Dora Ristorante brings Southern Italian cuisine, charm to La Jolla

LA JOLLA – A husband-and-wife team has opened a new coastal Southern Italian restaurant in La Jolla’s Theatre District near La Jolla Playhouse.

Dora Ristorante, at 9165 Scholars Dr., is co-owned and operated by chef Accursio Lota and his wife, Corinne Goria.

The pair also owns Cori Pastificio Trattoria in North Park.

Their new eatery, which was designed by Bells + Whistles and named for Lota’s grandmother, is 3,800 square feet, featuring 2,600 square feet of private dining space with a 1,200-square-foot sunlit outdoor patio.

Dora Ristorante’s cuisine draws on the traditional flavors of southern coastal Italy. The menu, re-imagined through a contemporary California lens, showcases handmade pastas, Mediterranean seafood, and a house gelato program. It’s all done to create a playful, thespian-inspired dining experience, giving a nod to La Jolla Playhouse. 

Bringing a bit of Sicily to La Jolla was one objective of Lota’s opening of Dora.

“So much of my cooking is rooted in the smells and sounds of my Nonna’s home,” he said. “La Jolla has that same kind of energy, being close to the sea and full of creativity. So opening Dora here is a way of bringing a piece of my family’s story forward.”

Lota comes from a Sicilian farming family that grew grapes and olives in the countryside.

“I’ve been cooking since I was very young, before I went to culinary school for five years,” he said.

His culinary journey has taken him from Michelin-starred kitchens in both Italy and California to the owner-operator of two San Diego restaurants.

“I loved American culture and music and tried very hard to get here,” said Lota, who also served previously as a sous chef under executive chef Bernard Guillas at The Marine Room in La Jolla Shores.

Lota noted Dora is in an ideal location for him and his wife, a writer, noting, “We chose this location because we wanted to embrace the neighborhoods of La Jolla Shores, University Town Center, and La Jolla’s Theatre District.

Of Dora’s cuisine, Lota said their menu features locally sourced produce and fish.

“Our focus is on having a balanced menu with items that shine by themselves,” he said. “Ours is an everyday restaurant that is beautiful and elegant. We’re a place where people can come any day, and not just for the theatre.”

Lunch at Dora offers a focused selection of pizzas, while dinner highlights signature dishes shaped by seasonality, technique, and the coastal flavors that connect Sicily and La Jolla.

Dora’s staff includes general manager Steven Schwob. The bar, helmed by mixologist Mark Young, leans into Mediterranean botanicals, amaros, and citrus — complemented by a rotating house “cello” program and a nod to Italian after-dinner rituals via tableside digestifs.

The wine list, curated by sommelier Federico Cavalleri, showcases Italian and West Coast producers, emphasizing indigenous varietals and food-driven pairings.