California English

Name: California English
Address: 9276 Scranton Rd, San Diego, CA, United States, 92121-7701
Telephone: (858) 201-3461
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.3

4.3

135 Reviews

$31 to $50

American

Top Tags:

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.

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Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Jun 10, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 20 times today

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Cuisines
American, British, Californian
Hours of operation
Lunch Tue–Sun 11:00 am–3:00 pm Happy Hour Tue–Sun 3:00 pm–5:00 pm Dinner Tue, Wed, Sun 5:00 pm–8:00 pm Thu–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
None

What 135 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

4.2Food
4.4Service
4.5Ambience
3.7Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

San Diego
Good for business meals
San Diego
Good for business meals
San Diego
Innovative

N
Nicki
San Diego
148 reviews
vip
3.0
148 reviews
Dined on June 1, 2023
overall3food3service3ambience4
We were really looking forward to this dinner and to celebrate my friend's 60th birthday... and it just didn't hit the mark. The fish of the fish & chips were very good, but really over priced. The chicken masala lacked the expected spice/flavor. The service was ok. The scones & the hostess were the real stars... the scones were delicious & the hostess was very welcoming & went out of her way to wish my friend a happy birthday. Bring your own candle & lighter if you wish to celebrate a birthday too. :/ The ambiance was pretty!
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ME
MadelineE
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 22, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
Beautiful restaurant and excellent outside space with various types of seating and eating areas. Service was excellent and staff very friendly and helpful. Food well presented and delicious. Worth a visit.
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MJ
MJCS
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 21, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Service, food and ambience all fantastic! I will return many times, I am sure.
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Z
Zach
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on May 21, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience5
Great ambiance, fun evening all around. The scotch egg and scallops (daily special) were incredibly memorable and an experience worth talking about. London fog was a fun drink, but after the bubble popped was just another martini. Fish and chips were fun to eat with all the different dips/sides, but the breading on the filet was pretty darn greasy. Wasn’t able to finish the whole thing. Overall great night.
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C
Charles
Los Angeles
9 reviews
vip
5.0
9 reviews
Dined on May 20, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
If you are looking for new experiences, you have to try this restaurant. Really good food and great ambiance. We really enjoyed California English and plan on returning.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 15, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience5
Beautiful dinner on the patio. Was warm with all the heaters, thankfully. Delicious appetizers, cocktails, and entrees. I particularly love the beef tartare, beans on toast, and the scotch egg. 🤤
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Diego
2 reviews
vip
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 15, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience4
Great experience but felt a little over priced for what you received.
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JR
JenniferR
San Diego
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Took my British boyfriend's mom for Mothers Day - a perfect meal! Food is top notch. They commented it was a great mesh of real British cuisine with a new spin. The London Fog was fun. The sticky toffee pudding topped it all off (and 3 of us shared and couldn't finish it!) The service was a 10 out of 10, very friendly and knowledgeable. Highly recommend and can't wait to return!
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SF
SandraF
San Diego
6 reviews
3.0
6 reviews
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall3food2service2ambience4
Great open space and aesthetically pleasing. I was really excited to try this new Richard Blais restaurant but was ultimately disappointed. My table ordered the cheddar scone, corned beef sandwich and the Yorkshire burrito with an add on of the scotch egg. The cheddar scone was good. The corned beef sandwich was the best item we ordered as it was very flavorful and the beef was tender. The Yorkshire burrito with short rib was mediocre at best. The scotch egg was not worth the $13 as it is not the best I have had. The staff was nice but did not give me a very welcoming feeling even though I had a reservation and the restaurant did not seem very busy. Overall it was disappointing and not sure if I will return.
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AP
AdamP
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food, Drinks and staff were top notch. We had a great dinner.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Diego
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on May 13, 2023
overall3food3service5ambience5
$10 for an appetizer of shrimp chips is really a small prepapcked bag of what I can only compare to lays potato chips with shrimp bouillon seasoning. Entre Ribeye meat was all fat. Like couldn't even cut through it quality. Kids fish and chips were good. Short rib was good. Scottish egg was delicious! But the first two things listed, shrimp chip swindle and poor ribeye meat quality really brought down the food experience. Ambience was great. Grass outdoor area with corn hole- great use of space.
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LV
LiliV
San Diego
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 10, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Cool ambience, delicious cocktails and food. Overall great experience.
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KR
KR12
San Diego
7 reviews
vip
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on May 8, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
I wish they did Sunday Roast Dinner for 1 person rather than 4 people minimum but that is the only complaint I could possibly have the food and cocktails were incredible and the restaurant itself is also beautiful! The staff was lovely and the details are just gorgeous!
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I
Imee
San Diego
15 reviews
vip
4.0
15 reviews
Dined on May 7, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience5
Came here on Sunday for brunch. The place is very nice. Interior design is nice. Food was good. Drinks were excellent. Chairs were low for the table. Im short and felt like I need a booster seat. 😂 Would definitely come back here to try their dinner menu.
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D
Dee31
Atlanta Metro
39 reviews
vip
5.0
39 reviews
Dined on May 7, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
My husbands family was in town visiting - one of whom studied for a year in London so we were excited to learn of this establishment and even happier to see some of the traditional English dishes on the menu. The food was delicious - I had the chicken tikka Marsala which was 🤌🏾, the naan was buttery and soft and the dish was super flavorful. We also tried the burger which was juicy and messy - the way a burger should be! The service was impeccable and the decor was gorgeous! Loved the wallpaper, the finish selections, lighting - everything was really beautifully done! One other thing that I loved about this experience - the staff did not rush us after our meal was Done. Instead, they continued to refill our drinks/water and allowed us to hang back and catch up. Also, We were with elderly family members who needed a little more time to rest a bit after their meal so this was much appreciated.
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JH
JanH
San Diego
16 reviews
vip
5.0
16 reviews
Dined on May 3, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food was delicious; staff was knowledgeable, taking the time to recommend items & explain what makes each dish special. We enjoyed the Scotch egg, corned beef sandwiches and London Fogs. All excellent.
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DW
DanW
San Francisco
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on May 3, 2023
overall4food3service5ambience5
Food was pretty basic. It was basically the same as I'd get going to a restaurant in London but in a much nicer setting and triple the cost.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Diego
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on May 1, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food was wonderful and the restaurant was beautiful. The staff were really nice as well.
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J
Joink
San Diego
2 reviews
2.0
2 reviews
Dined on April 30, 2023
overall2food2service3ambience3
Overrated food for the price. Staff didn’t even know the menu. Should have stayed a ‘concept’.
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JB
JasonB
Seattle
13 reviews
5.0
13 reviews
Dined on April 30, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Nice mix of English food with CA flair. Good for lunch, happy hour or dinner
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MS
MandS
San Diego
12 reviews
vip
2.0
12 reviews
Dined on April 30, 2023
overall2food3service2ambience3
Restaurant smelled heavily of fish when we arrived, a number of menu items we no longer available (not sold out , no longer being made). Never received our appetizers. Drinks were ok, tables around us were sending back food and drinks. Food was ok, good for "hotel restaurant" food.
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CH
ChrisH
San Diego
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on April 30, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience4
Food is exactly what the restaurant name implies, English classics with a California influence. Thoroughly enjoyed by all.
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G
Goodnessexplorer
San Diego
7 reviews
vip
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on April 29, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Pleasant experience and excellent service!
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LG
LawrenceG
New York Area
2 reviews
vip
2.0
2 reviews
Dined on April 28, 2023
overall2food2service4ambience4
Very disappointing. We had eaten at California English twice before and the food was outstanding. This time, however, the eggplant parmesan was so oversauced as to be submerged and the oil had separated and was visible in the dish. The fish and chips, which had been terrific, was also excessively oily. We were planning on bringing friends, but were forced to cancel the reservation. Even the Manhattans were much too sweet. Too bad.
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NB
NancyB
San Diego
6 reviews
vip
4.0
6 reviews
Dined on April 28, 2023
overall4food3service4ambience5
We had mixed reviews on our meal. I had the scallops with risotto, and it was absolutely spectacular. My sister had the eggplant Parmesan, and it was average at best. Nothing wrong with it, it just wasn’t special in anyway. Seemed odd that these two dishes came from the same chef/kitchen. Service wise a little too rushed for us. Our server was attentive, but also not experienced enough to see that we were in the mood to have a prolonged experience at the restaurant. Would go back again for sure. It will only get better!!
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F
Foodie626
New York Area
7 reviews
vip
4.0
7 reviews
Dined on April 26, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience5
Excellent service; great food. Terribly overpriced.
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G
Great
San Diego
11 reviews
2.0
11 reviews
Dined on April 24, 2023
overall2food2service4ambience2
Expensive without value. Fish and Chips only average, fish straight from freezer to fryer batter over cooked. Expected perfection for $35. Burger was good but nothing special. We had 6 oysters and the taste was fabulous, we walked away saying oysters great rest of it not so great. Unfortunately I am writing this from the bathroom the next morning so the oysters were not so good either. Or at least one of them.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Diego
12 reviews
vip
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on April 23, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Delicious food! Loved the decor, and how close it was to the highway.
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MR
MonicaR
New York Area
5 reviews
vip
2.0
5 reviews
Dined on April 23, 2023
overall2food2service1ambience4
Waited an hour for our food which was barely ok. The restaurant is beautiful, it is a shame that food and service are so bad. Will not go back.
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SE
SarahE
San Diego
8 reviews
vip
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on April 23, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful ambiance. Really nice decor and service. Food amazing. Fish and chips best in San Diego.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on April 23, 2023
overall4food3service5ambience5
The restaurant is beautiful. The cocktails are amazing. The staff is also excellent and attentive. We ordered 4 items and 4 drinks. Wasn’t crazy expensive. The ahi crudo had such depth of flavor-highly recommend. The kale Caesar was also delicious. We weren’t fans of the soup but the maitre d noticed we barely touched it so the waiter came over and asked for feedback and didn’t charge us. Super kind! We told them we didn’t mind but he insisted. Lastly we got the fish and chips-pretty solid. I would def come back for drinks.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Diego
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on April 23, 2023
overall3food2service4ambience5
The ambiance is really nice and the location is convenient with plenty of parking. The cocktails are delicious and Insta-worthy (check out the London Fog). However, for the price I found the food to be just okay. I ordered the beet salad and my husband ordered the fish and chips. Both were fine.
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GS
GSPA
San Francisco
2 reviews
vip
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on April 23, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience5
Fabulous experience! So very English :) great service
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JM
JaMc
San Diego
9 reviews
vip
5.0
9 reviews
Dined on April 22, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience5
Food and drinks were fantastic! Try this place before it gets super popular!!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Diego
9 reviews
3.0
9 reviews
Dined on April 21, 2023
overall3food1service3ambience4
I was very excited to check out this British inspired restaurant that was not located downtown. It’s such a pretty IG worthy milieu. The menu sounded marvelous! Sadly, the food disappointed. My party ordered the scotch egg, beef tartare and ahi crudo for starters, followed by the chicken tikka masala and aubergine parmo and the sticky date and toffee cake with earl grey ice cream. Doesn’t everything sound delicious? Pretty much every item we ordered fell flat taste-wise. It was such a major disappointment. The scotch egg was supposed to have a vindaloo chili flavor… what vindaloo??? The whipped honey side saved the scotch egg, which would otherwise be completely tasteless. The ahi crudo was equally tasteless. The beef tartare was acceptable and the mustard was really a nice addition to the dish. At least we finally tasted something. The chicken in the tikka masala dish had a good texture to it which we appreciated but we felt the curry was too thin and again, too bland. The aubergine thankfully saved the day. It’s sauce was delicious and the right consistency and the currants and capers definitely added a dimension of flavor. We were celebrating a birthday, and the restaurant very kindly gave us a complimentary dessert. It wasn’t on the menu, which impressed us. It was a tart filled with caramelized banana with some cream and it was divine! That dessert itself scored a 10/10! But we also ordered their sticky date and toffee cake. Sticky date is one of my favorite desserts which I always order whenever a restaurant offers it. It’s a dessert that I personally bake often too. Their sticky date was just too airy and didn’t pack the same density of a fabulous sticky date I’ve enjoyed elsewhere or bake. Fortunately, their earl grey ice cream was good.
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LA
eatLAOC
Los Angeles
9 reviews
4.0
9 reviews
Dined on April 21, 2023
overall4food3service5ambience5
Great service but food is a bit a miss.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
3 reviews
3.0
3 reviews
Dined on April 18, 2023
overall3food2service5ambience4
Service and Decor were good , the food was not good and overpriced . For roughly the same price, and double the size , you can get a chicken sandwich at at the crack shack. My wife ordered the 1/2 chicken which was dry and the “crispy “ potatoes were soaked and soggy. Also , a small order of “chips “ or basically wedge fries , cost $14 with a side sauce for $3 . Truly disappointed and won’t be back .
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G
Grace
New York Area
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 16, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
10/10 recommend. Reminded us of Vegas, but better. Food was excellent quality and expertly prepared, not to mention authentic.
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AS
AdamS
Washington DC
3 reviews
vip
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on April 16, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The restaurant is beautiful, staff amazing and food is excellent. Terrific concept in a nice area.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Orange County
17 reviews
vip
5.0
17 reviews
Dined on April 15, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful food… Beautiful place… Great service! We’ll be back! ❤️🙏
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FAQs

California English is rated 4.3 stars by 135 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Jun 10, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 20 times today

9276 Scranton Rd, San Diego, CA 92121-7701

Additional information

Neighborhood
Sorrento Mesa
Hours of operation
Lunch Tue–Sun 11:00 am–3:00 pm Happy Hour Tue–Sun 3:00 pm–5:00 pm Dinner Tue, Wed, Sun 5:00 pm–8:00 pm Thu–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Cuisines
American, British, Californian
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
None
Executive chef
Richard Blais

Website
http://www.californiaenglishsd.com/
Phone number
(858) 201-3461

California English

Make a reservation

Additional information

Menu

What 135 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

FAQs

How is California English restaurant rated?

Is California English currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information