Richard Blais’ culinary resume features him as a winner of the inaugural Top Chef: All Stars season, co-host of Next Level Chef with Gordon Ramsay and Nyesha Arrington, and founder of San Diego renowned restaurants, Juniper & Ivy and Crack Shack. Added to his already-impressive summation is California English, a contemporary English all-day eatery that is now serving up a delectable tea service.
Opened in February 2023, the 6,000-sq.-ft. restaurant includes an indoor and outdoor cocktail bar, a lawn area complete with croquet and cornhole, and a swanky interior decorated with live greenery and natural lighting. Diners can settle in for a wide selection of soups, salads, handhelds, entrees and Bits & Bobs. Blais continues to evolve the restaurant’s dining experience with the arrival of Tea Time, a true English afternoon tea service with a Southern California twist.
Located in the heart of Sorrento Valley’s Sorrento Mesa neighborhood, California English’s daily Tea Time, between 3 and 5 p.m., is the ideal afternoon pick-me-up after a late lunch or preceding evening cocktails. Whether one is looking to meet up with friends or take a client out for a unique out-of-office experience, there’s something for everyone on the Pinkies Up menu.
California English’s two types of prix-fixe tea towers are exactly as they read in the name – either California or English. While both include staples such as honey-lavender scones, lemon posset and Battenberg cake, the two tea tours differentiate on their signature uncrus-TEA-ble sandwiches. The English tower features more traditional UK-inspired combinations such as the smoked salmon and dill, curry chicken salad and deviled egg. In contrast, the California tower highlights savory, local fusions like toffee apple and cheddar, rotisserie chicken with almond and dates, confit Ahi tuna and red onion marmalade. Each tower is priced at $52 and is designed to serve two.
California English is open Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and closed on Monday. Tea time is available daily, 3 to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.californiaenglishsd.com.
9276 Scranton Rd.
San Diego, CA 92121
Interiors photo credit: Haley Hill