a large party & staff were attentive & very nice. Will definitely be back when in the area read more

This is a new review after a visit early last about year after the previous time on my birthday 9 years earlier. f you could find my review from nine years ago, not much is changed. Still serving regular beef at buffalo burger prices. I've been eating buffalo Burgers on Catalina island at the airport for well over 17 years so I know the texture and taste very well and I've never been served Buffalo at this place despite ordering it and being charged for it. Each time I called them on it and got out of paying ended up leaving and discussed. Looking at the staff, about the only thing I would trust this place at anymore is Mexican food. But I doubt I'll ever come here again. It's not worth the walk to Pebble Beach and the shuttle bus is hit and miss if they even show up. read more

Good food. Won't be disappointed. They do deliver which is great and convenient when your staying in you hotel and dont feel like going out to eat. Maybe even worth dinning in a experiencing the atmosphere. All in all try it. read more

Great amazing service! Wonderful people, they are like family and I have recently been here but always make me feel welcome. The food is delicious. The ambiance is perfect for family and couples. read more

This place was so cute! It was a very homey vibe, with a small inside area. Seemed like it was a big local gem as I didn't see many tourists. The portions were absolutely massive & the prices were super great for what you get! The antipasto salad was delicious & probably the hugest portion I've ever received of salad at a restaurant. However, the highlight of the meal was definitely the Sampler. It came with wings, taquitos , quesadilla, and nachos & for the 5 people in my family, it was the perfect size of appetizer for all of us. read more

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Is this a secret on the island? There is so many great restaurants on Catalina Island to enjoy. We finally decided (after 30 years) to go to The Buffaloe Nickel. We thought it was a Buffalo burger place! It's A cool hang out for the Homies and possibly the best Mexican food AND drink on the island. I had a huge fried carnitas chimichanga and We gobbled up the chips w/guacamole and the tomato salsa. The drinks were heavy handed and delish. We took a munchie bag of left overs back to Hamilton Cove read more

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We had dinner here and they gave a us a courtesy ride from our vacation rental to the restaurant! My moms in a wheelchair and so this was above and beyond. The food did not disappoint. They had a huge menu selection. Everything was excellent including the service. Great place for a casual family dinner. read more

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This is a local spot. If you want that cool local vibe this place is awesome. We had a big group and tried everything from pizza to fish tacos and more. All excellent. read more

Buffalo Nickel - Minutes after our wedding! - Pizza Near Me - Avalon, California

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Not only an amazing service by Mr. Pedro and staff but also outstanding service and taste for any type of food you order. We were here twice while in our three days stay, just because the food and price is out of the park. They also provide shuttle service from downtown(another plus). Overall 12+ rating out of the "10 scale" ::::: !!!! read more

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Deffinatley the place to go when visiting Catalina. Whenever on vacation you see locals at the restaurant you know you have found the right spot. Fajitas were amazing. Ribs were good. If you're feeling lively try a moose milk. It's a chocolate banana cocktail they are known for. Fair prices, great service, and amazing food. What more can you ask for when looking for new places to try. read more

Food was ready fast and service was amazing. Not only that, but the food tasted great. They also have a wide variety of different foods. read more

Buffalo Nickel - Fajitas - Pizza Near Me - Avalon, California

Holy moly what a delicious meal! Probably the best baby back ribs I have ever had. Totally worth the 5 minute late-model minivan (with cracked windshield and semi-functional seatbelts) free shuttle ride to get there. That was the only weird part about it. Seriously, the food was outstanding. It was the opposite of a tourist trap. It was reasonably priced, the portions were ginormous and the food was SO GOOD. My big ol meat plate was mouth-watering and my vegetarian wife said her chile rellenos were the best of her life (and she grew up in New Mexico). We found this place on a tip from the kayak rental people in town. They said this was the locals' favorite place to eat, and I can see why! (I didn't even get to describing the cocktails, which were also awesome.) read more

Can't believe I haven't been here until I flown in on the helicopter. Great food! probably the best Mexican food in Avalon. Can't wait to try pizza when I go back? read more

Buffalo Nickel - Pizza Near Me - Avalon, California

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Went here for dinner on Friday evening. Casual bar and restaurant with both indoor and patio seating. Wife and I both ordered the Mahi Mahi fish tacos and a bucket of beers. The two tacos had enough fish in them to make four tacos and the taste was fantastic. Nice little place away from the crowds that serve great food and cold beers. read more

Buffalo Nickel - Follow the arrow to the Buffalo Nickel Restaurant - Pizza Near Me - Avalon, California

Great Authentic Mexican food and great service. The drinks were great and so was the food! read more

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This is a hidden gem passing Lover's Cove and right next to the Helicopter landing pad. Since we were walking around this area and found this restaurant we decided on ordering a few alcohol drinks and some nachos. We are still in the COVID-19 pandemic and only the outdoor patio area was open for business. read more

Buffalo Nickel - Hidden gem - Pizza Near Me - Avalon, California

Considering I visited during COVID and wasn't able to check out many other places, Buffalo Nickel is probably my favorite bar on the Island. Their food and drinks are both excellent. Service is way above average, and they have a very cool interior and a large outdoor patio. After entering the front door, the bar is immediately left with maybe 8 large wooden bar stools with back support. The block footrest is below. The bar top is a hard stone or stone-like material with no rail (wasn't able to be indoors). The back bar is primarily bottle/beer shelves with a large HDTV in the left corner. Few wooden high top tables and booths opposite the bar. Not a huge space. Walk thru the bar and to the large back patio with several low top wooden tables. Much better than some wire tables, and the wooden ones actually have a small lip for spills. Looking forward to returning when times are more typical. Sure the food and drinks will still be great, but I'm guessing the atmosphere will be even better. read more

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Amazing food!!! The Ceviche was just like what mom makes!! We had the big fat burrito and YES.. it was big!! The chimichanga was filled with so much meat. OH and the Buffalo Milk... was delicious!! Best one on the island!! read more

Really yummy local vibe place with friendly service and excellent food. We will be back often. Free shuttle service if you call them! read more

Buffalo Nickel - Ceviche is amazing!!! - Pizza Near Me - Avalon, California

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Any visit to Catalina Island would not be complete without a trip to Buffalo Nickel Restaurant! We eat there every time we go. Just a short shuttle drive south of Avalon near the heliport. We always plan our island visits to include a Monday night. That's when they do the pasta bar thing at Buffalo Nickel and my son dearly adores it. Unfortunately their 'rona protocol prohibits this Monday night tradition right now. My burrito two visits ago unfortunately wasn't as good as previous visits. My chimichanga on this visit last week however was excellent. read more

Buffalo Nickel - Outstanding Chimichanga! - Pizza Near Me - Avalon, California

Patronizing waiters need to back off. Decent food, good vibe. But they need to serve up some real hot sauce. Minimal seating for large party's inside so if you get cold easily bring a jacket so you can sit outside. I read more

We came out on a Monday night for the "make your own pasta" meal, and thoroughly enjoyed the different varieties of pasta we concocted! The tortilla soup however.... was the best I've ever had by far! I certainly recommend it to you. No kidding around, here; not too salty, full bodied, hearty. Amaaaazing. But you know the thing that makes this place stand out the most was the friendly staff and the we're-all-family environment.... it is truly a treat; I'm so glad that we came out here to try it! read more

They delivered to us, and the food was great! Had the fish, tacos and salmon. Delivery guy was super cool, so we tipped him generously. This place was the favorite restaurant of our zip lining tour guide that lives on the island. Only bummer. Was they don't make pizza before 5 PM. Cash only when being delivered. read more

We love having lunch here every time we come to the island. The carnitas platter is great. The meat is tender and very flavorful. The salsa is refreshing and spicy.. soo good Since its a little out of the way the atmosphere this excellent and service great. read more

This place is a hidden gem - A total local's joint! It's tucked on the water about 1/2 mile from the heart of Avalon. We ordered the Bison Burger and shrimp a la diabla and they were both solid choices. The best part is, they offer free shuttles to/from town to cater to all the visitors stopping thru read more

Buffalo Nickel - Shrimp a la diabla - Pizza Near Me - Avalon, California

I was going to have very little to say about the food on Avalon but this place saved the day! Hidden away from the main part of the city (with a courtesy shuttle when you call ahead). Thankfully, we asked about any Mexican food options (all other local places were closed) and this place did not disappoint. Homemade chips and salsa, excellent Carnitas, rustic and yummy! Thanks for saving the trip for us Buffalo Nickel! read more

Buffalo Nickel - Big Burrito (Carnitas) and Chicken Enchiladas! - Pizza Near Me - Avalon, California

While eating at the bar at Antonios Pizza I asked the bartender what was his favorite breakfast place to go. He recommended Buffalo Nickle...said it was not downtown but that its a local favorite. They only serve breakfast on Saturday and Sunday. We hopped into our golf cart and as we made our way through a very crowded downtown, we noticed HUGE! Lines at several of the breakfast spots that we were considering going to. We made our way past the ferry dock and around the coastline to what looked like an industrial area, I was convinced that we were going the wrong way. After a mile or two we saw the restaurant on the left side (if you pass the gas station you have gone too far) We arrived as they opened at 10am on a Saturday. Seriously we were the only people there. We sat down and ordered the Buffalo Milk cocktail (no judging, we were on vacation) so delicious, made with fresh bananas. I ordered the Ortega Omelette and my husband ordered the steak and eggs. I was shocked when his plate arrived with a huge Ribeye steak....cooked perfectly (M.R.) and seasoned just right . My omelet was also very nicely prepared with not too much cheese, very tasty with the sausage. We decided to go back the next day because the wait at the other restaurants were over an hour. This time I ordered the buffalo burger with fries...loved it , so juicy and flavorful. My husband ordered the chicken floutas and they were huge, came with rice, beans , guacamole and sour cream . Again we ordered the buffalo milk drink. This time there were a lot more people but we still had no wait to be seated. They had about 4 servers and they ALL! Were very pleasant and attentive. Very clean establishment and the restroom was super clean and beautifully designed. We will most likely go back tomorrow before we head back home. We were in town for a wedding and our friends have been going to Catalina their entire life and had never been to this place, definitely not a tourist trap, prices were very fair for the quality and portions read more

If you're looking for good cheaper food , then this is the spot. Catalina loves to charge you an arm and a leg for anything, but the fajitas for 2 was only 30 bucks. Affordable and delicious. The walk there is very nice. Besides that I just wish the waiter was a little more attentive. read more

Great service, great food, pretty location, right on the beach. They will come pick you up and take you to their restaurant. Just call them when you're ready for pick up. read more

Stopped in for a drink and snack, while biking around the island. I usually do not drink mixed drinks, but I'd seen a YouTube video that suggested trying the Buffalo Milk "drink of the island", so I figured I'd give theirs a shot. It was so good- boozy, creamy, with banana and chocolate. What's not to love?! For our snack, we ordered the ceviche. We tried it exclusively as it comes with just fish. It was so good we talked about how we would order it the next time we visit the island! read more

Buffalo Nickel - Buffalo Milk, ceviche, and Bohemia - Pizza Near Me - Avalon, California

Old school service and drinks. They pick up from town as well. Ribs were very good. Servings are generous. read more

Good was really good and the service was great and friendly. But on google maps it says this is a pizza restaurant and I didn't see pizza on the menu at all, they have sandwiches and salads but also tacos and enchiladas. Would eat here again. read more