During our visit to Catalina Island, we were looking for a reasonably priced restaurant with a waterfront view, and we found that in Antonio’s Pizzeria. They had an outdoor patio with tables to the side of the restaurant as well as in front of the marina. We were fortunate to have been seated by the latter providing a stunning view for our meal. The service was slightly slower than anticipated, but the food more than made up for it. One never knows for certain what the quality of the food will be when choosing a restaurant randomly, but we truly lucked out with Antonio’s. All of the dishes we ordered were pretty spectacular.

I requested the fish and chips. The batter and fries were crispy and seasoned perfectly while the fish surprisingly remained moist inside the batter. My husband’s chicken and penne pasta tasted as if it was cooked by an Italian grandmother.

The dish that stole the show, however, was Antonio’s cheese crisp which was a thin, crispy crust pizza brushed with garlic and butter topped with five cheeses, chopped pepperoncini, chopped pepperoni and salami. It was the perfect combination of a crunchy, garlicky, savory bite.

The restaurant is truly a gem. They understand how to put their best foot forward with their authentic Italian recipes. We would happily recommend Antonio’s Pizzeria & Cabaret to anybody visiting the island.

Antonio’s Pizzeria & Cabaret

230 Crescent Avenue

Avalon 90704

http://catalinahotspots.com/antonios_cabaret/