Decore

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

"De Còre" – From the Heart

The name says it all. In Roman dialect, de còre means "from the heart" — a phrase that carries the full weight of what this San Diego restaurant is trying to do. Not a performance of Italian cuisine, but an honest expression of it: daily-made fresh pasta, slow-braised sauces, and a menu that reads like a Sunday table in Rome rather than a tourist approximation of one.

Gambero Rosso, Italy's most authoritative food guide, awarded Decore 2 Forks in its 2026 edition — a meaningful recognition for a restaurant this committed to Italian authenticity outside of Italy.

The Food

The kitchen's anchor is pasta fresca, made every day from high-quality ingredients. Dishes like Spaghettoni Cacio e Pepe stay true to their Roman roots — just Pecorino and black pepper, no shortcuts — while the Casarecce all'Oxtail features a five-hour braised oxtail ragù finished with grated Pecorino Romano. Bucatini Amatriciana arrives with guanciale and tomato, as it should. For something more indulgent, the Ravioli Tartufo e Funghi fills wild mushroom ravioli with truffle cream and Parmigiano.

Roman-style pizza rounds out the carb canon: the Pizza Mantovana — mozzarella, goat cheese, butternut squash purée, crispy guanciale and a drizzle of honey — is the kind of combination that earns repeat visits.

Starters lean into Italian bar culture: fried rice croquettes (Supplì) filled with smoked mozzarella, baby octopus braised in tomato sauce with focaccia crostone, and a baked Brie with agrodolce fig marmalade that bridges Italian and Californian instincts without forcing it.

The Atmosphere

The room is designed to feel warm and inviting, with outdoor seating that suits San Diego's climate. Happy hour runs Monday through Friday, with vermuts and a curated wine list that complement the Italian-leaning menu. It's fine dining without the stiffness — the kind of place where the food is serious but the mood is relaxed.

Decore's mission, stated plainly, is to bring the comfort and joy of Italian home cooking to every plate. The Gambero Rosso recognition suggests they are doing exactly that.