California English

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 🌟

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.

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.

We had an awesome shower for my daughter at California English this weekend. The Abbey Road Room was a beautiful and private setting, and the high tea prepared by the staff was both pretty and delicious. Both Marco and Jenna made sure everything was lovely and went smoothly. I highly recommend this venue for special events!

My bf came here for Mother's Day breakfast. Actually wanted to come on Mother's Day but couldn't get a reservation so we came the day before. Love the decor here. We love trying new places. We ordered: Hot Scotch Egg - bf doesn't like hard boiled eggs but loved this scotch egg. Triple Cooked Chips - nice and crispy and came out hot and fresh Pear & Walnut Toast w/a poached egg - loved it. All the flavors worked great together Bangers Benedict - bf loved it. Again he was amazed Apple Galette - sooo good. Like an apple pie al a mode We liked breakfast so much we had to come back for dinner a few weeks later This time we ordered: Cheddar and Chive scones - had to try the scones since we didn't get to the first we were here. A little dense but the citrus marmalade was delicious Fish and Chips - we were told they were good and yup they were. Lived all the dips it came with. Homemade tartar sauce was yummy. I didn't care for the smashed peas but that's only cuz I don't like peas. Fish and chips had a nice crunch and was a huge portion. Beef Short Rib - omg the beef just melted in your mouth. So good. Chocolate Sundae - also another yummy dessert. I would've liked 2 scoops of ice cream

We really enjoyed our brunch at California English. Stopped by on a holiday and the staff was giving out flowers for the special occasion. Loved the mix of British meets West Coast flavors. We tried the hot scotch benedict, salmon crepe appetizer (holiday special), butternut squash soup and kid's butter noodles. The chorizo wrapped egg in the hot scotch benedict was a nice touch. For cocktails, we ordered the pineapple upside down mimosa and Bloody Mary. Both were good, but the Bloody Mary is a drink I would order again and again just for that sweet and spicy flavor combo. We also enjoyed the indoor/outdoor feel of the space and the outside lawn was a good area for the kids to let loose in.

Came on a week night, it wasn't very crowded, but theres lots of parking that it shares with a bunch of other eateries, it was a bit confusing to find but its located behind the large Biovista sign. I started with a cocktail the Loschy hill Dragon, Tequila, lime, dragon fruit puree and habanero. It was a beautiful deep ruby color from the dragon fruit puree, but wasn't very spicy as I was hoping for. It did kick in a little after but it wasn't too hot. I'd say the spice was mild. Others at my table got the obligatory drink with the smoke bubble, I tasted it, it was a sweet drink, definitely get that if you like sweet cocktails. We got a bunch of appetizers: "Hot" Scotch Egg - They used chorizo as the sausage which was a nice twist. I usually don't like Scotch Eggs but this one was good and recommended by the waiter. Cheddar & Chive scones - Some people at the table really loved them, I though they were ok. They were too hard for me, they did have a glaze on top, maybe that's what I didn't care for. Carne Chips - Their "chips" or fries with short rib, pico , melted cheddar, Ensanada tartar sauce. The fries had a very thin crispy crust on the outside and had a very moist tender inside. The flavors were good but the fries got soggy with all the moist stuff on top. The fries are delicate and I think they are better by themselves or just with ketchup. Shepherds pasty had a nice crispy crust and a very tender, meaty lamb filling, it was good but rather small for the price. Carne Crudo Toast-Ada - Basically a beef tartar, yes raw beef, avocado crema and chili mango yolk. This was probably the best of the appetizers. For my entree I had the Beef short rib, it came on a bed of caramelized onion mash, and a side of roasted cauliflower and cheddar sauce. The Beef was very tender, and glazed well with the jus, and went well with the caramelized onion mash. The roasted cauliflower I felt was more of an after though of a side, it was not necessary or didn't match well with the short rib, I couldn't really taste the cheddar in the sauce. I did try my friend's fish and chips, the piece of fish was huge and very crispy. The fries or "chips" were more successful on their own than in the Carne fries apprizer that we had as they maintained their crispy texture. Be sure to eat them quickly as they loose their crispness. Another friend ordered the chicken pie, they liked it! Though I didn't try it, it looked very good, the crust had a very crisp look to it and it was rather large! It came on a bed of mushy peas which is an English staple but I still haven't found a taste for it. For dessert we split a few things Sticky toffee pudding - If you are gonna get one dessert this is the one to get. A date cake swimming in salted caramel topped with ice cream. It was very good but I've had a softer cake before. Still the salted caramel more than made up for it and made it moist. This is easily enough for 2 people maybe 3 if you're on a diet. Chocolate Sundae - a chocolate brownie, topped with vanilla ice cream and brandied cherry marshmallow. It was good but you've had a brownie with vanilla ice cream before. So it was the safe bet. Apple galette - basically a single serving apple pie, diced apples in a pie dough topped with vanilla ice cream. It was good because the apples weren't too soft and mushy. The vanilla ice cream added to it but it was much better when we poured the salted caramel from the sticky toffee pudding over it. It looked like it came with some salted caramel drizzled over it but we added a lot more which made it delicious. The place is located in the BioVista building, its. very modern and clean looking. Service was attentive and gave good suggestions on what the best sellers were. It's just located in a business complex which seems to be a trend these days. We made a reservation but it didn't seem one was necessary. I thought the appetizers were a bit on the pricy side, the entrees and desserts were more in line with other higher end restaurants. Either way I was glad try one of Richard Blais' restaurants.

CA English brings a little UK flare to the CA coast. The restaurant has a mix of British inspired dishes next to some American classics. They have a full bar and predominantly serve breakfast and lunch dishes; great for brunch. Yours truly went for the English stuff and had the full English breakfast which came with blood sausage, bangers, beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, toast, hash browns and two eggs. It was a TON of food. What's the metric equivalent of a ton? A Royal tea hoard? Who knows? Point is: it was a lot and 'twas delicious. They also had scotch eggs and fish and chips but a human's stomach only has so much space. High marks for the best blood sausage I've had in the states. Friendly service and the location has a great amount of indoor and outdoor seating. I'll be back for those scotch eggs, chaps.

We really wanted to love this but it wasn't what a celebrity chef restaurant should be. First off the decor is great, it is a beautiful space. We started with the scones and those were delicious. Our mock tails were also pretty good and reasonably priced. Our mains were meh. My husband had the burger and it was small and falling apart. The fries were ok. For being a three day process and the glowing description we expected more; they were not bad, they were just forgettable. I got the signature fish and chips. Very large serving and the fish was great quality but the breading was like a corn dog?! It was too thick and doughy. I have had fish and chips in England and Ireland and these were weird the ketchup didn't have any flavor, the curry tarter was fine and the peas which I was so excited to see were citrusy?! They were not good. We almost skipped dessert but got the toffee pudding cake with ice cream and it was really good although a little dry. Service was ok. Lacking at certain points and not what you'd expect at a celebrity restaurant that wasn't that busy midweek. I'm glad we went but he needs to stop by and quality check for sure.

Beautiful decor and a fun concept of English Brekkie, High Tea and lunch. Even the name is intriguing and trendy. There were several aspects of the food and menu that would stop me from returning. There are no pork alternatives to any of the meats: sausages, bacon, even the beans were made with pork!! While the menu was large, it was lacking. The items are pricey. $14 got me an Internet-recommended Shepherd's Pasty with lamb and peas, empanada -sized. I knew it was a small portion, I asked ahead of time. The egg dishes all had pork which I don't eat. I asked if I can build my own dish with sides and the waiter said yes. As I placed my order, the next waiter said l could combine sides to an extent. When I asked for two eggs, potatoes and tomato sides as a my dish (one small grilled tomato for $4), the waiter shook his head and said, well why don't you get the all American dish and not get the bacon and sausage in it. It's the same thing! (With a $12 markup). I asked, "is it not ok for me to get the sides"? He said "it is but the chef will get upset, but it's ok, he'll do it, and I'll get in trouble, but that's fine". I then said I didn't want to upset anyone and get him in trouble, so I switched to the small overpriced empanada. The side sauces were odd, the mint jelly was a gloopy jello, the chutney wasn't bright or vibrant, more a BBQ salsa without spice. I regretted not sticking to my original choice. To put it in plain English, the meal was quite a ripoff. The pressure from the waiter to change my order because I was going to upset the chef, in trying to stick to my dietary restrictions and get the meal I wanted without paying the unnecessary markup left a bad taste in my mouth. The empanada itself was simple and the lamb was a bit strong for my liking. Overall, the food was simple, with many bread-heavy and carb options and pork options, not for everyone. The place seems to have an elitist approach, with the request to change my order to not displease the chef. It seems that at this English establishment, the American saying "the customer is always right" goes the way of across the pond. It may be a nice place for high tea because I heard the scones are good and the seating is nice. Overall, while the decor is beautiful, the food and portions were overpriced, undersized and underwhelming.

Chef Blaise has done it again. We went here for brunch the Saturday before Mother's Day. There was no wait and the ambience was very nice and chill. The waiter was very helpful in walking us through the menu and was very knowledgeable. The Bangers Benedict was different from what I'm used to, and was very tasty. They dropped off some Honey Lavender Scones to our table by accident and when we pointed it out to them, they said we could keep it. These are sleepers because I didn't know scones could be so flavorful. The Shepherd's Pasty was big enough to share, but watch out for the gaminess of the lamb. It's pretty musky if you're not used to it.

Came here for their tea towers and my friend and I got the California tower and English tower so that we could try each of the different sandwiches. I got the Egyptian camomile and my friend got the rose black tea. They provide you with milk and sugar. The teas were good and the staff were very attentive. The food tower itself was not very impressive. The best thing off of the tower were the scones. They were baked fresh and paired well with the whipped butter and jams that were provided. The sandwiches were also good but they were all very small. And our least favorite were all the sweet treats on the second tier and the madeleine. They were overly sweet and were nothing special. The tea tower was $35pp so very affordable and cool to do if you wanna try it out but I probably wouldn't be back for this. The location was very cute and lots of places outdoor to hangout and catch up with friends. If I were to go back, it would probably only be to try something off their other menu.

We're big fans of Richard Blaise, so of course while visiting my mother in San Diego we had to try his restaurant! We met her for lunch so it was quiet in the restaurant. The bar has a couple TVs and outside is an absolutely gorgeous grassy area with some seating. You'd never guess you're between buildings. APPS: The scotch egg does have some heat to it. The honey that comes with it though settles it down a bit and gives it a spicy but sweet flavor. For some reason, it wasn't hard boiled in the middle. It was runny. Didn't think that's how a scotch egg was supposed to be but I could be wrong. Highly suggest getting the sweet potato fries with 3 dips. We got pickle ketchup (none of us were a fan,) Thai chili (it was meh,) but the whipped maple syrup dip with the sweet potato fries was OHMYGOD! Especially if you mix it with the honey dip that came with the scotch egg... chefs kiss. ENTREE: My boyfriend got the chicken panini that was definitely cooked in yummy butter (we're not complaining!) I got the gentleman's burger. It was tasty and juicy, but a bit too greasy. My hands were covered in grease, but is it really a complaint? Not at all lol (see photo) My mom got the fish & chips. She said it was delicious. (I can't comment on that one cause I don't eat fish.) DRINKS: I ordered the loschy hill dragon. The color was incredible! Such a beautiful drink. Well balanced. (See photo) DESSERT: We got the apple galette to end the meal and it was well worth it! If you're a fan of apple pie, get this! (See photo) All in all, highly recommend stopping by and having some delicious grub and beautiful drinks. We will be back!

I had very high expectations dinning at California English but unfortunately it did disappoint. Host was lovely and welcoming. After seated, we were greeted by our waiter that had body language demeanor of whom would rather be elsewhere but waiting on customers. Asked us if we would like anything to drink but didn't tell us about the drink menu but then we heard at another table the waiter talking about the mimosas and 6min Scottish egg. The waiter did a great job coming back around to check on how we liked the food after it arrived and middle of the service waiters personality did warm up after service got rolling. I think this waiter just had a bad morning. Service is super important to customers. The food is very expensive here however I think I'll remember the mediocre service more than my $30 Fish and Chips plate or the $24 American breakfast or ambiance.

I wanted to love this place, and was really looking forward to the tea experience but it was a disappointment from moment one. We arrived on time for our long made tea reservation, was sat and given brunch menus and ignored for about 10 minutes before a server came over. He switched out our tableware and menus when we told him our reservation for tea. He was nice but the tea was blah. As a frequent tea drinker I was shocked and disappointed that the Afternoon Tea (English or California) was with tea bags instead of loose leaf tea and the teas were bland. The sandwiches were good, mini scones were tiny and plain (no hint of honey or lavender as advertised), and the other pastries just ok. The best thing about this place is the decor and outdoor patio area, but I don't see myself driving 30 minutes again to come here.

First, it is easy to make a reservation online. When you arrive you are greeted by a beautiful ambiance with an open front lawn. The service is very friendly and they will help you pick out a tea (each person can get their own pot) as well as a tower. There is also an a la carte option. If you are vegetarian they will accommodate that. We had a great time. Would definitely recommend!

I don't know what I was expecting going to an English restaurant, all I know is the place is going to be beautiful. And beautiful it was. Just like most restaurants I saw while in London, this place was decorated similar, oh so pretty. Very aesthetic and IG worthy for sure. Our waiter came out to greet us and did the intro. He was quite good. He would take an order from one table (without writing it down) and then went to take our order. I started with a London fog drink and it came with a fog bubble. Once popped the fog released a nice sweet elderberry scent. So good I have been wanting to eat here, first because of the scenery. Then I saw they had tea time! That was my que to visit. I don't know why tea time always draws me in, only to finish with regret because I always over indulge in carb. So the first issue was they were very limited in tea. There were like only 9 tea options? Which was odd, they didn't have any fruity ones so I settled for green tea. GREEN tea! I drink green tea everywhere, esp at home. Basic. The crumpets came out and it looks so pretty. I started with a Madeline, it looked freshly baked and was soft and delicious, I then went for the fresh baked scone with the cream and butter and jam they gave us, so good! The cream had a lemony flavor, refreshing. I then had a mini sandwich and all of the sandwiches were not my favorite. The bread was kind of hard. Not sure if that's how that type of bread is or if it sat out? We then ordered fish and chips, Beef short rib, Scotch egg, cauliflower. The beef short rib was the best tasting plate. it was tender, but it was small and pricey for that little thing. The fish was battered really thick and with the fries, that dish was kinda heavy. The smashed peas it came with had no flavor. I forgot how I felt about the cauliflower, I don't remember what was on it but the scotch egg was not my favorite, at all. It was dryyyy. Super dry, possibly over cooked, burnt even. The flavor reminded me of a falafel.

I have finally made it here and twice in the past week! Last week 2/28 i visited for Happy Hour and sat at the bar Last night 3/7 I visited for my husbands birthday dinner/ restaurant week. Summary if you don't want to read Cocktails are AMAZING Food is AMAZING Service is super friendly and casually elegant. Decor makes you feel like you're in an outdoor garden tea party. Thats really all you need to know but i will continue. over the 2 visits i tried 4 of their tequila drinks. all 4 were delish and different. -Loschy Hill Dragon (Dragonfruit/habanero)..sweet and spicy -Stonefruit Margy - slightly sweet and refreshing -Arsenal - tequila/mezcal/cucumber / cilantro/chamord (winner winner!) -La playa Margarita ...basically a skinny marg. also tasted my husbands drinks which were equally amazing -chap old fashioned -figgy pudding (bourbon, fig, orange bitters) Bar day food. - scotch egg (OMG!!) - socal burger join style chips (fries/queso/caramelized onion/sauce)...so damn good - brussel's - perfect restaurant week...hubby and i shared each -scotch egg/soup -fish and chips/ short rib. - Sticky Toffee & Date Cake with Salted Caramel Ice Cream i'm already dreaming of going back!!! Daughter and i have a tea time planned over spring break. but i need to do happy hour before then

At first I was like wtf am I doing at this place...like Forreals? Tea time? i know its a Richars Blais joint but man was I surprised. We got both the California tower and the English tower. I ended up getting the chai tea which is probably the best chai tea I've had in my life. The sandwiches were filling and the pastries were delicious. The service was also excellent as our waiter answered all our questions. The decor is nice and had an art deco vibe. I felt pretty fancy drinking my tea. They were bumping my 90s R&B jams which was a bonus. There werent many people but its likely due to spring break. There is plenty of parking as well. I thoroughly enjoyed my cocktail, the figgy pudding. One of the best cocktails ive had in awhile. So put your pinky up sucka and come try this place...gonna need to come back to try dinner bruv

My sister and I came for the afternoon tea after we saw some reels. It's super cute inside with all the decor. Make sure you book ahead and tell the host that you want afternoon tea. When we arrived, we were the first ones there and it looked like they weren't ready for us. The staff had to double check to see if the ingredients were there to prepare our menu. Our server was great, he was still pretty new. He walked us through the menu and checked in on us. For afternoon tea, there were two separate menus. We ordered both to try since there were different sandwiches. The only downside was how small they were. The tea was good, it wasn't a huge selection. I was more impressed with their scones and jams. I asked for more to go as I was told everything was made in house. Parking was nearby at the plaza or garage. I was a bit confused as the garage looked like it was for the next building for an apartment complex.

This was such a fun place to go with girlfriends! We enjoyed getting to order our own tea and getting both types of tea towers. Now, I will say it is on pricier side for what you get, but the ambience is worth it. The service was wonderful!

I don't seek out these celebrity chef restaurants often or at all really. I just don't like having to compete for a table. So the reviews of California English regarding seating are pretty accurate. If you don't have reservations, be prepared to sit at the bar or be turned away even though they're not required. A few notes though...we came on a Sunday for brunch. They were a little over half filled inside but their outside patio was completely empty. The hostess informed us that they were booked up and that's fair because we did not have reservations and luckily there were seats at the bar. Funny enough the parties for the reserved tables didn't even show up until we were leaving so maybe they were trying to preserve a relaxing non-rushed atmosphere (I'm trying to give them the benefit of the doubt instead of just assuming they've fallen into the habit of understaffing to save costs). That said we all overheard the hostess tell new groups of people that could sit on the patio and order at the bar. I didn't really think much of it but would have welcomed that suggestion because we had our elderly mother with us and she would have been more comfortable with that compared to the tall bar stools. The service at the bar was very good. Our bartender was attentive and gave us a handful of recommendations on the food and drinks that we enjoyed. For drinks we ordered: London Fog 8/10 Pineapple Upsidedown Mimosa 7/10 Extra Dirty Chai 10/10 Stone Fruit Margy 8/10 All very decent and tasty drinks. But the London Fog was fun to watch and pop the smoke bubble. For food we tried: Shepard's Pasty 7/10 - nice crisp pastry but the filling was a little dry. The dips were thick so it didn't help. Hot Scotch Egg 8/10 - great crispy breading and spicy sausage with a good runny yolk. Scones and gravy 8/10 - the scones were delicious and not dry and the gravy was flavorful. Fish and chips 8/10 - fantastically crisp battered fish but not a 10/10 because the chips became soggy after a few minutes because they were so thick. So it tastes the best if you can eat it right away and piping hot. Triple Cooked Chips 7/10 - the multiple dips were great but again because they were so thick it only tasted the best in the beginning. Overall the space was beautiful and it's full for a reason. The service at the bar was fantastic and I can't really speak on service at the tables. The food was good enough that I would consider trying other items if I have the patience to come back.

beautiful restaurant and plating but the food was honestly underwhelming. our waiter started off by asking if we knew who Blaise was and we didn't, but the name drop made us expect good things. the food was just really plain. maybe it emulates the authentic bland English food or I just have taste buds that prefer saltiness but I think most of the stuff we got could be better elsewhere. it's a great space for parties and to celebrate events but meh on the food. it's also very pricey for the portion sizes.

Rarely do I ever give two star reviews, but this place was such a letdown. We originally stopped by to enjoy their teatime menu, only to be told that we had to book in advance. We did end up putting our names down for two weeks out. When the time finally came, we were so excited to experience this teatime. We were sat shortly after arrival, and ended up waiting nearly 20 minutes just for someone to come by with waters, the place wasn't even packed. We ended up ordering two English towers, and one California tower. The difference between the two towers are the types of sandwiches you get, and we all got to choose our own tea. The sandwiches were nearly inedible. The bread was stale, and sandwiches were clearly premade and not fresh. One of the sandwiches with chicken salad had a hard bony piece in it which ruined it all for me. The scones were hard and stale, most of the pastries sucked. The only part that was good was the tea. The worst part would have to be the prices. One tower is $35. Therefore, for three people, we ended up paying over $100 for some tiny, gross sandwiches and old stale, pastries/scones. I hate to talk down about a business, but once again this was terrible and i would not recommend anyone to come here and waste their money like we did.

The décor and ambiance of California English is very warm, stylish & welcoming. Weekend brunch reservations can be hard to come by, but we had no trouble finding seating at the bar. The staff is very friendly & was knowledgeable about the menu. My friends had multiple questions about the mimosa options, and Justina was able to expertly guide them to making the right choices for their pallets. They very much enjoyed their mimosas. I'm not a coffee fan, but ordered and espresso, "out of necessity", and was pleasantly surprised. We started the meal with the honey lavender scones. They were quite delicious. The clotted cream was not overly salted, and I was quite pleasantly surprised that the jam wasn't particularly sweet. The flavors blended superbly. They said the traditional way to eat it was to put the jam on first, and then the cream, and I could definitely tell the difference between that method vs putting the cream on first. Changed the texture of the dish. You can't go wrong wither way. My friend was quite happy with her beans over toast. She was vegetarian, and there was no bacon in the beans. The bartender even made sure to make a note that she was vegetarian, so there would be no cross contamination. The pancakes my other friend order also looked quite tasty. I ordered the Full American, and it was filling & tasty. I particularly enjoyed the hash browns which were perfectly seasoned. It's a bit out of the way to a lot places, but if you find yourself in Sorrento Valley, I definitely would recommend checking this place out. If you're looking to go for brunch I highly recommend planning ahead and making reservations a month out.

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.

Went here on two occasions for the tea party and Mother's Day. The restaurant is very pretty and love the open concept with the doors. It brings a nice breeze inside. For the tea party, I went with a couple of friends to catch up. We all got the English version. It's like a more small version of the full ones like at Shakespeare Pub & Britannia. You get a three tier plate of tiny sandwich's and small pastries enough for each person. Also you get one pot of tea of your choice. I chose the peach one, I believe. Overall the food was okay. Nothing super memorable as the pastries were very sweet and the sandwiches were more on the dry end. For Mother's Day, I ate from the regular brunch menu and ordered the scotch egg which I really enjoyed bc of the crust & flavor. The fries were super good which I tried from mom's fish & chips. Very crispy and soft inside. Service was overall great both times. Attentive and great knowledge of the menu. I really enjoy how it doesn't feel busy/overcrowded and parking is easy.

Cute place to have high tea. This place is spacious, modern and clean. They have a couple of towers to choose from and each person gets a choice of their tea. The choice of sandwiches were tasty, the variety of desserts were good some were a little too sweet for me but my favorite were their honey lavender scones. They also have brunch, lunch and dinner. I definitely want to come back and try their other menus. Thank you California English for a fun day with our pinky's up.

Came here for tea time and left disappointed. I would say the other reviews share my experience (almost to a tea..heh). The inside is well themed and the interior decorator did a nice job with the decor. Got seated and waited a decent time before being waited on. Ordered tea and was able to order both tower options. It comes on the same tower- the only differences between the two is the sandwiches. The tea cup and pot are plain, and look like something from pottery barn. The porcelain was made in Portugal, they could have at least purchased plain sets from Britain? Anyway, the pot of tea is small and it's a tea bag. We did not get asked for a refill once, and it's a pretty small pot. For tea time, I expect loose leaf tea, and also let the tea flow, or what am I doing here? The options on the tower weren't any more exciting. The tea sandwiches felt premade and from the fridge, the sweets not much better. Sweets I felt like may have been from a factory? Clotted cream was sweet with lemon. I guess this is the substitute for lemon curd? I'd rather just have clotted cream, and lemon curd. They also provide butter, apricot, and fig jams for the scones, which again could have had a lemon curd instead of the 3 options and the lemon would be both California and English. I ended up eating a lot of it because I was hungry but it wasn't great at all. A few minor switches could really elevate this experience to at least 4 stars. Overall, it comes across without passion or effort. I hope they can take the criticisms on this review and others and make the changes necessary.

Been wanting to check this place out and finally had a chance to bring family. It's located in an office park. It's a little unusual, so you'll know you're in the right place if you see Chik-Fil-A. Ambiance: it's very cute inside, lots of velvet and forest greens and coral pinks. Service: Front desk was super friendly and so was the bussing staff. I think we just got unlucky with our particular server who was a bit standoffish. Food to Get: - cheddar and chive scones: so buttery yet flaky! Really fun to eat. Wasn't the biggest fan of the marmalade. - short rib: so tender and soft, with great flavor. Wish the sauce was distributed a bit more evenly as some parts were dry towards the end. - apple galette: several tables ordered this and we can totally see why! I do wish the apples were peeled as the skin was a bit dry and unpleasant. - London fog: a unique cocktail that comes together at your table! In fact, all the cocktails were delicious.

The high tea left some to be desired! While there was a nice variety of scones and sandwiches, none really made an impression. I'd like to come try their regular meal service in the future though!

Kind of dissppointing now!!! Fish and chips... chips totally starchy, not crisp... just mediocre like you could find anywhere else... going downhill already??? Big bummer. And scotch egg was soooo spicy. Again, what happened???

A unique restaurant with a quaintness and charm most would enjoy. Lots of parking available and easy to walk to. Menu has many options and very tasty and delicious. Service is superb, very attentive and friendly to enjoy the atmosphere and views.

Gorgeous interior design, fun outdoor games to play, impeccable service and a unique menu that was delish!!! We had the fries with choice of 3 sauces, ginger Brussels sprouts, goat cheese and beet salad, coconut milk butternut squash soup and sticky toffee date cake, every item was INCREDIBLE! And the mocktails were amazing. A must try destination culinary delight

I was skeptical based on previous reviews but this place was awesome! We went during week and we had great service and the food was amazing. Drink menu is awesome and it was really hard to pick because everything sounded so good. My favorite was figgy pudding. We ordered it twice because it was that good. The biscuits were great, warm and moist. Our kids devoured them. Scotch egg is on the spicier side but so good. Our kids also devoured the meat pastry (forgot what that actually name is on the menu). I ordered the classic fish and chips and it came with nice Assortment of dipping sauces. This place is child friendly which is huge for us, so if you have kids, you should hit this place up. We will definitely be back!

My husband and I were on a date night in Little Italy and were trying to figure out what to have for dessert, he casually brings up the fact that he originally wanted to take me to California English. I get in my mind that we must have sticky toffee pudding for dessert and so we went. We got here around 7 pm, on Tuesday it shows that they close at 8 but were only here for dessert. Not surprised at how picturesque this restaurant is, beautiful decor, lush green lawn with a lot of lawn games, definitely a cute space to take your girlfriends for a brunch! The hostess was really friendly, we sat outside since it was still really pretty out. We let them know that we were just here for dessert and she brought us the dessert menu. I chose the sticky toffee and date cake and Bryan chose the brownies. I also ordered a hot cocoa and Bryan opted for a cappuccino. Our server was really nice and brought our drinks first and they were so lovely, then our dessert came and she suggested that I take one of Bryans marshmallows to put in my coca, she was really kind! The sticky toffee cake was absolutely delicious, we were in London for Valentine's day and I didn't get a chance to have any sticky toffee so I was really happy to have it here and snaps all around so tasty! Will be craving this, the portion was so generous which I really appreciated. Brownie was a little dry but it tasted really good with the ice cream! Definitely want to come back for dinner or brunch because the service was great and because the dessert is good I can only assume the same for their mains!

Oh man, this place is fancy looking! It has a huge outdoor space with some games and stuff. It really is such a cute place! I got their Spicy Blackberry Smash to start, but I added tequila to it and it was absolutely amazing! I would come back for this drink over and over again. For lunch, I got their Bucatini Pesto with chicken. First off, the dish was only okay, but really really oily with the pesto. Secondly, they gave me this small piece of chicken and charged me 7 WHOLE DOLLARS!! I couldn't believe it when I saw my bill. I was also told from my coworkers that their burgers were nothing special, but it was barely anything for a lot of money. This place is such a ripoff. Again, I am only coming back to get a drink from here, but I refuse to pay for anything else. P.S. you can get drinks in a martini glass and they'll blow bubbles on it for you.

The drinks were absolutely delicious - perfect balance between the alcohol and the flavor! Service was excellent, friendly and even provided recommendations. Fries are lovely as always, and the burgers were thick but nothing new. This place is very aesthetic, great for instagram! Lots of seating as well so good for hangouts. Parking there is plenty and is free! We went during happy hour, and it was very quiet. Perhaps because it was during a weekend? Also something to keep in mind, but during happy hour you can only order from the happy hour menu. We wanted to try a certain dessert, but since that was on the main menu we were not able to order it.

What a beautiful establishment! I came here for the first time on a Thursday evening ~6:30pm. At first glance, this location displays elegance and fun with an outside hang-out area with outdoor seating and lawn games. Since it was nighttime, we didn't sit outside but we did play a game of croquet. They have heaters outside and I imagine it to be a magical experience at sunset hour. It was pretty busy when we arrived and we weren't too hungry, so we sat at the bar and ordered drinks and a dessert. We ordered an Alesmith .394 and a Blood Orange Mock-jito. Both were great! We saw a group get delivered a decadent dessert and asked the waitstaff to place an order of whatever it was for us. The Sticky Toffee and Date Cake comes with a side of Salted Caramel ice cream and it was the highlight of my day! The cake was moist and paired perfectly with the caramel sauce and ice cream. The serving was also sufficient for my boyfriend and I. We had a brief taste of what California English offers but I'm excited to return back to experience their regular food items, brunch, and tea 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!

Recently went here for dinner. Food here was great. When the waitress told us this restaurant was a celebrity chef restaurant, we were excited to try the food. We ordered Scotch Egg (amazing), Cheddar & Chive Scones, and Burger Style Chips (huge fries) for appetizers. For entrees we ordered Fish n Chips (just okay, not the best for the price) and Beef Short Ribs (delicious). And for dessert we ordered Sticky Toffee Pudding, and Chocolate Sundae. Both desserts were awesome. Decor is great.

Pleasantly surprised. The ambience and scenery are unmatched. So beautiful and airy. We made reservations for Tea Time at 10 on a Sunday. Only reason I'm tacking down a star is because although we were seated promptly, and told the waiter we were here for the tea, nobody else came by until 10:21am. However, once we finally got the tea menu and chosen which tower (we chose both), food came out very quickly. The tea sandwiches are fresh with interesting flavor profiles. Scones were fresh and biscuity and the desserts were beautifully done. we devoured the savory sandwiches and took the rest home because we stuffed ourselves full of their tea. Granted they are "just" tea bags, BUT they are surprisingly delicious teas. So good we were googling at the table so we could see if we can purchase for home. Rose Black and the Chai were our favorites. Our past few tea experiences have been abysmal so this was such a nice surprise and can't wait to come back.

Just came home from dinner - it was yummy. Started with English Muffin Pizza Dinner - Butternut Squash Soup (really good!) with a side of toast. Dessert: Peach Melba Ice Cream Bars Peach Sorbet, Almond Glaze, Raspberry White Chocolate 'Crumbs' (little ones that are $4 each, but really good - I got two). I also am very happy that there is a Innocent Bystanders Spirit Free & Delightful. I don't drink alcohol so it's nice to get something "fancy" without any. Pat's Dragon Lime / Mint / Dragon Fruit / Peychauds Bitters Ginger Limeade Fresh Lime / Ginger Beer Spicy Blackberry Smash Blackberry / Lime / Habanero Raspberry Cooler Raspberry / Lemon Juice / Lavender, Orange, & Celery Bitters Blood Orange Mock-jito Lime / Mint / Blood Orange Also, our server was so nice & very sweet.

I've had English food a few times in Boston, which included the the traditional Fish-N-Chips, so I was curious how good California English would be. My friend and I were impressed with the outdoor and indoor atmosphere and the service was great. We had three-courses and dessert which were: 1st Course: "Hot" Scotch Egg which we were very happy with, the Chorizo was spicy and the Whipped Honey tuned that down. The Crispy Brussel Sprouts with Thai Chili was perfect to look at and taste...I wish I could recreate this dish. Both dishes were light so we were ready for the next course. 2nd Course: Beets, Citrus, Goats Cheese, the use of Pomegranate elevated this dish and it tasted good, but not outstanding like other Beet salads I've had. The Butternut Squash Soup was perfection, and the Spiced Pumpkin Seeds added a nice touch. Again these dishes were light so onto the next course. 3rd Course: I had there Beef Pie with bone marrow. Now presentation was great and the amount of beef/pie was good, the flavor was nice. My friend had the Butter Chicken which was cooked perfectly. Both dishes, especially mine, was very heavy....not a bad thing. Dessert was the Sticky Toffee & Date Cake w/Salted Caramel Ice Cream...YUM.

So I finally made it out to Richard Blais' latest project. I'm a huge fan of English food and Fish and Chips, so I was stoked to try it out. My friend and I came during lunch on a Friday and it was not too difficult to grab a seat. Our server was very attentive and detailed each of the courses. We wanted to try a variety of different items, so we opted for the Scotch Egg, Fish and Chips, Spring Asparagus Soup, and those friessss. The highlight of the meal for me was the fish and chips. The fish was very moist and flavorful. It didn't have too much batter and those fries. They had the great twice fried taste and had plenty of thick potato goodness. I could just come back for the fries alone. The curried ketchup and a nice and unique flavor. But, yes, fries. 'nuff said.

Came for the high tea experience with a gf. Quite lovely. The only difference between the two tea tower options are the sandwiches. Each person gets their own teapot.

Came for afternoon tea. This place reminds me of a modern take on tea time. It's a bit overpriced and overrated in my opinion. I've been to my fair share of tea spots and I was a bit disappointed and this why. The sandwiches were a joke. My friend and I couldn't even try one of each. It would be smart for them to separate them on different trays so that we could differentiate whose sandwiches are who's when it's more than one person. The pastries were good but not great. Only sweet I enjoyed was their lemon curd. You only get one choice of tea. Service was meh. They didn't really check on my table. On a positive note decor and ambiance is great! They have plenty of parking. Not sure if I'd come back but definitely not for tea time.

Bravo to California English!! This restaurant has amazing food and a ver very beautiful ambiance! All of the decor including the restrooms where perfectly in sync! The food is like Indian or middle easter flavors with a California twist and is well executed! Server did a great job of giving you history and facts about the food, always helps when trying new elevated foods! You should try everything.... but.... I want to talk about this egg.... It's called the Hot Scotch Egg.... It's hard boiled just enough to keep the runny yolk, the they flash fry it with chorizo around it!!!! This as far as what I ordered was the sat and out dish!! I could eat a whole carton of these ahah.! Go here as fast as you can and try everything! We Love California English.

I came across this restaurant through my Insta feed and now was the time to try this new restaurant! This new culinary experience is Chef Richard Blais's new concept, which is tucked away in a bioscience building with plenty of parking! I love the open, modern feel of this restaurant. The high ceilings, greenery, and wide open spaces definitely provide an airy atmosphere. I also love the touches of delicately designed plates, comfortable tufted chairs, and personable wait staff to set the scene of a relaxing dining experience. Mocktail - Pat's Dragon. I actually enjoyed this mocktail! Light and refreshing, they also can top it off with more lime soda when you're halfway ;). Apps - Hot Scotch Egg - This was just okay for me. Although the sausage was crisp and the egg was perfectly cooked, the dish didn't wow me. Avo Toast - Easily shareable and had ample toppings. Chips with Avocado tartar, curry ketchup, and garlic aioli. These fries were chunky and crisp. The curry ketchup was the best imo. Main- BBQ chicken. This was also just okay for me. The blackberry BBQ sauce tasted like regular sauce to me. I tasted the brazino, which was tasty due to the crispness of the fish. Dessert - Ooey, gooey chocolate sponge cake. This is very rich and only one bite was enough for me. Overall, five stars for ambiance and customer service. But food was just okay for me and not worth the price point.

My friend & I have been eyeing this spot for awhile now & we were super excited to hear that they now offered Afternoon Tea! Afternoon Tea is set for certain hours, at least for when we went, but call to double check. There are 2 options & we chose the original one. Afternoon Tea: I was expecting a larger menu for tea but they only had a few options such as Earl Grey & Rose. Our tray consisted of sweets on the bottoms, savory in the middle, & scones on the top. The savory sandwiches were delicious! & this was the first time I ever tried Battenberg Cake & I was hooked, so yum. There was a few hiccups with our meal but maybe it was because they just started doing Afternoon Tea. Nonetheless, customer service was friendly.

This restaurant has a bright and beautiful interior. My friends and I came for the afternoon tea, I got the English Tower and enjoyed the sandwiches the most. I liked the scones but kind of wished they were warmed up. My favorite amongst the desserts was the Lemon Posset so I kind of wished we each had a pot of that instead of just one for the three of us to share. Service was good overall. I would come back to try the rest of their menu and drinks next.

Note that I'm not one to fine dine so maybe this is why I was very underwhelmed by the food. The restaurant is very open and large. I liked how there were different spaces spread throughout the restaurant. You have the outdoor, indoor, bar, and grass area where games are set up. There's truly a place for everyone here. Also the decor was so cute and most definitely thought out with all the little details. As for the food two notes. It's expensive and just alright. There wasn't anything that stood out to me about any of the dishes we received. I don't think anyone was wowed. It was good food don't get me wrong but if I wanted to pay $23 for chicken tikka masla with stale naan I'd go to an actual Indian restaurant. And maybe it's my fault I didn't get their star dish but for such a small menu you would expect everything on it to wow your tastebuds. Service was great and they definitely don't rush you. They have a unique service experience that varies from other restaurants. It felt like a performance! Great service! I personally do not think I can afford to come here again. However, I think I'm ok with that.

Came here again feel months after opening and service and food was just as great! They now have a kids menu, thank you!! And there's an outdoor "play" area as well which is great! The hanger steak was really good and was so soft and perfectly made with great texture and flavor. I haven't had anything that wasn't tasty from here. My fave drink is Not Your Average tea.