Our first stop upon landing on Catalina! He started off with the oysters, which were delectable and Monkey Balls-very unusual, but quite tasty! I had to get the lobster roll, which was actually very yummy! The tacos were just OK. Service was really quick and fast and friendly, and it was very busy atmosphere since the weekend was just beginning! Definitely try the lobster roll... Quite yummy! read more

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Arrived during the rush and it was very hectic. The staff seemed super busy and a little overwhelmed. The food tasted good, although the French dip was soggy within 5-10 minutes of receiving it. Ended up not getting charged for our sodas, which bumped the rating up to a 4 stars at the last second. Would recommend, especially during quieter hours. read more

The Lobster Trap - Hamburger (top) Lobster roll (bottom) - Seafood Near Me - Avalon, California

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Decent enough to grab a bite. Wasn't too busy when we came in for lunch. The garlic cheese curds were quite pleasant. And the piping hot marinara and ranch that came along with it were delicious. Raw oysters were decent, nothing too outstanding. Lobster roll was good enough. The bread could be better. Coleslaw was surprisingly light and refreshing, so that was nice compared to the usual kind of coleslaw you get. Then the fish and chips... The fish batter was crispy and airy. Loved that part. HOWEVER, the french fries that came with it were the most depressing fries I've had in recent memory. They were pretty much room temp and tasted stale. Half the appeal of fish and chips is the chips... And they were so lackluster. Hopefully this was just a one time oversight. Either way, probably won't come back here to dine. Not bad to try, but nothing too memorable. read more

I came here with my family, and honestly, the server made the whole experience amazing. Not only that but the food was super good, too! I don't know if it was just me, but you could definitely taste the difference in the fish; it tasted very fresh. Even though the place was super busy, the vibe was still really nice. I loved that we got to sit at the "boat" table up the stairs, it was such a cool setup! Definitely a great spot. read more

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Casual and festive, The Lobster Trap features generous cocktails and friendly service. The lobster roll was a menu highlight, while the sautéed calamari is for those who appreciate very saucy dishes. It really is amazing how well the staff delivers given the high foot traffic. read more

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We had a fabulous dinner at lobster trap!! It was a busy Friday night and only waited 30 minutes. We were seated upstairs and had we known we would have asked for a different location it was very cold and the air conditioning was blowing right on us but we stayed and had a great meal We had a bowl of fantastic clam chowder and a plate of ahi with rice read more

I sat at the bar and Nicolas (apologies in advance for misspelling) was friendly and attentive. I had asked for his opinion on two dishes and he suggested the lobster roll (as he prefers to order it), and it was PERFECT. Tasty, flavorful, well portioned. Coleslaw was good and French fries were well seasoned (Don't let the presentation fool you) Thank you Nicolas! read more

The Lobster Trap - Lobster Roll - Seafood Near Me - Avalon, California

The Lobster Trap is a local favorite on Catalina Island for casual seafood and drinks. We came here just before lunch started, but they let us order from the regular menu anyways. It's a cute fisherman-themed restaurant with bar seating, as well as counter seating where you watch the chefs prepare food. As a tourist, I had no idea of what to eat on the island, and looked at the top most popular choices. This is the choice that was not a chain restaurant. - New England Clam Chowder (bread bowl) Pretty good, creamy, perfectly thick, clam chowder with no-nonsense ingredients; a good amount of clam and small potato cubes. I love it when a clam chowder's main chunks are just clam and potatoes. The bread was good due to being toasted, but didn't have too much taste or chew as a sourdough. It was more like white bread. It would have been nice if garnished with some herb, but I understand the concept of a simple and plain fisherman's meal! It's expensive for a chowder, though, and wish we had a bit more. - Lobster Roll Costs $30 and comes with fries or coleslaw, with choice of white bun, wheat, or sliced sourdough bread. I wasn't even asked for my selections - they just chose for me, which was actually my preference. They serve fresh lobster caught on the coast, but unfortunately I went off-season. The lobster is mixed in a creamy tarragon sauce (which was barely present - seems they more slathered it onto the bread than the lobster) and while I could tell it was from frozen, there were a lot of thick chunks. The fries needed seasoning, and the bread roll seemed odd with the lobster; I'm used to delicious buttery rolls, but this was just like a plain bread crossed with an English muffin. The Lobster Trap, dare I say it, almost seemed like a trap, but I did think the fare seemed overall accessible for seafood in a tourist strip. They were also very nice and accommodating, and I loved the lemon slices with our water. Our small meal was overall expensive and not too filling, but it was enough to get us through the day. read more

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The Lobster Trap was one of the restaurants we dined at on our trip to Catalina Island. We all thoroughly enjoyed our food. The service was attentive and to top it off, we saw Blueface dining there and we took pictures with him! The ambiance was casual and very busy. There are TVs there to watch the game. I saw a bar. This place is great for families and friends getting together. I think you should call to get on a waitlist. It's a popular restaurant. I ordered 3 tacos and seemed vegetables. My sister ordered a pasta dish and the other ladies orders I don't remember but I will post their dishes because I took pictures. I like The Lobster Trap. It has a nice vibe. I truly enjoyed my tacos. read more

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Local place to get some good local catch lobster. Unfortunately the season for catching fresh lobster was Oct-March. But they still have some frozen catch from the season. Food: * coconut shrimp *lobster-good but was drench in some cream/butter, wish I knew,I like it just steamed. *clam chowder - very good, very filling. *sea bass- fresh and tasty (lemon and garlic) * halibut- fresh and yummy (garlic and caper sauce) The seafood is very fresh, maybe not the healthiest prepared..., but a ll very tasty and casual atmosphere. Service is really good. Seems to be a local spot. read more

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*Fresh fish- locally caught and sourced which is a huge plus *Delicious and creamy clam chowder which I had both times I went and liked. * Got the Seafood Kabob- the swordfish was delish... but overall kinda bland when it came to seasoning/ flavor * clam strips were yummy *The monkey balls were tasty but a little too oily (yes I know they are fried) *Full bar with several beach favorite cocktails *Service was hit or miss. Went there when it was busy and the server was amazingly attentive. The second time was after the lunch rush and not very busy but our server was just not on their game. read more

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Lobster trap is absolutely one of our favorite restaurants in downtown Avalon. This is also a local favorite since they open long hours all year round. I really like the newly expanded space, it's very open and bright. Still as lively as usual. The menu is huge with a great variety. Drinks are tasty and very strong. My favorites are lobster roll, fresh lobster, grilled oysters, steamed clams and fresh whole fish. They don't always serve whole fish but when they have that we always order it. The service is always very friendly. This place is a great option for all day eats with great prices! read more

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So we started off in the bar area near the bathroom, the smell of the cleaner was too much, I was getting nauseous and just couldn't. We asked our server who was very understanding if she could move us. We waited for a new table which didn't take long. I was a little skeptical of ordering steak at a lobster joint on an island but why not live on the edge... we also ordered the swordfish and lemon chicken. The lemon chicken was not a favorite but the swordfish and the steak were on point. The swordfish was not fishy, had good texture and was super enjoyable. The filet was cooked to a perfect medium and veggies were good as well. The thing that set this apart from most restaurants was our server. She was extremely kind, helpful and went above to make sure we were all comfortable and taken care of. If I get back to Catalina this will be our go to. read more

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The golf cart rental guy recommended this place to me when I returned my cart. It was a short walk and I was greeted warmly by the hostess. She had a ponytail and was wearing khaki shorts. She gave me a great little high top by the window so I could have good lighting to record some content. I ordered the lobster roll, because when in Rome.... My server, Maricela was delightful. The place was pretty busy, but I didn't mind. I could have sworn the lobster roll was $18. I've never had a lobster roll. It seemed to have a decent amount of meat, but it was messy to eat. The meat kept falling out. The bread should not have been cut in half, maybe leave one side connected. I also ordered the clam chowder to go, which I haven't had yet.The fries were TERRIBLE! They were extremely skinny, small and scrawny. Clearly, just some off brand frozen fries from the grocery store. Super disappointing. But the most disappointing thing was the bill. The lobster roll was $34!!!!! OMG, $51 for one person for lunch. Dang, buyer beware. read more

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We decided to walk to The Lobster Trap for dinner on our first night in Catalina. The place was pretty busy, but we were seated by a window right away, and ordered our drinks. Our server came over pretty quick and we ordered the steamed artichoke to start. It was brought to the table and was hot with cups of mayo and butter. It was perfectly cooked, and we enjoyed it very much. Mr. B ordered a cup of clam chowder that was really tasty and the fish and chips for dinner. I chose the mushroom asparagus cheese tortellini dish and chose the cream sauce. Our meals came out fast and we dug in. Mr. B enjoyed the fish, it was crispy and seasoned well. The fries were barely room temperature so that was a disappointment. But the fish was more than enough and the portion of fries was huge. As for my pasta, the tortellini was good, the mushrooms and trimmed asparagus were cooked well, but the cream sauce was not the consistency of alfredo sauce which I expected, it was thin and a bit watery. I think their seafood dishes are probably better. The flavor of our dishes were really good. Mr. B and I would eat there again, he would have the fish again. I would probably choose another dish or a different sauce. The atmosphere was really fun, and our view out the window people watching was great too. read more

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Food- typical bar food which is not good IMO. I was outnumbered so had to go here. Waste of 50+. Drinks were fun. Ambiance was happy and fun. Staff and service were excellent! read more

We were staying around the corner at the Seacreast Inn and Lobster Trap was recommended. We just wanted something simple before we shipped out. We both order the Country Burrito, eggs, bacon, sausage, ham, cheese topped with country gravy and choice of side. The food was yummy, one burrito honestly would have fed both of us. The hash browns were cooked perfectly. The service we received via phone was very upbeat and friendly, we were pleasantly.surprised to know they took phone orders. Although we didnt eat at the restaurant we did walk by several times and it is a very popular place and was busy everytime. It looked like a energetic and fun place. read more

The Lobster Trap - This was taken around the corner at the hotel - Seafood Near Me - Avalon, California

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Enjoyed Our First Visit To The Lobster Trap!! Friendly & Welcoming Staff!! Casual Relaxed Ambiance!! Local Favorite Restaurant On Catalina Island!! Casual Seafood Spot Known For Rich Clam Chowder & Lobster Rolls!! Great Seafood Menu, Draft Beer, Wine List & Full Service Bar!! Ordered & Shared The Steamed Artichoke, New England Clam Chowder & Seasonal Catalina Local Lobster, With Creamy Bay Shrimp Stuffing!! Everything So Delicious!! Great Service!! Server Was Helpful & Courteous!! Very Good Seafood Restaurant!! Enjoyed Our Time & Experience!! ThankU read more

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I have to say the staff here did really well considering how busy it was during lunch. The woman at the front never stopped smiling and got people in and out quickly and efficiently. The lobster taco was easily the star of the afternoon. For $12, it was loaded with lobster meat. Next would have to be the bacon wrapped scallops! They were divine. The fish n chips were also great. Outside was nice and crispy while the inside was glistening. I also recommend the sea bass taco. With a lunch like this, I'd bet everything on the menu is great! If you're on Catalina Island, stop here! read more

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By far one of the best restaurants experiences we have ever had! Caleb and his amazing staff went above and beyond for our family while we joined them for dinner! Our son is 3 and he loved our dinner at the lobster trap! We stopped in to check out their menu at first Caleb welcomed us as if we were family, he invited us to watch a fresh fish be prepared for sushimi and not only watch but also eat it! Our 3 year old was amazed and so excited he even ate 6+ pieces of the beautiful prepared sushimi and it was the best yellow tail I've ever had ! We had their amazing margaritas, juicy rib eye and crisp flavorful Caesar salad. Literally the staff make you feel so welcome and are full of smiles and our food was a 13/10 o wish yelp allowed more stars! Our now favorite place in Catalina! Thank you Caleb for having such an amazing establishment! read more

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I had a breakfast and dinner here during my last Catalina visit. The rain and wind caused boat cancellations on 2 days during my stay; several restaurants I was planning to visit subsequently never bothered to open. Lobster Trap is an old reliable standby, a usual stop for me, popular with locals and visitors alike. I would rank Lobster Trap #1 for breakfast in Avalon, before Pancake Cottage and Original Jack's. Naughty Fox is good for breakfast, but doesn't open until 9 am and only 3 days a week in the winter. I ordered the shrimp fajita omelet and it was fine. Note that on the current menu, none of the breakfast entrees come with toast, which is different from the online non-updated menu! I prefer the more costly lobster omelet that I got last time. The breakfast menu has quite a few options--usual choices, seafood, Mexican, Hawaiian-ish, gluten lovers. My dinner choice was clam chowder and local spiny lobster, which was $58. The chowder was nice, quite thick but lots of clams. Served with regular saltines, not oyster crackers. The spiny lobster was quite nice. These lobsters don't have claws, just a large tail that was stuffed with a bay shrimp stuffing. There were fresh veggies (carrots and zucchini) and I chose a baked potato (instead of rice pilaf). Reliably consistent with regards to food, service and open hours, Lobster Trap will continue to be a regular stop for me. read more

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Came to The Lobster Trap on a recent visit to Catalina Island. This is definitely a locals place for drinks as the bar was packed when we came for dinner. We were seated right away. The staff is super friendly, both the host station and the servers. The food is excellent, the drinks were good. (We didn't order any exciting drinks). Even though it was off season, I really wanted a lobster roll. It is expensive, even off season, but it was so good, worth it if you want to splurge. We also had the mahi with mango salsa, and the lobster pasta dish. Rave reviews from around the table. The atmosphere is local fisherman theme, rustic wood, etc. TVs playing sports games, etc. Would come here again, the next time we are in town. read more

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I tried the cioppino, seafood entree and oysters and I definitely recommend their oysters. They tasted fresh and were a good size. It was $21 for 6 pieces. The cioppino was on the watery side and the seafood entree was pricy and wasn't anything too special. Service was super friendly and accommodating. My friend is allergic to shrimp and they were able to swap out shrimp for more scallops on the cioppino. read more

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This place was great, it's on one of the side streets off the main boardwalk. There was no wait, and the staff was amazing. We ordered several items even though I didn't get pics of them all. The Calamari was great, the shrimp and mahi tacos were excellent, and the Mexican Candy and Gummy Bear shots were delicious! read more

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Friendly atmosphere. The restaurant was busy, but your orders come out quick. I see a lot of teamwork. When we needed refills, another waitress would accommodate. I was disappointed on their cioppino dish. It needed more variety of seafoods. Mostly fishes and shrimps as shown on picture. I would definitely be back. I want to try other dishes on the menu. read more

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Tasty tasty salad and you could order fish on top and I ordered the crab / market price / and it was extremely cheap in my book. But it did not taste cheap. It tasted so fresh. The fish here is extremely amazing. I would've got a picture of my fiancé's dish, but he ate it so fast he had the swordfish. It was so damn good. The service is quite friendly here as well and it's always packed. I feel like but we got in every time and didn't have to wait so that was very nice. You will laugh at the decor in the inside. It was super cute and very nautical theme read more

The Lobster Trap - Crab salad - Seafood Near Me - Avalon, California

We stopped by Lobster Trap while visiting Catalina Island and overall had a really good experience. The clam chowder was excellent -- rich, comforting, and full of flavor. We also started with the crab cakes, which were well-seasoned, flavorful, and a great appetizer. The only downside was the lobster roll. The portion of lobster meat was generous and definitely a good value, but the meat itself was very plain and lacked seasoning. A little melted butter or some Old Bay would have made a big difference and really elevated the dish. That said, the quality of the food overall was solid, and with a small tweak to the lobster roll, this place would be even better. I'd still recommend stopping by, especially for the chowder and crab cakes. read more

The Lobster Trap - Crab cakes - Seafood Near Me - Avalon, California

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We spent Christmas here in Catalina and just adored it. I was thinking that I want to live there even though it's a bit touristy. Most people take golf carts to get around town. If I were to move here there are two requirements that are must haves; a golf cart and a boat. Most definitely! Okay now to the Lobster Trap. The thing was that a lot of restaurants and stores were closed because of the holiday but some were open because it's a favorite tourist destination. This spot was right across the street from our hotel so that was so nice and convenient. It was very busy but after a short wait we were seated. My daughter and I ordered some jalapeño poppers to get us started, I mean it's not the best choice for a seafood restaurant but we love them and they were excellent with a excellent ranch dip on the side. My son and I both got the New England Clam chowder in a bread bowl that was so yummy but so huge we couldn't finish it. My daughter got the fish and chips and just loved it. Joe got the seafood sandwich which he loved. Our waitress was adorable and I wish I remembered her name but she was a beautiful Hispanic gal. Even though it was crowded we got excellent service. very timely and we had a great high top table that was separate from the large dining room which was nice, less noisy. When I come back and I will to back to visit this will be the first on my list. read more

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I really enjoyed coming here on the cruise stop in Catalina. The ceviche was so good snd fresh, and the chips were very crunchy. The gentleman who served us was very nice snd helpful and provided good recommendations. It was a great atmosphere, very tourist friendly. read more

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First time here. Great ambiance, great service and very friendly bartender. Hayley makes a great bloody mary. We had the smoked salmon appetizer which was very good. Will come back again. read more

The Lobster Trap - Signage - Seafood Near Me - Avalon, California

As hyped up as The Lobster Trap is in Catalina Island, it lives up to its name and reputation with rich seafood dishes and generous portions. By taking into account the food options on the island and the quality/quantity of food, The Lobster Trap is a solid 4 star. Food quality was great as the lobster roll and clam chowder had great depth in flavor. The lobster was cooked to perfection and not rubbery at all. Great seasoning and use of their seasoning and mayo to give nice texture and moistures. There was a lot of quantity of lobster (my picture doesn't do it justice because half of it is spilled at the bottom when I was slicing the sandwich). Just keep in mind that it took longer for me to get the food. The clam chowder was unique as it had a lot of depth in clam flavor and cheesiness, which made the dish creamier and richer than a normal clam chowder (comparing to Seattle's chowders and others I've had in Europe). Don't be fooled by the pictures, the clam chowder is a sizable portion that is probably 2-3 servings. I happened to share with 3 people as a side. Service-wise was straight forward and efficient. Simple and no extraneous talks or back-and-fortha other than ordering food and servers supplying us with water. Keep in mind that this place can get busy if you don't go at opening hours (my family and I happened to get there right when it opened and got seating quickly, but it looked like there were a lot of people after we finished eating). Overall, great place to eat if you're on the islands and looking for seafood. It can be pricier, but it is worth it for better food especially on Catalina. Ambiance was traditionally setup like a seaport bar or hub. There were a lot of fun sea animal props, which added to the "lobster" and "ocean" vibe. read more

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Casual spot with excellent service. I originally went there for the spiny lobster(I am from the East Coast)but ended up getting hooked on the shrimp cocktail instead. The house made sauce was delicious: a little tangy with just the right amount of spice, and the avocado and chips paired perfectly with it. The lobster itself was simple and good, steamed and served with butter. I prefer spiny lobster over Boston lobster personally, and no claws to deal with. I'd definitely be a fan if they ever decided to make a lobster cocktail! read more

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This is the place to go when you have a non-seafood human who loves good food! The menu here is huge! The seared ahi tuna appetizer is exceptional and the clam chowder is loaded with clams (heavy on the cream). Service was excellent and wait time was less than 25min during summer, weekend, peak hours! I gave 4 stars simply because my personal dish- seabass collar was over cooked and my friends halibut was also overcooked on edges (center was perfect) Kids ate rice, cooked veggies, chowders... options feel endless here! Its a super great family stop for any meal, they serve breakfast!!! We did not sit at bar but the vibe looked fun! This is a high recommendation when on Catalina Island! read more

Lobster Benedict, chicken fried steak, some jaeger bombs and mimosa and you're good! Mara was the best server! This is now a regular stop when on Catalina Island! read more

The Lobster Trap - Chicken fried Steak! - Seafood Near Me - Avalon, California

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We came here for an afternoon drink and appetizers on a Tuesday. We sat at the bar. What made this experience five stars was how friendly the staff was. We had the jalapeño poppers and coconut shrimp for snacks. The coconut shrimp, especially the sauce that is provided with it, was absolutely delicious. I wish we had more of an appetite to try more of the menu. Overall, it was a fantastic experience. read more

The Lobster Trap - Seafood Near Me - Avalon, California

One of the best places on the island to eat now that they have breakfast it's it's just that much better read more

The Lobster Trap - Seafood Near Me - Avalon, California

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Stopped here for brunch with a group of 7. Took a long time for the food to arrive after ordering. I had the Lobster Benedict, and it was very good. Overall, I enjoyed this place. read more

Catalina Island doesn't have many restaurants but hey, makes picking a place to eat easier right? So Lobster Trap, despite the name, gives many other yummy options besides lobsters. We got a lobster roll and sea bass and poke dish which kept us quite full during our time on Catalina Island. The poke was seasoned nicely and standard, not much more to it. The lobster roll is very generous with how much lobster they give you, the bread is a little dry and lackluster but hey, we're here for lobster. Not overcooked, the lobster lives up to the restaurant name. The sea bass was nice for its price and you have many ways to prepare it, I wonder if we had not gotten it fried if it'd have been more tender. We got it breaded so it felt a little dry but the sauces made the sea bass a lot better thankfully. Of course, nothing completes this meal out without a nice beer so don't forget that! All in all? This is a good place to eat at before you spend the rest of the day walking around (or golf carting around)! read more

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Not a huge fan of the food options here on Catalina, everything feels overpriced and not very good overall so I never leave feeling satisfied. I had a good time at Lobster Trap, the ravioli and sea bass were a bit underwhelming which was unfortunate. However, their spaghetti was surprisingly tasty. But I'd say this restaurant's standout dish would be any of their sandwiches. Had the pleasure of having one of their lobster rolls and bbq pork sandwich, both were delicious especially the bbq. I was also impressed by their variety of food options, definitely gave me trouble trying to decide since it all sounded good. Good, tentative staff as well. read more

I rarely write reviews, but I feel a responsibility to share this experience. We dined at The Lobster Trap on our first evening in Catalina. My daughter and I ordered a variety of dishes so we could try a bit of everything. One of the items was the cioppino, which only I ate (she did not). At approximately 3:30 AM, I woke up with severe stomach pain, intense cramping, and back pain. What followed was hours of vomiting and diarrhea that completely wiped me out. I was unable to sleep and ultimately lost the entire next day of our trip due to how sick I was. My daughter, who ate everything except the cioppino, was completely fine. Based on the timing and symptoms, this strongly points to something in that dish. I'm not writing this to be dramatic or unfair--things can happen--but this was severe enough to significantly impact our trip, and I believe other guests should be aware. I would strongly encourage the restaurant to review food handling and freshness protocols, particularly with seafood dishes like cioppino. I truly hope this was an isolated incident, but I would advise others to proceed with caution. Regrettably our 1st trip to Catalina was severely impacted and we won't be returning to this restaurant ever again. read more

The Lobster Trap - Receipt of our dinner order. - Seafood Near Me - Avalon, California