Upon arriving, we were greeted by the manager, who was very helpful in informing us about the parking situation he then placed us in Alexis section where Alexis took her time to detail, explained the menu to us as well as make sure that we had delicious refreshments and plenty of water. We ordered focaccia with the eggplant as an appetizer it was scrumdiddlyumptious. We followed that up with the margarita, pizza and a side of the meatballs. It was very delicious we were then very tempted with a delicious looking dessert menu unfortunately we decided to pass due to our bellies being so full with the delicious food that we have just consumed. We really recommend this restaurant along with Alexis as a server. She made sure to detail and explain the menu as well as provide us with recommendations upon other restaurants attractions to check out while we are visiting town read more

We celebrated our 3rd anniversary here on a Thursday. They welcomed us with a greeting letter and some champagne, the food was amazing , decent portions, perfectly cooked and the attention from our waitress Trish was amazing. Definitely recommend this place and would come back read more

I tend to judge a restaurant by how much I enjoyed the overall experience and we had a great time at Dora. The food was exceptional and really liked the layout with indoor, outdoor and bar dining. But the staff made the difference as we had an early dinner and there was time to chat. Shout out to our waitress, sadly can't remember her name and to August who seemed to be Johnny on the spot. Looking forward to our next visit. read more

Really fun visit to this lovely, delicious and innovative restaurant, which I will review... but first... (hey Dora! I'm giving 5 stars for this visit - but PLEASE do not only have your prix fixe on theater nights. I've wanted to come several other times when I was going to the theater or NOT going to the theater - but the prix fixe menu commits a person to 3 courses - which really, hardly anyone wants to eat before they are sitting in a 2 hour play... OR I would have come other times, but saw it was a theater night. And some of the themed play menus, like the 'Asian-Italian' one for Family Album, looked like misses when I really wanted to try your regular menu. So please consider dropping this & it will be easier to come & recommend to other people, so they don't get stuck coming a night when they can't order à la carte). Ok - onto my visit, on a night I came with nothing showing at the Playhouse! PATIO: Very lovely, great vibes. Easy parking in the structure downstairs (though I have to figure out next time how not to prepay so I can validate). SERVICE: Trish, super nice - but also a superhero. I forgot my leftovers. She ran down the staircase into the parking garage to give it to me. A+ service, Trish! WINE: Love the Sicilian menu with grapes I'm not familiar with. I tried the CALA CALA Calabretta. Yum! A fun taste experience for $16. Earthy - but also leathery - a nice combo of a cab with what we normally think of with Sicilian wines. That made me happy! APPETIZERS: My sweetie got the *Insalata Di Finocchio* (extremely tasty!! like a salad of my dreams, though not his - I took much of it from him and finished it). I got the Pomodoro: what a gorgeous salad! It looked like carpaccio - but made of tomatoes. Very tasty and very large. I took home most of it since I finished the Finocchio, and it was delightful to eat the next day (thanks, Trish, for making sure I didn't forget it). ENTREES: He got the bistecca and enjoyed it. I got the SPAGHETTI (rye flour! tomato tartar!) and it was a perfect version of spaghetti pomodoro. I'd get it again, or try something else. (but also, please bring spoons to folks with their pastas before we ask - I mean, I'm not a savage, of course I need a spoon to eat my spaghetti properly LOL!). DESSERT: the portions were nicely sized but not overfull - and I was taking the rest of my salad home. So we both decided to get dessert - and we both wanted the Cioccolato, Ciccolato, Cioccolato (Chocolate Custard, Chocolate Mousse, Chocolate gelato). So we said: we're going to have Cioccolato, Ciccolato, Cioccolato, Cioccolato, Ciccolato, Cioccolato! (Trish laughed). It was really a delightful chocolate dish. Sometimes there is Sweetie Good.. or Me Good... for chocolate (I like dark chocolate and find milk boring - he likes milk chocolate and finds dark too bitter). But this was a winner for both of us. SO - I really liked this restaurant, which is why I'm giving 5 stars (esp. with Trish running down the stairs to give me my leftovers). BUT... I know that if I come this month on a weekend evening, unless I eat super late, I'm not going to be able to get the Finocchio OR the Ciccolato x3 - because guests are required to choose from the prix fixe menu before a show. Black-Billed Cuckoo starts this weekend (Sept 2026): shows are every night but Mon. through Oct. 11 - with 7:30 T-Fri, 8 pm Sat. and 7 pm Sunday. Dining at 7 or later on a Sunday night is going to be your best bet to try the regular menu and get to order a la carte. I understand the appeal of keeping things simple on theater nights - but only offering the 3-course choices is too much for so many nights. So I hope that Dora management might become more flexible with this. And I hope I'll be able to drop in before the theater sometime and either have 2 courses or pick the 3 courses I want. Congratulations otherwise on some really delicious food! read more

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What an exceptional experience! Dora Ristorante in La Jolla is the kind of restaurant that makes you slow down, enjoy the moment, and appreciate what great Italian cooking can be. From the beautiful atmosphere and welcoming service to the thoughtful coastal Italian menu, Dora delivers an experience that feels both sophisticated and genuinely inviting. The menu strikes a wonderful balance between lighter dishes and indulgent Italian favorites, with beautifully prepared salads, pizzas, handmade pastas, and seafood. The flavors were fresh and amazing demonstrating the soul of Southern Italy and Sicily. The arancini were perfectly prepared and ranks with the best I have had. The sausage gnocchi were pillowy soft with amazingly seasons ground pork. The meatballs were charred perfectly while being tender and just medium temp. Yum! And then there's the Amaro experience--an absolute must for anyone who appreciates Italian spirits. The amaro flights are a fantastic way to explore the depth and diversity of these often-overlooked digestifs. It turns the end of lunch into an experience of its own, with the opportunity to sample three different styles was fun! The entrées are equally impressive. Dora's approach to Southern Italian cooking is elegant without being pretentious, allowing excellent ingredients to shine. The linguini with seafood was briny and delicious! What really sets Dora apart, though, is the complete experience. The design is beautiful, the open kitchen adds energy, and the service from Alexis was comforting and welcoming. She was attentive and friendly. Bravo all the way around. read more

We dropped by Dora last week prior to a La Jolla Playhouse show and were quite surprised with our food experience here. Before 6:30pm, only the theater menu is available and if you sit at the bar, there is the option of a la carte instead of only the $65 prix fixe. We had a la carte from their Asian themed menu (to fit with one of the shows) including an octopus toast, a seafood chow mein, a miso noodle, and the fish of the day (swordfish). We were sorely disappointed to find all the food bland and underseasoned. The pasta to be overcooked (and both to be of the same noodle) and just lacked flavor. The toast was three tiny bites for $24 that tasted only of hosin. The swordfish was also just fine but needed extra salt. All in all, a quite expensive meal for rather subpar food. We did not have drinks but also heard as our neighbor ordered that their old fashion cocktails come premixed - which lowered our opinion even more, particularly given the prices. read more

We stopped by Dora by surprise after finishing a play at La Jolla Playhouse, and I'm so glad we did! What a beautiful space. The attention to detail is everywhere -- from the warm lighting to the gorgeous mosaic floors and beautiful light fixtures. Everything comes together to make the dining room feel like an experience, not just a place to grab a meal. We only stopped in for drinks this time, but the cocktails were fantastic. Our bartender was also incredibly sweet, welcoming, and accommodating, which made the visit even more enjoyable. Dora really feels like a hidden gem tucked away inside the UCSD Theater District. It has such a beautiful, intimate atmosphere that makes you want to stay awhile. We didn't get a chance to try the food this time, but after seeing the space and enjoying the cocktails, we absolutely can't wait to come back and experience the food next time! Definitely worth stopping by if you're in the area for a show at La Jolla Playhouse. read more

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Dora Restaurant is located in La Jolla on the grounds of the La Jolla Playhouse Campus and the University of California at San Diego. When you visit the Dora Restaurant for wither lunch or dinner, you cam park in the nearby parking structure. When you enter the restaurant, there is a very long bar, at which you can sit for your meal. Wonderful! read more

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Great service and extraordinary personality! Amazing service from Alexis she was outgoing and very friendly. I had a question about what food to order and she brought up her experiences with what she had and had great recommendations made me feel like she cares about her customers. read more

Dora Ristorante - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

Bravo! The perfect place to dine before a show. Attentive service, fair prices, a good selection of appetizers and entrées, and a nice non-alcoholic beverage menu. I especially appreciated that the staff knew our showtime and kept everything running smoothly. My only concern was that our credit cards were taken away to process payment rather than using a machine at the table. I prefer my card to stay within sight at all times. Overall, a delightful pre-theater experience! read more

Dora Ristorante - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

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Came here before a show at the La Jolla playhouse, this is a great place for a preshow meal with flavor! Got the pre-fix play menu and everything was delicious and awesome! The look of the restaurant is a mix of modern art meet Italy and it's super homey and relaxing. Whether you are sitting at the bar and having a great cocktail or glass of wine or at a table the great staff will take care of you! read more

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Despite being located on the UCSD campus and taking Triton Cash, this place is NOT college student-friendly at all! Each plate was $25 and up, and I wouldn't even say it was filling. My friend and I were seated at the bar, and honestly, the service was okay. I'm not sure if it's because everyone else was older and we were the only young adults there, but we noticed that all the staff were more attentive towards them. Which is not a problem personally, but just something I noticed! We got the Bucatini Pasta and the Pollo Alla Griglia (I think). The Bucatini Pasta was nothing crazy, and, especially for the price, I would say you can just make it with store-bought tomato sauce at home. The Pollo Alla Griglia was a little underwhelming, but I will admit that the chicken breast was the juiciest I've ever had! I just wish that for $40, it was more than just a chicken breast on top of some mixed greens. read more

Dora Ristorante - Bucatini - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

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An interesting restaurant within the campus of UCSD by the playhouse. There is parking underground by the restaurant, and it seems like parking should be validated, but it didn't seem this was the case; there was some confusion about how and when that is covered or not with the staff. We got seated after about 5 minutes, and had the octopus and fried thyme(?) for appetizers. The octopus was pretty good, a good mix of different sauces, acidities and sweetness with the savory taste of the octopus. The fried leaves were pretty good too, ate them like chips and lots of herb flavor within, can't say I've eaten them deep fried like this before. For my main, I had the cavatelli with clams which was not bad. There was good tomato based flavor in the sauce and the clams were big and juicy, though the overall dish was on the smaller side. It seems like the menu changes frequently as most of the dishes we ordered aren't on the recent menus, so it's worth trying again based on different times of the year. read more

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I have been so excited to try this newly established restaurant for months since it is close to me! It's usually never busy, the only time I can imagine it being packed is after a show at the playhouse. Since it's on a college campus, sometimes there will be loud people passing by, but that's only if you're ever sitting outside like we were. Appetizers: They really set the bar for expectations here. We ordered focaccia, Polipo Alla Griglia, Romanesco, and Insalata Di Finocchio. The focaccia was light, doughy, not too rough and gave you a lot to come back for. It was the best compared to most places who offer bread service. My next favorite was the insalata di finocchio, it was tangy but not overpowering. It was a burst of fresh flavor. Our party was HIGHLY impressed. Entrees: I had ordered the Fettuccine and added caviar. I wasn't deeply impressed with this meal for a few reasons. The uni certainly gave the dish a buttery feel, but the same could've been accomplished by using lobster instead. The uni didn't add much to the flavor of the dish honestly. The caviar did all the work, I was glad I added it, until it became too overwhelming. It certainly hits you with a breeze of the ocean, but it made every bite way too salty. There ended up being a combat of flavors that just weren't enjoyable. Usually high grade caviar isn't that salty so I was expecting a light, buttery, firm texture to compliment the sea urchin but I did not get that at all. I think this restaurant is great for drinks at the bar and a quick appetizer to go with! But I wouldn't come again for a dinner meal. I think everyone was slightly disappointed with the taste, and underwhelmed by the serving size. Many in my party even mentioned getting a second dinner unfortunately. I had high hopes! I think if they made a few adjustments it could be great. read more

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Went here after a showcase at La Jolla Playhouse and it is very swanky! The decor is fun Italian which I'm sure you could guess from the name but not in a cheesy way. Very stylish, vibrant, and unique. Pulled up to the bar and the stools are impossible to move which I'm not a fan of but that's about it. Staff working behind the bar was very friendly and ordered an old fashioned which they use old grand dad as the base which I'm all for. Would definitely come here if I was a college student trying to impress my date or before/after a show at La Jolla Playhouse. Wouldn't park in the parking structure. You can find street parking and walk over. My favorite part of the evening were the bathrooms! Definitely take a cute selfie because you deserve it. read more

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I really, really like Dora. The people who work here care so much and are happy to tell you about the menu and items that may interest you. The wine folks are so passionate about wine and will happily walk you through what goes well with your meal and help you step out of your comfort zone if you want to. I love the pastas and have yet to have something that wasn't great. I also will always order the octopus so please don't take it away! read more

this is my second time at Dora and I really wanted to like this place. I think that the restaurant is beautiful itself and the service is great. It's a really good ambience. However, the food is just not good. The pasta is mediocre at best and lacking flavor I've tried four pasta dishes here I would say the only thing they do well as their arancini read more

Dora Ristorante - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

Trish was absolutely fantastic, Great service and delicious food. Focaccia, meatballs & pesto pasta were standouts. Restaurant is beautiful, perfect date night vibes 10/10 can't wait to return read more

This place looks really nice. Great bar, VERY nice decor, inviting, clean and a good design. It is in a very good location for theater goers. That's the good. As for the rest, service and food quality, the owner needs to realize that these also matter. The food is expensive for what you get. I will say the bread (a $14 roll with some mediocre eggplant) is good. The rest was an extreme disappointment. My wife had the chicken. It was nice and moist, but tasteless. El Pollo Loco's chicken is exponentially better tasting. It looked nice, it was expensive, but it needed taste. (To the owner... you need to work on taste, it matters.) I had the spinach raviloi. This too was a painful experience. At best, I can say it was edible. Beyond that, it was dry and may as well have had no sauce on it, that is how bland it was. Service too was dismal. The original waitress was fine, we had the "busing the tables too soon" experience others have had, but after our entrees arrived it was as if we were invisible. All of this starts from the top and the owner needs to have the guy from restaurant rescue give them a primer on how a restaurant should operate. This is not an Italian food place, it is chef boy ardee quality. Yes, some people like the chef boy stuff. I get it. and what the CB has over this place is.... flavor. I really wanted to like this place and to make it a routine after our regular play visits. We will not be back and until there is a sign saying "under new management", I do not suggest anyone else venture in. read more

Went here for a girls night in the middle of the week. Cute decor with indoor and outdoor seating. We started with the aranchini and the Carpaccio. The carpaccio melted in your mouth and was so refreshing. The aranchini was savory with the truffle and melted cheese. The pasta was fresh. We tried the fettuccine and the mezzi rigatoni with a side of the focaccia. They had a decent list of both cocktails and wine. read more

Dora Ristorante - Carpaccio Di Tonno - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

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Zoe our server was super friendly and patient. Gave us a run through of the menu and some spectacular recommendations. The decoration of this place is wonderful. I like how everything just comes together. The bathrooms are also decorated, but I think there were only 3 rooms. It would be nice if they had a separate hand washing station outside. Bathrooms needed a little maintenance. The place wasn't busy. The portion sizes for each dish was extremely small. The noodles were a little too undercooked. The plate was nice and hot. Carbonara was not too salty. I've had better pasta at other places, so my standard for that is a little high. I kind of wish they had more pasta varieties. The focaccia bread was delicious. The pricing here is a little higher compared to other places. Probably because it is on UCSD campus. Overall, service is friendly here. There is a welcoming ambiance. Would I come back here? Potentially, just to try their pizza or other menu items. read more

Dora Ristorante - Carbonara - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

We went to Dora for a work dinner party and I can't rave enough about the food quality and excellent customer service we received. Everyone from the hostess to servers to cooks was warm, friendly, and inviting. We had a few special requests for the kids and they were more than willing to accommodate. Unfortunately because I was busy networking, I wasn't able to take any pictures of the food but the food was fresh, tasty, and good quality ingredients. They served a variety of fresh oven pizzas, pastas made from scratch, branzino, and cheese and vegetable appetizers. The bartenders whipped up some great drinks and were very sweet even serving the kids their nonalcoholic beverages. The ambiance is modern and sleek. They have a nice covered outdoor patio area as well. There is a large parking lot right next to the restaurant. When you come in, ask the hostess for the QR code for 3 hours of complementary parking (at least on the weekends they were offering it). They also provide valet parking in the front. A great place for date night, a celebration, or work gathering! read more

Dora Ristorante - Hostess has QR code to scan when you come in - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

Dora Restaurant is located close to the UCSD campus is a more elevated restaurant in the immediate area of the La Jolla Playhouse and probably caters to its patrons, some UCSD faculty and students. Stopped by for a late lunch, sat outside in the nice cover patio with my pup. The hostess, waitress, servers and staff were cordial, attentive and very accommodating. Special thanks to Zoe who was especially very helpful. Wanted to order pizza, but the oven was out of order :( Also, wanted to order the Branzino, but it was only served in the dinner menu :( With some recommendations from the server Zoe, the selections I had for lunch were spectacularly delish. Lunch order included: focaccia bread with the roasted vegetable compote, winter salad with squash and the seafood couscous. A lovely glass of Chardonnay to pair with the lunch was perfect. Because the selections I had were remarkably all delish, I Would like to return to try other exciting selections on the menu. Overall a positive dining experience worthy of your visit and my recommendation. read more

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I'm always looking for a hot and new restaurant to try out with the girls. I loved the ambiance from the pics and this was the chosen restaurant to celebrate a friend's birthday. Since I've never been to the theater district at UCSD, I referenced the website to find where the parking is located. It's quite confusing. If you don't want to deal with this, valet is $12. However, if you're determined, follow the directions on the website. The restaurant does give you a discount code at the end, which will make your parking free. Loved the classy ambiance and we were greeted right away with the waiter and wait staff. We inadvertently were served two breads (we didn't order this), but they were pretty good! Other dishes we tried: Insalata Di Finocchio - Light and refreshing, loved the persimmon on top. Polito Alla Griglia - Get this! This was perfectly tender. Polpette Alla Griglia - This were small patties, one order comes with three. These were deliciously juicy! Carpaccio Di Tonno - Tuna was nice pink and was fresh. The meld of flavors worked with this dish. Gnocchi - This was pillowy soft Cavatelli - There were a few mussels that were deshelled in the pasta but there wasn't much of it. Pesce Croccante - This had the perfect amount of crisp on the fish although there wasn't as much flesh on the fish Cous Cous Di Pesce - We were expecting more from this dish. Perhaps a bigger portion size. They give you the cutest dessert plates, each are different! Loved this touch. Routa Di Dora - I actually liked this dish with the crispy shell (like a super crispy thin donut) paired with ricotta. Chocolato Chocolato Chocolato - It was just okay for me. Affogato- Coffee wasn't warm when poured :( Overall good service and the food hit almost all the marks. read more

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This place is super fancy! I love the interior and everything is super neat. They have indoor, outdoor, and patio seating. This place would be good for a special occasion. The food is really good here too. I would recommend sharing plates to try different stuff. The service was really great. Our server kept checking in on us and he was really awesome and attentive. What we got: - Gnoochi The sauce is super good and the gnoochi is cooked perfectly. There is a meat sausage sauce which was perfect. I would get this again. - Focaccia Super flaky and crispy and savory. It comes with a tomato dipping sauce. This is a must get!! read more

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It is always exciting to try another Italian spot in San diego as we are spoiled for choice. Dora is unique because it is nestled on the UCSD campus literally surrounded by dorm buildings. Because of this, parking can be weird.. we parked in the theater lot which had signs stating the parking fee would be validated. We called the restaurant and they said the codes from the school don't work anymore.. No big deal just something to keep in mind. It was about $4. The restaurant is truly stunning and has that classic mediterranean style decor with pops of oranges and bold designs. Gorgeous! The menu was pretty solid covering anything from fish to pasta. As a vegetarian I noted those pastas were mislabeled. A pasta with mussels was labeled 'V' and a pasta with cheese was labeled Vegan. Our waiter said this was a mistake. Be aware if you have allergies! We got the rosemary focaccia, Brown butter ravioli, and the fettuccine. Overall, we were not completely wowed by the food. The ravioli was good but nothing I would return for. The fettuccine was kind of dry. The portions did not live up to the prices. It is a really beautiful restaurant with a cool concept, but quite expensive. Surprising for being on a student campus. read more

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Our party of 6 were the absolute first party seated for lunch at 11:30, but the dining room quickly filled by the time our drinks came. We were attending a show across the street at the adjacent theater, and after hearing Cori in North Park opened a sister restaurant near the theater I had to go. The campus plaza made parking easy, close, and free on weekends. Service was five star, from beginning to end, starting with my perfect brunch cocktail, the Panattone Carajillo, which tasted liked an almond cookie-laced espresso martini with slight hints of citrus. Very rich and creamy while remaining smooth and balanced. To start out, our salads were bright with flavor and the produce was super fresh, but not incredibly special or inventive. The real star were our entrees. The ravioli was noticeably hand-made and delicate, but still had substance and bite to it, not to mention a nice amount of filling. My favorite bite, however, came from the Pollo Alla Griglia, served over a bed of winter squash and wilted chicory and surrounded by a shallow pool of savory pan sauce. The chicken was perfectly roasted, juicy on the inside with a crispy skin. My only critique is that the lunch menu is extremely focused (small), only offering 2-3 options of each course type. Having said that, the smaller menu still left a major impression on me and I will absolutely return, next time for dinner. read more

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Visited Dora exactly a week after opening day - with my mom and two other friends and we all walked away impressed. It's such a cool Italian spot tucked within UCSD, and the design elements immediately set the tone--stylish, modern, and welcoming. Every dish we tried was phenomenal and creatively plated, showing off the artistry you'd expect from Chef Accursio Lota, a well‑known name in San Diego's dining scene. The restaurant truly shines as expected, balancing flavor and presentation beautifully. A quick tip: since it's located within UCSD, parking is easiest in the evenings and weekends. Overall, Dora is a fantastic addition to the area and one I'd happily return to with friends. I also heard that they were introducing Brunch as well - Will have to go check that out soon. read more

Dora Ristorante - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

Came on a Sunday evening, parking in the theater structure was free. We had a reservation and was sat on the patio. Very fancy and classy decor. We ordered the focaccia with caponata, the bread was soft and warm, the caponata was slightly sweet. It was not the usual topping thats offered with bread but a welcome change. It was good but i think i prefer a tapenade or butter. For an appetizer i got the polipo alla griglia (grilled octopus) it was very tender and had a nice char on the outside and drizzed with olive oil. Highly recommend this dish. For my entree i got the gnocchi. The gnocchi were very soft and tender it came topped with a pork sausage sugo which was very tasty. Gnocchi is one of those dishes that im always afraid to order. If its made a day or two in advance, it's rubbery, if its made that day then it's soft and light. This one was nice and soft. The restaurant is beautiful and new, service was friendly and helpful. I did not have plans to go to the theater but i could see this as a great place before or after a show. Be sure to make a reservation as i can see everyone from the theater coming here. read more

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The menu has a lot of variety and had some great options to choose from. We Went with a group and we ordered for the table: the focaccia with the eggplant tamponade and the ricotta side and the arancini. The tamponade tasted too sweet for me. The focaccia and the ricotta were delicious. More attention needs to be placed by the staff on the quality and composition of the salad. We split the Finochio salad There were stem cores of the lettuce bottom (usually discarded) included within the salad as well as Brown leaves, which was unappetizing. We should have sent the salad back. I ordered the gnocchi with the pork sausage and didn't care for the flavor of the sauce., The gnocchi were tender. My husband had the polpette ( meatballs) and enjoyed that. The service was attentive and good. Ambience, was elegant yet comfortable. I don't think I will be back. There are many better Italian restaurants in town. read more

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Dora is a good spot if you want a nice dinner before a show at the LJ Playhouse. It is down the way from the Playhouse and does have a convenient piad parking lot right next door. It was about $2-3 per hour, pay in advance at a kiosk, $9 max for the night if you go on weekend or at night. Building is new so very nice and well designed. The service was uneven so hopefully it will improve in a few months. As others have mentioned it is expensive, but good. The portions are very small. The catch of the day was a decent size, but everything is small even the purchases bread was a small loaf. Expect to order 2-3 dishes per person. Dinner with drinks for 4 was $500+ read more

Glad to visit this Beautiful and Wonderful Italian/Sicilian fine dining Restaurant. Me and my wife are borne and raised in Sicilian for 30years only. Authentic flavors, excellent food, from timeless Italian recipes. Presentation, Taste, Flavors, Service, Ambience, wine selection! Wow, I also own a restaurant in Solana Beach, I got to say excellent Job Chef Accursio, the Love that you have for this industry and for the food shows 100% in all you've done on this incredible Restaurant. Highly recommend to ANYONE THAT KNOWS GOOD FOOD and want to try one of the best Italian Restaurants in SD. Congrats to you all !!! Well well Well done. read more

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From the same ownership as a Sicilian restaurant in the North Park neighborhood, Dora Ristorante opened two weeks ago in the Theatre District of the UCSD campus. The place can hold about 100 customers with an oval central bar, private dining room, and a chef's counter to complement the main dining area which had indoor and outdoor seating. The interior decor was quite elegant, and you could tell a lot of resources were spent to make an upscale ambiance. Reservations can be made on OpenTable, and the restaurant's website provided suggestions on where to park nearby for free (e.g. surface lots, underground garage). My friend and I sat under the covered and heated outdoor patio during the first week of business. A pre-theater menu was provided that featured choices across three different courses with available wine pairings. We skipped this and went to the regular one-page dinner menu that had three to four options in each of six different categories. Our first selection was the Focaccia. It was served as a round sourdough loaf with a dish of caponata that was a vegetarian eggplant salad. I thought this was unique compared to spots that provide extra virgin olive oil with balsamic vinegar as a dip for the bread. The caponata tasted like a salty relish. We then split the Polipo Alla Griglia which was grilled Mediterranean octopus with cannellini and pesto trapanese. The dish looked beautiful, however there needed to be a larger tentacle or more than one small one for the price. The octopus was cooked to the right degree of doneness as it was soft. My entree was the Cous Cous Di Pesce which was a seafood broth containing prawns, calamari, mussels, and clams. It was served in a shallow vessel with a side of small couscous pearls. I poured the pearls into the bowl to consume with the savory stew. I preferred the pearls to be larger for easier scooping. The prawns were slightly overcooked while the other seafood ingredients were fine. Overall, I thought Dora Ristorante had a solid debut with such convenient proximity for patrons of the La Jolla Playhouse. read more

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My party came here around three weeks ago, not long after opening. We were intrigued by the concept and would now take friends here for a nice dinner in the future. This sits across the street from the La Jolla Playhouse, and so offers a theater menu comprising selections from the regular menu and, presumably, from the dessert menu, which we did not request and so cannot confirm. The food is well-executed, with particular emphasis on seafood. We had the polipo alla griglia; gnocchi; pizzas margherita, crudo di parma, and tartufata; and the cous cous di pesce. All seafood had wonderful texture, the octopus and calamari being on the tenderer side of Q. All the pasta was wonderful. The cous cous is fun. I just wish there was more spice. read more

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We were a party of 6 for dinner. The service was good, but we had to wait at least 15 minutes before we saw our server. I ordered the Mafaldine. The pasta and the pisatchio pesto were good, but the shrimp was very under seasoned. Everyone else in the party enjoyed their food. It was a birthday celebration for 2 of our party. The server brought out a dessert for the table. It appeared to be a rosette on top of canoli style filling with a raspberry sauce. That was a nice touch. read more

The food was amazing! Everything was made excellently, both the appetizers and the main courses. The restaurant is so beautiful and the ambiance was perfect. Our server, Jaden, was amazing and very knowledgeable of the menu. He recommended the best dishes, we all enjoyed everything! read more

The front greeter could have been more friendly and eye contact would have been nice. The table was set wonderfully with all necessities available. Our waiter, Joden, was fabulous. What a kind young man with great knowledge of the menu. He listened to our likes and dislikes, and suggested appropriate menu items. He was attentive without being intrusive. He was definitely an asset to the ristorante. The food was served at the appropriate temperature, and the flavors were what was expected. The sound level was comfortable. read more

I like this restaurant. You can tell it's professionally run but it was not without hiccups. The sourdough focaccia is fantastic.$8, The roasted squash/salad with nuts, pomegranates, etc., is absolutely lovely. Perfectly executed. The carbonara on the other hand was not great. First of all, why not use Gauanciale instead of pancetta? Beyond that, the pecorino and egg mixture was not properly mixed into a cream and felt runny and cold. Just poor execution. Hopefully, that was an aberration because overall this operation seems like a winner. read more

Dora Ristorante - Squash salad. Excellent! - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

An upscale, refined Sicilian/Mediterranean-influenced restaurant with custom silverware and platters, Venetian glasswork light fixtures, intricate mosaics, and murals highlighting local landmarks. A menu that features dishes typically between $25-30 (lunch menu) featuring ingredients like truffles, bluefin tuna, and aged prosciutto. An open bar as well as an open kitchen layout. Where else would this restaurant be other than the UC San Diego campus, literally directly below 8th College's dorms? - My family and I had a late lunch (~2 pm), where preparation for dinner service was in full swing. It was cool to observe the chefs setting up their mise en place, as well as computers with spreadsheets upon shreadsheets. - Our server, Jenny, gave us an amazing experience! She explained menu items thoroughly, the origin behind the restaurant, as well as giving us complimentary Caponata as well! Such a nice surprise, adding so much humor and care to the meal. - Highlights were the Focaccia: definitely get it with the olives or the caponata. Mind blowing! Carbonara was perfectly al dente, creamy, rich, and fatty. The Picante pizza was perfectly spicy. By the end of the meal, we were sufficiently oiled-out. Jenny even recommended us to get something lighter to go with our meal, and she was definitely right to do so. - Desserts were the perfect way to top off the meal. However, they were definitely not the stars of the meal. The stracciatella gelato tasted a little bit icy (San Diego is a tough place to compete in terms of the gelato scene here), and the Routa Di Dora's cream was slightly grainy and created a roulette game where some bites felt overwhelmed with the candied orange pieces. But that's just me being picky. Students are definitely not the main demographic you'll see in this restaurant, but it is a nice change of pace for special occassions, date nights, or a perfect pairing with seeing a show at the La Jolla Playhouse. I even heard they have themed menus based on the current show! How creative. Would recommend coming at least once, and I will definitely have to try the dinner menu as well. read more

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Alexis was helpful and amazing - from info about visiting the campus to service while we dined ! She is great!