Another Highway 44 adventure. This restaurant is located off Highway 44 in St. James, MO. I was pleasantly surprised by my experience here. The building is set back off the road a little ways sitting stately on top of a hill. The property is absolutely gorgeous. The parking lot a little dicey. Most of the patrons park to the right of the building on gravel. There are a few paved handicap parking spots in front of the building. Inside the building, the dining room and bar area are massive, accommodating a large number of guests. The decor is relatively clean and simple. I was seated at a cozy table and waited for my server. Nicole provided exceptional service. She was knowledgeable and attentive making my experience all the more enjoyable. I started my evening with a seasonal cocktail from the extensive drink menu. I always check out a menu prior to any dining experience. I knew the whipped feta dip and marinated olives were an absolute must. The cheese is sourced from a local Missouri farm. As are a large number of items served in the restaurant. I prefer to support local and small businesses when I can. This gave me an opportunity to support several all at one. The olives were a mix of black and green served warm with roasted garlic. I have never had olives served warm and will insist on it from now on. The flavors were phenomenal. The dish was generously portioned and enough to share with a small group. Or just for yourself like I did. I really couldn't choose between the entrees. Looking around at other patron's meals, I knew I wouldn't be disappointed with anything on the menu. I opted for a Cesar salad with grilled shrimp. I can't think of a time in recent memory when I've had a salad this good. Crisp romaine lettuce, fried capers, fresh breadcrumbs, and a luxurious dressing. (The salad is served with red onions which I very politely set aside as I do not enjoy raw onions.) The shrimp were the perfect combination juicy and flavorful. I finished the entire thing. I would have been remiss to not try a glass or two of wine during my visit. I decided a glass of rose' would be a good note to end my meal on. The wine is amazing, bright and crisp with notes of citrus. I picked up a couple of bottles to take home. I'm looking forward to sharing this find with my friends. I ordered a piece of the bread pudding to go. This was delicious and was a perfect treat later in my evening. I had a very enjoyable experience. The service was excellent and friendly. The food delicious from start to finish. The wine and cocktails paired well with the menu offerings. The cozy atmosphere made this a perfect evening. read more

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Wish I took a pic of my SMW burger. It was great. Juicy and full of flavor. The chips were also great. This is a place we will definitely stop at again when on our way to the lake. My wife had the Truffle ravioli and she said it was also great. read more

Stopped in for lunch and had the Brie appetizer. It was phenomenal! Good atmosphere and service.

Came here for the first time with my sister and my husband and had a great experience. The service was wonderful and super attentive from the moment we got there. We sat outside and the view of the vineyard was beautiful and so relaxing. The decor is really modern and chic which added to the whole vibe. It felt classy but still comfortable. We got the wine sampler and it was such a fun way to try a bunch of different wines! My favorite was the sangria! The baked brie was incredible too and went perfectly with the wine. Overall this place is a total win. Perfect for a laid back afternoon with great wine and even better views. Can't wait to go back. read more

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If I could give Spencer Manor Winery more than five stars I would! This place blew us away! It is better than wineries we have visited in Fredericksburg, Texas and in California. First the atmosphere is superb. The position of the main building on top of the hill overlooking the vineyard is perfect. The building is expertly designed and decorated. I could go on and on just about the lighting! But what will make us drive over an hour many more times in the future is the food and drinks! The menu is very eclectic and so incredibly good! My husband and I enjoy a good glass of wine which we got there but we also love bourbon and interesting cocktails which we also got there. I don't take the time to write reviews very often but I just want the owners and staff know how much we loved our first of many visits there! read more

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SUCH A CUTE PLACE! Stopped by for dinner while visiting the area. Just the inside was open, but we were able to walk around the patio area before leaving. Set back off the road the perfect distance, vineyards not too far from the building, decor is stunning, great size inside and out. The staff were all super welcoming and friendly. Our server was attentive and knowledgeable of both the food and drink menu! Food was delicious, drinks were great. Very cool spot! read more

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2nd time and it's so expensive and the food and drinks are not worth the price. Between the 5 of us we had 15 cocktails and not a one of us were even tipsy. And my bill was $140 for 2 of us plus tip $165. So not worth it! read more

I would like to say that we have found one of the best wines we have ever tasted! While the price point is high, we bought a case: both 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon 9 bottles, and 3 bottles of Bourbon Barrel Chambourcin. We stopped by chance because we read an article in the Missouri magazine. We made reservations on our way home. We stopped and did a wine tasting and ate the Fried Gnocchi appetizer with our tasting. I had the Cowboy skewers, and my hubby had the Braised chicken. I just wished we lived closer so that I could sell their wine to curious people like us. The place is absolutely beautiful! I will add the Cabernet wines are from California grapes, but processed on the wineries own site. Let's face it if the grapes are great the process is everything in make a Steller wine. Thanks and we will BE BACK. WE are indeed wine coinsurers. Needless to say, we spent over 500.00 last Tuesday the 8th. If you are in the area, you will make a big mistake if you don't stop at Spencer Manor Winery. Cheers! The Hubbard's read more

So, the little town of St James has an absolute jewel of a location to visit as you pass through. My wife and I had learned of this through a publication we receive. We stopped in to check this out and immediately the wait staff was friendly and attentive. We sat to do a wine tasting and wow! I started with an oaked chardonnel and it was an awesome precursor of things to come. It was yummy! Next, I went to the cab savs. There were four vintages, 2017, 18, 19, and 2020. All were very good but the 2018 will blow your socks off. Totally reminds me of a cross of Duckhorn and Stag's Leap! The other wine that I tried was the bourbon barrelled chambourson. This is another excellent wine that will pair well with a good steak, lamb, or barbque! I am totally looking forward to my next visit. We did eat dinner there and the food was excellent! I highly, highly recommend this new hidden jewel! read more

My husband and I were excited we were able to squeeze in a reservation and try their featured Valentine's Day menu. The restaurant was cozy, the tables decorated with tea lights and glass votives filled with red roses and angels breath. To kick off the meal I started with a signature valentines cocktail, a beautiful French martini garnished with a raspberry. We enjoyed their featured crab cake appetizer in addition to their pork dumpling appetizer--a regular menu item, and regularly ordered app by my husband and myself. Our entrees included the featured chicken Marsala, and a feta and herb salmon over orzo chickpea salad. Everything was absolutely delicious! Furthermore, the service was prompt, and our server was extremely polite and attentive. I can't wait to try their next featured menu! read more

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My husband and I were very excited about visiting this winery. Our first 15 minutes were awesome, then our waiter's shift ended and so did our service. It was not busy and there were plenty of servers behind the bar, (we sat at the bar) but we could not get anyone to wait on us! Finally, we got the attention of one gal and reordered drinks, we wanted to order appetizers but couldn't get a menu. Finally we ordered, our apps came 45 minutes later! They were delicious! We had ordered flight and wanted to order a glass of wine, and again, no service. We finally got a chance to order a glass of Muscato and this was the pour. We really don't know what was going on, but we easily spent $100+ and were treated like we paid in pennies! Disappointed. read more

Spencer Manor Winery - This pour is not normal - Wineries Near Me - Saint James, Missouri

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Atmosphere, wine, food, service were all absolutely amazing! The view on the patio is stunning. I did a wine tasting before dinner and all my choices were exceptional. We had charcuterie which was prepared beautifully by Alex and she even brought us a few more pieces of the delicious chocolate from the charcuterie for dessert. Loved her! The food is exceptional...flavorful, fresh, well prepared and beautifully executed. After dinner cocktails were also on point. Everyone from the host, waiter, to the food servers and bartenders were outstanding. Best place, hands down, we have experienced for a wonderful dining experience in the Waynesville to St, James area. We'll be back for sure and tell everyone about it in the meantime! Cheers read more

Super beautiful building and space, and decor very well appointed throughout! Staff very knowledgeable and courteous. Owner is extremely approachable and we enjoyed talking with her. Bartender also a real charm. Their plating beautifully done and wine tasting glassware on point. We enjoyed our visit In tonight, only wish is that is was closer to us so that we could frequent more often ( we are 2+ hrs away) Beautiful place for romantic dinner out, cocktails, wine tasting, sunset watching or proposal spot as we got to witness tonight! read more

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Had reservation for 9 ladies (mostly late 60s-early 70s) -- staff/waitress attentive and efficient. Food, appetizers and entrees, were complimented by group. Food made to order requests. Service was excellent. Cappuccino made by barista also excellent. Site was decorated beautifully (without being gaudy) ... although it was cold outside, the only missing element for Christmas celebration was snow. Overall, excellent dining experience. read more

We had made reservations to bring in a large group due to a friends recommendation. When we arrived our table wasn't ready and we had to wait 30 mins. When they told us it was the table still wasn't ready. No silverware or small plates. We ordered appetizers which were brought out fairly quick but we still had no silverware or small plates. Throughout meal never got offered any further drinks or water. They messed up three of the dinner orders and one person never even got their meal even though we reminded them twice. The braised chicken was still frozen on the bottom and under cooked. Then came the bill which was also messed up and we had to get several errors corrected. Overall a very disappointing experience. We will probably not be back. read more

Took my best friend from VA to this winery and she was bowled over. The staff there are the best including Damian and Diana. The setting is beyond beautiful. Again had the Brussels sprouts (which I think about often during the time I'm not there ) and had the Brie which was melt in your mouth goodness along with the bread and pita chips. We sat outside as I had my silky terrier with us. What a gem this place is. Couldn't recommend more highly. read more

Fantastic experience. I came in during lunch hours for a lovely date with my fiancé and we were provided excellent service by Damien and other staff at Spencer Manor. The food is very fresh and tasty. I've only been to a few places that didn't have or offer salt and pepper, it this is the only one so far that earned that sort of audacity - the food was all perfect as is. This chef and kitchen staff know what they're doing with food. The wines were absolutely amazing. I don't like wine but I took home a bottle of chardonel and some moscato. The building and land are beautiful and very well put together. The calamari was very fresh - not a bit of chewiness or sand which often happens even at the best of places. The salmon dish had my fiancé repeating "wow". I can't think of a single negative note for any part of this experience. I'd recommend anybody check it out! read more

Spencer Manor Winery - Salmon - Wineries Near Me - Saint James, Missouri

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Great place for a day of hanging out with friends or date night. Staff is always friendly and the food is so good! The sunsets are spectacular!! read more

an amazing atmosphere, food, and drink. Damian made us feel like VIPs, making recommendations and going the extra mile for anything we asked for. seriously our new favorite restaurant and I've lived all over the world. we will be back! read more

Comfortable open cool atmosphere, pretty views, tasty food, great cocktails and yummy wine....plus bourbon slush??? Yes please. Don't pass up the Artichoke dip. read more

I was fortunate to be able to eat here two days in a row, with different friends each time. We were welcomed in to this beautiful atmosphere each time, and treated to the utmost care and hospitality. We enjoyed hearing how Spencer Manor Winery came to be, enjoyed meeting one of the owners, Kelly, their head chef, Matt, and our amazing waiter, Damian. I cannot wait to share this amazing wining and dining experience with more of my friends and family. We are so blessed to have a place of this caliber so close to home! read more

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Had lunch with friends. The sandwiches were delicious and very filling. When my friend ordered dessert, even tho I was full, I wanted to try the bread pudding as it is usually my fav. However, - it was a round dry roll type with a little whip cream. Not at all like I expected. I ate about half but chose not to bring home rest. My friend got cheesecake. Very unusual was round and wrapped in crust. Both her and my dessert looked to me like something you get from a company and put it on a plate and embellish it. I was hoping for a dessert as I would get at the fine restaurant up the street read more

Spencer's is a nice place with upscale ambitions, unfortunately the food falls short of those ambitions. There are several menu items that give the farm to table impression, but they are lacking execution. We ordered the crispy Brussel Sprouts, and while they were indeed crispy they were next to impossible to enjoy. The resembled more of a weird mash up of corn flakes and veggie straws than Brussels. The presentation was terrible, the flavor was bland and the tahini dressing just added more dullness to an already dull dish. We ordered two cocktails from the bar and while the honey pot was good, the space jam was completely bereft of balance. Whatever they put in the blueberry jam they use left it with an overpowering, almost mulberry tasting flavor that was impossible to get past the second drink. They were nice enough to exchange that for a different drink, and we got the bourbon slush. That was decent but again the flavors were out of balance. On to the actual food... Steak frites and braised chicken. First the good aspects... the steak was cooked to the proper temperature and was tender. The bad... the potatoes on the chicken dish were cubed very largely and lacked any seasoning whatsoever. On top of that they were only about 60% cooked. The chicken itself was cooked and decent, however it was less like something "pan fried" and more like an interesting take on chicken and dumplings, where you wrap an entire chicken breast in a soggy dumpling coating and put it on a plate. The micro greens on top of the dish were goood and fresh, but unfortunately were the only things in this dish that had any flavor, so they overpowered any bite they were in. The steak frites were disappointing as well. The fries were very thin and while they were actually seasoned they were barely lukewarm by the time they arrived at the table. That didn't help the fact that the sauce they were swimming in only had two distinct... and I mean distinct flavors, mayonnaise and capers. While this review may seem harsh, it is purely from my disappointment of how badly the food lets down the atmosphere they have tried to create. This place could be great but the execution is far from there. Maybe I'll try it again in six months or so, but for right now I'm content with never returning. read more

Excellent food, really high quality and well prepared. Everything was very tasty and such an explosion of flavors. We had appetizers: calamari, carrots, pickled vegetables, dumplings, Patatas bravas. The cocktails and mocktails are also very good. We had the Goblet of Fire and Strawberry Fool. I highly recommend this place. Great service and ambiance. read more

I really wanted to love this place!!! The drinks and atmosphere were great! While we didn't eat, the food looked amazing. However, the service was subpar. We ordered our initial round of drinks, and after that we were never checked on again. I even had to go up to the bar to order another drink. Most of the time the entire staff was standing up by the bar talking. Only when we asked for our server or went up to the bar did we get service. Our server actually walked by us multiple times but never stopped. Working in the service industry myself, I would have been more understating had they been busy, but at most there were 7 tables and at least 4 servers. We were there for four hours, and only had two drinks. But we would have ordered more had we been checked on. I'd rather a server check in on a table too much rather than not come by for more than 30 mins. read more

Couldn't say better things about Spencer's! Went with a group. All of our dishes were outstanding! Wines were good too. I'm new in the area from St. Louis. So glad to have a restaurant with good food and a great atmosphere right here in St. James. read more

Lovely place!!! The service it top notch. Everyone is welcoming and friendly. The owner introduced herself and gave a bit of an overview of the 102 acres. Well plated food and outstanding cocktails. We will be back and I hope anyone reading will stop for a view and experience at Spencer Manor Winery. read more

Spencer Manor is always a win. The food is locally sourced and always delicious. Their wine is great (we love the 2017 cabernet). The atmosphere is beautiful and the sunsets over the vineyards are picturesque. The service is top notch! read more