My friend and I recently dined at Dora Ristorante at UCSD, and while the food was mediocre, the bigger issue was how we were treated at the end of our meal. After we finished eating, we began to feel subtly but consistently rushed out. When I finished my Arnold Palmer, a staff member took my glass without asking if I wanted another drink, and no one followed up afterward. Shortly after, two different staff members came by to ask if we needed anything else. The second person explained that they had been sent over because there were upcoming reservations and that we would need to move to the bar in about 10 minutes--"no rush." Despite that phrasing, it very much felt like we were being pushed out. What made this especially frustrating was that there were multiple open tables nearby, including similarly sized seating and available patio space, so the situation didn't seem to justify the urgency. I've honestly never had an experience like this at a restaurant before. It felt unwarranted and left us uncomfortable, which overshadowed the rest of the meal. I understand the need to manage reservations, but there's a much more courteous and professional way to handle it. Unfortunately, I won't be returning. For a much better experience, I'd recommend Aromi Italian Cuisine--the food is delicious and authentic, and the staff make you feel genuinely welcome. read more

My friend wanted to come and check out this new restaurant in La Jolla. There is a parking garage and luckily it was free because of the holidays. The restaurant was decorated very cute and would be nice for either date night for family dinner. We ordered the Focaccia for an appetizer and it was delicious. We also ordered the grilled octopus and came it tender and very flavorful. For our entrees we ordered the Ravioli and Cous Cous Di Pesce. I enjoyed the sauce that was on the Ravioli. It filled us up pretty fast. For the Cous Cous Di Pesce the broth was amazing but we noticed that the broth had this grainy texture to it. We brought it up to one of the servers that was assisting with our table and she assured us that it was normal and it was the reaction of the broth mixture. She also stated that she confirmed it with the chef. After we continued to look through the broth we found a shell filled with sand :( we really enjoyed this place but at the end of our dinner it was kind of disappointing to find that. Also felt like our concerns were just ignored. We just left it at that because we didn't want to make it seem like we were complaining. read more

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Came here lastnight for dinner. I was excited to try this new place out, given that I love Italian food. We started with the arancini. They are good. Basic. Had the mussels pasta dish, tasty. My BF had the gnocchi sausage pasta. It was good. Overall the food was okay. It's nothing to rave about. Basic Italian food. Our waitress was very friendly. The ambiance is nice. I did feel like they rush you. I do have to say, there is plenty of other amazing Italian restaurants. This place is one & done for me. read more

Such a good atmosphere! All the furniture and lighting made the place cozy but upscale at the same time. Loved the dip that came with the focaccia. The arancini was very cheesy and mushroom-forward. The pasta was al dente and flavorful. Shoutout Ari for the great service and thank you to Steve for the friendly vibes. read more

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Had a quick bite here before going to see the Julia Play. Good food. Fast & efficient service!

Austin was such a great server, friendly, attentive, and made sure everything was perfect throughout our meal. He checked in at all the right times and made us feel genuinely welcomed. The food was absolutely delicious, and Bells and Whistles did an excellent job with the design of the space. Everything came together for a great overall dining experience. We will definitely be back." read more

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

How do I start!! This place was pretty amazing the place that we got to sit down was a little bit further back from the music so it wasn't too loud and I was able to talk to my wife. BUT THE SERVICE is what really outshine everything!!! Our server Cole is the shit!!! If you don't get him when you were there go again and then ask for him. That guy is the shit. I was completely lost on the menu. He took the time to explain honestly every item on the menu. Which was honestly amazing.Cole also brought out our within a drop of a hat just super fast and anytime that he saw my old-fashioned get down to one more sip he would alway ask me if I wanted a other. Then the wine homeboy came with the food gave us a great pairing with wine, but let me tell you this we kept the wine rolling. But now to the Food it was really good Italian food. The pasta was made fresh that was honestly very amazing. The sauces were OK nothing too crazy to die for but again I would definitely come back to this place. Also Dora if you read this you need to give Cole 15 buck raise. That dude is the shit. read more

Dora Ristorante - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

Positives: beautifully decorated dining room and cool restroom designs, boeuf bourguignon excellent, gelato Suzette very good. Negatives: Most of the negatives are service-related not food-related. For our 5:45pm reservation, our waiter didn't bother giving us the pre-theater pre-fixe menu until we asked for it, then acted like he was disappointed that we might order it and made a big deal that both of us needed to order it. His affect changed completely when we ordered from the pre-fixe menu. What a jerk. The restaurant also puts a small piece of paper on the table telling you that you can't have your table longer than one hour and 45 minutes. I don't mind the rule, but they could inform customers before they arrive some other ways, like on OpenTable and again with the text confirmations - having it posted on the table just makes you feel rushed and unwelcome immediately. This is not Manhattan and at these prices, they should be a bit more flexible. Vichyssoise - one of my favorite things. Tasted good except there was a long, thick lump of goo in my bowl, on the edge of the soup, probably from microwaving it to heat it up, yuck. Ruined it for me. The tuna carpaccio was pre-made, probably left uncovered in the fridge so it dried out on top, served really cold, then covered with too much olive oil - too bad, another dish ruined. Spinach ricotta ravioli was nicely made, fresh pasta. I ordered a drink with prosecco, grapefruit juice and some type of Italian aperitif (can't remember the name) from the manager who looked in on us. Instead of taking my order, as it was on the Drinks menu and I did not dream it up, he tells me I might not be able to have it, they might be taking it off the menu, but he would check. Look, if they don't want to serve something, they should remove from menu. Or he could say something nicely like "I need to check one thing, be right back" instead of making me feel bad for ordering something printed on the menu (and the restaurant has only been open three months). The drink was delicious, by the way. Waitress who served the beef bourguignon didn't know how to pronounce it and jumbled up the words. One of the waiters told my husband to hold onto his fork that he had eaten the tuna carpaccio with, OR he could bring him another fork. Just take it away - waiter should know better. Please - can someone train these people how to provide better service, make guests feel relaxed and welcome, pronounce the name of the food, take drink orders professionally, take away dirty utensils and provide new ones??? Must be too much to ask. We spent ~$200, which we will gladly spend on a nice meal with good service. Dora Ristorante gets less than half of everything right, which is a shame, since it's so pretty and we would love to have a new good Italian restaurant to go to in San Diego. Don't waste your time. We won't be back. read more

Food goodness on steroids and you will be hard pressed to find a more beautiful restaurant in San Diego. Our server took us on a tour of the restaurant and like Billy Ocean said, "simply awesome". The six of us ordered so many dishes to share that I don't remember all of them but each one was delicious. I found my most favorite SALAD here, Insalata Di Finocchio. Another stand out was their small pepperoni pizza that was huge in flavor. The wine selection is fantastic. Oh oh oh, next time I'm ordering focaccia to go! Many thanks to the staff who were so attentive and made this dining experience even more WonDerFul. read more

Second time here before a show. Great service and three course menu. Delicious wines, good prices.

Celebrated a birthday here and it was AMAZING! Parking can be validated, just make sure you are parked in the correct spots. The host will assist with that. Everything we ate was delicious and they provided a special birthday treat. The decor made me feel like I was back in Italy with my family and that was really special to me. We will definitely be back! 10/10 read more

The food was mediocre however the server was extremely rude. He was just short and seemed to want to push us through the process. read more

Came here the other night for dinner and had such a great experience, from start to finish! the ambience immediately is so inviting; it's beautifully decorated and feels elevated! There were so many great options on the menu; it was so difficult to choose! But everything we ordered, we were so pleased with! It was all very delicious! We had the salad and grilled octopus as an appetizer and loved them both! The octopus was so perfectly cooked; not chewy at all and had such yummy seasonings and sauces surrounding it. I had the gnocchi as my main dish and truly enjoyed every bite! It had everything I love in a pasta dish-homemade fresh pasta, truffle and sausage; sooo good!! We had the gelato for dessert which was the perfect palette cleanser to end a delicious meal; very refreshing and loved the pistachio topping! Last but not least, we had Ari as our waitress and she really made our whole dining experience complete! She was so sweet and welcoming, had such great energy and was super attentive the whole time we were there! She also gave us great food recommendations while we were looking over the menu and even served us the perfect wine pairing for our meal! She was the best!! read more

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

Bravo! An exquisite meal that exceeded our expectations. Every course -- cocktails, "Tradizione," "Sfizi," Pasta and dessert -- was innovative, flavorful and authentic. Lovely ambiance and excellent service. Grazie, Ben, for taking such good care of us. We've already booked our next reservation! read more

We stopped by for drinks and had a really great time! Gavin (bartender) and Steve (GM) are incredible and took such great care of us. The Foccacia and arancini starters are delicious. read more

Dora Ristorante - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

Great atmosphere; clean, stylish, and very well organized. The service was professional and genuinely friendly, and our waiter, Gavin, was outstanding. The pizzas were absolutely delicious, and the ravioli had great flavor (though the lunch portion was a bit on the smaller side). The gelato was a perfect way to end the meal. Overall, it's a great spot for a nice, intimate date night. read more

We enjoyed the Julia Child meals before seeing the play "The Recipe" We've been theatergoers for years and we were so excited to have a restaurant near that is open during our play times. We loved the Prix Fixe menu, the food was wonderful, and our server even better. The ambiance at the bar was fun to watch. We don't care too much for sitting outside, but I i love you because the inside is so pretty. The only thing we did not like, was the paying for the wine pairings with our meal and having both wines brought at the same time. read more

Beautiful new Italian spot. Sat at the bar for dinner and had an excellent experience. The design is stunning -- you can tell serious thought went into every detail. MARK, the bar manager, was fantastic. 10/10 knowledge and service. Great cocktails, delicious appetizers, and strong main dishes. Highly recommend Dora -- we'll be back. read more

We had an incredible experience dining here. Every dish we ordered was outstanding -- the octopus was tender and full of flavor, the polpette were rich and comforting, the gnocchi were perfectly cooked and really well balanced, and the spaghetti al pomodoro was simple, fresh, and beautifully prepared. You can really taste the care that goes into each dish. The staff did an amazing job from start to finish. They were attentive without ever feeling intrusive, and they made the whole evening feel welcoming and effortless. The vibe of the restaurant was also perfect -- warm, inviting, and lively in the best way. Overall, a fantastic experience all around. We'll definitely be coming back! read more

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Fabulous dinner with Julia Child menu and wine pairing. Excellent food, exceptional service and memorable experience. So happy to have a pre- theatre option. read more

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What a wonderful meal - surpassed only by the service! Ari was an amazing server who anticipated our every need. The menu, themed with the play we were about to attend (about Julia Child), was delicious. Paired with the Sommelier's selections of accompanying wine, the meal was unforgettable - thank you! read more

Absolutely incredible experience! I had such a great dinner here. As soon as we sat down, Lucas-- the sommelier -- asked me what kind of wine I usually like. I told him I prefer dry, citrusy wines, something like a Pinot Grigio or a Vermentino di Toscana. He brought me the perfect bottle. Exactly my taste, super refreshing, and honestly one of the best wines I've had in a long time. The food was fantastic. We ordered the octopus and the fish couscous -- both dishes were absolutely delicious, super flavorful, and perfectly cooked. And shoutout to Francesca at the bar! She made us customized cocktails exactly the way we like them. So good. Overall, amazing night, amazing service, amazing food and drinks. Can't wait to come back! read more

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This is for the wrong information provided. We went to the restaurant because it says open and wanted to get food around 2:30pm and when we got up to the door only to find out that only drinks are being served and no food until later. Would be good to know before we parked and paid for parking! Now we paid for parking for nothing. read more

Tried out this new spot, honestly thought it was a little overpriced for the food. I got the gnocchi and it came with like maybe 10 pieces, definitely not worth it. Service was kind of annoying. I hate when people come around so often that it's just a nuisance. There's a difference between checking on a table and overly compensating. I will say it was beautiful inside overall, noises level wasn't too high. Definitely try to get a booth if you can or they will seat you at a high top, which sucks for sharing food. read more

Dora Ristorante - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

Me and my girlfriend went here yesterday for a date. I was hoping to take her somewhere to impress her and give her a good time but we were both very disappointed. We opened up with a menu that was hard to navigate and when we asked the waiter for guidance it definitely came off as condescending. Then when we got our food the portions were very small. The food was good but made to savor. On top of that I got my girlfriend a drink which was a small sparkling grape juice for $14. It all came out to about $80 after a tip for two small plates and a small drink. read more

To start, our waitress Ari was a gem. She was thorough with the menu and answered any and all of our questions with great patience! The gnocchi was good, but not the best I've ever had. The bucatini sauce was phenomenal though, the fresh tomato flavor stood out so much! The ambiance, when facing away from Survivance (a dorm building) is incredible. When facing, it does break the atmosphere a bit, but it's not a dealbreaker haha. Overall, it was a good dining experience. It's a solid choice for a meal after a show at the playhouse! read more

Truly one of the best dining experiences we've had. Lucas, the maître d', is exceptional -- so warm, welcoming, and genuinely memorable. We were thrilled to see him again after Paradisaea. His knowledge of the menu and pairings is unmatched and made the evening feel special from the moment we arrived. Our server, lan, was equally phenomenal - attentive, thoughtful, and incredibly knowledgeable, guiding us through perfect pairings all night. The ambiance was also fantastic -- a charming "grandma" vibe that somehow feels totally current, cozy, and cute. Every detail was flawless. 10/10 -- can't wait to return. read more

We stumbled upon this place when trying to get dinner before a volleyball match at UCSD. Although they were very busy, they were able to make arrangements for a table quickly. The food and service were astounding! I will dream about our food for a long while. Although we are not in the area often, we will make a point of visiting this unique and wonderful restaurant whenever we are in La Jolla. read more

The decor outdoes the quality of food. The food flavors are good but just way overpriced for the portions you're served. Went and picked up dessert elsewhere. read more

Impeccable service provided by Ari. Food is delicious. There were four of us and we ordered all dishes from appetizers to desserts on the pre-theater menu. We consumed it all family style Highly recommend Dora. read more

Nice looking restaurant with a limited lunch menu so you won't find some of the items others have recommended like bread or octopus. Mushroom pizza was good but found the meatballs to be a little odd. Service was good at the bar until the bartender got inundated with drink orders.Close to the theatre so an easy walk to get there. read more

The food was very good and the service was exceptional especially Zoe with an accent on the "e". Make sure you ask for her.

OMG. I had the most amazing experience EVER because of my server !!! Arianna is the SWEETEST, MOST ATTENTIVE, KNOWLEDGABLE server ever!! I came in with some friends yesterday and we could not stop talking about how great our service was !!! I cant wait to come back for her !!! The food was also really good (shout out the carpacio - to die for !!!!) read more

A warm yet refined spot, perfect before a show at the La Jolla Playhouse. Service was impeccable -- Zoe took great care of us with genuine warmth. The ricotta ravioli in sage butter was wonderful. A perfect choice for lunch or dinner before the theater. read more

Ari was hands down the best part of our experience. She was attentive, friendly, and made us feel genuinely welcomed. Service was fast, recommendations were spot on, and her energy elevated the whole meal. We'll be back just because of her! read more

Dora Ristorante - Italian Near Me - La Jolla, California

Arguably the best Italian restaurant in San Diego and it's only been open two weeks. They capture the vibe you would hope for from an Italian restaurant, and they keep the menu simple/high quality. Special thanks to Francesca who is a spectacular bartender and lovely person! I recommend bringing a few friends so you can try more dishes... the pizzas, pastas, and appetizers are all really well done. read more

Zoe was very good at serving us and we were very satisfied. Also listed to the customer and delivered the opinion to management. Thank you! read more

The atmosphere is great, beautiful restaurant! The food is delicious, I can't wait to go back. Lucas, Zoe and Jay were amazing, great service. read more

The food is delicious, the service is amazing, and the decoration is so beautiful!!! One more thing that I enjoyed is the good music they have. Two of my favorite dishes are the gnocchi and the ravioli. And of course, you can't miss the desserts. read more

Private party at Dora last night in their warm and pretty private dining room separated from main restaurant by glass doors. The host selected a wide array of dishes across four courses - from my favorites like the Aranciniai (Arborio rice, black truffle, porcini mushroom, mozzarella) and Ravioli of spinach, ricotta and brown butter to new dishes like the Fettucine all'aragosta with Maine lobster meat, cherry tomato's, chili (just a touch) and basil and Porcini crusted Bistecca that was tender and rare. The variety of flavors across the 14 dishes we shared family style and the quality of the ingredients and preparations just reminded my hubby and me how much we looooove great Italian dishes and especially by Chef Accursio Lota! The Super Tuscan chosen by our host for the main dishes was beautiful with Cab sauv, petit Verdot and of course, Sangiovese! Everyone had a fabulous time ! The service was both warm and professional. We're looking forward to returning soon! read more