Loved this place! I dined here for lunch for SF Restaurant Week 2020. The price point for this restaurant is so worth it. $25.25 for appetizer, entree, and dessert! Once you order your food, you are served half a piece of bread and butter. Not much to say, since bread and butter is always delicious. Appetizer - Potato and Leek Soup - it was so yummy! It had so much flavor packed into the little portion, one small potato, and a piece of toasted brioche. A nice creamy soup, but not too thick and not too thin either. Entree - Spruce Burger - I have never seen a burger served on an English muffin before. Definitely different since the English muffin wasn't your typical breakfast bread either. Honestly, I'm not a huge burger person, but I would come back for this burger! The hefty sized patty and added on bun and fries, made for a very filling meal. Dessert - Salted Caramel Delice with Vanilla Chiffon and Chantilly - SO GOOD! It was quite a decadent dessert, so I was glad there wasn't too much of it. It wasn't too sweet, but there was so much flavor. A nice ending to a great meal. Highly recommend this restaurant, and I definitely want to come back here to try other items off their menu. read more

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Went here for dinner and was happy enough eating here once, but probably wouldn't return. The 3 course meal is very filling and they offer extra little treats throughout the meal so you definitely don't feel like the price isn't worth it ($90 pp + 2 drinks and 2 substitutions came out to $300 total) the service is excellent and the vibe is upscale but not so fancy it's quiet or uncomfortable. The dishes are ok, but after eating in SF for 6 years we definitely weren't wowed by anything Appetizers: 4/5 Ordered the artichoke soup and ravioli, both were delicious but not something we haven't eaten before Entrées: 2/5 we returned the duck bc it tasted completely raw, not something either of us enjoy in terms of texture, then they replaced it with salmon which was also basically raw (but torched on the outside?) so just not good, the risotto was ok for me but my fiancée really liked it Dessert: 3/5 the special was delicious and fun to eat, the cheesecake was standard Service: 5/5 waiter and staff were great, appreciated that they tried switching entrée to make it a better experience but I think the food was just not for us If you like raw meals (which I'm sure a lot of people do) then you will probably enjoy it more than we did read more

Decided to try out Spruce and was not disappointed! The dishes were unique and delicious. Three course style with a set price and option for supplementing a few dishes for additional charge. I had the burrata salad, maple brined pork chop with glazed pink lady apple, and s'mores cake with homemade marshmallow ice cream. Pork chop was recommended by the waiter and it was delicious with the apple cider jus, very tender and flavorful. S'mores cake was good, but tried some of the beignets my friend ordered and those were even better. Fresh sourdough bread was a nice addition while waiting for the meal. Highly recommend checking this place out if in the SF area. read more

Spruce - S'mores cake - American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Our first time trying a Michelin star place, and Spruce has fantastic service and personal touch for your birthdays and anniversaries. Seating was flexible when it turned out be cold and they accommodated indoor bar area even though we reserved for outside The food was beautifully presented and ingredients were diverse, high quality, and generous enough to be filling. I didn't expect to be so full at the end. We had a three course dinner menu (end of summertime selection), and everything exceeded expectations, the dessert was artistic, and we were given several surprise desserts for the birthday occasion. - Beet salad with a unique array of beets that look like narutos - scallops appetizer - Duck breast on a ton of antioxidant vegetables and purple rice - Seared Halibut - Raspberry chocolate cake and unpictured other cake and desserts read more

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Most people think Michelin stars mean food, but it also means service!!! The food was wonderful, but the service made the meal go from great to exceptional. I probably interacted with 7-8 Spruce team members, and they all treated my wife and I like the grandchildren of James Beard! Also, they offer a Michelin experience in an optional outdoor setting! My wife and I aren't ready to return to dining in crowded restaurants just yet, and Spruce gave us an incredible anniversary dinner in an environment where we felt safe. They were thoughtful about where everyone sat, ensuring they placed every guest at their best tables, leaving the tables near the door and other high-traffic areas vacant. I think two pedestrians walked by in the 2-3 hours we were there, so it never felt crowded. Just a wonderful experience and one of the few Michelin dining experiences where I didn't wince when the check arrived because we had such a memorable evening. read more

The food is good, but the service and the presentation is not Michelin standard. No one greeted me when I got lost between their entrance and the coffee shop (?), no one folded our liner when we went to bathroom (not that I care, but I saw other mentioned this in other review), I asked what's their flavors for ice cream and sorbet, it took 10 minutes for them to find out, and they didn't even come to me by themselves, I had to ask again and the server said " Yes, I got them.". More importantly, we went there for a birthday celebration, and they failed celebrating it... When I arrived, they acknowledged l'm here for my birthday (not that they wished my happy birthday) and then my husband arrived, they confirmed again he was here for his wife's birthday, and the server took him to the wrong table (?) it's hilarious and confusing, how did they get their Michelin star? We thought at least they would write happy birthday on the ice cream plate or something, none. We were surprised they did nothing as a Michelin restaurant, so my husband went inside to ask. They said usually they would give dessert to celebrate it, but the server probably forgot, and they asked my husband to leave his email address for further reimbursement... hmm, no, I'm not coming back, so we got 2 lattes and cookies instead. If I came here for a standard fine dining experience, it's 4 stars, but we came and expected a Michelin level food and service, we were disappointed. The presentation of the ice cream was also terrible. I did a better job than them. (Metal bowl with 2 scoops of ice cream, and a flower, that's it. I don't even bother taking any photo of it.) Keep your expectation low, and forgot about the 20% tips and 3% SF fee, you will be happy with your experience. *scallop and hamachi were delicious.* read more

I came here with two other friends for lunch to take advantage of the 2019 SF restaurant week deal. I take my burgers very seriously so the three course deal featuring the Spruce burger was a great opportunity to check out if the restaurant's namesake burger lived up to the hype. Food 4/5 In addition to the three course potato leek soup, Spruce burger, and the butterscotch custard dessert, we also ordered the beignets which were highly recommended to us. The appetizers and dessert were very popular with our whole table. The beignets especially stood out; the taste texture was just right, not too heavy or sweet, and they were perfectly complimented by the accompanying apricot and creme anglais. Unfortunately, the Spruce burger was disappointingly average. Perhaps our standards were too high though I felt the whole burger tasted one note and sat too heavily in my stomach much like a greasy dive bar burger. I honestly expected more nuance in flavors from a normally $21 burger. Service 3/5 The servers and staff were overall very professional. However, our particular waiter acted way too familiar with our table even going so far as to ask our names, professions, and where we lived. I do not think that one server was a reflection of the restaurant's service as a whole, but the experience did make it harder to enjoy our food without feeling judged. Ambiance 5/5 Spruce is all about elegance and class. This would be a great place to have a romantic dinner or host a high stakes client for lunch. The high ceilings, skylight, impressive bar, and meticulously laid out table settings dazzled us from the moment we walked in. Price 4/5 The value of what we got for SF restaurant week cannot be beat. It's the best way to sample SF's finest, including Spruce. Though for the price point, I would definitely reserve this restaurant for special occasions instead of a casual Sunday brunch. read more

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My husband made us reservations at Spruce for our Valentine's Day dinner. Food: Though we sat outside, food was still hot when it came out. Lobster was so succulent and juicy. My husband enjoyed his Wagu Steak. Food was great! Outdoor Setting: They had a really nice set up. Their parklet was covered so the rain didn't affect our dinner. They had 4-5 heat lamps on to fend off the cold SF weather. Safety: My husband and I both agree this was one of the safest outdoor dining experiences we have had. Menu was a QR code. They did a great job spacing out all the tables where I wouldn't feel worried if someone in another table coughed or sneezed. The restaurant asks that you have your mask on when staff approaches your table. We asked our server for a picture and she had us wait so she can put on special gloves before touching my phone. Raise your hand if you miss fine dining and you are sick of black togo boxes. Spruce was the experience that was needed in this long pandemic- amazing food in a safe environment. read more

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Lovely, upscale yet intimate place with a tad of neighborhood vibe to it - found it formal yet approachable at the same time for a Michelin restaurant. Came on a Saturday for a 7:45pm reservation for a quiet dinner with my boyfriend. Venue: there are two sitting areas; one is the main dining area of the restaurant, which had dark wooden walls that give off an intimate atmosphere. We sat in an outside table- this area is outside of the main dining area with heavy curtains surrounding it to provide a bit of the intimate feel from the inside without leaving you cold. I'll say that I did like sitting in this area since I prefer when the room is brighter (here, via the light grey stone and huge window next to us), though I did notice we had a few gnats flying around us which was slightly annoying. Service: even though we weren't in the main dining hall, we found service to be still great! Don't recall having to wait too long for plates to clear (maybe one time) or for our check to arrive. Our waiter made some excellent recommendations so you should ask them what are the best dishes. Food: as mentioned above, we mostly went with the waiters' recommendations and overall were pretty satisfied with our meal. We did one small plate and one large plate each (as recommended) and we were pretty full without dessert or any drinks. They first start you off with a bite from the chef (radish drizzled with honey), which was a nice way to start the meal! -- Citrus-Cured Kampachi (with daikon radish, avocado and yuzu)($28) - actually my favorite dish of the evening! Very light but filling at the same time. Not the biggest fan of radish but it was a great combo with the avocado and citrusy yuzu and the fish tasted fresh. My date kept stealing bites from this one. -- Yukon Gold Potato Gnocchi (heirloom squash, mint, sauce Bouillabaisse)($32) - very savory and a bit on the heavy side (at least for my stomach), though the sauce is pretty tasty. The gnocchi had a decent texture to it but would have preferred them to be a lot lighter to contrast with the rich sauce. This was our least favorite from some pretty good dishes. -- Special Pork Loin with peppercorn sauce and stone fruit ($45) - this was a special of the evening and highly recommended by the waiter, so I ordered it. The key to this dish is to eat all of the components together b/c they might not make too much sense if eaten separately. For example, they put a lot of seasoning on the pork and with the sauce, it can seem pretty salty on its own. However, once you add the stone fruit, it all works. As such, I found this to be quite a compelling dish, though it did take me a few tries to get the bite right. -- Pistachio-Crusted Dry-Aged 38 North Duck Breast (Tokyo turnips, Dirty Girl Farm strawberries, sauce Civet)($45) - love the combo of strawberries and duck! The duck was cooked well and had a wonderful texture. Compared to the pork loin, all components tasted pretty good separately but were better when combined. Personally, didn't completely blow me away like the pork loin dish did, but still tasty. All in all, we enjoyed our time at Spruce for our special night out. I would say this is one of the more approachable, high end Michelin restaurants in the area, so if you are curious but don't want to feel stuffy, this would be a good place to start. read more

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One Michelin star means nothing when the service at Spruce can be described as nothing short of shameful. Making reservations two weeks in advance for a birthday dinner, I had called a week before my reservation date to change the time and to be seated indoors. Speaking with this establishment over the phone, a staff member confirmed that they could accommodate the change. Trust me when I say that I was thrilled and excited as I have been wanting to try this restaurant for quite a while, and celebrating a birthday with loved ones made it all the more special. Unfortunately, when I arrived with my party at the reserved time, the hosts claimed that they could only seat us outside. We asked for a manager to help us resolve this issue, as we confirmed over the phone seven days prior to be seated inside. The birthday boy had surgery recently and could not be seated outside in 40-degree weather, regardless of outside heaters. We conveyed this to the manager and he stated that he could do nothing but keep us outside. Imagine having everything set over the phone a week prior, getting verbal confirmation from staff and believing that a respected establishment such as Spruce would be able to honor a simple reservation... only to find out that they could only offer a standard, "sorry but there's nothing we can do." Was the manager on duty too busy to attempt to at least try and see when another reservation would open up? Didn't need to be that night, what about in the next few days? What about the week after? Weren't there other ways to try and remedy this situation? It's not like I'm looking for a free meal--I can afford the finer things in life, and that's why I was hoping to eat here. But the fact that this staff can be so damn cold-hearted and offered no solutions to try and rectify the situation was simply stunning. I normally don't take things personally, but a birthday dinner was spoiled for a cancer survivor, my baby brother, so let me make this very clear: I am taking this very personally. I don't need this restaurant's sympathy, but I want to make sure that people in the future do not go through such a horrendous situation. I understand that the staff here had no idea how the issue on their end occurred, but all they offered was this: sit out or get out. Suffice to say that my party and I left. I'm not expecting anything but to share my disappointment. I know this restaurant doesn't need my business at all and doesn't care about my review. They'll make money and continue to be successful. But this is a night that my family and I will never forget and in all the worst ways. read more

Amazing ambiance and service. Great food. Ridiculous wine list in the best sense possible. All of which made for an extraordinary experience. read more

One of my favorite restaurants in the city! Love their outdoor seating and service is always great! Delicious food with an extensive and beautiful wine list! read more

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Spruce is a great neighborhood restaurant in presidio heights. The food definitely exceeded my expectations and at a somewhat reasonable price given its Michelin star and longevity in San Francisco. I started with the hamachi crudo - which was served with pomegranate seeds and pickled jalapeño peppers, topped with a pomegranate vinaigrette. The hamachi was extremely fresh and tender, and I loved the pairing of sweet pomegranate with savory/spicy peppers. The vinaigrette was a bit overly sweet and salty though, which felt unnecessary given the quality of the fish. For my main I went with the chicken roulade - incredibly tender and the grits with sautéed mushrooms were a fantastic pairing. Very generous portion and I cleaned the whole plate since the sauce was so good! Lastly, I had the s'mores cake for desert - which is a chocolate moose with a side of ice cream, chocolate crackers, and an incredible marshmallow flavored sauce spread across the plate. I expected this to be overly sweet but it was perfectly balanced and all the flavors went together really well. Last but not least - the bread. The house made levain was perfectly fluffy and moist, with a nice sourdough tang and none of those burnt crusts you often see at Tartine. The Parker rolls were sweet and stretchy and went great with the warm butter served alongside the breads. All in all, I'd definitely come back to spruce for a nice date night or fun meal with friends. Their food isn't anything amazingly innovative but the quality is excellent, the service is great as well, and the price is reasonable for the quality of the food. One more thing - their seats are couch like and so amazingly comfortable! Wish I had them in my living room haha read more

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I wasn't impressed with the food! I've heard so much about this restaurant but honestly I don't think is worth the price. I also felt awful the next morning and the food made me sick. I wouldn't come back! read more

My friend and I came here for restaurant week. Good: - The burger: Definitely one of best I've had - the patty was medium-well done and very juicy. - Butterscotch custard (dessert): So good. - The waitress was very nice and attentive Average: - Red-wine Braised duck leg: The meat was very tender but the taste itself wasn't anything special - Beignet: We ordered this on the side because a lot of ppl seemed to recommend it. It was good- very fluffy and warm, but I thought it was a little too sweet for my taste. It came with two different dipping sauces, but the sugar coating on the beignet was already sweet enough that it was a little too much. Bad: - Service was verry slow - it took us an hour to get our main entree. I'm thinking it was probably due to the restaurant week crowd. But still, I think they should've been prepared in advance. read more

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I broke my arm a week ago and still experience some pain. However, a leisurely lunch in this place dulled that pain away. This place is BETTER THAN IBUPROFEN and at least as good as prescription painkillers. Food - The food was simply divine and created genuine joy. Each dish is a genuine work of art that contains an explosion of flavor worthy of savoring. 5/5 Service - the service is dedicated and treats the food like the artistic masterpiece that it is. They are ready to make recommendations and display n enthusiasm for the Spruce's selection of food and for its reputation. . I've never met friendlier staff ready to help and who genuinely feel like part of a team. 5/5 Ambience -The restaurant features both indoor and outdoor dining. The indoor setting has the intimate feel of a small bistro while the wonderful outdoor setting is pleasant, quiet l, and even picturesque. Restrooms are also in good shape 5/5. Overall 15/15 A perfect dining experience with lots to be pleased by and much to commend it. Plan for a leisurely pace to fully savor every dish. read more

Classy dinner in SF, great food and service in a beautiful restaurant It is a 3 course dinner I had artichoke vellute and salmon, they were both delicious, didn't care much about dessert so I had a cheese plate 20% tips and 3.5% Sf tax added to the bill 89$ is the cost of 3 courses 50$ corkage fee is too much but not surprising in SF read more

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Spruce is a great place to go for special occasions! The service is super good, the waiters are attentive, and the dishes are prepared well and are served hot. The only critique I have is that the prices are a bit high for the quantity of the food - you get a three course meal but each course is not huge. I included photos of the first two courses - I ordered a veal sweetbread dish as an appetizer and a bacon wrapped chicken for the main course. read more

Spruce - Roasted Sonoma Chicken - American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Corn tortellini was tasty and light with very good presentation but as a warning there's only like six ravioli and they're tiny little dumplings so don't expect it to fill up. Also got the almond crusted halibut which was so delicious enough almond crust and the side vegetables were also perfect and light and great for very tasty when you don't want something too too heavy. The staff was super nice and everyone is vaccinated and wears mass so it was felt very safe but they were all very personable and welcoming. Would definitely go again. The prices at least for lunch was very reasonable for such delicious food. read more

Spruce - Almond crusted halibut - American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Best food i've had in my entire life, short wait, everything was hot, and waiter was more than polite. Great service. Recommend 10/10 read more

Spruce - American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Taste: 5 Value: 4 (Restaurant week: 5) Presentation: 5 Service: 5 First and foremost, the 2019 Restaurant Week deal here is amazing. Highly recommended! The food here was wonderful as well, from the potato leek soup to the spruce burger and the duck confit! Even the toffee dessert was delectable! I wanted to highlight a few strong points with Spruce. First of all, the host and waiters were all very polite. I liked the formal use of affirmation words like "certainly" and "of course" and overall they were very nice! Moreover, the presentation of the dishes were all very well thought out. I especially liked the potato and leek soup. It had actual roasted potatoes on top of a crouton that made it so the potatoes were not touching the soup. Lastly, everything was prepared and tasted great! My favorite was the Spruce burger followed closely by the dessert. The burger was piping hot, cooked perfectly, and tasted great with their pickled but not sour condiments. I'm not sure if it's worth the standalone price of $21 though, but with restaurant week it was totally worth it! read more

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We came here for the burger. We sat at the bar and even though it was busy, the bartender was friendly and the service was fast. I just didn't love the burger. The meat was juicy (although definitely more overcooked than I ordered it) but the bun was just not big enough for the meat and because it was really thin, the juice soaked all the way through. Eventually I just ended up eating the burger with a fork and knife (I know, I know, who does that?) because I just couldn't pick up the burger. The fries were great though and the beer hit the spot. I'd give it another try and maybe ask for the meat to be separated from the bun and figure out a strategy for eating it. Maybe if one got well-done meat then the juice wouldn't be an issue but who wants to eat well-done hamburger meat. Not me. read more

Wonderful spot for a special occasion. The food is fantastic and the service is top notch. The staff really know how to make you feel special. We have also gone here for more casual dinners to eat their amazing burgers and fries. I have never had fries where each french fry is fried perfectly except for at Spruce. I also cannot quit their cookies. They have the most amazing oatmeal raisin cookies and chocolate chip cookies. I have been stopping by weekly during SIP just for a cookie pick me up. Each cookie is essentially the size of four normal sized cookies! read more

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Did I really just spend $500 to experience discrimination?? I brought my father to spruce for his birthday on New Years, because of New Years the menu items are limited. Both my parents asked for the halibut, we were told that there was any and offered dove and sole (aka cod) and told its a better quality fish (lie). MEANWHILE -- the table next to us was given HALIBUT!; I felt so UNcomfortable because we were literally the only black people at the restaurant!!(and I don't play the "race card" ) And earlier in the night they said they had a table inside for us, but "made a mistake" and seated us outside -- like what. I spent $500+ to leave feeling like crap Thanks for ruining my Dad's birthday and my New Year. read more

Every time I dine at this restaurant it is consistent good food. It's in a residential area with high end boutiques for a few blocks. When I visit I always see something that I didn't see before. The framed photos keep it modern with a classic rich twist. The service is second to none. Going there makes every occasion special. But back to the food, which is some of the best fare around. It's costly but oh so worth it. Cheers!! read more

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Had a phenomenal experience here for the first time. Took my friend in town and she even said that this was one of the best food experiences she's ever had!! Ryan, our server, was so kind and hospitable! Everything we ate and drank was 5 stars. So delicious!! We had spent the day in SF and were a little under dressed but no one treated us that way. Very accommodating with gluten free as well!! Can't wait to go again! read more

This Michelin star restaurant is worthy of the accolades and is a must go for all those food lovers in the Bay area. There are so many fine restaurants in the Bay and nearby Napa area that sometimes you can't even use Michelin star or stars as a way to sort through where to go and is truly amongst the elite. So this place has it all in terms of elegance, ambiance, service, food quality and deliciousness. We went for a special occasion for you'll be treated well no matter what. The dishes or delightibles that stand out are the duck and the beignets but I also enjoyed the pork loin. Everything is very flavorful. read more

I've only actually eaten here once on a date but the service and ambiance were such that I've thought about it often. I had the Reuben and my date had the burger and they were both absolutely worth every penny. Our server was so friendly and welcoming that they ended up delivering a chocolate chip cookie as a thank you end of meal. Would you believe that this was what I most remembered? I couldn't get that cookie out of my head! It's one of the best in the Bay Area. I've been back several times to order a few of these from their cafe to go and serve them as a dessert for guests. I've gotten lattes at their cafe, which I found to be only average in flavor. But I will always come back for the Reuben and chocolate chip cookie! I am sure their menu is spectacular based on the sandwiches we tried but haven't had a chance to come back to explore it. read more

Wow! Great ambiance. My only real complaint was the bits of shells in my lobster spaghetti (extra $25). My second complaint was the saltiness of the roll. I don't know why restaurants tend to over salt everything. There is a 20% service fee so don't act surprise when you see it. Overall we were happy. read more

I finally came to a proper dinner here with a female guest. It was divine. I was worried that the ambiance with the high ceilings would create a loud, not intimate environment. Wrong. We had an intimate dinner, speaking at a normal level of voice, and this can indeed be a romantic venue for your special person. The service was impeccable. Just the right amount of attention without overdoing the "check ins" during and post meal. The timing of the food delivery was just right. Food was sublime, we shared the Charcuterie app, and we had the Pork Loin and the Albacore Tuna. Great wine selection. Major plus I can walk here from my house. read more

Spruce - American Near Me - San Francisco, California

Tucked away in a quiet street in the charming Laurel Heights neighborhood, this hidden gem was teeming with vibrant energy inside. In fact, as soon as we stepped into the restaurant, we could hardly find a suitable place to stand because the place was packed! The expansive bar flanking the right side of the darkly lit restaurant boasted crowds of people socializing and imbibing on various cocktails and drinks. The dining room was completely full and I became increasingly concerned that our wait was going to be a lengthy one! Luckily, there was additional seating in the back of the restaurant in a more stately, albeit quiet and more brightly lit private room. After being seated by the host, we were kindly greeted by our server. We were all feeling a bit peckish at the time, which resulted in us taking little to no time to make our subsequent orders . Considering we were sort of tucked away from the rest of the dining crowd, our server made his rounds and ensured that our waters were always filled. Food also arrived at a comfortable pace with appetizers naturally arriving first. Gruyere Cheese Puffs - These light and airy puffs of cheesy goodness were absolutely divine and an excellent start to our sumptuous meal. Diver Scallops - Seared beautifully, these thick and fleshy medallions were plump and absolutely mouthwatering. The crunchy crab cake and pistachio added a nice contrast of texture and flavor, as well! Foie Gras - Served two ways, torchon and in a spreadable form. It was buttery soft and perfectly fatty. The addition of the crisp pear slices were refreshing and the accompanying pear jelly was delicately sweet. I enjoyed the whimsical addition of the waffle which added a pleasant twist to the standard cracker or bread that typically comes with foie gras. Sweetbreads - Plump, juicy, and flavorful! The added caramelized cippolini onions and fresh figs imparted a naturally sweet and rustic flavor and the accompanying bacon lardon vinaigrette added a nice zing and pleasant crunch as well. Entrees arrived soon after and to be perfectly frank, they looked incredible! Butter Poached Lobster - This plate would have been perfect if the portion of lobster was just a tad bit more generous. Each bite of luscious lobster with the pillowy soft gnocci was decadently sublime but within moments I felt like my dish all but disappeared! Two words: "more please!" Liberty Farms Duck - Served with freshly shaved foie gras, and drizzled with an irresistible smoked honey jus, this perfectly seared duck was succulent and tasted almost like tender filet. Slow Roasted Beef Short Rib - Served atop perfectly cooked red wine farotto and accompanied with an erbette chard, horseradish velouté and soft young carrots. This dish was phenomenal! The meat was beyond tender and virtually broke apart with the slightest nudge of a fork. The aroma was intoxicating and the flavor profiles were explosive. In short, i loved this dish! Dessert Caramel Corn Panna Cotta - Texture, flavor and consistency were similar to flan but much lighter and smoother! The glazed blueberries were plump and mildly tart and the popcorn brittle was fantastic with a buttery crunch! Basque Cake - Dense and buttery with a nice contrast from the concord grape sorbet. Blueberry Jellies and Lemon Verbena Caramels - These delicious bite size treats arrived with our check and i must say it was a fantastic conclusion to our sublime dining experience! Overall, I was very impressed with Spruce. The food & service were fantastic and the ambiance was sleek, contemporary and cool. Based upon my experience alone, It's pretty clear to me why they received a Michelin Star in 2011. I'm likely to return to try their famous burger which recently made the coveted 7x7 dining list! Happy Eats! read more

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My birthday landed on Easter this year, and for lent I gave up red meat and a couple of other things. If you know me by reading some of my reviews, I'm always on the search for the best burger in town. Originally we were suppose to kill two birds with one stone and hit up Marlowes and Spruce, since they are highly known to have the best burgers in SF. FAILED....... Sad face when I arrived to Marlowes the restaurant was closed. While looking inside, the owner saw us and said "sorry" I have to close the restaurant at least one day a week or my wife will kill me. LOL!! I told him no worries were coming back... Moving forward, while finding parking in this little neighborhood (laurel heights) I would of never expected to find Spruce hidden in between Victorian homes and little boutiques. Upon arrival there was a host standing at the podium asking us if we would like to sit at the bar or dining area, of course we choose the dining area. The restaurant was very elegant and fancy... Service was great, felt like a princess as everyone that helped served us from our drinks to our appetizers, or even the guy who whisked our table, ask us each time is there anything else I can get for you?? Very pleasant. (SMILING) I took the liberty of ordering a glass of Riesling, Kabinett and my friend ordered some kind of Mojito type of drink. Results? We both loved it! Not to sweet but refreshing. Our first entrée was the Cara Cara orange and brassica salad . Results? Picture oil cured black olives, pistachios, on a bed of fresh spring lettuce with citrus dressing. Need I say more? Onto the main reason why I came here, Yes our burgers came out. My burger consisted of Niman Ranch ground chuck beef with Gruyère cheese melted on their house made version of an English muffin. My burger was topped with pickled red onions and zucchini. My first bite reaction? OMG SO EFFIN GOOD... It was like fireworks bursting inside my mouth. That bad boy was soo JUICY it was dripping on the side of my cheek LOL. The zucchini also gave it a kick to its flavor, due to it was marinated in some sort of spice. Did I mention about their french fries? WOWZERS they were on hit!! French fries cooked in Duck fat~ another plus!! Had the perfect crunch & crisp. Not a soggy fry in sight!! I didn't even get to finish my burger because I was so full. The left overs were even great the next day..OVERALL Spruce lives up to their burgers as mentioned on the 7x7SFlist read more

Spruce - American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Hello Spruce! Located in the charming Laurel Heights neighborhood, this restaurant exudes sophistication. As you enter, you get a sense of its class/traditional flair with the dim lights and dark wood finished tables, and white table linens (that are pressed with a cordless iron upon table set up). However, I was unimpressed by the modern art work didn't quite seem to match (sorry no pics to prove my point). Upon arriving with Mom to celebrate my actual birthday (10/7), there was a little mishap as one of the hosts could not find our reservation in their system. I made it via Opentable, and later confirmed with a phone call, so it was most definitely there. The host had the nerve to suggest sitting at the bar when there were plenty of 2-4 top tables available. After what seemed like forever, another host was able to find our reservation and sat us in the back corner table. Perfect, and I was hungry and ready to put that mini drama aside. Service was great. Our lead server (name escapes me but she's a lovely gal from SJ) was friendly and attentive. The bussers were efficient and refilled waters, cleared plates, etc., Let's get down to main event, the food! 1) Watermelon and feta salad - Excellent and refreshing combination with the juicy watermelon and the saltiness of the feta. Tasty! http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=FRSoGLPQI16pus03avyaSA&select=I5Wwfn2eB_-ZzIQAppernA 2) Heirloom tomato with burrata cheese - Special salad, and the ginormous tomatoes were sweet and that cheesy goodness that is burrata was amazing. Can you say 'Oh Mylanta!' http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=FRSoGLPQI16pus03avyaSA&select=NsyXlAQkTxisLYpr3Ndinw 3) Butter poached lobster with potato gnocchi - Of course, I had to get my lobbie, which was the most expensive thing on the menu, but who cares as it's my birthday. This sauce was mouth watering and savory, and the gnocchi was the perfect accompaniment to the lobbie. Wished the lobbie portion was bigger.. sigh.. Anywho, I literally wiped the plate clean with dipping the bread in that absolutely delish sauce. http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=FRSoGLPQI16pus03avyaSA&select=-RkE_zIbrjGaRDtFXcRoQg 4) Pork Tenderloin with crisp pork belly - Mom ordered this, while the pork was tender and flavorful, it was disappointing because the pork belly wasn't exactly crisp, but not soggy either. Just don't call it crisp if it's not going to be, you know? http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=FRSoGLPQI16pus03avyaSA&select=_Zo5O-uNZgwGF4bSKGlOGw 5) Dark Chocolate Bread Pudding (with chocolate molten core) with strawberries and olive oil ice cream - One of the best desserts I've ever had. The chocolate molten core was a pleasant surprise in my mouth, and the olive oil ice cream was a nice compliment, as were the strawberries (one of my fav fruits). http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=FRSoGLPQI16pus03avyaSA&select=9I54qy_cd5tJ_1iTJOZq7A 6) Cocktails - I thoroughly enjoyed my Pamarosa - light, refreshing with a pomegranate flavor bursting through. http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=FRSoGLPQI16pus03avyaSA&select=qCz6DWesIRJt-62-2wdR8Q Spruce is on the expensive side, but worth it. Without a doubt, it's a lovely and classy restaurant to celebrate any special occasion. I really could not have asked for a better birthday meal to share with my beloved Mom. Cheers! read more

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Lovely fine dining experience in SF. Dishes had a great mix of familiar and unexpected elements and were really well executed - we loved pretty much everything we ordered (the bread rolls are amazing too). Great hospitality as well. They're not offering valet parking at the moment but parking was pretty easy in the neighborhood. read more

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One of the BEST meals in my 29 years... To say Spruce is simply a neigborhood gem would be an understatement. This Michelin rated restaurant's Contemporary American Cuisine far exceeded my expectations. Chef Mark Sullivan is exceptionally talented; each dish was exquistely presented and tasted every bit as good as it looked. So why not 5 Stars? A restaurant with a 5 Star rating should have food equally as excellent as the service and unfortunately, Spruce was lacking in the latter. Last night, 4.5.11, my friends and I arrived promptly for our 6 PM reservations and were seated immediately. W I N E: Spruce has an extensive 77-page wine list. Bottles range from $28 to a $8,200 Magnum so there's something for everyone. Chris, our sommelier was friendly, knowledgeable and well-versed. After telling him what kind of flavors I like, he suggested the 2008 Pinot Noir WillaKenzie ($14/glass) which was excellent. It had succulent berry flavors with herbal accents and was medium-bodied with a subtle acidity which helped balance the richness of my meal. F O O D: *SEARED & PERSERVED FOIE GRAS w/ Hot & Cold Pineapple ($22): DECADENT! http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/ZfMLpV7p3EvRv3Idpx89sQ?select=dzqpwQD7Mbjc2POjAn9XNw Slightly crisp on the edges, the seared foie gras was delicate and succulent. Each bite of the foie gras melted like a triple cream butter on my palate. The preserved foie gras was like a fine pate, velvety smooth and rich with a slight gaminess. The buttery brioche was the perfect canvas and texture contrast to the preserved foie gras. The pineapple, however, did not complement either of the foie gras because it had an overpowering sweetness similar to syrup. *CHARRED BERKSHIRE PORK TENDERLOIN w/ Crispy Pork Belly & Shelling Beans ($29): The BEST Pork Dish I've ever had! http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/ZfMLpV7p3EvRv3Idpx89sQ?select=82FX8gETInO5LNNFPFaNsw There were 3 different cuts: center loin, loin end and the pork belly, each with its own distinctive flavor and texture. Like a fine filet mignon, the center loin melted like butter. The loin end had a rosemary herb crust; it was tender and had a powerful herbaceous flavor but didn't overpower the natural pork flavor. The pork belly had a crackling crisp skin that was rich, yet lean. The neutral flavor of the tender shelling beans and the slight bitterness of the chard perfectly balanced the richness from the pork. Each flavorful bite sent me to FoodGASM ecstasy! *BEIGNETS w/ Chocolate Sauce & Crème Anglaise ($10): HEAVENLY! http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/ZfMLpV7p3EvRv3Idpx89sQ?select=Fc5CSNmGESXke3Tf4u4gaw Like a slightly denser donut hole that's fresh out-of-the-fryer, the beignets were little balls of heaven. The crème angalise was the perfect dipping sauce adding a layer of sweet decadence with the floral aroma of vanilla. The chocolate sauce, on the other hand, was too sweet and rich for my liking. *COFFEE HAZELNUT MOUSSE CAKE w/ Hazelnut Praline ($10): SINFULLY GOOD! http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/ZfMLpV7p3EvRv3Idpx89sQ?select=T9QheJnU8POlg4LShoyCRA Like a Ferrero Rocher in a cake form, the mousse was rich, yet light. Its sweet nuttiness was offset by the slight bitterness of the coffee. And, the cake was buttery and moist while the praline added a crispy texture contrast to the soft dessert. P.S.- Don't forget to grab a cookie from Spruce's cafe before leaving. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/ZfMLpV7p3EvRv3Idpx89sQ?select=F01k_ThvLh8HPKsx7p3SpQ The massive 6" diameter chocolate chip cookie ($5) was crisp on the outside and chewy soft in the inside with oozing melted chocolate that will make any chocolate lover swoon. S E R V I C E: Disappointing. Chris, our sommelier was awesome, however, Kevin, our waiter was not. Although cordial, Kevin was MIA the entire night; other than taking our order, bringing our food, and giving us our bill, he was nowhere to be found. While I saw him go to other tables multiple times, never did he once come to check on us to see how we were doing. This was certainly not the type of service I would expect from a Michelin rated restaurant. A M B I A N C E / D É C O R: Exquisitely designed, Spruce is a restaurant you would expect to be located in the FiDi. Its décor is classic with a sexy modern touch; brown chocolate walls, cream ceilings, tan furnishings, crystal chandeliers, gray scale paintings and an eye-catching crystal clear glass wall separating the main 70-person dining room from the bar/lounge. (Please note: There's no cell phone reception in Spruce. I have Verizon while my friends have Sprint and none of us were able to get a signal.) P A R K I N G: Easy street parking before 6 PM, otherwise parking is very difficult because it's located in a residential neighborhood. Valet parking is $12. Want to SWOON a foodie? Bring them to Spruce! If the food doesn't make them googly eyed, I'm not sure what will... read more

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Early to the office today, morning sun like a laser beam into my eyeball off the window across the street. Early to the office today to grow back an arm and a leg, fortunately taken gently from opposing sides of my body lest I crab circles in my house never getting to the office, never growing back the missing limbs, and perhaps worst of all, never therefore being able to return to Spruce. Not for the next year's turn, not ever. Recognizing that you're reading this as you search for places to fine-dine, recognizing that if you're looking here you're perhaps in need of a venue for something special, a celebration. Recognizing this, I'll take but a small moment of your time. First, Spruce can be that place. In all the greater Bay Area Spruce ought occupy the upper portion of your list of spaces for said celebration. I'd offer that it seemed to me most well suited for the happiness of an intimate variety, though on the turn of this year there were celebrants that came in small herds, perhaps anticipating one of them fine paper hats they had hid in the cloakroom. This established, perhaps establish also this. If in winter after having your outer garment thoughtfully removed and stored for safekeeping, upon being seated by the attentive polite smiling front of the house staff, perhaps before your antecedent cocktail or maybe during for a toast, please just for a brief moment or longer if you're able (the latter is my personal preference), recognize in whatever manner suits you - verbally, to yourself, holding hands, in prayer - your good fortune. Recognize also that such fortune has not been bestowed upon everyone, that your station owes not exclusively to your own endeavor, that the flavors you enjoy are out of reach of many, if not most. Just as an underpinning element to the delicious repast you're about to enjoy. The folks at Spruce will see to the rest. Now put a little Rare Earth in your head and get on with your beautiful day: I just want to celebrate, Another day of living, I just want to celebrate another day of life. Had my head on the dollar bill But the dollar bill flew away. But the sun is shining down on me And it's here to stay That's why I'm telling you ... read more

Spruce - It's going to be a lovely year. - American Near Me - San Francisco, California

I came here for lunch and ordered the Spruce burger which was amazing! The burger looked simple but had a blend of meats, including brisket, short rib, and sirloin and was perfectly cooked. I liked that they gave the fillings on the side, so I could customize the burger how I wanted to. The thrice-cooked fries are the cherry on top of this great meal. Definitely one of the best burgers I've had in the Bay and would recommend if you're able to spend a little more. read more

Spruce - Spruce Burger , French Fries - American Near Me - San Francisco, California

Can you believe that I was actually called "boring" on a date? Then, dumped via e-mail 3 days later. I mean, I know I'm not Indiana Jones jumping out of jeeps and dodging booby traps, but I never considered myself to be boring. I mean, it's not like I sit at home inflating and deflating the tires on my sports car because I have nothing better to do, you know? There's nothing like foie gras to take the sting away. The fois gras here didn't disappoint. It came with waffles and a strawberry puree that balanced the sweet with the savory. The lobster consume did disappoint. It was room temperature, had 3 mussels, and tasted like watery chicken broth. Honestly, if the name didn't say lobster, I would have thought it was some weird tasting watery chicken soup with 3 random mussels inside. The pork loin was well done, and came with some average sausage and veggies. Personally, I like meat medium rare, and more tender. I think the duck would have been a better choice, but you win some and lose some. The chocolate mousse dessert with banana ice cream and and coconut snow was rich and flavorful, and was a winner. The complimentary peanut butter bite was also a hit at the end, it tasted like an upscale Reeses peanut butter cup. But since the soup and entree were off the mark, I can't possible give this place more than 3 stars. read more

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Another SF disappointing meal Ordered: Beignets 4.0 Duck hash 2.0 Toad in a hole 3.0 stars They get slight creativity points for toad in the hole. The toast has a circle cut out that they put an egg inside... cool. But that's it. This toad was a boring ass dressed up old man. It was a regular breakfast with bacon..salad..toast and eggs. Yippie. The duck hash was also sad. It had so much potential except for the part where they try to salt us to death. Lover ordered that dish and surprisingly braved through the salt. When we switched dishes like we normally do, I wanted to have the dish taken back to the kitchen. It was deplorable. The only thing that stopped me was because lover already ate through half of it. He's not a complainer like me or else that dish would've been taken back after the first bite. Beignets as an app was good, soft and fluffliest of dough. The only good thing about this meal. Over priced and Overrated food! Muy Muy Muy Malo! read more

Spruce - Toad in a hole meh - American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Word on the street is that the burger is AMAZING here, so for a special occasion, we decided to have lunch here. Why a special occasion? Because Spruce is fancy. I'm not fancy, but we tried so hard to act like we fit in. The coffee was fancy, the waiter was fancy...it was all delightful. I felt like a Queen and I loved it. I'm not super into burgers, so for a pricey burger that's supposed to be the best, I didn't know what to expect. I enjoyed my burger, but would not get it again based on the $ we paid. I'm guessing the rest of the food is great (c'mon, 1 Michelin star), so if you wanna splurge... I think you should go for it. read more