Best Restaurants for People Watching in Sorrento Mesa

The Whaling Bar is hands down our favorite local spot, whether it’s for a cozy date night or an evening out with friends. The atmosphere is fantastic, the cocktails are exceptional, and the food never disappoints. We love everything on the menu, but our personal favorites are the celery salad, Caesar salad, the baos, and the chicken—each dish is perfectly executed. We’re also lucky enough to have George as our server every time we dine here. He’s simply the best, making every visit even more memorable with his friendly demeanor and excellent service. And don’t forget to save room for dessert! The burger dessert is an absolute must-try. We can’t wait to come back again soon!

Love this place! Freddie was an excellent server, and we will be asking for his section from now on! Loved the steamed eggs—healthy and light and delicious!!

We were led to believe this was an upscale restaurant, country club casual. We expected this atmosphere. Next to us was a a husbands, donned in a baseball cap, his wife and two children. The children were loud, obnoxious, and continued with antics sprawling about there space. Other diners were shouting for attention at their tables, the noise level was over the top. I wanted to stand up but I’d have to scream, Quiet Down…. It was deafening, unbearable.

If you’re a foodie then you will appreciate this place for a date night for flavorful international food with California and British influence’s and caring service. From the beverages I enjoyed the mocktail and happy hour appetizer with the best crispy pork belly bao I’ve had. The entree from the house made pasta in cream sauce and the jerk chicken was done with fresh ingredients and just hit the flavor notes. For desserts we appreciated the date cake with the homemade gelato. There is an outdoor area for kids to play around and outdoor seating. We’ll stop by with our kids next time for their high tea and my husband will consider California English as a spot to bring in business clients. Plenty of parking just as you drive past it to your right side, and try not to accidentally park in the Chick-Fil-A area. Thank you again!

The food staff and service not only met but exceeded our expectations. The menu was creative and extremely fairly priced. From the chefs sushi tasting to the rib steak beyond what a hotel restaurant typically offers. Jose, Ken, Mindy & Chris went above and beyond to ensure world class service during our short stay. Can not wait to return.