Chez Spencer

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82 14th St (at Harrison Street and Trainor Street)
San Francisco, CA 94103

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(415) 864-2191
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Chez Spencer - San Francisco, CA
Reviews
( 29 )
( 12 )
( 8 )
( 10 )
( 14 )

Best

I love this restaurant. It is one of my favorites in the City. I also love French food and great wine and this place covers both bases very well. I love the romantic atmosphere...

Worst

I tried this place with some friends. While the atmosphere was nice, the service was good, and the food was good, the prices were outrageous. I got the red snapper: mid-sized pi...

where are all these reviews coming from? 4/30/2006

This restaurant is amazing in all ways. My pick in the city. I regularly eat here with my lady (when we can afford it). The service has never been anything but exemplary ( I have been working in restaurants around the world for years and have the knowledge to make this opinion). The people working there have always been very professional and knowledgeable and everytime we eat there the owner (I'm assuming?) comes over and is very gracious and funny. Maybe some might find an air of stuffyness, but that's because this is not a place for pedestrians. Go get some frozen tacos from the grocery across the street. Chez Spencer has immense class and incredible food and wine parrings to back it up. This is a gem, really my top pick in the city. Pros: french love, minimalist decor, "secret club" feel Cons: cost more
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Great Food, Service and Ambience 12/4/2005

I can't say enough good things about Chez Spencer. From the low-key tucked away location, to the romantic garden patio, to the amazing mouth-watering food, and the smart friendly staff. I will go back many, many times. more
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A special find 11/19/2005

Its unique location made me skeptical, and the darkly lit entrance caused us to walk right by it, but once you find it you'll be pleasantly surprised. Walking through the entrance you are greated with a lovely mini garden that sets the ambiance. From the garden you pass by the covered outdoor seating area that is perfectly heated with heat lamps, before entering the main restaurant. The food was marvelous, with my only complaint being the lack of vegetables with the main meals. They really consisted of just the main meat, a sauce, and a starch but the flavors were wonderfully put together. Our waiter was also incredibly friendly and knowledgable. My favorite part about this restaurant is that nobody else knows about how good it is, so I'm ruining that by spreading the word. The only con was the slightly socially awkward manager that came up to say goodbye. Pros: Food, Ambiance, Service Cons: Location, Strange manager more
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Excellent food, service, decor 11/8/2005

We got the tasting menu (prix fixe) with the wine pairing, starting with a demi of champagne. The food was wonderfully prepared and presented, served very well, and the accompanying wines were better than delightful. The decor and atmosphere were perfect, and we were seated immediately for our reservation. Our server was knowledgeable, efficient, and helpful about the food and the wine he served. We enjoyed the unforced pacing as well - we did not at all feel hurried, despite a very full house. All in all, one of my best dining experiences in San Francisco. I emphatically do not recognize the Chez Spencer I experienced last week in the negative reviews below. Pros: Food, Service, Decor more
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an awful experience 11/6/2005

limited wine list. food temperatures off. service inconsistent. affronted by waiter for not leaving 18% tip. when i asked to speak to the manager about the waiter's audacity, the manager sided with the waiter. there are many other fantastic restaurants in SF where the waitstaff and managers don't insult their customers. go ANWHERE else instead. Pros: garden, nicely set table Cons: ALL personnel, bad value more
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Rudest service I have ever experienced. 11/5/2005

Food and decor was good. Wine list ok. The waiters were cold, rude and patronizing (and got our orders wrong). On the way out our waiter accosted us for leaving no more than the customary amount. Totally ruined an otherwise fine evening and my appetite! Pros: dessert, decor Cons: service, wine list more
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Wear your long johns and a PARKA! 10/12/2005

I couldn't have been more cold if they used ICE blocks for seats. The restaurant lists ""heated outdoor seating"" but the waitress informed me they have no heating for INSIDE when we asked them to turn up the heat. (Other patrons were wearing their coats) The service was S L O W 20-30 minutes between courses, but the food was excellent (teeth chattering bites that I had). No refills on water, no refills on coffee during desert, nobody to handle our check when we wanted to leave the IGLOO. Pros: Food Cons: Service, Climate Control more
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Horrible service and food - I would never return! 10/2/2005

I highly recommend AGAINST going to this place. We, too, had reservations but had to wait 45 mins. to be seated. While seated at the bar, another group said they were asked to leave their table & have dessert at the bar because their table was needed! When we finally got seated, our dining experience continued on the decline. The food was below average (especially for the price of $75 prix-fixed). I did not enjoy any of the poorly excuted dishes. For dessert, we waited another 45 mins. for COLD and SOGGY crepes!!!! If I were the chef and owner, I would be highly ashamed and embarrassed about the quality of the food and the service. The waiters and waitresses are rude, seemingly indifferent and poorly trained. I would never return to this place and have told everyone I know about the horrible experience I had. Pros: decor, romantic, ambience Cons: service, food, price more
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Awesome! Best meal yet at CS, last night 10/2/2005

My husband and I often take guests to CS and have delicious meals but yesterday was our best one yet! The duck in raspberry sauce with corn crepe was mindblowing. The lamb rack with a creme fraiche + fromage blanc was outstanding. Bouillabaise was puree style with a scrumptious toast + melted cheese -yummy! Frogs legs were innovative and delicious! The fois torchon is cold pate style and pairs well with the blackberries, but I prefer the hot seared fois. Coconut pot de creme was awesome, apple crepe is tasty - both pair excellently with sauternes. Pros: awesome food, excellent servers, romantic Cons: too dim more
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worst service ever 9/10/2005

This place has a good ambience and decent food. But the service is so terrible that it ruins the whole experience. After having waited for more than an hour to be seated (even though I had reservations), I left 12% tip vs. the usual 18%. I do this to signal that there was something wrong with the evening. Then, the owner came and literally yelled at me telling how cheap I am. I have never experienced such rudeness in any restaurant. It ruined my night and I strongly recommend not to go to this place. more
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A Gem -- Under-rated 8/5/2005

This place is a true sleeper. There is a tremendous wine list here with good prices, a unique and pretty environment, beautiful people, in a weird part of town and a crummy facade. They have a tremendous menu with entrees such as antelope! (delicious). I have no idea what the other reviewers who had a bad experience were thinking. I willsay this. The deserts do suck. Skip them. Pros: great room, wild game, great wines Cons: bad deserts more
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Miserable: slow, bad food and rude service 7/16/2005

One of the worst experiences at a SF restaurant. We were seated 45 minutes late and then had no menus, no silverware and no water for another 30 minutes. Bread, but no butter. Half of us were unhappy with the food; some of it cold, some of it over dressed. Pregnant woman in our group thought her fish was near raw; the staff insisted, persistently, that she was wrong and refused to serve something else. Bill was incorrect and waiter pleaded for a big tip. Total and complete misery. Avoid at all costs. Pros: Out-of-the-way Cons: Rude, delayed service, Incorrect bill, Mediocre food more
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Don't Judge a Restaurant by it's Location 6/27/2005

When I visited the place, I was appalled by where the restaurant was actually located. I was afraid to park my car across the street because the neighborhood didn't look as ""safe"" as, say, North of Market Street. However, when I walked through the bland gates, I was astonished to see the beautiful decor and the lovely patio filled with flowers. We were seated promptly and the service was flawless. I had the oysters to start my meal off, followed by the foie gras ""torchon"". Unlike other French restaurants, Chez Spencer is very generous with the precious Foie Gras. I tasted my first piece of ANTELOPE MEAT. And I can say that it was one of the best kinds of meat I've ever tasted in my life! The chefs couldn't have prepared it better! I had the Granite for dessert, and it was a perfect finish to a perfect meal. Pros: Food Cons: Neighborhood more
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Overrated 6/27/2005

We were seated promptly but it took around 10 minutes to get the menu and wine list and another 10 minutes to order. The menu was short, not very inspiring and definitely expensive. The wine list didn't have my favorite wines. Once we ordered, the food came quickly. The food was quite good but the portions small. The cooking was not particularly brilliant since the dishes are simple and can't hardly be missed by a professional chef. Let's say it was just tasty. The waitress was annoying, bragging about how perfect it was and how good the chef was. To that I answer by asking for salt for my entree; it definitely was not seasoned properly. The deserts were common and a bit flat. All in all not a bad place for the ambience and decor but definitely way too expensive and overrated. The ""casual"" service must be improved. Pros: Ambience, Location Cons: Way Too Expensive, Way Too Expensive, Way Too Expensive more
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HORRIBLE Service, WONDERFUL Food 2/23/2005

If you want to feel judged for failing to order bottled water and a bottle of wine with your meal, even though you're paying well over $100 on appetizers, cocktails, and your meal - jump right in. The woman serving us (short haircut, but not the cute funky one) left us hanging for over 25 minutes with the dessert menus (I actually timed it!) and was aloof and patronizing the entire time. I know I'm young, I know I may not dress like I have money, but I make six-figures at 25 and I expect the relationship between server and diner to be one of mutual respect, not one of ""you don't belong here, let me pay attention to the table that can actually afford to tip me."" I can go to New York if I want that attitude. more
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A hidden gem 10/6/2004

I'm almost loathe to write this review for fear Chez Spencer will become too popular. The atmosphere, food and wine were all superb. It's a small restaurant with great grand ceilings hidden away in some dark back alley. While waiting at the bar, be sure to try a Pear Rickey and order the Flat Iron steak if you can pass up all the French choices. Pros: Superb food and drink, Friendly staff, Wonderful atmosphere Cons: , Valet would be great more
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Consistently Excellent 5/20/2004

I have dined at Chez Spencer several times, and each experience was memorable. The large portions of excellent food make this restaurant a value compared to other restaurants in the same price point. Service is impeccable, and the wait staff is attentive but not intrusive -- a good balance. They are also helpful in recommending wines from the nicely balanced wine list. foie gras appetizer and the antelope entree are sublime. Pros: Excellent Food, Great Ambiance more
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Fantastic 3/15/2004

Chez Spencer remains a pleasure for people who knows it exists. We had a flawless meal, and went home wanting more. Everything from the service, the food, the wine and the ambiance was perfect. I'd reccomend this restaurant to anyone. more
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Spend it somewhere else 2/11/2004

It's a shame the kitchen was so slow (30 minutes between courses?) and the service was so amateur at 4-star prices (they got our plates wrong every time, forgot to bring the wine more than once, soup was cold by the time it arrived, out of two desserts though didn't tell us until we tried ordering each one, no cookies, fresh fruit, or consolation prizes) because the ambiance is indeed fabulous. Alas, the enchantment fades fast. A table next to us even abandoned ship mid-meal. Food was fine, at worst dull yet well-executed, (though the antelope was extraordinary) but no matter -- I'll spend my precious dining time and dollars somewhere else. Felt swindled by a sloppy operation. Pros: glamorous room, fabulous crowd Cons: , kitchen operations more
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Overpriced but fabulous ambience 10/9/2003

I love finding a little oasis like this on Folsom and 14th, where you can relax and soak up the very stylish and very romantic ambience. For 2 of us, our meal before tips came to $110 which included 3 starters (we shared one), an entree and an appetiser (I wasn't too hungry), and a cocktail each. I think this was excessive, however we did each eat 3 breadrolls (as the portions were so tiny). I recommend that CitySearch change the price on the profile to $$$ as we were surprised with our bill. The service was lovely and personal but quite slow. The meals themselves were delicious, but skimpy. But the bathroom! I felt completely at home and the trip was definitely worth it for the ambience. Pros: AMBIENCE!, Tasty food, Easy parking Cons: Expensive, Tiny portions more
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Menu for Chez Spencer


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Editorial

  • The Scene
    A vast industrial space with soaring ceilings and concrete floors is warmed by a wood-burning oven that anchors one wall and by an open kitchen tucked in the back corner. A...

  • 12/12/2006 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Daily 6pm-10pm
  • Payments: American Express, Visa, Discover, Master Card
  • Neighborhoods: Central East, Mission
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