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    Dora Ristorante

    4.5 (182 reviews)
    Closed • 4:30 pm - 9:00 PM

    Dora Ristorante Photos

    DORA RISTORANTE ATMOSPHERE

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    Moderate noise
    Trendy
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    Heated patio
    Alyssa S.

    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!

    Jessie P.

    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.

    Before "The Recipe" at the La Jolla Playhouse.
    Charles C.

    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!

    Jiovanni C.

    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.

    Lotta S.

    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!

    Caroline K.

    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!

    Bucatini
    Kaylee N.

    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.

    Cavatelli
    Terrence S.

    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.

    Fettuccine with caviar
    Nylah W.

    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.

    Do that neighborhood parking!
    Trevor T.

    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.

    Dione L.

    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

    Carpaccio Di Tonno
    Brittany K.

    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.

    Carbonara
    Savannah F.

    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.

    Hostess has QR code to scan when you come in

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

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    Dora Ristorante Reviews in Other Languages

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    Pacific Catch - Macadamia nut crusted Kanpachi | Kona, Hawaii

    Pacific Catch

    4.1(728 reviews)
    1.9 mi•University City
    •$$

    Pacific Catch has an amazing atmosphere and has quickly become my go-to spot for seafood in San…read moreDiego. As one of the newer spots in UTC, I was excited to give it a try, and it did not disappoint. The food was excellent, and I genuinely believe they have some of the best seafood in the area. I also want to give a special shoutout to Mario, our bartender/server. He was incredibly knowledgeable, helpful, and attentive throughout our visit. He went above and beyond to make sure we had a great experience and really helped create a welcoming, fun atmosphere in the restaurant. I will definitely be returning in the near future!

    Nice place with attractive, airy decor. They offer a selection of both raw and and cooked seafood,…read moresalads, and cocktails. Their summer specials are especially nice. My group ordered the different versions of poke (poke guacamole, poke duo, and poke avocado duo, and a grilled salmonover Caesar salad. Our food was very fresh and of excellent quality. Why then only the stars? Two things: First, the menu presents several dishes, but many of them are different combinations chosen from a limited number of ingredients, so not really as extensive as it would seem at first glance; second, service was AWOL. We had to leave the table more than once to find our server. The neglect made it difficult to enjoy the meal. So, it's a lovely place with nice fresh ingredients and delicious dishes that needs serious work in training and supervising the service staff.

    Photos
    Pacific Catch - Interior dining

    Interior dining

    Pacific Catch - Original Ahi Poke. Mildly fishy, but still clean and tender. Comes with crunchy wonton chips.

    Original Ahi Poke. Mildly fishy, but still clean and tender. Comes with crunchy wonton chips.

    Pacific Catch - Baja Style Taco (Crispy Cod). Mildly fishy but flaky, with a light and crunchy batter.

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    Baja Style Taco (Crispy Cod). Mildly fishy but flaky, with a light and crunchy batter.

    Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill - Fresh Toro

    Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill

    4.4(360 reviews)
    1.7 mi•University City

    Always a good time and delicious sushi here we come in every week with family and friends…read more The quality and price are excellent, the ambience is also very upbeat and modern. Chef & Owner Simon is awesome! The staff is also very welcoming and attentive. Can't wait to return to eat here again. Our fave picks: Spicy toro Roll Chef specialty roll Shrimp crunch Hot night roll Sashimi Calamari Garlic shrimp

    I came with a party of 7 and it was all of our first time here. We were planning to have some light…read moreappetizers because we also wanted to have a heavy dinner afterwards. We wanted to catch the sunset at La Jolla cove and we noticed there was another Blue ocean there as well... FRIED CALAMARI: 10/10 perfectly crispy, calamari was cooked precisely and flavorful. It was hard to save our stomachs for dinner... SASHIMI SALAD: 10/10 Oh this was the STAR OF THE SHOW! All the fish were hand selected and fresh. What made the dish outstanding was the salad dressing... SURF AND TURF ROLL: 10/10 I mean who a pairing of Steak and shrimp tempura? It's a match made in heaven and was sent straight out of the Blue Ocean Kitchen... SERVICE: Excellent! The chef was also the owner and came out to greet all the customers. He personally made sure that everything was taken care of himself. What a very passionate and caring owner. All the staff there were also very friendly... One of our friends wanted to treat everyone so we joked around and said, "In that case, let's order an omakase box for each of us!" The chef also heard and he joined in on the joke and said are you sure? ok, Omakase boxes for everyone! We had a great time! The Ambiance, the food and the people there are very beautiful and joyous... ABOVE AND BEYOND BLUE OCEAN SUSHI AND GRILL!!!!!

    Photos
    Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill
    Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill - Red Velvet cake - Holiday Exclusive

    Red Velvet cake - Holiday Exclusive

    Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill - ISHIYAKI HOT STONE

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    ISHIYAKI HOT STONE

    Hawaiian Fresh Seafood - Poke plate with three scoops (furikake salmon, garlic salmon, and shoyu ahi)

    Hawaiian Fresh Seafood

    4.5(1.5k reviews)
    4.4 mi•Mira Mesa
    •$$

    Did not realize this was in a like warehouse/office-ish building area. Kinda threw me off when I…read morewas driving through and following the map lol. Best Hawaiian style poke that I have had in a long time and very good like Hawaii. Favorite was the pearl harbor and the spicy tuna. Actually spicy and pearl harbor had a very unique seasonings. The more mellow flavors are still very good as well. Garlic salmon was very garlicy and tasty! Service was wonderful and all staff were very nice.

    I've been coming here for a while, back when I worked in San Diego and they were at their older…read morelocation. So coming to the new location, it was a serious upgrade. It's cleaner and more spacious, which I really enjoyed. There's also plenty of parking and outdoor seating, which is a huge plus. Medium Poke Bowl w/ Shoyu Ahi Tuna & Spicy Salmon - Unfortunately, this was a complete miss for me. I'm sorry, but it just wasn't what I was used to getting here for last 3 years in San Diego. Maybe it was an off day or because they were super busy, but the Shoyu Ahi Tuna didn't really taste like anything. There was barely any shoyu flavor, and it honestly tasted more like salted ahi. The texture of the tuna was also off. When I tried picking it up with my chopsticks, it would literally tear apart. It felt very mushy and lacked flavor. The Spicy Salmon was okay, but it had this weird aftertaste that I couldn't quite describe. On the bright side, I really liked that they sprinkled furikake on top, and the fish portions were pretty generous with big pieces. Fish Tacos - Pretty standard overall. At $6 per taco, they're definitely on the pricier side, and I was wishing there was a little more fish. That said, the tacos had good flavor and were seasoned really well. The salsa also complemented them nicely. Overall, the new location is a huge upgrade in terms of the space and convenience, but unfortunately the poke itself just wasn't hitting for me this time.

    Photos
    Hawaiian Fresh Seafood - Front counter

    Front counter

    Hawaiian Fresh Seafood - Two scoop poke bowl

    Two scoop poke bowl

    Hawaiian Fresh Seafood - Garlic shrimp

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    Garlic shrimp

    Javier's La Jolla - La Jolla Location

    Javier's La Jolla

    3.6(1.7k reviews)
    1.7 mi•University City
    •$$$
    Fine dining
    Outdoor seating

    We were told by a Mexican uber driver that this was THE place to go...so I went ahead and made the…read morereservations! Well, the driver was right in that the place was as posh as something right out of a Bond movie! Even the entryway was absolutely a knock-out...so we started taking pictures even as we entered lol! We were initially led to a table in the dining area, but I didn't like how close we were to the next table, so asked if we could move to a booth...even by the bar. Normally I hate eating at the bar...but their bar area was another story. Again, beyond posh! Also, loved the snazzy overhead music...perfectly on point! The menu pricing was a bit shocking...in that I don't think I've ever seen Mexican foods priced so high. Still, I felt the ambiance made up for it. I feel certain that many may expect more from the foods due to the price points...and that probably explains the below 4 star average rating. We decided to share a bit of everything...and ordered their Flautas, Enchiladas, Rice and their special dessert. Also, I got this very stiff cocktail...which I loved! Frankly, I got so tipsy that night, I can't recall all the exact names of the items we ordered. Honestly, I expected the foods to be bad...thinking the place was all pomp, no substance. But that wasn't the case. Even from their basic nachos and sauce, to the lush dessert, we thought everything was quite delish! The presentation was stellar as well. I think the service was pretty smooth too...though my memory is a bit fuzzy from this night. Think this was the nicest Mexican restaurant we've ever been to? Hope to revisit on our next trip to San Diego!

    The decor and service are spectacular. The food is solid, though nothing special in terms of…read moreflavor. Very much on the pricy side and I was lucky enough to be treated by a dear friend. I would say based on those things I would have rated Javier's a 4 star. The one thing I could not get past was how loud it was. I had to cup my ears just to hear across from me. At one point I commented to one of the servers "it's really loud in here!" and he said "thank you" and smiled REALLY BIG. I think he thought I said he was really handsome, and I felt like a creep the rest of the night. Honestly I would say it was a 1 star from the music. But I still had a good night with lovely friends, even if I had a sore throat the following day from screaming across the table.

    Photos
    Javier's La Jolla - La Jolla Location

    La Jolla Location

    Javier's La Jolla - La Jolla Location.

    La Jolla Location.

    Javier's La Jolla - Jalapeño Margarita

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    Jalapeño Margarita

    Dora Ristorante - italian - Updated September 2026

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