The Lobster Trap
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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.
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.
*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.
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.
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!
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
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.
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!
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!
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.
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!
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.
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
3 months ago
the people here where so nice and hard working! gave me and my family such a good experience and gave us some free samples of the fresh fish they cut! 100% recommend! read more
3 months ago
2 months ago
3 months ago
Sorry for the half eaten food picture ... but this food is DELICIOUS!!!! Our Server Marisela was super attentive and nice. We were able to walk in on a beautiful Saturday morning. We ordered the chilaquiles and WOW . The tortilla was crunchy and flavorful real authentic Mexican food ... we are staying to order lunch at 11:30 so stay tune read more
4 months ago
Great nice local joint! Family, friendly for kids and large parties. clam chowder and lobster roll are great. read more
The good: I tried mango salsa grilled fish with vegetables, fish tacos (2 different types of fish), coconut shrimp and fish and chips. The grilled fish and mango salsa dish was the best. The menu said they try to get fish locally when they can. I liked the charred flavor and the kick from the mango salsa. The mango was fresh. The coconut shrimp was nicely coated in a looser panko crust and was tasty. The interior of the restaurant was surprisingly large. There were vaulted ceilings and a large bar area. It's family friendly with a kids menu and crayons for the kids to color their placemats. The bad: There's no outdoor seating. We got seated at a high table which was difficult with a baby. They did give us an option for a lower table but we didn't want to wait 25 minutes. The tacos were bland and could've used more flavor. The interesting: The parking directly in front of the restaurant is 1 hour (I think) parking. The men's restroom had a merman painting and the women's had a mermaid. They sell t-shirts with their name on it. read more
3 months ago
4 months ago
We ordered the lobster salad and the lobster roll, and they were delicious! My favorite one was the lobster salad. We opted for the balsamic vinegar and olive oil dressing. We added a bit of black pepper and lemon juice, and it was just so good! We finished every last bite. The service was great and friendly. The atmosphere was lively and fun. You will definitely have a great time eating here! read more
First time in Catalina and arrived on the first ferry so we were looking for breakfast. It's located on the side street but since the area is small, the walk from the dock isn't far at all. They have lots of seating and an expansive menu. Our food was good. Nothing super spectacular or standout. The service was great though. Next time, we'll want to try their dinner and drinks options though. Even though we were one of the first ones to arrive, it filled up pretty quickly for breakfast. read more
4 months ago
1 month ago
This was the most fun restaurant we visited in Avalon! The staff and owner were just wonderful and so welcoming. We were so grateful to be able to be seated at 9:30pm after our ferry arrived. The swordfish on the seafood skewers was unbelievable! It had a nice crisp on the outside, but was tender and juicy on the inside. By far, the best swordfish I have ever had. Apparently, it's local to the island. We had the Buffalo Milk for dessert and it was tasty! Definitely worth a try. Will absolutely make The Lobster Trap my first stop when I return! read more
1 year ago
Came here for breakfast. Best tasting lobster omelette and oysters are fresh. Hanged out at the bar with great bartenders. Big plus. The bathrooms are super clean and nice. read more
9 months ago
Every single thing was delicious! My wife and I were thrilled and love everything down to the bread! Portions were large and flavor was outstanding! read more
10 months ago
Lobster Trap is amazing and we finally discovered their KILLER breakfast today. We got lobster eggs Benedict and a tried and true Denver omelette and they both SLAPPED! The flavors were amazing, freshness on point. Service was awesome as always. read more
2 years ago
Ordered the ceviche, seafood pasta, and fish and chips Ceviche was yummy but I have a slight preference towards shrimp ceviche. But it was still good and the chips were perfect! Seafood pasta was yummier than I anticipated. Option of marinara, cream, pink, or garlic olive oil sauce but we got the pink. The seafood was fresh and so well cooked in the pasta. Had fish, shrimp, scallops, and clams. Yummmmmm Fish and chips were pretty standard, nothing to write home about. Service was a little slow for our table but not sure if that's the norm or not. Outside the restaurant is very unassuming but the inside has nice vibes. Would come again! read more
2 months ago
We sat at the bar. My friend ordered the seafood platter and i decided to splurge on a lobster roll. Yes, like other reviewers have noted, I thought the prices were a bit high but it is a nice new restaurant on Catalina Island, I didn't think they were outrageous. I loved the lobster roll, they serve it either chilled or warm, I chose the warm option on white bread. There was a decent amount of lobster and the butter made it heavenly. My partner loved the seafood platter. Service was a bit slow, but neither of us were in a rush and enjoyed watching them work in the kitchen. read more
5 months ago
A local recommended this restaurant- and you can tell it's a local spot. There was a whole bunch of locals eating at the bar Key tip: it operates on island time - The 20 minute wait for a table was 45 minutes - The waiter came by, took a drink order and ... we got them 45 minutes later - Our food order? You guessed it- 45 minutes to get the food My son- 28 years old- ended up falling asleep at the table since everything took so long. But - the food is good. The waiters very nice and it's a cool vibe If you can, eat at the bar like the locals. read more
1 year ago
Celebrating my daughters birthday we knew we wanted to try some seafood. We walked around looking at the a few restaurants for lunch that was opened in late November. We love seafood so we decided to give the Lobster Trap a chance. They have so many good choices on their menu but we love tacos and that was a great choice, tasty in deed. read more
10 months ago
" trap" operative word .... Over hyped , frenetic place . Lobster roll , way miss named . Nothing like the real thing back east. I was 1st served the wrong one ( ordered warm , but was given cold ) they made it right , but just a strange flavor overall and seemingly in fake butter . read more
2 months ago
2 years ago
Stopped by the Lobster Trap while in town for the Catalina Half-Marathon. I went with the only vegan options on the menu: avocado toast (without the egg) and a side of potatoes. Overall, a delicious meal! The portion size was generous, with two slices of avocado toast piled high with fresh avocado, and the potatoes were perfectly cooked, super crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and seasoned just right. While I would love to see more vegan choices here, the quality of the meal was excellent, and the atmosphere and service was warm and welcoming. A satisfying and hearty meal for sure! read more
6 months ago
Chowder was good. Though lobster roll came on hamburger bun, it was fresh with plenty of lobster meat. Pasta was also very good. read more
9 months ago
So good my husband and I left our cards because we were so happy. we were recommended the place by locals and it was great we had some of their clam chowder ceviche and some crab legs and man we were full by the end. They had An amazing range of appetizers. I really enjoyed it. Our wait or was very very nice ambiance was enjoyable as well read more
11 months ago
The food was delicious but there was a bit of a wait. The place was packed and lively which was a nice vibe. read more
6 months ago
10 months ago
Solid 5 stars. Great ambiance, awesome service (sat at the bar) and delicious food. Shrimp ceviche was so good, even the chips were delicious. I got one shrimp taco and one mahi taco which were both so good. I would however separate the lobster roll out and give it a solid 4, I think. Maybe a 3.5....the lobster was delicious and the roll itself was good, BUT the garlic roll was so overpowering that when eaten together, I couldn't taste the lobster at all. My husband could though, and he loved it, so maybe it was just too much for me. Either way, we loved this place and would definitely come back! read more
1 year ago
This was some of the best food we had on the island, the ambience is fantastic. Our server was wonderful, giving us great suggestions and being super honest with us about portion sizes, etc. I had the ribeye steak and it's one of the best I've ever had, I also highly recommend the pasta... I upgraded from the rice pilaf to the creamy marinara and rigatoni and I have zero regrets. read more
1 year ago
This place is a tourist trap 100%. The food was not good. Fish and chips were mushy. The lobster roll was mediocre at best. The shrimp cocktail flavor was not good. Shrimp was fishy. The burger wasnt bad but i don't think its fresh most likely frozen. One of the only places that give you free water though. I wouldnt recommend this place though cuz if you want good food its not here read more
1 year ago
10 months ago
11 months ago
Just strolling around the area and found this great spot for some seafood! Food was great! Just surprised how they serve calamari that way read more
2 years ago
If you eat at one place in Catalina, this is it. Great food and amazing service! We sat at the bar and Sarah/Saucey? was amazing. Super friendly, personable and had great recommendations. Delicious meal and will definitely be back. read more
1 year ago
The food here was amazing! We had the shrimp wrapped in bacon, clam chowder, lobster roll, sea bass, and halibut. I also had a margarita and a Modelo Michelada that hit the spot. We will definitely come back the next time we visit! read more
More info about The Lobster Trap
128 Catalina Ave
Avalon, CA 90704
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(310) 510-8585
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https://www.catalinalobstertrap.com
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What's the wait time like for two people on Friday nights?
We ate on a Sunday and we always eat early. We had half the restaurant to ourselves. They do take reservations! Hope this helps your decision.
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The Lobster Trap - seafood - Updated July 2026
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