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Spencer

4.4 (216 reviews)
Open 12:00 pm - 9:00 PM
Updated 2 months ago

Spencer Photos

Business Info

SPENCER ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Outdoor seating
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Spencer

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July menu!
Kristine G.

Great service! We arrived on a Sunday evening and had a reservation scheduled. We sat at the bar and got a rundown of the menu/how the ingredients were sourced. Everything tasted amazing and the woman behind the bar area was able to provide us a ton of information on the menu/the area/and the chef! Ambiance was also amazing, it was very clean and well laid out. I was in college in 2015 and wish I knew about this place back then! I'll definitely be stopping by every time I'm home visiting.

Beets, ricotta, smoked olive, preserved lemon
Linda I.

Spencer has been a long time favorite of mine in Ann Arbor. Beautiful, delicious, thoughtfully sourced, seasonal, and inventive bites. Owners Steve and Abby so clearly love food and wine and it shines through in the ever-changing curated menus. Come here expecting high craftsmanship in your meal, and very possibly new combinations of flavors you haven't experienced before. Menus and reservations for those menus are posted ahead of time so you can decide which set menus look the best to you and set a calendar reminder to get your reservation. Personally, I think my favorites tend to be their summer menus. So bright and fresh! Also a great place to stop in to shop wine, particularly if you're looking for recommendations. This is my go to when looking to pick something up for a gift or a dinner party. All that being said, I do somewhat miss their old fully a la carte menus. They shifted their business model out of necessity during the pandemic and then since then, have opted for reservations only set menus (which admittedly makes sense, it's efficient and predictable!). They also have weekend daywine hours which are walk in and a la carte, focusing on a few snack-y options (and of course, highlighting fun wines). Will be pricey! Not the right place if you're looking for a big filling meal at a value price point. This is a Good Meal, in a relaxed, comfortable, welcoming environment.

March menu
Jimin H.

Came to spencers with a friend for her birthday and it was amazing! Smaller restaurant with a very nice vibe and helpful workers! Each course comes out family style but they account for how many people are in the party. Every course was so delicious and they even gave a candle for the birthday girl on her dessert! It is a pricier meal but I think it would be great for a birthday celebration or a date night!

Outdoor seating
Sarah J.

Food - 4 stars Ambiance - 3 stars Here's why. We started off the meal with radish, za'atar and cultured butter. It tasted exactly like what it is. If you like those things, you would like this dish. It was a nice light bite to start the meal. It was very simple. Tahini butter beans and fava beans were very delishious. These were an add on, and probably a highlight of the meal for me. It had a good balance of citrus and flavorful olive oil. The butter beans were soft in contrast to the nice bite of the fava bean. The charred garlic scape over allium lebneh, malawach, zhoug. The malawach was kinda like a flatbread, kinda like a buttery cracker. The yogurt was not tangy, and it was very creamy. Scape is a new vegetable for me. It was like if a greenbean had an asparagus-like flavor. This was my favorite dish of the meal. For mains, we had the chicken, baharat, with little gems. This dish ate very dry for me. The chicken needed a sauce element or maybe more of the dressing from the little gems. My lettuce also had dirt in it. The dessert was a cardamom cake with cherries and cream. It was nice. I tasted the cardamom and a little rose in the sauce that the cherries were in. That said, it was unremarkable. It was good. We enjoyed the non- alcoholic teas/ sodas as well. The seating situation was particularly challenging. The tables were small, which is fine, as they fit the food on them, however, there was an x shaped rod under the table that was impossible not to hit your knees on, even for someone short like me. The edge of the chair also dug into my back if I leaned back. Across the street, fans blew on dinners at the taco shop while we sweat it out on this hot day. Plan on making a late reservation during the summer if you're able. I was incredibly uncomfortable by the end of the 90 minute dining experience.

Vegetables dish....very good
tom j.

Dinner was over priced and service was poor. The dishes all were tasty but needed more spice. I asked for some hot sauce but not was accommodated which is odd.

Alan D.

Heraclitus, the ancient Greek philosopher wrote that you can't step in the same river twice. That's how I feel about Spencer. If you go every month, their menu will be different but the thing that will stay the same is the quality of the ingredients, the creativity of the preparations and the gentle sense of humor for what is on the plate. The only downside I can think of is that it's extremely challenging to make a reservation and the hurried staff rarely answer the phone (although they do call back if you leave a message, in fairness). Did I neglect to mention the wine? Spencer is actually a wine shop and has fabulous bottles for sale with or without dining in the restaurant. Summer is the best time to go as they spread out their tables onto the street for some of the best alfresco dining you will have in Michigan, and perhaps the United States. I'm a fan.

Pasta and pasta!
Abby B.

We scooped up a reservation at Spencer for a special occasion and were blown away by our meal. At $70 per person, I was nervous the portion sizes would be smaller, but we left very full and with leftovers to take home. Everything we ate was beautifully presented and thoughtful. Their staff was accommodating and knowledgeable about their wines as well. And their wine program is a James Beard semifinalist for a reason! Only one critique: I hate to be a curmudgeon about the seating, but there are a few spots where you are elbow-to-elbow with the party next to you. I'm not a fan of this -- my husband with ADHD wouldn't hear a word I said if we had to sit that close to other people. We lucked out with bar seating and had a great time, but I'd keep this in mind if you're an introverted grump like me. We hope to celebrate more special events at Spencer in the future!

Pizette
Judy N.

I have put a lot of thought into this review and REALLY REALLY wanted to give Spencer 4 stars (was hoping for a 5-star experience actually based on the wonderful reviews I've read) because the food is wonderful however the service soured me based on our experience. We made a reservation (watch for when they open their reservations and book immediately in order to get a reasonable dinner time). I would also recommend continuing to look for openings if you happen to get a time you don't prefer as you might be able to get a different time and it's super easy to modify your reservation. Spencer is small, quaint and although we booked it for a special occasion, the ambiance is really quite casual. The dining area is literally surrounded by the numerous wine bottles/shelves they sell. Yes, they do have 2 long communal tables but it must be intentional as we did not have anyone seated next to us until basically when we got our desserts. (The bar has 4 seats if that is an option to reserve there). The food was all very delicious (the pizette was a favorite) and I love that the ingredients are local. We enjoyed the April menu (see pictures). The menu changes every month so you can preview what you'll be having. The main problem was the service. It wasn't horrible but it wasn't good either. We asked about selecting a wine off menu (I think we are all trying to watch how much we spend these days) since the ones on the menu were more than we wanted to spend. Figuring this is a wine store, why not try/buy one from there. We didn't get any initial help (just a general those types of wines are over there-aka, go look yourself). When we couldn't decide, we asked again about a wine and the server did suggest one but it was like pulling teeth to ask how it was and yes we were told there was a corkage fee- however he didn't tell us how much. We didn't see until we got the bill, the corkage fee ($25) cost more than the bottle of wine! Honestly, when you google corkage fees it varies a lot but this is usually when you bring your own bottle of wine. Since we bought this bottle from Spencer's, I was a bit :( to see how much it cost. In addition, Spencer's doesn't do anything for a special occasion (to be fair they don't give you the option to mention a birthday or anything when booking unless I missed it.) so it just compounded my disappointment to what I was hoping to be a special evening. I just think it would be easy to put up a sign or mention the $25 fee. Anyways, it might seem like a little thing but I'm in no rush to return or recommend Spencer's but yes, they do have good food but there are too many other great places that will treat you better.

Roasted eggplant salad
Leah M.

Worth the wait and the hype! Beautiful setting, exceptional wine, thoughtful service and delicious food. Will be a special occasion favorite for us.

Esther C.

Came here for the March prix fixe. I've been wanting to go to Spencer's because I've heard such great things. The ambiance and service did not disappoint and the food didn't either. While the food was good and definitely one of the best meals I've had in AA, it lacked a wow factor for me given the higher price point. That being said, I recommend that everyone try it at least once!

Joyce L.

Place This place is such a nice ambience. The store is like a wine shop and you look around with a mask. Yay for covid friendly places Service The service is good and they were so helpful for an amateur wine taster haha. They let sample this one particular white wine and I got a glass. Food/price The price is up there but you are also paying for the vibe. There different desserts and baked goods that pair well with the wine. Audience I went with childhood friends and I got to say I was feeling a fancy haha. Who knew we would be cheering and chit chatting with $10-$15 glasses of wine. Recommendation/tips I recommend and would come back!

Mussels and mushroom salad with garlic levain toast
Kate C.

All I can say is that Spencer's is an experience that will leave you feeling classy, stuffed, and amazed all in one. Reservations open up on Thursday's at 4 pm and it's always exciting to see what new menus they offer! The food was incredible, the colors, the combinations, the way that Spencers uses acidity and other dimensions of food to manipulate your taste buds. The meal may have been $70, but I left barely being able to move because I ate so much. It was well worth the money. In terms of service, our servers were very friendly and always willing to explain the courses and how they were made. The buckwheat donuts were truly divine and you could tell so much effort went into each course. My only qualm is the space is very small, so even getting up from the table is difficult, but the ambiance of the wine shop was beautiful.

Tiffany S.

I've been wanting to try Spencer for a while because it's been highly recommended and I love that the co-owners have some California roots. As a CA native. the style of food (California cuisine) really resonates with me. But, you don't have to be to enjoy Spencer, it's just really dang good. They have interesting hours, the menu is always changing & there's no easy online ordering, so it's fallen through the cracks EVERY TIME for us! But, by happenstance, I came across their Valentine's Day menu which consisted of: *Beef Wellington (Tenderloin, Mushroom Duxelle, Chive Crepe, Puff Pasty) with grilled beets, sauce verte, red onion agrodolce, horseradish creme fraiche, flaky sea salt ) - So I'm going to admit that I've never had a beef wellington before. I do know that it can be difficult to make because it can easily get soggy. Is there Gordon Ramsay bit on this or something? But anyways, this was DELIGHTFUL. not a soggy bit in sight - the reheating instructions were spot-on. The side of beets, agrodolce, sauces were just fantastic too. Added bitterness, acidity that really made this stand out! The puff pastry with chive crepe was phenomenal, I could totally eat this on its own. *Chicory Salad (belgian endives, frisee, tarragon vinaigrette) - I want EVERY SALAD to be an endive+frisee salad with this DELICIOUS tarragon vinaigrette. Just super bright & fresh *Ginger Chocolate Truffles - I was a bit skeptical about these, but wow the balance was perfect! Eve my husband enjoyed these and he's not a big chocolate fan. I will DEFINITELY be back to order take out soon. Now that I know the level of quality, craftsmanship -- I'm just going to jump in and try some random things on the menu as I'm certain it will be FIRE! Some other notes: *They have a little wine shop which is going to be dangerous for me! I love new finds! *On that note, they do offer a wine club too! I don't drink enough to justify but one day I'll get there! *They offer delivery for $5-$10 depending on range).s s a

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5 years ago

Far and away the best restaurant in Ann Arbor. Wonderful people, creative and delicious food, adventurous drinks, and a great friendly vibe.

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7 years ago

The food was just OK. The cashier was a total snob in her attitude. Will not return.

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Ask the Community - Spencer

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Share Wine Lounge and Small Plate Bistro - Food menu

Share Wine Lounge and Small Plate Bistro

4.4(22 reviews)
2.8 mi
$$

First, to make getting here simple, this is the bar and lounge at the Sheraton…read more Here I was, staying at the Residence Inn and thinking, "Gosh, I really don't fell like cooking after this looongg day!" I decided to check out the bar/lounge at the nearby Sheraton and have to say, no wonder Marriott decided to buy these guys! They have great beers on tap and great food. I had the sliders and the Santorini salad, which has fried artichokes on it. The sliders were great. Straight up beef patties on a brioche-like bun. No filler, slightly thin, but still tastes great and beefy. Just what I wanted. The Santorini salad is about twice as big as I thought it would be for $9. I really liked the greens which included butter, red, iceberg and romaine lettuces. It also had goat cheese, olives and fried artichoke hearts. Yum, but I couldn't finish it. Since I'm at the Res Inn I just took the rest with me. I also had the Blond ales on tap. Their big deal is supposed to be the wine selection, but the beer selection is very good. Perfect for slider night! Full, refreshed and ready for he long plane rides home tomorrow.

This is a great place with American staples for when you want to relax at the end of a long day of…read moretravel...or just the end of a long day. The food and service here are really good, and the atmosphere is quiet and relaxing. Located in the lobby of the Sheraton, you almost miss it because it is so quiet. The ambiance is a little dark but not really dark - so perfect for relaxing. There is an unobtrusive TV above the bar for sports enthusiasts, but it is quiet to allow for conversation. The food ranges from quite good to really, really good. The bruschetta is distinct and fantastic. The mixture is served separately from the crustini, ensuring that the bread doesn't get soggy. And it has little pieces of fresh mozzarella in it to add even more freshness! Their fried mozzarella is also quite good, clearly freshly made. A friend had their salad and got blackened salad on it and really enjoyed it. They are happy to customize orders, whether that be food or drink. And they are happy to make drinks extra strong, so that's never a bad thing!

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Share Wine Lounge and Small Plate Bistro - Cocktail menu

Cocktail menu

Share Wine Lounge and Small Plate Bistro - A table adjacent to wine wall display at Share.

A table adjacent to wine wall display at Share.

Share Wine Lounge and Small Plate Bistro - Nice bar and TVs here at the Sheraton.

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Nice bar and TVs here at the Sheraton.

Bellflower - Olive Oil Cake ($12) - very good! Vanilla-rhubarb compote with Guernsey whipped cream.

Bellflower

4.6(217 reviews)
7.3 miDowntown Ypsilanti
$$

Been here a few times and am always delighted…read more In this case we were there for Valentine's Day. Service was great and the menu had lots of tempting options. Loved the cheese plate. Tasty cheese selections and a generous amount of bread and crackers. Their cocktails are ON POINT. The Pep in Your Step blended the mezcal flavor wonderfully. The Nightshade Martini was one of the most unique cocktails I've ever had. I enjoyed my pasta, though I had wanted to order a seafood dish and they were out of mussels. Definitely a bit of a bummer. I remember the beans in the smoked duck dish being especially good. My one complaint about this place is the menu seems to feel similar each time I'm there (months to years between visits). Like there's always a similar fish dish and a curry. I guess I just wish there were different options because the menu is relatively small. Excited to return for another visit in the future and would like to try their lunch offering as well!

Fantastic meals and outstanding service! The ambience was very welcoming. We were two couples and…read moreshared the starters - plenty for four people. The salad was fresh and well dressed - simple but good. The second starter was sardine tin. Very very good. Not overly fishy and the garnishes served with it were perfect. For mains which are enough to share, one was the trout! Absolutely well seasoned and crispy. It is served whole and butterflied. We changed the side to the house vegetable. OMG these sautéed garden veggies were the best! The other main was a Japanese curry dish. Here is why the five starting dropped to a four. It was just ok. We would not order again. For dessert we had the bread pudding- another star for the night! To the owner, terrific staff. Everyone we engaged in, were positive and knowledgeable. They are a great team! Looking forward to a second visit!

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Bellflower - Bar and seating

Bar and seating

Bellflower - Pork cutlet sandwich- outstanding!

Pork cutlet sandwich- outstanding!

Bellflower - Seating

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Seating

The Earle Restaurant - Bread with whipped butter

The Earle Restaurant

3.8(424 reviews)
0.1 miDowntown Ann Arbor
$$$

A great night out! A cozy dining atmosphere with a lot of wine related decorations. Our booth was…read moreprivate and secluded. Our water was attentive and professional. The initial bread offering was delicious. Our starters of the risotto croquettes and mussels were perfect (lots of sauce with the mussels, could definitely use the bread for). Split the French onion soup which was excellent. The roasted acorn squash had delicious vegetables and cous cous accompany it. The puff pastry salmon was delicious as well, the sauce was fantastic. Unfortunately did not have any dessert (next time!)

The ambience and service were great, but the food was inconsistent. The garlic appetizer was…read moreexcellent. The scallops in the sea scallop entree were cooked perfectly. The rice with the scallops was terrible. The duck breasts were chewy with lots of gristle, which made them barely edible. The cooks on each breast were different; one was medium rare and the other was medium. The "sauce" for the duck was a mess; it was watery and lacked flavor. The "vegetable" side was just boiled Brussels sprouts and carrots, which also had no flavor and a weird texture. The potato-turnip "purée" wasn't puréed, and also had an unpleasant texture and flavor. For the price, you're better off going to the Chop House, where you actually get food worth the price and fun to eat. Don't waste your money at The Earle. There are better options at a similar price point nearby.

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The Earle Restaurant - The cool room we were seated at.

The cool room we were seated at.

The Earle Restaurant - Bruschetta

Bruschetta

The Earle Restaurant - Bar area

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Bar area

DropTop Pizza - Joey's Favorite

DropTop Pizza

4.6(69 reviews)
8.0 mi
Locally owned & operated
Kid friendly

Updating my initial review as we've been back over a dozen times (between happy hour, dinner and…read moretakeout)! First, happy hour is awesome: 4-5pm + last hour (so 8-9pm Sun-Wed and 9-10pm Thursday thru Saturday). It's half off: draft beers, sangria, starters, house cocktails and wines. Also, I stand by the opinion that DropTop is the BEST Detroit style pizza right now. However, their burgers are also FIRE - that olive burger? YUM! I also am happy to share that the little details from opening - like cold frosty glasses, cold plates for salad, from scratch dressings/sauces, etc. is still on-going which truly makes a difference to the overall experience. Service is always super friendly, helpful.

DropTop is one of those small local spots that surprises you with how well developed and…read morethoughtfully run it is. The burgers are easily the standout!! juicy, flavorful, and clearly made with care. The shakes are AMAZING, and the pizza is different and big size, making it great for sharing. The fries are another win: crispy, well‑seasoned, and addictive. The environment is nice and cozy, which adds to the charm, though I do wish they had more tables. That said, they've optimized the experience by offering a separate pickup door, which makes takeout incredibly smooth and efficient... a smart move for a small business. What really elevates DropTop is the staff. They're super friendly, genuinely welcoming, and very knowledgeable about the menu. Their recommendations were spot on, and you can tell they care about the food and the customers. Overall, I'd absolutely come back. The burgers were my favorite, but honestly, everything I tried was solid.

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DropTop Pizza - Waffle Fries

Waffle Fries

DropTop Pizza - Dining Room with Bar

Dining Room with Bar

DropTop Pizza - Craft Cocktails

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Craft Cocktails

The Grotto - Dogfish Head IPA

The Grotto

4.3(122 reviews)
0.1 miDowntown Ann Arbor
$$

We stumbled across this pub on our way to the ice cream place, and we decided to give it a try!…read moreOverall, we were impressed-- super cozy indoor/outdoor space, fast service, and an amazing list of draft beer options! They don't serve any food though, so might not be a good choice if you're hungry. - Dogfish Head Grateful Dead IPA: 10000/10 (an amazing, refreshing IPA that isn't too strong! Medium-bodied, pretty fruit-forward with notes of pineapple and mango. Honestly one of the best IPAs I've had in a whileee) - Kasteel Wit: 9/10 (light-body wheat beer that's also super refreshing and flavorful!) - Hacker Pschor Oktoberfest: 10/10 (great marzen) - Rhineheist Cheetah lager: 8/10 (decent lager) - Guinness: 6/10 (the Guinness was wayyyyy too watery!!!) - Ferndale Project Apple Pie: 9/10 (actually tastes like apple pie and vanilla! It's def on the sweeter side though, so you might not like it if you're not into sweet beer) Overall, I definitely want to come back and sit outside when the weather is nicer!

This spot is pretty chill! I was thinking it was a beer only watering hole but they actually have…read morean AWESOME selection of bourbon. However, I made a grave mistake of ordering on the QR code/Toast rather than at the bar. I say grave because fellow bourbon whisky enthusiasts will cringe -- I was pretty stoked to see that they had Basil Hayden Toasted. So, I ordered it but also selected "add water" with the anticipation that it would be like a dropper of water. Nope, they made a cocktail out of my 2oz pour of Basil Hayden. Whiskey water. At that point, it could've been Makers Mark or Jack and I wouldn't have known the difference. User error though so I did make sure I still tipped accordingly and NOW I know. I'll be back though.

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The Grotto - Outside

Outside

The Grotto - Outside

Outside

The Grotto - Local Hazy IPA

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Local Hazy IPA

Spencer - newamerican - Updated May 2026

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