California English

4.4

483 Reviews

$31 to $50

American

Make a reservation

2 people

Dec 21, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 20 times today

Experiences are available.

Good for special occasions
Innovative
Charming

Located in the Sorrento Valley, California English is the newest culinary creation from celebrity chef, Richard Blais. Blais is creating an all-day menu for California English that’ll interpret classic British dishes through the lens of Southern California ingredients.
The idea is a fusion of sorts: the laid-back California lifestyle that makes San Diego so unique, mixed with a cozy pub convivial atmosphere where you can meet friends (or mates) for a pint after work, set up a client lunch with fresh oysters on the menu or have a cozy family dinner over a Sunday roast. Everything on the menu is made from scratch with locally sourced ingredients that make for fresh and flavorful dishes.
The effortless vibe of casual yet stylish makes for the perfect place to celebrate the joy of the unexpected coming together to make the perfect culinary match.

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
American, British, Californian
Hours of operation
Brunch Sat, Sun 10:00 am–3:00 pm Lunch Tue–Fri 11:00 am–3:00 pm Afternoon Tea Tue–Sun 11:00 am–5:00 pm Happy Hour Tue–Sun 3:00 pm–6:00 pm Dinner Tue–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–8:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Phone number
(858) 201-3461
Website
http://www.californiaenglishsd.com/
Dress code
Business Casual
Executive chef
Richard Blais

Location
9276 Scranton Rd, San Diego, CA 92121-7701
Neighborhood
Sorrento Mesa
Parking details
Public Lot

Experiences

Holiday Brunch with Santa!
$50.00 per person
Dec 22, 2024 only
Celebrate the season at California English with a festive Holiday Brunch! Enjoy a delicious selection of brunch favorites, live music, and lawn games. Santa will make special appearances at 11am, 12:30pm, and 2pm to bring holiday cheer to the little ones, and guests can join our Red Envelope Giveaway for a chance to win a Richard Blais experience. $50 per adult, $25 per child. A 20% gratuity will be added to all checks. Bring your family and friends for a joyful holiday celebration filled with fun and cheer!
Cocktail & Food Pairing
$25.00 per person
Prepaid
Dec 31, 2024 only
Ring in the New Year with a cutting-edge culinary experience at California English, spotlighting the artistry of molecular mixology. Each thoughtfully crafted cocktail is paired with a curated plate designed to complement its innovative flavors and presentation. Guests can choose 3 pairings for $75 or 5 pairings for $95. Reservations start at 6PM, with the last seating at 8PM. A $25 deposit per person secures your spot, and a 20% gratuity ensures exceptional service for this unforgettable celebration. Elevate your evening with a uniquely modern take on New Year’s Eve!
Brunch
Multiple dates available
Escape to the British countryside without leaving California, where hearty British comfort meets the freshest local bounty. Indulge in timeless brunch classics reimagined by renowned chef Richard Blais with a sun-kissed twist. It's a transatlantic culinary journey that promises farm-fresh charm in every bite!

What 483 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.4

4.4 based on recent ratings

4.3Food
4.4Service
4.6Ambience
4Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

California English offers a charming blend of British and Californian cuisine. "wonderful concept," though consistency varies. Highlights include "Great service," especially from standout staff like Gus and Marco. Teatime is popular, with delicious desserts like sticky toffee pudding. While some find the food lacking, the creative dishes and beautiful ambiance make it a memorable experience.

483 Reviews

OT
OpenTable Diner
VIP
San Diego
9 reviews
5.0
9 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
Beautiful space indoor and out! Great tea service and cocktails!
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L
Lizzie
San Diego
8 reviews
4.0
8 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 5
Beautiful restaurant, for sure. The food was delicious. We had the scotch egg (kinda too spicy for me, personally), the Caesar and the fish & chips. Loved the fish & chips. Huge portion, super tasty. French fries were good, too. The four stars is because the service was super slow. Waited awhile for our food. Too much time between apps & entree. Will probably go back because the fish & chips were fire.
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M
Mia
San Diego
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Very nice tea service with excellent food options. Nice cocktails as well 🥂
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J
Joe
VIP
San Francisco
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Best fish and chips I’ve ever had, and the stone fruit sour is an excellent cocktail
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Q
Quelda
VIP
San Diego
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on December 13, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
A very nice place with great service and excellent food.
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k
karen
VIP
San Diego
30 reviews
3.0
30 reviews
Dined on December 13, 2024
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 2
Unfortunately we dined the same evening that the restaurant rented out their front patio to a private party. The noise level from the live music (sliding doors were wide open) interrupted what should have been a lovely, quiet dining experience. Food was good but I see that the smashed pea concoction is still on the menu, lentils on my salmon plate were undercooked and flavorless. The lemon scones were a hit with the table as were the fish&chips. Would I go back? Well, yes, but I won’t order the salmon plate and I would definitely get a substitution for the peas. ;)
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T
Tracy
San Diego
38 reviews
5.0
38 reviews
Dined on December 10, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Great for a group. Everyone enjoyed their meals.
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D
Diana
San Diego
5 reviews
3.0
5 reviews
Dined on December 8, 2024
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
First time at this restaurant. Big fan of breakfast / brunch places and of British cuisine in general, so we were eager to give them a try. There was no wait for our table, hostess was very welcoming. The atmosphere was attractive, open, delightful. We were given water and menus right away, and server arrived soon after to ask if we had any questions. She explained the menu and we ordered our dishes. Mine was an egg dish with gravy and scones, my husband’s was a small plate. Our food arrived fairly quickly. It looked good and we dug in. Immediately it was clear that my food was lukewarm. Although the two cooked eggs on top were hot the gravy covering the plate was almost cold. My husband’s was also lukewarm. Our server checked in quickly and graciously offered to have the kitchen remake mine. It did not take long and I was happy to have my hot breakfast in a jiffy. It was definitely better warm, but nothing I would want to have again. The lemon pepper scones under the cream gravy were flavorful but very dry, and if it weren’t for all the gravy they would have been tough to eat. Bangers are rather bland on their own, so it should have been no surprise that the banger gravy lacked flavor. The eggs were good, however, as was my coffee. I was very hungry and finished the plate. It’s a shame, the waitstaff are truly excellent and believe in the food, and they do their best. Perhaps there are better choices on the menu, or it was just an off morning for the kitchen. I really wanted to like this place and I know it’s very popular, but it was a swing and a miss for us.
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C
Chris
San Diego
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on December 8, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Really enjoyed the tipsy tea service. Good cocktail selections.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Diego
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on December 4, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Food was excellent. The fish and chips were perfectly cooked and came with a nice collection of sauces. The scotch egg was delicious although I’d have liked it to be cooked just slightly more, so oozy rather than runny. Their take on the pasty was very good. The real star though was the brownie sunday. Everything you want it to be. Service was good but working out some kinks. I ordered a beer that didn’t materialize until I asked about it, but otherwise pretty thorough. Overall I suggest a visit but not sure it’ll be in heavy rotation just due to the cost.
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FAQs

California English is rated 4.4 stars by 483 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Dec 21, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 20 times today

Experiences are available.

9276 Scranton Rd, San Diego, CA 92121-7701

Additional information

Neighborhood
Sorrento Mesa
Hours of operation
Brunch Sat, Sun 10:00 am–3:00 pm Lunch Tue–Fri 11:00 am–3:00 pm Afternoon Tea Tue–Sun 11:00 am–5:00 pm Happy Hour Tue–Sun 3:00 pm–6:00 pm Dinner Tue–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–8:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
American, British, Californian
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
Public Lot
Executive chef
Richard Blais

Website
http://www.californiaenglishsd.com/
Phone number
(858) 201-3461

California English

Make a reservation

Additional information

Experiences

Holiday Brunch with Santa!

Cocktail & Food Pairing

Brunch

Menu

What 483 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Review summary

FAQs

How is California English restaurant rated?

Is California English currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information