Me and my friends had an awesome time especially due to the excellent service of Carlos. He was very amiable and enthusiastic. Thank you for the wonderful experience. read more

Tasty or WasteY??? Totally tasty!!! We've been coming here for over 15 years. I just recently started ordering chilaquiles. By far these are the best I've ever had! I had carne asada instead of chicken. They were perfect! Great prices big portions. I totally recommend. read more

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Lalla's Grille is a locally owned restaurant in Monterey that focuses on fresh, organic, locally sourced ingredients and making everything from scratch. After dining here, I could definitely appreciate that philosophy because the food was good, and you could tell it was freshly prepared! First off, I love the clever spin on the restaurant's name, especially with menu items like the Lalla Burger. It's a fun touch that gives the restaurant its own personality. The food was great, and I appreciated the variety of cocktails available. There's something nice about finding a place that offers a little variety beyond the usual drink menu. Now, for the one area that could use some improvement: service timing. The restaurant wasn't busy, but everything seemed to take a little longer than expected. I had actually finished my entire lunch before anyone offered a refill on anything. While the staff was friendly, the attentiveness could have been a little better, especially with the restaurant being relatively quiet. Overall, I enjoyed my experience at Lalla's Grille. The food was delicious, the fresh, made-from-scratch quality was noticeable, and the birthday surprise added a memorable touch to our family celebration. With a little more attention to table service and refills, the experience could have been even better. If you're in Monterey and looking for a local spot with fresh food, a fun menu, and a good variety of cocktails, Lalla's Grille is worth checking out. I'd come back to try more of the menu! read more

Been here a few times now and every experience has been great! My partner is obsessed with the carne asada fries, which are absolutely loaded with flavor, and are very shareable (although he often eats them as a full meal). Most recently, I tried the steak sandwich, which has blue cheese, arugula, caramelized onions, and chipotle mayo. The skirt steak is cooked perfectly, tender with a little pink in the middle, and the blue cheese adds a nice sharpness that compliments the sweet onions. The bread is toasted but also soft. I opted for a caesar salad side instead of fries, and this salad is totally worth the swap. The dressing is tossed into the salad instead of poured on top, so every bite is tasty. There's plenty of parmesean, and even crispy fried parm bits, which I've never had in a caesar before. For a drink, I had the smoked Mexican old fashion. Delightfully smoky, smooth, and warm, a very well-made cocktail. Every time we've eaten here, all the staff have been very friendly and welcoming. The restaurant is large and has an outdoor patio with heaters. The ambiance is modern, trendy, and pleasant for a casual time with family and friends. A great place to eat for locals and visitors alike. read more

Lalla Grill Del Monte - Asada Fries, Blue Cheese Steak Sandwich with Caesar Salad, Smoked Mexican Old Fashion - New American Near Me - Monterey, California

Beautiful Saturday morning & I decided to join a friend at Lalla Grill at the Del Monte Mall. Good conversation, good company, immediate seating in a comfy booth near the bar, and really good service from start to finish. Our server was a gem... don't know her name, but she represented the restaurant well. The busser, cashier, & manager were equally exceptional and truly understand customer service. My friend ordered Mexican Lentil Soup & found it very flavorful with the right amount of seasoning. It was served hot and the temp remained constant as she ate it. We both had decaf coffee with cream. Yummy, made fresh pour-over style and hot! Perfect. I had Lemon Ricotta Pancakes with Fresh Fruit (no maple syrup needed as the pancakes were also perfectly flavored!). The brunch menu offers good selections with good prices for the quality. There's alot of space here for intimate meals, fun at the bar with friends, patio seating, or event space rental. With a movie theater & mall shopping just steps away, the location is perfect. Parking is ample, but I like to park at one end of the mall & earn my brunch with a nice walk to the opposite end (and back). read more

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I've been here multiple times since they opened, and it's an easy option. The location & parking at Del Monte Mall makes it easy to meet up with friends. I've visited for birthday drinks, book club, and happy hour, and there's truly something for everyone. Everything we've tried has been delicious, but my go-to choices are the calamari and salmon. The service is attentive, and the classy ambiance makes it a great place for any occasion. read more

Service was incredible. We were checked in on a timely manner- our waiter was so lively and fun! I ordered the steak (medium rare) and frites. We did wait for about 35-40 minutes. This was the weekend so it was expected. When I finally received it, I noticed that the steak was well cooked. We were in a rush for other plans so I didn't fix the order. read more

Lalla Grill Del Monte - New York Steak & Frites - New American Near Me - Monterey, California

Early Friday afternoon...we did not even have the opportunity to dine in. When my husband and I entered, no one was at the front of the restaurant. A waiter then came over to enter an order, and the only response my husband received was a blank stare. There was no greeting or other acknowledgment. After that lack of interaction, we decided not to stay. We left and will not return. Ambiance was meh, and what food? Would have been nice to try it. read more

A solid choice to eat at with sooo many options. I'd come here with family and friends if you all might want different things (think The Cheesecake Factory but less intimidating). I got the Cobb Salad, which was a huge portion and well worth the price. It was good, but nothing super special. Parking is free in the shopping center, and service is quick and friendly! read more

Lalla Grill Del Monte - Cobb Salad - New American Near Me - Monterey, California

Loved the ambiance of this place!! It was actually pretty crowded for a random Monday at 1:30p. After a long hike at Point Lobos the food hit the spot! Service was excellent for food and drinks! Will return when in the area!! read more

Lalla Grill Del Monte - New American Near Me - Monterey, California

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Kalem seated us and was our server. He was kind and attentive. In fact, he was so on top of it that he didn't even need to come back to the table to ask if we needed any to-go containers. He saw me with half a sandwich on my plate and came over with a box. They were very accommodating and put cheddar on my sandwich instead of American cheese. Also, Kalem checked on a dessert for me to ensure I wouldn't ingest any of my food allergies. The breakfast potatoes were wonderful. Not too bland nor were they over-seasoned. My husband said his French dip was nice and juicy, not dry and it was filling, too. Our child said the fritatta wasn't VERY flavorful but that the ingredients were good and overall it was enjoyable. As for my bacon egg and cheese sandwich, it was a bit bland, too, but very large and also filling. Like I already said, the potatoes were great!!! Despite all 3 of us feeling pretty full, we ordered and enjoyed dessert together. Even though I didn't order any alcohol, I really loved their wall of bottles. There's music playing but it's not loud or annoying. read more

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Stopped by for lunch after landing in Monterey. Ambiance is really cute with a cool little patio to dine in. The menu had a lot of selections that seemed appetizing but I settled on the steak sandwich. Food was pretty good. I had the Moroccan gnt which was pretty good although having cracked black pepper in the drink made it a bit difficult to drink. Service was good, as much as I would expect from a casual lunch spot. read more

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NY Steak and fries, done as asked. This is a plus. Nice ! Espresso martinis are worth the price. Clam chowder and salad was also good. Large tender calamari pieces served with dipping sauces were really nice. I could have just had calamari steak for dinner but it wasn't offered. Vibe seems to be a 50's pulp fiction open and airy feel. The service was good and friendly. A very fair pricing on the menu. As a rant in general about tipping; I don't tip on the added tax, and I feel somewhat insulted when I see it on the bill. I wish their practice would change. And, yea, I tip 20%. Ok, enjoy. read more

Lala's has become one of those places where I already know half my order before I sit down. The blue cheese steak bites are rich, savory little bites of trouble, the ahi tuna is always a favorite, and the skirt steak with chimichurri has that perfect bright, garlicky punch. I've also done the steak with bacon-wrapped shrimp because apparently I believe steak needs a side of more steak-adjacent indulgence. But the bread pudding deserves its own paragraph. Warm, decadent, and absolutely worth pretending you "still have room" for dessert. Now, cocktails. My absolute favorite is the poblano margarita -- just enough peppery kick to make it interesting without setting your mouth on fire. I'm also a Paloma girl, and Alyssa and Radiance know their way around a cocktail shaker. Both make fantastic drinks, are absolute sweethearts, and always take great care of us. The place itself is huge and nicely spread out, with indoor and outdoor seating, a large bar, roomy booths, and plenty of space whether you're grabbing drinks for two or showing up with the whole crew. And apparently I've committed a Lala's crime by never ordering the Brussels sprouts because my friend swears by them. Fine. They're next. Good atmosphere, dangerously good cocktails, savory food, and a staff that actually makes you want to come back. Lala's has earned its spot in my rotation. read more

I love this restaurant. I probably eat there once a week. The food is always excellent! I've written a number of reviews on this restaurant, but this time I'd like to point out the manager, Zoey. My friend and I like to eat in the bar seating in the restaurant and she always remembers us. This past weekend she recommended chicken piccata as one of her favorites and now it is one of ours. You will never regret having lunch or dinner there food is always wonderful and the staff is incredible. I highly recommend it. read more

Very nice restaurant with a good vibe and menu! We ordered three dishes, fish and chips, burger and grilled chicken dish. All good

Took my mom here for her birthday but the experience was so so. We got sat at a booth by the back of the restaurant right next to the kitchen. The staff was loud and back and forth. There was also a few staff members hanging out and eating a couple tables down from us. The food I hoped would've been better for the price but it was basic. The Fish & Chips wasn't anything spectacular, the steak was a bit tough and the Shrimp Scampi Pasta has some tiny shrimps that were soft and mushy. The best dish we had was the Calamari appetizer. This whole experience I give a 5/10. This would not be a top option for Monterey dining for me. read more

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First time here and the food was amazing! I had the nachos and a side salad. We also ordered pasta, half chicken, and salmon dishes. We all loved all of our food! It was more than enough food! The service was excellent--especially our waiter. I wish I caught his name for this review. But everyone attended us well. The restaurant itself is nice! I would definitely recommend this place! read more

Lalla Grill Del Monte - Nacho Party - New American Near Me - Monterey, California

Bartender was amazing, she was quick friendly and attentive! Food was also amazing, cocktails were unique delicious and we will b

Beautiful scenery and decoration, I sat by the outdoor fireplace and really liked the real planter boxes lining the walls as it gave a warm touch, they even decorated my drink with a beautiful edible flower. The waiter was incredibly friendly and attentive and all the food arrived on time with great care. Very tasty I definitely recommend. read more

Lalla Grill Del Monte - Maui Fizz N/A TOGO - New American Near Me - Monterey, California

Does shopping make you hungry? It does for us. While doing our holiday shopping at Monterey's Del Monte Center mall, my friend and I popped into Lalla Grill to fuel up with some delicious eats. It's a really cool lunch spot with a great atmosphere. We opted for a table inside. Our indoor table overlooked the patio, which had plenty of tables, a fire pit, and some beautiful green plants. The menu here has enough options to satisfy even the pickiest eaters. Pastas, salads, burgers, soups, seafood, steaks, sandwiches, and a good assortment of starters. Perusing the starters, we decided to go with an assortment of small bites. We ordered the Spicy Thai Wings - A large portion of Thai spice-marinated chicken wings with an orange glaze. Wow! So delicious. These are addictive. The spiciness was perfect - a good amount of heat without having to call the fire department. We also ordered the Ahi Poke Ceviche, which, although good, could use some improvement. I wouldn't call it Ceviche - it was more like a guacamole with some Ahi Tuna and lettuce mixed in. It was served with wonton chips, which fell apart the minute we dipped them into the pile of avocado & fish. Overall, the flavor of the dish was tasty, but serving the dish with the delicate wonton chips failed in its intended execution. We ended up sprinkling the wonton pieces over the Poke. Still delicious, though. And finally, are you sitting down?....Blue Cheese Steak Bites! Yep, you read that right. OMG, these are to die for. Little pieces of steak stuffed with blue cheese, wrapped in bacon, and drizzled with honey mustard. Heaven on a plate! OK - that's the food. Service was great. Atmosphere was chill. The cocktails were inspired. We were there mid-week, and parking at this mall was easy. If you're at Del Monte Center in Monterey, I highly recommend Lalla Grill. They have another location downtown, too, if you're out and about on Cannery Row. read more

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Went to the marina location. The service was horrible. Everyone working there was standing around talking. We were about to get up and leave as no one took our drink or water order for 10min. Calamari app was chewy. The ambiance is IG worthy. The girls next to us took a photo of all their food and were in their cell phones the entire time. Our service was poor and slow. As a local we Won't go back ever again. read more

This place is huge, they play very lively music and is decorated in a modern and hip place. It was very busy, but we're still able to get a table within the estimated 15min window of time. Unfortunately, the food is as underwhelming. I was very put off by the giant plates that came to the table. I was served a pile of salad that was no better than what you'd get at an apple bees. The best part of my visit was the Moroccan G&T I had. I enjoyed the mint in it, but I was very annoyed y the peppercorns in it as a garnish. A few times I ended up chewing on them or swallowing them -Find a better garnish! The servers were friendly, but when I go out to eat I go for the food and based on my experience I wouldn't come back for that. read more

Lalla Grill Del Monte - Morgan G&T - New American Near Me - Monterey, California

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Yikes. 5 minute wait turned into over 30 and they refused to let us sit at a table because of a kitchen back up, despite more than half of the restaurant being empty. read more

Lalla Grill Del Monte - New American Near Me - Monterey, California

My wife and I were visiting for a couple of days and we decided to stop by we had their diavola flat bread which was delicious and the cavatelli pasta It was excellent very fancy good ambiance service was excellent definitely will come back with more time to try more things around this shopping center!!! read more

Visited the restaurant last night during one of the busiest weeks of the year and it was amazing beginning to end. I cannot get over the wonderful service from Fortino. He was attentive, kind, happy & just an amazing waiter. We were a large party of 6 & all of our food was served fresh, delicious & with our modifications, to perfection! 10/10 experience over all. Thankyou for amazing service Fortino, and all the other workers for the delicious food and quick service. read more

I love this place. It has become the go to restaurant for my wife and I. The food is consistently good and the service is always super friendly. While we each have our favorite items to order. I love that there's always something I can try here knowing it will also be delicious. Both my wife and I have some dietary restrictions and have to make substitutions on different items and I love how accommodating this place is. I can't recommend this place enough. There's a great outdoor patio and plenty of room for larger groups if you call ahead. Cute place and great for lunch or dinner. Try the crème brûlée waffle you won't be disappointed. read more

We came here on our day trip to Monterey, and it was a good experience! Really lovely seating area outside with beautiful greenery and lots of space. Service was a little slower but it was a Saturday at lunchtime and the staff were very nice. We ordered a pomegranate limeade, pasta al limone, black bean burger, and birria burger. The drink was yummy and refreshing! The pasta was a bit overly cheesy but I really liked the lemon flavor. The black bean and birria burgers were both delicious, very well made! Portions were good sizing, we were full and had some leftovers too. I would recommend this place if you are in the area! read more

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I wanted to update this review since it had been a few years. I like going to this restaurant which is attached to the Del Monte mall. They have a very nice heated outdoor patio that is dog-friendly. This time I tried the California club sandwich and it was really good and I like how you could get it with a side salad instead of fries. The sandwich itself was on sourdough bread and it was a really delicious combination. The only thing that we did notice is they no longer offer fresh-made potato chips when you sit down which is disappointing. Bring back the potato chips! read more

Lalla Grill Del Monte - California Club with side Caesar - New American Near Me - Monterey, California

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First time eating here, I ordered the birria quesadilla as a starter. I was a little nervous about it since I make birria and had birria in Mexico and San Diego which taste authentic and delicious. I'm very picky with Mexican food, which is why I rarely l eat at Mexican restaurants, they usually disappoint. I was happily surprised how on point the meat was, cooked to perfection, the birria sauce a little salty but very tasty. The best part was how the taco were perfectly crunchy and still soft in the middle. Thank you Lalla for a delicious dinner. I was so happy I couldn't eat anything else. Also my Paloma was very refreshing and tasty. I will be eating here again when in Monterey. Adrian the server has such a great attitude and I noticed how he made every customer feel special. Great service and delicious food and drinks. read more

It's been 5 years since we were last here. Not sure why, but tempus fugit! We came here after seeing a movie at the Cinemark. The restaurant is just across the parking lot so we were not the only ones dining there after the movie. Ambiance? It is still a very modern, sleek, and somewhat sterile decor with tons of seating inside the restaurant and a lovely patio area. The Lalla name and sculptural flowers at one end of the restaurant were pleasantly reminiscent of giant Lego blocks. Food? Honestly, I was questioning our decision to come here when I was handed the menu. It's a slick presentation resembling that of a chain restaurant. However, when we received our food, my questions were dispelled! We ordered the shrimp tostadas as a starter. Folks, these people know how to cook shrimp. These were large shrimp, which means they weren't large but about an 1" long. They were perfectly cooked; just barely opaque and pink with plenty of snap. Three crisp tostadas were topped with a tasty, thin guacamole salsa and then the grilled, spiced shrimp and a pico de gallo. They were a mess to eat, but super delicious with a small spicy kick. For our entree, we split the steak and cheese enchilada plate. It was beautifully presented with a line of Arroz de la Mexicana in the center; very nice, fluffy, and flavorful. The black beans were stupendous! This was not a gray puree but rather well defined, well cooked beans with pot liquor. We're not black bean fans but we were impressed! The steak was a perfect medium rare sliced into six two-bite slices. Very tender and beefy tasting. The enchiladas were filled with Mexican cheese that was firm rather than gooey. The enchilada sauce was not the usual #10 can offering. Instead, it was a house made guajillo ancho sauce that had a smokey spicy kick. It was absolutely delicious! TBH, I couldn't have been more surprised and more pleased! Service? Before we walked in the door, the hostess walked out of the restaurant with the waste can from her podium and emptied it into the center's garbage can in front of the restaurant. That receptacle is meant for customer use NOT tenant use. Not a good portent of the staff's training. Our server was cooly efficient. I'm thinking this was not his best day. The food runner was super friendly and commented on our order saying it was probably the best choice on the menu followed by the chicken enchiladas. As we were obviously open to conversation, he engaged us. This gentleman should be waiting tables! Geez, we really need to patronize this restaurant more often than every five years! It deserves, and probably enjoys, a regular clientele! read more

The food was delicious . The server, Fauntisto , was absolutely incredible, who made the ambiance and vibe that was already super, even better. There were 6 adults and 4 kids and he made sure we were all taken care of to the max. Never had such a pleasant experience there and everyone was in awe of the meal tonight! Keep it up Lalla Grille! read more

Lalla Grill Del Monte - Pistachio Crusted Chicken Salad - New American Near Me - Monterey, California

I was surprised at how cool the outdoor patio is at the mall. They were great to our dogs and good service. Food was way above what I think of as a mall restaurant. I had the quinoa salad and it was delicious. Great burgers too. Very casual. Lots of families. read more

Ordered fish and chips with sweet potato fries. The fish was overcooked, hard to bite through the ends and the sweet potato fries were totally soggy with very little flavor. The apple slaw was ok. read more

It was delicious. I got a burger and the dip it came with was amazing and so different almost like a jam. Service was awesome and it was kinda quick really busy when we went. Love the ambiance and space. Would go again! read more

The ambience is light and airy, with great soft music. The service was excellent, the server was attentive and thoughtful. The food was very good ... I had the Cobb Salad, which was visually pleasing, texturally interesting, and delicious! read more

We went here because we are from San Diego and we came here to Monterey bay and I will tell you I ordered the Lalla burger with fries, 10/10 I ate the burger fast it was so good. The waiters were also really nice and cared about your experience and food. Also the inside has a lot of cool decoration and plants in the building, we didn't go outside but it looked very decked out with cool stuff. I recommend you come here 10/10 read more

Yummy meal. Got the carne asada and it was very good. I wish the plate was a bit bigger because all my beans soaked up on my meat but everything had really good flavor. Our waiter was very kind and everything went well. read more

Well, the bacon burger and the Paloma were good but the fries were not. The service was really bad too. I got sat at the back of the restaurant really far away from everyone? And someone finally took my order and he was nice but no one checked on the table after I got my food, I had to ask some random waiter just to get a glass of water. Definitely felt like I was treated different here and not in a good way, my first not great restaurant experience in Monterey. read more

Wow! We had the most loveliest waitress, Serena who recommended the best key lime pie! I had the tacos and my fiancé had shrimp scampi, both were great choices. They made us feel to welcomed to celebrate our one year olds birthday. The seating by the window was beautiful. Thank you! read more

Lalla Grill Del Monte - Tacos and Shrimp Scampi - New American Near Me - Monterey, California