LAS ISLITAS OSTIONERIA

There’s no doubt that this is a seafood restaurant. Windows are partially painted in brilliant seascapes with octopus, fish and other denizens of the sea. Step inside to find the vast interior decorated with huge conches, abalone shells, and more paintings, aquariums and fishing nets. Established and owned by a family from Nayarit, the restaurant has a setting much like what you might find in a seafood restaurant along Mexico’s coast. You’ll be greeted with a bowl of ceviche, paper plates, chips and packets of saltine crackers, and if it’s on the weekend, a band might be playing (it can get pretty loud) and the TV’s muted. One side of the oversize menu is all seafood, from large or small (still pretty big) shrimp cocktails served in stemmed goblets to mixed platters of shrimp, octopus, crab and scallops and whole grilled red snapper. The other side has more seafood, plus steaks, chicken, carnitas and other non-seafood items, but Las Islitas is really about the fresh seafood. For samples, try the red shrimp and octopus tostada, which comes loaded with thin, almost shredded octopus and seven or eight large grilled shrimp, served simply with lime and a spicy green salsa on the side or the delicate shrimp empanadas chock-full of fresh shrimp. 1527 East St., Woodland; (530) 406-1503. www.lasislitaswoodland.com. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. daily. Shrimp and octopus tostada, $6.75, shrimp empanadas (three) $7.99, seafood platters start at $13.99.