I don't often give 5 stars! Friendly staff. Warm, intimate setting. BYOB, opened wine, got beer glasses. Food was amazing! Tuna tartare was one of the best I've ever had. Husband had grouper, shrimp special. So good. I had lamb chop. Amazing!!!!! Everything on my plate was yummy. Potatoes. Veggies. Lamb was cooked so good. And HUGE portions!!!! We will 100% be back! read more

The Original Spence Cafe - Lamb :)))) - New American Near Me - West Chester, Pennsylvania

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The menu was small but everything was SO good! We started with boom boom shrimp and a soup special. I had the filet and my boyfriend tried a steak special. The steak was phenomenal and I'm glad it came with veggies! Our server was awesome and all the other staff members were super helpful and professional (kinda rare these days) We saved money on drinks since it was BYOB but we were shocked how inexpensive it was for such a delicious meal at a lovely restaurant. I highly recommend! read more

The Original Spence Cafe - Filet Mignon - New American Near Me - West Chester, Pennsylvania

Spence is one of the bestkept secrets in West Chester. Always my go to restaurant for a special meal. The food is wonderfully prepared and staff very knowledgeable. The restaurant has a lovely ambiance, and BYOB is always a plus. read more

Andrew and is team constantly deliver an excellent dining experience. The cookie ice cream dessert is a must have. And the mushroom bisque. BYO is nice too. read more

So delicious! This place is a perfect date spot. BYO, so grab a bottle of your favorite red and try the short rib. The Boom Boom shrimp app is so good! read more

Great food, great service. Never disappoints! Bake oysters and huge ice cream sandwich with red curry seafood (pic below). read more

The Original Spence Cafe - Red curry seafood. - New American Near Me - West Chester, Pennsylvania

Cute place Service good Food ok Only two tables filled in restaurant & they sat us next each other. The other table was very loud making it difficult for us to even have a conversation. This is a BYOB ONLY restaurant read more

Wow! Top 100 restaurant in the country and it definitely lived up to that level of recognition. First time visiting and very pleased with the experience. The decor feels very upscale. We arrived at the perfect time and the place filled yo pretty quickly. I am not a mushroom fan, but the mushroom bisque soup was so yummy and flavorful. I saved some of the house bread so that I could eat it with the soup. The braised short ribs were so tender and flavorful. The mashed potatoes were cooked to perfection. I could have done without the side of stringed spaghetti squash. Now let's talk about the dessert. The dessert menu was not listed on their website, but I was happy to see the menu once I finished my meal. There were several to choose from, but I went with the ice cream sandwich which was huge. The chocolate chip oatmeal cookie was out of this world! This is a definite must try. read more

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The ambiance is adorable and homey which creates such a nice vibe for dinner! The service is excellent and everyone was so friendly! I wish my waiter gave more recommendations because I love putting it in their hands! The mushroom bisque was very delicious but was puréed so if you are a texture person you may want to stay away. The braised short ribs were cooked well and had great sides. The baked salmon and scallops were pretty basic and the scallops were pretty small. Everything was cooked well but just not exciting. It came with rice pilaf which I wasn't a fan of. Overall I wish I made a different choice. The dessert was amazing and a reason I would come back. The cookie was a chocolate chip oatmeal with a creamy icecream. I'm not a big dessert person but it was so worth getting! read more

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Hands down the best restaurant in west chester. The place was so cute and cozy inside. The staff was so friendly and attentive. Alex was so nice, she made our night! My husband got baby octopus that he loved, it was cooked perfectly. We split the crab and scallop ravioli and filet for dinner. Both were amazing, the filet was cooked perfectly and the ravioli were so flavorful and delicious. We were too stuffed for dessert but we saw other peoples and it looked amazing. I can't wait to go back again and try something else on the menu. Everything looked delicious! It's also byob which is a huge plus! Only knock was I wish they had nicer wine glasses. read more

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Went here for NYE dinner with my husband. I had the Caesar salad and surf and turf. My husband had the lobster bisque and halibut. We both loved our meal and the atmosphere was very romantic! Our waitress was friendly. read more

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Comfortable and relaxing atmosphere the chef is incredible and the service very attentive. Small quaint place for a romantic night. BYOB

Came back again with my husband and In laws who were visiting from out of town - they were blown away with how delicious everything was. I really love the dining room here and that it doesn't get super loud and is cozy. It was the perfect place to bring family to. Service is always top notch as well. Highly recommend!!! read more

The Original Spence Cafe - Halibut - New American Near Me - West Chester, Pennsylvania

The service was top notch. The owner goes above and beyond to ensure that all of her guests are pleased with their experience. The waiter staff are also very personable and friendly. As for the food, I found my meal last night to be absolutely delicious and so did my fiancée. I had a Shrimp and Scallop St. Jacques which was such an amazing dish and crème brûlée for desert which was wonderful. My fiancée had the Seared Halibut and loved her dinner. read more

The Original Spence Cafe - Seared Halibut - New American Near Me - West Chester, Pennsylvania

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We had our rehearsal dinner for our West Chester Wedding at the Spence, and it truly could not have been better. The food was absolutely amazing, from the appetizers through desserts. Bacon wrapped shrimp, pot stickers, crab cake appetizers were fantastic, and our short rib entree was perfect. Andrew really formed a great menu. Our service was similarly great, as Gina was a joy to work with and her and Graham were so kind and helpful to our guests, they definitely left a great impression. I've also had dinner on ordinary nights at the Spence and the food really is consistently delicious! An intimate atmosphere, a warm and dedicated staff, and high quality dishes make the Spence a 5/5! read more

Spence Cafe is one of the best spots in town. Been there a handful of times and tried a couple different dishes and all were excellent. I got the special last time. Sous vide steak with a crab cake. Top notch. Service is outstanding as well. We haven't sat outside yet but it looks gorgeous! Next time! read more

Ate dinner here with my family for my sister's birthday. Great experience and wish we had been sooner despite living in West Chester for over a decade. Pros: - Great service. Waitress was prompt, courteous, and didn't miss a bit. If we needed a plate cleared or a glass refilled, the hostess jumped right in. Pretty rare you get service this professional that also appears seamless. - Specials, including a few appetizers, were a nice accompaniment to the regular seasonal menu. - Food came out at the same time, was hot, and was well plated. Nothing extravagant but well done. - Food was very good and everyone enjoyed the shared appetizers and meal. Some of the food was a bit salty but that is more my personal preference than anything. Special my father got (Wild caught salmon and scallops with miso and sesame seed seasoning) was outstanding. - Since we went on a Thurs. night, it wasn't overly crowded and the noise level was reasonable. - It's BYOB and they only charged us a $5 corkage fee for multiple bottles of wine. - Larger portion that I thought you would get and definitely will satisfy anyone with an appetite. A few of us has leftovers. Cons - It certainly is on the pricey side with most of the entree specials between $36-$40. With a few appetizers, the total bill was over $65/person which didn't include any drinks or dessert. - This is a great restaurant for a party of 4 or less but not sure how well they would accommodate a large party of 8 or more. - Not kid-friendly either. This is a restaurant for adults. Verdict - This isn't a place I would regularly dine (monthly) due to the cost but you certainly get great food and service. read more

Great food & service. Friendly staff, very clean facility. Had the short ribs. Wonderful!!

With a town chock full of restaurants The Original Spence Cafe stands out as my favorite.  They provide an outstanding dining environment with attention to service and detail and the food is outstanding to match. You cannot go wrong with the food.  Everything I have eaten is a high quality not often found.  The Original Spence Cafe is a special place and I recommend it for any special occasion, date night, or just when you feel you deserve some high quality food! read more

A little inconsistent but a great over all experience where classic dishes are done properly, and yes it is BYOB. Looking at the menu alone I was not too excited to come here but boy am I glad I was wrong. My wife and I came here on a random day and was pleasantly surprised. The restaurant is not very big but had large windows on it's store front so the space looked very open and inviting. Our meal started off with clams, and the surf and turf dumplings (which turned out to be fried and stuff with some kind of cheese). The clams were well executed but nothing fancy. I thought the fried dumplings, although advertised as having different fillings, tasted too similar to each other. I was satisfied with appetizers but not blown away. Our entrees came and everything changed. I had the fish and my wife had the pork chop. The fish came dressed in an orange sauce which I thought was not needed and some veggis. It was very good, and the fact that they served it with the skin side up means that the skin was crispy for longer while I enjoyed my dish. However the thing that took my breath away.was the pork chop and it deserves its own paragraph:-) When the plate arrived I was taken aback by the sheer size of this entree. The pork chop was at least 1.5 inch thick and the char of fat on its surface glistened in the soft waning sun light streaming through the large windows of the restaurant. But don't let the size intimidate you. The chop was seasoned and cooked to absolute perfection. Every bite from outside to inside was juicy and flavorful. It was a pork chop fit for a king. My only regret is not being able to eat all of it since it was such a large portion. If you are looking for an intimate place to celebrate a special occasion you will not be sorry to make that reservation at Spence Cafe. read more

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Excellent service by Gina. Great grilled swordfish special, moist and flavorful. Mushroom bisque was hot and delicious. Creme brulee finished a really great meal. Definitely would recommend to others and plan to return. We were able to find on street parking half a block away on a Wednesday night. read more

This place was excellent! We went there to celebrate my 30th birthday the other night and sat in their outdoor patio area. It is nicely decorated and secluded. It feels like you're sitting in a private garden area. The waitstaff was friendly and attentive. They made sure that the evening went off without a hitch. The food was fantastic. Really well-balanced flavors. The dishes were inventive and thought out. The portions were a great size for the price we paid. With so many great restaurant options in West Chester, this one absolutely can't be overlooked! Please give them a try-- you won't be disappointed. read more

Another great family dinner from the folks at the Spence Cafe. 4 crap cakes with lots of crab meat, salad, veggies, fingerling potatoes, baguette and a surprise piece of 'Tea' cake. Thanks for curbside pick up. read more

Had a great dinner. I have to say I was pretty surprised. I always pre-check menus before I go to restaurants, and I was 50/50 on the standard menu. The specials last night were excellent. It's BYO which is alright, and we brought a red and a white. Our evening started with the meat and cheese board. Great cheeses, but too many grapes. I was looking for a sauce of some variety; maybe a mustard or honey. Next was a mushroom bisque that had an excellent flavor but I wasn't the biggest fan of the consistency. The main course I ordered was a penne special and this is what won me over. The way the chef treated the seafood was incredible. The sauce, vegetables, and pasta were just to compliment the seafood. The meal finished with a blueberry and lemon curd bread pudding and that was fantastic. I would recommend. All in all really reasonably priced and rather good. Pleasantly surprised. I look forward to returning. read more

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False advertising! One of the worst customer and dining experiences in a long time. My party of 5 long-awaited our reservation at Spence Cafe to celebrate two birthdays with close girlfriends who had not seen each other in ages. We made our reservation during the much anticipated restaurant week. For over a week, we eyed up the prix fixe menu - so many delicious options for $40 and $50 dollars. To our surprise, the menu that was given to us that evening had higher prices than advertised, now at $50 and $60. That means our bill would automatically be $50 higher at the end of the night. I approached the manager before ordering our meals, stating that change in prices isn't right - we signed up for the promotion that was advertised and the original pricing should be honored. No effort was made to even remotely appease the group for the inconvenience. We were told that the prices were raised for the weekend (of course their busiest time) because the cost of goods went up. I'm sorry, but if you can't honor the advertised price, then maybe you shouldn't participate in restaurant week. To make matters worse, the manager comes back to the table and tells us it will cost $3 pp to slice a birthday cake. What a way to ruin the surprise for the bday girls who were at the table already! Four out of five of us ordered the salmon and scallops for our entree. They were all so overly salted and almost inedible. The "scallops" was ONE scallop thinly sliced into thirds. What a joke! Crab nachos appetizer was nothing more than tortilla chips, salsa and guac with a 3 pieces of lump crab. The warm bread pudding came out with no vanilla ice cream. As an avid diner, the food was mediocre at best and we expected so much better. I will not return. Just a lot of lies and cries from a restaurant that couldn't accommodate a rightfully unhappy table. Place was packed by the way... they're doing just fine and it's frustrating to be taken advantage by establishments who keep sticking it to their patrons. read more

The Original Spence Cafe - They raised prices to $50 and $60. False advertising! - New American Near Me - West Chester, Pennsylvania

I give credit to the yelp nation on this one. I dont know much about West Chester but the Yelp Nation does! Based off the reviews this was a must try. Walking in the decor feels both upscale and classy. The fact that it is byob is fantastic. It isnt the biggest place but you can sit comfortably in here even though it gets crowded. We ordered the cheese board as a starter. A lot of great cheeses and meats with some jams and other little things. Great start to the meal. For entrees we ordered the halibut and the filet. Both were SOLID. Filet was cooked perfectly and the halibut was flaky and flavorful. I would order these again in a heartbeat. For dessert the peanut butter pie and bread pudding were on point as well. I had average expectations based on the fact that sometimes these restaurants in small towns are all overrated based on yelp reviews but this exceeded my expectations. This is a must visit in west chester. read more

Great place my fiancé and I go for a nice night out. Been a few times will definitely be back. Best ice cream sandwiches. read more

The Original Spence Cafe - New American Near Me - West Chester, Pennsylvania

Great, local spot for West Chester, PA / Chester County folks to be able to enjoy consistently good food in a warm, cozy setting. Restaurant is a BYOB (helpful to know and much appreciated). read more

This restaurant really takes food quality and preparation seriously. We recently had his take out lobster roll, which was absolutely fantastic. It came with a butternut squash soup that was over tho top. Also, I wanted to mention that his bread is better than I have had in any restaurant in Chester County. So many place are serving bad bread with their dinners and I think it a real mistake. In short Spence Cafe is a real winner and West Chester is lucky to have it. Andy C read more

What is there not to love about this restaurant? Definitely a go-to option. The food is always fresh. Staff and chef are always kind. You can sometimes hear the person across from you without raising your voice. Great lighting. read more

Went for dinner tonight for the first time, after reading the good reviews online and I was happily impressed! I was a little leery since I had never heard anyone mention it before but it was outstanding on every level. The decore was new and modern, and our waiter was excellent. He was quick to recommend the favorite dishes which we tried and were excellent. From the spicy tuna tartare to the mushroom and duck ravioli I couldnt ask for any better of a meal. We will be back ofter. read more

Another very good meal at Spence Cafe. Oysters and Caesar were great. The Halibut was good....but it is tough to infuse it with flavor and the Black Bass was excellent. read more

Everything was great! Food quality, selection, service and ambiance we're top notch. You will certainly pay a little more at this place verses some areas in the region, but the quality was better. We will be back, but probably just as a special date night. Not really a place for kids. read more

Very good food. Glad to see the 3 seed encrusted chicken is back! Mussels were huge... spring rolls are excellent. Do not miss the ice cream sandwich for desert. read more

The Original Spence Cafe - New American Near Me - West Chester, Pennsylvania

Spence has unbelievable food and top service. Spence was doing farm-to-table before they had a name for it. I live in Los Angeles and whenever I am on the east coast I make the trip. It's that good. read more

Made reservations after checking daily for an opening. Drove all the way from Delaware after seeing on the news they are open. Arrived at location and ITS CLOSED!!! Date night ruined. One hour drive back home with empty belly. Absolutely RIDIC read more

Went last night and everything was very good. Service was also very good. Def recommend if you live in the Chester County area. Didn't try as many things as I really wanted to. But I'll be back soon. Soft shell crab appetizer Cheese and meat plate Salmon plate Crab and asparagus soup Seafood dumplings read more

Their mushroom bisque is one of THE best!!! I also had their mushroom ravioli with shrimp n crab n spinach n cherry tomatoes in cream sauce, truly amazing! Generous amount of shrimp and crab! I will be back! Thank you for a wonderful dinner!! read more

Came here for the first time to this location for my mom's birthday. The atmosphere was perfect and cozy. Our server was amazing, I think his name was Chris and the food was unbelievable. If you love seafood you won't be disappointed we got the crab cakes and the scallops and they were some of the best I ever had, definitely will be back! read more

What can I say about the Spence that has not been said before? Not much. Service? The best in West Chester. Food? Every meal was divine. Appetizers, Mains, Desert. All were wonderful during each visit. The Bucatini was so lovely. I've ordered it on a number of occasions. The portion of roasted local beets was more than enough for two. And lastly, the desert; their ice cream sandwich was the most delicious desert I have had the pleasure of eating in years. The cookies were just right and the salted caramel ice cream, ugh, so good. The service is always terrific and the price, worth it completely. Ambiance? It can be romantic as long as their aren't any large tables. It can get a bit loud. Go there. Enjoy. Practice mindful eating. Savor every bite. You will be happy you did and you will return. Guaranteed. read more