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We had dinner here tonight, and it was fantastic. An appetizer, 2 entrees, 2 desserts, coffee and 2 glasses of wine for about $110 (without tip). The ahi tatare was very fresh and flavorful. Her halibut was perfectly cooked and matched well with the spinach. My lamb was cooked to my liking (medium) and was fantastic - all the flavor without too much gaminess. Her molten lava cake and my trio sampler were top-notch.
The atmosphere was great - a nice oasis from the beer and fried food fare down by the beach. The service was fantastic - we wanted for nothing and our requests were handled without any difficulty.
I'm giving 4 stars because of this first and (currently) only experience. We are planning to go back on our next Catalina trip, and if everything is consistent, will raise to 5.
Service was terrible. I didn't catch our waitress' name because she never even mentioned it & we saw her only once when she took our order. All I remember was a fairly young blonde. It took her forever to even come over to get our drinks & order. We were tempted to leave by the time she got to us.
Ambiance. Probably the nicest place to grab a meal. We sat on the patio where most of the parties were. The main dining room looked nice & a little old school. Def not as relaxed as the patio.
Food. They brought us out semi warm and kind stale bread & a gigantic cracker. I'm a fan of olive bread & tried theirs. No good. Tired the cracker. Meh. Decided not to waste anymore calories on tastless filler.
Dinner. To our surprise we enjoyed it. I ordered the seafood special which was the seabass. Cooked nicely and laid on top of a bed of wild rice. Sauce was a
Tangy tomato. My boyfriend had a steak I forget which one but it was Asian inspired. Steak was decently cooked & had lots of flavor. The waitress said the sides on that particular steak were good so he tried it. Actually they were kinda sucky. Udon noodles in cilantro were too mushy & the carrot daikon salad wasn't that interesting. We also ordered a side of sauteed veggies which they forgot & we had to ask someone else other than our server since she didn't come out.
Mostly satisfied with dinner we quickly got out check from another waitress since she never, never came back to check on us. We were kinda over the lack of service & opted to go get ice cream down by the water instead. I left them a crappy tip. Our dinner was only $56. I usually tip at least 20% but really, we had non existant service. Left her only $6 tho we were tempted to leave less.
Antonio's seems to think he's Bo Jackson. Antonio's knows pizza (Antonio's Pizzeria). Antonio's knows country breakfasts (Jack's Country Kitchen). Antonio's knows bar food and bbq (El Galleon). Antonio also know's Mexican food (Mi Casasita). If you are like me, you can't help but be skeptical of menus that list almost a hundred items ranging from pasta to seafood to stir fry. Next time you gaze apprehensively before tucking into your third disappointing helping of cattle fodder fish and chips fried in week-old oil, remember that there is culinary salvation laying just up ahead at the Catalina Country Club.
Nestled just beyond the fuzzy overgrowth of tourist traps as you enter Avalon, this little sanctuary offers deliciously focused fare that tastes like sheer indulgence after planning a fun-filled day on the island.
My girlfriends and I tried them for lunch first and was surprised by the selective midday menu consisting of sandwiches, salads, and small entrees, all priced at just a few dollars more than your average fish tacos plate at El Galleon. The simple sandwiches we ordered were all accompanied by your choice of sides and we all picked the sweet potato fries. My Kalua Pork Sandwich was perfection with the sweet potato fries with blue cheese dipping sauce. My girlfriend ordered the parmesan chicken sandwich because I had read elsewhere on Yelp that it was amazing for such a simple sandwich and it did not disappoint! The meat in both sandwiches were perfectly juicy, seasoned, and tasted great with the various condiments chosen for that particular sandwich. Everything tasted artisan hand crafted and was worthy of a small bistro you may have found in New York.
All in all the experience blew us away enough for us to come running back for dinner two nights later after Antonio's dished out the said disappointing hockey puck-like pizzas and stale fish and chips. Although the dinner menu was a bit more of a splurge, the looks on our faces as we took a bite of their house-made mushroom cream gnocchi was priceless. Their artisan cheese sampler platter was also a meal in itself and the portions were more than generous on all accounts. Truly, less is more and we couldn't be more excited to return to the island to sample the other thirty items on their less than extensive menu. :)
The setting in the courtyard is extremely tranquil and serene. I had the chicken caesar salad complimented with a glass of sauvignon blanc. It was perfection. The lettuce, chicken, and dressing were of perfect consistency and displayed in an artistic fashion. I wanted to take a picture of the meal and almost did... This is a great meal to eat if you are extremely hungover and you were out late drinking whiskey the night prior to... It's easy to digest and the white wine does a nice shampoo effect to level you out. The environment was very relaxing, the food was excellent, and we had great service.
Perfection.
Oh the food, yes the food. Best chicken sandwich of my life! Said my hubby who quoted another review of the same place who said the same thing
I had a cheese plate and a tropical iced tea. Lovely Lovely!
Go here for food. I bet the golf and accommodations are nice too!
We come to Catalina at least a couple of times each year and spend a week. The dining room at Catalina Country Club is always our farewell night out. Good food, great atmosphere and terrific service. We always have kids in tow and they are great with them as well.
Almost always have the specials and am never disappointed. If you are a fan of Catalina tile then don't miss the drinking fountain in their courtyard.
Arrive early and enjoy a drink in their bar!
I'm biased, as I got married here. The food is good but spending so be prepared for that. Sitting in the couryard is highly recommended. We worked with DiDi for our wedding and she was great. However, the bar staff was rude to the guests during the wedding and wouldn't make mixed drinks for some of our guests even though we had an open bar. (They were of age, it was my mom!) Other than that, it will always hold a very special place in my heart.
I went out to Catalina Country Club for my wife B-day.Well I went here from the previous reviews here in Yelp and I have to say this is the first time YELP has let me down with the reviews.
I got the #1 table in the restaurant with the ocean view...haha this view was over looking roof tops and trees and than some 2 miles out there
" Ocean View" ...Also this might be an exclusive table from the others in the restaurant but your the main entrance attraction...Not my version of romantic..The food presentation was wonderful but as for the taste i can pass...I had to wait over 10 minutes for a refill of my beverage which was alittle long due to the fact that we were the only patrons in the restraunt...
I'm not picky but for the price of 2 entree's and a couple appetizers and a soda and ice tea with No dessert. The bill was $118 with tip I think that is a bit much for what you will receive...
The Italian restaurant that has high reviews here on Catalina I went there a year ago and that places food and services was wonderful...
A must when you're visiting the island and here's why.
Truly a gem, this place is about 10-minute (nice) walk from the hustle and bustle that is Tourist Trap Downtown Catalina. Without screaming kids or bikini-clad teenagers and away from the beach, The Country Club gave Catalina Island a different feel.
The building that houses the restaurant was amazing - high ceiling, huge windows, and airy patio / courtyard in the middle. They could also do away with the ornate decor in the dining room due to the space.
Food quality and presentation are comparable to those from top restaurants in the Bay Area - namely crab cakes appetizer, lamb chops with fingerling potatoes and angus filet with horseradish mash potatoes.
Need I say more?
Went hear for the early bird special... Entrees are 19-20 each instead of $30-35 each from 500-630 PM.
The food was delicious...
My sea Bass was excellent, and so was the salad...
Best thing about it, is that I was able to sit with my date on our own private balcony with a view of the ocean... by private, i mean we were outside and we had our own double doors which closed on us and secluded us from the rest of the dining room... pretty cool if u ask me...
we were 1 of 4 people dining at the early bird special, but that didnt mean we felt alone or deserted or received unattentive service...
the service was spot on, and the waitress even brought my date another glass of wine when a fly flew into her drink (we were sitting outside)
the actual country club is BEAUTIFUL and one of the best parts of the island....
this is the most legit, most real, most fancy, and best all around non tourist trap restaurant on the island...
got 2 glasses of wine, 2 entrees, and an appetizer for like $60 bucks including tip
totally worth it for a big friday night date dinner...
the food is 4.5-5 stars
ambience 5 stars
go for this one if u are on a date in avalon...
this is THE BEST place for a romantic dinner and fine dining on the island...
You cant go wrong
PeAcE
There are many, many, many tourist trap restaurants to lure you in on this tiny little island, but the Country Club restaurant, thankfully is not one of them. It's a little off the beaten path and well worth the extra 2 block walk. Hubby and I were in Catalina just for the day and we had a fantastic lunch here. We sat on the patio outside near a fountain. The weather was perfect, the atmosphere was perfect and the food was darn good.
We ordered the crispy onion straws to start...served with a chipotle sauce. Dee-lish! It's a huge bowl of thin crispy delicious deep fried onion goodness. Hubby had the burger and I had the cobb salad. This was one of the nicest cobb salads I've had in ages. Everything was amazingly fresh and it was the perfect way to start off our Catalina Adventure.
We also learned that the Country Club was formerly the spring training destination for the Chicago cubs until the 1950's (I think). It's tucked back in the neighborhood of Avalon next to the golf course. Definitely worth a stop next time you are in Catalina!
Ang is right. The Country Club is a gem, great food, ambiance and service. Don't be fooled by the name, this Country Club is open to all. After a way of kayaking and riding a bumpy jeep looking at the buffalo roam, treat yourself to a fine dining experience. Lunch on that awesome patio is good also.
Try the whole baked spiced apple for desert! And say hello to the buffalos for me.
This is my favorite place to eat in Avalon. Soup is consistently good and their salads are as well. Thursday jazz nights are fun too...
Really nice vintage dining room, nice furniture and fireplace, friendly wait staff. Good deal on the early bird special.
But my early bird dinner wasn't edible. The mixed green salad was overpowered with vinegar, and the lettuce looked like it had been sitting in the dressing too long. The cooks committed the ultimate sin in grilling fish...they overcooked it. I didn't know anyone was still serving mango chutney on fish...kinda a blast from the 80's. The chutney was too sweet. We much preferred the food at Armstrong's Seafood restaurant in town.
Too bad, because the place looked so good and it's a convenient to the hotel we stayed at. They do have a menu with some interesting-looking items on it off the early-bird menu, but after the over-cooked fish, I didn't want to risk it.
I don't feel comfortable writing a bad review but considering the circumstances I feel it's only fair to share my experience with others. My wife and I decided to try out the Country Club with hopes of avoiding the aforementioned local tourist traps. At least with the places at the water front you get what your expecting...the Country Club menu is the same touristy fare just written on nicer paper in a country club font.
The restaurant wasn't busy at all as only a few tables were sat, yet, from our table we could hear the chef yelling at her kitchen crew in a very demanding demeanor. It wasn't very pleasant at all. In fact, it was actually stressful to hear her shrill voice trumpet out order as we tried to decide what to order. My wife's food was ok (sand dabs) but the rib eye that I ordered medium rare came out medium well (All gray in color with a small amount of light pink on one side. One of the sides of the steak was heavily charred and the other barely cooked.) I took a couple bites and considering it wasn't even seasoned, I decided to ask for them to try again. I figured for $35 a steak should at least be given enough attention that it has a sprinkling of salt and pepper.
Our very friendly waitress took the steak back to the kitchen after she apologized for the confusion. She was gone for about five minutes and returned with a new steak. This one looked better then the first and I eagerly jumped right in as I was starving by this point. I couldn't believe what they sent out next...This next steak was so raw in the middle that it was cold to the touch and blue in color. I was shocked at this point. I decided to throw in the towel and eat something on the way back to the hotel which turned out to be the best idea I had all evening. I found a little taqueria with carne asada tacos....
After talking to a foursome that was walking out at the same time, we all decided that the food was amateurish with no focus and poor execution. It seems like they try to escape the touristy label by offering more modern side dishes and upping the price. I guess you could call this a "foodie trap". Don't be fooled...stay down by the waterfront as the meals we had down there were executed properly and we didn't have to listen to the chef freaking out.
The only great place to eat on the island. Had the best chicken sandwich of my life for lunch, then later at dinner had lambchop that was absolutely to die for. Excellent service and wine selection.
A co-worker of S' had given us a list of places to try on Catalina, but of course we left it at home. Jessica, the charming manager at the Zane Grey Pueblo Hotel, suggested Villa Portofino where she also moonlighted. As an afterthought, she also mentioned that the Country Club had an early bird special, which didn't sound especially appetizing. With our depleted budget, though, we could hardly afford anywhere else. We resigned ourselves to something like Castaways, distinguished only by its view.
Wow, were we ever misguided. From the microbrews on tap from an outfit in Irvine in the bar to the gorgeous dining room, we could see at once that this was the top of the line for Catalina. And no wonder -- it's the former home of the Wrigley family and the former spring training grounds for the Cubs. Two very large (and separate) parties occupied almost half of the dining room, and their holiday conviviality spilled over to the rest of us. The manager and our server were knowledgable and friendly, and guided us to our choice of wine and entree: an organic Pinot Blanc from France (outstanding wine list, with an emphasis on organic and biodynamic wines) and prime rib for S and sea bass for me (the third choice is chicken cacciatore). Even the shrimp cocktail was outstanding -- with the lobster tail and the kicky horseradish-infused sauce. We should have stopped there, and counted ourselves lucky for getting away with such a feast for only $20 a head (not including wine), but we couldn't resist their signature apple dumpling. Crisp puff pastry baked around apples, topped with vanilla ice cream. We told ourselves that we'd burn it off by walking back up to the hotel. Maybe not, but we felt like instant insiders having lucked on to one of the island's best deals, pitying the poor boobs we saw on the same boat over settling for the tourist dives along the waterfront.
Avalon, CA
Category: Steakhouses
Avalon, CA
Category: Restaurants
Avalon, CA
Category: Seafood
Avalon, CA
Category: Pizza
Avalon, CA
Category: Pizza
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