California English

We visited the restaurant on it's second day of business for a Birthday/date night and we were extremely pleased by how friendly and courteous the staff were. One of the chefs who established the restaurant, even stopped by to check on us. Our waitress had some good recommendations on what to try and we were happy with pretty much everything we ordered. We ordered a couple of rounds of cocktails which were fairly priced. Scotch eggs, Chives and cheese scones for appetizers were fab. Their Fish and chips was just uh-maazing and worth the extra bucks! The vibe is great for celebrations, date nights or business meet and greets!

I was very excited to try this place. Being English myself and having fond memories of certain foods when I lived there this was definitely a great inspiration from English recipes. I had the hangar steak which was delicious and the Yorkshire pudding was decent as well. We were the first to try the short rib fries and although a bit pricy at $21 they were flavoured very well, as my wife suggested they needed a touch more pico de Gallo though. The sticky toffee pudding was tremendous. It was extremely light but also incredibly rich tasting. We will be back.

Really enjoyed the mix of flavors from this restaurant! Was pleasantly surprised with the Bits and Bobs like the Radishes in Butter, and their Spring Asparagus soup! Also took a bite of the beet salad somebody ordered at my table and I will absolutely be making a special trip back so I can get my own next time.

This is my 2nd visit & the food was outstanding. I admit that I missed the tea tower, but for this trip we were ordering off the brunch menu. My first trip was for high tea, & for brunch I had their version of eggs Benedict. I lived in England & never expected to eat such fabulous bangers. Today, we were celebrating a birthday. I've never seen a brownie presented so superbly. Though food never disappoints, & we'd likely become regulars if there were more options for my vegan friend. The cream, today, was having Jane, our server in the last visit, recognize me & stop by the table to say hello.

Great California vibe with British food. If you like cocktails, stop here 3-6pm for happy hour. I had the Scotch Egg and Bits (little dessert plate). Loved the English Mule. We were a large group and sat outside without reservations. Big plus is each of us could pay individually as everyone came and went during Happy Hour. I will come back sometime for the high tea which did not seem to be on the menu, but others in the restaurant were having it.

You won’t be sorry if you try this delicious place . Relaxing surroundings, amazing staff and awesome happy hour . All the drinks were perfectly crafted . Try the scotch egg. Try the scones . Try everything ! I suggest making reservations.

+6

I tried CE when it opened and dined again recently. Best meal I had in San Diego in a year. Every dish was flavorful and well done. Tasty, but not overpowered. Allowed multiple layers to be discerned. We started with the chips with a great ketchup (delicious) and tomato buratta salad, very well done. Great dressing. Three of us had salmon and all agreed it was outstanding. Fresh vegetables like green peas leaped off the plate in color and flavor. Perfectly prepared salmon in three different bakes. Delicious yogurt sauce with curry accent. My son enjoyed the shortribs. My daughter's jerk chicken was outstanding. "Perfectly cooked chicken," my top chef loving daughter declared. Very flavorful, but not overpowered spices. I had a delicious bourbon cocktail with berries. Nice Jasmine green with raspberry too. Desert was five star. Best I've had in SD. Stickey toffee pudding was perfection (sorry HK). Banana pudding cake was fun. Berries in cream were tangy, sweet, and well balanced. But the star was the bits and bobs with 3 bites of 3 things: lemon and s'more tarts and toffee Madeline's with toffee sauce. All outstanding. All of you rushing to trendy spots in SD on Saturday nights, give CE a try again. The menu has been elevated. Beautiful modern decor. Hint of 1920s glamor. Nice patio.

+6

What a great place for a group happy hour, or a date for two. The decor, the food, the service...all fabulous! Highly recommend the Rose Black Tea, the Cheddar & Chive Scones and the Fish n Chips. I will definitely be back to try the cocktails!

Had a wonderful lunch that was elevated by the exceptional service from our server, Christian. The pea risotto was excellent and desserts, ooey gooey chocolate sponge and toffee caramel were rich, but delicious. Our server was very attentive and welcoming. He walked us through the menu, gave recommendations, and clarified questions. He had a wonderful balance of checking in consistently, but giving us privacy too. For someone who was new, we were really impressed with how much he elevated a nice lunch. The overall environment and ambiance was very much contemporary California, so a great place to be when the weather is nice. I'll definitely have to come back here for the Sunday roast.

+1

Came here with my family and they had the best brunch that I’ve ever had in California. They also have live entertainment of a cello player and a pianist. There is definitely a European influence here and the food is great quality stop was super friendly. Great cocktails.

We happened to be in town for their "Proper Roast Dinner" event. Service was exceptional, the food was delicious, and it was a pleasure to meet Chef Blais in person. The decor and ambiance made the setting very comfortable and imviting. I had a ginger honey Mocktail that was fabulous and the desserts were the perfect ending to the meal. I would highly recommend the berries and cream (although I'm a little sad I didn't ask for a sticky toffee and date cake to go!)

Great restaurant in Sorrento Valley. I stopped in for a late night decaf coffee based on a Google review. The menu looks fantastic but I wasn't that hungry. I had the stadium style hand pie from the appetizer menu. It was delicious! I'll probably come back with my wife for dinner or brunch with the family. Give it a try!

Thoroughly enjoyed dinner for two here at California English. I haven’t found a restaurant like this is San Diego yet and this one is definitely worth it. Our server, also bartender, had some great recommendations and was very attentive. You have to get the date pudding, I don’t care how full you are, it is the best dessert I’ve ever had.

+6

Loved the entire dining experience from the moment I arrived! Such a fabulous and "cheeky" vibe. The architecture/design of this restaurant is so beautifully done from the inside and out. The decor is on-trend, and worthy of the "gram" (Instagram), and the menu is a creative blend of brunchy delights with a California and English gourmet twist. Don't miss out on trying the "bangers," and for absolute decadence, indulge in the French Toast!

+6

Go here now. Wanted to go before it opened and finally got my boyfriend to go. The menu on their website is outdated but you’ll still find plenty of tasty things to eat. The restaurant is gorgeous, of course. The drinks are delightful. The food was fantastic. Highly recommend the scotch egg (outstanding), Fish and chips (naturally), beef tartare, oxtail pasty, and sweet corn soup. Will definitely be going back.

+6

Excellent service in an open, airy, modern environment with unique and tasty English - California fusion cuisine. The duck pasty was a heavy pastry similar to an empanada, filled with flavorful, tender duck confit and served with chutney. The saltiness of the pasty offset with the sweet chutney was delicious. The beet salad offered a nice balance of earthy sweetness from the beets balanced with cotija cheese and ground nuts. The dish was brought to perfection with a tiny bit of heat and cool aromatic micro cilantro. For dessert I enjoyed the fresh berries with a rich, thick, sweet cream and meringue pieces. Portions are large. They also serve high tea.

Came here for brunch on the weekend. Made reservations ahead, but place was not very full when we arrived. There are lawn games in the front but opted to eat inside. Started with the honey lavender scones and scotch egg. Scones were a bit smaller than normal but were tasty with the clotted cream and jam provided. Scotch egg was flavorful and came with a whipped butter. Fish and chips came with a sizeable piece of battered fish which went well with the condiments. I had a beet salad that was colorful and delicious. Plenty of different beets and enjoyed the textures of the pomegranate seeds and hazelnuts. Service was prompt and our waiter was nice and helpful.

+2

I walked in, looked around & immediately thought that's a turn-up for the books. I was totally surprised at how delightful & uplifting A. E. was. A perfect mix from across the pond: their entree choices + *tea/booze - service*, the Cali green vibe with outdoor space, everything was posh, delightful & charming. The food holds it own in flavors, options & presentation. I'm definitely coming here more often.

Excellent food and service! Marco was exceptional managing the restaurant, and James our waiter was excellent. We tried various menu items, with the prime rib dip and fish and chips —both delicious and excellent! Marco also helped me get a personalized cook book signed by Chef Blais and in perfect time for a Father’s Day gift! We will def be back.

+1

We had our San Diego Chrono monthly meet up here . The outdoor area we had was perfect. There was a live band and dancing right next to us.They even supplied us some wonderful appetizers of fish and chips. The burgers we ordered were very good.It’s also friendly for those of us that brought children. We can’t wait to come back soon!

+5

The name says it all, adding a California touch to English dishes, or the other way around. I've been a few times now and am always impressed by the quality of the food and the professional service. The cocktail menu has some truly unique options, too. The restaurant is well decorated inside and out, and an inviting place to be.

Great dinner at California English! Beautiful restaurant, love the mint green color palette and all the plants. All the food was amazing, we started with the hamachi crudo and for entrees had the salmon and short rib. The service was excellent; friendly and accommodating. The food came out relatively quick. Dog friendly! Lots of indoor and outdoor seating, looks great for events too. Recommend!

+6

I highly recommend this place and I don't understand why the place was not busy when I went . Probably mostly busy during lunch. This place definitely deserves 👏 a 5 stars. Love all the decor and the ambiance is amazing 👏. Also, thank you to the bartender who helped me with my order and the guy who delivered the food. You guys are the best! The food taste 100% delicious. The cocktails omg ! Well! Deserves a 5 🌟!!! Totally hidden gems 💎. Lol once ppl found about this place . It will be busy as cutwater and Gravity heights.

Excellent food and service! I had the Turkish Eggs and the Sticky Toffee + Date Cake — both were outstanding. Everyone at our table loved their dishes, and the service was great. The fish and chips are absolutely huge!

+6

Absolute gem for afternoon tea! Portions were perfect—no one felt stuffed, but no one left hungry either. We went for a girls’ afternoon to celebrate my friend’s upcoming wedding, and the staff couldn’t have been more wonderful. They explained everything in detail, checked in just the right amount, and even surprised us with a cake and sparkler for the bride-to-be, which made the whole evening feel extra special. The food was delicious (I’m still dreaming about that scone), and the atmosphere was cozy yet elegant. We loved it so much I came back for a dinner date with my husband, and the service and food were equally amazing. Beautifully decorated, great vibe, and something for everyone—highly recommend!

I always have a great time here. Craig, the bartender, is incredible and makes outstanding drinks — including some delicious off-the-menu mezcal creations. Shellie, the new Executive Chef, clearly takes pride in her menu. You can taste the passion in every dish coming out of the kitchen. I’m especially excited about the possible addition of her beef tartare — it would be a fantastic new feature. Everything she and her team are producing is stellar (and their Taco Tuesday is definitely worth mentioning). Marco, the GM, is personable, welcoming, and always offers great recommendations. The entire team delivers friendly, top-tier service. They’re absolutely crushing it, and I’ll definitely be back.

This place is a hidden gem, perfect for those Instagram-worthy moments. The food is absolutely delicious, and the drinks are equally impressive. The service is top-notch, making you feel welcomed and cared for. Their happy hour deals are fantastic, but lunch and dinner are equally worthwhile. They even offer a delightful weekend brunch and a cute high tea service. Enjoy lawn games while listening to live music on Thursdays. I highly recommend checking it out!

If I could give 6 stars for everything I would! The food was amazing and so were the drinks. We were there celebrating a birthday and a wedding anniversary and they made it so special ❤️ Thank you so much!

This place deserves more attention and is flying under the radar. We were there at 6pm on a Friday and they were not busy. Food, drink, and service quality are through the roof. A seemingly strange location for a restaurant of this character only makes it stand out more. The prime rib special is a feast and is easily splittable. Leave room for sticky toffee pudding, it's amazing.

So tasty! I went there to have tea and pastries . It was a delight ! The tea was great each person got to have their own teapot . And the pastries were a fun surprise I wasn’t expecting , nonetheless had a go at trying each one and can say they are all superb ! Daughter was hungry so I ordered her the children’s pasta with red sauce and that I also tried and it was soo good I would love to come back just to try some more ! Yummy !

Fish and chips and Burger 5++ stars; Salmon entree 5 stars: triple fried fries are simply amazing. Everything else we tried on previous dinners at restaurant were all great. We keep going back, so this should tell you something. Highly recommend.

We had such an enjoyable evening tonight. The food couldn't have been better and the same could be said from the service that was provided. We felt attended to on a level that exceeded our expectations and are already looking forward to our next visit back. Great job, and kudos to the team at California English! Highly recommended.

Just had lunch at this place with my significant other. All around, a great restaurant. We ordered the English Dip and Brick Chicken from the bartender who was an attentive server too; Butch or Bruce I think. The modern, yet comfortable atmosphere was another plus. We would diff come back to this establishment.

Top notch service. Bartenders were exceptional. The manager, Marco, was gracious and took very good care of our table. Marc, the bartender, was attentive and well educated about the beverages served, and food available. Overall, great dining location with superb atmosphere. Will absolutely be returning. 🤙🏼

First time here. Came on a rainy day for the tea service. Was seated immediately for my reservation. Only two other tables being served at the time. Four employees/servers at the bar. Somehow ended up waiting 28 minutes before getting frustrated at having to go up to them and ask for some service. Nothing was exceptional. Not a good first impression… Edit 12/2024: Came here a second time for tea service and the experience was a complete 180. Service was prompt and courteous. Tea and snacks have all been updated. Sad to see the salmon sandwich has gone, BUT has been replaced with a spinach and artichoke one that is just divine. The tea selection has also improved. Highly recommend the orchid oolong. First time I came was just a few weeks after they opened and may have been too harsh on expectations. Since this is my third time here I can definitely recommend this restaurant!

This restaurant has an amazing atmosphere and great food and drinks to go along with it. From the friendly staff to the bathroom finishes, this place seems like every aspect was meticulously put together. I was fortunate enough to try multiple dishes; must tries are: Chive and Cheese Scones, Scotch Egg, and Lemon Curd dessert. I heard amazing reviews on the ribeye, so that's next on my list to try! And if you're a fan of gin, try the London Fog signature cocktail - it's well balanced and absolutely delicious. This is definitely a must-try restaurant!

I wish this place got more love. I'm coming back to experience the high tea. I can't wait.

California English is a true gem! The staff are incredibly kind and friendly, making you feel right at home. The food is delicious, with fresh ingredients and flavorful dishes. I was particularly impressed by [ Fish and Chips ]. To top it off, I had a slight mishap with my order, and it arrived a bit late. To my surprise, they didn't charge me for the delay, and it was completely free! That kind of customer service is truly exceptional. I highly recommend California English for a delightful dining experience with friendly service and delicious food.

I've had the pleasure of dining at California English before. It was my husband's first time. The food is always great. Their fresh chips are my favorite texture and taste so good. The pear and ricotta toast is craveable. Everything I have ever had here has been amazing. What really sets this restaurant apart is the impeccable service. Everyone from the server to the beverage manager to the general manager to the director of operations to Chef Blais, himself, was super friendly and welcoming. Nearly two years old, this is a gem of a restaurant experience. We will definitely be back!

Classic concepts with excellent execution. It's a beautiful environment, the server was very attentive, and the food elevated some of my favorite homey dishes. The creamed spinach pappardelle was delectable and even the kids tiny steak my son had was flavorful with a nice char and the perfect tender temperature. It's not anything particularly exciting. Just good food done well in a lovely location. It was everything I wanted it to be.

As we were visiting family from Ontario, Canada, we were treated to lunch at California English. Lunch was fabulous. We shared a high tea menu and my partner had the fish and chips. Food was fabulous, atmosphere was amazing and Jame’s our server was so professional and accommodating. I’d highly recommend this restaurant if you live in the area or are visiting. Ask for James. 😃

What a hidden gem! Outside space is so cute, inside as well but why would I be inside if the wether great. Food was phenomenal. Fish and chips are good to share as portion is huge and you have space for app and amazing sticky pudding dessert. Cocktails are innovative and delicious. Definitely recommend

Today I had the afternoon Tea experience with my Bestie and I can happily say that this is the perfect blend between a modern atmosphere and old tradition . Right away there was no wait for the experience and both the host jenny and the manager were very accommodating . We were seated almost immediately and even had the opportunity to move around so we were comfortable. The tea experience for two came out to 107 (45 each person) which for the ammount of food and the intimate atmosphere was a more than reasonable price . I used to think that “having tea” was a high class experience that was unattainable for me but this time bridged that gap financially and in mindset . To get past the mushy stuff THE FOOD how amazing ! Each peace on the tea tower had its own unique flavor with mix of salty and sweet , the barbecue chicken sandwich with mango was my favorite savory and my favorite sweet was the chocolate raisin scone with jam and cream . I would also like to add that they asked if we had any diet restrictions beforehand . I can’t forget to mention the selection of deliciously floral , classic , and citrus teas . I genuinely left so full and happy and will 100% be going back , so perfect for a friend date , you date or a date with your partner . Thank you so much for a lovely experience!

Had F&C, English Breakfast, Rare Dip and the bacon starter. Everything was excellent. Even my wife who isn’t a huge fan of prime rib loved the dip. And the haggis w the English breakfast was rich and full of flavor. Only teeny complaint would be the portions FOR THE F&C were cut MASSIVE, both the fish and the chips. But food was overall excellent and will be back.

I loved the So-Cal Smash Burger, it was the best thing I've had in a long time. The timing of the service was perfect, my drink re-fills came at the right moment, the background music of classical music from a live band made it the perfect afternoon. Compliments to Chef Richard Blais, Im impressed bc it's hard to do a simple dish so well. I can't wait to go back!

One of the best restaurants I have ever been to! Chef Blais has put out an amazing menu. The whole restaurant is beautiful. Brunch was amazing. The food was delicious , worth every single penny! I wish I was into taking pics of my food, but I was there to enjoy the moment lol But I plan to be back soon. Sam was our server & he was an amazing server! Impeccable restaurant with amazing staff. Thank you! ☺️

Really enjoyed our entire experience. Loved that you could keep it simple and casual or lean into more fine dining choices. Braised short rib outstanding. My wife got the cali smash burger. Excellent. Cheddar and chive scones so flavorful for an app. Service staff very helpful and friendly. We will be back. Very interested in the traditional English tea service

Another wonderful time at California English, with great food and service. We were served by a waiter in training, Yadih I think, apologies for forgetting his name, but he and his trainer were lovely. Thanks to everyone for a lovely time.

Came here with my husband and our family and we simply could not leave. The food was so delicious and the service was out of this world. The whole team was so kind and caring and personable. Our waiter was a gem and the GM was incredibly hands on and involved in everything. It was our first time here, but we will absolutely be back!

I was there on the rainiest morning of the year when the patio was closed and Sue Palmer was playing with her soulful singer Ruth Ajuzie. From the minute I secured a reservation, and was assured by Abby and Jade-I phoned twice- that they could and would be happy to accommodate a small dog, and was seated at the chefs table, I was completely transformed. Cara 🐾settled under the counter on her blanket and I ordered a Scotch egg and Ramos Fizz followed by pork Benedict. No room for dessert. That’s for next month when I get back here. Chef Shellie is a rock star as well as the chef I could see through the window. The servers, the non-servers, and overseers were the most efficient. Cara ordered scrambled eggs and water. The music was as amazing as it was with a full band at Tio Leo! Fabulous atmosphere and I will be there on Saturdays as often as I am in town and Sue is playing 🎹

This place has a great feel! Lots of outdoor seating for you to relax with a drink and play cornhole or jenga! Or sit by their fire pit! Delicious, authentic food! Excellent service!! Jessica was our waitress and she was delightful!! Looking forward to visiting again soon!

Amazing place for our first brunch date together! We were blessed to have an amazing server as well! Our server Yahir was phenomenal!

Went for my bday. Went during happy hour not realizing the full menu wasn't available until 5. BUT the one item I was looking forward to they made anyway. Everyone was very sweet. Chef Shell even stopped by our table. and they brought over a birthday treat. Definitely will be back to try more items. Absolutely loved this restaurant.

Had my first visit to California English and it lived up to the hype! It’s a fun, quirky mix of British pub vibes and San Diego freshness. ​Must-Order: The Fish & Chips (the avocado tartar is a game changer). ​The Vibe: Bright, breezy, and very "Instagrammable." ​Experience: Great service and a killer gin cocktail list.

Nice space, decent food, and not crowded at all on a Tuesday evening. Great place to grab a drink and dinner with a friend from out of town.

Awesome service and decor but the food…I wish our dishes were amazing cuz we enjoyed everything else… the Hot Scotch Egg and banger were good though!

Great vibes and beautiful design. For non drinkers, the mocktail menu is vast. The vegetable entree was just “ok” but everyone had a great time!

A beautiful restaurant with an exciting cocktail menu. Food is very expensive for the quality, with too much batter on the fish and chips, and the triple cooked chips somehow not quite the right texture. The madras curry sauce is overly sweet.

had English food a few times in San Diego, including traditional fish and chips... this became my favorite local English restaurant. service was fantastic and attentive.

+1

Most of the food was good. Chicken was dry, drinks were served watered down by melted ice and did not arrive until after the food (and I asked for them). Meh.

+5

We loved the warm and inviting atmosphere, adorned with plenty of plants – a family favorite! 🌿 The service was excellent, with a quick food delivery. While the hamburger wasn't the highlight, the fish and chips made our son super happy. 🍔 Fantastic fries and refreshing water. 💦 We plan to return, hoping for a tastier meat option or different dish next time. 🌟

This restaurant gives traditional English recipes a Californian twist. It is a beautiful restaurant with ample seating! We had reservations so we got seated immediately. Their menu is fairly limited but the description of everything looks delectable. Their alcohol menu had very interesting cocktails, particularly the holiday ones. My friend and I got the Tipsy Pumpkin and the Yule Mule and we loved both! For dessert, she got the Fancy a Cuppa. This, I will highly recommend! Hot coffee based and delicious! I also got the Playa Margarita which was very nice. I would've liked more salt though. I got the Fish and Chips and my friend got the California English Vegetable Plate. The Fish and Chips were delicious! The chips particularly were very wholesome and soft yet crunchy. It came with smashed peas (bland but yum), Madras curry sauce (I could eat an entire bottle of it), Tartar (again YUM), vinegar sauce with pickled onions. This is definitely a high-end Fish and Chips and I highly recommend it. What I recommend more, is the Vegetable Plate. It was a coconut based red curry with cauliflower and rice and looked so beautiful! My friend loved it and actually cleaned her plate off completely! The prices are definitely on the higher end but I really liked the ambiance, service and the food, so I will be back!

+2

5 for food, 5 for aesthetic. -1 for price! SO SO SO AESTHETIC! Really love the aesthetic of this place. Not even kidding. All the food was amazing as well, But just too expensive It's like they took the proper definition of California and England in the expensive aspect as well haha. Beans on Toast (Avocado, BBQ Baked Beans, Roasted Tomatoes) FREAKING AMAZING!! The menu doesn't mention that it has avocado on there (Only talks about the baked beans and the tomatoes) we were surprised by the avocado. Was a little skeptical about how all of this would go together but OMG it was so so so good. Definitely definitely recommend this! In hindsight, plain beans and tomatoes would not be so good on toast, so I can see why they added the avocado English Cobb Salad - Greens, Chopped Veggies, Bacon, Egg, Blue Cheese (didn't need dressing) + Roasted Chicken Had really good flavor going on here. All the veggies and the chopped egg and bacon and everything together when so well, it didn't even need any dressing! Chicken was also very juicy and perfectly cooked! Not as big a salad as I was hoping for that price though. Shepherd’s Pasty (Lamb, Peas, Mint with Chutney) - Pastry on its on pretty plain but with the chutney it was a 9/10. Quite heavy on the lamb filling. Will definitely recommend eating this ASAP because it just gets soft otherwise Honey Lavender Scones with California English Jam, Clotted Cream - Scones themselves on their own were delicious! Soft and buttery and flaky and good hint of the honey lavender going on. Jam was also really nice and went well with the scones. Not a fan of that clotted cream though so I would not like recommend that part. Friends got the Beet Salad, full American Breakfast, Scones & Gravy (very creative!!) and side of extra Bacon too. They loved all the food - wiped the plate clean! Drinks on the table were the Peach Bellini (I tried it and really liked it), Bloody Mary and the Screwdriver. Drinks were all really aesthetic.

+6

What a beautiful restaurant and outdoor patio with a nice "grass" area to play a game of corn hole. Both my friend and I ordered their Fish and Chips for dinner. It was a little pricey but I liked their version of mushy peas and curry ketchup condiments. The chips were nice and crunchy on the outside. The fish was a large piece of fresh cod. Updated. We went back for lunch and the food hit or miss and a bit pricey. We each spent about $40 for lunch. We ordered the roasted baby carrots and the scones for appetizers. Portions are small. The $17 tricolor beet salad was so small my friend laughed when they brought it out. A lot of us ordered the fried fish sandwich. I thought it was pretty plain and wish there was more flavor in the aoli or sauce.

+3

Really wish the tea time would come with more salty treats instead of sweets. I wish they had just a savory option. It is a huge portion but after the sweet tea. It's just too much sugar. The tipsy option is great and probably can get 2 cups of boozy tea out of the pot. I like the variety of tea bags options but you can't really switch to a different one once you pick one. The hot honey fried chicken scone is a great add on. Overall it's a good girl time experience.

+2

A very nice place in Sorrento Valley with no fuss about parking. The ambience was pleasant and cozy. We tried the signature Hot Scotch Egg and Cornish Pasty for the appetizers and they didn't disappoint. I liked the Cornish pasty more. For the mains, we had the Ploughman's salad and the mushroom risotto with chicken as the added protein. While the chicken was underseasoned and lacked flavor, the dishes themselves were fine. The dish I enjoyed the most was the dessert! The sticky toffee pudding was served warm with a scoop of salted caramel ice cream and caramel sauce. It was rich and decadent. The portion size was on the larger end and I was glad we decided to share it instead of ordering two desserts in total. Edit: The tea experience: Their tea experience was okay. Limited selection of tea. The scones were really good but the finger sandwiches were too small. On the day we went, they also didn't have two out of the four Black tea options.

+6

I booked this restaurant because it’s opened by Chef Blais, we really like his cooking shows. The restaurant is quite busy on a Friday night, we are seated 10 minutes after our reservation time. The service is nice but a little slow, I feel the hostess pretended she didn’t hear me two times. We ordered one set from restaurant week menu and ordered one appetizer and one entree separately. I think their entrees are my favorites, especially the short beef ribs. The fish and chips are good as well but not as good as the one at Tom Ham’s Lighthouse. The dessert is a big portion, good to share, it’s nice, a little bit too sweet though. The Scottish Egg is cooked perfectly, but I’m not a fan of this dish so I probably won’t order it again. Overall, the dinner is nice here, you can come to experience an elevated English style home cook.

+6

I was excited to try this place as a Brit living in SD. Great restaurant design, clean, nicely decorated. Good atmosphere, excellent staff. The cocktails looked wonderful I tried some of my wife's it was delicious. I ordered the fish and chips, The chips were great, but the fish was not, it had lots of gray muscle tissue left in the cod and tasted like it had just been de-frosted. As their signature dish, they need to improve the cod massively! Overall nice experience.

Fun experience, nice area, service could have been better, forgot my granddaughter drink , but it was fun. I would suggest you try it at least once

Woohoo! What a great experience. I am a huge fan of Chef Richard Blais so this destination was a must. Started out with the Scotch Egg which was phenomenal, especially with the whipped honey butter, as well as the Triple Chips with Curry Ketchup...the ketchup was the perfect balance to the chips and I could probably put that on anything. Main Course: Fish and Chips which were underwhelming, a little soggy and luckewarm (hopefully an isolated incident), the prime rib was pritime delicious with the chimichurry. Desert was a shared plate of Sticky Toffee Date Cake with Salted Caramel Gelato... This was sweet enough for two. All in all a pleasurable experience with some room for improvement but a great night out none the less. Note: Olar our server did an amazing job!!!

The venue and service were excellent and the cocktails delightful with some appropriate flair. The food objectively was good, with all three of the desserts being exemplary. Loved the starters/smaller dishes, especially the prawn cocktail crisps!! However, as an Englishman my expectations weren't entirely aligned with the main meals. The curry was thin and had a watered down sauce with overly oily naan. The fish and chips weren't as close to authentic as I wanted, but no criticism of the taste or delivery just not what you would get in England. All in all, totally recommend if you aren't from across the pond.

Very modern and open venue with nice staff and delightful food. We had light breakfast for special event and was well taken care of. I will come back. It is on the upper end of pricing, very upscale feeling.

California English is a truly delightful dining experience. The restaurant's ambiance is stunning, with a great lighting, and lush greenery inside. The service was impeccable, and our server was attentive and knowledgeable. But the real star of the show was the food. Every dish was a masterpiece, with fresh, high-quality ingredients and creative flavor combinations. I highly recommend California English to anyone looking for a memorable meal in a beautiful setting.

I dined here with my boyfriend and my mom in December to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday. We came on a Sunday night and the restaurant was very quiet. Highlights: the atmosphere is gorgeous and I love the California modern vibe mixed with a comfortable British pub or restaurant. The service was amazing! Our server was super nice and attentive. The menu is very interesting and feels like there is something for everyone. They also have a great list of cocktails. Needs improvement: my mom ordered butternut squash soup and it came out cold, but our server remedied the problem immediately. I ordered the chicken pie, and unfortunately it was on the bland side. It was super disappointing because it would have been absolutely delicious if it was seasoned properly! We ordered the scotch egg, butternut squash soup, the soup of the day, beet salad, hangar steak, chicken pie, braised short rib, and sticky toffee pudding (which was a HUGE dessert). Most of the dishes were great and we enjoyed eating them. Our food and drinks came out quickly and the entire dining experience was pleasant. I can't wait to come back to this restaurant and give it another chance. Hopefully the kitchen was just having an off night. I loved the experience overall and will definitely update my review next time I come here.

I finally made it in to dine at California English! The restaurant itself is stunning. Such a feast for the eyes. I enjoyed just sitting there looking at all the lines and patterns. The service was professional, thoughtful and friendly. I elected to order the Fish & Chips and it was excellent. Among the finer versions I’ve had in SoCal. Probably the most comparable to the many F&Cs I enjoyed visiting the UK and Ireland a couple years ago. The fish filet was quite long and had nice girth. The chips were outstanding. Nice and hot plus crispy on the outside and pillowy soft inside. It’s served with numerous fussy stainless steel cups of varying dipping sauces. I only recognized the malt vinegar. Some tasted better than others, but I prefer traditional and did appreciate having many options. The curry chup was interesting and seemingly authentic to the London vibe. I really enjoyed the avocado tartar sauce with a subtle green hue. I’ve never developed a taste for mushy peas so I’ll refrain from commenting on that part. I look forward to visiting again soon.

Tried this out from Eater, it was okay. The fish and chips was really oily and wasn't crispy. The Cornish Pasty was good though.

We visited California English for our anniversary, and we ordered some fish and chips and grilled chicken sandwiches. The fish and chips were extremely oily with every bite, and there was no salt. It literally has zero flavor. Just oil (🇺🇸) in every dish, including the toast we ordered as a side. Sticky toffee pudding was the only food that was good. The best part of the dining experience was the ambiance. The whole experience was truly disappointing.

Very nice and modern interior design. Overall an inviting atmosphere which is great for larger groups. Food and drinks are mediocre though. We tried a few brunch items and nothing really shined. Even the latte. I would expect a lot more when I see the chef's name on a menu.

I came here for tea service, in which looking at all the photos made me very excited for it. They market their sandwiches as "uncrustables" however upon receiving our tier, it looked nothing like what they marketed. I was under the impression it was a full circle, crimped at the edges, cut in half. Nope, it was 1/3 of the sandwich (that's all we got), dry, crust cut off. I will give it to them that some of the desserts tasted amazing. The atmosphere was very pretty, like a modern hotel. Other than that, my experience was just okay. I would like to go back to try dinner and cocktails one day.

The only reason I would come here again would be for drinks, or at least most of them. The atmosphere is cute, I like the outside area. I'm pretty sure our waitress was on the newer side so we wouldn't fault her for the experience, if anything she helped because it was just comical how bad things were. The cheddar and chive scones are decent but would have benefited from the whipped honey butter served with the scotch egg, which was fantastic btw. The jam with the scones was too bitter. The Bucatini is a no go, so bitter and is apparently sent back often. After we sent that back, a salad was ordered with an addition of chicken which was a small poorly seasoned tender for $23. The fish and chips is one fish, and it arrived lukewarm and unseasoned. The toffee pudding was decent but swimming in sauce which was too much. We were there for a birthday so another dessert was provided, but it was a stale donut that we did not eat and even my 4 year old would not eat. While I was waiting for dessert, I saw beef wellington walk by which is only supposed to be available on the weekend. I asked our waitress about it and she said she failed to mention it to us. While I don't really fault her for the experience, that almost topped me off on the negativity. What really sealed the poor experience was having the check come and still be $315. While some of that was alcohol, not nearly enough of it was in order to deal with that place. Not even a water refill, not once while we were there. I do not recommend.

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.

+6

I was almost going to give 3 stars, but when I give three stars, that means I didn’t have the greatest experience, but want to give it another try. I’m not really sure the universe will take hold of me enough to pull me back to this place, unfortunately. I feel let down, especially since a Food Network icon and successful chef like Richard Blais is the mastermind behind this rendition of what he calls California English. Bro. The tea tower had potential but much to our dismay, a fail. The tier of scones, finger sandwiches, and tea cakes all tasted stale. The only way to describe it is they tasted like packaged, store bought pastries that were a day old. The sandwich bread was soooo dry I literally had to wash it down with my tea. Also the sandwich bread to filling ratio was WAY off. I could barely taste the filling. I could make a better egg salad at my house and cut off the crust (think soft and fluffy like a Japanese tamago sando- now THAT’S an egg salad). The Madeline cookies were dry. The scones tasted plain, no signs of honey or lavender taste whatsoever. The jams to accompany the scones were inedible - the citrus marmalade tasted bitter. I would’ve preferred a traditional strawberry jam with my clotted cream. Now for something positive: the best tasting item on the tower was the Lemon Posset (like a custard and you could tell it was made from scratch). The customer service didn’t knock our socks off. The place is spacious, decorated nicely, and has a cute outdoor space. No problem finding parking. We dined at brunch time and the restaurant was not packed, which was nice. I wish I had more positive things to say about this restaurant, but it is what it is.

We went for their tea time. Which we anticipated being a English type tea. We learned that's not what it was at all. spicy hot wings sandwiches, cucumber basil with some hot Vietnamese sauce sandwiches, burnt scones, a small 2" jar of pudding for 3 to share. Then the server brought us another cake of sorts and charged us. We didn't order it and made them remove it from the bill. We winning not return.

The first time we went (and Chef Blais was there) it was brilliant and i would have given this five stars. The food, service, drinks, and atmosphere was incredible. As we were so excited, we went back with six work colleagues and unfortunately we will not be going back again. The food was sub-par compared to when Richard was cooking, and given the prices of the menu, it is not worth it. While the drinks were still excellent, the food lost its British essence compared to when Richard was cooking. I also had the exact same meal as I had the first time, and all the table left most the meal. I suggest bringing Richard back or providing better training. We just want this place to be great as we work so closely!

This is our third time there and we left more disappointed than before. We hadn’t tried brunch so we decided to give it another chance. I ordered the scones and gravy. The scones were like hockey pucks. Having lived in England before, this was disappointing. The service wasn’t great either. We asked for ketchup and never brought it. No one asked how our meal was even though they could see I left most of the scones on the plate. Not returning again.

Went for an early diner. It so happened it was cocktail hour. The staff seemed to be more concerned with swapping and getting ready for dinner then waiting on the customers leaving only The Bartender to serve the guests. The drink he made was good. The only food offerings they had were 5 to 6 things on the cocktail menu none of which are filling didn’t get offered a second drink until I was ready to pay when I was ready to leave and pay. It took 5 to 10 minutes to get my check. For the price, I don’t think I would come back

French toast was delicious, kids butter pasta was bland, English dip lacked flavor and bread was very doughy. Mushroom banh mi was a good idea but again lacked flavor and bite. Host was friendly but need more hospitality. Server was new, didn’t know the menu, poor service approach. All simple to fix

Came here for English tea...so blah. Nothing special. Cucumber sandwiches were too sour imo. The buffalo chicken uncrustable had hardly any filling and wasn't pinched tightly. Nothing remarkable about the scone and the Snickers dessert. Lemon tart was ok. Madeline with toffee pudding was the best thing along with the lobster roll. What even was the "palate cleanser"... Some huge scoop of heavy lemon cream?! My husband got a breakfast burrito...it looked like only eggs and sausage. Very disappointing Decor is beautiful

Went last night and was shocked and dismayed at the food. We actually stopped ordering food after the starters it was so bad. This wasn't British food with a Californian twist this was just bad food. Serving an unopened packet of crisps and a dip for $10 is simply offensive (the pic we opened it). The sausage roll was dry and unappealing. Service was good but this is where it ended.

In a city that has access to fresh seafood and has impeccable restaurants, this one doesn't make the cut. When we entered the restaurant, there was no one to greet us. A server came over a couple of minutes later, but they clearly weren't supposed to be the host. The restaurant was quite dead for a Thursday evening. Our server did not introduce themselves and was not kind. When we asked for a modification (no mushrooms on the burger), they tried to talk us out of it...but didn't respect that my partner just doesn't like mushrooms. It was slightly awkward. I got the fish and chips, which is why I wanted to come here, but I can't recommend. The fish comes in one large fried fillet, which meant I couldn't really pick it up to dip it in the sauce because it was too big for the dip containers. When I cut into it, the fish fell apart...as cod does...so dipping it was not really possible. There are hundreds of other restaurants making fish and chips in San Diego - do yourself a favor and go somewhere else. Not to mention the price for dishes here. I asked how big the steak was when considering ordering - $40 for an 8 oz steak? $34 for fish and chips? Our meal for two of us with two sodas was $70. I'm not seeing it guys.