Cora at Roseburg Square: A Place You Can Call Home
By Summer Krafft
One of Modesto’s most anticipated new restaurants, Cora at Roseburg Square, is not only serving up delicious food and drinks every day of the week—they are making you generations-old family recipes, and you are participating in a legacy with every order. The legacy of the blended Zabala-Bertaina family is focused on cultivating laughter and warmth and a place that feels like home for their customers, with every element on your plate scratch-made.
I sat down with the family who runs Cora, and it is a family affair: Alicia Zabala and George Bertaina, a couple who share a passion for food and a job meticulously done, are head chefs and owners whose grown children Jazmine A. Lopez and Julian A. Lopez also line-cook and serve. Not only that, but this family also seems to adopt everyone who works with them in some sense of the word, especially the girlfriend, Mattisan Romero, of their son Jordan Lopez, who just left for boot camp. During our interview, she seemed to be as much of a part of the family as anyone at the table. Additionally, Jordan may not have been in the room. Still, his presence in the restaurant, especially his mark on the business, space, and atmosphere, was clear and distinct, and the family mentioned him often in our conversation.
What’s most apparent is not only a love of food, with the collective groan when I asked them their favorite dish, but a dedication to the values of service and hospitality while putting their mark on everything they serve—every sauce, every drink, every garnish. George even handmakes his pepper blend, including juniper berries and ingredients sourced from overseas rather than using black table pepper in any of his dishes, and the passion with which he talks about the art of making food is deeper than the issue of pepper or any seasoning. It gives Cora the best of the best in every single detail.
This is clear in the space, as well. Alicia and George have cultivated a beautiful, vibrant space for daily dining and the ideal spot to celebrate: come here for your birthday, your anniversary, a first date, a group meeting, or hold your rehearsal dinner or shower in their banquet room. For special events, they not only offer their full menu, a stunning array of family fusion dishes from all the cultures that are blended in their personal lives but will honor special requests for dishes off the menu with a little warning, as they both have a background in catering and cooking as private chefs. This is the place to come if you’re looking for something special.
What struck me about our conversation most is the history behind Cora and what it took for them to get here. In their shared family lineage, there is a history of great love and loss, war imprisonment, resistance, service, separation, and, of course, so much resilience. Their ancestors were part of the Philippine Resistance, delivering food and smuggling messages to POW camps. Sitting with them, I couldn’t help but think how much it took them to get here, as families have immigrated to serve cultural food in our little town, and how beautiful that is. Not only that, but how generous.
The restaurant is named after George’s Grandma, Cora, and features recipes passed down on both sides. The lumpia Alicia made with her Grandma Gloria as a kid is a crowd favorite. George talks about pancakes and his struggle to keep short stacks short. They both come from generations who love food and prioritize showing love through food.
George and Alicia met in culinary school and came together, blending two families with already blended cultures, to share a dream of a restaurant where they could showcase the food they love and love making while creating a warm and welcoming space. Those values are clear in their menu, with flavorful, comforting food that is nourishing and memorable, as well as the younger generation sitting at the table with us.
What surprised the owners and parents most in this venture was the buy-in from the staff and their youngest working son’s sudden dedication to meticulous and passionate cooking—previously more of a cereal guy, they didn’t expect him to be so invested in the process. George, Julian’s stepfather, teared up first recounting this, followed by tears around the table.
This family lives and breathes family, clearly happy to be there together every day, making line cooking a genuine joy in their restaurant. This family lives and breathes delicious food—just try it. This family lives and breathes service.
Their menu features dishes from the Philippines, Spain, Italy, Scandinavia, America, and Central America. As a foodie who loves familiar favorites and trying new things, the first time I went to Cora, I took a group who loves food as much as I do and we ordered almost the entire first side of the menu. No one could agree on which dish was best, as everyone had a personal favorite, and we all agreed that there was not one that wasn’t scrumptious and beautifully plated. This place gets aesthetic as much as flavor.
I’ve been back several times since their opening in May. When I want an exciting meal or to show someone something new, Cora is my go-to. It is also a family favorite in my house. A few dishes worth mentioning are the Crispy Sticky Sweet Adobo Pork Belly, Grilled Chicken Empanadas that come with two of the best sauces I’ve ever tasted, Pear & Praline Salad, Risotto Cakes, and Alicia highlighted the Tofu Bahn Mi Sandwich as her favorite without hesitation.
Not only is their menu thrilling, but it is also extremely accommodating—it is full of gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options, and they uphold strong values about protecting customers’ needs around not mixing oils related to shellfish, etc. This is truly the place to go, and for non-drinkers, they have a specialty cocktail menu to keep things more interesting than your standard fountain soda or iced tea options.
If you think you’ve seen all they have to offer, wait until they premiere their Quick Service Lunch Menu, made for working professionals who want to grab something delicious on their lunch break with the assurance that they’ll have time to enjoy it. This menu will feature sandwiches, rice bowls, and small plates, with consideration for economical pricing. They want you to be able to come back for dinner!
Additionally, they will make small seasonal adjustments to their main lunch and dinner menu to keep things light and fun in the summers and cozy and homey in the winters.
That’s not to mention the spectacular breakfast menu they have prepared and added, featuring sweet and savory options alike, including a standout Corned Beef Hash that uses the same meat as their popular Reuben sandwich. Come by on a weekend for brunch and see what it’s all about at Cora. While you’re there, get a photo in front of their Tamara mural by muralist Fasm, enjoy their Purple Pain cocktail or mocktail made with ube, and say hello and that Summer sent you.
They’ll soon be offering not only new menu items but also a list of special events and opportunities to enjoy Cora at Roseburg Square and feel a part of the family in new ways. Their joy and love for food are infectious, and their integrity as chefs and business owners is clear. I think it’s about time we all get in on their dream of serving exceptional experiences here in Modesto, a home where we call home.
