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

California English

4.4
4.4
481 Reviews
$31 to $50
American

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 15 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 10:00–15:00 Lunch Tue–Fri 11:00–15:00 Afternoon Tea Tue–Sun 11:00–17:00 Happy Hour Tue–Sun 15:00–18:00 Dinner Tue–Thu, Sun 17:00–20:00 Fri, Sat 17:00–22:00
  • Phone number
    (858) 201-3461
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive Chef
    Richard Blais

Experiences

  • Holiday Brunch with Santa!

    US$50.00 per person

    22 Dec 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

    US$25.00 per person

    Prepaid

    31 Dec 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 481 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.

481 Reviews
  1. Mia

    San Diego

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 2 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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  2. Joe

    San Francisco

    6 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined 2 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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  3. Quelda

    San Diego

    6 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    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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  4. karen

    San Diego

    30 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    30 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    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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  5. Tracy

    San Diego

    38 reviews

    5.0

    38 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Great for a group. Everyone enjoyed their meals.

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  6. Diana

    San Diego

    5 reviews

    3.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on 8 December 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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  7. Chris

    San Diego

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 8 December 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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  8. OpenTable Diner

    San Diego

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on 4 December 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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  9. Stefan

    San Diego

    3 reviews

    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 1 December 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Friendly service and excellent food with an English twist.
    California EnglishResponded on 4 December 2024
    Stefan, Friendly, excellent and with a twist is exactly what we strive for!!! So pleased to know it translates over, we can't wait to see you again! Thanks for leaving such a kind review

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  10. Raiza

    San Diego

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on 30 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Made reservations for the tea time. The service was outstanding.
    California EnglishResponded on 4 December 2024
    Raiza, Thanks for this! Our team has been working hard to deliver quality and welcoming service that is consistent. I am pleased to know this was your experience and am eager to pass this good news along to the rest of the team.

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FAQs

California English is rated 4.4 stars by 481 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 15 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for California English

9276 Scranton Rd, San Diego, CA 92121-7701

Additional information

  • Area
    Sorrento Mesa
  • Hours of Operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 10:00–15:00 Lunch Tue–Fri 11:00–15:00 Afternoon Tea Tue–Sun 11:00–17:00 Happy Hour Tue–Sun 15:00–18:00 Dinner Tue–Thu, Sun 17:00–20:00 Fri, Sat 17:00–22:00
  • 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
  • Impressum
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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