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Our menu is meant to be shared with others! - California English, San Diego, CA

California English

4.3
4.3
466 Reviews
$31 to $50
American

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 18 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
  • Innovative
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
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive chef
    Richard Blais

Experiences

  • Watch the Arsenal Football Match w/ Richard Blais

    Nov 30, 2024 only
    Catch the Arsenal football match at California English with renowned Chef Richard Blais and get early access to our curated brunch menu and pint specials starting at 9:30 AM. Also please note there is a $30 minimum spend per guest. Don’t miss this lively gathering, perfect for cheering on your team with Chef Blais' innovative flair.
    Watch the Arsenal Football Match w/ Richard Blais Photo
  • 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!
  • 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 466 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.3
4.3 based on recent ratings
  • 4.3Food
  • 4.3Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
California English offers a delightful blend of British charm and California flair. Guests rave about the "fantastic fish and chips" and "delicious sticky toffee pudding." The ambience is "beautiful and elegant," with attentive staff enhancing the experience. Despite occasional service inconsistencies, many diners find the creative menu "exceptional" and worthy of repeat visits.

466 Reviews
  1. Caroline

    Yosemite

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We FINALLY made it down from Carlsbad and took advantage of the “Proper Roast Dinner with Richard Blais.” Our first time here was well worth it! The restaurant is GORGEOUS! The staff, engaging and very attentive. We thoroughly enjoyed the scrumptious prime rib dinner with wonderful sides. Everything was meticulously prepared and delicious! King Richard visited our table a few times which made our experience extra special. The sticky toffee and date cake with salted caramel ice cream is a MUST!!! Sooooo good! We will be back to try the famous ale battered cod and chips and the prime rib dip sando…

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  2. Michelle

    San Diego

    16 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    16 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Went for afternoon tea with some friends/work colleagues after work and had a great time! Service was fantastic-tea was tasty-crumpets were filling. There was live music which is always a treat. And at the end we got to chat a little with Chef Blais! I definitely recommend 100%

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  3. Paola

    San Diego

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Had the brunch experience. Food was amazing (of course), but the whole vibe from the service staff to the bar, to be the decor was so great. It's a hidden gem in an mainly office park space but that just means you have to know what you're looking for. Will add this to the date night list and try dinner next.
    California EnglishResponded 3 days ago
    Paola, Thanks so much for stopping in for brunch! It makes me so happy to know service, food and ambiance were all hits contributing to your overall experience. I know we are thrilled at the opportunity to welcome you back for dinner! See you soon. Best, Brooke & the California English team

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  4. Valerie

    San Diego

    17 reviews

    5.0

    17 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Overall the experience was wonderful, and the food was good. Just a couple of food things....the yorkshire pudding was a little underdone. It looked nice and brown on the outside but the inside still had some undercooked parts. A bit disappointing as that was one of the selling points of the Prime Rib dinner. Also, the prime rib came out on the cold side of warm. It was very tasty though so I didn't mind that it wasn't really warm, let alone hot. The Apple Galette was a little disappointing. My husband said it was bland, the apples tasted like dehydrated apples and had no texture, and there was no sauciness to it. For me, the apples were cut really small so the pieces that still had skin, that was all you tasted. Also, the apples were somewhat crunchy, which is surprising considering they were cut into tiny kid-size pieces. It also was not hot so the ice cream didn't get melty and saucy over the galette, and since there was such a small scoop, it didn't add any liquid to the somewhat dry apples. But again, overall the food was delicious and we had a wonderful dinner with friends.
    California EnglishResponded 3 days ago
    Valerie, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience! We're so glad to hear that you enjoyed your overall evening with us and that the food was tasty, even with some areas that fell short of expectations. We appreciate your feedback on the Yorkshire pudding, Prime Rib, and Apple Galette. We’re sorry they didn’t arrive at their absolute best. We take pride in creating offerings that are flavorful and satisfying, and it sounds like we missed the opportunity to deliver that. I'll be sure to touch base with our kitchen team to ensure consistency in all dishes. We’re thrilled to hear you had a wonderful time with friends despite these hiccups. It’s our goal to provide not just good food but a memorable experience all around. Warm regards, Brooke Chief of Staff

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  5. Young

    San Diego

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 16, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was delicious at tea time! Service was fab. Restaurant was adorable!
    California EnglishResponded 3 days ago
    Hi there! So pleased to read this and know our hard work is paying off! Thanks for leaving a great review. See you again soon!!!

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  6. OpenTable Diner

    Hawaii

    3 reviews

    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 15, 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Overpriced for what you get, came for the fish and chips, solid, but $30 for one piece, although larger than most, definitely not worth the hype. More for social media than for food
    California EnglishResponded 3 days ago
    Hi, Thanks for sharing your feedback. I’m truly sorry to hear that we missed the mark on your recent experience. We are deeply intentional about the quality of our food and strive to ensure that every dish reflects the value we aim to deliver. It’s disappointing to know we fell short. While we take pride in creating a space that’s visually inviting, our top priority is providing an experience that goes far beyond aesthetics. Our Chef and kitchen team is dedicated to crafting dishes that are both memorable and enjoyable, and I truly hope this was an isolated incident. I would love the opportunity to welcome you back and personally oversee your next visit. I can promise you an experience we are not only capable of delivering but genuinely proud to provide. Best, Brooke Chief of Staff

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  7. Richa

    San Diego

    5 reviews

    2.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on November 10, 2024

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3
    My gfs and I have been to few tea places around and I feel tea time here was the most easily passable one. No one was keeping tea port warm, no one came to fill hot waters. They didn’t care to tell us different food options which were anyways very limited and not so delicious. Btw I mentioned we are celebrating birthday but no one even came to wish once. Kids menu was given without crayons and once her dish arrived, there were no silverware. I had to give her mine and that was too big for 2 year old. They charged 20% gratuity counting her but weren’t really showing any compassion for her. It is so sad when places do so and provide really horrible service. Not planning to go back

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  8. Jericha

    San Diego

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 9, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food, great service. We went for brunch I ordered the chilaquiles chips. The fried egg was cooked to perfection. I love cutting open the yolk and have it be perfectly runny to coat my potatoes. So full of flavor. Our server was very nice & had great suggestions, he was super accommodating to our kiddo. I can’t wait to come back and try the tea time menu!
    California EnglishResponded on November 13, 2024
    Jericha, I am so happy to hear all of this! I too am a runny egg fan, so I can appreciate this review on another level. Makes me so happy that your server was kind and attentive to your whole family. We love the kiddos! Tea time is such a fun experience, can't wait to have you in for it.

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  9. Jennifer

    San Diego

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 9, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Loved it! Will definitely return and do this again!
    California EnglishResponded on November 13, 2024
    Wonderful!!! Thank you Jennifer for leaving such a kind review. We can't wait to see you again!

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  10. Neil

    San Diego

    38 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    38 reviews

    Dined on November 9, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    My wife and I enjoyed the food and connection with each other here for our weekly date night! Will be back again and would like to experience it in the summer to take advantage of the cool outside space
    California EnglishResponded on November 13, 2024
    Hey Neil, Thanks for choosing our spot for date night! I am pleased you were able to enjoy the offerings of our space and quality time. We will always be here for all the date night needs. Best Brooke & the California English Team

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FAQs

California English is rated 4.3 stars by 466 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 18 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for California English

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
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
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