Decore — Restaurant in San Diego

A Gem in San Diego’s East Village

Tucked into the heart of East Village, DECORE is a true culinary standout, owned and lovingly run by the dynamic duo Gio & Gio. From the moment we walked in, the warmth and friendliness of the staff made us feel right at home—this place has soul. The name says it all "DECORE" In Roman dialect, "from the heart," symbolizing deep commitment and passion, particularly in the context of food, art, and personal connections.

We kicked things off with Brussels Sprouts al Pecorino and Calamari—both starters were perfectly executed. The sprouts were crispy with just the right amount of sharp pecorino, while the calamari was light, tender, and fresh.

For mains, we tried the Pizza Salamino, Ravioli Tartufo e Funghi, and the Bolognese. Each dish was rich with flavor and felt authentically Italian. The pizza had a beautiful crust with just the right balance of spice and savory. The ravioli was earthy and decadent with the truffle and mushrooms, and the Bolognese was comforting and bold—a standout.

We finished with a classic cannoli and a glass of their house-specialty sweet vermouth, which was the perfect end to an already amazing meal.

It’s rare to find a restaurant that nails every course, but DECORE delivers across the board. Friendly service, incredible food, and a cozy atmosphere—a 10 out of 10. There’s so much more on the menu I can’t wait to try, and I’ll definitely be back soon.

FYI , yes, I am a real person, and this is an...

I’m so excited to have a new Italian restaurant open up so close to where I live in Downtown San Diego. First off—the staff and food were AMAZING. You can really tell they care about the experience, and the flavors were on point. Usually, you have to head over to Little Italy for solid Italian food, so it’s great to finally have something this good on this side of town.

I also wanted to leave this review to show some support to a new local business—but it looks like I’m not the only one! They’ve already racked up a bunch of well-deserved positive reviews.

One small thing I hope the staff sees: I honestly didn’t know the place was open for the longest time. The green rope out front kind of makes it look like it’s closed, and I didn't realize the actual entrance is off to the right. A few of my friends who live nearby said the same thing. I think part of the confusion is that the previous restaurant in that spot had the entrance where the rope is now.

Highly recommend trying any of the Pastas

Super excited to have this spot in the neighborhood—I'll definitely...

We had an unforgettable experience at Decore — this place is a gem! We came with a group of six and honestly wished we could have tried everything on the menu. They started us off with the most delicious bread I’ve ever had — seriously, I could’ve eaten a whole basket myself.

For starters, we had the meatballs, Suppli (arancini), and Brussels sprouts. All were amazing, but the Suppli and meatballs were absolute standouts — rich, flavorful, and perfectly cooked.

Then came the mains: the Pizza Mantovanna (incredible crispy crust), bolognese (our daughter devoured it!), and Porchetta (so flavorful and well-balanced). Every dish was clearly made with care and creativity.

We finished with a custard dessert that was out of this world. Light, silky, and the perfect ending to a perfect meal.

Decore is ideal for celebrating a special occasion or just enjoying a top-tier meal. We’re from Boston and would be regulars if we lived in San Diego. Can’t wait...