La Jolla, CA – Dora Ristorante, the recently opened Southern Italian eatery in La Jolla, is offering a special pre-theater menu inspired by the life and perform of culinary icon Julia Child, timed to coincide with the world premiere of Claudia Shear’s play, “The Recipe,” at the nearby La Jolla Playhouse.
The partnership between Dora Ristorante and the La Jolla Playhouse, which began when the restaurant opened in November, aims to provide theatergoers with a curated dining experience before evening performances. The three-course, prix-fixe menu is designed to be completed within 80 to 90 minutes, allowing ample time for diners to reach the Playhouse’s three-theater campus across Theatre District Drive.
Chef Accursio Lota, co-owner of Dora Ristorante alongside his wife, Corinne Goria, explained that the themed menus are a direct reflection of each play’s narrative and setting. For “The Recipe,” Lota immersed himself in Child’s celebrated cookbooks to craft a menu that pays homage to her culinary legacy.
“We’re having fun with it,” Lota said, noting the enthusiastic response to the “Working Girl”-themed menu that ran during the musical’s November and December performances, with diners lining up outside the door before opening. “But it’s not just for people going to the theater. Anyone can enjoy it.”
The “Recipe” menu features a selection of four appetizers, four entrees, and three desserts, each with a subtle nod to Child’s signature dishes. Options include vichyssoise, inspired by her potato-leek soup; insalata nizzarda vegetariana, an Italian take on her salad Niçoise; and classic coq au vin. A gelato twist on Child’s crepes suzette is among the dessert choices. Beef bourguignon, a short rib braised in Chianti wine sauce with winter vegetables, is available at market price.
A key moment in Shear’s play, and a pivotal experience in Child’s life, centers around her transformative taste of sole meunière in Rouen, France, in 1948. Dora Ristorante’s menu reflects this with the option of local fish of the day prepared a la meunière, with lemons, capers, and potatoes.
The pre-theater menu is priced at $65, with optional add-ons and beverages. A two-glass wine flight is also available for $27. “The Recipe” begins previews on Tuesday, February 10, with opening night scheduled for Sunday, February 15, and will run through March 22. Reservations can be made at doralajolla.com/pretheater.
Dora Ristorante, located at 9165 Theatre District Drive in La Jolla, is the second restaurant venture for Lota and Goria, following the success of Cori Trattoria Pastificio in North Park. The restaurant opened in November 2024 on the UC San Diego campus.
