The restaurant, co-designed by Lota’s wife, Corinne Goria, will open steps away from La Jolla Playhouse.

Sicilian-born chef Accursio Lota, who owns Cori Trattoria in North Park, is bringing his next restaurant concept to La Jolla, designed in collaboration with his spouse, writer Corinne Goria.

The yet-unnamed restaurant will open summer 2025 in UC San Diego’s new Theater District Living and Learning Neighborhood at 9165 Scholars Drive South, featuring a pre-theater, thespian-driven dining program, according to a press release, given its proximity to La Jolla Playhouse.

“We see food as a form of storytelling, and this new restaurant gives us the perfect opportunity to bring that to life in a way we’ve never done before,” Lota said.

“Having worked next to the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, I’ve always been inspired by the energy and emotion of performing arts. With this new concept, we’re excited to bring that same sense of occasion to La Jolla.”

The restaurant will focus on southern Italian coastal cuisine, emphasizing fresh, house-made ingredients, presented in 2,600 square feet of interior space and a 1,400-square-foot patio.

As Cori Trattoria opened while Lota and Goria were living in North Park following the Italian tradition of working within the community where they reside.

Now living in La Jolla, the couple aims to deepen their connections with the local community through the new restaurant.

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