2 Best Restaurants in Catalina Island, Orange County and Catalina Island

Overlooking the harbor, this open-to-the-sea-air patio is the preferred spot to dine on freshly caught fish, savory chowders, and all manner of shellfish. Order a swordfish steak, the lobster roll, or the sand dabs if they are on the menu. Save room for homemade Key lime pie or java mud pie. The dining room has a nautical vibe. Fishing rods serve as room dividers, and plank floors lend a casual feel inside and out. Vintage black-and-white photos acknowledge the island's famed sportfishing legacy. Happy hour offers craft beers, potent cocktails, and tasty bites like fried calamari and oyster shooters.

Seafood rules at the popular, newly renovated Lobster Trap. Try the grilled swordfish with mixed veggies, grilled salmon salad, seafood pasta, tacos, and burritos. Locals and visitors sit at the open kitchen counter or large bar with hooks underneath for bags and outlets to charge your devices. Some prefer the elevated tables in the "Money Matters" boat.