This is our most favorite place to visit when in Palm Springs. The service is always welcoming and spot on. The food is fresh and delicious with really generous portions. Michelle was our server for our lunch and she was lovely! The ambiance is charming and unique. There is not a bad seat in the house. You are surrounded by beautiful plants and trees and mountains. Its an upscale experience without feeling pretentious. Highly recommend the seafood options (says my boyfriend) and I love the soups and salads. Nothing disappoints! Love this so much. read more

Spencer's Restaurant - New American Near Me - Palm Springs, California

$18.03 Gazpacho w. tax. Hard pass. Restaurant, yes, I'd go again, just not that dish. The gazpacho had a structural and ingredient imbalance. A classic gazpacho relies on an emulsion where sweetness, water content, and acid combine to find an exact equilibrium. Here the tang was very forward and overpowering. The tomato deficit was the first issue. There was no sweetness, no umami. The tomatoes didn't seem truly ripe, and the soup lost its primary source of natural sugars. Unripe tomatoes are high in malic acid and low in sugar, meaning they don't provide the sweet counterweight needed to soften vinegar. That imbalance left the acid in the soup, aggressive. Also, the flavor of the tomato makes one wonder if there was possibly canned tomato juice in use. Then there's a missing cucumber component. The menu referenced "cucumber essence". Cucumbers, amongst other properties, would bring a crisp freshness on the palate. It acts as a natural diluent and with its water content to help mellow the concentration of the vinegar. A few cubes of cucumber would have benefited the dish tremendously. In researching the pepper choice, I found out that it also worked against the balance. While red bell peppers provide a deeper, earthier sweetness that supports ripe tomatoes, yellow peppers are brighter, thinner-skinned, and more citrus-forward. In an already highly acidic base, those amplify the sharp notes rather than grounding them. As for the protein, there may have been an ounce of lobster in the soup. Lobster is sweet, rich, and delicate. But because the gazpacho base leaned aggressively tart and sharp, it was completely drowned out. Instead of tasting luxurious and sweet, the harsh acid flattened it. For this soup to work, it should begin with fully matured, vine-ripened tomatoes, hand-selected and pressed to extract their pure essence. Sieved, free of pulp and seeds, the tomato broth delivers savory umami balanced with bright acidity, subtle sweetness, and the fresh aroma of the vine. With the remaining ingredients added, the gazpacho base transforms into something rich and seemingly weightless, yet complex, vibrant, alive, and intensely fresh. Unfortunately, this recipe missed on all marks. When I walked in the door, I was greeted as a party of one and directed to the bar outside. At that time, a table wasn't presented as an option. At the bar there was a seat hanging off the end, sadly anchored there. Instead, I went back and asked to sit at an open two-top just outside, across from the bar in a corner. There I sat and watched as the crew moved through service. After a few minutes of sitting at an empty table without being noticed, and without a menu or water, I started my timer and looked up, trying to catch someone's eye. After five minutes, I was noticed. The server, once I was finally noticed, was outstanding. Within four minutes, my server took my order and brought me a setup, bread and a bowl of soup. The bread was warm. The butter was cold. The soup bowl was chilled. Oh, in the outside patio area, there are ducts for the AC, but there are definitely areas where the chilly wind don't blow. If you sit outside and are sensitive to heat, choose wisely. read more

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We ate here for Mother's Day and got the dinner price fix. Started off with yellow and red beet salads.Honestly the best dish of the evening!It was tasty! I got Pan-Roasted Skin-On Striped Bass,husband got the Sea Bass with couscous as entrees.Unfortunately the fish was overcooked,bland.My mash potatoes were completely flavorless.For desserts we had carrot cake and banana cream pie.My carrot cake was OK,banana pie was delicious. Not sure we'd eat here again.Loved the service and sitting outside.Our waiter,bus service was fantastic! read more

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Another 5* event at Spencer's. We had the tower appetizer for the first time. Two towers for six people. It's so much we could have had just one. The price-fixe is a great option. Ian was our exceptional server. read more

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Note: this review is for their dinner menu, I wasn't a big fan of their lunch menu. We started with the crab cakes and pineapple coconut shrimp, both delicious, but the crab cakes were my fav. I ordered the tuna tartare as my meal, which was incredibly fresh and paired with a sauce that made the dish unforgettable. My husband had the steak and it was cooked to his liking and full of flavor, although Spencer's isn't a steakhouse it was great. The mac & cheese was INCREDIBLE and easily one of the highlights of the meal. I also had the watermelon mojito, which was refreshing and well crafted. The main downside was the seating we were placed in the middle of a high-traffic walkway near the pool (pic attached) with guests passing by in wet swimsuits, which took away from the upscale ambiance, especially for the price. The hostesses felt a bit unwelcoming, but the manager was kind and friendly. Our waiter, Spencer, was great, attentive, and really enhanced the experience. I like to review restrooms in my reviews: Restrooms were clean but oddly located near the entrance, making the area feel a bit congested. Overall, the food is great and absolutely worth it if you're looking for a beautiful, RELAXED night out. PS. HAVE THE CARROT CAKE! read more

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Meh. There are much better places with much better portions and prices. Truly feel this place was overhyped. I would recommend coming here for drinks and the trio appetizer (crab cake, coconut fried shrimp and calamari) and leaving. The cocktail was good and service was nice. However, unfortunately, I could make better lamb and risotto at home! Come here before hitting Tac/quila! read more

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A friend has been wanting to take me here for years. We are wine fanatics and they have an amazing wine library. The food was so fresh and tasty. Shay our server was really sweet and attentive. Definitely recommend it! read more

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I'm super impressed by Spencer's. It's located on the property I'm staying. First off, it's so beautiful inside. I've never been to a restaurant that has inside trees. In the evening, with the string lights, it's the most romantic setting I've ever seen. Okay, enough of that, ha,ha... So I cheated a bit. I've brought a really special bottle of wine with me and I didn't feel like paying the $35 corkage. Plus, who wants to eat a a romantic restaurant by themselves. If I was with someone I would definitely have taken advantage of the waived corkage if you buy a bottle. They have a really impressive wine list. So I ordered their crab cakes and wedge salad to go to eat at my bungalow. The crab cakes were by far the best I've ever had! Very thin, somewhat crunchy breading. Beautiful, fresh, sweet crab meat and plenty of it. On top of that, the accompanying lemon caper sauce was so delicious! A must try! read more

Spencer's Restaurant - New American Near Me - Palm Springs, California

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Jorge provided wonderful service yesterday at lunch. The bar at Spencer's is a great location to have lunch while watching tennis being played and enjoying the weather. We had a wonderful Ahi Tuna Tartare with Iceberg Lettuce Wedge and Spencer's house salad. Great location close to downtown Palm Springs, CA. I also had a tasty "Even Par" IPA. Make sure to visit soon.... read more

Spencer's Restaurant - New American Near Me - Palm Springs, California

It's always a special treat to go to Spencer's. We love to eat in the indoor outdoor room where there's fresh air, but also a little bit of protection from the desert breezes at night. They have heaters all along the top of the walls. I always make a reservation because it's usually crowded there even though you can valet park. It's sometimes hard to find a parking place close by in that neighborhood. We had a reservation and still waited about 10 minutes to get in. We got a lovely table beneath an old tree on the indoor outdoor dining room, patio, and our white person was there almost immediately there's always bread and butter on the tables and lots of water. I ordered my traditional Sauvignon Blanc while my husband got a ginger ale. I always like the business man's lunch special because you get three courses and they're always good. The special was clam chowder or salad, grilled salmon or a meat dish and then flourless chocolate cake with ice cream for dessert. I also ordered some of their coconut shrimp since my husband was just having an entrée. The shrimp came out right away and it was very caramelized, sweet and accented by the pineapple slice. It was sitting on so some of my favorite coconut shrimp now. My clam chatter was delicious very hearty not too thick with lots of clamps. My husband's meatloaf entrée came out and it was beautiful. It was almost like half of meatloaf served with broccoli, carrots, and a nice pile of mashed potatoes. He was working his way through the meatloaf when my salmon arrived and it had the best light most delicate lemon sauce I've ever had on salmon so I really enjoyed that. The piece de resistance of the meal was the flourless chocolate cake, which was warm when it arrived and melted like a soufflé as soon as we dug into it. This is really old-school luxury dining. You're never hurried. The portions are ample and delicious. The weight staff is always professional and you really feel like part of the family when you come here. This is a restaurant not to be missed when you visit Palm Springs. read more

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Our waiter was very stuck up and he just annoyed me. We were a goup of 8 girls celebrating my 40th bday. The waiter acted like he was just tired of us and wanted nothing to do with us. We had to ask another waiter to refill our water glasses. The ambiance was nice. My group were all black and were blended in so well. The food was good. Very well season and a goof portion. Only sucked is that sides are $11.00 each and you have to buy them individually with the steak. The steaks come with no sides. read more

Spencer's Restaurant - New American Near Me - Palm Springs, California

We arrived a bit late for our reservation because of heavy traffic,but it was no problem. They seated us promptly. The outside area is lovely but we didn't have a table there. If we return I think that would be my preference. Our waiter was new and hard to understand but he was attentive and served us very well. We ordered a variety of dishes and they were all very good. They had a three course option and an alacarte menu. We enjoyed selections from both. I would recommend this restaurant if you are in Palm Springs read more

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Let me begin with the moment we walked into Spencer's. We were greeted and seated by the most gracious hostess. Our server was delightful and helpful with our selections for an appetizer, main course and beverage. We loved every sip and bite of a delicious meal. It was date night so we certainly are left with such loving memories. We'll return for brunch soon. Thank you Spencer's for your commitment to excellence. read more

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Another underwhelming dining experience at Spencer's. Everyone in our party for a Mother's Day brunch said that their food was perfectly acceptable but nothing special. I ordered the Eggs Benedict with crab and was disappointed. The sauce really needed some additional acid/lemon or a pinch of cayenne pepper to liven it up, and the crab was grey, lifeless, and tasted like it came out of a can. Kudos to the wait staff, though, for the friendly service and for keeping things moving effortlessly on a busy holiday morning. read more

The food was absolutely amazing! The restaurant is off of a historic tennis club in Palm Springs. I visited on a trip looking for a place to dress up. The dimly-lit, romantic feel of the place is a perfect date night, for a special occasions, or any sort of celebration. The wait staff were impressive, they knew their dishes well and provided great wine and meal recommendations depending on my preferences. I ordered a glass of Cab and the Crisp White fish. The fish was buttery but also lemony, the corn potatoes and broccolini paired so well as savory with a hint of sweet. read more

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Dining on the patio under the trees with white string lights was delightful. Our server was prompt and accommodating. We took quite awhile to make our decision and he did not rush us. My husband ordered the filet which was prepared perfectly medium rare. I ordered the pork chop to be prepared medium, which it was, but it was still a bit tough and not as moist as I would expect. My husband had the banana pie which was more like a tart and enjoyed it very much. I asked for a banana split without the banana and no strawberry sauce and it was delivered perfectly. The ice cream was creamy and delicious and was served with fresh strawberries, blueberries and raspberries. It was the perfect finish! We will definitely return! read more

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Casual fine dining in a posh space in Palm Springs. This place is an established restaurant in Palm Springs in the Historic Tennis Club region of the city. One can find luxury cars outside the valet of the restaurant so expect the meal to be on the more elevated side. Food (4.25/5) This restaurant reminds me of a restaurant back in San Francisco called Hillstone because of the classic American menu items served in an elevated restaurant space. Expect steaks, cooked seafood, and pork chops to be the main focus for the entrees; however, the menu is extensive so even more classic items like meatloaf are available. The restaurant also offers a prix fixe menu for lunch and dinner and a special Sunday brunch menu. My orders depends on how hungry I am as the portion size is on the larger side. The dinner prix fixe menu for $60 offers a choice of an appetizer, entree (with an option to upgrade to a NY steak), and dessert. This restaurant does a great job cooking steak and can actually serve the meat medium rare instead of completely rare like others have done in the area. I'd suggest skipping the appetizers as they are big enough to be considered an entree and go for a salad instead. Save room for dessert because this place has numerous options to satisfy any sweet tooth. My usual order is the tiramisu but I've also enjoyed sorbet trio in the past. Service (4.25/5) This restaurant is very large with extensive indoor and outdoor dining spaces. On Sundays, be prepared to book a reservation right at the opening time slot if you want to sit outside as the outdoor patio is popular on the weekends. The service can vary depending on how busy the restaurant is, but the waiters are always courteous and friendly. Multiple water refills throughout the meal make for a pleasant experience as well. Ambiance (5/5) One of the best restaurant spaces in Palm Springs because of its location in the historic tennis club. If you sit in the indoor patio, you can watch tennis being played on the court next to the restaurant. The white table cloth setting along with a dark and moody interior of the restaurant sets the tone for the meal. The only drawback is that the bar is on the smaller side with no bar seating available. read more

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This place is wonderful. Don't leave Palm Springs without eating dinner here. The outside dining area is gorgeous. Service is 5 stars and the food is delicious! They had a 3 course menu and specials. I had the filet mignon and it was amazing. read more

Spencer's Restaurant - New American Near Me - Palm Springs, California

We had a fabulous "power lunch" under the trees on their shaded patio. It was the most upscale dining during our visit to Palm Springs and we were happy to make the splurge. Service was fantastic and I enjoyed the Prix Fixe Lunch option (three courses with coffee). There were two options for the first two courses, plus the daily dessert which was a berry cheesecake. Also, excellent coffee, and rather than providing just a cup, they left a full pot on the table so I could refill at my leisure. We were joined by several dogs at nearby tables and they have a really cute (and reasonable) Doggie Etiquette policy. They offer valet parking (current rate is $3), but we had no trouble finding street parking in the neighborhood. read more

Spencer's Restaurant - Cheesecake (part of the lunch prix fixe menu) - New American Near Me - Palm Springs, California

We were charged for a birthday scoop of ice cream we didn't even ask for. $7.00. Not that we can't afford it but who does that?????

Attentive service and a memorable setting. I went for lunch and ordered the bone-in NY steak, rare. It was a solid cut of beef for a restaurant that doesn't specialize in steak, although it came out closer to medium/med-rare, and with a bit too much salt. I think I would have been happier with a non-steak item, but perhaps I set my expectations a bit high due to the steakhouse pricing ($57 for lunch). This review would easily be 5 stars with a bit higher quality cut of meat and more careful preparation, or a 20-30% lower price on this dish. I would certainly go again considering how special the rest of the experience is, but I would not recommend going specifically for steak. read more

Great atmosphere and the food is very good. Service is great. Nice menu selection. Definitely recommend sitting outside in the patio. read more

Spencer's Restaurant - Chicken - New American Near Me - Palm Springs, California

We came for the food, but we stayed because I'm pretty sure our server, Michelle, is actually a foodie savant. She is effortlessly beautiful--and was efficient in a way that felt like she was reading our minds. I thought about wanting another Stella Artois, and there she was. It's a level of service that's borderline psychic. The food? Absolutely flawless. Every bite was on point-I almost forgot to check if any celebrities were sitting at the next table. If you want to feel like a high-roller, book a table via OpenTable and ask for Michelle at Hostess stand. Five stars. Michelle for President read more

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Spencer's did not disappoint. We arrived early for our reservation but was seated within 15 minutes. The ambiance was very beautiful. They were extremely busy but everything was well timed and all the staff were super attentive. We started with the beef wellington sandwiches as our appetizer. Delicious. Nothing else needed to be said. Our waiter Simon came for our dinner orders. He was a gem! A literal diamond. I was leaning towards the Chilean sea bass which they are known for but was like I am going to get the meatloaf. Simon was so incredible and straight faced looked at me saying we have braised ribs and you are getting meatloaf! I feel in love in that moment and changed my order to the sea bass and so glad I did. The crust on the outside was incredible and the inside melt in your mouth flaky loveliness. My friend got the mushroom risotto and asked for beef with it even though it wasn't an option. Simon personally went and checked with the chef and for a slight but very much worth it up charge they made it happen. Even if the food wasn't as incredible as it was I would return just to see Simon! read more

Spencer's Restaurant - Mushroom risotto with braised beef - New American Near Me - Palm Springs, California

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This is a Palm Springs classic that never fails to impress. Beautiful location, lovely patio, terrific ambiance and customer service. And the wine list is thoughtful and outstanding without being overwhelming. The summer menu has all the bases covered with chilled soups, lovely salads, plenty of seafood options and of course steak, and lobster tails. The waitstaff is attentive and friendly, able to provide helpful suggestions and special requests. Really top notch performance. The kitchen turns out beautiful plates that make dining a true pleasure, and a memorable experience for their guests. The people watching is great fun, the grounds are a perfect backdrop for a glamorous scene. Daytime is also interesting as the patio is dog friendly and the action is quite entertaining. So this is not a casual burger joint but rather a venue for a special occasion where you go to feel rewarded for being alive! Fun, delicious and noteworthy. It may cost a bit more, but really, aren't you worth it? read more

The view was lovely, the ambiance - cool. It is always a treat to visit an iconic spot that has been around for a while. As happens- when a place has steady clientele and no worries for business in the future, the quality of the food seems to take second place. Everything on the menu looks well thought out, but when it arrives... womp womp. Our salads were sad, the avocado brown. The Calamari was the worst of all - unrecognizable, being fried in a heavy batter that came out dark brown, hard as a rock and almost impossibly chewy. The ladies lobster tail next to me looked dry as a bone. Our server was great, though it seemed he had the whole room (too many tables) and was hanging on by the speed of his sneakers. Oh well Spencer's! I know you will be fine. You could do much better though, if you tried. read more

Food was excellent, we had the app combo( calamari, coconut shrimp, & crab cakes ) excellent. For entrees two of is had the three course prix fix ($36) , the ladies had salads shrimp and salmon, plentiful and a little pricey. Service was good, our table was not level and in the sun on a warm day. read more

Disappointed. I've been four times. This morning we brought out of town guests for breakfast. It was five plates of dried out overcooked terrible food. Not up to Spencer's normally yummy affair. Try harder mmmmk. read more

Best Norwegian Salmon ever. Norwegian salmon is usually farm raised, in pens, and is grown on a steady diet of fish food. I ordered that Salmon, expecting the usual baked Salmon, but this one was even better. It was crusted with sesame seeds and honey. I was pleased with it. read more

Spencer's Restaurant - Norwegian Salmon - New American Near Me - Palm Springs, California

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setting was beautiful; quiet and peaceful. Food was outstanding (eggs & bagel for me, chorizo burrito for him), service was outstanding. Prices very reasonable. Valet staff very courteous. read more

Had a wonderful birthday dinner at Spencer's. However we were still finishing our after dinner drinks and the hostess came up to inform us that there was a party waiting for our table. My take on it was that it was rude and she was a bit snippy. I realized that it was a holiday weekend and restaurant would be popular. However, she could have asked us if we would like to continue our drinks at the bar or at least have had a little more finesse in her appproach. Spending that kind of money for dinner which as I mentioned was excellent. I still think that being thrown out like that was unacceptable read more

Food: Eggs Benedict topped with homemade hollandaise sauce, roasted fingerling potatoes, a thick slice of ham Service: great, timely and friendly service Design: it's all about the outdoor dining under the trees Overall: if you want good American food in a nice setting, then stop on by this place read more

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We had their oysters as an appetizer and they were delicious. For brunch, we had traditional eggs Benedict, which was also very good. The grounds are Elegantly beautiful. We felt the service was slow on all level, but when we were attended to the staff was friendly. I would give it a 4.6 star rating. read more

Second visit to Spencer's, and it was a complete failure and embarrassment to bring out of town guests. We were ignored most of the night & looked down upon. It took 25+ minutes to be told our wine was unavailable, another 15 minutes for the replacement, which arrived warm and without an ice bucket. Finally being able to order food 40+ mins later. The lobster bisque was watery and flavorless, and the Hot Appetizer Samplers were lukewarm and mushy. When we asked for bread, our server yelled at us. Entrées arrived at the same time as the appetizers, showing zero sense of pacing. After requesting the check, we waited 20+ minutes while the server was visible in back eating, until we finally had to involve a manager. When told about our experience the manager didn't believe us, removed one appetizer, and suggested we return. We won't. Zero hospitality. Zero accountability. read more

love Spencer's!! and if your a liver and onions fan this is the BEST we've ever had!! wow!! we didn't even get to take a photo as it was inhaled so fast!! great atmosphere ... great service and GREAT FOOD!! read more

Spencer's Restaurant - New American Near Me - Palm Springs, California

Came for Sunday brunch over the Memorial Day weekend. Drove towards the mountains into a stunning indoor/outdoor space that really does evoke classic Palm Springs. We were seated outside and they really do have a lovely cross breeze going so it was very comfortable. Actually felt the brunch menu was whatever so ordered off the main menu. My boyfriend and I shared the chopped salad , which was very tasty ( I thought it was as good as La Scala's). Boyfriend had the lobster omelet and I had the lobster club (the menu is very lobster forward - and why not). Both were solid choices and the hollandaise that came with the omelette was so good that I asked for some to dip my sandwich and fries into. Solid portions but felt a little too expensive for what it was. Service was solid as well although I did observe some people getting restless. Crowd skews a little older. So why not five stars? We did get a dirty plate at one point so that was off putting. Not sure if this makes our regular Palm Springs rotation but I would say just for the classic vibes and setting right up against the mountains - Spencer's should be visited at least once. read more

Since my original review, we have been back to Spencer's several times. That must mean we really like it. And we do. The atmosphere in the garden is fantastic. The service is always lovely. We had the sweetest Korean waitress. And we like the food. It is consistent and good. I had the gazpacho again. We shared a carbonara and both had different salads. It was a lovely anniversary lunch. read more

We chose Spencer's to be able to eat in the large glass in patio under trees with a view of mountains coming down. It's a lovely setting and usually pretty quiet to be able to have a nice leisurely conversation. The staff was able to switch our table assignment even though it was a busy weekend lunch service. We ordered fried oysters (definitely a star) and crab cakes (ok, but wouldn't repeat) with white wines. We delayed starting to have tea beforehand and then the entres. We followed the entrees with "carrat" cake that was very good. Spencers removes any parking stress with their excellent valet service. read more

Such a vibe! Off the beaten path and twinkling lights in the trees. Food is flavorful and large portions! Large wine selection and impeccable service from not just the server but also the bussers and manager! This is one of my favorite date night spots! read more

Finally stopped by this classic during (what's becoming annual) girls' weekend. Elegant but comfortable atmosphere, nailing upscale "California Casual"! I had been drinking all day so I don't remember much about what we ate, to be honest... oh, I had the pork chop and it was pretty good. Ever so slightly over-cooked for me, but let me be clear: I ate nearly every bite! Friends appeared to enjoy their steaks and whitefish (see? It's coming back to me), everyone left without one complaint. We split a carbonara as an appetizer and took turns scraping the plate. The service was warm but professional, as expected, and appreciated! read more