California English

4.4

500 Reviews

$31 to $50

American

Make a reservation

2 people

Jan 20, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 19 times today

Experiences are available.

Charming
Great for brunch
Good for special occasions

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

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 500 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
4.5Service
4.6Ambience
4.1Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

California English boasts a "beautiful space" with both indoor and outdoor seating, offering a delightful dining experience. Known for its "excellent food and service," the restaurant features standout dishes like "the best fish and chips" and creative British-inspired cuisine. Guests also enjoy "amazing cocktails" and a welcoming atmosphere, making it perfect for any occasion.

500 Reviews

C
Conner
San Diego
2 reviews
2.0
2 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 2
2. Food 1
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Some of the worst baked goods I’ve ever been served. The scone was inedible. Very disappointing. Service was good.
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D
Daniel
VIP
Los Angeles
72 reviews
5.0
72 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Great experience last night. Not very busy (maybe location? Convenient and easy parking but kinda hidden). Bartender was awesome and all employees gave great service. Food is very good, but a bit pricey. Decor is very cool. It would make a great date night. We’re going back for brunch.
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J
John
San Diego
10 reviews
5.0
10 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Fabulous food and great service make this one of our favorite places.
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C
Christina
San Diego
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on January 8, 2025
1. Overall 1
2. Food 1
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 1
Horrible. The bad reviews were right. Plane noise from the AFB was deafening. Service was meh. I told them it was my birthday and got NO special treatment. Not even a "Happy Birthday". The food was mediocre. The crab tostadito stank of old seafood. I was the only one who would even touch it. I wish I hadn't. Not worth $200!!!!! Don't waste your money. We had 5 pots of water for tea and not one of them was beyond lukewarm. Tea was in bags that were not plastic but looked like nylon. Gross
California EnglishResponded on January 10, 2025
Hi Christina, I am deeply sorry to hear our offerings and service were far from expectations. We understand that you have a multitude of choices when it comes to picking that special birthday spot so I am sorry there was no acknowledgement or celebration from our team. I'd love the opportunity to chat further and make this right. Brooke Chief of Staff
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K
Karen
San Diego
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on January 4, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We had a wonderful day celebrating our friend's birthday. We had the tea service with extra savory dishes. Highly recommend the crab tostada and the fish tacos. We enjoyed our boozy teas. They even gave us a complimentary bottle of presecco because they had to change our reservations. Looking forward to going back!
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M
Marlo
VIP
San Diego
26 reviews
5.0
26 reviews
Dined on January 4, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Love this hidden gem. The staff are fabulous, the food is delicious with beautiful presentation and their craft cocktails are magic. Amazing happy hour and a fun tipsy tea. Don’t forget to try the scones. Gorgeous outside area as well especially when the weather is nice. Haven’t tried the Sunday brunch yet but I can’t wait to get there soon.
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T
Tori
San Diego
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 1, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Amazing New Year’s Eve experience! Service was amazing!
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C
Crystal
San Diego
12 reviews
3.0
12 reviews
Dined on December 29, 2024
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 5
The waitress had some attitude. Our food did not come out of the kitchen at the same time which is really unfortunate. Great ambience. I hope they get a few kinks out and then it will be very good.
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s
sandeep
Greater Boston
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on December 29, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent food and service. Nice ambience. Plenty of parking available
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J
Jerie
San Francisco
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on December 29, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Loved the Boozy Tea service. With a group of 7 people, we like that 5 of us could have tea service and the bigger eaters could order off the brunch menu. Great service and great food. We will be back to use our red envelope. The mystery of what our prize will be is cool! It was a December red envelope surprise to be used in January.
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FAQs

California English is rated 4.4 stars by 500 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people

Jan 20, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 19 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

Brunch

Lunch

Dinner

Menu

What 500 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