"From the moment we arrived, the service was exceptionally friendly and attentive. The staff was polite and knowledgeable about the menu. However, toward the end of our meal, the service slowed down a bit, likely due to a large party of over 30 people inside.
Now, let's get to the food. We initially considered ordering the tasting menu, which consisted of six or seven courses for $80 each. While that seemed reasonable, it would have taken about two and a half hours, and since we needed to leave in 1 to 1.5 hours, we opted for à la carte.
For appetizers, we tried the Foie Gras au Torchon, served cool with a vanilla-scented blackberry compote and toasted pain de champagne. This was my first time tasting foie gras au torchon—essentially a rich and subtly flavored dish, beautifully cut by the fruity blackberry compote. Although it’s a bit pricey, it's foie gras, after all.
Next, we had veal sweetbreads, which was my first encounter with this dish. A funny moment arose when my girlfriend thought she would be getting sweet bread, a misconception I also had until I learned otherwise from Top Chef. The sweetbreads were perfectly cooked—tender, juicy, and rich, with a familiar taste resembling pork belly but a little saltier. They were served with a subtle black truffle vinaigrette, which added an earthy touch, along with a delicate green salad and a parmesan crisp. I could easily enjoy a whole plate of sweetbreads again.
For the entrées, I ordered the pan-seared venison tenderloin, which came with jobron potatoes and juniper berry peppercorn jus. I requested it medium rare, but it arrived rare. It was my first time trying venison, and while I was initially nervous, I eventually got used to the unique flavor, which started to resemble beef halfway through the meal. Would I order it again? Probably not.
My girlfriend had the wood-grilled flat iron steak, served with a morel cream sauce and truffle butter. Interestingly, I had enjoyed a flat iron steak at Bouchon earlier that day, and the one at Chez Spencer simply didn’t compare, despite being the same price. It was tough to cut and chew. The morel mushrooms were enjoyable, but the truffle oil in the sauce became overpowering at times, detracting from the dish.
For dessert, we tried the chocolate pudding cake, which tasted much like any other chocolate cake found at a restaurant. They attempted to elevate it with a tea anglaise and a canelé (I’m not sure how to spell it) accompanied by whipped cream that looked more like ice cream. Why not just serve real ice cream? The coffee options were also overpriced—$2.50 for a small 3 oz cup and $8 for a larger 6 oz cup with Baileys.
Overall, I found the restaurant overpriced for the quality of food. I believe dishes in this price range should be $5 to $10 cheaper. I’d much rather dine at Chez Panisse. However, I would return solely for the sweetbreads. That's about it."
