California English

4.6

534 Reviews

$31 to $50

American

Make a reservation

2 people

Feb 26, 2025

7:00 p.m.

Booked 23 times today

Experiences are available.

Charming
Great for creative cocktails
Good for groups

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
Neighbourhood
Sorrento Mesa
Parking details
Public Lot

Experiences

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!
Dinner
Multiple dates available
Indulge in a unique culinary journey where elevated English pub fare meets the vibrant, fresh ingredients of the California coast. At California English, we blend traditional British comfort food with a modern, Californian twist. Savor our expertly crafted dishes in a warm and inviting atmosphere, perfect for any occasion. Join us for an unforgettable dining experience that celebrates the rich flavors and diverse ingredients of two distinct culinary traditions.

What 534 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
4.6Service
4.7Ambience
4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

California English offers a "unique and unexpected experience" with "delicious food" and "impeccable service" in a "beautiful space." Guests rave about the "amazing iced tea selections" and "craft cocktails," while the fish and chips are a standout dish. The ambiance is praised as "lovely" and "welcoming," making it a "must-try" spot.

534 Reviews

D
Debbie
San Diego
5 reviews
3.0
5 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
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.
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C
Charlene
VIP
San Diego
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 5 days ago
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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M
Miriam
San Diego
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
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!
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T
Tania
San Diego
12 reviews
5.0
12 reviews
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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B
Benjamin
San Diego
8 reviews
5.0
8 reviews
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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J
Jennifer
San Diego
1 review
5.0
1 review
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.
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S
Sarah
San Diego
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on February 15, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great food therefore prices on the nibs were a bit too high for what my group expected
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T
Tori
San Diego
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 15, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Such a random spot in terms of location but food was wonderful and ambiance was great!
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E
ELLEN
Tallahassee
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on February 15, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Vibe was great, wonderful service, but I didn’t like the heavy amount of mustard seeds on the short rib. It’s not shown on the menu that the meal had mustard seeds, or pickled onions. Not a fan of that. However the beef Wellington was amazing! The scones were delicious, and the drinks were phenomenal.
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D
Darlene
San Diego
15 reviews
4.0
15 reviews
Dined on February 15, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
We went for tea time/ HH on Valentine’s Day, since that was the only option available for last minute reservations. We were an hour early, and they were able to seat us which was great. We chose to have the tipsy tea which was a pot of tea & a cocktail each along with a tower of carbs. I ordered a fish taco on the side which was delicious. My husband ordered the ahi poke hand which was also yummy. Our drinks…dangerously good. We were happy with the experience and full at that. They gave us macaroons for Valentine’s Day which we took home because we were so full. Service was great. We’ll have to try dinner next.
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FAQs

California English is rated 4.6 stars by 534 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people

Feb 26, 2025

7:00 p.m.

Booked 23 times today

Experiences are available.

9276 Scranton Rd, San Diego, CA 92121-7701

Additional information

Neighbourhood
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

Brunch

Lunch

Dinner

Menu

What 534 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