Alessa

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234 Forest Ave. Laguna Beach, CA 92651

949-497-8222

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Cuisine(s): Italian

Price: $$
Alcohol: Full bar

Reservations: Not Accepted
Parking: Street

Description

Located within view of the lifeguard station, on the city's busiest one-way street, Alessa takes no reservations and routinely spawns Avatar-like lines on weekends. It's noisy, cozy and cramped, less a restaurant than a bar with tables and chairs squeezed into every possible corner to maximize the prime real estate. You'll no doubt be seated almost shoulder-to-shoulder to the next guy, so close you'll mutually drool at what the other's having, like the zucca, a butternut squash-stuffed ravioli drenched in brown butter and garnished with deep-fried sage leaves. Though the dish is merely an appetizer, like the most memorable scene in a great movie, it's the one you'll talk about on the ride home.

Alessa In Laguna Beach Not Alessa Version of the Original

By EDWIN GOEI | Thu, March 24, 2011

I had not a single shred of doubt that the third and newest Cucina Alessa was going to be as good as the others. Even before it opened, I likened Alessandro Pirozzi to the James Cameron of OC Italian food—the rare auteur who can top his first bloc... More »

Main Menu

Appetizers

Gamberi
gulf shrimp sautéed in an iron skillet with tomato, garlic and chili, served with grilled bread (557 ca

Caprese
roma tomatoes layered with fresh belfiore mozzarella, sun-dried tomatoes, black olives and fresh basil

Cozze | Vongole
p.e.i. mussels or manila clams sautéed in white wine, fresh herbs, garlic and butter mussels

Polenta Farcita
organic polenta rolled and stuffed with organic spinach and provolone, topped with brown butter, crispy sage and tomatoes

Bruschetta
grilled rustic bread with tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic, extra virgin olive oil and salsa verde

Pane All’ Aglio
broiled garlic bread with spicy tomato sauce

Creamy Organic Polenta
with a choice of: pomodoro sauce and fresh belfiore mozzarella ragu di funghi and provolonesalsiccia sauce with provolone

Rustico
choice of our beef and pork meatballs or diestel ranch organic turkey meatballs in a spicy tomato sauce with garlic bread

Soups & Salads

Tortellini Soup
savory chicken broth, beef & pork tortellini, braised beef, and organic spinach cup (281 cal) bowl (576 cal

Minestrone Soup
genovese style vegetable soup with salsa verde cup (206 cal v ) bowl (365 cal v )

Caesar
crisp organic romaine hearts with shaved pecorino and crunchy garlic croutons (309 cal)

Mista
organic baby lettuces, tomatoes, shaved carrots and gorgonzola in a balsamic vinaigrette (223 cal v )

Insalata Di Farro
organic farro with grilled vegetables, marinated red onions, salsa verde, black olives and shaved pecorino (534 cal v )

Pizza

Pollo E Pesto
grilled chicken, basil pesto, fresh belfiore mozzarella, zoe’s meats crispy bacon and sun-dried tomatoes (1054 cal)

Funghi E Salsiccia
fra’mani italian sausage, fresh belfiore mozzarella, red onions and mushrooms over tomato sauce (1198 cal)

Calabrese
zoe’s meats spicy salami, tomato sauce, fresh belfiore mozzarella and imported calabrese peperoncini (1077 cal)

Ortolana
grilled seasonal vegetables, fresh tomato, fresh belfiore mozzarella and basil pesto over tomato sauce 1061 cal v

Margherita
fresh belfiore mozzarella and fresh basil scattered over tomato sauce and extra virgin olive oil (872 cal v )

Ricco
fra'mani italian sausage, zoe's meat's spicy salami and bacon, fresh belfiore mozzarella and roasted crimini mushrooms over tomato sauce

Grilled Chicken & Roasted Potato
fresh grilled chicken, roasted potatoes, fresh belfiore mozzarella, over lemon, rosemary and garlic butter

Scampi
gulf shrimp and shaved pecorino over olive oil, garlic, white wine and butter sauce

Clam & Sausage
manila clams, fra’mani italian sausage, fresh thyme, shaved pecorino over oil, garlic, white wine and butter sauce

Bacon, Arugula & Tomato (bat)
zoe’s meats bacon, fresh tomato, fresh belfiore mozzarella and shaved pecorino over garlic butter and topped with an organic baby arugula salad

House Specialties

Salmone Cannellini
grilled king salmon served with tuscan cannellini beans, organic spinach and salsa verde (925 cal)

Marsala
pan-roasted chicken breast with mushrooms and marsala wine sauce, served with organic spinach (718 cal)

Penne Portobello
portobello mushrooms, grilled chicken and fra’mani italian sausage in a roasted garlic cream sauce (1171 cal)

Gemelli
gemelli pasta with smoked chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms and cream (1155 cal)

Bistecca
brandt farms flat iron steak, grilled to order and served with tri-colored smashed potatoes with crispy garlic & parmesan

Pollo Parmigiana
tender chicken lightly breaded and topped with tomato sauce, fresh basil, fresh belfiore mozzarella and parmesan served with penne pomodoro regular (1513 cal) small (756 cal)

Conchiglie Gamberi
pasta shells with gulf shrimp, asparagus, tomato, cream and shrimp stock reduction regular (1202 cal) small (653 cal)

Frutti Di Mare
spaghetti with p.e.i. mussels, manila clams, gulf shrimp, calamari and garlic in a light tomato sauce (1002 cal)

Pollo Griglia
grilled chicken breast marinated in fresh garlic, thyme and lemon served with an organic insalata mista (698 cal)

Classics
Add Chicken Or Shrimp To Any Pasta Grilled Chicken (109 Cal) Sautéed Shrimp (83 Cal)

Siciliane
penne, roasted eggplant, fresh belfiore mozzarella, fresh mint and a spicy tomato sauce topped with ricotta salata

Bolognese
rich beef, pork and porcini mushroom sauce tossed with rigatoni, topped with shaved pecorino (708 cal)

Polpette
spaghetti with your choice of our beef and pork meatballs or diestel ranch organic turkey meatballs in a spicy tomato sauce

Capellini
choice of: pomodoro sauce with fresh garlic, basil and extra virgin olive oil or basil pesto with pine nuts (698/667 cal v )

Calabrese Al Verde
spaghetti sautéed with a medley of fresh seasonal vegetables and mildly spicy calabrese chili, topped with shaved pecorino

Fettuccine Alfredo
creamy parmesan sauce with cracked black pepper (1198 cal v )

Lasagna Tradizionale
traditional layered lasagna with house-made bolognese, fra’mani italian sausage, organic spinach, roasted mushrooms and provolone

Verdure
seasonal vegetable medley sautéed with extra virgin olive oil and garlic or spicy pomodoro sauce (353/393 cal v ) tuscan cannellini beans (62 cal v ) organic farro (300 cal v )

Ravioli Di Magro
tender ravioli filled with ricotta and spinach choice of: pomodoro sauce (580/325 cal v ) or gorgonzola sauce (1237/602 cal v ) regular small

Ravioli Di Zucca
roasted butternut squash ravioli with parmesan, brown butter, fresh sage and crumbled amaretti regular (842 cal v ) small (447 cal v )

Lighter Fare

Healthy Chicken
grilled chicken with whole grain fusilli, sautéed zucchini, tomato sauce and fresh basil (653 cal)

Healthy Fish
king salmon with whole grain fusilli, sautéed asparagus, tomato sauce and fresh basil (577 cal)

Garlic Parmesan Chopped Salad
chopped organic romaine hearts, fresh grilled chicken, zoe’s meats salami, provolone, garbanzo beans and tomatoes tossed with our new garlic parmesan dressing

Grilled Chicken & Vegetable Salad
organic romaine hearts with fresh grilled chicken, asparagus, zucchini, red onion, corn and diced tomatoes tossed with our extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice dressing

Chicken Caesar Salad
organic romaine hearts, fresh grilled chicken with shaved pecorino and crunchy garlic croutons

Steak Salad
grilled angus skirt steak over organic baby lettuces, grilled red onions and gorgonzola in a balsamic vinaigrette (745 cal)

Grilled Salmon Salad
sustainably raised salmon served over grilled seasonal vegetables and organic mixed greens with a balsamic reduction

Sides

Broccoli
broccoli sautéed with extra virgin olive oil, garlic and chili

Asparagi
seasonal) grilled asparagus with extra virgin olive oil and cracked black pepper

Organic Spinaci
sautéed organic spinach, pine nuts, extra virgin olive oil and garlic

Cavolini
(seasonal) brussels sprouts with onions, garlic, brown butter and fresh sage

Farro
organic farro sautéed with olive oil, fresh garlic, organic spinach and roma tomatoes

Patate
tri-colored smashed potatoes with crispy garlic & parmesan

Desserts

Tiramisu
ladyfingers, espresso and kahlua layered with chocolate shavings and mascarpone zabaione

Crostata Invertita
light sweet polenta upside down cake, baked with seasonal fruit, served with slightly sweetened whipped sour cream

Panna Cotta
eggless vanilla bean custard with marinated berries

Budino Di Pane
warm bread pudding served with our house-made butterscotch sauce and fresh whipped cream

Dolce Cioccolato
warm chocolate soufflé cake with melted chocolate center, chocolate sauce and fresh whipped cream

Artisan Sorbetto Or Gelato
mixed berry sorbetto (60 cal) / vanilla or chocolate gelato (65/116 cal)

Seasonal
ask your server aq

Mini Tiramisu {guilt Free}
just a few bites served in an espresso cup

Affogato {guilt Free}
vanilla gelato with a single shot of espresso

Looking for another city?

Alessa

234 Forest Ave. Laguna Beach, CA 92651

949-497-8222

Description

Alessa In Laguna Beach Not Alessa Version of the Original

By EDWIN GOEI | Thu, March 24, 2011

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