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

California English

4.6
4.6
538 Reviews
$31 to $50
American

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 18 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Charming
  • Great for creative cocktails
  • 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

  • Easter Brunch

    $55.00 per person

    Apr 20, 2025 only
    Join us for Easter Brunch at California English! We’ll be featuring displayed appetizers accompanied with à la carte specialties, and live music to set the perfect springtime vibe. Also enjoy an Easter Egg Hunt for the kiddos with special appearances by the Easter Bunny! Brunch will be served from 9 AM-3 PM, at $55 per adult and $25 per child (under 12).
    Easter Brunch Photo
  • 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!
  • Lunch

    Multiple dates available
    Escape to the British countryside without leaving California, where hearty British comfort meets the freshest local bounty. Indulge in timeless lunch 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 538 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.2Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
California English combines British charm with a California twist, offering a "wonderful concept" in a "beautiful ambiance." Highlights include "great food" like fish and chips, and "amazing service." While some reviews note service inconsistencies and tea service improvements, patrons appreciate the "inviting decor" and "delicious food."

538 Reviews
  1. Nancy VIP

    San Diego14 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    This was my second visit to the restaurant. The food is good but pricey. My risotto was a bit watery and simply warm, not hot. Other guests enjoyed the Fish and Chips which are giant portions. The best part of the meal was our server JAMES. A delightful person with much charm and wonderful guest interaction. Be sure to ask for him, he made up for my lacking risotto.

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  2. Ron

    Washington DC18 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 2, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Enjoyed the special attention from the staff throughout the evening. They gave us tastes of wine, enthusiastically discussed the menu choices, and generally made us feel good during dinner. The food was delicious and well presented. We’ll definitely be back!

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  3. Dora VIP

    San Diego12 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 2, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Warm greeting from hostess, seated promptly. Quick table service. Great happy hour options. The fish & chips were perfectly cooked, served nice and warm. Overall a great experience!

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  4. PaulWest

    Seattle4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 2, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Exceptionally good customer service; not one false note, starting from being greeted to seated and beyond. Superb staff. Really awesome food all around. A treat!
    California EnglishResponded 7 days ago
    Hi Paul! I am beyond glad to hear that our efforts of ensuring exceptional service and delicious food was met during your visit. The recognition of our amazing team is heartwarming and I can't wait to relay your kind words back to the them. Feedback like yours is what keeps us motivated and is the reason we do what we do. We hope to see you soon! Thank you again, Curtis Jackson Senior Reservationist

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  5. Debbie

    San Diego5 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on February 22, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    It was nice but I had higher expectations based on other reviews. It is a pleasant place to have tea but pretty standard tea service, nothing special. I will try again another time for lunch. The restaurant is very pretty, however. I had to go looking for someone to serve us which was frustrating. It is fairly expensive for tea, which was basically just hot water and a tea bag not really an expected "tea service" from my perspective. Servers were nice.
    California EnglishResponded 7 days ago
    Hi Debbie, I'm so sorry to read that our tea time experience did not fully meet your expectations. Our concept is meant to blend the British and California experience, so it's not quite as traditional as one might think. Our tea time does change seasonally so I will be sure to relay your feedback to the kitchen promptly. Hearing that you had to search for service is absolutely unacceptable and will certainly be mentioned to our front of house team to ensure that this will never happen again. We are so glad to hear that you are willing to give us another chance for lunch despite of this. We hope to see you soon, and thank you for taking the time to share about your experience so that we can continue to be better. Curtis Jackson Senior Reservationist

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  6. Charlene VIP

    San Diego1 review

    5.0

    Dined on February 21, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    A unique and unexpected experience! The iced tea selections were really amazing. The service was quick and attentive.

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  7. Miriam

    San Diego2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 16, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing! The look is beautiful, good delicious & impeccable service. Sam was our server, he is amazing! We look forward to eating here at least once a month!
    California EnglishResponded 7 days ago
    Hi Miriam! Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re absolutely delighted to hear that you enjoyed the ambiance, delicious food, and impeccable service. Sam will be thrilled to know he made such a great impression! Nothing makes us happier than knowing we’ve gained a loyal customer, and we can’t wait to welcome you back for more amazing dining experiences. See you soon! Warm regards, Curtis Jackson Senior Reservationist

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  8. Tania

    San Diego12 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 16, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    An absolute place to try. Lovely ambiance. Delicious food. Great service and priced amazingly reasonable. We loved it!

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  9. Benjamin

    San Diego8 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 16, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The craft cocktails were great. The decor is awesome. Food was delicious and not something you can necessarily get anywhere. We had a really great date night. Will definitely be back.

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  10. Jennifer

    San Diego1 review

    5.0

    Dined on February 16, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    My wife is from the UK and she was pleasantly surprised with the food. She said that it was the best fish and chips she’s had since she’s been here and most like a “proper chippy” back home. I had the prime rib and it was absolutely delicious with an amazing cut of meat and the flavor was outstanding. The cocktails were delicious as well and the ambience was perfect. We both highly recommend California English.
    California EnglishResponded 7 days ago
    Hi Jennifer, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! I am absolutely delighted to hear that your wife, as a UK native, gave our fish & chips her stamp of approval. We take great pride in honoring traditional UK dishes and are so glad that it was executed to your satisfaction. We’re also thrilled that you loved the prime rib, cocktails, and ambience. I will definitely be relaying your kind words back to our amazing kitchen team who work so hard to hear positive feedback like yours. We hope to see you soon! Thanks again, Curtis Jackson Senior Reservationist

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FAQs

California English is rated 4.6 stars by 538 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
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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