Italian natives Giorgio Corletti and Giovanni Siracusa, along with business partner Sandro Lattenero, have taken over the East Village location that previously housed Santa Clarita-based Wicked Chicken for under two years and, before that, Corner Chicken, Tajima founder Sam Morikizono’s short-lived hot chicken concept. They aim to transform the unit into a community anchor with a heartfelt approach.
DeCore, meaning "with heart" in Roman dialect, will offer scratch-made Italian classics in an Art Deco-inspired setting with emerald greens and gold accents, filling the void left by the space's longest tenant, Cafe Chloe, which closed in 2018 after 14 years. The menu will feature traditional Italian ingredients, homemade pasta, and dishes reflecting Siracusa’s Sicilian roots and Corletti’s Roman influences, as well as a selection of wine and beer.
Corletti, who also owns Nado Republic and serves as General Manager of Nado Gelato in Coronado, emphasized the vision: "Decore will be an authentic Italian restaurant with a strong focus on food quality and service. Our concept is rooted in tradition, hospitality, and atmosphere, with a special emphasis on creating an inviting environment that evolves throughout the day - from a lively happy hour to an elegant after-dinner experience."
Siracusa, a Sicilian bartender and Food & Beverage Manager with a competitive mixology background, met Corletti while working in San Francisco. Lattenero brings nine years of experience as owner of Nado Republic in Coronado, a popular dining spot on the island.
Siracusa, a Sicilian bartender and Food & Beverage Manager with a competitive mixology background, met Corletti while working in San Francisco. Lattenero brings nine years of experience as owner of Nado Republic in Coronado, a popular dining spot on the island.
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| Giovanni Siracusa & Giorgio Corletti |
Corletti, currently head chef at Nado Republic, previously trained under Michelin-starred chef Gianfranco Vissani at Casa Vissani in Baschi, Italy, learning to prioritize top-tier ingredients and suppliers, a principle that will shape Decore's elegant fare. His extensive experience includes leading restaurant openings in Rome, Porto Cervo, San Francisco, and San Diego, while Siracusa has honed his craft in top venues across Milan, London, and San Francisco, earning awards for innovative cocktails. Lattenero, with international expertise in hospitality and entertainment, specializes in designing unique dining experiences.
The space has struggled since Cafe Chloe's closure, with Corner Chicken folding within a year in 2020 and Wicked Chicken closing by late 2024 after less than two years in business, unable to compete in East Village's dining scene. Now, Siracusa, Corletti, and Lattenero are renovating the 1,200-square-foot venue into a cozy yet refined space, envisioning Decore as a neighborhood anchor where the community feels at home, echoing the bars and restaurants of their native Italy.
"Of course, we love carbonara, and we definitely want to include it on our menu - perhaps with a unique twist," explained Corletti . "Why not? We might even offer it exclusively for Sunday lunch. We will most likely have our lasagna, which I personally believe is one of the best, along with our delicious Bolognese. Being from Rome myself, my cooking is strongly influenced by Roman cuisine. However, just because I’m Roman doesn't mean I’ll only serve Roman dishes - I’m open to incorporating other culinary influences as well. Other dishes I definitely want to include are Italian classics like pollo alla cacciatora, a slow-cooked chicken dish flavored with herbs and spices, and coda alla vaccinara, a traditional Roman oxtail stew."
DeCore Classic Italian Restaurant is set to debut the mid-April 2025 at 721 Ninth Avenue in San Diego's East Village. For more information, follow Decore on Instagram.
Originally published on March 24, 2025. Information first reported by Beth Demmon for San Diego Magazine.
Originally published on March 24, 2025. Information first reported by Beth Demmon for San Diego Magazine.
