La Jolla is getting delicious. Over the past few years, the tony enclave has bumped up its food and beverage prowess, with openings like Wayfarer Bread, Marisi, Paradisaea, and Le Coq lining up one after the other in a culinary competition that frankly, we’re all winning. That’s not even mentioning the bonanza of eateries at Westfield UTC, which makes me question everything I thought I knew about food courts. And there’s still more to come. Next summer, the area will add another gem to its culinary crown, when the folks behind North Park’s beloved Trattoria Cori Pastificio open a brand-new concept in UC San Diego’s Theatre District Living and Learning Neighborhood.
Lotaria Restaurant Group owners chef Accursio Lota and Corinne Goria say they plan to mesh Lota’s Sicilian heritage with California’s agricultural bounty. “The restaurant’s menu will emphasize a lot of the coastal simplicity of Sicily with bold Mediterranean flavor,” Lota explains. They’ll also bring in Cori’s handmade pasta program, with plenty of local seafood.
Goria says that due to the space’s proximity to the La Jolla Playhouse, they’ll cater to theatergoers as well as the local community by offering an abridged version of the full menu. “Folks can make sure that they enjoy the pre-show at the restaurant and then still make it to the play on time,” she says. “We’re also hoping to have some thematic elements in the menu as well, that will bounce off of the plays that are going to be put on there—maybe drawing out certain themes from the play and transforming them into dishes.”
In terms of size, it’s quite a leap from cozy Cori, nearly double the diminutive space on Upas Street. The 2,600 square feet of indoor dining space will include a private dining room and an additional 1,400 square feet of patio dining, built by CLTVT (The LaFayette Hotel, Kingfisher) and designed by Bells & Whistles (Animae, Marisi, Jeune et Jolie). “We are trying to evoke warm summers in Sicily and also the sort of warm hospitality and welcoming atmosphere that you feel when you walk into someone’s home in Sicily,” explains Goria, likening the vibe to the Italian Riviera. “It’s like a postcard,” promises Lota.
The yet-to-be-name restaurant at 9165 Scholars Drive South won’t open until summer 2025, but the husband-and-wife duo don’t mind building their legacy with intention. “I’m from Sicily, we’re very slow and laid-back,” he laughs. “We don’t have a plan to open a certain number [of restaurants]… whatever comes, we’ll take, as long as we do it with full patience and enjoyment and in the spirit of life.”
Courtesy of Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens
San Diego Restaurant News & Food Events
New Taco Book Highlights San Diego/Baja’s Best Tacos
Taco Megaregion: The Essential Guide to San Diego & Tijuana’s Best Tacos came out on October 1 and has caused intense salivation ever since. Author W. Scott Koenig’s guidebook features a comprehensive guide to the best taco shops across the best taco region with tons of history, recommendations, and more tasty tidbits for readers to explore. Grab a copy here (and remember to shop local!)
Choose Your Own Adventure on November 2
I don’t know what it is about the first weekend in November, but there is a bonanza of events happening on Saturday, November 2. Olivewood Gardens’ Dinner at Dusk with Bica is almost sold out (tickets are available here), Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens in Escondido is throwing a 28th anniversary party (tickets available here), Valle is celebrating Día de Muertos with a six-course themed menu with optional cocktail and premium tequila pairing (reservations available here), and the Hotel del Coronado is hosting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s 2024 Grand Chef Throwdown with chefs like Drew Deckman (31ThirtyOne), Kari Cota (Pendry San Diego), and more, with tickets available here. Honestly, there are probably more things going on around town, but this should give you a very robust jumping-off point to deliciousness.
Valley Farm Market has been working on their Del Mar location for about a year now, and based on the pending ABC license, it’s one step closer to becoming a reality. In the meantime, you can still stop by their original Spring Valley location and La Jolla outpost for top-notch butcher service and a very well-curated craft beer selection.
I’ve long wondered what the deal was with the boarded-up Village Grill in Balboa Park, so I was stoked to hear the city is finally trying to revitalize it. The city of San Diego is now taking proposals from eateries to take over the space, so check out the requirements on the city’s website and submit your proposal by January 16, 2025.
Blue Bowl Superfoods is expanding its San Diego footprint with a new location coming to 1940 S. Freeman Street, Suite 103 in Oceanside’s Freeman Collective early next year. The veteran-owned cafe chain, known for its build-your-own-acai bowl offerings, already has eight locations across Southern California, including one at UCSD. “Two of the partners went to school together at UCSD and have lived in SD as young adults,” explains CEO Teague Savitch. “Blue Bowl is excited to grow from UCSD into the greater SD community,” with more locations possibly on the way. Already home to Tanner’s Prime Burgers, Corner Pizza, Little Fox, and other restaurants, the Freeman Collective seems about to burst with good stuff. I’m not gonna lie—I’m a little envious of Oceanside’s ongoing food revolution.
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Beth Demmon is an award-winning writer and podcaster whose work regularly appears in national outlets and San Diego Magazine. Her first book, The Beer Lover's Guide to Cider, is now available. Find out more on bethdemmon.com.
