I've been eyeing Spruce for a while, but my boyfriend and I are trying to cut back on our fine dining outings. For the first two years we dated, we'd sometimes go just-for-fun--now we're trying to save them for special occasions only. My job wanted me to organize a fancy dinner and I hopped on the Spruce train. I emailed them and they helped me coordinate the dinner! They were very helpful, giving us menu options, wine options, and recommendations, helping us adjust and personalize the event. We ate in the Shiraga room with 12 people. I got there early and it's beautiful. Great service, location, ambiance, interior (and exterior.) I loved the bread, the beet raviolo (coming for you, Cotogna!), short rib, and steak tartare. Great wine and just...the service. They made me feel at-home. They were personable and kind and helpful and thoughtful--no detail was too small. Will be back of course (unfortunately, not for work) and maybe not for a special occasion (Spruce also is known for their burger...) read more

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Spruce embodies the elegance and precision of a true gourmet kitchen, making it a wonderful choice for an intimate and refined dinner. The wine selection is impressive, and the three course menu is thoughtfully designed, allowing guests to choose their main course and dessert for a balanced dining experience. Everything arrived perfectly timed and at the ideal temperature. The service was nice, attentive, and very professional. I especially appreciated the thoughtful recommendations and the patience in explaining the menu. Definitely a place worth returning to. read more

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This is over the top service, over the top food. Unfortunately I am addicted to their burger and find it hard to stray. I prefer sitting at the bar or outside on the sidewalk if the weather is nice. Service inside is almost overwhelming, but part of their mystique. It feels like a special occasion place but if you opt for bar or sidewalk, it's a much cooler vibe. read more

Spruce - The burger - American Near Me - San Francisco, California

Spruce is a neighborhood restaurant that offers a fine dining experience; not sure why they don't have a Michelin star since they definitely look the part. I took my wife here for our dating anniversary and it didn't disappoint us, in fact it has become our recurring spot. Pictures tell most of the story on the food. Ambience is refined and despite being a popular spot without being obnoxious, with people talking softly. Given this is a place for special occasions, proper attire must follow. read more

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4.5 for the current iteration of the Saturday prix fixe dinner, exceptional service, at one point we almost had too many servers and somms at the table between the first and second courses due to adding an intermède but they made it work, but as usual Spruce holds itself to a high standard and at this price point you expect it, especially given the location and the competition in the area. 10/10 for the Chartreuse cocktails. Loved the classic Champs-Élysées which they make with brandy. Though my personal favorite is not on the menu but they can make and make very well (Green Point with Rye). Very good Aficionado (gin) as well. Though we might be biased/easily swayed as this was our first night out since the baby and first cocktails in over a year. Also 5 stars for bringing back Burgers and Burgundy on Sundays!!!!! As for the prix fixe Saturday, Lobster first worth the supplement, but with the inter of the white truffle pasta, pick a protein/lean main or you won't have room for the beignets! (Just my preference, though order only one as you get four beignets and will want every last drop of the generous bowl of crème anglaise on the side, and/or split with something light and refreshing for two desserts like the panna cotta with green apple granita). Dry-aged duck two ways was my favorite of the entrees at the table. They know duck here. Whatever the iteration. Rec: Pre-order a big chocolate chip cookie for the ride home to gift your sitter. read more

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Really good experience at Spruce. My boyfriend had been dying to go here, each course was really good. Standouts were the Caviar Service. They had this amazing crème fresh with pickled onion, chives, and egg yolk . My boyfriend loved the duck entree and my NYStrip was really well cooked and seasoned. The reason why it was a 4 is 2 fold. The service was a little slow. We were there a little over 2 hours. Second, we both didn't care for our second courses. The Poached Quince and Radicchio and he got the Scallop special. Both were just ok to be honest. Otherwise, very good. The restaurant itself was cute but then the curing was giving like warehouse vibes but the restaurant was not the same vibe. The staff were super friendly and we overall had a good time. read more

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Spruce has been on my dining list for quite awhile. Decided on brunch the weekend before Christmas rather than dinner. For $89/pp, it is a 3 course meal. We arrived early and was seated right away with coat services being offered. Our server was Lindsey who was very friendly, attentive and asked for any allergies we may have. Our 3 courses were: Warm Apple Fritter/French Omelet/ Beignets + Smoked Salmon Rillettes/Binchotan-Grilled Black Cod/Beignets. We started with the Coffee Cake with cultured butter before our courses. Right after that, a fresh oyster was bought out with a small gummy palate cleanser for my hubby (no seafood for him). Our favorites was the Grilled Black Cod and French Omelet! The courses were generous as we left full and had to pack the beignets to go (but not before getting one or two in while it was HOT). Lindsey even packed us truffles to take home. Overall, great brunch services and would recommend Spruce for your next fine dining experience! read more

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TLDR: Honestly one of my favorite fine-dining experiences in the city. They do the details well here (folded napkins, plates served synchronously, amuse bouche + petit fours), and the food itself is excellent without being overly pretentious. This is a fantastic place for a celebration meal or even just a burger and beignets. Meals are served off a prix fixe menu where you choose your appetizer, entree, and dessert. The whole experience is well done and always leaves me wanting to revisit. ------ FOOD: They have a rotating menu so almost everything has changed since I was last here. 1. AMUSE BOUCHE + BREAD SERVICE (4.5/5): They served a fantastic "loaded potato" bite that was a great savory start to the meal. The second bite was a tartlet with potential but the creme was a bit too seafood forward in flavor than I would personally prefer. Bonus points for bread service being served warm and the whipped butter + salt. I liked my parker house roll (and loved that it was an option) and while it was fluffy as it should be, it was just a *tiny* bit dry. 2. BLACK TRUFFLE SPAGHETTI (4/5): Super rich and buttery with the occasional salty kick from the generous parmesan blanket on top. I wish this had slightly more truffle flavor throughout and was a bit less heavy, but I know that's what made the first few bites heavenly and the last few less exciting. I'd still recommend, but feel free to save room for the second half of the meal. 3. BLACK COD (4/5) - Buttery, tender black cod served with a nice, smoky broccolini. The cod was excellent though I wish the skin was just one notch crispier. Broccolini was a nice charred vegetable side to this, though just a bit overcooked. Hazelnuts were very unique -- definitely a combination I've never had before. 4. BEIGNETS (5/5) - These are a must-order in my opinion. The beignets are impossibly light, fluffy, and airy, and the creme anglaise dipping sauce was out of this world. Despite being a chocolate lover, I didn't love the chocolate dipping sauce (didn't have a rich chocolate flavor), but the creme anglaise more than made up for it. The petit fours at the end were a wonderful and appreciated addition to end the meal. ------ SERVICE: * Again, they do the details well here. Folded napkins once you get up, water is always filled, tablecloth scraped of crumbs between courses, a splash of wine first to ensure you're ok with your selection, tea and coffee offered before dessert, a special Spruce card for your celebrations, etc * Our servers were professional and provided very helpful recommendations on the menu * One server almost took me out with a bread knife gone rogue but it happens :) ------ ENVIRONMENT / AMBIANCE: * I love the dimmed, cozy vibe of the restaurant. * There are different "rooms" of the dining area that aren't closed off but feel like separate spaces. This is a great place for an intimate dinner with friends or family. * The one thing I'll say is that tables felt a tiny bit close together so you kind of have to squeeze between groups to get to your table, but it's generally not an issue if you don't foresee yourself getting up too often read more

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A friend and I were shopping in Presidio Heights and stopped in Spruce to get a bite. We go in to view menu and tell them we wanna sit outside. They gave us a menu and we went out to wait for our waitress. We watched a female waitress clean the table next to us. A gentleman in a suit came out and picked up plates from another table... no one came to our table to give water or anything. We started looking up other restaurant and picked out one. We left the restaurant, no one ever came out to help us. read more

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I had dinner at Spruce last night for the first time. This is an elegant/sexy designed restaurant tucked into a quiet SF neighborhood. The restaurant has an energetic vibe which leads to a fairly loud dining experience...but not too loud for our table of 4 to hear each other. Service: Robin was our server. Fun, conscientious, and high energy. She did a great job. The support staff made sure water glasses never got below half full. Each course's place settings were picked up all at once when all 4 of us were done. Really top notch service. Food: Besides one large issue that I can't overlook, the food was very good and well plated. The miscue I'm referring to was my main course, the wagyu NY Strip steak. I paid a $30 premium for this course since it was wagyu. However, both portions of steak had gristle/sinew running through it. I struggled to cut through my steak using a steak knife. I just can't overlook that significant issue , and am very surprised that got by the executive chef at the pass. The flavor of the steak and accompanying jus was terrific...and with the presence of the sinew, I had to chew a lot and got to savor those flavors even more . Value? Spruce is a fine dining restaurant where diners should anticipate at least $200-$250 per person. If that is too much for a diner to afford, they should not be dining here. Besides the unfortunate issue with my steak, everyone in our party had a great experience with creative and flavorful food and attentive service. I would gladly dine here again. read more

Spruce - Enjoying a great dinner with our friends at Spruce - American Near Me - San Francisco, California

The server was amazing, Wesley was super friendly and helpful. He knew how each dish tasted so it really helped when he would make recommendations. He kept us in the know when everything would come out and explained each dish beautifully. The cake in the beginning was very moist but something was off weirdly. 8/10. The tartare was a 10/10. Maybe even 11/10. It had little lemon pieces that would burst in your mouth. I would come back just for that. The lobster Benedict was also delicious 10/10. The omelet was a little overcooked and too set 7/10. But then I tried the apple gratin and it really redeemed everything. They were very patient with us because we had a baby in the grabby stage. Overall pretty good experience. I would want to come back for dinner without the baby. read more

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Warm, welcoming service from the moment I walked in. I came through the bakery entrance and was immediately greeted and escorted into the restaurant -- a small detail that set the tone for the evening. The space is elegant but relaxed, and the food was excellent. Every plate looked like art, beautifully presented and thoughtfully composed. The chicken was my favorite -- perfectly cooked, flavorful, and comforting in the best way. A standout experience overall -- gracious staff, beautiful food, and an atmosphere that feels refined without being pretentious. Parking is a major hassle. Recommend taking an Uber or Lyft here. read more

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3 stars for food, 4 stars for service and desserts TLDR: the overall meal was okay. highlights were uni pasta and chocolate cake. staff and service were above and beyond! Our dishes for the evening were subpar but the amazing service and desserts definitely made up for it. Seasonal canapés were really good. Parker rolls were fluffy and delicious when fresh, paired super well with the vermont butter and sea salt. But once it cooled down, it became dry and hard - a bit of a let down. For starters, 3 of us got the rock cod crudo (not pictured) and we did not enjoy it. The cod was layered between slices of beets and grapes. It sounded like it should be refreshing and tasty but what we had were dry and bland. we left it on our plates untouched, opting to reserve our stomach space for other dishes instead. This is when our server noticed and offered to swap it with a different dish. We felt bad at first and declined, but he kept insisting we try the uni pasta. We gave in and were so glad we did! The uni pasta was fantastic - tasty and well balanced, our favorite dish of the night! All the other starters and mains were fine, but nothing too remarkable. Desserts were all really good, I especially enjoyed the whipped panna cotta, with a thin oatmeal cookie and refreshing green apple granita. The star of the show though, was a surprise birthday cake they had prepared for our friend. A whole 6 inch chocolate ganache cake as a gift from Spruce! Not only was it a sweet gesture (we saw other birthday ppl receive it too) but it was super moist and delicious. The staff here are super attentive and welcoming. I'd be back just for the ambiance and service but will likely wait for a menu change. My previous visit (2 years ago) was way better when it came to the food. read more

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Spruce was a delightful experience. The staff is extremely attentive and thoughtful. We had a reservation for Thursday at 8pm and it was extremely busy. Unfortunately, we did have to wait approximately 30 minutes to be seated. The front staff noticed our wait and brought glasses of champagne to thank us for waiting. Our waitress was so kind and answered all our questions. The bread rolls with hand churned butter were so so delicious. Our waitress noticed we enjoyed them and offered another round - which we agreed to ofc! My main course, Binchotan-Grilled Black Cod, was a tasteful balance. We had about 6 desserts.. it was definitely a sweet tooth moment. Our waitress noticed we were debating amongst 2 options on the dessert menu, and ultimately brought us both as a treat. And on top of this, she offered us cookies on our way out! The largest and best chocolate chip cookie! All in all we felt extremely welcomed and had a wonderful experience. read more

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After the road closures around San Francisco, we finally made it happen, lunch at Spruce. Great food, elegant ambiance, perfect for special occasions. Highly recommended. read more

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Went to Spruce for my anniversary dinner and it was great!! I loved the whole atmosphere of the place and their comfy couch seating. Everyone was so welcoming. I picked this place because of their house rolls and they did not disappoint with the white truffle butter!! So good!! I really enjoyed the black cod and duck breast entrees. All flavors were so well balanced. You can also sub the entrees listed on the menu for their burger if you'd like. The desserts had something for everyone, but my favorite was their special truffle dessert. I wasn't a fan of the grilled plums, but my partner does. They also give you even more sweets at the end which i liked. It was definitely worth while going here as I was a little worried based off reviews, but everything hit the mark for me. It felt intimate, but also comfortable. The real star was my server, Tyler from SJ, he was so attentive and kind to my partner and I. He really made the night memorial and I'll definitely try to come back here at a later time :) read more

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Spruce is quite a treat for a luxurious brunch. We booked a reservation for a Saturday at 12. It was a lovely experience with great service. My favorite was the desserts! The menu has a lot of various offerings that I believe some were better than others. The ones I chose were not at delicious as my partners. I recommend asking questions and see what they recommend you. I'd come back again to try different dishes read more

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Recently celebrated our milestone anniversary here with their week day prix fixe lunch. Beautiful aesthetics, friendly server, yummy appetizers and delicious desserts, but the main courses can use some work. We do like the lovely touches like the card they placed on our table wishing us Happy Anniversary. And the special desserts at the end of our meal. What we had: *Wine/Drinks selection is superb. They have a huge binder listing of wines from everywhere. If you like drinks, this is your place. Since I don't really drink anymore, I got the non-alcoholic wine (juice?) Good! *The bread was good. Soft, pillowy, freshly baked with butter. *Golden Leek (with real gold leaf), salmon or tuna (don't remember which) canapé - yummy. *Sweet Brentwood Corn Velouté - silky smooth and yummy *Blossom Buff Summer Stone Fruits - beautiful and tasty *Butter-Poached Maine Lobster - disappointing. As a supplement (additional of $35 on top of the lunch prix fixe of $65 pp) it's half of a small lobster and it tasted very mid. *Risotto Verde - disappointing. Tasty sauce but the risotto was hard and not cooked thoroughly. We sent this dish back. *Roasted chicken breast - good but a tad boring. Cooked enough but nothing fancy. *Beignets - yummy. Although nothing like the NOLA version with powdered sugar, these are more like sugar donut holes. Still it's freshly fried and yummy. Would get this again. *Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie - complimentary & apology for the risotto dish earlier. Very decadent with the chocolate. We mostly took it to go as there were a lot of desserts. *Happy Anniversary Complimentary dessert - looks to be some type of Oreo ice cream cookies. Really good and nicely plated. Thank you. * Mignardises - chocolate bon bon (2pcs) that's part of the prix fixe meal. So much sweets, we took them to go. The Spruce Burger was not offered as a prix fixe lunch selection. May come by independently next time to try it. Due to having to send a dish back on this visit, I felt like the timing of our meal was thrown off. Hb doesn't like slow pacing meals and this meal took more than 2+ hours. We appreciate the nice service by Ne O. Located on Sacramento between Spruce and Locust. read more

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the food + ambiance + service were pretty top-notch. I always leave with a dent in my wallet but my stomach stuffed and happy. the first time I came, I got the $125 3-course meal where each course offered a variety of options and there were in-between bites. I got the triangoli, scallops, and tartlette (probably the least special), which were phenomenal. the beignets were surprisingly light and probably the best I ever had. I liked the wine too. the second time I came I sat at the bar. we ordered the whiskey x bird's eye chili cocktail which was pretty unique. the pastrami sandwich was my favorite, followed by the burger and fries. the beet overpowered the steak in the tartare unfortunately. overall pretty pricey offerings but the service is excellent and the ingredients are quite premium read more

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Came here to celebrate a very special birthday for a friend. Food is delicious and the service is wonderful. A waiter overheard me talk about snoopy and thought he gave me great advice for our Apple TV. I told him I was not much of a fan of the peanuts but my kids are. He made a funny comeback at my expense. I thought it was both funny and endearing he felt comfortable doing that. Waiters are often overlooked in these fancy and pretentious environments. We had a great time eating and talking in this beautiful comfy restaurant. Would definitely come back when I get the chance. read more

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food was all really good...obviously! except the cauliflower main dish that I got ._. It was okay because it tasted bland. I feel like magic of Michelin-star restaurants is taking ordinary to become extraordinary, but this dish did not live up to that belief for me :/ nonetheless, the other food that we ordered made up for it with its amazing quality...especially the dessert! super duper dim, but the overhead light for each table made it intimate. not bad lighting at all. the table that we were at was very tight, though...I felt as though it was a table that was set up last minute with the way that it squishes to a corners. Little room to comfortably take off your jacket type of distance... waiter was good and well-versed with the menu, as all of them are in the Michelin-star restaurants. I still enjoyed my time here, but just some things that I noticed for this Valentine's Day dindin. shoutout to the chefs who worked that night because I know that customers could be demanding during this day to ensure that everything is perfect...not just good or great...but, perfect. anyway, I took two selfies that made me feel cutie patootie. everyone in this restaurant was soooo fancy ,, heheheheh read more

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Our party of four came to Spruce for dinner to celebrate a retirement. It was our first time dining here, and both the food and service well exceeded our expectations. Their current menu features a three-course meal with a variety of options for starters, mains, and desserts. There were also a few off-menu specials available as substitutions or for an additional charge. We each chose different dishes so we could try as much as possible. My personal favorites were the tortelloni and beef carpaccio starters, as well as the lobster pasta (a $30 add-on) and the poussin for the main course. As for desserts, the beignets were the easy standout. While the food was delicious, the service was the real highlight. Our waitress was incredibly attentive throughout the evening and even brought out complimentary starters and a personalized dessert to celebrate the retirement. We're so glad we chose Spruce for this special occasion -- huge thanks to the staff and our wonderful waitress for making the night memorable. read more

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My partner and I went here for a Friday lunch. We had a reservation and were promptly seated. The restaurant was quite empty when we first got there. We got the prix fixe lunch menu (starts at $65/person). Here is what we got: Bread and butter Sparkling water Appetizers: Celery Root Triatlotti Dry-Aged San Francisco Rock Cod Crudo Courses: Prime Petit Filet Mignon (extra $15) Binchotan-Grilled Black Cod To start off, our server was extremely sweet and welcoming. They offered us three different types of water and we chose sparkling. I believe the bottle costs ~$12. This was a surprise to us. I wish there was more transparency in this. The bread buns, butter, and salt came out. The bread was well made - there was a shine and great texture. However, there was a bristle from the brush that was used on the bread. The butter seemed like it was shoved into a little container and served to us. I wish it was whipped or prepared differently. The salt was appreciated. Before we could finish our bread, our appetizers were brought out. Mind you, it hadn't even been very long since our bread was brought out. The table was already small itself so there was a little overcrowding when the appetizers came out to our surprise. The celery root triatlotti boasted preserved black truffle, mushroom xo, and consommé. The presentation was great with the consummé being poured table side. This dish left me wanting more mushroom flavor and salt in general. The filling was lacking but the consummé offered a good flavor lift. This is nit-picky but for a fine dining restaurant and prices, I expect the knife cuts to be even as well. Some of the carrots were disproportionate in size to the naked eye. I really wish I never ordered the dry-aged San Francisco rock cod crudo. I am a big raw fish person and was excited when the server said this dish was great. The crudo came out room temperature which was really disappointing. The rock cod itself was fishy, too thick, and had a very unpleasant aftertaste. The dressing itself was very lackluster and only brought the dish further down. I had trouble finishing this dish as it was a struggle to eat each piece. The prime petit filet mignon was good - nothing out of the ordinary. It was cooked well. However, my partner bit on something tough and it ended up being a piece of twine that was still on the meat. I really enjoyed the binchotan-grilled black cod. The cod was succulent and well-seasoned. The smoked mussel cream went so well with the fish. I really like the composition of this plate and the flavors worked so well together. The textural fun from the hazelnut crumble and the char from the broccolini brought this dish together well. The only critique I have would be a crispier skin on the fish. Overall though, this dish saved my experience here. We opted out of dessert and were given two delicious hazelnut chocolates. Our server was very attentive and came to check in on us multiple times. For service, I wish there was more wait time in between courses. We got in and out of the restaurant in an hour. For a fine dining experience, Spruce leaves a lot to yearn for, especially with their food. On top of that, the little things like not removing the whole twine and having a bristle on the bread really took away from this fine dining experience. read more

We had the lunch course and the food is amazing as well as the service. Our favorites are the olive sourdough bread, truffle pasta and poached salmon. The truffle pasta is rich in cheese but yet smooth and complex. The poached salmon is tender and compliments very well with corn polenta. The whole dining experience is relaxing and not bring rushed. We will definitely come again! read more

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My coworker and I had been planning for months to celebrate our recent promotions with a special dinner at Spruce. It was her first time dining and my second in a long time, and we chose Spruce specifically because of its long-standing reputation. Unfortunately, what should have been a celebratory evening was overshadowed by a deeply disappointing and mishandled wine experience. When ordering wine for our three-course meal, we navigated to the Pinot Noir section of the wine list. Notably, the table of contents directed us to the wrong page--something that wouldn't normally be an issue, but later became central to the problem. We were intentionally looking for a reasonably priced bottle and agreed on one listed at $72 from Hursch Winery. Having recently visited Mendocino and that same winery--where bottles were selling for closer to $30 and offering free tastings--I mentioned my surprise at the restaurant pricing to both the waiter and the sommelier. To be clear, we pointed directly to the listing, stated the wine name, and repeated the $72 price (maybe even multiple times) to ensure there was no confusion. The sommelier initially brought a bottle labeled JAX, which I flagged immediately, noting that we had ordered the $72 Hursch. He apologized, returned with what we were told was the correct bottle, and poured it. We proceeded with our meal. Before dessert, the sommelier returned to top off our glasses and then informed us--after we had already consumed most of the bottle--that we had not been drinking the $72 wine, but instead a $260 bottle. He acknowledged that the formatting of the wine list was confusing and stated that the JAX bottle he first brought out was actually the $72 option. He then asked if we would be willing to cover the price difference. This was shocking and unacceptable. The confusion stemmed from the wine list formatting and a failure to clearly confirm the order at the time of service. This was a restaurant error, not a customer one, and asking diners--after the fact--to pay for that mistake is inappropriate. My coworker was mortified, and I was frankly insulted. Ultimately, we were charged $90 for a bottle we had very clearly ordered at $72. The situation was handled poorly, and it left a lasting negative impression. Spruce is an institution and more than capable of absorbing the cost of its own mistakes. Instead, the burden was placed on us, which felt both unfair and dismissive. This experience has made me hesitant to return. I would caution other diners--especially those who may not fit the "regular clientele" profile--to be vigilant when ordering wine here. read more

I chose Spruce as the place to celebrate my partner's birthday this year. We have been to Spruce a number of times over the years for drinks and lighter bites in their beautiful bar and lounge, but this was the first time we had dinner in the dining room. We arrived a bit early, but they had our table ready, and wished my partner a happy birthday upon arrival. I had perused the wine menu in advance, and wasn't impressed with the selections, so we brought our own. Corkage is $75 for 750ml. Our server asked if there were any food allergies, and I informed her that my partner is allergic to hazelnut. We started off with the kaluga caviar, which was everything I hoped it would be. It comes with an assortment of accompaniments, including fluffy scrambled eggs. We then selected our courses. The prix fixe menu includes a first course, a main entree, and dessert. For the starter course my partner and I both opted for the trout crudo, which was very good. The citrusy marinade nicely complemented the flavor of the trout. For my main I selected the lobster pasta ($30 supplement). The pasta had some sort of filling that I felt made the dish way too rich. Lobster is rich enough on its own, and I would have much preferred the pasta without filling. But the lobster meat was good, and the portion generous, with both the lobster tail and claw meat included. My partner had the duck, which he enjoyed. For dessert I went with the off-menu option which was a cheese plate ($15 supplement). The cheeses were all tasty, though at this point I was rather full. When the dessert arrived, a concerning issue arose. Despite previously informing our server of my partner's allergy, the cheese plate came with a bowl of nuts, and our server wasn't sure if there were hazelnuts in it. Not only that, but when the assortment of complementary mini-desserts came out, there was a hazelnut dessert included, which our server thought was ok because it was not touching the other dessert items. Food allergy reactions can be very serious. A restaurant should always exercise extreme care when informed of a food allergy. Having an allergen on the table is a no-no, even if it's not in contact with the other food items. I was frankly surprised at the carelessness at a place of this caliber. The other issue was that staff repeatedly kept on trying to take our plates, even though we kept reiterating we weren't finished. We came to relax and enjoy, not eat and run, and being rushed put a dent in the experience. All in all, our dinner at Spruce was enjoyable, but there is certainly room for improvement. We will visit again but stick to the bar and lounge, where we've had a great experience every time. read more

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It was a mixed experience unfortunately this time. We went for brunch on Saturday. The service was spotty with the wrong starter being served to my wife despite a lengthy interaction with our server on the choice. Later, service was again an issue with our server checking in with us several times during a course but with lengthy waits in between courses (resulting in another server proactively engaging us and eventually providing us with a beverage). More unforgivable was the lamb dish being served with almost-raw pommes boulangerie. We raised this to our server (without fuss so as not to embarrass the server or other diners seated next to us), but were not offered a remedy other than "I'll let the kitchen know". No replacement was offered, no apology, no compensation. Very disappointing response. All in all, this experience has put us off returning to Spruce which, as long term patrons, really pains me to say. My advice to the business is to concentrate more on front of house experience, service staff training/supervision and, without question, ensuring the kitchen is quality controlling the most basic of food preparation and service. read more

We came here to celebrate our 5 yr anniversary. The service blew us away from the moment that we walked in. The door was opened for us, coats were taken to be hung up, there was a sweet anniversary card on our table, and the staff were so friendly. Our server Bree was very knowledgeable about the menu and answered all of our questions. The food came out fresh and with beautiful presentation! The restaurant is beautifully decorated and extremely clean. I'm so thankful that I got the opportunity to dine at a restaurant of this level. Can't wait to come back! read more

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Came to Spruce and really enjoyed the food. The fancy corn velouté soup was so tasty and comforting. The homemade pasta was packed with truffle flavor, definitely a highlight. Only downside for me was the jasmine tea. It was super strong and left me feeling a bit jittery afterwards. Overall though, great food, nice vibe, and worth checking out if you're in the area! read more

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Spruce is fine dining. Service is exceptional. The food is very good and the wine list truly extensive. Each dish, from appetizers, entrees and desserts were plated delightfully. I found the noise level challenging for a quiet conversation at our table. For that special event, Spruce should be considered. read more

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I think I found my new favorite dirty martini in San Francisco! So smooth and made it perfectly extra dirty with high quality olives (with blue cheese of course). They shake and pour it right in front of you. We were able to sit in the lounge and got a seat on a Friday night! That was perfect since we just wanted to try the burger. The lounge and bar seating has a special menu but you can also order a la carte from the regular dinner menu. Service was impeccable - Nora was absolutely incredible - not stuffy at all, very personable and explained everything. Burger was great! A bit messy with the English muffin bun. Fries were on the thinner side and super crispy like I like. Comes with an aioli but the horseradish-y yellow mustard was what I kept gravitating towards. Will be back! read more

Spruce - Heirloom Tomatoes - American Near Me - San Francisco, California

Wanted to try something new and picked this spot for a work dinner. Half our party was vegetarian, and luckily most of the menu was pretty vegetarian friendly. They also have a dedicated vegetarian menu that consisted of mostly the same dishes as the regular menu but with a few extra entree options. Service was great as they often come around folding napkins and offering bread. Unfortunately the food was completely mediocre. The only standouts were the Parker house rolls and the amuse bouche. Crudo appetizer was bland. Potato confit was barely tasty and needed more flavor. Lobster pasta (off menu) was pretty tasty as was the steak. Dessert was a complete disappointment. Beignets were really doughnut holes and the peach tart was something you'd get at Safeway. It's crazy to think this place used to have a Michelin star. Plenty of better food options at a similar price point in the city. This was a one and done spot for me. read more

I think I've found my new favorite restaurant in the city. I was fortunate enough to celebrate my birthday by renting a private room at Spruce, and I couldn't have asked for a better night. Food, drinks, service, ambiance -- they all knocked them out of the park. First of all, biggest thank you to Sarah (event manager) for helping me make my birthday celebration SO special & the one that I will remember for the rest of my life. She made the entire process so easy & stress-free. I'm so grateful. Thank you to Jeremiah (sommelier) for AMAZING suggestions based on the menu I've picked. All the wine & cocktails we tried that evening were wonderful. Thank you Belinda (our server for the night) for the BEST service by being so attentive & gracious whenever we needed something/had a question. We had Dungeness crab salad to start, had a choice between two-way roasted duck & grilled sea bass, and ended the night with beignets. Everything was delicious -- no one in my party had any complaints. Spruce is obviously a fine-dining restaurant, and the price reflects that. However, in my opinion, it is worth every penny. Thank you again to everyone at Spruce -- I'll definitely be back soon! read more

This was my first time dining at spruce. I can tell that spruce strives to create a dining experience, not to simply be a place where people come to eat. Our party of four had a reservation on a Monday night around 6p. It was fairly loud inside with the music and so many patrons. The thick velvet curtains spaced throughout the restaurant didn't do much for sound control. My review will focus mostly on what my partner and I ordered. Drinks were served first. I ordered the berry mint spritzer. It was refreshing, but quite tart. Amuse-bouche were served shortly after. Savory cannoli with ham and mini baked gruyere bites. Imagine baked baby brie in a pastry, but with gruyere. Both really yummy. For appetizers, we decided to get the crudo and the chowder. I am accustomed to cream chowders, so to receive a red one was unexpected. There were baby potatoes, littleneck clams, some crispy toppings clusters, and a dollop of creme fraiche (I think?). I think the topping to broth ratio could've been better, unless I happened to receive a heavy broth pour. The dish tasted balanced to me, as did the crudo. The flavors and textures of all the layers worked supremely well together. This is apparently a relatively new addition to the menu and they admitted they are still working out the kinks in prep. (Two crudos for the table, one had bones.) We get it, mistakes can happen. The front of house staff responded very well to our note about the bones, and we appreciated it a lot. On top of the three standard courses (appetizer, entree, dessert), we ordered the intermediate pre-entree course for the table, which was a white truffle pasta. This might have been my favorite dish of the night. Pasta was thin and *perfectly* cooked. Sauce was delicious and the white truffle was great and not overwhelming. For entrees, we got the lamb and the duck breast. The duck breast crust was too sweet for my liking. I'm not sure what went into it, but the sweetness was distracting for me. I liked the sides, and the duck was cooked well. The lamb was better imo, but the sides that were served with it were a bit salty. Lamb was cooked well, we enjoyed it a lot. For desserts, our table ordered one per person and opted to share them all. The chocolate tart needed more texture imo. My partner agreed that it was too homogenous. The crust was fudgy and didn't differentiate in flavor or texture from the filling for me. I liked the sweet cream and dried fruit on the side. I thought these paired nicely with the bittersweet/semi-sweet chocolate. The beignets were ok. I liked the two dipping sauces that were served with them. I believe one was chocolate and another was a vanilla bean pastry or egg cream. The beignets themselves weren't fried consistently. The one I'd had tasted sour from the slightly raw core. I think the sugar dusting on the outside could've been with a coarser sugar crystal. It was not a powdered sugar, but I say if you're using a fine sugar that's not powered, might as well go coarser to get the texture difference. The sugar fell off too easily, whereas a powdered one would've stuck. The plum blossom dessert was interesting. I think I would've liked the sorbet underneath to have been a syrup drizzled on top. (I think it was a sorbet? It was semi solid underneath the cremeux.) The sorbet was really tart, and too much of it countered the sweet cremeux instead of complimenting it imo. And finally, the baba. I couldn't taste the black tea in the cream, but that could've been my inability to taste the subtlety bc of everything I'd eaten prior. The cake was SOAKED in the syrup. It was not a pleasant mouth feel. I think a denser cake might've been better. It was mushy on the first bite. I think I would've enjoyed the dessert a lot more if the glaze/syrup had only been poured over and the cake wasn't soaking in the syrup from the bottom. And to end the meal, tiny desserts were served: apple caramel bon bons, mini palmier, mini madeleine, solidified apple jam desserts (I cannot remember what they're called), mini pecan creme puff, gin and something macaron (maybe chestnut?), nougat candies. From what I was able to try, the creme puff was amazing. Macaron had a jelly-like gin center and the gin was not dispersed throughout the rest of the creme filling. The shell/cookie was great, though. The apple jam discs were so good!!!! Considering the reputation spruce has and the fact that this establishment has been successfully operating for 17 years, I expected more. The issues I mentioned I would expect to find at a restaurant still trying to find its footing in the first 1-2 years of operation. I understand that no one is perfect, but I wouldn't have expected to find so many of these issues in one night of dining at a place that is 17 years old. read more

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Honestly amazing every time we go - we usually go to the bar area for menu flexibility (the French dip, burger and mussels are all excellent) We did the set menu once and it was outstanding, Highly recommend! read more

Spruce - Favourite cocktail here - American Near Me - San Francisco, California

Everything a restaurant should be! On our second visit we were made to feel appreciated and welcomed. Eric our server was incredibly helpful and accommodating with food and wine suggestions throughout. And the menu had so many fantastic choices we appreciated his help. For me the lobster starter is an incredible standout. I could just make a meal out of that. And I am so glad Eric suggested we try the pasta with truffles as an additional course. The pasta was cooked to perfection and the truffles insanely flavorful and the kitchen was kind enough to split the pasta course for us. The mains included the Spruce spin on miso cod which was over the top perfect and pared with a fantastic white wine while my friend was delighted with his duck pared with a wonderful pinot. The cheese course was wonderful and then we had to have the beignets and this was pared with a Madera that Eric allowed us to share. Start to finish everything was perfect and it was a great dinning experience and will be back soon for sure! read more

The service was absolutely top notch. All roles appeared to be on point and even our server earnestly cared about our dietary needs and enjoyment. The uni pasta was delicious. The whole fish experience was fun served tableside although I wanted a more flavorful sauce. Wagyu strip was cooked perfectly and Demi glacé sauce was the star over the meat. The plum dessert had amazing flavors. The chocolate sorbet was actually more epic with the fig sauce than the chocolate mousse itself. Really nice touch on the chefs canapé and sweets at the end of the meal. The elderflower cocktail the bartender created was also delicious. They made me feel so special and that knocked it out of the park for me. read more

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Perfect evening out. I had been here before and it was a good restaurant but now it is on top of my list. The interior is now elegantly appointed but not overdone. We were greeted promptly and although we arrived a bit early they quickly had a table prepared for us and were provided stellar service by our server Eric. I had had their steak before and recommended it to one of my guest, another had the duck and me perfect poached lobster. read more

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Spruce is a solid choice for a great meal and ambiance. We've been going to Spruce for over 15 years and it is always great and doesn't disappoint. read more