Dora - San Diego, USA

Opening its doors in November of 2025, the restaurant itself is a newcomer on the San Diego food scene. However, chef Accursio Lota already brings several years of local experience from his other restaurant, Cori Trattoria Pastificio, which he and his wife opened in 2019.

The restaurant’s namesake, Dora, is chef Lota’s own grandmother from which he draws his inspiration for the Sicilian-influenced menu. Blending old-world recipes with fresh, local ingredients, Lota aims to carry on the tradition of his grandmother’s cooking through the simple, rustic, and traditional flavors that he learned from her when he was young.

Dora is located in a recently constructed part of the UC San Diego campus, known as the “theater district,” which sits just across from the industry-renowned La Jolla Playhouse. Ample parking is available in an underground garage, however due to being on the university campus, paid parking is enforced, and there aren’t any free options nearby. Aside from that, the location is easy to get to, on the outer edge of the campus, and just a short drive from the freeway.

Everything about the restaurant was brand new when we visited, not only due to the fact that it was just built, but we were also there within their first week of service. The decor inside was modern and chic, with a playful touch, and everything was neat, clean, and new. Something that I found a little off about the interior and layout, was the arrangement of the bathrooms. Just past the host’s desk was a hallway. Along one side of the hallway were several individual unisex bathrooms and the opposite side of the hallway was lined with chairs. I am guessing the chairs were there for guests who were waiting to be seated at their actual table, but arranging them right in front of the bathrooms, facing them, was to me, an odd choice.

Decor and layout aside, we were eventually led to our table, which happened to be outside in the enclosed patio. Normally we would have opted to sit on the inside, but the restaurant was fully booked that night. Part of it was likely people checking out the new place in town, but also, it seemed like many of the guests were on their way to the Playhouse afterward. The latter clientele really seems to be a key demographic for the restaurant, especially given their location. As a matter of fact, the menu actually features a “pre-theater” option, with a 3-course pre-fixe menu, consisting of a starter, an entree, and dessert.

For our meal, we just ordered à la carte, since several of the options sounded interesting. Everything that we tried, from the Arancini Ai Porcini E Tartufo, to the Cous Cous Di Pesce was flavorful and tasty, although nothing particularly stood out. While the food was far from being a letdown, the pacing and service were still trying to find a rhythm. I am not ignoring the fact that this was the first week of service, and that the restaurant was fully booked, but the dining experience was definitely not the smoothest, and it will need to improve if Dora wants to make it through the final act.

The wine program has potential, although the list was still relatively short when we visited. On top of that, the bottle that we had intended to order was not available, and a comparable substitution could not be made, so we ended up with something in a different price range altogether. Again, still getting things dialed in, but hopefully that happens sooner than later.

Everything considered, the experience was ok. The patio seating was plenty warm (even on a windy November night), thanks to the heaters overhead. Food-wise, the flavors were there, but nothing on the menu was really exciting. Considering the local clientele though, maybe playing it safe is the idea, no disrespect. Finally, the wine program has potential to be something special, especially paired against an array of traditional Italian cuisine. Looking at this potential in the same context as the dishes on the menu though, I’m not sure if the clientele would support it. People headed to the theater may not opt for a luxury wine pairing experience or a bottle that costs hundreds (to thousands) of dollars, but then again, maybe they would? One thing for certain is that the university students scrounging up meal plan dollars to sample the finest dining on campus probably would not, regardless of if they’re even of an eligible age (21+). To that degree, Dora is in a unique position in terms of location and clientele. I really believe those two factors will determine how far they are able to push their menu and offerings into a more elevated space. Regardless, I think there is a niche for them here in the UCSD Theater District, and I hope they find the right formula.