Lalla Oceanside Grill opens on Cannery Row.

A prime restaurant space on the water has a sparkling new look and a familiar formula in place.

Lalla Oceanside Grill (324-0891) imports the approach that has proven popular at sister Ottone Restaurant Group spots Ellie's in Salinas, Lallapalooza in downtown Monterey and Lalla Grill at Del Monte Center to the spot that formerly housed John Pisto's Paradiso.

That approach: lots of fun cocktails, a stylish setting and a massive menu—with items ranging from lobster nachos to chicken picatta to broccoli rabe pizza to cannelloni to chowder bread bowls to jambalaya to steak-prawn platters—that manages to appeal to everyone without sacrificing execution or, most miraculously, overall identity.

Big modern booths, funky contemporary chandeliers and other overhead appointments, an orange bar with gleaming mirrored surfaces behind it, floor-to-ceiling windows and views of McAbee Beach help make it pop.

Plus there's a downstairs Angel's Share lounge with a boatload of epynonymous barrel-aged bottle cocktails and a sidewalk patio, both firsts for modern-day Cannery Row. 

"It's been pretty neat to see the reaction," bartender Fabian Osornio says. "I think people are excited to see something unique to Monterey and Cannery Row."

Check out photos at right and menu highlights below. At the sneak preview, I tried the calamari-shrimp-chorizo tacos, sliders and Yellow Submarine in a foxy tiki jar and they were all winners. (The submarine was a salute to designer Rebecca Riddell, who did a striking job with the aesthetics of the place. That's her sweet go-to drink.)

The menu run down (I told you it was massive, and I didn't include the huge drinks list or six desserts [$10 each, including bananas foster, salted caramel cake and tiramasu):

Appetizers

Oyster Bar • $2.75 ea

Morro Bay Pacific Gold • Robust oyster with a melon finish

Long Island Blue Point • Medium big, salty, mild

Henderson Pearls • Deep, round, mild, salty & sweet

Crab Cakes • Topped with mango salsa • $13.99

Calamari strips • Fried to a golden brown then tossed with lemon, parsley, garlic, and red pepper flakes, served with our house tarter sauce • $13.99

Ahi Ceviche • Ahi, avocado, wasabi salsa, and wontons, served on a Himalayan salt brick • $14.99

Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail • A full-flavored, roasted tomato cocktail sauce with shrimp and calamari, topped with two jumbo shrimp and avocado • $14.99

Spicy Coconut Shrimp • Shrimp dipped in coconut milk and shredded coconut with chile dipping sauce • $14.99

Lobster Nachos • House made tortilla chips, cheese, Mexican rice, pico de gallo, fresh corn, pickled jalapeño, topped with succulent lobster and ranchero salsa • $13.99

Grilled Artichoke • served with balsamic aioli • $8.99

Chipotle Pulled Pork Quesadilla • Giant flour tortilla, pulled pork, Mexican rice, black beans. pico de gallo, cheddar and jack cheese, pickled jalapenos, and a BBQ sauce drizzle • $12.99

Grilled Calamari & Octopus • Italian Style! Served with roasted beets, aged vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, and fresh herbs • $12.99

Blue Cheese Steak Bites • Juicy steak stuffed with Point Reyes Blue Cheese wrapped in bacon with a honey-mustard drizzle • $12.99

Mexican Street Tacos

(3) Tacos in house-made corn tortillas served with black beans or a slice of cantaloupe

Fish Tacos • Blackened Mahi-Mahi filets with chipotle mayo, red cabbage, cilantro, onion, habanero mango salsa and Oaxaca guacamole • $13.99

Carne Asada • Char-grilled steak, chipotle salsa, salsa verde, chipotle mayo, cilantro, onion, sliced avocado • $13.99

Char-Grilled • Chicken Grilled with chipotle salsa, chipotle mayo, cilantro, onion, sliced avocado and salsa verde • $13.99

Seafood • Shrimp, calamari, chorizo, and chipotle mayo topped with Oaxacan guacamole and Mexican crema • $14.99

Blackened Salmon • Grilled with pickled red onion, avocado, jalapeño, pico de gallo, mojo & ranchero sauces • $15.99

big little SLIDERS

Irresistible burgers served with LALLAsauce, grilled onions, and pickle... Double-Up for just $4 more... orAdd a small side of Fries or Onion Rings for just $3

Kobe Burger • Ground Kobe beef topped with cheddar cheese • $5.99

Bacon Bacon • Bacon is ground into our priority beef recipe, topped with more bacon and American cheese • $5.99

PG Burger • Nostalgia at its best: our version of the famous burger once served at Lovers Point Beach in Pacific Grove. Cooked to order on a griddle with American cheese, topped with mayo, mustard, catsup, relish, and chopped onions—like a day at the beach • $5.99

Mexican Burger • Smokey, juicy, house beef-chorizo patty topped with pepper jack cheese and pickled jalapeño • $5.99

Ground Chicken & Guacamole Burger • With pepper jack cheese, chopped cilantro, and guacamole • $5.99

Soups

Clam chowder in a cup or bread bowl • $3.99, $8.99

Salads

The Iceberg Wedge • Crisp iceberg lettuce with blue cheese crumbles and blue cheese dressing....add any or all of these toppings • $7.99

Chopped Bacon, Tomatoes and Egg +$2.50

Blackened Chicken +$4.50

Seared Ahi or Salmon +$10

Caesar Salad • Hearts of Romaine tossed in our house Caesar dressing, crispy proscuitto, and grated parmesan cheese...Add any or all of these toppings • $7.99

Blackened Chicken +$4.50

Shrimp +$8

Seared Ahi +$10

King Salmon +$10

Octopus Salad • Italian Style grilled octopus with arugula and heirloom tomatoes, baby new potatoes, fresh parsley, andcrushed green olives, with red wine vinaigrette, drizzled withbalsamic vinegar • $12.99

Beet & Pear Salad • Organic mixed greens, roasted beets, sliced pear, Point Reyes blue cheese, candied pecans, chives, and mango dressing • $8.99

Heirloom Tomato & Fresh Mozzarella Salad • Heirloom tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, fresh basil, aged balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil on a Himalayan salt brick • $9.99

Greek Salad • Crisp romaine, cherry tomatoes, red onions, cucumbers, and kalamata olives tossed with our feta cheese dressing • $8.99

House Salad • Salinas Valley’s organic mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, beets, cucumber, carrot, toasted walnuts, and blue cheese crumbles, with our own Italian dressing • $8.99

Ahi Tuna Salad • Coriander crusted ahi with roasted potatoes, kalamata olives, and grilled tomato wedges served over organic spinach and arugula topped with a poached egg with a cherry vinaigrette • $15.99

Pistachio Chicken Salad • Chicken breast strips rolled in pistachio nuts and grilled, served on a bed of mixed organic greens, roasted onion, Granny Smith apples, dried cranberries and cherries, and crumbled goat cheese with a honey mustard dressing • $15.99

Dungeness Crab Louie • Dungeness crab, crisp iceberg lettuce, heirloom tomatoes, slices of hard boiled egg and cucumber served with our Louie dressing • $24.99

Cobb Salad • Grilled chicken breast, avocado, egg, tomato, spinach, Point Reyes blue cheese crumbles and chopped bacon, served with Italian vinaigrette • $13.99

Strawberry & BBQ Shrimp Salad • Barbecued shrimp on a bed of organic greens with juicy, ripe strawberries, feta cheese, roasted corn, cherry tomatoes, sweet onions, and dried cherries with a raspberry vinaigrette • $16.99

Calamari, Octopus & Farro Salad • Marinated calamari and octopus, grilled chorizo, cherry tomatoes, arugula, pickled onions, farro, and chopped dates • $16.99

Organic Red Quinoa • Chopped blackened chicken, dried cranberries, feta, cucumbers, bacon, grilled onions, cilantro, apples, toasted walnuts, and arugula with a cherry vinaigrette • $15.99

Lobster Cobb Salad • Chopped salad with lobster, avocado, mango,hard boiled egg, crispy bacon, spinach, and our Louie dressing • $19.99

Flatbreads

Our hand stretched dough is fermented for a minimum of 48 hours to achieve the perfect texture and flavor.

Margherita San Marzon • Tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, torn basil, and E.V.O.O. • $13.99

Margherita Blanca • Fresh mozzarella, oven roasted cherry tomatoes, torn basil, and E.V.O.O. • $13.99

Caprese Salad • Thick slices of Fior di Latte mozzarella, and heirloom tomatoes with dressed greens • $13.99

Wild Mushroom • Fresh mozzarella, goat cheese, roasted wild mushrooms, garlic cream, and fresh tarragon • $13.99

Sausage & Pepperoni • San Marzon tomato sauce, house-made sausage, pepperoni, fresh mozzarella, red onions, olives, and oregano • $13.99

Diavolo • San Marzone tomatoes, Calabrian peppers, spicy soppressata, mozzarella di bufala

LALLA’s Broccoli Rabe • Fresh Mozzarella, rabe, kalamata olives, red pepper flakes, sausage, and fresh mozzarella

Herb & Pistachio • Fresh herbs, thinly sliced red onion, pistachios, parmesan, pecorino, and E.V.O.O.

Sandwiches

Lobster Roll • Sweet, succulent lobster salad stuffed into a toasted, house baked roll • $19.99

World’s Greatest Italian Sandwich • A selection of Italian meats, mozzarella, Swiss, and grated pecorino, pickled red onion, arugula mixed with red wine vinaigrette, olive tapenade stuffed in a toasted, house baked roll • $15.99

Tuna Melt • Grilled tuna salad layered between melted cheddar, crisp iceberg and pickle on grilled sourdough • $13.99

California Chicken • Chicken breast served hot with melted Jack cheese, mayo., lettuce, tomato, sprouts and avocado on ciabatta bread • $13.99

California Club • Turkey, avocado, bacon, mayo., lettuce, tomato, sprouts, and Jack cheese on sourdough • $13.99

Muffuletta Sandwich • A Taste of New Orleans: A round loaf of house-made sesame seed bread with traditional New Orleans olive mix and soppressata, coppa, mortadella, provolone, and mozzarella • $15.99

Cuban Mojo • Slow cooked, chipotle roasted pork and ham with Swiss cheese, pickles, and a citrus sauce called "Mojo" • $13.99

Dungeness Crab & Bacon Melt • Sweet crab salad, crispy bacon, cheddar cheese and tomatoes on grilled sourdough • $18.99

B.L.T. with Smoked Salmon • Smoked salmon, crisp bacon, iceberg lettuce, and tomato, with mayo, and horseradish cream cheese on grilled sour dough • $13.99

Chicken

Italian Brick Chicken • Free-range, organic 1/2 chicken, deboned and grilled to order under a foil-wrapped brick for chicken that’s crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. Served with our arugula new potatoes and organic baby carrots • $21.99

Chicken Picatta • Chicken cutlets in a lemon-butter-caper sauce with arugula new potatoes, and baby carrots • $19.99

Chicken Marsala • Chicken cutlets in a sweet marsala and mushroom sauce served with our arugula new potatoes, and organic baby carrots • $19.99

Pasta

Our pasta is made fresh, in-house, daily.

Angel Hair Pasta with Clams & Mussels • Fresh angel hair pasta tossed with white wine, herbs and fresh flavors of the sea • $19.99

Bolognese • Rich, flavorful, slow-cooked Italian meat sauce with house-made egg noodles • $18.99

Bacon Wrapped Shrimp & Spinach Noodles • House made spinach noodles with a flavorful red sauce, topped with parmesan and bacon wrapped shrimp • $17.99

Lasagna • Our house-made noodles layered with our delicious meat sauce, white bechamel sauce, parmesan and pecorino cheeses • $16.99

Alfredo with Blackened Chicken • Fettuccine with strips of blackened chicken breast and parmesan cheese in a rich cream sauce • $16.99

Cannelloni • Delicate hand rolled noodles filled with meat and spinach topped with our red & white sauce • $16.99

Angel Hair Carbonara • Classic Italian pasta with carmelized onion, pancetta, parmesan, egg sauce, thyme and basil • $16.99

Fettuccine with Shrimp & Halibut • Sautéed shrimp and halibut in a mascarpone white sauce with bits of pancetta, red onion, and chopped spinach leaves • $24.99

Beef Ravioli • Savory, tender, chopped beef, roasted mushrooms, panceta, safritto, and parmesan stuffed in house-made pasta, served in our red sauce • $17.99

Fresh Fish

Our fresh fish is simply grilled to perfection served with crispy arugula new potatoes, and roasted Shiitake mushrooms.

King Salmon with crème fraîche • $21.99

Halibut • $24.99

Ling Cod • $19.99

Bronzino • $21.99

Mahi Mahi • $19.99

Ahi • sesame crusted, seared rare • $19.99

Sauce up your seafood

Avocado pico de gallo • $4.25

Mango fruit salsa • $3.75

Roasted poblano pepper & caper salsa • $3.25

Seafood specialties

Seafood Chowder • Bowl with mussels, clams, shrimp, octopus, calamari,and assorted fresh fish served with grilled rustic wheat bread • $22.99

Jambalaya • Prawns, mussels, andouille sausage, chorizo, and chicken on a bed of Cajun rice • $19.99

Cioppino • Italian seafood stew with mussels, clams,crab and fresh fish in a delicious broth made with roasted tomatoes and served with grilled rustic wheat bread • $32.99

Petrale Sole & Sauteed Shrimp • Crispy sole with shrimp scampi style, with arugula new potatoes • $22.99

Fish & Chips • Your choice of fish dipped in beer batter and lightly fried served with apple slaw and house cut fries • $17.99 Atlantic cod, $21.99 king salmon, $24.99 halibut

Steak combos

Start with our 8-ounce Kobe flap steak, with its intense marbling, seared on our special plancha grill

Steak & Jumbo Prawns • served with arugula new potatoes and baby carrots • $32

Steak & Angel Hair Pasta with Red Sauce • served with baby carrots • $24

Steak & Grilled Asparagus • Served with arugula new potatoes • $27