Have been twice now and both times some dishes were stupid good while others were a complete miss. Overall though, a great dining experience both times.
(4)
Susie Q.
A bit pricey for the food given competition in Atlanta. Service was good.
(4)
Phil P.
The Spence... In one word... Meh... The food itself was very good however portions were a little to small in my opinion. We spent about 150.00 on dinner and me and my fiancee left the restaurant hungry. The bone marrow was interesting but not great. It tasted like a fatty beefy goo. Like I said... Meh. The music playlist however was incredible listening to Ol' Dirty Bastard and Souls of Mischief while dining was definitely amazing and just right. Overall I am not saying this place sucks I am just saying if you are really hungry order a lot of food. A little pricey for tiny portions but hey I guess thats what you get at all these fancy joints these days. 3.5 Stars.
(3)
Julie H.
We loved everything about this restaurant - great food, wine list, service and atmosphere. The bone marrow with tuna tartare and quail egg was my favorite - simply divine!!!
(4)
Mark C.
Disclaimer : I have only done lunch and happy hour at The Spence. The food is fresh and very tastey. Portions are smallish but the quality and obvious effort put into the food (even the grilled cheese, my favorite) makes it worth it. Staff is quick and super helpful at lunch. Thank god for this place, without it Tech Square (with its many horrible restaurants) would be a food desert.
(4)
Meribeth G.
Went by myself while on a business trip... Loved the communal tables along with smaller tables- staff amazing, unique wines, food killer! Good job Richard Blais!!!!
(4)
John T.
Burger and Brussels sprouts. Yum.
(5)
Kenneth E.
The best dining experience I've had in Atlanta in many years. Now, I understand why everyone makes such a big deal about Richard Blais. His new restaurant -- in the fairly small Tech Square location formerly occupied by The Globe -- specializes in small tapas style dishes, which are most notable for his delicate but authoritative use of vegetables for flavor and texture. Some dishes feature foams and other molecular gastronomy, but not in an overly showy way. We started with sweet dinner rolls with a fantastic coconut butter and a couple of the signature cocktails, including one chilled with a tea bag in an ice-cube (gets better and better as you let the cube melt). As appetizers (really more like tapas), the five of us shared beets with soft boiled egg and wasabi (I don't usually like beets but really liked this dish), bone marrow with tuna tartare and fried quail eggs (delightfully rich when spread on crispy buttery toast), gnocchi with roast pork (my favorite of the starters), a very flavorful celery root "canned" soup, and oysters & pearls. A 3-year-old was satisfied with curly pasta and fungi (the biggest serving among these small plates, it would have been a bit rich if not shared). For entrees, I had a monkfish (kind of like cod) that was delightfully chunky and flaky, complemented with root vegetables that were surprisingly delicate and flavorful; two others in our party split some roast veal, which was tasty but perhaps a little tough; and another person had a very small snapper (rolled up shaving sashimi-style) and sweetbread croutons -- that she said was great. Also, she also ordered one side dish: A squash creme brulee that was worth fighting over. We all shared two desserts -- a sort of apple crisp ice cream and the ricotta cheesecake (a foam dish). Both were spectacular. Plus our server was excellent -- knowledgeable and attentive. The space is designed very comfortably; although it got loud later toward the front of the restaurant, we sat toward the back and dined early, so noise wasn't bad. Be aware that servings aren't large, but they're more than made up for with complex, well-balanced flavors. A wonderful, unique dining experience.
(5)
Nestlee M.
I liked the decor and wait staff. However, it was not just loud, it was VERY LOUD. And we were in a booth. It is clear that The Spence wants to be a restaurant, not just a bar, because they are proud of their menu and there are many tables and few (if any?) bar seats. Since everyone says it is noisy, it wasn't just noisy last night. The owners must like it that way. There was a background music track with a heavy bass plus bad acoustics. Four of us got together to have a nice evening out and we thought we'd try a new place. We couldn't hear each other. We started w drinks and stayed thru dessert, but as we were leaving, each of said we would not come back. Food was above average (several small plates were great, hamburger and fries were also good, the duck was so-so). I am not sure who they want as customers, but not us.
(2)
Barbara S.
As good as a new restaurant can be! But, this is not the place for everyone... Let me tell you the story...I came right from work, literally the building next door, so I was still stressed and, living in the hotel across the street, tonight I just couldn't face another mediocre sushi or salad from the neighborhood student joints. I was a tiny bit leery of this place as it's clearly a step above the neighborhood, and I had not heard any reviews yet. In fact, I didn't even know that one of the owners was Richard Blais (so even though I cried when he won Top Chef, I was not yet granting any unearned points to the place). The eccentric but warm decor with odd table choices tell you right away that this is not your father's steakhouse. I was given a choice of seating areas/styles - one of which was a "get to know your neighbor" communal table. My mood being what it was, I took the booth in the back, stuffed in my computer bag, and grumpily took a look at the menu. As others have mentioned, it's a little tricky to figure it out the menu. I couldn't, at first, get my mind around it. So for my first step, I asked for a limoncello drink of some kind, sort of a mojito, margarita, lemony, fizz. Geesh, I couldn't even articulate a drink I wanted. BAM! It was exactly that, and now it's called the "Babs", after me! Please feel free to enjoy at will. Nice! Drink in hand, I was able to start asking questions about the menu. If you aren't comfortable asking questions about your meal, this might not be the place for you. There were small and larger dishes in the same list, causing me to really think about what I wanted to taste rather than just picking one from each category as usual. The descriptions were factual, without hyperbole, which means I had to actually picture the dish and taste it with my mind to make selections between foods I might not have had very often (or at all) and certainly not combined in the ways these were... Fortunately, I have priorities, so I was able to start at the back end, ordering a ricotta cream dessert that I thought was a ricotta cheesecake, but no, when it came (at the end of the meal, of course, I'm not crazy!) it was a beautiful ricotta cream decorated plate with chocolate crumbs and berries... personally I would have sprayed the berries with a bit of Licor 43 for an added aroma, but I do tend to use alcohol way too much in my own desserts! I initially thought to order a pate, and the beets looked good too, but after discussing the menu with the waitress, I ordered the duck confit, which is finished in the oven to get a crisp skin and brought covered to capture the smoky essence. I thought maybe it was gimmicky but to my surprise, it really did add to the pleasure of my experience. And that's all I'm going to tell you about the dish because taste is personal. Despite what the food shows will have you believe, we all have different palettes, and we should be tested and surprised rather than given the expected flavors each time. By the way, it's been open a few days now and the wait staff was, at 6 pm at least, extremely attentive and organized. Taking my time over dessert, I looked across the way and saw a familiar face watching over the open cooking area. When the waitress came over, I had to ask who it was - afraid to seem silly in thinking it was actually Richard Blais. She confirmed it for me, and for once I couldn't stop myself from approaching a celebrity. I went over and congratulated him on a great meal, a wonderful restaurant, and oh, by the way, winning Top Chef. Bottom line: It's hard, financially risky and personally revealing to open a restaurant, and even more so when you are going for something that will challenge and entice rather than simply "meet expectations". I'm sure, as I go back these next couple of times, there will be dishes, or sides, that don't excite me as much as the duck. And yet, here's a man living his dream, committing his heart, soul and probably most of his wallet as he offers us the chance to critique his taste and his team's execution. It's brave, and in the end, damn tasty! Well done!
(5)
Sara B.
I have always liked Richard Blais on Top Chef and was very excited to try out The Spence. I grew a little apprehensive, however, after reading the reviews on this site. I have to say, I was very impressed. The food and the service were incredible. We were lucky to sit in Peter's section. He truly made it an enjoyable experience for us. He recommended a great Austrian wine we otherwise would have never chosen. I also appreciated the fact that he had an opinion - he is not one of these "Oh, everything is great" types. He directed two people in my party to change their entrees based on our wine, and both were very pleased with his suggestions. As for the food - I loved everything we tried. We started out with the cheese plate (seems simple but was delicious), the oysters and pearls (loved them, but was worried about an allergy so I stopped at one), and the squash gnocchi (good, but I am simply not a huge fan of gnocchi). For our entrees, we had the lamb and the short ribs. The short ribs were tender and delicious. Peter also had us try the fried brussel sprouts. I have never like a brussel sprout in my life, but I think I could have eaten five orders of them by myself. We also had the squash creme brulee. Some have complained that it is too sweet. I thought it was delicious. As for dessert, I got the blood orange sponge cake with champagne ice cream. If I was not worried about embarrassing myself, I would have licked the plate clean and then asked for another order. All in all, it was a great experience. Between Peter and the food, I am going back again a week later! Highly recommended.
(5)
Scott H.
I was very excited to dine here after all the TV shows, and watching the Life After Top Chef, etc. Overall I ended up disappointed, there are some very good things but my main complaint was in the food. Parking: There's a Valet, that is very poorly run. I had to circle the block a couple times to even find them in attendance, and finally just parked in one of their spaces, they came up to get my keys as I went into the restaurant. Not a great first impression. Interior of the Spence, This was right up what I was expecting, it was early in the evening so it wasn't loud, and I found it to be quite nice. Service: I found the service to be very good, knowledgeable about the menu, prompt, helpful, great overall! Menu ; I found the menu to be confusing at best. It's simply not descriptive about the dishes, and this lead to disappointment in a number of the dishes that I tried. I also wasn't impressed with any of the cocktail descriptions so I ended up skipping them. It would be great if there was a bit more explanation on the dishes. For example, "Slab of Fois Gras" sounds like a slab of Fois Gras, it turned out to be something very different then what I was expecting, still OK, but not great. Food: I had the Oysters, they were exactly what I was expecting, having seen them tasted on the show. Very well executed, but very small portion size. 4 small oysters, and I felt like it should have been more like 5 or 6. Slab of Fois Gras : This was served cold, and was not at all what I was expecting. The toast was burnt, dried out , and hard. Just poorly executed, and one that I wouldn't have ordered had the menu been more descriptive. Pork Belly and shoulder: This was described by the Waitress as a pork shoulder wrapped around a slab of pork belly. Sounded lovely, but turned out to be a slice of pork roast with a piece of undercooked under seared pork belly with some rather tasteless puree underneath it. Pecan tart with ice creme. The tart had no texture at all, almost like they took the desert and ran it through a food processor, then baked it, it was terribly sweet. The ice creme that was on it was very good, but extremely small. They could make the tart half the size and double the size of the ice creme. Overall my impression of the Spence is that it's a restaurant that is capitalizing on Richard's name, but does not have the attention to detail that he should be requiring. I would have never found it except for the Richard's involvement, and am sorry that I did.
(2)
Alaina S.
Good food, fabulous wine list, tasty cocktails. Servers are friendly and unpretentious, and their recommendations have been spot-on the past few times I've been here. The patio is lovely when the weather is nice, and inside has a wonderful relaxed atmosphere. Highly recommended.
(4)
Jess B.
Fun ambiance, great food and extra points for being within walking distance of my apt! My husband and I went here to celebrate his birthday and while it was a splurge, we both enjoyed our meal thoroughly. We started off with some cocktails; my husband really enjoyed "The Methodist". Then we split several of the smaller plates, which I highly recommend to sample all the tastiness The Spence is serving up... we had a pork belly wrapped in sturgeon dish that is easily the best bite of food I've had in awhile. Other highlights were brussel sprouts in a Thai vinaigrette and roast suckling pig... yum!
(5)
Academic Socialite X.
This was my 4th visit to The Spence & the only time I felt it was off. Tonight we tried the signature burger for the first time ("Juicy Lucy") & the also had the duck. Unfortunately, both were disappointments. Lucy was over-cooked to a grey medium-well. Flavorful, but dry & not up to the restaurant's standards. The duck was also over-cooked, tough & quite flavorless. While Lucy & the duck were both over-cooked, the accompanying veg. served with the duck were nearly raw & should have had a little more pan time. I haved loved my other trips to The Spence. The bone marrow served with raw tuna is an exceptional dish and one of the best dishes I've eaten at any restaurant! I will definitely visit again, but will probably stay away from the entrees & stick to the small plates. Also, at dinner the noise level can be deafening! Lunch noise seems much more reasonable. Blais is very often in the restaurant and comes out into the dining room at times. Fun if you're into the celebrity chef thing...
(2)
Jack H.
This is a 3.5 star review, because honestly there are still a few rough edges to be smoothed out, in my opinion. My lovely bride and I visited on a Saturday night for a birthday celebration. We sat at the bar, looking over the dining room, which was quite active and entertaining. Excellent Midtown eye-candy. The cocktails were first rate, on a par with Holeman & Finch and Bocado. The selections of wine by the glass were impressive. Standing out head-and-shoulders above everything else was the lobster roll on brioche; as good as The Lobster Roll in Manhattan (rest in peace). The hamachi tostada was nicely paired with the tequila-based cocktail. The next course was a true disappointment. The chicken-fried ribeye was gristly and overcooked. The lamb dish was just acceptable, nothing more. Dessert was a ricotta "cheesecake", but quite underwhelming. It looked like a little something that belonged on top of a big fat slice of true NY-style cheesecake. Where was the cheesecake? We finished the night with a couple glasses of Italian brachetto, and it was a beautiful finish. Service from our hungover server was above average. We will return because we are big fans of Richard Blais, but the Spence is not where we would expect it to be.
(3)
Brian A.
Went here for lunch recently and ordered the steak special. For $18 I received about 4 oz of fatty chewy flank steak that didn't have an ounce of seasoning on it (if you're not going to put salt/pepper on the tables then you damn well better properly season your food!), about 2 tablespoons worth of cheese grits and a few green beans that were overcooked. Don't go here if you're looking for value or a good meal. Blais is apparently resting on his laurels. What a shame!!! Will not be back.
(1)
Tina H.
went there on a Friday night. Loved the oysters, foie gras w/peaches, short ribs, caesar salad, juicy lucey. The bone marrow w/tuna and quail eggs were eh. Didn't care for the mushroom noodles w/egg.
(4)
Alan R.
4 stars for ambience, 2 stars for food and service. trendy, arrogant and does not seal the deal. I have lived abroad and in a few great food cities, and I was so excited to try The Spence, but sorry just was not wowed and for the price I need wow. I understand the menu concept, but just way, way too limited. Very overpriced. Best thing was wine list, but too pricey.
(3)
Michelle B.
I really am not giving this place a bad review, it was just not my type of dining. It is a very safe cute area of town, but next to a college campus, who in college can afford the items on this menu !! When you walk in it is very hip and happening, very hipsterish, am not sure I like the open concept of the bar, interesting and maybe a good concept for more of a causal dinning atmosphere. Loud was an understatement, we where dining here with friends from out of town, between the music and other conversations it was extremely distracting. The sweet-coconut butter served with the rolls was interesting. As was everything else on the menu. Our friends who are foodies loved the food, especially the oysters, seafood pasta, and the ever changing menu. For me overpriced strange pairing dining is not for me.
(3)
Teri S.
4.5 stars. The only thing I would change is the very loud noise level (hence 4.5 stars instead of 5). Every other aspect was brilliant. Genuine service, outstanding cocktails & wine and delicious food. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Kelly W.
Absolutely fabulous! Richard Blais was my favorite Top Chef personality and his cuisine does not disappoint. The atmosphere, including the open kitchen, was very fun and modern, yet inviting. The cocktail and food menu were overwhelming as there are so many great, inventive options. We ended up with the Hamachi and Spaghettini apps, the flat iron steak and pork belly entrees, and the milk chocolate/peanut with burnt banana ice cream dessert - all were 'melt in your mouth' good and very fun to eat. Our server wasn't the warmest, bubbliest person, yet he was very knowledgable and attentive. Chef Blais was there and greeted us at our table - such a fun, personal touch! Now if he would only open something in Chicago where I currently reside!
(5)
Broderick S.
I've only had an app & a drink here but enjoyed both immensely and prices seem fair, especially with cocktail prices rising - was surprised to have numerous $9 options. The uni spaghetti w/ lobster was delicious
(4)
Shay B.
My party agreed that while we enjoyed our meal, not one of us would rush back to The Spence. With every menu item, you get the feeling that the goal of The Spence to impress fans of cooking competitions so that you know, without a doubt, that you are at a winner's restaurant- which is both good and bad. Interesting dishes are a nice, but not every single item needs to be exotic (example - an app of bone marrow with tuna tartare and quail eggs). Food good need not always be complicated. Despite the constant attempt to up-sell and flip our table as quickly as possible, our waiter was very attentive and entertaining.
(3)
Kim A.
It's unfortunate that I have to give the Spence only 2 stars because Tech Square needs a more upscale restaurant, I just don't think this is it. The food is so ridiculously overpriced! We had a drink each, some oysters, and two burgers and ended up paying around $120. I have no idea how this happened or how our tab got so out of control. The staff is pretty snooty, they really aren't interested in helping you or coming back to check on you either. Drink refills? Forget it. The burger was pretty good but not good enough for $16 so I can't say I'll ever be coming back. Don't waste your time or your money here, there are much better restaurants in Midtown!
(2)
Janice B.
Our party of six dined last night at The Spence. It was so disappointing in so many ways. The service was absolutely horrible and deserves the worst of the review. A few key points: When delivering the wine our waiter announced that he would pour the first round and put the bottle in the middle of the table so that we could serve ourselves from then on. Um, service? When serving courses, he failed to provide utensils for the dishes or individual utensils for the diners. For some shared courses, he failed to provide plates. When courses were delivered the servers didn't know who ordered what and frequently misdelivered. Timing was terribly off between courses with only appetizers having arrived 90 minutes into the meal. As we sat beside the open kitchen, we saw the finishing chefs chatting idly while we waited for our food. But of most concern in the kitchen beyond its lackadaisical delivery was the fellow with the surfer hair draped over every plate. No hair net or bandana and a set of bangs down to his chin. We were fascinated to watch it swing over the food. He tossed his hair back every time he lifted his head in order to see the next plate coming. One dining companion tweeted the image to Blais to say, what? It was so unkempt that we checked each plate for hair. Great way to spend an evening. And then there was the food. The magret duck was beautifully done as was the hamburger. Oysters were fine as was the pork terrine and french fries.The smoked rigatoni, tortellini and squash brulee equally so. For those, two stars. However, the ribs were stringy and dry, suggesting cheap meat and overcooking. At nearly $30 for the plate, diners deserve better. The grits were bland and recall Waffle House quality. The Brussels sprouts, inventive with the use of mint were in fact briny. Yes, briny. The halibut was grossly overcooked and oversalted, a real shame given the potential of that fish. The pate was mediocre in execution and plating. The pigs feet empanadas were mostly dough and deserve no revisit. The Fall salad unremarkable although the beet salad was good. One companion order a glass of Viognier, specifically asking the server if it was available by the glass. Assuring him that it was, the server delivered a glass without a word. My companion tasted it and recognized that it wasn't Viognier. He asked the server who then said Viognier wasn't available by the glass and so the server had chosen what he considered to be the closest substitute. This is simply not okay to do. Not a word of this decision-making would have been shared had my companion not asked. In what service world is it okay to do this without a conversation? So we hit about 50% good food, 50% that should never again be served and perhaps the worst service ever received in Altanta. Plus the hair show and a sound level that made shouting necessary to communicate. But that's a minor point compared to the rest. Given that our bill before tip was over $500, we expected, and deserved, better. If Blais wants to charge these prices, then teach the servers to serve, clean up the chef, fix the quality of dishes, adjust the pacing and the delivery, and act like a better restaurant that respects clientele and delivers on its prose. We were sorely disappointed by the entire experience as it was a holiday treat for us all to go out together and nothing short of food poisoning could have made that dining experience less of a treat.
(2)
Kimberly R.
First off let me say the food at this restaurant is amazing! I had the kale Caesar and fried Brussels sprouts and my friend had the Juicy Lucy (fancy name for a burger) and we were both beyond satisfied. She had some kind of specialty cocktail that came with liquid smoke that she said was really good as well. I only had wine but was happy with it. The ambiance is adorable - very chic and trendy. We're both a little on the fence about the location given that's in right in the middle of all things university. Not sure how well it will do considering college kids aren't known for their wealth and there's a Waffle House right across the street. Hopefully they survive because I would love to eat there again. Fun place for a date night. The one gripe I did have was the service, or lack thereof. Our waiter, when he was around was really good and knowledgeable about the dishes and everything however he didn't come around very much. There was one point where we literally just sitting there waiting for him to come take our cards. He didn't even seem to notice when he finally did come back. Other than that, it was a great experience and I'll definitely go back.
(4)
mary F.
i'm going to officially call "bull puckey" on every single on of the reviews that dogs the spence....especially those that dog the food and service. the ones that have beef with the location....okay, fair enough. first, the food: the oysters are fabulous, fabulous bites of heaven. one of the best dishes for sure in atlanta. the bone marrow and tuna is stellar as well. I saw a review saying it wasn't "big enough"? let me say two things on this: it's extremely rich and the only way portion size becomes an issue is when your dining mate(s) gobble up your portion. the macaroni and head cheese is a MUST try- if it bothers you to eat head cheese- get over it to try this dish. man, the juicy lucy is divine; the squid ink pasta is insane; the spring tart and brussles sprouts are also ridiculously delicious. yes, you still want desert. the service is stellar. the only thing i could improve upon were the cocktails- they were good, but not as stellar. the wine list was solid though. this now rivals one eared stag for best place in atlanta.
(5)
William R.
Weird experience. It has potential, but not sure I'll return to eat there again. Four of us went on Saturday night. The place was crowded - cool bar with an interesting drink menu. It was hot though and the kitchen is literally in the restaurant. The menu is cool and more like a Tapas menu. The portions are extremely small on most dishes. Although Pork Belly and their burger are huge. So it's hit or miss, but everything we ordered - hamachi, octopus, brussel sprouts, creme brulee corn, etc, were all very tasty. Stuff comes out of the kitchen completely randomly, so be ready for that (like Tapas). Service was completely uncoordinated. Their wines weren't chilled. They seemed confused. Not a smoothly run restaurant. Worth checking out, but don't if it will last.
(3)
chessie s.
Overall, I really enjoyed my meal at The Spence. We were looking forward to the meal in no small part because we had been following Richard Blais' restaurant trajectory on all the various Bravo shows. The space and food did not disappoint. I really liked the concept of the open bar (wines stacked above you, long tables for communal drinking and you see the bartenders work in front of you). The decor hit just the right sweet spot of modern and hip, but not being over the top. It's still very comfortable. On the night we were there (a few days before Christmas), the food and drinks were incredibly good. Highlights were the eggnog, the pearls and oysters, the bone marrow, the lamb and the squash souffle, but really everything I tried was excellent. One of the better meals I have had in a while. There were a few missteps though, and thus the reason for four stars and not five. The music was incredibly loud. We were a party of six and I had trouble hearing not only the people at the other end of my table, but also the people right across and next to me. It might have been where we sitting, but it was uncomfortably loud. Also, the service. The service was perfectly pleasant, but our server was pretty slow. We waited a long time for our first round of drinks and in between, and there were lulls between courses that went on too long. We stayed till closing, and we waited a long time for the check. We were all ready to go, but our server was nowhere to be found. And again, although pleasant, she did she particularly inspired by or knowledgeable about the food. I was really looking forward to the bouche de noel for dessert when I saw it on the menu, and we ordered it. Although pretty, it was actually very dry. The other two desserts were good though. All in all, it was a very nice evening with very good food. I just wish the music had been a tad more quiet and that our service had a been a bit more peppy and focused.
(4)
Todd S.
I enjoyed the food and was pleasantly surprised after reading the reviews. I went with a few friends and we tried just about everything on the menu sans the entrees of which we only had the steak and juicy Lucy. My faves were the Rigatoni with Octopus and bottarga, hamachi, and pig feet empanadas, Although not a pig bone marrow fan I found that it along with the tuna tar tare and quail egg to be tasty as well. Misses for me were the squash pasta dish. I cannot remember all that went into the dish, but for me the pasta was a little doughy without all that much flavor. I give it 4 stars but would probably lean towards 3.5. One of my friends although happy with the food did find a rather long hair on one of his dishes. I overlooked this as it was not on my plate. He would probably not be so kind. I am generous in this regard and see it as something that does not happen all that often, although I did notice a similar statement in a prior review. I assume that the OCD Blais will correct this issue otherwise these reviews could start to trend negatively. I would definitely go back and was particularly happy with the corkage which is 0 on the 1st bottle and $15 on each additional. Hope that does not change. Overall good value for this level of food.
(4)
Destin D.
I have to start by saying that the milk chocolate with peanuts and burnt banana ice cream really saved the meal for me. It was like an episode of Chopped where one of the chefs really nails the dessert round and wins the competition. Otherwise, it was a pretty tame meal mostly because of the service. I really wanted to love the Richard Blais upscale-ish restaurant, but it didn't meet expectations. Yes, it was a client dinner and a table of 10, but the server committed one of the deadly serving sins. After the entree is served, you must follow up soon thereafter to make sure everyone is okay. That didn't happen. There were some missing sides and meat that was not cooked to the requested temperature. There were often empty wine glasses and too many long delays between meals. The restaurant was full for a Thursday, but not overly slammed that we couldn't have been paid more attention. Besides the service, the ambiance was fun. There's an open kitchen and wood fire grill and the farm to table concept is on full display. The music was a little loud though. I agree with Angela M. in that the food was all delicious, but it lacked a "wow" factor, except the short ribs, I guess. They are served with a lid that is removed to show smoke. Smelled and tasted delicious, but not amazing. The brussel sprouts were a very good side choice. Overall, I feel like my review mirrors some of the other recent reviews. Service and entrees need work, but this place certainly has the potential to do great things.
(3)
Kate S.
Food was great. We got a ton of stuff and it ranged from really good to amazing. Unfortunately, the place is just too loud - cramped tables, no sound-proofing and booming music. I don't want to work that hard to have conversation.
(3)
JP H.
This establishment has an ultra-cool vibe, fits right in with Midtown. My friend and I had our last dinner in ATL here and it ended on a good note. It was true to Blaise's modern style and favors quality over quantity. I had the duck---the dinner menu changes frequently and I can't remember the exact preparation but it was delicious though there were a few pieces of silverskin on the piece of meat. That was my least favorite part of the meal and I would attribute that to the butchering rather than the cooking. The whole plate was just amazing when eaten together. Many run of the mill chain restaurants serve foods that are to be eaten separately but I encourage to eat food from The Spence TOGETHER, the way it is meant to be eaten. Sides are served "family style" I would say that is true for the brussel sprouts but the other side we chose was a savory brulee of some sort (sweet-potato like tuber is what it was described as) and it was more an individual-sized portion. By far my favorite part of the meal was the brussel sprouts; holy moly those babies are good. Dessert was so-so; not a great selection but tasty. Service was GREAT! Servers are extremely knowledgeable and appear to know more about food than just memorizing the night's menu. They are unobtrusive without being neglectful; just the way I like!
(4)
Bigatlwineguy S.
Excited for a new chef Blaise creation. For the hype, the food was very similar to home (his old restaurant) without the wow factor.
(3)
Jerry G.
Dined with a friend.. Heard this was a really cool place. Left before the main course was ordered.. It's not that good.. First, while imaginative, the food is mundane. Oysters and Pearls are interesting.. Oysters small however but the pearl component (nitrogen frozen horseradish) added an interesting twist.. Lobster roll way over rated.. Not much lobster and the whole grain mustard atop took away from the flavor. Fried Seafood small plate was nicely presented, not greasy but lacked flavor.. In fact the fried vegetables that were on the platter were better than the fish. Breading was a bit heavy as well so what little fish there was got lost but, still not greasy.. Wine list is long, beer list decent but the price for food and drink was a bit high for the quantity and quality. But it is in Midtown Atlanta so there is a premium to be paid. Apparently the chef is considered a celebrity.. OK, so please refer to my comments regarding Emeril's and how I tend to shy away from "Celebrity Chefs" and The Spence is a good indication why I have taken this position. Top all this off with the fact that it is physically impossible to carry on a conversation without screaming and you'll understand that this may not be the place for a quite dinner. Would I go back? Nope.. Would I recommend it? Not for dinner, maybe for a drink and only if the weather were great and I could sit outside where it is much quieter.!!
(2)
Laura G.
Excellent dinner! We dined Father's Day evening and the service and food was gret. I love how unpretentious the service was!! I felt at home here. The flank steak was delish as well as the lamb. The Brussel sprouts are a don't miss item. I also highly reccomend the fresh squeezed emonade and pana cotta cheesecake for dessert! Everything wa super fresh. Richard Blais was walking around as well. I am already planning our next visit!
(4)
Steven H.
Just tried The Spence with a good friend. Overall, I give the place 4 stars. Excellent interior, though the space is a bit loud for one on on conversation. Love the open bar, that the bartenders (as well as customers) circulate around). The food: Excellent. One of my favs, the Oysters & Pearls. Absolutely incredible. An order is only 4....I could have eat two dozen! Get more than one order of these. The bone marrow and hamachi tartare was also excellent, though I think I would have prefered it chilled, instead of warm. Will be going back, until I've tried all the inventive cocktails....had both the Fairbanks Fizz and the Methodist and both were excellent. Our server was very good....so friendly in fact, he chatted a bit too long.....you almost wanted to tell him "shoo", go check on our food and let my friend and I chat, but he was too sweet.
(4)
Davis H.
I really had high hopes for this place after reading all the reviews but it was honestly a terrible experience. Here's why: there were six of us. Our table was literally 2 feet from the kitchen so by the time we walked out we were sweaty and smelled like food. The service was Terribly slow. I'm talking it took us an hour just to get our appetizer and anouther 45 minutes for our food. I think it was the kitchen, not our server. They only had 5 entree choices and none of them sounded good to me. I really had to struggle to find something. My entree was ok. I got pork belly and prawns. I was excited for the prawns but when it came it had one prawn on it still in the shell. I tried to peel it but it was a sticky mess. The pork was fine. Very small portion. What topped it off for me was the valet afterwards. We had to wait 25 minutes for our car. There were only two valets working and the parking must be far away since it took about 6-7 minutes for one car. So overall I left extremely annoyed and hungry. Will not go back.
(2)
Mark H.
I was skeptical with all the reviews about bad service. Nothing ruins a good meal more than bad service in my opinion. The service was beyond good, seems like they have corrected that problem with a vengeance. The food was fantastic, we did the little plates and tried a bunch of things. The oysters were my favorite, but I also really liked the bone marrow and both kamachi plates. I went with my parents, we are foodies, and love good food, this is good, We loved it all, completely out of the norm for them, but they were impressed as well, thank you for the great meal, keep it up!!
(5)
Tara M.
I love the variety of styles of food on the menu. Italian, Asian, American, etc all thoughtfully created and executed. The wine list is unique and the recommendation made to us was perfect. This was one of my top culinary experiences in Atlanta thus far.
(5)
Vanessa L.
Stopped by for drinks the Saturday after they opened. I immediately fell in love with the atmosphere; very lively and inviting with simple, sophisticated decor. The bar consists of two long parallel high top tables with seating on each side; the alcohol is stored above and drinks are made wherever the bartenders find an open spot. Our bartender was very friendly. I'm looking forward to returning for dinner and trying some speciality cocktails.
(4)
Yung B.
I went for lunch and ordered the pork belly tacos (the one thing on the lunch menu that did not have a creamy substance on it--I can't really deal with mayo/sour cream/etc). The tacos came out with sour cream on them. I asked the waiter if I could get them made again, since the menu did not mention the sour cream. He obliged, and then informed me that the coleslaw also had mayonnaise. Really sweet of him. When the tacos came back, they were dry with the guac and salsa on the side. Nice touch. Unfortunately, the salsa had aioli in it! The pork belly was fine and the tacos were nice and crispy. I could not finish and left a taco on the plate. I find myself unable to imagine the fatty tacos with the additional sour cream, mayonnaise, and aioli sauces. The waiter charged me a dollar extra--maybe there was a recent price change that was not reflected in the menu. I'm not sure if I'd go back. If you love creamy sauces, this is the place for you. This cuisine is definitely "New American" and I can see why many people love it, but it wasn't for me.
(2)
Courtny B.
My husband and I went to The Spence for my birthday and loved it. Being an avid Richard Blais fan our expectations were high of course and each course blew us away. Our waiter was great and I hate that I can't remember his name (Jack I think). Just ask for the guy from Chicago. He made the perfect suggestions for the "Blais Experience." We started with the bone marrow and oysters & pearls appetizers. Never having tried bone marrow we didn't know what to expect but the flavor combination was unreal. For entrees my husband had the pork belly with a side of the mac/head cheese with truffle and I ordered the seared duck with brussel sprouts. I hate brussel sprouts but I knew if anyone could make me a believer, Blais could and of course he did. The duck was phenomenal. My husband loved the pork belly. For dessert we order the cheesecake which was nothing traditional and more amazing than any cheesecake we've ever had. We also had a milk chocolate dessert with banana ice cream which was great but I loved the cheesecake dish better. All in all we couldn't have picked a better restaurant to go to. LOVE The Spence!
(5)
Eric S.
Overall my experience at the Spence was pretty disappointing. i mean, when the best thing we ordered was brussel sprouts, it's hard to think your going to go back. The service was pretty poor as well. We like to order a few different things with the intent to share. The waitress said they would bring one dish out at a time so we could enjoy at our leisure. Well that didn't happen, we were brought both appetizers at once, then it took about 30 minutes after finishing our apps to get our entrees. One of the entrees, a roasted goat with a ravioli and golden beats was pretty terrible. The filling in the ravioli was bad and the "golden beets" were not beats, they seemed more like turnips and the waitress who was pretty un-knowledgeable was very defensive of the kitchen instead of trying to satisfy the customer. The bone marrow and pork belly were good, but didnt blow us away, have had those dishes better at multiple other places in atlanta. Anyways i dont think i will be making a return trip. Although the decor was pretty cool.
(2)
Mariel J.
Just wanted to add a quick update regarding the lunch service - lunch is a great way to experience this restaurant. Prices were very reasonable ($10-$15 entrees) and the food was great. I went for the pork belly tacos with green chile, and they did not disappoint!
(5)
Angela M.
I love Richard Blais, and I would like to love his place. The ambiance was fun, but loud. The food was good. The service seemed a little disorganized. I had the shredded kale "cesar", the "canned" squash soup with pumpkin seeds, and split the mint sponge cake with sweet tea ice cream with my dining companion. It was all delicious, but lacked "wow". The "canned" soup is presented as a bowl with carrots, cheese tuile, micro greens, and pumpkin seeds over which a can portion is poured. It was very creamy, and just a little sweet. There was something about the flavor that really did remind me of canned tomato soup, but maybe it was just the power of suggestion. The other components added more texture than flavor, with the pumpkin seeds being quite thick and not as crispy crunchy as I expected. Then again, I let the soup sit while I was eating most of my "cesar." The salad was nicely spicy from the greens that seemed more arugula-sized than the kale I'm used to seeing. There was a little to much dressing for my usual taste. Don't get me wrong, this was all tasty food and I would happily eat here again, but it just didn't have the oomph that I was expecting. I'd remember the sweet tea ice cream from my visit to Home. The dessert was definitely the highlight of my evening. The flavors and textures were fun and well assembled, resulting in familiar flavors in new textures that was comfortable and exciting at the same time. I would definitely go back for that. The service was somewhat lacking. We were seated quickly, but then sat for several minutes before our server brought water. He always made time to explain why he was terribly busy, but he seemed to be in a hurry every time he stopped to take our orders or process our check. The checks were split easily for our party of 2. I'll happily try it again - especially some of the signature dishes.
(3)
Mary Ellen M.
Trendy and Tasty. We enjoyed the fantastic service from Peter with the cool eyeglasses. Fun atmosphere. Loved the loft ladder. Food (three of us shared several tapas items) was delicious. The Kahle salad is yum. Be sure to split the warm chocolate cake with honey ice cream.
(4)
Marta P.
This is my second experience at this restaurant since it has opened, and I come back with mixed reviews. We made reservations in advance and were nicely sat in the front of the restaurant (although the door opening with it being cold outside made it chilly at times). With the 4 of us, we decided to go with a few small plates and then do an entree each. We ordered: Bone Marrow, tuna tartare, & fried quail egg Beets, soft boiled egg, blue cheese, wasabi Squash gnocchi with boar ragout & chestnuts White truffle with "corkscrew" pasta & sunchokes For an entree I got the lamb sirloin with sourdough, kohlrabi & turnips and for dessert I got the ricotta cheesecake, blueberry, graham. I was slightly disappointed by the bone marrow. Although it was tasty, the marrow itself seemed overshadowed by the tuna, I could barely taste it. It seemed like the proportions of the tuna and marrow were off. The best part of that dish was soaking the bread in the bone to get the marrow juices left over. The beets were delish, I just wish there were a touch more blue cheese. It seemed to just be crumbled over to the side, but the contrast between the beets, wasabi, and blue cheese worked really nicely. My absolute favorite was the squash gnocchi. We gobbled that one up quick! It definitely tasted like fall. And the roasted chestnuts added a nice crunch element to the dish. The white truffle pasta was equally tasty. The server informed us that they have ordered too many white truffles for New Year's Eve so they were generous with it in the dish. The sauce in the pasta was nice and creamy and held to the pasta very well. The entree was also very good and portioned well. The vegetables were roasted, allowing them to still have some crunch, and cooking the kohlrabi gave it a completely different taste. My favorite was the sauce on the dish. I was disappointed by the dessert. It was a deconstructed ricotta cheesecake...but upon the first bite it tasted like those Jell-O Cheesecake pudding cups...I won't be ordering that one again. I suggest skipping that one. The other side of the table got the milk chocolate, peanut, and burnt banana ice cream, which I've tried before and is very good. All in all the meal was good. The good flavors overshadowed the mediocre ones. I would go back and try it again, but it's not really at the top of my list. Both times I went I loved the music (mainly bc it's what I normally listen to, a mix of Radiohead, Death Cab, some club music, etc) and the service and atmosphere is great. I love that the finishing station for the dishes is out in the open, allowing you to see every dish completed.
(3)
Stephie Z.
2 things: 1) The lobster roll ($17) is actually 2 small rolls with chicharones. I didn't eat the fried pig skin, but that lobster roll was delicious. Probably one of the best I've had in the city. It's making my mouth water just thinking about it. 2) The bartender/wine dude (skinny, tall, midwestern accent) is awesome! He is very knowledgeable about wines and was super excited when we wanted to try out some new ones. He made the visit for me (him, the lobster roll, and the fried cauliflower) ; I love when people are passionate about what they do.
(4)
Mayu A.
I LOVE Richard Blaise and am a huge fan of Top Chef, so when I heard about The Spence, I couldn't wait to go. Located at the intersection of Spring Street and 5th Street, this Midtown restaurant is very trendy. The interior has high ceilings, decorative lighting and tall curtains. The furniture is a mix of retro 70s and and modern metallic. It's a bustling restaurant with tight quarters and loud hip hop playing on the speakers. It has a very NYC feel which is also reflected in the clientele. My companion and I were seated at a 2-seater close to the entrance and window. He ordered the "Left-Handed Hummingbird" to drink, a tequila-based beverage with limoncello, burnt orange and a large basil ice cube. Yup, you read right, an ice cube with basil frozen right into it. Brilliant! To start, we ordered the English Muffin Pizza topped with Cheese & Basil and the shaved Fluke with Fried Chicken and Cucumber. The pizza was mediocre and something that could easily be recreated at home. The shaved fluke on the other hand was very well done. The presentation was like a piece of art. The fluke was thinly sliced and rolled into a rose bud. The fried chicken were very small bite size pieces packed with so much flavor. The cucumber was paper thin and rolled with a mayo-like sauce inside complimented by pickled radishes and celery. The appetizer was overall very light and tasty. As an entree, I ordered two small plates: the Bone Marrow topped with Tuna Tartare and Quail Egg and Bucatini with Peas and Bacon. My counterpart ordered the Arctic Char with Mashed Potatoes. I had only sampled bone marrow once prior to the Spence, so was hesitant to order it as my entree but it came highly recommended by a foodie friend as well as the waiter. The marrow melted in your mouth and the tartare complemented it well. The quail egg was fried and was a good addition but I would have preferred it to be a little runny. The Bucatini tasted like a pea carbonara with a sweet flavor from the pea sauce. The Arctic Char was slightly seared and served medium rare. Its similar to salmon and was cooked perfectly but for those who are squeamish to raw fish, this may not be the dish for you. For dessert, we ordered the Milk Chocolate and Banana Ice Cream and the Doughnuts with Milk Cream Ice Cream. Both were very good and the portions are small and easy to finish. Overall, the food was good. The service was HORRIBLE. We had four different people serve us throughout the meal and waited at least 15 minutes for our check to arrive. At first we thought it was because it was busy but as the restaurant cleared out, the server was even harder to find. When I asked another server for help in finding our server, she replied with "I don't know who your server is." Thankfully, we saw him from a distance and she reluctantly went to flag him down. I like Richard Blaise and was disappointed not to see him there but the food definitely resembled his style. Everything was delicious but nothing blew me away. The desserts were definitely the best part and considering the poor service, I'm not in a huge rush to come back.
(3)
Carol F.
Not impressed. Was hoping to be wowed but flavors really fell short of the mark. Tried the beef tartar, potted chicken, blistered peppers, pork terrine, pappardelle, bone marrow and cauliflower. The only two dishes worth mentioning were the cauliflower and the peppers. The restaurant was exceptionally loud. Not the experience we were hoping for.
(2)
Leigh B.
We expected to have a good dinner, and were still pleasantly surprised! The food is playful *and* substantial. Each dish was a total treat. The oysters were delicate and effing delicious. The bone marrow blew us both away. What a fantastic idea: to add the tuna to lighten the feel of such a heavy, intense dish. We both could have eaten and enjoyed several times that amount, and as much as I like marrow, I've never said that about a bone marrow dish. So impressed!! The steak was perfectly cooked and the mushrooms were last supper quality. The kitchen staff hit it spot on, and I couldn't be happier with the meal as a whole. We were there on a super slow Sunday night, but the server (Sabrina) was attentive and fun. I love the open line, and wonder if the chefs hate it when it's busy. Regardless, it's a really great feature to feel like you are in someone's home and they are in the kitchen cooking for you. Well designed. The team hit the mark on Sunday. Well done!!
(5)
Emilia L.
We went here for my friend's birthday dinner. I've never been to a Richard Blais establishment, so I was excited. The restaurant was nice enough to store away the birthday cake and bring it out at the end of dinner so the birthday girl was properly surprised -- I appreciated it that. We tried: Oysters and pearls -- the pearls were apparently made of creme fraiche. Very interesting and nice presentation. How the hell did they get the pearls to stay spherical? Fried sea creatures with uni tartar sauce -- This was a big portion. It was calamari, basically, with fried cauliflower and zucchini. I loved the tartar sauce. Bone marrow, tuna tartare and quail eggs -- Having never tried bone marrow before, I didn't know what to expect. The marrow itself wasn't quite my thing (texturally), but it was tasty. I wish the portion came with a bit more bread. Polenta with truffle oil and parmesan -- I was expecting a solid polenta cake. Instead, we got a bowl of creamy polenta, very similar to grits. This was absolutely delicious and perfectly paired with our chicken entree. Crispy chicken stuffed with foie gras, apple and turnip -- Unfortunately, I can't remember what exactly went in this dish. Our server kept raving about it, so I had to get it. While the chicken was not very crispy, it was moist and flavorful. I really enjoyed it. Our server was pretty on top of things and really took care of our large group. At the end, the birthday girl got her wish as Richard Blais was in the house and stopped by our table to say hello and pose for a pic or two!
(4)
Kirk L.
I don't throw around 5-star reviews so easily, but The Spence earns it. The little lady took me here for an early Valentine's day dinner last weekend, and it was an absolute home run. Great service, great food, great decor. Details, in order of preference: -Brussel Sprouts with Thai Vinaigrette. I hate brussel sprouts. I've tried them a number of times, and could never even finish one. Ever. But the little lady loves them, and the server raved about them, so we ordered them. And I couldn't stop eating them. They were amazing. As in, I would pay good money for them to teach me exactly how they make them. Yes, I've been wowed. -The Beet Salad was the single best Beet dish I've ever had. I'm not a huge beet fan, but I could have eaten another of these (and I still liked the Brussel Sprouts more). -Roasted/Stuffed Chicken - I almost never order chicken at good restaurants, but the server recommended this, and I'm glad she did. There was definitely way more going on here than any chicken dish I've ever had. Highly recommended! -Fried Sea Creatures - Simply fried calamari, oysters, and shrimp with a few fried veggies mixed in. I wanted to try something more unique, but we saw this coming out of the kitchen and it looked to good to pass on. And it did not disappoint - great breading, perfectly fried, delicious sauce - complementary but not overpowering. -Foie Gras - Good, but probably our least favorite of what we tried. Not notable. Oh yeah - and the bread and butter they served to start the meal was crazy good. Yes, I'm lauding bread and butter. And we had a few excellent cocktails as well. Seriously, you need to check it out. Go.
(5)
Gdawg W.
Portions are small. The appetizers for the most part minus the oysters and bone marrow had very little taste. The entrees were good, just small. The sides with dinner arrived after everybody at our table was finished eating the entree (service timing is horrible). Desserts (I sampled all of them) were not rich or tasty. This place is very expensive and not good. Avoid. There are much better places in Atlanta. I am not sure how this place has 4 stars.
(2)
Kevin J.
A little pretentious behavior mixed with over-the-top food makes for an ever so... SO-SO dining experience. Recent Top Chef contestant Chef Richard Blais serves up some good food, no doubt, but sometimes it's a bit too much. I think the fancifulness needs to step down and notch and focus needs to be put more into the taste of the food and not just presentation. With that being said, I thought the food tasted great. I just think that the service can get away with much more because of the name and "show" of it all. My experience might not be like all others but having to wait 30mins for a requested wine bottle, and having entrees come out before appetizers while other party members are still waiting on salads is awkward. Maybe we should just serve entire tables at once, and not whenever the food is ready? Let's get the kinks worked out before throwing food on the table.
(3)
Julee D.
Great food and service here. Loved the goat and potato gnocchi curry and brussel sprouts. Nice wine list too. Yummy bread and coconut butter spread served while waiting for our meal. My only complaint is the noise level in there. It felt like I was screaming across the table trying to talk to others I was dining with.
(4)
Andrew D.
I've been hoping to post a five star rating for some time. I've eaten all over Atlanta and the U.S. and have finally found my first in my home town. I don't think five stars means necessarily "the best food" ever or the "best" of some other category. I think it means, in totality, was this superior to others in the area in the same class. I have been to other Concentric Corp. spots and have generally been pleased. The Spence, however, sets a new standard for the company. The reservations, on Saturday at 8, were cheerfully and immediately honored. Our server, Mike, was top notch. The cocktails (from someone who usually takes his bourbon neat) were very tasty, interesting and fairly priced. I had the Beekeeper which mixed bourbon, honey and herbs while my wife had the Moscow Fizz which she loved. We had two "small plates," the pappardelle and the panzanella. One was rich and savory while the other was cooling on a hot August night. For entree, my wife had the tile fish which was fresh and wholesome while I had the Goat Trio which consisted of three different but complimentary locally sourced goat preparations served with a combo of creatively prepared vegetables. We also ordered the fried cauliflower served in a ginger, lime, cilantro light sauce. I generally don't write long reviews, preferring to recommend or not. In this case, it's a must try. We will go back again.
(5)
Gerry K.
Family birthday gathering went extremely well . Had assorted small plates, entrees and desserts. Porchetta, tile fish and juicy Lucy were superb. The liquid nitrogen sundae was awesome too. 5 stars for a great meal and atmosphere.
(5)
Tom C.
Alright y- let's talk about this place. Given it's location, they have to have valet, which they do. It's super-easy. You just pull up right out front, the valet is there, and the door is about 30 feet away. No complaints. You walk in and are _immediately_ greeted by a hostess station. It's literally RIGHT THERE. they should probably back it up, because it's a bit disruptive to walk right into it. But, that's no big deal. Right past the hostess station is the bar about which everyone seems to be talking. It's a "deconstructed" bar - it's supposed to be like being in someone's kitchen. Rather than sitting at a bar, you sit at some tables, and the bar is adjacent but "turned around" so you're essentially behind the bar. When we were there (7-8 on a Saturday), there weren't all that many people, so it was comfortable, but I could imagine them running out of space. More critically, if I'm going to be "behind the bar", I'd want to be able to actually see more of what is going on. The drinks at the bar were great. I had a "Franco Pop", which is a bourbon drink with orange bitters. It came in an old soda bottle with a straw. My wife had something with a bunch of foam on top, which was gin-based and really, really good. Our friends had one of the bourbon drinks also as well as another gin-based drink with mint. Once we were finished with our drinks, we moved to our table. (The table was ready when we arrived, but we told them we wanted to hit the bar first.) We were in the back of the restaurant, which is where you want to be, as you're removed from a lot of the hustle-bustle that takes place in the center, around the open kitchen. Richard Blais was wandering around the place, talking to customers, taking pictures, etc. He seemed like a nice guy. Our waitress was nice but not over the top on helpfulness. The menu, it turns out, is appetizers, small plates, and entrees. We had some trouble figuring out what we were getting into, so we asked her. Then, she gave some guidance. But, we definitely needed to ask for more information than we should have had to. But, that's fine. The food was great. We ordered a bunch of small plates. There was variation in how well they came off, but all were good. My favorite, without a doubt, was the poached shrimp tacos. My wife liked the squid ink pasta with lobster best. The kale caesar salad was great, and I thought the fried cauliflower was really outstanding. The wine list was pretty good, very wide in terms of coverage - a couple of CA's, a couple of French, a couple of Italians. Each section (White, Red, Sparkling) is divided into traditional and more exotic wines. So, there are wines from places you'd never think make wine. We didn't go too adventurous but did order a South African chenin blanc and later a New Zealand pinot noir. The chenin was ok, but the pinot was great. The one real downside is that it's LOUD. Someone in one review said its decor is like JCT but quieter. I disagree. The decor is more like ONE (the place is a ONE venture, along with Blais, who used to be there), with a bit of Empire State South thrown in, and a lot of noise. There is not much soft in the place to absorb sound, so hopefully they'll fix that.
(4)
Tina C.
Open kitchen and Bar atmosphere is Hip and Trendy, not for the stuffed shirt or overdressed older crowd. Unusual menu items that change often; whenever the Chef thinks or want something else cool on the menu. Quality ingredients presented beautifully. Hand crafted and unique drinks. Outdoor seating when weather permits. They have valet but it is hard to see, it's just at the curb at the front door. Again it's really hard to see on a crowded pedestrian covered area.
(4)
Katy N.
Dinner last night at The Spence was spectacular! This was my fourth visit and usual I was excited to explore the continually changing menu. We were delight to try and selection of new dishes and always amazed at the creative and thoughtful choices on the menu. The meal was kicked off warm homemade rolls with coconut smear. Melted in our mouth. Next we dug into chili corn on the cob dressed in queso fresco and cilantro. Not the most flattering dish to eat, but we'll worth it. We followed that up with steak tartare with quail eggs. Devine. Then to my favorite and most surprising dish - small scone bits with apricot jam and a slice of cheese (I didn't catch the type - sorry). It sounds so simply but the balance of flavor was perfect. My husband and I fought over every bite. I would go back for that dish alone. We finished the meal off with Mac and head cheese (not actually cheese but delicious) and a spicy rigatoni with duck and bone marrow. Now we didn't get the bone marrow on this visit but HIGHLY recommended. It is decadent and has you wanting to lick the plate if it weren't socially awkward. Go for it ;)
(5)
Steve O.
It was fun and different from most restaurants. The oysters were great. The juicy Lucy was a good surprise. I would go again for sure. There are plenty of dishes to explore.
(5)
Nancy R.
This place has been open for about 6 weeks but what a great place! It's near the GA Tech campus and they have valet service which is great since street parking is hard to find. FOOD: We started with the oysters & pearls which are 4 raw oysters with little rounds of horseradish & butter/cream with a touch of citrus and cilantro....delicious! For dinner, I had the octopus dish, which is cooked octopus with cucumber slices on top of potato cylinders with a drizzle of some kind of sauce with sprinkles of greens. This dish was too pretty to eat, but very good, even though it wasn't a big dish. We didn't get dessert, but we were given 2 very small gingerbread & creme sandwich cookies. We asked if Richard Blais would come around so we could meet him, and he graciously came to our table. My friend and I were like two little schoolgirls wanting to get a pix with him.
(4)
Ms. M.
"Relentless hospitality" -- that is Richard Blais' new credo for The Spence, and that is exactly what we got when we visited The Spence twice during our trip to Atlanta. Everyone at the restaurant, from the hostess who seated us to our server Karen Ann to Justin & Bob Amick to Chef Blais himself, made us feel incredibly welcomed and honored. But as wonderful as the service was, it was ultimately the food that really blew us away. Since we traveled all the way from California just to eat at The Spence, we had very high expectations -- not only were those expectations met, they were exceeded. The food was not only delicious, but we were also excited to have finally experienced Chef Blais' creative, inventive, and famous "tongue-in-cheek" cuisine. Over the course of our two visits, we were lucky enough to sample about 20 different dishes. It's hard to pick just a few favorites, but the dishes that stood out most to us include: - the famed oysters & pearls (a must-order if you're a Top Chef fan, my favorite oyster dish ever, and a great palette-pick-me-up if you're getting too full and feel like you need a second wind); - shaved hamachi w/ fried clams (I thought this dish would be kind of boring because every restaurant these days serves a raw sliced yellowtail dish, but boy, was I wrong to have assumed that Chef Blais' version would be like any other such dish); - bone marrow w/ tuna tartare (I have had a lot of bone marrow, and this one is hands-down the most flavorful and interesting I have ever had); - General Tso's sweetbreads (I will never be satisfied with regular old Chinese take-out ever again); - Salisbury lamb chop (I was so surprised and amused when I first cut into the chop that I will never forget that moment); - pork belly (far better than Woodfire Grill's); - corn creme brulee (it's like a dessert, but it's actually a sweet/savory side dish); - panna cotta w/ popped sorghum (it's light but so flavorful, and the popped sorghum really adds a great touch); and - ricotta cheesecake & strawberry (it's definitely not your traditional cheesecake, but it will make your mouth happy). If we lived in Atlanta, we would go back once a week to sample the changing menu!
(5)
Gilbert C.
Maybe the best meal I've ever had. Had the oysters and pearls, bone marrow, squid ink pasta and mussels. Everything was ridiculously good. Waitress was very patient In explaining all dishes with a smile. A bucket list stop for all foodies!
(5)
Henrik C.
Went to the restaurant on the 3rd night they were open. The restaurant is in the space where the Globe used to be in Tech Square. The restaurant space has been seriously refurbished and the layout is with individual tables, community spaces and booths. The kitchen part for preparation of the hot meals is an integral part of the main diningroom. The chef, Richard Blais, is well known for creative dishes. The menu card has a number of interesting surprises. The "lamb chops" are minched, the New York strip cut in slices, ... overall a very interesting set of dishes and the prices are surprising accessible. We tried foie gras and General Tso Sweet Bread for appetizers. Both were really good. The foie gras is almost like butter. Both of the dishes are large enough to share. For the main dish we had strip steak and lamb chops. The strip was fatty and what the waiter called a long island cut. The dishes were well prepared. The sides were on the small side, but very tasty. We had cheese cake and panna cotta. The cheese cake is an interesting variation, whereas the panna cotta was fantastic. Our server, Tony, was very attentive and had great suggestions. Fantastic service. This is a serious step up from the earlier restaurants in this place. Fancy food but also a bit pretentious.
(4)
Nathan O.
Open kitchen- watching as chefs prepare meals is a part of the experience in and of itself. The kitchen has two large wood-burning ovens, which creates a warmth to the room (perfect after surviving the downpours that we had) Service: We were greeted by 2 people at the door, seated by another, and presented with food options by our server. Throughout the night, three various people cleared our table for the next course, and always filled up our water glasses. There were often times where it felt like a passing server would detour from their current route to fill that half-empty (or half-full, depending on your outlook) glass without any second-thought. Starters: Hawaiaan roll with sweet coconut butter. These sweet rolls were delicious; fortunately we were given a second round of them after we quickly devoured the first four within seconds of sitting down after battling the rain. Oysters & PearlsOysters on a bed of black salt, with creme fraiche and horseradish pearls placed onto each oyster. I have never thoroughly enjoyed an oyster until this meal. Beef Tartare, harissa, caraway, and fried quail egg Served on a wooden plank, temperatures were perfect (for raw meat). Much like the oysters, I wasn't expecting to enjoy this, but the taste combinations were wonderful and I found myself scraping up the last of it onto my plate. Smoked Beets with fresh ricotta and pineapple A well-balanced salad, the largest portioned dish of them all. This should be a staple of every dining experience at this restaurant. Bone Marrow, tuna tartare, fried quail eggs* If you could imagine a steak that could melt in your mouth, this is the result. A generously-sized bone filled with marrow, tuna tartare, and served with bread; the bread is needed to mix everything up and serve it until the plate is bare. This is my definite top choice. Foie Gras terrine w/ texas toast and candied pecans* This is a French dish, and a much fancier name for duck liver. I expected a dry and spongy texture, but was pleasantly surprised by the amount of flavors involved. It was very soft and spread onto the toast almost as if it were a paste. Explosive in flavor, wonderfully prepared. Main Dishes: Smoked Linguini and Clams, sea-beans and scampi butter The most "standard" dish of the night; much like a fine dish from a European seafood and pasta spot. Still delicious, just not as adventurous. Roasted Lamb Sirloin with Sunchoke, okra, and red cabbage Fantastic presentation- this was the only meal-choice that I didn't get my hands on. The inability to try it leads me to assume it was quite the treat. Long Island Duck breast w. Mild mushrooms and eggplant Caitlin's favorite; eggplant-based sauce smear and a very subtle mushrooms arrangement. Beef short rib w. smoked potato and horseradish The short ribs were extremely tender; one of my favorite pairings with the vegetables. I typically can not stand the bold tastes of horseradish, but loved this dish. Sides: Macaroni and Head Cheese I was initially very intimidated by this dish; my first head cheese sighting in a local deli had me convinced that head cheese was the unwanted fruitcake of meats. The macaroni was cooked and presented at perfect temperature, with a layer of head cheese melted and served on top.This dish isn't nearly as scary as it sounds, but seemed to taste much like the bacon mac & cheese dishes I've had at other restaurants. Fried Brussel Sprouts, thai vinaigrette If our moms had made brussel sprouts like this when we were kids, we'd all be vegetarians. The vinaigrette that it's tossed in was tangy and delicious. Deconstructed desserts: With Richard Blais, every bite is the "best part" of the dessert. These desserts were meant for those of us who can't stand to finish a piece of pie with the thick, undesirable crust remaining. Each bite was well-balanced and full of flavor. Lemon Curd, Toasted white chocolate mousse, meringue No way to explain it; just awesome Ricotta cheesecake, blueberry, graham Blueberries treated with liquid nitrogen to create a temperature-induced punch to the mouth with each bite. My photos can't show it, but this was one of the most beautifully-presented desserts I've ever seen. Cheesecake will never be the same. Mint panna cotta, cucumber sorbet, sunflower cake Refreshing; you could smell the distinct cucumber sorbet the moment it was brought out to the table. Warm chocolate cake, honey ice cream, almonds strong, intense chocolate- we're not talking standard milk chocolate either. This is the father of all "molten-lava chocolate" dishes that you'd find at many a American restaurants. Keys to Success: Pass your plates- there are too many great things on this menu to just try one. Leep an open mind...and wallet- adventurous souls will have a great time. Be bold. The statement of our night was, "don't be afraid of the headcheese" Enjoy the Spence with an intimate group of friends and family. Prepare to engage in your meal.
(5)
Matthew D.
We came here for a friend's birthday dinner and understanding we would be drinking, we cabbed, there is valet and know that parking in this area is tough. I had been to a few Richard Blais establishments before and I have always enjoyed myself, but nothing that left me with a 5 star experience, so to speak. That changed with this meal. The atmosphere is open, the bar was buzzing and the little touches like the seat up icon for the men's restroom and the seat down icon for the woman's restroom were clever without trying too hard. This is not the place for the claustrophobic, the bar is right in the middle of everything and tables are close. It didn't bother my group at all since we were looking for more of a party like feel, then something romantic. As for the food, they have a mix of small plates and entrees. We passed around the small plates and enjoyed everything. The Bone Marrow, hamachi tartare and fried quail egg was my favorite. It was like eating a campfire in the best possible way, smoky and rich, just incredible. I would put it on par or even slightly ahead of the Holeman & Finch version. The grilled octopus is a must and the beef tartare was good, but if you were only going to get two small plates, that one could be left off. The braised short ribs were wonderful, juicy and flavorful without trying to be too complicated. We shared 3 or 4 desserts which were all great, I don't have much of a sweet tooth and I still enjoyed them. To Recap: The Good: The atmosphere forces you to have a good time, great buzz about the place. The food was inventive and fun, I love it when you can try some dishes you would never attempt at home. As a little bonus Richard even came to our table and was a perfect gentleman. I was really impressed how he took the time to chat and thank us for coming, very classy. The Bad: If you don't like tight spaces, are looking for something quiet, like to park your own car, you would be 0 for 3 here. The Band This Restaurant Most Resembles: Early Rolling Stones. Loud, fun and looking for a little trouble.
(5)
Dalan C.
Was totally excited to check out Richard Blais's (one of my all time favorite Top Chef's ) restaurant. For those who complain about his food being pretentious, you obviously don't know his style. The place is beautiful and trendy looking. The service I received was completely awesome and friendly. The price is a on the more expensive side, but I thought it was worth every penny for the experience of eating at this place. I started with the compressed melon salad, and the presentation was stunning and it tasted awesome. Next, I had what I would call an Arancinni ball. That was balls of richness and one of my favorite dishes. My main dish was the Scallops. Cooked perfectly and presented even ore beautifully. Loved it. Because my main dish took so long to come out (there were 2 huge parties ahead of my ticket), the servers gave me a try of the Oysters and Pearls, I normally don't like oysters, but man these things were amazing. Finally, I ended the night with the best dessert I've had in a long time, which was a burnt banana ice cream with brittle and i think cherries? Chef Blais was walking around and greeting patrons, I just wish I had a chance to take a picture with him, but I didn't want to bug him.
(5)
Ray L.
As a big Richard Blais fan, I'm happy to say that this was a delicious experience - though the restaurant did show it's age a little, as a little expected from a recently opened establishment. Though confusing I bit, the deconstructed menu grew on me. There's no traditional sequence of starter, salad, soup, primo, entree, etc. You simply pick 1-2 of what you think looks good. But don't confuse these for small plates... the servings are hearty. Juicy Lucy - I think this cheese burger beats any of the ones I've had at Flip burger. This is Blais' best burger. Cod - perfectly cooked with a light crispy batter and moist fish Fries - triple cooked for a good crunch. Served with some type of homemade ketchup... taste buds couldn't place the infused taste... bourbon ketchup maybe? Fried brussel sprouts - delicoius and sturdy. Lightly glazed with a sweet sauce Cheescake - creatively squeezed out like a pudding. Not a traditional slice of cheesecake. Very good. Pineapple upside down cake - very good. One of the heavier desserts. Delicious, but kind of what you'd expect. Chocolate pudding - decadent and yet light at the same time. The elusive 5th star isn't included because the service was a little clunky and needs time to mature. Our server had trouble communicating the dishes... talking too much about some dishes (and all the technicalities) before we even showed any interest in them. Also tended to interrupt conversations... needs to be more conscious of what's going on at the table. With a little more training of the staff, this could be a fiver for me. Would be excited to come back to the area and try it again.
(4)
Hieu H.
The Spence makes me excited about Atlanta's evolving culinary scene. After winning Top Chef All-Stars, Richard Blais could have easily struck it out in New York or LA. But he chose to stay and create something that's speaks to Atlanta's palette. Forget the molecular gastronomic gimmicks (though there are subtle touches here and there), Blais really brings his A-Game with dishes like the Oysters and Pearls and the "Juicy Lucky" burger. Show-stoppers include the smoke and mirrors theatrics of the Pork Belly and Octopus entree that's brought to the table encased in smoke. Once the glass cover is removed, you're instantly assaulted with a cloud of smoke revealing luscious pork belly and tender baby octopus. I loved everything about The Spence. From the open kitchen to the amazing bread and light-as-air butter served on a wooden plank. The only dish that felt a little flat was the Uni spaghettini with lobster. It was a little heavy for an appetizer and could have been served as an entree. The salty oceanic taste of the uni was a little lost, and the lobster a little scant. For dessert, the pineapple upside down cake with fois caramel was too cloyingly sweet and the flavor of fois almost non-existant. Everything is quintessentially Richard Blais. A little tongue-in-cheek, and always walking the thin line between hi-brow aesthetics and simplicity. I can really see The Spence becoming a great spot for locals with a surprisingly affordable concise menu and a well-curated wine and cocktail list. The maldito's crutch is prefect for a warm summer night - light and refreshing. Another great recommendation is The Spence's take on a Manhattan with an absinthe cube. A great twist on a classic. Loved how the wine is divided into the "tired and true" and the "leap of faith". I'll always put my money on the unexpected. Looking forward to coming back and trying more of Blais' culinary dishes. Let's just hope he doesn't mistake the girl with the skinny jeans and sky-high stilletos as a stalker!
(4)
Sarah K.
Exceptional service. Delicious food. Perfect for "order and share". Try the kale salad and chocolate cake!
(5)
Jean-Marc P.
First visit, a business lunch - the food was delicious and the service quick and knowledgeable. We'll be back for dinner soon.
(4)
Phillip D.
The disappointment started as soon as we arrived. The food is terrible and the drinks aren't any good either. The ambiance is nice, but I don't think a restaurant can just ignore that people come there to eat too. Steer clear. For more details: 1) The beer menu is terrible. There's nothing wrong with getting creative on the beer list, but this place doesn't have anything worth drinking. This is low hanging fruit for them, start carrying Sweetwater, any Sweetwater, and you'll see instant gains. People like good beer, serve it to them 2) My girlfriend's cocktail was served in a soda bottle. According to her it tasted like a bottle full of "sour pucker" schnapps. I don't know what that tastes like, but it sounds turrrrible. Next easy fix, make tasty cocktails. It isn't hard, people do it ALL the time. 3) The steak tartar was covered in salt. I'm guessing to cover the use of questionable meat? I don't know. It might have been bearable, but there wasn't any good way to wash it down (see point 1). 4) I was there at the prime time of Saturday night and the exchange went like this: Me: I'll have the scallops Waitress: Oh, I'm sorry we are all out Me: Really? that's odd. Waitress: Oh yeah, it's because we source everything from Atlanta Me: Atlanta sourced scallops? Waitress: ah.... Ultimately, 1/3 of the menu was unavailable. There is no excuse for that. When you own a restaurant and want to sell food, you have to buy it first so you can cook it when people ask for it. One entree, ok. Two, that's odd. 1/3 of the menu? Bush league. 5) The service, in general, wasn't good either. Drinks came slow and the timing on bringing the food to the table was all over the place.
(1)
J W.
Ask for Rori ! She took care of everything from helping order apps, small plates, mains, and desserts. Definitely have a lil of each! We had empanadas which were delish, the bone marrow with quail eggs which were nothing short of orgasmic. The rigatoni with clams was so good I wish they served this as a main. The lamb was tender and looked too pretty to even eat. Every dish was prepared immaculate and tasted divine. I didn't save room for desert but was delighted to have it. The chocolate pastries and orange angel cake I wouldn't have wanted to miss- worth it! Finally let's talk wine as The Spence had an amazing selection. We went with a cab from Lebanon and a cab from Macedonia. This is the place to branch out and try new foods and wines. You will not be disappointed. Don't forget Rori either she coordinates such a fine dining experience.
(5)
James P.
Will be going back.
(5)
Jennifer B.
The Spence has the most original, creative, thoughtfully prepared and delicious food and drinks that I have ever enjoyed. My son, his gf and I went on a Monday night - the place was quite full and I was glad we had made a reservation. It is located on 5th right in the Ga Tech area, near typical college semi-fast food places. There is valet parking but he didn't show while I waited. Luckily, I snagged a meter space in the street. The place is attractive - clean and simple decor, which is becoming a little cliched lately. The atmosphere is city sophisticated and really great energy. Richard Blaise was buzzing about and I could also see him preparing food from my vantage point. I felt a little Top Chef starstruck. But the food - wow!!! we started with oysters and pearls of something delicious and bone marrow with hamachi tartare and 2 tiny little fried quail eggs - rich and flavorful. I had the beet, blue cheese, beet and wasabi salad and soft boiled egg plus the grilled shrimp small plate - it was all I could do not to lick my fingers - delicious. I had the Maltido's Crutch drink - also very good. It was just the best meal.
(5)
Gabe M.
I always enjoy The Spence. The service is good, the space is cool, and the food is good. We had the oysters and pearls, which we superb. Then we had some sandwiches that were both great. I also got soup which is always served table side. The butternut squash soup was excellent on a rainy day.
(4)
Shakira I.
The ambiance is the best part. The waiter and bartender provided superb service and the food was delectable. The wine collection is even better. My new favorite place.
(5)
Terry F.
A friend and I went to The Spence on another acquaintence's recommendation. Nice location in Midtown near Georgia Tech. They had valet parking, which came in handy since it was starting to rain when we got there. Service was okay, but we were wondering where our server was a few times. We decided to stick with Pinot Noir, so we tried the Mt. Difficult and the Cristom. This is mostly a small plate place, so we chose the beet salad, lobster knuckle, porcini noodles and pate de campange. For desert, we shared the ricotta cheesecake and had some complementary petit fours.
(3)
Sali Y.
I just wasn't impressed. The plank they served my meal on was not large enough to accommodate the meal, and the food was just mediocre. The daily salad was quite yummy, but my fish dish was just ok.
Had a chance to try out the newest restaurant from Top Chef all-star Richard Blais last night. I was a little apprehensive before going because as a traditionalist chef I'm not a huge fan of the molecular gastronomy movement. I can appreciate the science and creativity behind the food but my tastes are more simple. Overall I was very impressed with the entire meal and service. The space is warm and inviting while adding unique elements such as an open bar and kitchen with two wood burning ovens which add a nice smoky flavor to some of the dishes. The menu is a little difficult to navigate but the waitress knew it inside and out and we tested her knowledge extensibly! The layout made sense once it was explained. We were with another couple and the husband is also a chef with stints as executive at several well known restaurants around town so we were analyzing the food, service, drinks and even flatware! Most of the menu consists of small appetizer plates which can be shared among the table which I would suggest. We also ordered the lamb entree to share. This is not a place where I would order in a traditional manner (appetizer and entree for each person). To REALLY get the full experience you should share 6 small plates and 2 entrees for a table of 4. My only complaint was the size of the desserts. The portion size for the appetizers and mains were adequate but the desserts could stand to be a tad larger. Overall a great experience, amazing service in a cook atmosphere and adequately priced for the quality. Will definitely go back.
(4)
Barney B.
So at first I was perplexed by a 'less than 4' star review of this place. and then I walked there. and realized that, ok, this is not quite the location for this kind of place, so the less-than-stellar reviews are part due to the student-plus-tourist mix of folk that might not quite get what Richard is trying with this place..... ....and then I ate there. and I actually get what the goal is. but it's a goal is see off in the distance. it's not quite here. Because really, if you want to hit the goal, you have to deliver. as in, give what is meant to be on the plate. Instead, every question we had was answered with 'oh you didn't get that' and then an ingredient was brought out on a small plate. Or it was met with "hmmmm. I don't know, let me ask why this ingredient wasn't discernible" to be followed with an explanation of "well yes, it was meant to be a hint, almost imperceptible" really?? then why add it to the description? as it was, what we got only resembled the description viscerally, so anything you add to the mysteriousness of the vagueness that people aren't supposed to taste is just a big FUCK YOU of snobby proportions, right? (I mean, wasabi isn't something that even a hint is supposed to be hidden, dude. speck either) Top off ordering something that I was told 10 minutes later had run out, and you just show me that you focused on the periphery and not on the essentials of a well oiled resto. and the periphery is good. don't get me wrong. the space is cool. the concept is cool. even the menu might be cool. I just don't know. because anything we ordered either didn't quite match our extrapolation of what it was supposed to be - or simply didn't exist anymore , so we were writing our own plats du jour, it seemed. and for what we paid....we shouldn't have had to. but a solid two and a half is deserved because this could be a cool place - and the proof is in two things: the 'open' bar concept as well as....the burger - described only as 'juicy lucy' because um doy, why call it a burger!!! - but where it lacks in name, it makes up by making Flip seem pedestrian and causes the diner curl a toe or two. now let's focus on the rest, could we? because I want what I thought might have been on that menu. #cheers #thanks
(2)
Andrew D.
Hit and miss. Certainly a great addition to Midtown but I have my own take on the space and the experience. First thing that we noticed when walking in, is that there is no formal bar. Near the entrance towards the front of the restaurant the bartender is in front on a long stretch of ingredients. There are spaces to sit, but even those are pretty close to the front entrance. Just making the note that perhaps this is not the place just to grab a drink. That said, we were here for dinner. We had a few of the cocktails which were all in some degree or another Southern. Both cocktails were good and strong. We then switched to beer. Beer is all from small batch craft brewers. The exception was perhaps the Samuel Smiths Oatmeal which was the only one of the breweries that I had heard of. The beers were good, even if a but pricey at $6-8 a bottle. Drinks along with the service in general seemed to take longer then it should. I suspect the place is just getting its kinks worked out. Waitstaff on the plus side was very knowledgeable of both the food and drink. We sampled the Beef Tar tare hash, oysters, and The Uni Spaghetti. The Uni Spaghetti was for sure the standout of this lot. For entrees we had the Smoked leg of lamb and the Tile fish. I was not familiar with Tile fish but was most impressed with this dish. The fish was flaky and cooked perfectly with a creamy broth consisting of both capers and lemongrass. So good! The lamb had a very nice smoked flavor to it but was a smaller sized portion then perhaps we had anticipated. In going in, I suspect I expected a more refined, less casual experience, so perhaps that is why review is 3 stars. Knowing Concentrics, and how well they do upscale casual I should have known this would be more along those lines. I suspect I will be back, the Juicy Lucy sounds fun, and I need to try their strip. The Tile fish was great so that is probably my biggest call out with this review from only one dine.
(3)
Adabelle E.
Love this!!! Such a cute trendy place and a loud but fun atmosphere. Went there for a birthday dinner and say at the chef table having an up close view of the kitchen. I loved the vibe and food. Sounds simple but I strongly recommend the baby kale Cesar salad, delicious! The squid ink rigatoni with bacon and clams was to die for. I will definitely come back to try other dishes!
(5)
Paul S.
Oh Richard.... After much anticipation, we finally picked a birthday celebration to be our first of what most likely will be many visits to The Spence. Even though we're both a fan of his other restaurants as well as Top Chef, we hadn't done any prep work on our dinner so everything we experienced was like receiving wonderful little surprises, one after another. The Spence is fun! The ambiance is slightly upscale with a twist of loud and upbeat. The waitstaff is both knowledgeable and on point. Our service was spectacular and full of excellent suggestions. The food... adventurious and awesome. We had the Beet Salad, Bone Marrow, and Lobster Rolls with chicharones. All completely amazing and well composed. The plating was whimsical with class, the portions excellent with flavors that make you stop and say... damn. The highlight of the night ( a slight edge over the lobster rolls mmmmmmm) had to be the marrow... topped with tuna tartare and a fried quail egg served with toast points, it had to be the best marrow I've ever had. Our server even offered to pack up the bone for our dog to feast on when we got home. The best part... reasonably priced! We look forward to our next visit!
(4)
Matt C.
Everything that Richard Blais has touched in Atlanta has turned to gold, so my expectations were very high in visiting the Spence. I have been there twice in the past couple of weeks and I must say that the restaurant is good but not great. The menu is very forward thinking in the typical Richard Blais fashion, but unfortunately the portions are small and both times I have left hungry. The highlights are the fried brussel sprouts, oysters & pearls, and the short rib. The space is very slick and good for groups, but at times can be quite loud. It is a good addition for the Tech Square neighborhood which is filled with dreaded chain restaurants. Hopefully the restaurant will hit its stride because I definitely want to come back and continue to workshop at the culinary altar of Richard Blais.
(3)
Sophie M.
I love this place. Great food, great service. Interesting and different things on the menu, extensive wine list, cool cocktails.
(5)
Christine L.
I have admired Richard Blais from Top Chef and was so excited to experience The Spence. The set-up and ambiance was chic though sometimes too loud to have a conversation at our table and be heard. The experience that Richard envisioned for this restaurant did not come through. There was no warm interactions of the staff with the diners. I had the wahoo. While the flavor was not lacking from the chorizo and other accompaniments, the fish was dried out from being overcooked. My husband had the lamb and enjoyed it for the most part. The presentation of this dish was grand.... Perhaps they are still working through some things, but I'll be waiting to pay homage again.
(3)
Kristie K.
Last night three friends and I enjoyed an amazing dinner at The Spence. We did expect an exciting, adventurous meal (it's Richard Blais after all) - but we did not except such an incredible wine list and such impeccable service from our knowledgeable waiter, Peter. Seriously, he made us feel like VIPs the entire dinner, he educated us about the wines and the foods, and he laughed with us when, after each round, our plates were squeaky clean. As appetizers we enjoyed the bread, the gnocchi and the cheese tray. I would normally never order a cheese tray, but Peter steered us in the right direction and we were all impressed. Our main dishes included the lamb, the short ribs and the fish - and everyone enjoyed their entree tremendously. As sides, we selected the grits, the squash and the brussels sprouts. Again, I would never normally order brussels sprouts, but Peter encourages us, and The Spence's are to die for! Finally, we ended our meal with the deconstructed blueberry cheesecake, the blood orange cake, and the milk chocolate, peanut, burnt banana ice cream - which, not surprisingly, was the one round of food which nobody shared. Finally, after such an incredible meal and experience, the icing on the cake was the fact that it didn't cost us an arm and a leg. Everything is reasonably priced, which - of course - makes indulging all the more enjoyable.
(5)
Lisa L.
Not a fan of The Spence. I met a friend at this former Globe spot and admired the dramatic high ceilings and rustic tables and fixtures. When I arrived there were deep fried sweet breads on our table, an apparent error mistakenly rung up for another table. I ordered a March Hare cocktail, which was a bourbon, tea, lemon concoction that was yummy and playful with a ginormous ice cube dangling from a string. I started in on the sweetbreads and quit after a couple bites. They were crispy, sort of, with a mustard and caper sauce and dotted with an overbearing lemon ... something. This was the first time I had sweet breads so I'm not entirely sure how they should taste, but I know I don't understand the attraction. They tasted a little organ'y, but didn't have a lot of flavor aside from the accompaniments and were slightly chewy. I'd much rather have a nice crispy sweet vidalia onion ring. I wasn't fond of the menu that sat in front of me. I can't decide if it was pretentious or contrived, but there just weren't enough things that appealed to me and I was a little confused. Normally, when I'm at a restaurant offering small plates, I'm tempted to order way more than I know I'm able to eat because everything sounds so tasty. Not so at The Spence. We settled on the Bone Marrow, Tuna Tartare and Fried Quail Egg to start. Is this an attempt to combine the year's trendiest food items into one dish? I'm a little annoyed by this. There's no need to mess with bone marrow because it's perfect all by itself with some toasted crusty bread. The tuna tartare was overly lemony (what's with the lemon overkill at this place?) to the extent that i couldn't taste the tuna. The fried quail egg, while tasty, was wasted on this mess of a dish. We also shared a decent beet salad with a soft boiled egg that was nicely dressed. Keeping with the beet theme, we decided to try the beet papperdelle with duck, spinach and orange, which was recommended by our server. This one made sense and the flavors were beautifully complimentary. However, the pasta was overcooked, creating a viscous and mushy texture that was unappealing. My friend opted for a side of Squash Brulee that was a delicious custard of summer and butternut squash. This was definitely one of the highlights. For dessert, I ordered the Pecan Treacle Tart with Ice Cream and got something that I didn't expect. At the risk of sounding petty, I didn't get a tart. When I decided on this dessert, I pictured the pastry chef's interpretation of a pecan pie. What I got was some cake in a tart dish. It was a scrumptious moist cake, though, prepared with ground pecans and carrying a lovely brown sugar flavor from the treacle with a contrasting salty sprinkling on top. A small scoop of vanilla ice cream melted on top of the cake and I was happy to end my meal this way. Don't plan on having a conversation at The Spence, unless you want to repeat yourself or yell. It's really loud. I read previous reviews that talked about poor service, but our server was a welcome exception to an otherwise disappointing experience. Peter, with all of his glorious red hair, was friendly, efficient, helpful and appropriately distant. To end our night, as we waited for our cars at the valet stand, I noticed a sign on the podium that said, "$3" and "Gratuities Appreciated". I asked the attendant if the $3 amount was a suggested gratuity since The Spence website said that valet parking was complimentary. It is not complimentary, but $3, and since I rarely carry much cash, I'm glad that my friend was able to add to the $2 I had in my wallet. I don't see myself coming back to The Spence. There are too many other phenomenal chef-driven restaurants in this city for me to return.
(2)
Sarah N.
It pains me a little to write this review as I think of Richard Blais as a bit of a local rockstar. That said, after a much anticipated dinner at the Spence last night, I have to say I was a little disappointed. Not "no way will I ever go back" disappointed, but more "really? that's what I've been waiting for?" disappointed. Service: the service here was fine. Friendly enough, but not particularly warm or inviting. There certainly wasn't anything wrong with it, but it didn't stand out in the way most restaurants at this price-point do. Ambiance: warm feeling woods in an otherwise cold space work really well and the open kitchen is a fun touch. Not a huge fan of communal high-boy seating, which is peppered throughout the restaurant - might be better for a group but as a party of two, we asked for a proper table. Cocktails: I can only speak to the March Something-or-other, which was a solid bourbon drink with tea and honey. Good cocktail but nothing to go writing home about. Meals: Per the suggestion of our server, we opted to dine tapas-style and ordered the bone marrow (solid, not super innovative), the foie gras (really underwhelming - least favorite dish of the evening), the beet salad (excellent - the wasabi and candied nuts were a nice touch), the squash creme-brule (very sweet - should have ordered this for dessert), the chocolate ravioli with duck (such high hopes for this one - conceptually awesome, executed mediocrely including fairly dry duck) and the brussels sprouts (the clear winner of the table - almost ordered a second round). Menu notes: as with many restaurants in Atlanta, their menu changes seasonally. As we learned, the menu online is not always the same menu you will get in the restaurant. We are also usually dessert people but opted out after what we felt was a let-down of a meal. Parking: valet on the street which is $3 or you can find street parking, depending on how crowded that area of town is.
(3)
Heewon Y.
We went on a Friday night for a family dinner to celebrate my husband's birthday. Everything we ordered from drinks and appetizers to dessert was incredible. The oyster & pearls was definitely the favorite dish of the night. So good, we had to order some more. The lamb entree I had was phenomenal, and only made better with the side of Brussels sprouts. The MIL raved about her black bass. The presentation of the liquid nitrogen ice cream dessert was a nice finish to the fantastic meal. Th only thing that could have made our experience at The Spence better would have been to meet the man himself, Richard Blais.... and yes, that also happened!! He was gracious enough to take some pictures with us. What a perfect night!!!
(5)
Ryan S.
My girlfriend and I came in a month ago before the Kings of Leon concert. This was my second time here and I ordered the seared duck breast with sunchoke and turnips. We also had a charcuterie plate. My girlfriend had the carrot cavatappi. Food was outstanding period. The only difference between my first visit was the service was a little lackluster. Not friendly or informative. Our waitress the first time was over the top and one of the best servers I've had. Asides from that, an amazing atmosphere and feel and I'll be back.
(4)
Dio S.
Went to The Spence this weekend and ate the following: -Oysters&Pearls: decent but the pearls burst out into too sour of a taste -Fried "sea creatures" with sea urchin aioli: the frying is done very, very nicely and makes other fried dishes like the cod entree or sweetbreads seem like good bets. sea urchin in aioli was not a great idea though...the normally fresh taste completely replaced by a stale taste bordering on rankness. -Shaved kampachi+veal with some dressing: unremarkable...I'd much rather eat straight up kampachi sushi. -Bone marrow+hamachi tartare+fried quail egg: very heavy, but works nicely, especially the quail egg. with toast so good, I can eat this for breakfast. -smoked octopus rigatoni in a bottarga sauce: superb! octopus with perfect texture and flavor. delicious sauce although the bottarga sort of all melted into some goo, maybe by design. -mac and headcheese: a side dish. the execution is unremarkable but the idea is nice. Double the ratio of headcheese and it'll taste good no matter what. Also had 5 cocktails total and an ice cream dessert. Cocktails are fun and quite creative, though I found a couple of them to be too sour. The dinner rolls and coconut butter killed...I ordered a second helping while my wife ate the dessert. Overall, I found enough good things to like about Spence. Menu reads a lot like Octopus Bar's, very heavily Asian influenced, very keen to overload with heavy tastes, often could use a more delicate touch. The creativity is there but it's more Gatropub Blais than Alchemist Blais (think Element from 5 years ago). I like that you can make reservation...since you can't at a place like H&F or Octopus Bar. The space and vibe are likable but the open bar design is terribly-conceived: on two short rails perpendicular to the bartenders' prep area sit the customers, and the bartenders prep with their *back* to the customers, AND it's in the center of the restaurant so they have people to look at in front and to the sides of them! So if you sit at the "bar" you can't use the time-honored technique of using eye contact with bartender to get stuff done. We drank at the bar while waiting to be seated, and during ordering and paying (*both* getting the check and giving the card) had to stare at the back of bartenders (and it's not like they are shorthanded) for very, very long time, without anyone ever turning around to check. I could see we weren't the only ones frustrated by this. Complaints aside, a solid enough place with attractive menu.
(4)
Esteban A.
Only eat here is you want something that will blow your mind. Otherwise go to Chili's.
(5)
Jonathan G.
My wife and I joined another couple at The Spence on a Saturday evening. The restaurant is located downtown on 5th Street, just off Spring. Parking is valet. The dining area is open and high-ceilinged, but not carpeted at all so the noise level was very loud, at times so loud that it was difficult to carry on a conversation. The menu changes daily but on this night, most of the entrees were pork based. I do not eat pork or shellfish so there were literally only one or two items on the menu that I could eat. There were no vegetarian entrees. I settled on a salad, the black cod entree, plain and french fries. The cod dish was $33, which was the most expensive dish on the menu and the waiter did not offer to reduce it even though I ordered it plain. Our waiter was British and very formal. He was attentive but seemed a bit exasperated when my fellow diners and I asked for details about the menu items. The salad was fine, although the waiter never asked me for my choice of dressing. The cod was presented well, but it was not hot at all. The waiter apparently forgot to put in the french fry order, so those arrived about 10 minutes later, after I had finished the small portion of lukewarm cod. The fries were good, however. For dessert, I ordered a ricotta cheesecake which was tasty and creatively presented. All in all - this restaurant seems more concerned with style over substance. I will not be coming back.
(2)
George P.
I have read many reviews about the Spence saying they didn't like the portion size. I myself am looking for quality not quantity. If quantity is important to you, I would suggest The Olive Garden. I think they have unlimited salad, bread sticks and pasta for about 12.99. Now, onto the meal. We shared several tapas(the Spanish translation is small plates.) Some were just good; others were amazing! Here's the good: The oysters and pearls was a refreshing dish. It is a raw oyster with frozen crème fraiche(fancy sour crème.) It was good. The Fried Critters is your standard calamari, shrimp...etc. It was good but not out of this world. The foie gras was a terrine. Now the amazing: We started out with the bone marrow. Now for those who have never had bone marrow it is best described as if a steak and butter got busy and had a baby. It is meat butter. I would not recommend eating it without a piece of bread. What Blais does that makes his marrow stand out is he smokes it. It is possibly the best bone marrow I have ever had. The tuna tartar added a nice component to the dish and the quail egg was unnecessary. The mac and head cheese was absolutely mind blowing. Don't ask what head cheese is(it's not cheese,) just try it. I would absolutely go back! Blais has redeemed himself in my eyes after a mediocre hamburger restaurant and a great hotdog stand.
(4)
Jade D.
Spence needs work. LOVE love love Richard Blais from Top Chef and couldn't wait to try his food, but unfortunately, was very disappointed.... The problems started with the menu--it was, well, difficult. Difficult to read: the type is all caps and everything is bunched together; and more importantly, difficult to put your meal together esp if you're with a large party and not every one just wants to share. Many small plates and only 4 entrees so I made my meal up of (3) small plates which is normally okay by me but none of them were scrumptious really...Foodie ingredients aside, what I want to walk away from each dish with is that they are out of this world The service was good but on the slow side, as well somone in my party wanted a white wine spritzer...I get it, they shouldnt...and the waiter didnt feel she should either and kept trying to talk her into something else. Who cares, just give her what she wants (we report to her and have learned to just do that...hahaha)... The waiter brought 2 of the 3 as appetizers and the third with everyone else's entrees, which was weird, in retrospect, shouldnt he have brought 1 as my app and 2 as my entree ,but ,no matter no matter, it wouldnt have helped I suppose... The fluke with fried chicken was interesting and the cucumbers complemented it well, but it was on the small side, and the breading pulled away from the chicken which were cubes which I didn't like. It was decent overall. The bone marrow topped with Tuna Tartare and Quail Egg was greasy with a weird fatty consistency and didnt work... perhaps I am just not a fan of Bone Marrow as I read others that loved this dish and the waiter named it as one of his faves. I also had Beef Tartare which was fair/ I did not finish. I was with a large party and no one really raved about anything being delicious except the Brussel Sprouts that the table shared. These were great. But pretty disappointing overall ... Gorgeous place but the food's gotta shine--and it didnt :(
(2)
J1 J.
Parents took me here for my birthday a few weeks ago. I'm a big fan of the Top Chef series, liked Blais on the show given his penchant for molecular gastronomy and avant garde cuisine. I did have pretty big expectations given what I've seen him make on the show. Don't kill me, but the Spence, unfortunately, didn't live up to them. Sure there were interesting enough items - oysters with pearls made of creme fraiche in a tapioca form. Sea creatures with uni tartar sauce. Bone marrow with tuna tartare. I was hoping they'd have a sweetbreads dish or uni spaghettini which I saw on their sample menu online, but to my chagrin, those weren't being served the night we went. After ordering, we were given pre-meal dinner rolls with some coconut butter - ran more towards the sweet/dessert side of things, and was a bit off-putting prior to starting a meal, when i was craving something savory to start. First up, we had the oysters with pearls. The tapioca creme fraiche element was interesting, but there were only four oysters, the oysters themselves were small and honestly all I could taste was the vinaigrette they were put in. Also had the fried sea creatures. Mainly a combination of shrimp and calamari and vegetables, maybe 1-2 oysters thrown in. Fried well, seasoned OK. Breading was laid on pretty thick for my tastes. The uni tartar sauce was - well, it barely tasted of uni. I'm a big fan of uni, and I guess I was expecting more of that briney, sea water flavor. At the end of the day, the dish seemed like something I could get at chain restaurant. I think the standouts of the night were the trout and bone marrow. The trout was perfectly cooked, with really crisp skin, decently presented, but otherwise pretty straightforward, with little extras or interesting elements. Also good was the bone marrow with tuna tartare, which was prepared well, lots of flavorful, unctuous marrow to scrape off and complimented nicely by the tuna tartare. We didn't have any dessert as none looked particularly interesting (ricotta cheesecake, panna cotta). So I left wondering, where did the Blais I saw on Top Chef go? Where was the guy that put salmon and white chocolate together in the same dish, the guy that smoked raz al hanout into his food? Did we just go on an off night, when the menu options weren't as interesting? Maybe. Did he scale his menu back to better address the Atlanta food palette or please his investors? Maybe. Did I have unreasonable expectations of his restaurant based on what I had seen on the show? Probably. I guess I was partially expecting food along the lines of Achatz's Alinea or Dufresne's WD-50 - which I've only read and dreamed about but haven't actually tasted. Don't get me wrong - the experience was decent enough, and I'm happy Blais has set up camp in Atlanta and admire his inventive streak. Just want to see more of it, and maybe that'll happen if I decide to go again sometime.
(3)
Jen H.
Went for dinner while in town for work. I had many mixed reviews so was open minded when dining. I am from the gulf coast so I am used to a decent size oyster. Ordered the oyster and pearls to start. Very good, clean oysters, but a bit small. Also has the fois gras which was a good portion, but a patte which I didn't expect. For dinner, had the pork belly. Sides were amazing! Pork belly was a little too fatty compared to what I've had, but the meat of it was delicious. For desert, had the honey cake which was also very good. Service was on point. Was surprised at how slow the restaurant was. Would go back.
(4)
Fred J.
Mr Blais, I enjoy both FlB and HD1, and was really looking forward to The Spence. A friend had gone recently, really enjoyed it, etc. I didn't have the same experience. Let's talk about the service. I got there before my friend, and was pointed to wait at the bar. Ordered a beer, friend showed, and she went to the hostess to say we were all here. I was pointedly asked to close out my single beer tab by the hostess, which frankly, was odd as we were going to sit down not six feet away. The waiter dug through the tip jar to bring me change for my $6.38 Clown Shoes. Theme...Clown Shoes. Same bar waiter was now our dinner waiter. Don't get me wrong, he was very nice, but the service was up and down. To start with, we ordered the Roasted Veal and Kampachi appetizer. What came were battered chicken pieces and kampachi. No one talked about substitutions. Plate was very small, but the taste was okay. Let's just total this up, because I don't like long reviews. Kale Caesar, Thai Brussel Sprouts and the Juicy Lucy were really good. The Treacle Tart wasn't a tart, as noted by another reviewer, and the Milk Chocolate, Peanut and Burnt Banana Ice Cream desserts were overly sweet. Besides the kampachi, I think we had one other item, but I can't remember it for the life of me. The last comment about the service is someone would bring the plate, put it on the table and whisper what it was. Then, the waiter would come over and explain it. Don't think I'll be returning.
(2)
Greg C.
Service was great. We were running on a tight schedule, and they were able to accomodate us. Ambiance was interesting with the deconstructed/open-air bar and kitchen. Menu was mostly interesting, trendy small plates. I could see it being overwhelming for non-foodies or people with dietary restrictions. While most of the plates sounded interesting, the execution did not live up to the promise. All our dishes were well cooked and tasted fine, but were just a little off from our expectations. For example: We ordered a marrow bone with tuna tartar. I expected the tuna to be served to the side of the marrow bone, to serve as a contrast to the marrow flavor. Instead, the tuna was served on top of the bone, which completely overwhelmed the delicate flavors of the tartar. We also ordered the chocolate and hazelnut duck entree. Partially due to the brevity of the menu descriptions, I was expecting a sauce that incorporated chocolate and hazelnut in an interesting way. Instead we got duck in a typical fruit reduction sauce with some chocolate hazelnuts on the side. It was well prepared and tasty, but I've eaten duck that tasted like it a million other places. In the end, The Spence is completely competent as a slightly upscale, trendy eatery. Unfortunately, despite the promise of the menu, the dishes lack that special something that separates great restaurants from excellent restaurants.
(4)
Jorge O.
Don't understand how people can write a bad review about this place as maybe they had a bad experience buy mine and my wife's was outstanding. We had an earlier reservation (6:30) and found the restaurant easily, valet parking was simple as well. We were promptly seated and our server was extremely knowledgeable of the menu, wines and drinks on the menu. My wife and I opted to eat the small plates and appetizers as it gave us the opportunity to sample more of the food. We started with the oysters with pearls and fritto misto which were great. The oysters were so good, we ended up ordering five more plates throughout the night. Also ordered the trotters, octopus, bone marrow, foie gras and the pecan tart for dessert. We have eaten at most of Atlanta's high end restaurants and The Spence ranks right up there with the best. It doesn't feel very pretentious, the food is excellent and the service was top notch. An added treat was that Richard Blais came to our table and chatted with us and allowed us to take a picture with him. He checked up on us during our meal and others as well which is nice to see at a restaurant. My only minor complaint (very minor) was that it was a bit loud but not so much that I couldn't talk with my wife at a reasonable volume. We will be coming back here time and time again as we found a restaurant that compares well with other places in Atlanta such as Canoe, Muss & Turner's, Bacchanalia, Holeman and Finch and many others. Eat here, you won't be disappointed and if you can order a lot of small plates so you can taste a bunch of the great offerings.
(5)
Polo C.
I come here often for lunch, by myself or with guests. I like their "little lunch special" a lot, which includes a soup , salad and a sandwich. All these changes roughly daily. At $12, I think that's very reasonably priced and fulfilling. Their servers are always friendly! And service is fast. I'll go back again and again.
(5)
Kelsi V.
I had the Monkfish & it was amazing! Great service & lovely atmosphere.
(5)
Ryan L.
With high hopes of a great dinner with friends who were in town turned uncomfortable and unappetizing. Everything started off fine we ordered a couple bottles of wine with drinks while relaxing and looking over the menu. The waitress soon came out and told us some specials along with some restaurant week features (a set three course meal, sounded well). Shortly after we ordered our food knowing some would come out as an appetizer. The first course came out about 10 minutes after and then the problems started. We waited for almost an hour after our first course and we couldn't even find our waitress to ask what the holdup is. Sense the kitchen is right in front of you I could see all our food just sitting there in the cold no hot lamps and just starting to expire. To pass the time I go to the restroom and when I start my walk back to the table who do I see but our waitress cracking another waiter back right in the middle of the restaurant and getting in peoples way. The staff seemed way to comfortable and unprofessional something I would see in a 1 or 2 star atmosphere. We finally get our food after uncomfortably asking twice is our food almost here, which I think is the worst thing to have to do. Ready to feast down on my duck breast with much anticipation, soon to be utterly disappointed by the lack of heat in any part of my meal. The meal was cooold and this set me over the top with annoyance. Knowing I just waited 2 hours for a cold meal is not only ridiculous but so unprofessional for any restaurant especially one that is supposed to be at this level. I kept to myself and eat the horrible chewy undercooked meal, knowing I still have dessert coming. They remove our plates and we order another bottle of wine getting ready for some of our desserts to come out. I see a food runner from the rear come out with two of the desserts and place them on the table and leave, feeling as maybe she couldn't hold all three and went to get the third. After 5min pass I knew she wasn't coming back and I would again have to find our waitress from hiding. I finally see her walking pass our table when I speak aloud, I think you forgot a dessert with my meal. Her scowling remark at me asking for a dessert that I ordered was way out of line. I can see her stomping her feet and throwing a bottle of wine so loud in the trash it echoes through the restaurant while she types in the lost dessert and comes back saying it will take some time to come out. I can see the waitress in the back talking to another waitress while looking and gesturing towards our table as if we were so rude for waiting 2 hours and asking for our food, and then to set it off they asked me where there dessert that never came out was. That must be the rudest thing to do! I have never been so unhappy with a meal and service before. Richard if you read this as a suggestion have your chefs in a more professional outfit instead of tie dies shirts and hipster gear and please try and teach your staff about customer service. I did not see you in the restaurant and maybe they act better when you're around but when you are not there this happens. Sorry for the bad review but felt it was needed.
(1)
Anastasia T.
Why, oh, why Richard? Why you got to go ruin a good reputation like that, man? Flip Burger is awesome, you seem to know your stuff on TV, but have you already been swallowed by your Top Chef persona? Are you just another "celeb" irrelevant to actual food service? Are you like the Fabios and the Rachael Ray's of this culinary world? Don't you know that when you open up a "fine" dining restaurant in a foodie town like ATL, you need to be supervising everything to the "t"? I mean, I don't expect the owner/chef to cook for the patrons, at least not every night. I do expect them to have a hands-on- role in their own restaurant. Just selecting the menu (indeed very interesting menu) is not sufficient to put your signature under this facility. Let me just say before I explain, that if anyone wants to try this restaurant for a relatively low price, you should totally go: chances are your service will be screwed up, but they will comp you most of your dinner, so go! To me, it is not worth it, and that's why I am not trying this place again, not with all the other great restaurants I've yet to try. Money is one thing I like to save on, but not the only one: time is also important saving, and I will definitely not waste any more on this place. Four of us, Monday night. Place busy, but not enough to justify how slow the service was. But slowness wast not the only problem. Liked the wine list and ordered a Greek wine I rarely see here (Assyrtiko Sigalas, awesome white). It took them about 20 minutes to bring it (cause as they said they could not find the bottle!). May I just say, they charge $13 for a glass of it. My date and I decided to do the small plate thing, while the in-laws went with the full/regular plates: Juicy Lucy (cheeseburger) and Crispy chicken. We ( D and I) ordered the following: Bone marrow; kale salad; fries; sweet breads. I was SO looking froward to the bone marrow plate. That and the sweet breads came first. We tried to wait for the other plates to come so we can all eat together, but our food started getting cold. So we did start eating. Long story short. It was about 30' later that my in-laws got their food. And our other two small plates (salad and fries) came even after that, after we were definitely done with the rest of the food. It was just a disaster! We were so frustrated! We complained and they comped us my in-laws food (I guess it didn't matter that we got the salad last, but anyway). The food was not even that great: the bone marrow was 95% fat and a little too salty (bone marrow is fatty, but not that fatty). The sweet breads were good; the kale salad was average, and the fries were very good, as very good was the burger. But what does that say about a high-end restaurant when the best dishes are the burger and the fries? It says, stick with FLIP, Richard Blais!
(2)
Shannon H.
Everything is so delicious, and our waiter was very charming without being pushy. The only "complaints" would be that the food is just slightly above room temp instead of hot and the portions of the "main courses" are closer to tapas size. But the flavors are great!
(4)
Nicci R.
My husband and I went with a friend in a wheel chair over lunch. We were really unhappy to discover that the only entryway was up a few stairs. We went around the property and saw two patio options completely blocked by huge stone planters. The staff had to move stone planters and furniture so we could enter which created quite a scene unfortunately. Once seated, the restaurant has a nice atmosphere. We ordered the pork belly bahn mi, burger and soup/salad/sandwich combo as entrees. Burger was too charred and just okay. The bahn mi was pretty good and rich tasting. The chilled soup was poured from a can steaming from dry ice, i guess. Really everything was just average, except dessert. We ordered the cheesecake which came out completely deconstructed in the form of airy ricotta foam balls and crushed chocolate cookie crust piles. Very pretty and tasted great, except there really wasn't much to eat. When we were ready to leave, they has recreate the earlier scene by moving the patio furniture and huge planters AGAIN to let us out.
(3)
Chip P.
The first time in months that Bob has asked me on a date and I'm curious. Then he tells me we are going to the Spence. I am dressed in seconds flat. I pull out the very one and only seersucker jacket with white tailored pants. Looking my best and feeling it we enter. The bar is not a bar but the island in your rich friends kitchen. People that seem to be party goers mix drinks and keep you company. They return with your check. When a table becomes available you get it. The food. 4 stars is all the food. The lobster pasta we had was done in a uni sauce that I will dream about until death. The lamb was well seasoned. The pineapple upside down cake so great. The downfall was a "roll" that was served as we sat down. It was one of those roll's you got in a 24 roll case as a kid. Dry and boring. I thought it might be a joke but no one around was laughing. I loved having dinner here and have planned my return. I just hope Bob is paying oh I mean planning our return.
(4)
Dean H.
We enjoyed the Sunday Supper special of 4 courses with wine parings which is an amazing bargain. Beet salad was excellent but the marrow bone with tuna and quail eggs was the hit. Chicken roast with lemon curd tasted much better than is sounds. Fried cauliflower and bean side with Asian sauce wa my favorite. Strawberry-rhubarb cobbler was good. Service was excellent but slowed as the place filled. The outside patio looked great but it was raining. The regular menu is a la carte and it would be easy to spend a lot. There is large list of familiar and unusual wines well priced. On Thursday evening early, the bar was very quiet.
(5)
David B.
Super cool, molecular concept. Valet parking outside. It is located in midtown in a safe well lit area. Design is modern. Highlight is the hanging bar area where the upper bar that holds bottles is hanging from bolted ceiling supports. The music was old school hip hop (Dr Dre, Snoop, Outkast, etc. etc.) bringing me back to happier times when hip hop had something other to focus on than money, alcohol, and shouting out to the next rapper your trying to produce. The tables in my area were slightly close, but I'm not complaining. Our waiter was knowledgeable. There is possibly some Tom Keller inspiration (the first thing I noticed on the menu was "oyster and pearls". The menu changes daily which from a patron's perspective sounds exciting and edgy, and from an owner business perspective means that if they didn't sell the hell out of scallops the night before, yet sold all their tuna, they just eliminate fish from the menu and leave scallops as the only seafood entree option...(this is what happened last night). No big deal, because I like scallops. The menu concept is set up like tapas style. For appetizers we had the tuna tar tar on a marrow bone (femur of cow) with a fried quail egg. WOW!!! The presentation was excellent. The marrow and bone were oven cooked, browned and brushed in oil. They retained a smokey flavor to them likely from the wood burning oven. The fattiness of the marrow and quail egg eliminated any taste of the tar tar. The toasted bread that came with the entree was slightly overcooked leaving a burnt taste when combined with marrow, tuna, and egg. This was a show stopper however. I would order again. We also ordered the lobster knuckle sandwich appetizer. It came on a sweet, fresh bun with pickled relish and celery. I loved it. The salad was a Caesar concept but made with kale. I'm used to blanched kale, but I have to say this was interesting and not my favorite but not bad. The texture of kale to me is better fit for blanching and then cooked in oil and lightly salted with lemon. For an entree I had the short ribs, which were "roast-beefy" in taste, fatty and succulent. There was a nice balance of salty and sweet. For garnish sweet carrots and a blended white potato starch. I will be back here and give the place a high rating.
(4)
Ben B.
I came in for lunch and I really want to like this place since it is so close to GT. However, it was extremely disappointing. I ordered the lunch special ($11) which came with a half of a pulled pork sandwich, a 'canned' soup, and a garden salad. Service was good. The atmosphere is pretty cool. The food - utter meh. The sandwich - The best of the bunch and still disappointing. The pork was good but the sandwich had too much mayo and was overall bland and weird. It was a strange mix of bbq and curry (which could have been awesome but wasn't.) The bread was toasted in butter (think Zaxby's). The soup - Cool Presentation. It came out as a jar of crispy onions, peanuts, and other ingredients which the waiter poured hot cream of brocolli soup over. It was warm but bland. The salad - Worst salad I've had in a while. The greens and ingredients seemed ok but it was drowning in bad dressing. It had thin sliced radish, onions, mixed greens. This place seems to be all style and no substance. Perhaps the other entrees are better but what I had was extremely mediocre.
(2)
Jonathan D.
From the minute you step in this place, it's like a playful slap in the face from your buddy. It's a little startling, but you know it's meant as a sign of affection. Much has been made of the deconstructed bar space _ where the bartenders, booze, etc. are out in the open and not partitioned behind a counter top. It's jarring but pleasant and sets the tone for the whole space and the menu. As I was enjoying the second appetizer and groping for the right word to describe the total experience, the waiter articulated it in a conversation with the next table over: whimsical. Thanks, Kevin. The oysters and pearls were delicious. The shellfish themselves had a lot of flavor (and a difficult-to-remember Japanese name), while the frozen cream-and-citrus, dippin-dot-like accompaniments added the perfect accent. I enjoyed the snapper tostada, too. Spicy fish and tortillas make a great pair. But for the biggest gimmick of all, the kitchen produced a pork belly entree that comes with its own smoke-filled glass dome. To be honest, I'm not sure if the smoke enhanced my dining experience, but I give the place a thumbs-up for trying. It's the kind of stuff I've read about at daring restaurants like Alinea in Chicago but haven't been exposed to here in Atlanta before. So i think Blais has some lead time before the newness of the trick wears off. I didn't love the pork belly itself. In other places where I've had it as a main dish, the piece seemed more compact and less blubbery. Not sure if that's due to a different cut, or a way of cooking that renders out more of the fat. The cocktail I ordered was solid, but very vermouthy. After a few sips the pungency did recede, though. And the decor throughout the restaurant is pleasing _ somehow they managed to balance kitschy with sleek and industrial. Overall, a solid experience. I'll plan to go back.
Mistake on my part. I posted this under Ecco before. Apparently I had drunk too much of the lovely Viura! This place was a delight. A very good waiter helped it along, but the noise didn't. The high;ight dish were oysters with some horseradish pearls (nitro frozen), so they came as pearls and as they thawed they spread over the raw briny oyster. Oh yeah! The desserts were weak - a really bold chocolate creation would have worked wonders. they did have a viura from Rioja on the wine list - and that is both a rarity and a good thing!
(4)
Kathy J.
I'm sad to write this review, but feel like The Spence should hear it, if they care about Yelp reviews. My husband and I were excited to try The Spence while visiting Atlanta. We decided to course things out, starting with the oysters and pearls. I love mignonette on oysters, but these pre-dressed oysters tasted so much like vinegar, you couldn't taste anything else. Feeling like it was just an "off" dish, we moved onto the canned soup, which we thought was a clever presentation and one we've seen before. There was no can opening reveal, just lukewarm soup in an already-open can poured into the bowl. Ok, but only lukewarm and lackluster. Our final attempt was a pasta dish made with shell pasta and braised beef. This one was so overly salted, that we each took a bite and sent it back. We ended it there, skipping the short rib and dessert because everything had been so dismal. Went to another restaurant on the way back to our hotel, as it was our anniversary and we felt that the dinner was a disappointment and honestly, we were still hungry. We're fans of Blais, but felt like his level of expertise and care wasn't reflected in our experience.
The Spence is just great. Delicious and slightly molecular but totally accessible; cheap enough to try a bunch of different things; great bartenders and staff. They've got communal tables in the bar area if you don't have a reservation. The most amazing thing about this place is how open it is. The room is cavernous and there are literally no walls, counters, or even a bar separating you from the kitchen or the bar. The chefs work at essentially a tall table at the front of the room; i have no idea how they can turn out such great cooking in such small space. Bone marrow app is amazing and rich; the gazpacho was different and refreshing, and the burger is even special here. Get the corn creme brulee as a side dish, for sure. I wish they had a slightly longer cocktail list... they can obviously make anything, as the bar is teeming with good alcohol, but the cocktail list was only about 5 options long. No one wants to come up with more options? Not even a whiskey/bourbon cocktail listed. The fizzy gin one was superb, however... Read more here, with pictures: eattalk.net/2012/08/post…
(4)
Thomas W.
What a disappointment. I have long been excited about Richard Blais's dream restaurant being placed in Atlanta. I expected this to be another Atlanta Gem- something to compete with my big three: Rathbun's Steak, Restaurant Eugene and Bacchanalia. What I got this past Friday night was another Flip Burger: The food was pretty good, the music was way too loud, the service border-lined sucked, the bar menu was awful, the ambiance was terrible. I was so thoroughly disappointed with the Spence it's hard to talk about any one area...but I'll try. The menu was in the smallest print I've ever seen on a menu. Nothing jumps out at you. It's hard to even see where one dish begins and the next one ends. It's so poorly designed it's hard to understand what the person who designed it was thinking. The sound- if you want to be the cool-party place, by all means play loud music. However, understand that it takes away from the food. There is nothing pleasant or appealing about being blown away with Rock music while your trying to enjoy would should be wonderful food or wine. The bar drinks- fruit on top of fruit on top of sour on top of sweet. The didn't even have Crown for a standard Crown and Ginger. If you're over 25 stick to the wine, the drinks were awful. (If you can read the wine menu that is) The service. Blah. It's basically the same wait staff you would get at any average restaurant around Atlanta. The Food- Disappointing. The Uni Spaghetti was pretty good except they barely had any Lobster in it. I mean come on guys- charge $10 more dollars for the plate and put some lobster in it. The bone Morrow Tuna dish- interesting and strange- about what you would expect from Blais. I liked it. The Lamb and Duck- not bad, not bad. Dessert- decent, met expectations. Although the pineapple upside down cake didn't sit well in my stomach for the next hour or so. I left with a headache, a stomach ache from the pineapple cake and a hole in my heart. The is not a Top Chef worthy restaurant. This is not a dream restaurant. This is just another loud, run of the mill Atlanta restaurant. I could not be more disappointed. It was a shame. Blais is such an amazing talent but this restaurant is not the vehicle for his talent. My unsolicited advice for Richard Blais: stop running around the country trying to be a celebrity chef. Buy a hole in the wall building in Inman Park or somewhere off Edgewood. Dress it up. Get behind the line and cook. You have brilliance in you but no one will even know it if you keep lending your name to all these pedestrian restaurants. The Spence was a shame. Thomas C. Wooldridge
(1)
Doug S.
My wife and I really enjoyed our visit to The Spence. I'll say off the bat that the service was phenomenal, which really goes a long way at these types of places (since you may have questions as you are gorging yourself...). Started off with two warm rolls (made at Holman & Finch, I believe) with a coconut spread that was a great start. The wine, cocktail & beer list are all great - my wife had a gin, fresh lemon, and ginger beer cocktail that was unique and refreshing. We also ordered the bone marrow (awesome), the English pea pasta dish with bacon (surprisingly our favorite - a must try), the fried sea creatures, and the brussel sprouts in Thai vinaigrette (also a must try). The violet ice cream & marshmallow dessert capped it off nicely (and maybe a scotch or two). I'm glad I was a little loaded by the end so I didn't realize how much food I had just ingested...though it was totally worth it. The only downside for me here is similar to other restaurants owned by this ownership group - they go for a "cozy" feel by placing tables heinously close to each other which for some reason I absolutely despise. That being said this is a must try if you are in the area, at least for a drink and a couple apps.
(4)
Chan V.
This is my review straight up. I'm confused about this place. The small plates were VERY small. If you ordered anything, you get a bite size piece that is dressed up in side items that people don't really eat. You will spend a lot of money trying to get full here. The menu really doesn't entice me a bit. I came on a Saturday night (busiest night) and the menu changes every day depending on what's available. What does that mean? Leftover day? There were items like foie gras, halibut, bone marrow, spaghetti, and various bite size ingredients. Obviously the plate presentation was a key factor here but as far as having substance in your meal, it's not there. The food should be up for display and not really for eating. I ordered a strip steak instead which taste like pork due to some fancy method of slow preparation. If I wanted to taste pork, I would order pork. My six friends agree that the food was not all that impressive except the corn cream brulee and warm honey-glazed bread with coconut butter cream. The server recommended the popular Hemmingway Fizz cocktail but I had to get rid of it. The whipped egg white smell reminds me too much of sweaty kids on a hot summer day. The taste was exactly like water with lemon. The music was 90's hip-hop while the atmosphere was 2013 rustic modern. Like I said, I was confused. Perhaps this place was trying a little too hard?
(1)
Kate L.
The service started out incredibly slow. Nobody came to our table until about 15 minutes after we were seated. I'm not sure if this was a mis-communication with which servers were supposed to be at our table. Once we were served, however, we lucked out and ordered some good stuff. The Maldito's Crutch and Fairbanks Fizz cocktails were perfect and refreshing for a humid evening. The hamachi collar was delicious--I've never had it outside of sushi before. The corn brulee is a good side dish that's both sweet and savory. We also ordered the pork belly and sausage, and the juicy Lucy, and both were just the kinds of meat dishes you expect. The former was good, but nothing mind-blowing, and the latter was a good burger but difficult to eat. The pineapple upside down cake for dessert, however, was the perfect end to the meal.
(4)
Scott B.
I am really happy that I ignored the mediocre reviews on here and had dinner last night. I had a completely different experience than a lot of the reviews. The music wasn't very loud. In fact, I could barely hear it at all. If you look at my previous reviews, I am the first person to complain about loud music. The portions match the price for these quality ingredients. The service was a little cold at times. Not bad, but not Southern Hospitality. We had an issue getting our desserts. It was a simple communication breakdown at the kitchen. Not a huge deal. Our server took care of it. A great place to go and expand your palate. I would recommend ordering Tapas style and sharing dishes. Trust me, I didn't eat all of food listed below myself. Now to the food: -Oysters & Pearls- The perfect amount of heat to compliment the Oysters. A must try. They were so good that we ordered another plate of them. (10/10) -Fried Sea Creatures with Uni Tarter Sauce- A mix of fried calimari, swordfish (I believe), and vegetables. One of the larger portions on the menu. (8/10) -Bone Marrow, Tuna Tartar and Fried Quail Eggs- Come with a good amount of bread to mix everything on. Great flavoring and seasoning. Interesting take on any other way to serve tartar that I have seen. Must try. (9/10) -Pork Terrine with Kohlrabi - Orange Jam & Zucchini. Super sweet jam goes great with saltiness of the terrine. An improvement on the usual apricot jam that I normally see with terrine. (9/10) -Guinea Hen & Foie Terrine, Pistachios & Sweet Mascarpone- Best dish of the night. Best Dish that I have ever had. The terrine is great by itself, but the Foie Gras in the middle of the terrine was almost orgasmic. Best that I have ever had. A few other ingredients added to this. There was pickled ginger if my mind serves me correctly. Amazing. Two of us ordered this and couldn't stop talking about it. (10/10) -Milk Chocolate, Peanut, Burnt Banana Ice Cream - I was sold as soon as I saw burnt Banana. The Ice Cream was great. The texture of the chocolate was a little strange, but the flavors were spot on. I am not sure if this restaurant is too progressive for its diners, but put this in New York or Chicago, it would take weeks for reservations. I actually preferred this to Girl & the Goat, which is constantly receiving awards and accolades here in Chicago.
(5)
Dedrick B.
I was excited to see The Spence was on the Midtown Restaurant list, since I have been wanting to try it. Usually, I avoid restaurants with "pork belly" on the menu, since that just indicates that the restaruant is a tad too trendy for my taste. I wish I had enforced that rule in this case. On to the food. They brought out the bread, which tasted and resembled store bought Parker House rolls (or that's what we called these growing up). Note: there was also somethime called "canned soup" on the menu, and I am not sure why some trendy restaurants like to offer these types of menu items.(Example: government mac and cheese at Rathbun Steak) Do they want us to feel like, oh, this place isn't so fancy after all? The rolls were bland, so I took one bite. But the beet salad was one of the best I have had in this city, so no complaints there. I ordered the fish option, which was trout "cheeks", consistening of about 3 ounces of tasty fish sauted and served on a couple of tablespoonsful of pureed sweet potatoes, and a couple of asparagus spears. All I can say is that it was pretty tasty, but don't go hungry, since this serving was miniscule.. My friend had the duck breast, which he thought was a little too tough but flavorful. The chocolate cake with a dolllop of ice cream was good, but not something I would order again. (does not compare to the flourless chocolate cake at La Tavola)
(2)
Amy C.
Ever since I heard of Richard Blais and watch him win on Top Chef, I've tried any restaurant to which he is a co-owner or executive chef in. This year, The Spence, was part of midtown restaurant week and I couldn't have been more excited. I went and for my first course got his pearl and oysters which was very fresh but not like anything any other restaurant that offers fresh oyster? For my entree, I got the duck which I was VERY disappointed with when I saw it. IT WAS SO SMALL!!!! 5 thinly pieces of duck and I had asked for mine to be medium and received medium rare and it was at times SO RARE that it was hard to cut let alone chew and swallow. For my desert, I got the chocolate cake, and yes it was rich and delicious but again VERY SMALL portions. I am not someone who eats a ton each meal but I do eat (sorry that im not sorry for being ano Spence). Really, if you didn't pregame your meal at The Spence with a meal, you are NOT going to get full unless you are a child between the ages of 6-10. For how much it costs to eat here, there are PLENTY of other restaurants in town that are much better at the same cost, and oh! wait for it... will actually fill your tummy up!
First impression was waiting a half hour to be seated with a reservation. The appetizers were fabulous but the main course was very disappointing. Our duck was cold, the strip steak was over-cooked, much too salty and filled with gristle, and the fish was poor. The sides we ordered did not arrive until about ten minutes after we had finished our meal. (Of course, they were taken off the bill.) Our water glasses were empty and someone came with a pitcher that had enough for three of us. She never returned to fill the 4th glass. I wish I could be more positive but, if you do go, their apps are a must!
(2)
Sheila G.
Tried The Spence tonight because we're huge RB fans and if it was anywhere as good as Flip- we were fans! The atmosphere is great and the service was just as good. We played it safe (comparatively speaking) and ordered the fluke and the strip. they were both DELICIOUS! We also ordered the macaroni and head cheese just out of curiosity and I could definitely have passed on it. The entire center was cold. Not freezing by any means, just cold. I would have thought it was intentional except the entire plate and bowl it was served in was burning hot and steaming so we asked our server and she quickly replaced it for a new warmer one. I would definitely go back because the server said the menu changes daily so I'd be interested to try some more amazing dishes!
(4)
Melissa B.
I decided pretty early on in my visit I'd want to come back again. Nothing to do with the food yet, but the open layout of the space, especially at the bar is very inviting. Plus free valet in Tech Square is a great convenience as parking in this area can be annoying and not free. The hostesses and servers were very friendly and the cocktails are pretty refreshing. The menu has a good variety of options. They oysters were yummy, but I think I'm not quite classy enough to praise the 'pearls' they come with. I was curious and impressed by the idea of frozen pellets of creme fraiche...but I kinda just want some hot sauce instead (I know, already admitted I wasn't classy, don't hate). The smoke dome over the pork belly is a neat idea...but not being a big pork belly person, I was more curious to see how the sides were flavored by the smoke. And I must say that broccoli rabe should always come in a smoke dome, that was my favorite thing I tried on this visit. Great atmosphere and a great reason to venture into Tech Square, I'm sure this place will outlive everything else that was in this space before.
(4)
Ellen M.
Food: Hit and miss. Fantastic roasted carrot and radish salad served in a cold stone bowl. Perfect crunch with emphasis on earthy flavors of the vegetables themselves. Lamb, however, was kind of a mess. A lot of fat, even for lamb, and I thought it was overpowered by the spices. Good cocktail with bourbon, tea and honey. Setting: It's that ubiquitous cozy-meets-industrial vibe. Kitchen is open to the dining room. Good perch for people-watching with floor-to-ceiling windows that open to 5th Street and courtyard. Service: Competent. Friendly. Fine. Mixed bag, but I plan to try again.
(3)
Sophia S.
I have been crushing on this place since before it opened, and it took me a while to get here so I was overly excited. The whole entire experience was a disappointment. The server was absolutely awful, and the food was not that great. Our server said she was a sommelier but she knew nothing about wine. I ended up having to google things to figure out what we were drinking. I didn't think the oyster dish was worth the hype. On a positive note I loved the bone marrow, goat entree, brussel sprouts, and creamed kale. I did think it was well priced too for the quality of food we got.
(2)
Jeff M.
I've been here twice. Two for two. I came here shortly after it opened. I brought two friends who were visiting from out of town. First impression was fantastic. It has that same energy and feel say of JCT Kitchen, but less noise; you can actually converse with your table. The decor is not dissimilar from say Empire State South, Miller Union, or Cakes and Ale: lots of wood, modern, chic but warm and welcoming, cool but laid back. The open kitchen brings a sense of comfort and connection. The labels for the bathrooms reflects its sense of humor. The food is excellent. The bread and butter to start will get your mouth watering. The oysters and pearls was delicious and palate popping (though Thomas Keller's Oysters & Pearls remains the best). The bone marrow with hamachi tartare and quail egg was pure decadence. Superb. If you've never had bone marrow, try it here because you'll be hard pressed finding a place that makes it as good. The rabbit terrine with ramps and green peaches and beets, soft boiled egg, blue cheese, and wasabi were also perfectly balanced and delicious. The best dishes arguably will be outside your comfort zone. The entrees are equally impressive. The crisped pork belly with octopus and BBQ peas and fresh quail with vegetables were home runs. The Juicy Lucy (a cheese filled hamburger born in Minneapolis) is his best burger, better than any I've had at Flip. The triple cooked French fries are triple fantastic. The duck confit with succotash and beets is probably rivaled only by The Atmosphere's duck confit. The entrees are ambitious and diverse, but consistently excellent. Finally the desserts. No disappointment here. The ricotta cheesecake with strawberry and graham is sweet, savory, light, and satisfying. My favorite is the pineapple upside down cake with foie caramel. To me, this dessert hit me on all the right levels. I can't really explain it. Yes, it was satisfying to the taste buds. But it was something more. I've never really had a dessert comfort food. This is it for me. I've had it twice now. Everyone is incredibly friendly. As expected, there are some blips and bumps early in a restaurant's career. We experienced that more the second time around. Dishes were sent our way, which were not ours, and I sadly had to tell them that (though I question my decision as those dishes looked great). The first time, though, was issue free. In fact, one of the waiters had waited on me the first time I went to Bacchanalia. Ecstatic, he reacted in a way I didn't expect: he brought Richard Blais to our table! AWESOME! Down to earth and incredibly friendly, he took the time to say hello, talk to us about our dishes, elicit our feedback, and thank us for supporting him during these early times. I'm eager to watch The Spence mature. Once the early kinks are ironed out, the sky's the limit. It already surpasses Flip and HD1. Finally, the prior space used to be The Globe, which had been a favorite restaurant until I had an anaphylactic episode there (nut allergy), which sent me to the hospital. I haven't been back to this street because of that. With two great experiences here at The Spence, it provides satisfying closure to that chapter. I can't wait to return!
(4)
Emmelyn C.
In summary: Moments of brilliance from the food and service, let down by some execution errors which prevented it from being a really really great dining experience. Being big Top Chef fans, we couldn't miss eating at The Spence when passing through Atlanta - definitely curious as to whether Richard Blais' food lived up to all the hype. The space and decor are great with a casual vibe - I can see how it might get a bit noisy, but it wasn't a problem when we were here for an earlyish dinner around 6:45. For food, 2 of us shared the bone marrow with tuna tartare and quail egg, the smoked linguini with clams and sea beans, the oysters and pearls, fried brussels sprouts with Thai vinaigrette and a serve of the thrice cooked fries. All of it was tasty, with my favourites being the bone marrow (I would have picked up the bone to lick it), the oysters (the oysters were perfectly complemented by the creme fraiche and cucumber...even my raw-oyster hating husband liked it!). However, there were little things about the food that I felt could have been done better, and that I would have expected done better from Chef Blais to believe all his hype. Of the 4 clams our pasta was served with, one of the shells was empty, and another was incredibly sandy. The brussels sprouts were still tough in the centre, and were drowned in vinaigrette, making them over-seasoned. While delicious, the bone marrow dish was difficult to eat with the existing cutlery and would have benefitted from a specific spoon served with the dish (try shoving your knife into a small channel of marrow to scoop some out...it's needlessly difficult). The fries were not at all crisp on the outside when served, prompting my husband to comment that the thrice-fried version wasn't much better than a once-fried version. I know these are little things, but I think I expected better from Chef Blais (who was cooking that evening). The other let down was the pacing of the meal. ALL our food arrived within 5-10 minutes of us placing our order. Given the small plate dining concept, I suppose I understand why it all came together...but since they're small plates, they were gone all too soon (despite the fact that we took our waiter's advice and ordered 3 dishes between us (with the sprouts and fries comprising 1 dish)). If we'd stopped at this point, we would have been done with our dinner within roughly 30-40 minutes. At that point, we ordered the oysters, and that took another 10 minutes. I know I'd rather be served too quickly than too slowly, but there's something to be said for the pacing of a meal in a dining experience. We were leaving the restaurant just on 1 hour, which for dinner at a "fancy" restaurant is weird, even if we didn't have dessert. Service was fine, and gets a bonus star because our waiter was kind enough to get Chef Blais to come have a chat and very graciously take a photo with us (like I said, we're Top Chef fans!!). Anyway, potential for brilliance, but a few execution errors made for a so-so experience. If I was ever back in ATL I might try it again (after giving Hugh Acheson's place a go!) to see if a mediocre overall experience could be improved.
(3)
John M.
Outstanding experience! Server was informative and attentive without being overbearing. We had a group And tried 10 dishes "family style." Oysters, root vegetables, and bone marrow were highlights. The pork was a bit dry, and was the only one that was not a home run. Wine selection was excellent. Overall, the best meal I have had in a long time!
(5)
Reba Jean B.
I finally made it to The Spence. And I have to say, I'm a bit regretful for not making it here sooner. I've heard all the complaints about The Spence; it's loud, the food is soooo weird, blah blah blah. Well, I have to say, we had a fantastic dinner here on a rainy Tuesday evening. It was a perfect place to have a small birthday dinner. The setting is hip as the Smiths and Psychedelic Furs were blaring in the background. This probably would not have been the best dinner for an older crowd or a business dinner, but perfect for us. I imagine this place is uncomfortably loud on the weekends. But let me get to the food. It really knocked our socks off. We ordered quite a bit from the menu and all of it was outstanding. I am really, really impressed. Our lamb was cooked perfectly. The sweetbreads were great. The oysters, of course, were phenomenal. I love the menu and the way it is executed. Richard Blaise, you have made a fan out of me. You have turned this HD1 hater into a Spence lover. I thank you for your dinner rolls with coconut butter. Your menu is interesting and it will keep me coming back. However, I do have one complaint. It's a complaint I hear too often when I speak about The Spence. The service was terrible. Absolutely terrible. We sat at our table drinkless for most of our dinner. The restaurant was aware we were celebrating a birthday party. We were served one round of drinks the entire night. That one round took over an hour to get. I guess he was just too slow to care about actually serving anyone. We were also talked out of ordering a few plates. I was quite excited about a terrine being on the menu. The server explained to us what a terrine was in a smug British accent and I was like yeah, it's a terrine and I want it. What can I say? I am a meat cream/ gel fan. Whatever, the server won. When our plates were delivered to the table, many there were as well, there was no flatware. We sat there for what seemed a lifetime. I asked the food runner once I saw him again for the flatware and he said he couldn't get us anything but food. It was our servers duty to do everything else. The forks and knives were just behind him on the bar. That sorely irritated me. In the end, even with the terrible service, The Spence gets 4 stars from me. I loved the food. And Richard Blais, thank you for bringing a lil something new and hip into Atlanta.
(4)
Vivian F.
Having spent the last five years at Tech, I've seen that space go from vacant to failed ritzy restaurant to even more failed Parking and Transportation office space. Thus, it came as a surprise to me that another ritzy-looking restaurant was setting up shop last week when I drove by campus. However, when I found out it was the great Top Chef champion and Atlanta food god Richard Blais at the helm, my skepticism subsided. If anyone could turn that space into something successful, it ought to be him. Predictably, the place was packed when we got there, so we resigned to sitting at the bar, which was more like community tables and probably more entertaining than getting a table. Like the lovely southern ladies that we are, we ordered two cocktails -- The Fairbanks Fizz (gin-based with flower water and lemon lime) and the Left-Handed Hummingbird (tequila-based mixed with herbs and topped off with a basil icecube). The Hummingbird was strong and packed a punch that you can only get from good tequila, and the Fizz was a light and fruity ending to balance out the tequila. Upon the recommendation of the bartender, I ordered the suckling pig with fingerling potatoes. I'm not the biggest fan of pork, so the dish didn't do much to change my feelings. Patricia's "Juicy Lucy" burger however, dripped in juicy deliciousness, and the crisp steak frites were nicely seasoned. Above all else, Blais knows how to make a good burger and a great cocktail. The prices make it a little bit on the upper levels of expensive for the average college student, but it's a great place to take mommy and daddy to and make them pay for it.
(4)
Claudia W.
Dissappointing... - Starting with a bad and slow valet service. - Continued with a long waiting time to order drinks and food and also to get the food. - Then the food was served in stages. - Finally they took away some of the plates although some people of our group were still eating.
(1)
James D.
Ok, nice tasting and plating. I had, amongst other things, the bone marrow and quail eggs. I think that was the highlight but very light on the marrow, which seemed to be a trend in all the portions. I don't mind small portions, I prefer it but these were really small portions! Honestly, you can get more for less money at other places with the same level of creativity and quality. Nice place, tiny portions and big prices. I later learned it was owned by a famous chef so maybe if you want to check it out for that reason, it would be fun to visit.
(3)
Marisa G.
Surprisingly awesome. 4 of us went with the small plates choices and ordered basically all their options. The bone marrow was amazing, squash souffle uniquely great, mussels delicious sauce, and pork croquettes were delicious. Will definitely be back.
(5)
Tanya O.
The suspence is over...kudos to Richard Blais for a delicious achievement. In a modern yet somehow rustic space, I tasted the uni spaghettini, Mac and headcheese, and fried Brussels sprouts. All three exceeded my expectations. The spaghettini was creamy without being too rich. The Mac and cheese had a nice crust on top, and the fried Brussels sprouts, which came with red onions and cilantro, had just the right bite. So good I contemplated going back again the next night. I didn't go back the next night, but I did go back again a few weeks later. Based on my first visit, I would've given this place 5 stars. My second visit made me reconsider that perfect 5 rating. I had a red snapper dish that barely even qualified as an appetizer, let alone an entree. As far as taste - just so-so. Still no reason to cross this one off the list, but perhaps not all the dishes are as fantastic as I originally thought.
(4)
Alexis G.
Amazing! We take everyone who visits from out of town, including business associates to the Spence. They never disappoint. The drinks are always ridiculously good (Chip always makes us our favorite drink we had the very first time we came in even when it's not on the menu). The food is always great! We have never had a meal that was anything but fabulous. Deserts are good, but I've had better.
(4)
Jean C.
Very hip interior. Their portions are not big. I had their lunch set coming with a soup, salad, and a sandwich, and it was gorgeous. However, their restroom signs for male and female are confusing. Ask the waiter and don't get embarrassed.
(5)
Lynn L.
Food was delicious as expected but very poor experience w staff and service. They were running behind and could not t seat us for our reservation for 45 min or more. But this was not a problem for us and they did comp our first drinks, very nice. Also have to note that the "unique" bar design may have seemed like a great idea but it is not very functional or emjoyable in reality. We actually had to ask to clarify if we were standing " in the bar". Also bartenders climbing over patrons to get wine stored over our heads. Then they were out of first two entrees we selected , disappointing for such a limited menu. Service was SLOW and not very friendly, aloof at best. If you completely forget to bring the glass of wine i ordered 30 min ago, just appoligize and get it to me. Dont pretend that it is "on its way". Prices were very reasonable but we do expect stellar service from this genre of restaurant. Especially in the south! Although unfriendly service seemed to be the norm all over Atlanta this trip. Then valet could not seem to find us a cab so we called our own after waiting for an hour. And while waiting for cab, not one member of staff checked on us. They missed potential to sell a few extra drinks! The hostess was nowhere to be seen which is why we asked valet to get a cab. Writing this for Richard so maybe these basic issues can be addressed. Wish him all the best with this restaurant! But if they can not turn tables faster than this and with better service I don't have High hopes.
(3)
Lauren B.
Excellent food and Excellent service!
(5)
Jonathan G.
I'd heard so much about this restaurant. It was owned by a Top Chef winner! He created the menu! Oh this will be a great experience! Well, it wasn't! I found the menu to be decidedly on the pretentious side. There were only a couple of items that really interested me. We were a party of 4, with 2 of arriving much later than the second 2. I was 1 of the first 2. Naturally, we ordered ahead of the 2nd 2. After an interminable wait, the waiter comes and informs us the kitchen will be closing in 10 minutes, did we care to order? Well, somehow, he'd gotten the 2nd couple's order in but never put ours in! A good restaurant needs more than just good food (my chop, by the way, all right, but nothing special!). This waiter totally blew it! I won't be making a return trip!
(2)
Megan S.
Midtown got a boost in its culinary jugular when Chef Richard Blais, the winner of Bravo's Top Chef All-Stars, decided to re-enter the fine dining scene after re-inventing the burger and hot dog for hungry Atlantans when he opened his latest venture, The Spence. Getting its name from an old English term that means the pantry or dispensary of foods and provisions; this modern day dispensary seems more like an alchemist's laboratory where Chef Blais transcends into his alter ego by becoming a Merlin-like figure, a wizard of the kitchen. Here, Chef Blais takes foods and alters them using somewhat unconventional cooking techniques or ingredients to create flavors and textures that brings an unexpected surprise into the meal that challenges the comfort zone in a good way. This newly opened eatery has become an overnight sensation for dinners that seek a surreal experience in a robust trendy atmosphere where foods are exciting, unique, and simply a thrill to taste. A stimulating place to start is with one of the creative offerings from the drink list that changes as frequently as the food menu making each visit a new adventure. No matter which cocktail is chosen it will surely help to erase the day's edge as these libations are made with a fusion of bold and exhilarating flavors. In addition to these hypnotic beverages, The Spence is home to one of the youngest and most knowledgeable sommeliers in Atlanta, Justin Amick, who also serves as the beverage director for the Concentrics Group. The wine list that Justin has assembled consists of the standard varietals, but also has many obscure grapes from small production vintners that are fun to explore and compliment Chef Blais' foods impeccably. Strongly suggest letting Justin help guide your stroll through the extensive listing, as his suggestions are spot on. While sipping on your beverage of the night, consider a shared table grazer with the Buttermilk Fried Sea Creatures that's served with a lively sea urchin tartare - it's a tasty collection of squid, shrimp, scallops, and whatever else arrives off the docks that day. Whatever, do not overlook the beautifully set Oysters and Pearls - plump Beausoleil oysters with their distinctively refine taste are graced with frozen horseradish pearls and served with a sassy sun crisp apple champagne mignonette - when in the mouth, there's an explosion of sensual flavors. The dish that is one of those total surprises is the Beef Bone Marrow with an Ahi Tuna Tartare and a Fried Quail Egg, which when blended together makes a luscious spread for the crisp toast points that caress the palate with its creamy texture. There's a velvety duck Foie Gras that's prepared with cognac that's simply manna from heaven, but the starter that stole my heart is the otherworldly Baby Kale Caesar Salad; this OMG salad is one of the best ever. Thought I had tasted the best Kale salad in Aspen at Lulu Wilson but Chef Blais' interpretation of nature's superfood is sensation, full of tender yet crisp savory flavors with a slightly tangy classic dressing and a touch of earthiness from the aged Parmesan cheese, wow! When you think the dining experience can't get any better, well it does with the large plates. The over-sized ultra tender center cut bone-in pork chop from Riverview Farms is grilled flawlessly, and when cut the juicy charred flavors drools out to marry with the stir-fried mustard greens, caramelized pearl onions, and roasted sweet potato - yum. Then there is the not-to-be-missed braised beef short ribs with pickled walnuts and smoked new potatoes that's guaranteed to make your fellow dinners ask for a taste as they watch you sink into a delightful daze as the rich beefy flavors of this dish takes control of the senses. Of the sides, the two must do's are the seductive Buttercup Squash Crème Brulee made with kabocha squash, and the off-the-chart fried Brussels Sprouts that's tossed in a tangy Thai vinaigrette - both of these are quite special - need these recipes. When its time to arouse the forgotten sweet tooth, the artistic treats made by the Pastry Chef Andrea Litvin have the necessary finesse to give it a jolt. Each of Andrea's desserts is masterfully plated, as the visual pleasures of her goodies are just as intense as the oral. The deconstructed Ricotta Cheesecake with plump juicy blueberries and housemade chocolate graham cracker crust is absolute bliss. When a touch of decadence is in order, there's a Baked Alaska that's from the first to last bite pure pleasure - the smoked meringue chocolate cake filled with a zesty peppermint ice cream is drizzled with a rich housemade chocolate sauce, a dessert like this is what makes dreams into sweet dreams. When seeking a dining experience that centers on foods and beverages that are provocative, distinctive and full of lively tastes and flavors, The Spence has something in its pantry that will surely satisfy your hunger for culinary excitement like none other. Enjoy!!!
(5)
Ed M.
A pretty good place overall. More details below. I agree with the menu layout comment below - it could be improved. The hostess and wait staff were very friendly, and Richard Blais was present and checking in on most tables and agreed to pictures when asked. The drinks - I just had some beers, which were all fine. My buddy had a drink that included home made ginger beer, but it was too strong on the ginger. The waiter took it back without question and apologized profusely. Food - The Family Meal was a fish wrap that was excellent, and just over $4 (although advertised by the server as $3.01). In contrast, the appetizer that included tuna and heirloom tomatoes on a crisp tortilla was a bit too salty and overpriced ($14) in comparison to the Family Meal. As for the entrees, we each had the Juicy Lucy hamburger. It was well-seasoned, but undercooked to my taste. (Full disclosure - I didn't specify how I wanted it cooked, and the waiter didn't ask.) Maybe it was a better cut of hamburger to justify rare, like a steak, but not my cup of tea. Layout - I like the open layout and we spent our time at the bar common tables. Will definitely go again.
(3)
Nafisa J.
Unfortunately, my husband and I were super disappointed with the food and service. We love Richard Blaise and wanted to give his new place try...here is the scoop. 1. Service: - We made reservations and ended up waiting for an additional 20 minutes which it most cases would not bother me if the hostess communicated well with us, but I had to ask her if our table was ready after seeing others seated and at first said it would be a little longer without checking and then someone else came by and checked the tables and seated us quickly. -Our waitress was great, but our food came out cold and our side dish came out well after we finished our meals (so much so that our dessert came out at the same time). 2. Food: -Unfortunately the food wasn't wow...we were definitely expecting more. We were starving and ended up eating most of our food because of pure hunger, but we wouldn't come back for any of the appetizers or entrees. The fries were soggy and gross, the beef rib was tender but the taste was eh, the Lucy was good but not enough to come back for... The two things we did like were the dessert (we had an ice cream chocolate concoction which was pretty good) and the corn creme brulee. I just expected much more from the restaurant...perhaps in a couple months it will get better.
(2)
Steve T.
Last night (Friday) was my third visit. The four of us got a table along the windows facing 5th street, so we were away from a lot of the noise, but it still got extremely loud in there. Our service was not that great on the first two visits, but improved on the third. We still waited a long time for the server to close out our table at the end of the meal. My three friends all opted for the burger. The triple fried fries are outstanding, but they all complained that the burgers were practically raw. I tried foie gras appetizer (small, but the pate was fantastic), fried brussel sprouts (we all agreed these were amazing), and the mac n cheese. Very disappointed in the mac n cheese as it was bland and had pieces of chicken meat on top? My friends enjoyed the turnips. Our drinks were good, but mixed drinks came in small glasses at high prices. We definitely have restaurants in Atlanta with consistently better food and service. I'm not sure why this place is struggling to get it together.
(3)
Wendy H.
Awesome food! The staff is great and the atmosphere is laid back. Would definitely go again!
(4)
Belinda S.
Ug! New Years Eve at The Spence with an 8:30 reservation. We showed up a few minutes early to a packed restaurant and were very excited to see Richard Blais front and center at the kitchen (too bad 30 minutes later he was long gone) We were directed to the bar and told it would be a few minutes before our table was ready. My girlfriend ordered a jack and diet coke, literally the only thing she drinks. After a sip she knew it was wrong but not wanting to be difficult continued with her drink. We did inquire from the waitress later and she told us that they don't serve Jack Daniels only Jim Beam. Obviously the bartender didn't commit a crime but you order what you want not the sort of close thing.This seems to be a common problem for them, selling off drinks as something else, as I've read it in other posts. We were called for our table moments later, walked to one table then redirected to another where a very odd incident occurred. Another hostess ran up told us to wait and started wiping down the table. We stood awkwardly in the small space around the chairs waiting. When we sat down we noticed all the water glasses had lipstick on them and the bread plates were used. We showed the waitress who didnt apologize she just ran away. My appetite was near gone at this point but being such fans of the Top Chef we wanted to get some food! We did small plates and trust me they were SMALL. To really put the final nail in the coffin we received most of our food at the same time and then waited at least 30 minutes to receive the final 2. We decided to forgo dessert because we'd already been there 3 hours and just weren't in the mood for any more. I can't imagine we'll be going back. The food was not impressive and the service was atrocious. Seriously when was the last time you were at a fine dining restaurant with lipstick on the glasses? No thanks!
(1)
Stephanie R.
I really want to give The Spence more stars. But I just can't. They seem to attract a young crowd of 20 to 30 somethings. We started by ordering a bottle of wine. Our server seems shocked by that. He said that most people order by the glass. Then, when he brought over the wine, he also brought us a card explaining what the Legs of a Wine were. I guess he had no way of knowing that we have actually know more about wine that most of the guests. On the menu, a dish was served with the today's jam. My husband asked what today's jam was, as in flavor. Our server replied Pandora. Funny but not the answer we were looking for. We enjoyed our dinner. The Bone Marrow with quail egg was amazing. We also loved the smoked rigatoni with octopus and the brussel sprouts. We were practically fighting over the brussel sprouts. The kale salad was just ok. My hubby also was not impressed with the oysters. He enjoyed the oysters at Lure much more. The service was good, the atmosphere was nice. It is a beautiful space however it is really loud. We had a hard time hearing our server. My biggest complaint is that one of the chefs on the line had long hair that he kept swinging out of his face. It was like watching David Grohl in the kitchen. Yuck! Seriously, put you hair in a pony tail or put a hat on. I don't care for a side of hair in my salad.
(3)
Adam M.
Good food with cool drinks. Friendly service. Overall a great experience.
(4)
Kathleen O.
I have been following Richard Blais since his first series on Top Chef and was so excited to get to try out his signature restaurant - The Spence. Blais cut his teeth when he opened up Flip Burger followed by HD1 which are both great offerings however, THIS restaurant is exactly what I had hoped Blais would share with Atlanta. He has crazy items on his menu that I have had neither the opportunity OR desire to try until now. The waiter described the bone marrow appetizer as "buttery meat". I couldn't have described it any better except to add, "oowie goowie yum" in front of "buttery meat". It was simply delish! I had read enough reviews before going to know that I wanted to try the Juicy Lucy Burger. It turned out to very well be the best burger I have ever had in my life....OMG! I say bring on the Juicy Lucy! Blais injects cheese into the most amazing grounded ribeye and braised pork rib meat patty for the most incridible bite of yum you can imagine (and we are not talking plain old american cheese for this patty). Mom always said to eat my veggies. Well, if she had ever served me the brussel sprouts the way they made them at the Spence, I would have been sold. This was one of the few restaurants in my life that I walked out of (with a copy of the daily menu in hand, of course) that, before I was in the parking lot I was saying I couldn't wait to come back and try and try the upside down pineapple cake, the pork belly with chick peas and the oyster pearls. If I had to mention an area for improvement, it would be with some crowd control around the bar area. Communal bar is a great concept but hard to execute with hundreds of people. I hope you enjoy the Spence as much as I did!
(5)
Marie M.
MMmmm..mmmm...good! My only complaint about this place is the way its set up and that the music is out of control loud. Its just not that fun or romantic..its just a little too hectic for my taste. The service was great, the food was fantastic. A tip of the hat to the truffle grits! Best I ever had and will go back just for those!
(4)
Diantha L.
My husband and I are big fans of Richard Blais and were excited to try out this restaurant during a local trip back to visit family. He did not disappoint! We even got to meet him! Okay, details. The menu changes everyday, but I'm sure some things come up more frequently. There were several of us at the table, so we started with a few small dishes. The corn brulee was so good, we ordered a second one. The lobster knuckle sandwich was also a hit. Other faves for the table: the Juicy Lucy (a cheeseburger), pork belly, and bone marrow with quail eggs. Oh, and the pineapple upside down cake for dessert. Everything was great--a fun dining experience! Our server was very knowledgeable and answered all our questions. And, I loved my fizzy cocktail. Absolutely, no complaints--thanks, Richard Blais!
(5)
Robert E.
Folks are friendly however the food is mediocre at best... On top of that they lost my order so have been waiting for 40 minutes... Funny the place is nearly empty so how they could lose the ticket of one lone diner is beyond me! Ordered the Samosas as appetizer... Overly spiced, meat tastes like it had been in freeze too long, I would rate the steak however I'm still waiting... Going to pay for the samosas and its ADMF! Steak came 50 minutes after ordering... I do have to say the staff went out of their way to make right... So, kudos to them for doing their best to satisfy their customer... By the way the steak was very good and the complimentary cauliflower was great!
As an avid Richard Blais fan, I was so excited to see our hotel was right next to The Spence. Service was disappointing. The restaurant appeared swamped despite being a little more than 1/2 full. We had 8pm reservations. It took about 10 mins to receive menus and water. Our waiter came by around 8:37 to take drink orders and appetizers. Then a gentleman who appeared to be the GM came by 8:47, seeing we still had our menus and took our entree order. Though the little interaction we did have with the staff was pleasant and attentive. I think upping the frequency of check-in would've made a world of difference; at times it felt like we were forgotten. The GM apologized that they ran out of gnocchi and offered a complimentary dessert. We ordered: Baked Georgia peaches with goat cheese and toast - omg so good. Comes in a little ramekin and you top it upon toast slathered with goat cheese and radish. It worked so well together. Really blended, one element didn't over power any others. Bone marrow with sweet potato and veg ceviche - unlike the peaches, the veg ceviche totally overpowered the bone marrow. It's served as more of a relish on top of the bone marrow. Too acidic and killed the unctuousness of the bone marrow. Wished I didn't waste the calories on this. Branzino - Wow, really spectacular. Crispy, salty skin with well cooked fish. I was stuffed after this. Had a wonderful salad with peach and tomato on top. This has blown my previous whole fish experience out of the water. Burger - Partner ordered this after we were told they ran out of gnocchi. Really thick patty, about 1 3/4 inches. It was a little overseasoned for me, leaning towards overly salty. Fries are more on the thick cut side, also a lot of salt (which I happen to like) Korean creamed corn - nice bite to it! Topped on squash with ricotta, I think. Wish I didn't order this with my main, just too full from the fish! It's good as its own dish. Butter cake - topped with stone fruit and goat cheese ice cream. Not bad. It was a fairly dense butter cake, served cold. They had run out of profiteroles that we originally wanted. While I greatly appreciated the small gestures made by staff to accommodate the delay in service, some of the food did not meet expectations and combined with long waits just resulted in a disappointing experience. In summary, get the Branzino and anything with peaches in it.
(2)
Adrienne V.
Pretty good...lots of potential here. Limited drink menu is an area for improvement but the Yellowjackets we ordered were perfectly delicious, highly recommend. The Virginia oysters were outstanding, order a dozen and share. My gnocchi was a little undercooked but the flavors and textures were there. The burger was elevated by the wonderful bacon jam. Many other menu items sounded enticing but this was a quickie visit for us. One area that needs no improvement and makes up for any imperfections: the staff. Welcoming, considerate, generous, and fun, they are a huge part of any dining experience and at Spence's they really are wonderful!
(4)
Kashif K.
Shout out to good friend Alex P of the Atlanta Yelp Elite Squad, and Sasha, for a fantastic meal! Delicious food, assiduously attentive service, and wonderful company! We started off with complimentary rolls of bread with coconut butter. The bread was soft and warm, and the coconut butter was creamy and tasty. We decided to order a number of small plates to share. Here's a quick rundown: - The sweet potato creme brulee had a crunchy top layer that shielded a smooth, velvety mass, which would have been perfectly enjoyable as dessert, but also did well as a side in the main course. - The brussel sprouts were among the most delicious I have ever had. They were quick fried, which gave them a nicely charred exterior, and drenched in a Thai chili vinaigrette with sliced onions, which struck a nice balance of sweet and spicy. - The beef tartare was seasoned with chilaquiles sauce and crema, and topped with thinly sliced jalapenos and radish. It was served with tortilla chips rather than bread, which was delightfully unique. - The endive tartine had a complex flavor profile lent to it by a combination of shortrib mousse, blue cheese, crushed pistachios, and citrus (segments of orange and lemon). - The bone marrow was so tasty that I did not even need the bread to spread it on; just scooped it up with a spoon and ate it by itself. It was topped with tuna tartare and quail eggs. After an outstanding meal, I am always wary that the dessert might be anticlimactic. The Spence proved me wrong in this instance. The desserts were just as splendid as the main meal. The blondie cake was paired with scoops of coffee ice cream and frozen caramel, and topped with pecans. The crispy choux, which was my favorite of the two desserts, consisted of creampuffs filled with choux cream, with light rose petal cream and a scoop of ice cream. As I walked out of The Spence, I wondered if this was what true love felt like.
(5)
Alex P.
Had a great opportunity to visit The Spence this weekend with a fellow yelper, Kashif, who suggested this spot. Absolutely amazing experience ranging from fantastic dish preparations to perfect service. - BONE MARROW was prepared so well! Typically, bone marrow tends to be extremely fatty and even when the best oils are added, it tends to be overwhelming. Not the case here, tender, delicious and one of the highlights of the menu for me. - SERVERS THAT MOVE LIKE A NINJAS. Unfortunately, I cannot recall her name, but our server was attentive, and very fast. When we were missing a plate for just a second, she noticed it, grabbed a plate in the blink of an eye and slid the plate into perfect position before we even noticed it's missing. It was a also a great touch for her to check the cleanliness of wine glasses visually under lighting before putting on the table. Some of the best service I've ever received. - BRUSSELS SPROUTS were also the best I've had. Such a great preparation, just the right amount of spice and salted very lightly. - BEEF TARTARE was served in a very unusual fashion, on top of tortilla chips, with eggs, sliced jalapeños and cilantro. If you've read my reviews, you will know that anything with jalapeños and cilantro in the description will probably get an extra star just because I like them so much. However, this creative combination gets an easy five stars. - DESSERTS were also spectacular and really wrapped up this whole experience. I am now convinced that you can't go wrong with anything on their menu. Excellent, all around.
(5)
Ling X.
Mindy Kaling came here when she was in town, so you know it's not a bad spot to try. Menu changes daily depending on what they're feeling that day, which I can dig - keeps things fresh and different. Since it's peak peach season, that was a prominent ingredient of the dishes we got. I think some items are regulars though - such as the bone marrow which I was told they are known for - and it did not disappoint. We also got their burger which was a little too salty. We came here for a birthday dinner and brought a cake - and found out they charge an $18 cake cutting fee - a bit excessive in the opinion of everyone at my table, especially without even providing candles. They did do a nice job of slicing though. Maybe I should learn this as a skill.
(3)
Kathleen C.
First meal in Atlanta! This place is right across the street from Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center. Opentable reservations, but wasn't necessary as it wasn't very busy on a Sunday night. Place looks great. Service was very attentive and our server was pleasant and professional. This is def that New American cuisine. Sharing plates. Small plates were around mid teens, big plates were upper 20s/low 30s in price. Between two people, we ordered 1) gnocchi - small plate, it was ok/good, but not a must try. The gnocchi was softer than what I am used to. It was presented in a bowl, but all the contents were shifted to one side, leaving half the bowl empty. I thought this was a pretty interesting way to present a dish. Turns out, they do that for other items too! Like where did the other half of my food go?? Needless to say, portions are on the smaller end here. 2) lamb tartare - small plate, not very gamey which was good. There's an Indian spice/yogurt type of sauce on the side that I didn't think complemented the lamb too well. I enjoyed the cucumbers in this dish though. Light. Very small portion. 3) Pork belly - small plate, this was good, except it was fried and some parts were a bit dry. Also the plate was adorned with beets! Love beets! Presentationally this was the best dish. There's a beet/yogurt paste on it that ends up being hot pink like it got splashed with paint. 3) Monkfish, big plate, sooo there are mussels in it which i love. The fish itself was too firm for my liking. Had it been a different fish that was less dense I would've enjoyed this more. 5) roasted cauliflower, side, pretty standard. Just trying to get some veggies in. 6) coffee and brown butter ice cream, coffee was good! But the brown butter one was too sweet and heavy, though it is a little more unique. Overall, food was all nicely presented, but nothing was particularly wowing. Check was ~$110 w/ tax and tip. Not the cheapest of meals, but not super expensive, not sure it was worth it for alright food.
(3)
Caitlin S.
Absolutely loved this place. The service was great, the food was better. My boyfriend and I shared a few plates and it was wonderful!! I wish that we could go back, but unfortunately we live across the country. Definitely worth a try.
(5)
Meg P.
I enjoyed my experience at the Spence. The food and the experience were both quite good other than just being a little on the slow side. We went to the Spence at the recommendation of a friend prior to seeing a show at the Fox. The food, while a little spendy, was excellent! I had the beef tartare (from the "snacks" menu), red wine rigatoni pasta, and sweet potato creme brulee side. All of them were delicious, but I REALLY enjoyed the creme brulee! (I mean..."vegetables" that taste like dessert?! Who wouldn't love it?!) The waitstaff was just a little slow to bring us our check (even though we'd mentioned needing to get to a show), and the valet took quite a while to drop off a vehicle and then get ours. It stressed us out a little since we had to get to the show, but overall, it wasn't bad. The portions were a good size - enough to fill you up but not enough to have any leftovers to speak of, which was nice since we were attending a show - and I enjoyed the ambiance of the restaurant other than the music getting a touch too loud toward the end of our dining experience.
(4)
Jahmin L.
I've been to The Spence several times, both with friends and with colleagues. Each and every time, I have an amazing meal. The restaurant is always able to accommodate any size group and it has a really cool "feel" to it. While I've tried many of the dishes, my tried and true selection is "mussels with brussels". I usually order the steamed mussels with red sauce from the small plates menu and pair it with a side of fried brussels sprouts. These sprouts are by far my favorite in Atlanta (and I try them at pretty much every restaurant where they are offered). I love the Asian influence with the Thain vinaigrette. The mussels are served in a broth that is to die for--I order extra bread just so I can sop it all up! These two dishes together are enough for a full meal. (Side note: the fries are delicious too!) The waitstaff is always courteous and knowledgeable. I'd highly recommend The Spence to anyone considering the restaurant.
(5)
Ashley M.
My friend and I dined here for lunch on a Tuesday. I made a same-day reservation just to be safe, but it probably wasn't necessary as the restaurant was relatively quiet during our meal. We enjoyed very attentive, fantastic service. I think outside of their sandwich selections, there isn't much variety for lunch choices, so I opted for "A simple green w a bunch of vegetables" and a bowl of their featured soup, tomato. The salad arrives on a beautiful plate, and really turns out to be a bunch of vegetables, but included a few surprises such as jalapenos and crispy fried onions. The dressing that the salad was tossed in was a bit salty for my preference, but the fresh, crisp variety of vegetables easily distracted me from the dressing. The tomato soup is poured into a large bowl at the table and ends up in a pool of croutons, radish, and other pickled vegetable surprises. The tomato puree is fresh and at times chunky, which is a great reminder that this bowl didn't come out of a can. Again, the soup was a bit salty for my preference, but not overwhelming so. Overall, a quiet, charming lunch experience with delightful quick service. Can't wait to come back!
(4)
Marcelle A.
Dinner was good . I ordered trout , my first time every trying this type of fish. Service was good and food was good. Environment was cool. I liked the trout other than. Taking off the skin i each filet that the only challenge. Menu was limited but food was good
(3)
Ainsley A.
Just waiting for the day when I get to meet Richard Blais... Currently drinking the Midtown Mule which is PHENOMENAL and waiting for my juicy Lucy to arrive. No complaints here. A little pricey so I won't be here every day but it's delicious and I love the atmosphere. Also, they have a great bar.
(5)
Cailen B.
I'm a big fan of The Spence for a yummy lunch or dinner date. For lunch I will traditionally get a soup and a salad - the basic salad is my favorite with pickled green beans. For dinner I haven't found an option that I would not suggest- the braised shortrib may be my favorite so far. Dinner prices are higher, but the lunch prices are not exorbitant - especially when considering what you are getting. Beautiful layout, good vibe, and consistently friendly staff and local fresh foods. I love that the menu changes to fit what they have that is fresh rather than the same menu every day. GREAT addition to Tech Square since most other options are "fast food" oriented.
(5)
Jana C.
3.7 small portions, large prices. Consider yourself forewarned! We had a delicious dinner at Chef Blais' other place in Midtown... FliP for lunch, and got a little more gussied up for dinner in Midtown. Valet parking is in front, as it's near impossible to park... but there are other options. One can park in some garage, and that 411 is on their website. We dived into a myriad of small plates, and they were quite tasty! Our first dish out: the beet salad: a symphony of clean, bright, fresh flavors. Marrow with raw tuna on toast was not as great as the roasted Thai brussel sprouts... that was just the best dish we had all night. Parker rolls are fresh, served with a coconut cream cheese spread. Got another board of those pillowy, soft wonders. Cocktails were awesome!!! Very good and yummy. Place is bit too loud for my tastes, but I'm a fan of that low lighting, and open kitchen format, with a bar area that is rather unique in design! PS Having dined at Empire State the previous day, I had an in-road into meeting chef Adrian. Was so cool shaking his hand and speaking a bit with him regarding the business. Blais is going to open in TN after having launched a KY outfit!
(4)
Michael K.
A cool place for a date. The waiter recommended some beers to my liking and I was impressed. This is a good date place for drinks and some food. But this isn't somewhere I would go if I'm hungry because their food menu isn't extensive and somewhat pricey. Got mussels and brussels sprouts as appetizers and the juicy lucy. The food is good! I'm not a fan of brussels at all. But the waiter told me he was like me but the way the restaurant prepares it changed him. He was right! I did enjoy them! The juicy lucy burger is good. I liked it and the thrice cooked fries are super crunchy, which is a plus for me. Be warned, the portions are pretty small when it comes to appetizers. Overall, I like this place and wouldn't mind coming back. There is a parking deck behind the plaza where it's $2/hour. They have a valet. My reason for giving it 3 stars is because the food menu is very limited but they have a pretty good drink menu.
(3)
Sidra M.
We had such an incredible dining experience at the Spence tonight. Let me start by complimenting our waiter,Tom, who was extremely knowledgeable, personable, and just made the evening a very memorable experience for us. He arranged our many choices in perfect order of delivery to ensure maximum appreciation and really was one of the best servers I have had. The food was also everything I hoped for. We started with the watermelon salad, which was surprising and refreshing. I always neglect ordering salads, but we did at our waiter's advice and it was excellent. The bone marrow was buttery and delicious. The "summer snack(?)" was very interesting and educational, but the red pepper ice cream melted into the squid ink broth a bit too quickly to fully enjoy. The branzino was smokey& perfectly salted, paired with fresh pickled vegetables and sweet peaches; a beautifully balanced dish. The creamed corn appetizer was one of the most delicious items I have ever tasted. Just wow; we could not get enough. The eggplant side dish with harissa was an interesting, spicy preparation but not as satisfying as the other dishes we ordered. The peach & cake dessert was sublime: light, refreshing, small bursts of mint, balanced, and one of the most satisfying desserts I've had at a restaurant. The profiteroles dessert with caramel corn was also very nice- the saltiness of the popcorn was nice with the sweet cream puffs, but following that peach dessert it could not compare. Ive been a Richard Blaise fan for years and this exceeded all expectations.
(5)
Jeff M.
Came on a Sunday night and had great food. Portions might be small but flavors are big. Take your time and savor the food. Would recommend getting more small plates and snacks rather than large plates. Treat it like tapas and you'll have a great time :) Also, no point looking at pictures because they always change their menus. We came and pretty much didn't see anything that other people ordered
(5)
Claire M.
I ate at The Spence a few weeks ago and found that the food was excellent, but the service was not so excellent. I definitely would have given 4 to 5 stars had it not been for the sub-par service. We showed up on time for our 8 pm reservation on time and were seated immediately. At this point, the restaurant was only about 50% full, which was surprising on a Friday night. Our server came by the table to greet us and give us menus, and didn't return for nearly 20 minutes to take our drink order. The service was like this pretty much all night. We would go 30-40 minute stretches without seeing her at all. The bartender even came over to our table a few times to refresh our drinks or so we could order another item. I definitely appreciate a longer meal where the server isn't rushing you out the door, but our server was pretty inaccessible for most of the night. The food, on the other hand, was delicious. We had the kale Caesar, fluke crudo, beef tartare, bone marrow, French fries, and the pork belly. Other than the fluke crudo (which I didn't care for), everything was so flavorful and prepared perfectly. The kale Caesar was simple and lemony. The beef tartare was pretty traditional and came with a really nice pumpernickel crisp. The bone marrow (topped with tuna tartare) and the pork belly were amazing. Both dishes were mouthwatering, super rich, and we just couldn't get enough. Honestly, the food was worth coming back for, I just hope we get a more attentive server next time! Read about the full experience here: weekendeatsatl.com/2015/…
(3)
Chris B.
Great food, drinks, and service! It was a Tuesday night so not very busy, but the Spence did not disappoint. We sampled quite a bit of the menu - snacks, small plates, mains. It was all good. The drinks were solid too.
(5)
Carrie G.
I absolutely loved every second of my experience there because I love bizarre and unique foods, flavors and cooking techniques. That said, my parents who are traditionally plain eaters were not impressed. My mom hated it!! The service was wonderful, attentive, not rushed, and informative. They have valet parking for $3, which is totally worth it. We were able to make and change our reservation easily on opentable. The food: ranked in order of best to worst... Bone marrow- my favorite dish!! This just wowed me. I found the flavors worked very well and kept my palate surprised and interested. The tomatillo and avocado complimented the tuna tartare and the bone gushed out greasy tidbits of meat and fat I to the mix. The quail eggs were sunny side up so their yolk added to the rustic bread that I spread my mixture on top of. Brussel Sprouts- for a side dish, this was just a perfect flavor combination and cooking technique. The Asian sauce tasted like fish sauce, soy sauce and brown sugar, with accents of red onion, and green beans. The sprouts were charred and smoky on the outside, and soft yet firm in the middle. Beef tartare- very unique flavors and textures. The ground beef tasted fresh and melted in my mouth. Dollops of grape and sriracha completed it with a sweet heat that worked with the cool meat. The little scones and quail eggs were also a nice texture and taste addition. Our server told us the dish was inspired by Notorious BIG lyrics :) The fois gras- this dish was delicious, but I've had tastier versions. The fois is served the same consistency as goat cheese. It had little dollops of apricot (or peach?) with pecans. The Texas toast was a good vessel to spread the rich buttery goodness on. I enjoyed this dish but it ranked lower than others. Ricotta cheesecake- this listing is based on ranking so that's why it's here and not last. I really enjoyed the texture and flavors. It had 3 dollops each of cheese paste and lemony foam, and it was more of a dash of ingredients spread on the plate than a formed triangular slice of cake. I really enjoyed the fresh blueberries and dipping dot blueberry pearls accenting the soft was of the cheese and foam. My parents love dessert but they were disappointed in this one. They would have preferred a more traditional take on cheesecake, I think, and a larger portion size. Turnip canned soup- rich and creamy with textures of mushrooms and crunchier turnips mixed in. Nice presentation. This was the only dish at the table my mom really liked. :) Mussels- the tomato and fennel sauce was good (I normally hate fennel, but it wasn't dominant). Decent portion side in terms of number of mussels. My only issue with this dish was the mussels inside the shells were tinier than an anorexic model's biceps. Kale ceasar salad- this was good but very simple. Just kale, dressing and croutons with a sprinkling of cheese. I like my salads with stuff inside of it so it was a bit plain, but the dressing was good. Very lemony! Would have loved some anchovies in it. Last and certainly least was the duck entree. Our server told us the duck is smoked for 6-8 hours and finished on the grill and very tender. What arrived was still raw somehow even after all the cooking time. Rare duck is fine but it was tough as leather! I had to saw at it even with a steak knife. The fav a beams it was served with were under seasoned and not cooked long enough. They were mealy and dry. If Blaise served this one on Top Chef, he would have to pack his knives. Overall, I give this 4.5 stars if it was only up to me- I'd deduct 1/2 star for the mess of a duck dish, but the rest of everything compensated for the 1 flop item. My mom gave it zero stars and my dad gave it 2. Overall, not for the picky or unadventurous eater. When returning, I'll come early so the service isn't rushed and I'll only order the small plates and starters and desserts. Skip the entrees and avoid the duck! I'd order the Brussel sprouts and marrow again and try a new suite of dishes to experience more unique and tasty things from the imagination of Blaise.
(5)
Brian I.
What a lovely surprise on a rainy evening in Atlanta. Wonderful atmosphere. Lovely blend of American and Japanese flavors. The red pepper ice cream on the starter menu was a treat. This is on my "come again" list next time I am in Atlanta.
(5)
Ryan K.
Great meal tonight. Had dinner with one of my great friends tonight which was completely random for us to both be in Atlanta. Glad we chose this place. We started off with the bone marrow and damn was it good! I can't say it was the best I have had but it was amazing nonetheless. I will say it's a little on the pricey side for the portions but when the check came I didn't mind. On to the main course. My buddy had the pork cheeks while I had the duck. Both were great, though if I had to pick one it would have been the pork. Regardless what a great place and I highly recommend.
(5)
Tim H.
The Spence - Innovative Americana Helmed by Top Chef winner and guest judge, Richard Blais, the Spence is another molecular gastronomy Midtown smash. A modern haunt located near the Georgia tech campus, the Spence (an old English word for larder, a sort of primitive ice box) combines modern interior design with a lovely patio. The patio is accentuated by landscaped holly hedges in tall white pots and a comfortable tree canopy that blocks out most of the sun. I only stayed for the oyster happy hour, where they had a special of 6 oysters and pearls for $6 dollars. WOW. They were incredible. Chef Blais has outdone himself. The raw oysters are bathed in a dollop of cherry vinaigrette and garnished with horseradish-creme-fraiche pearls, small drops of horseradish sauce and creme fraiche eye dropped into a pool of liquid nitrogen. The finished oysters are then set on a bed of charred, blackened sea salt. The aesthetic effect is simply stunning. The flavor profile is a perfect mix of raw, velvety oyster texture with a hint of brine. The sweetness of the cherry vinaigrette enhances the natural fruity flavors of the oyster. The pearls melt in your mouth releasing a blast of creamy horseradish sauce which provides a resplendent compliment to the freshness of the oysters. The oysters paired extremely well with the vino verde de la casa (house green wine, $5) and I ended up having 24 oysters just by myself! Don't take my word for it though. Just go for yourself and eat.
(5)
Julie S.
The service was impeccable, the wine was delicious and I'm already planning my next trip. Must orders: Mac & Cheese, Mussels, Fried Brussels Sprouts, & the Bone Marrow The broth the mussels were in was literally so good that I poured the leftovers on my macaroni & cheese. The only thing I didn't care for were the Beef Tacos, they had absolutely no flavor, I ate half of one and left the rest.
(5)
Christy D.
I've given 2 stars because we did have an outstanding server - Jeremy F. - who did his best to recover for the entire restaurant experience. In short, we will never return. Here's the recap: Dinner Reservation at 9:30pm on 2/14/15 (yes, I know it was Valentine's Day- all the more reason for this restaurant to have been prepared). We arrived via Uber at 9:25pm - it's a good thing. They offer valet but apparently it's around the block and there were grumblings about this. Hostess was polite enough, checked us in and said it would be a few minutes before they could seat us. She offered us a menu and said we could wait at the bar -- lol! Ok, so I'm looking around for the bar and realized she meant the make shift "cluster" bar they attempted to establish. 2 high top tables backed up to a counter with a trough/well on top for ice. I question the validity of food safety on that. Anyways, the bartender's back was to us the entire time - she never asked to take our order. We were Seated at 10:02pm- still no drinks-- At the "chef's table" facing the open kitchen. Server greeted us almost Immediately and brought water. We ordered 2 aperitifs + 2 appetizers. Appetizers were delivered and complete before I complained about our drinks. At 10:28pm, we finally received our cocktails. It's obvious bar was understaffed and not having a worker friendly station - a real bar- Is also wasted time. We ordered dinner. I had the kale Caesar - which was fantastic and the steak - lovely. My husband ordered the duck - smallest portion of duck ever and we wonder if it was something ordered in bulk from say Sysco. Poor wine selection although we did settle on a bottle of Pinot noir for dinner. As the restaurant began winding down the kitchen staff began to get a little lax. Meaning, I watched the kitchen staff eating and or drinking various things in front of us! Remember, we were sat at the fancy "chef table." For the untrained eye, it probably wouldn't matter-- however, I've worked in the industry before and eating where food is prepared/cooked is a hazard. We went on to order dessert, after dinner drinks and have conversation with Jeremy about the restaurant because in the 2.5 hours we were there - no table touch from a manager. He listened well and made apologies as best he could. It was pretty disappointing to pay $$$$ prices for a 2 star experience. If you turned the lights up in the restaurant and really looked around -- it's a diner at best.
(2)
Leslie T.
I am giving this an ok The service was bad.......if you are a foodie....the food is great But the service....needs to pay attention
(3)
Regina Q.
This place is yummy! It's a modern cozy vibe. Love the coconut butter that's served with the bread. They have a lot of good options on the menu; Their burgers are delicious with the caramelized onions. Their cauliflower soup was delicious , so creamy and flavorful. They have small plates and larger plates to choose from. The menu changes daily so will have to go back!
(4)
Ryan F.
One of the best meals I've had in Atlanta. The chicken biscuit with bacon jam is an absolute must. Great decor and vibe in the heart of the new Tech Square area. Menu changes daily.
(5)
Rosie G.
I wanted to love this place, the plates were beautiful and the staff was knowledgeable and helpful. The menu also looked amazing, but I found the food to feel heavy. The wine selections were tasty, but I felt the food was over priced. The atmosphere was fun and vibrant, the decor was casual yet classy. My mother had a vegetarian warm salad dish and I found the flavor to be mild instead of bright. My husband had the mushroom gnocchi appetizer for his main, he is half Italian and commented that his mothers gnocchi was better. My friend had the swordfish and that was really good. I had the Kobe beef flank steak and while the dish was tasty, I felt that the cheddar broccoli sauce was a bit heavy. By the time we had our mains though we had tried 4 appetizers, there was a miso custard that wasn't on the menu yet and I am interested to see where the chef takes that dish. The octopus ceviche was awkward to eat with the popcorn, but the ceviche itself had good flavor and was tender. The shrimp fritters were very flavorful and delicious. My favorite appetizer was a warm peach concoction with goat cheese and toast, the flavors all went together splendid and left me wanting more. All in all I really liked the staff and the whole ambiance of the whole place.
(4)
Llani R.
Parking: wait until attendant returns to the Valet stand. It can take a few minutes because the parking isn't close. Oysters: tasty blend of horseradish and citrus. Pork Terrine: Perfect blend of savory and sweet. Loved it. I had the Osso Bucco: Nicely cooked with a great blend of root vegetables. Husband had Scallopes: Nicely seared and perfectly cooked. Buttery In all I recommend this restaurant but I do think that the parking situation could be improved. Love the ambience of the restaurant. Nice date night. Service was amazing
(4)
Eric H.
Man, was I disappointed about this place. First of all, let me preface this by saying that the service and environment were excellent. It's a great place to come during the evening, where the lighting is dim and the mood is intimate. Our server was very attentive and jovial, tending to our needs before we asked. No complaints on these two fronts. The food, on the other hand, was, uhh, quite something. So first of all you get some dinner rolls that are brushed with butter, laid out on a wooden board with some spread coconut butter. The presentation was really great; however, the texture seemed too light and dry for my tastes. I expected the soft, rich texture of a brioche, but was extremely disappointed. Then came the bone marrow/tuna tartare: it sounded interesting, but I have decided that it is one of the worst combinations in the world. I love bone marrow, and I truly believe that the best way to enjoy it is to have it served warm/hot, so that the flavors kind of dance around in your mouth. However, this bone marrow/tuna mixture was disappointingly lukewarm/cold. The richness of the bone marrow was diluted with the sourness of the tartare - as much as I love contrast, this turned out to be a rather homogeneous mixture without any distinct flavors popping. The steak, however, was pretty great. The medium-rare steak was definitely of good quality and with a tender bite. The horseradish sauce was actually pretty tasty as well. What I didn't like about this dish was the rutabagas and the carrots that accompanied it; they were undercooked and too crunchy. So all in all - meh. Maybe we ordered the wrong things? Who knows: at a price of well over $40 per person, I am unwilling to try again. Summary: Service: 5/5 stars Food: 2/5 stars Value: 2/5 stars
I had an absolutely amazing and delicious meal here. From the starters to the dessert to the wine; a wide variety of menu items were sampled and everything was spectacular. The ambiance is comfortable and the service was great. Highly recommended.
(5)
Gillian R.
I wish I had written this review right after my visit, because I'm struggling to remember all of the dishes we sampled. My boyfriend is a sucker for Blais, and I can't say that I don't have a soft spot for him as well. We're nerds, we love food, and we have love for fellow food-loving nerds! Although I'd just started eating meat again, The Spence's menu looked a little scary to me. I love mac & cheese, but throw head cheese in there, and I'm suddenly looking for a complimentary barf bag. I mean, maybe head cheese is delicious. And maybe in ten years, I'll have garnered the courage to try it. But for now, just the thought of jiggly chopped up meat bits makes my stomach turn. I'd said I wasn't going to eat bone marrow, but guess what? I ate it. And I liked it. The quail eggs were a nice touch on top as well! We had the mussels and really enjoyed them, but I still think Sun in my Belly has the best mussels in town. For my meal, I had the juicy lucy and my boyfriend had the duck. We both enjoyed our dishes, but there was a tiny bit of disappointment for me. My cheese seemed to just melt into my burger or squirt out the edge, because I never got to the fun volcano pocket of delicious liquid gold! It was my first burger post-vegetarianism, and I have to say, I did enjoy it. The fries were tasty too. Although I was a bit full, I was in monthly chocolate mode, so we had a peanut butter and chocolate dessert. I can't remember details, except that it arrived on a slab of wood and it seemed like an awfully big portion. Oh, and it was delicious. I remember that. But my number one favorite part of the meal? You're going to laugh... It was the bread service. The sweet roll with the coconut butter? Holy. Cow. Shut the front door, I can hardly believe how rich and sweet and amazing that stuff was. If you told me I could buy a jar, I would buy ten. No, thirty. No, fifty. It was that good. The atmosphere is laid-back and cozy. The service was perfect. And there's a lovely patio area where you can have drinks around an outdoor fireplace. I sincerely hope that we make it on a date here again in the near future.
(4)
Jonathon B.
Attended 02/12/2015 Ambiance: Trendy atmosphere, high ceilings, small space of maybe 14 tables, but they had a room closed off for higher volume nights. The inspiration for the menu is posted at the top of the menu is a very unique feature that I liked. Drinks: Signature cocktails were delicious. Food: (The menu changes daily) Upon ordering you receive small rolls with coconut butter which were delicate, warm, and gobbled up in seconds. The menu is starter/app based vs having a lot of entrees. I initially noticed they used 2-3 items 4 times repeatedly on the menu (ie quail eggs were on the menu 4 times, pork terrine 3 times, mustard 4 times, etc) They had only 6 entrees listed while their starters had around 12 options and 8 small plates. We decided to get the pork terrine with pickles, mustard, and cranberry gastrique. It was definitely the best dish of the night! The fat of the pork ate well with the acid of the pickles, sweetness of the cranberries, and spice from the mustard. We also had the mussels with red sauce, basil, and cacciatore sausage. The dish was simple, light and delicious. The red sauce was more of a brodo vs a tomato sauce. Excellent! For our last app, we decided to get the red wine rigatoni, bacon, and a poached egg. This dish was near our favorite but the pasta tasted/looked like a prepackaged product. The fatty egg and acidic red wine sauce made you crave more and more. Unfortunately, the entrees weren't nearly as good as the apps/starters. We ordered the Mahi with blood orange and the flank steak with carrots, potatoes, and beet puree. The Mahi although seasoned well, was dry and tough to eat. The flank steak was rather bland but the seasoned carrots, potatoes, and beet puree made up for it. I would definitely return to the Spence, but the entrees need improvement especially since they are the pricey items on the menu. Stick to the Apps/Snacks/Starters.
(4)
Shaye B.
I do not have a single complaint about The Spence. I went with 2 girl friends before a night out and I am so glad we came here. We were running late for our reservation but we were able to easily call and push it back 15 minutes. None of us had been there before so we asked our waiter for his advice on how to tackle the menu and he did not disappoint. To start off he was very helpful with drinks - brought us 2 different wines to taste. We weren't crazy about them and since we were going out later we just went with cocktails. We did not want to go the entree route because everything looked so good on the menu so we opted for the small plates. I highly recommend the small plates because they were all very unique and creative. We ordered the oysters, beet salad, brussel sprouts, pasta, and mussels. The beet salad, mussels and brussel sprouts were all absolutely amazing. The pasta and oysters were decent, we didn't like them as much as our other 3 dishes. The chef also sent us a fried oyster dish to try which was divine. Ambiance at this place is spectacular. You walk in and its modern with a dark and neutral color scheme. The space isn't very big and it has an open kitchen which makes it a really unique experience. They have a chef's table that looks like it can seat 6 and I would love to try that out one night! Another thing about this place I really appreciated was that it wasn't too loud. I expected walking in and seeing a trendy full restaurant with an open kitchen to be screaming at my friends for a conversation. Nope, not the case at all. This was probably one of the most relaxing and fun dining experiences I have had at a trendy restaurant. Since they change the menu frequently (maybe daily) I will certainly be back. For an out of town visitor who is a foodie, I would highly recommend this place because it is a great example of Atlanta's restaurant scene!
(5)
Michele A.
I so wanted to love this place more than I did. It was not bad by any stretch, and everyone keeps talking about how expensive it was. Maybe because I am from NY, it wasn't expensive to me. Granted my check was $130, but we had 2 mixed cocktails, 3 beers, 1 after dinner drink, Bread with a delish coconut butter, 1 app, 1 small plate, 2 entrees, 1 side, and 1 dessert. To me, not that expensive. Let's move past the price. The cocktail I had was DELISH. I had the mule, and it was so good. The beers, sorry, but when you order a beer and it comes in a can, I don't like it. This is supposed to be fine dining, so canned beer turned me off. Now for the food. The coconut butter was good. The coconut butter was understated, and the rolls were slightly greasy, but good. We started with the kale 'caeser' and the stuffed olives. I loved both. The Kale salad had a lemon note that elevated it to great. The olives, while small, where a great little bite. Okay, my entree was the strip steak, and there was not a single thing wrong with it. It all tasted great together and it was the most perfect cooked steak I have ever eaten. My hubby who hates fine dining, loved the roasted chicken he ordered. I thought it was on the plain side. The side of brussel sprouts were good. There was a touch too much vinegar, but they were solid. The dessert, ah the dessert, that was AWESOME. We had the blondie with coffee ice cream and frozen caramel. OMG, it was awesome. Why only 3 stars you say, I answer, this is a Richard Blais restaurant. After years of watching him dominate on Top Chef and dying to eat his food, I was disappointed in the experience. I expected every bite to wow me, and it just didn't. I feel like I could have gone to any number of restaurants in NY and had the same experience. I guess he just fell short of my expectations. I wanted my hubby to finally go to a fine dining restaurant and be wowed, and neither one of us were wow'ed and it just set me back getting him to try again. I still love Blais, but not the best choice in trying to get your husband to love foods the way you do. Last note, there was no salt and pepper on the table which kind of struck me as arrogant. I love my steak with extra salt and pepper and I didn't want to ask, so I went through without it.
(3)
Julia B.
Good atmosphere and service from a server, Sophie, who said she was new. She apologized for inconsequential things and was good. Water glasses were constantly filled. The food? Mostly, meh. The think I expected more from the Top Chef. The flavors were good. The crab bacon fritters were bland. The Georgia Shrimp was awesome! The baked onion bulbs were baked onions but the toast that came with it was good with cheese, radishes, and snapdragons. Three of us had flap steak and one had the hamburger. The flap steak, a usually tough cut, went through a special process to make it tender, which did not work. It was like chewing gum. It was cooked to a perfect medium rare. The presentation of the flap steak, potatoes, and burnt broccoli (the actual name) looked like it had been dumped on the plate out of a big mixing bowl. The broccoli lived up to its name, burnt. The potatoes were cooked perfectly! The burger was supposed to come medium rare, as they serve it; instead it was well done. Fries were good. Desserts were delicious but small. We ordered two and ended up with three. The incorrect desert came and they let us keep it and brought the correct dessert. Men's room was dirty.
(3)
Piper J. D.
I was in town for a conference and wanted to have an out-of-the-ordinary meal. Spence did not disappoint. My friend and I chose multiple smaller plates to taste. The oysters and pearls, with the nitrogen frozen pearls were unusual and tasty. The bone marrow and quail's eggs was tasty and served in an appealing way. The head cheese mac & cheese was probably my favorite though the sea urchin pasta was very interesting as well. Really, the menu changes but any of the small plates were good and more importantly to me, imaginative. The nitrogen cocktail was also very interesting to try. ;)
(5)
Jeremy M.
Meh. Wanted to love it. Didn't. I won't bore you with the details but our group tried every single item and only two would be ordered again. There are too many better choices in Atlanta these days to waste your time or money on this one. Not awful, but there are just too many better options.
(3)
Heather U.
I was recently in Atlanta for work, and was excited to eat at The Spence. I loved RIchard Blais on Top Chef, and his restaurant did NOT disappoint! The atmosphere, service, drinks, and food were all top-notch. Other reviews mention small portions for the price, however I thought all the portion sizes were generous - especially the "small plates". In my experience with small shared dishes, they have typically been much smaller than those at The Spence. Dinner began with warm, buttery yeast rolls served with coconut "butter", which was more the consistency of a lightly whipped cream - it was like starting the meal with dessert - scrumptious. We shared two small plates - the cilantro bucatini with chicken, and the roasted beets with salsa verde & mascarpone. The bucatini was my least favorite dish of the night, but I am a sucker for cilantro anything, and the cilantro was actually cooked into the pasta - a very unique dish and flavor. The beets were outstanding - one of my favorite dishes of the night. The beets paired perfectly with the smooth & creamy cheese. For an entree, we split the beef short ribs, with sides of corn creme brulee and fried cauliflower with thai vinaigrette. The short ribs were topped with a horseradish whipped cream and served with corn puree and roasted carrots. Honestly, I have had better short ribs elsewhere, however these were still very good, and the composition of the entire flavor palette was impressive. I couldn't stop eating the cauliflower - I wish vegetables always tasted so good! We were really too full for dessert, but couldn't pass up the strawberry rhubarb cobbler with rice flavored ice cream. The ice cream really tasted like rice - unlike anything I've ever tried before. Overall, I had an excellent dining experience at The Spence. I had very high expectations going into the night, so I was thrilled that they were exceeded (I have been disappointed at celebrity restaurants in the past). Would definitely return on my next trip back to Atlanta.
(5)
Matthew C.
We made a reservation for 2 at 8 on a Friday night. The place was full but not overly crowded or noisy. I know very little about food, but I know when it is good, and everything I ate was "good" to "quite good", some of it even bordered on "really, really good". My girlfriend can confirm these ratings. Now that I've given Richard Blais the accolades he no doubt set out for in opening this place, we'll get to the specifics. We did the bone marrow and cauliflower for starters and followed the with sweet potato gnocchi and the strip. They also threw in a complimentary side of brussel sprouts. Again, everything was great. The marrow and strip were the clear winners as meat maintained its winning tradition over vegetables...The sprouts were the least enjoyable, but their free-ness more than overcame any notable shortcomings. Definitely worth checking out. The menu is approachable and the food and atmosphere don't disappoint.
(4)
Carrie Neal W.
Well, color me surprised! Outside our hotel room last night, we had a direct view onto 5th Street and saw The Spence right there. I'd perused a few midtown choices for dinner and my favorite pick, Empire State South, didn't look so good to C as there were too many choices where he didn't like one or more ingredients; interestingly, I felt the same about The Spence's menu.... We finally decided to just go over to maybe have an appetizer or plan where to "really" go. And ended up with awesome service from Rory and a really excellent meal. The space is designed so well, and I love the open-air kitchen they have. It wasn't busy so we got seats at one of the long tables in front of the bar. I had thought there were too many things I wouldn't like- from lots of shellfish, which I do not enjoy, to the sides or sauces....happily, I was proven wrong. To start, C went for the kale Caesar - it was great! The kale was leafy and fresh, and the traditional Caesar set up was enhanced with a dash of lemon in the dressing. I opted for the casa de carna cheese plate, which was prepared with toasted toffee "croutons" and some tomatoes. I love this particular cheese and if you like such, try this. For our entree we shared the excellent tile fish, with a salsa verde - it was so tender and delicious, if you like white, flaky fishes, you will love this. I don't spend much time in this part of town, but if you do or find yourself nearby, give The Spence a try!
(4)
Alan D.
Not bad. I've tried the roast duck breast and a lamb dish and a steak (don't remember which kind). They were all very good. The brocolli with the steak was burned pretty bad so I didn't eat it. The portions are on the small side, but surprisingly filling. I love the coconut butter that comes with the rolls. The fried lobster balls were quite tasty as well. Definitely a nice place to come if you don't mind spending a little more. I'm still a student, but I would consider coming back for a special occasion.
(4)
McDavid A.
I've went here several times. The first two a few years ago. Sadly Richard must not be involved much anymore because the quality the last few times from the incompetent wait staff to the food has gone from unbelievable to terrible ;( such a shame use to be my favorite spot in town and I gave this place so much good word of mouth I'm now embarrassed .
(1)
Cindy T.
I am a little disappointed of how low of a rating I have to give The Spence, but in all honesty it wasn't good. It's one thing to have bad service and good food to make up for it, but the night that I went, I had mediocre service and mediocre food. For starters we had the bone marrow which is one of the best pieces I have ever had. There was so much richness with a good amount of marrow in the bone. However the marrow as very under-seasoned. Other plates we got were the toast with blue cheese which was so-so. I can tell it was thought out but just didn't wow me. My date had the oyster po boy which he said was decent. The asparagus dish I ordered literally had 5 pieces of baby asparagus, with some type of puree and shreds of greens. The plate looked creative, but really lacked in flavor and was a bit pricey for what it was. I also ordered the roasted cauliflower which was a good chunk of a cauliflower but had some type of tangy sauce which was unappealing. Most notably, after all of our small plates, we watched our waitress ignore us for at least 20 minutes before we could order main entrees. I decided to opt out of ordering a main course since I don't see my main entree tasting any better than the small plates I just had. My date ordered the fish and had to wait at least 30 minutes only for it to come out cold. My side of macaroni came out hot though. But even finding the waitress to complain about our dish was difficult. I know it was a busy night, but that shouldn't be an excuse. We were just so discouraged from eating here that my date decided to return the dish and not have them make him a new one as offered. We were just ready to get out of there. The manager came over to apologize to us . I can tell she felt bad, and even offered to get us something else on the menu. Her words exactly " I don't want you guys to go home hungry". As a nice gesture she sent over two desserts on the house which were actually really good. The ambiance there is great, a very fun and trendy restaurant indeed. With the reviews on yelp, I had high expectations. Unfortunately none of it was met. Maybe they had an off night. Do try the complementary bread rolls with coconut butter. It's great.
(2)
Karina C.
Very surprising combinations.. Some balanced and some..well, off. Beef tartare is an amazing first course with melon-balled avocado. Flat iron steak perfectly prepared. Chocolate caramel brittle with celery ice cream... Not so much. Fantastic Rockpile Zif wine selection.
(4)
Tami H.
I returned to The Spence again this year while in Atlanta for meetings... but it has gone a bit downhill from last year. The food seemed a bit gimmicky, and lacked robust flavors. Everything was solid especially oysters, bone marrow, foie gras, cauliflower, braised short rib... but was not as special as I recalled. Desserts were also a bit lackluster. I wonder if Richard Blais is distracted with other openings and not spending as much time with this establishment.
(3)
Boris K.
Great place. Pork belly was awesome! Coffee drink was too sweet, but nice bourbon selection.
(4)
Craig R.
Very very disappointed. The service was extremely slow. We counted our waitress serving 10 tables at once. The food was also just average. The menu is somewhat limited and nothing stood out as exceptional. In fact, nothing was really that good and we ordered "snacks", two entrees, two sides and dessert. 6 on a scale of 1-10. Oh well, worth the try but we won't be back.
(3)
Lindy F.
What an amazing experience! I am a huge Richard Blais fan and tonight I was privileged to be able to attend a special event - a cookbook release party for Try This at Home dubbed an Evening with Richard Blais. Okay, well it took me exactly .3 seconds to call when I received the email. The premise of this event was that you could go and spend 2 hours at The Spence, meet Richard, taste bites from the cookbook and buy and get your cookbook signed by the man himself. Okay, you had me at meet and greet. Having never visited The Spence to eat a meal (always been a bit concerned due to my food allergies), I figured this was the perfect opportunity to try it out and meet one of my chef heroes. We walked in (a bit late thanks to traffic) and had to find ourselves a table all the way in the back. Unfortunately, this means we were ignored for probably 30 minutes - no wine, no bites. This was not looking good. The sun started to shine through the window in my eyes and I put my hand up to shade them and suddenly a server came over to the table and asked what we needed (apparently it looked like I was flagging her down). Oh darn. Two glasses of red wine were promptly delivered and I made a thankful comment of being taken care of and she clearly took this to heart, so she sent over a very nice young man with a "tray" (wooden plank) with some bites on it. Okay, let's talk bites: Bruschetta with Ricotta, Beets and Candied wasabi Bruschetta with Mashed Potatoes and Cod Arancini with cheese and peas (calling this Fritter 1) Green Olives stuffed with Cheddarwurst - fried (calling this Fritter 2) Fried Pork Belly with a radish slice, green apple, carrot (calling this Fritter 3) Cheese Puffs Smoked Salmon in puff pastry Everything I ate was A-MAZING! Obviously, I could NOT eat the 2 fish items. My Mom had them both and enjoyed them. I worked a deal with our server and he made sure to keep bringing me fritter items - I know how to flirt for food, especially Fritters (Fritter Fan Club Founding Member). The Q&A with Richard was fun, informative and he really is quite engaging. He was pretty funny and self-deprecating once he warmed up. Being a shy person in large groups, I normally wouldn't speak up, but I needed to know something. So I worked my way through the crowd so he would see my hand-raise and asked about his web series, Burger Lab and he seemed quite happy to talk about it. I hope I got him more viewers as well - it really is a great series. Once he finished came the line for autographs. I ended up at the end, but met people and bonded and by the time I got to the front, I got to bond more and talk to Richard and he is a great and personable guy. I think overall this place is great, the food is delicious and Richard is a genius. I would give 5 stars, but this was not really a Spence normal experience. I know, I need to go back for a real sit-down, Spence menu deal. I will for Richard, as I expect he deserves the 5th star for his achievement.
(4)
Mike L.
** WARNING...painfully long review ahead ** Although the point of our trip was to catch the Niners-Falcons playoff game, checking out The Spence was a close second for me. Top Chef is one of the few TV shows I follow regularly, so I just HAD to check out Richard Blais's restaurant while I was in town! While some have described the food as a bit pretentious and trying too hard, I didn't get that impression. To me, the food is much like the ambiance - trendy, yet casual ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ). The menu is like tapas style, with a diverse array of small dishes to choose from. - DINNER ROLLS WITH COCONUT BUTTER...Complimentary ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ) If you're familiar with Chinese coconut cocktail buns, this tastes exactly the same. The coconut butter was so good, I wished we had more rolls to slather it on. - OYSTERS AND PEARLS...$12 ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ) Pretty good, and a perfect example of Chef Blais's playful style - raw oysters topped with crème fraîche "pearls". Surprisingly, the oysters weren't overpowered by the sourness of the crème fraîche. - FOIE GRAS TERRINE WITH CANDIED PECANS...$16 ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ) I hadn't had foie gras in ages, but this was my least favorite dish. It didn't fail...it just wasn't notable. The terrine was just okay (a bit rich), but instead of the thick, toasted bread, I wish they had used something more rustic or a baguette. - BONE MARROW, TUNA TARTARE AND FRIED QUAIL EGGS...$13 ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ) You never know what kind of yield you'll get when ordering bone marrow, but we lucked out with a generous serving. The tuna helped to freshen up the dish, and the choice of bread here was perfect. One of the better bone marrows I've had. - FRIED BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH A THAI VINAIGRETTE...$6 ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ) I hated Brussels sprouts when I was a kid, but I may not have if they were always this good! The sprouts were roasted perfectly, and the vinaigrette added a mildly tangy twist. - SQUID INK MEZZI RIGATONI, CLAMS, AND OCTOPUS...$14 ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ) As much as I like clams and octopus, the squid ink was what caught my eye. I liked how the rigatoni was dense, yet cooked to a perfect al dente. The seafood was pretty fresh as well, and the sauce had a nice "zing" to it. Solid all around. - ROASTED PORK BELLY WITH RUTABAGA, ENDIVE, AND APPLES...$26 ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ) My favorite of the night. Each chunk of meat was decently large and balanced - not too fatty nor too lean. The pork belly was full of savory flavors, with the endives and rutabaga adding some bitterness to the apples' sweetness. Straight up delicious. - RICOTTA CHEESECAKE, BLUEBERRY, GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST...$7 ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ) It was unexpected but not shocking to see it served deconstructed - definitely fits Chef Blais's style. The ricotta and the ice cream blended together quite well, but the best part for me though was the graham crumbles. Yum. - HOUSEMADE "PEANUT BRITTLE" WITH SALTED CARAMEL AND HOUSEMADE CHOCOLATE...Complimentary ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ) Funny - our complimentary dessert (from our awesome waitress, Kerrine!) was better than the one we ordered. The salted caramel and housemade chocolate were both tasty, but the peanut brittle was the star. Loved it! While I thoroughly enjoyed our meal, it should be noted that my experience may differ from most. The restaurant was relatively quiet while we were there (late on a Sunday night), so I didn't feel the laggy service others have mentioned. We even had the chance to chat with Kerrine (which may have led to our free dessert). Now, I know I probably just sound like some sort of groupie, but the food really was delicious. Easily four and a half on its own, but rounding up for the terrific service (even without the free dessert). Watching the Niners beat the Falcons that day was the highlight of the trip, but The Spence was the icing on the cake!
(5)
Jessica K.
Cozy little spot with a great cocktail menu and creative tastes.
(4)
Katie R.
The atmosphere is lively, the bone marrow tuna tartare is like buttah and the 90's rap had me at hello. I'll definitely be going back.
(4)
Emily B.
I really enjoyed the food here, particularly the coconut butter served with rolls while waiting for our food. It was amazing! My husband had the pork belly, and I had the Juicy Lucy (burger) with fries and a side order of Thai Brussels Sprouts, which were all great. We shared the orange oil cake with brown sugar ice cream for dessert and it was good, but after the entrees I was expecting better. The portion was also very small (even for a fine dining dessert) and probably wasn't really worth the $7 we paid. The decor is very cool and the staff was consistently friendly. When we arrived, we were our server's only table and she was very attentive. Once she had three tables, our water glasses were not refilled for over 20 minutes and it took a long time to order dessert and then get our check. The restaurant isn't perfect, but my husband and I were very happy that we came while in the area.
(4)
Jessica B.
I am, sadly, incredibly disappointed. After partaking in the three-course, chef's special seating, I couldn't be filled with more regret for buying into this travesty. Hook. Line. Sinker. First course was the appetizer, which consisted of a pork terrine. Ultimately, friends, it was an overly fried pork nugget. It was paired with a watermelon and cantaloupe salad. The fruit was the best part of the entire meal, aside from the burbon (which was not included, but the only reason why I say through the meal). The entree was surf n' turf, and the turf was just that chewy. It was also cold. But, the wine reduction and the horseradish foam was delightful. The surf consisted of an anorexic fish. There were more bones per square inch (and an inch was hard to find) than the Oakland Cemetery. Along with the entree came the "famous" duck fat friend french fries. Typically, they are good. However, this evening, they were soggy poles of potatoes. The curried cauliflower was pretty ok as the bone marrow lacked flavor, which is a feat in and of itself. The final course, was a frozen piece or chocolate and a non descript scoop of ice cream. I'm sure I could've found an equally good dessert at my local grocery store. It pains me to write this review and I wish that it weren't so. I can only suggest that anyone looking for a fantastic, chef's selected meal, head over to Serpas or King + Duke.
(2)
Larry B.
My wife and I are visiting for a nice relaxing weekend away from NYC and being that we watched and became a fan of Richard Blais on Top Chef we decided to try out his restaurant The Spence last night. We consider ourselves foodies and last night we were treated to one of the best dining experiences yet. My hat goes off to the chef and everyone in this fine establishment. The service was impeccable and the food was spectacular.
(5)
Kate W.
Holy Moly please excuse my language. Just kidding. But shoot, this food is delicious. No matter how weird or odd something sounds or may possibly seem UN appetizing, it was all fantastic. Can't give them enough stars. Get everything.
(5)
Jennifer N.
Well... after reading several reviews and seeing the Spence listed on several lists as one of the best spots in Atlanta, I had to go. I was very excited about the menu, especially the bone marrow dish that people have raved about. Maybe it is just me but the food was just ok. The bone marrow with capers on a toasted baguette was ok. The Juicy Lucy ( burger) was just ok. The foie gras was just ok and the drinks that we tried, were also just ok. Now what was awesome, the French fries served with the Juicy Lucy were amazing. The bread served with the bone marrow was great, it carried the entire dish. The service was great and the restaurants overall look and feel were fantastic ! Overall, I am glad that I tried the Spence. If by chance I return and find that it I enjoy the food more I will issue a prompt update. It could have just been an "off-night" for the restaurant and that happens.
(3)
Simon C.
I love that Atlanta has progressed to having a mature enough food scene that it supports a pretentious restaurant with awful food. The cocktails were mediocre, at best, and might as well have been premixed. The wine list is mostly unimpressive and overpriced. The food is eclectic, and served on lovely dishes, however you should not seek it out if your idea of farm to table is that the food be fresh. None of our meat could be prepared to order, so no, my steak could not be prepared medium rare...and it was pre sliced and might've been pre-cooked at medium-well with the hopes no one would notice. It also came in a beet ketchup, and it tasted like it sounds. It wouldn't have been worth it at half the price. The burger suffered the same miserable fate, from what I heard of my party. The vegetables were not fresh nor were they tasty, and many were just burned. While their choices are creative that does not translate naturally to edible, and the effort here did not carry it to that point. The name, branding and appointments were all lovely, but that does not improve flatly bad food. At this price there are far better, and equally adventurous, restaurants in Atlanta.
(1)
Rob C.
Great space, great service, good food. The salad was fresh, the carrot soup was just rich enough, and the pulled pork was simply delicious (though not the usual pulled pork, which is also often delicious). A great choice for lunch if you're in the area.
I was wanting more. Much more. We came in and there was oddly some kinda rush at lunch. They sat us quickly, eventually took our order. Eventually refilled our water (and something was floating in there now...so we had to ask for fresh glasses). And finally our food came out. It took over an hour and a half to get in and out for lunch...not good. That said, that bone marrow dish was freaking amazing...like amazing amazing. I likely went in at a weird time but I'd assume a place like this could handle a lunch rush.
(3)
Liz K.
For a Friday night I thought this place would be buzzing but it wasn't... I thought the drinks were tasty and the food was mediocore. Ordered the oysters and pearls, bone marrow, crawfish pasta, tartare, and some kind of toffee-ish dessert with coffee ice cream. I can't remember! The portions were quite small, I thought the bone marrow was delish, however it was small. It looked like it came from a calf. lol. Highlight may have been the complimentary bread with the coconut butter- OMG soooo out of this world! The bone marrow comes second to being my favorte. I'd like to try this place out again in the future though.
(3)
Shay H.
Reaaaallly delicious. We made a meal of a few snacks and small plates and split the burger. I'm glad we got that burger. I'd go back for it alone. Also standout was the friend pork terrine and fried Brussels sprouts. As others noted, maybe the service could have been more attentive. Still a great dining experience.
Welcome back to fine dining, Richard Blais! My first trip to The Spence was a relatively good experience, although I'll be curious to see if my rating changes when the celebrity chef is actually in the house. There were a few service missteps and some strange goings-on near the bar, involving boxes and very loud packaging tape. I'm guessing none of that would have happened if Chef Blais had been on premises. But I hope to find out for sure on a future visit. Stay tuned... The space is gorgeously redesigned, and virtually unrecognizable if you had frequented The Globe. However, due to the high ceilings and hard surfaces, it can get quite loud even when the restaurant is not at capacity. I do like the comfy banquettes behind the bar. You get to sit up high and observe all the goings-on. Start off with one of the signature cocktails. On my latest visit, I had the Crutch No. 2, which was tasty and quite refreshing. The menu changes frequently, so be sure to ask your server for a recommendation if that particular drink is no longer on the menu. My favorite dish right now is the beet salad. Even if you think you don't like beets, please give this one a try. Bonus - it's gluten free! I also enjoyed the pork belly tacos with fresh, made-in-house corn tortillas. And my dining companion consented to order the Juicy Lucy sans bun so I could have a taste. I'm sure it's better with the bread, but even on its own it packs quite a punch.
(4)
Quang N.
Great food, came on a weekday with a friend. Food was a 4.5 stars, but I rounded up to a 5 due to the service we had from our server. We split the beef tartare, brussel sprouts, bone marrow, and a pasta dish. The pasta dish was average, hence my memory lapse on what it actually was. The beef tartare was also average, as the heat from the chili oil/spice basically overpowered the dish. The brussel sprouts were great as the thai/asian flavor added a nice subtle heat to the dish. The best dish by far was the bone marrow as many have elaborated on.
(5)
Azim D.
Went for the 2nd time for my brother's birthday and It's a solid option. I wouldn't eat here again simply because I've been twice now and there are other great restaurants that I still need to try in Atlanta. Full Disclosure: I am a huge fan of Richard Blais but I'll try and be as impartial as possible. I had the same server both times and the service was excellent. He made a couple small mistakes but worked to remedy them as quick as possible and my water glass was refilled 6 or 7 times even though he left a carafe on our table. I don't know his name but he slightly resembles Patton Oswald and I recommend him highly. Ordering food here can be confusing but it's all made to be shared. For 2 people, I think one "snack" and either 2 small dishes and one main dish or vice versa(depending on how hungry you are) is fine. The can soup, short rib and blueberry ricotta cheesecake are my favorites. Worth a try.
(4)
Jordan P.
Really overpriced for the small portions they give you, but the duck was still the best I've ever had
(4)
Chris S.
I went to The Spence and was hoping for much better than what it turned out to be. The good: enjoyed the empanadas, short ribs, wine list and the staff were friendly. The bad: mediocre hamburger (juicy lucy) and awful bone marrow that tasted like old beef grease from a griddle. yuck. It wasn't the worst experience, but the hype didn't match reality. If I return, it will be for a few select items and the convenient location.
(2)
Sally L.
I actually loved the food. Everything I had was great: beet salad, melon gazpacho, lobster roll, and the blondie. However, I have two qualms. The service was very friendly but quite slow throughout the meal. Also, on our way out, the hostess was nowhere to be found in order to validate parking. We stood there for a good while until one of the servers took notice of us. The main issue for most of my party of 8 was the noise factor. The music was incredibly loud and clubby. It was near impossible to have a conversation. There was a lot of shouting, it felt, at times. Perhaps, this is what The Spence is going for and what works for them. However, I don't see myself going back anytime soon or at all. Sharing good food with people is also about engaging and connecting with them through conversation. This restaurant, for me, is worthy of a higher rating if based on food alone. However, I'm going for the whole experience. Perhaps, The Spence is just too "young" for me.
(2)
Ben X.
Great Decor/Great service but food is just okay. Visited this place while travelling expecting something above average. Had the tile fish based on a reco from the server but it was way overcooked and the Trumpet Tartine tasted undercooked. Seems more of place where you just meet someone for a couple of drinks.
(3)
Jennifer C.
After some much anticipation my friend Sarah and I headed to Spence to celebrate our annual Holiday dinner exchange. We both are fans of Chef Blais so we had high hopes for Spence. We ordered {BEET SALAD} a beautiful presentation and tasted great too, while im generally not a fan of pecans, the candied pecans were deliciou {CHOCOLATE DUCK RAVIOLI} sounded better on paper than the actual dish itself, the duck was pretty dry in my opinion {BONE MARROW} not overly rich and quite tasty, I loved the eggs on top. {FOIE GRAS} skip this {BUTTERNUT SQUASK CREME BRULEE} sweet but tasty but I have a sweet tooth so some of you might want to save this for later {BRUSSEL SPROUTS} hands down my favorite dish of the evening, I would come back just to order these sprouts, crispy, bacon, salty, but a little sweet. Definitely has hints of asian flavoring possibly some fish sauce? either way the clear winner.
(3)
Kevin L.
Everything here was great. Alex was my server - great. Very nice, helped me pick out dishes, explained how everything was prepared, she was awesome. The look of the place - great. Giant square hanging thing with what looks like a collection of Richard's favorite ingredients. Cool. (Although, what's with the "boob in the bottom" drinking glasses?) Appetizer: bone marrow, with tuna, lemon capers, and quail eggs - great. Very tasty and surprisingly light way to start the meal. Main: sous vide hanger steak, with "trove cooked" fries. Alex gave me a side of the "red pepper jelly" upon request for my fries. Normally they come with blue cheese crumbles. I liked that, but the jelly was even better - it's like a chunky Thai sweet pepper dipping sauce and I ate every last bit. Steak was very good - flavorful and moist with just enough sauce. Whoever is cooking in the back knows their stuff. Dessert: "cheesecake" - great! I'll try y best to describe it: small scoops of cheesecake, surrounded by chocolate graham cracker dust, with bits of crispy meringue (?), froze blueberry balls, wild blueberries, and lemon foam. The foam was more gel-like than I imagined from seeing dudes do foams on TV, but that's awesome. Really flavorful, balanced, and sweet, but light. All together u had a really good time there. I bet get to eat out fancy, but I've been a fan of watching Blais on TV for years, and was traveling through the area, and a family member gave me money to treat myself. I was worried that fine dining food wouldn't suit me, or that even of the food was good the service would be crappy or the place too pretentious for me to feel comfortable - I was really really pleased to have enjoyed every part of my trip to Spence. I'd definitely go again I I'm ver anywhere close to Atlanta. Come to CA!!!
(5)
Derek B.
Continuing with our tradition of eating at a Top Chef related restaurant on our Anniversary, my wife and I dined here this year. I really liked the decor and set up, open kitchens are a huge plus for me. However, it was a little loud and the music was a little weird. Made having a conversation a little difficult, so I wouldn't recommend this for a romantic date. But it's great for a fun meal with a group. Richard Blais was present this particular evening and walked around talking to a few tables, but he missed ours :(. Thats another huge plus, love to see chefs/owners in their restaurant rather than just stamping their name on it and letting it run itself (usually into the ground). Food was all around excellent. Everything was delicious. The highlight for me was the bone marrow dish. I would have eaten the marrow by itself with a spoon and been happy. Throw on some tuna tartare, a quail egg and some awesome toast to spread it on, and I was in heaven. Amazing. Also had the Sweetbread Parmesan which was spot on. 2 slider sized sandwiches with an awesome sauce, melty mozz and perfectly cooked sweetbreads. Yum. My wife went with a pheasant dish that was a special that night. The meat was delicious(cooked sous vide and then finished on woodfire grill) but the highlight for her was the fried mash potato puffs. And I agree they were cool little things, almost like a fancy tater tot filled with creamy mashed potato. We could have eaten a bowl of them alone. All in all it was a great experience. I'd go back for sure.
We ate everything put in front of us, but in the end it was just OK. First off the space is gorgeous. Rough hewn woods, cast iron fittings, dim lighting, etc. Our party of four was seated at a smallish table, and I do have to say the plastic chairs aren't very comfortable. Our waiter was really nervous, like noticeably, and struggled with facts about the menu and wines he should have known. I asked him if he had a favorite wine while regarding the extensive list, he said he did, so I asked him to describe it. He basically said it was "red" and could produce no more of a description. I felt badly for the guy, but when you are waiting tables at a $20-$30 a plate restaurant, you need to have a few wines you have tasted and memorized a decent description. We ordered some appetizers which were produced in no less than 15 minutes, ironically too quick for me. I commented on that and his response was "well we're not really that busy". Sigh. The portion on the bone marrow with tuna tartare was humorous. The bone barely had any marrow in it, and the tuna had more panko than tuna. For $15 it was a bit insulting. The "canned soup" was good but could have used more ginger. It came out a little flat. We then waited a bit before ordering mains as we didn't want them showing up as soon as the words finished leaving our mouths. We ordered a good spread: half chicken, grouper, steak, whole black bass. All the mains were quite tasty. The steak was well cooked and the garnishes were nice. The chicken was tasty with a nice citrus taste. The bass was very bony (more than usual) although I guess you get that with whole fish. The brussels spouts side was awesome though. I just should have had that for appetizers. Even though the mains somewhat made up for the lackluster drink and appetizer service we opted not to have desert or coffee. I knew going into this place that, as the reviews suggest, I was going to get a mixed experience, and it certainly bore out. Richard Blais, help!
(3)
Anjali M.
We went 2 days ago for our anniversary. I had mentioned it on my reservation. They greeted us saying happy anniversary and brought us champagne and dessert on the house and made it very special for us. My husband was so impressed:) I ordered a veggie platter but wasn't happy with the vegetables so they whipped out a new one without any complaints! My husband had their burger and loved it! The dessert was great too. Nice ambience. The service was amazing. Will definitely go back.
(5)
Ana M.
You walk in and this place immediately liberates you- I started wondering why no one had thought of this earlier. Why would you need a formal bar when the whole center of the room can be a casual hang out spot where bartenders and patrons convene? Why not make an irreverent menu that changes daily, based on the whim and inspiration of the chefs? Why impose expectations of courses, when you can order whatever sounds good to you, and have it delivered to the table whenever it's ready? And who wouldn't want servers treat you like the guest of honor to this funky dinner party, sharing their favorite dishes, conversing about food and cocktails, and making you feel included and at home? And of course, you will be given the option to order their daily staff meal at cost, which when I went meant savory bread pudding and sausage for under six bucks. This is place is a mixture of extremes- it's modern, it's funky, but its also sophisticated. It is homey in the sense that you feel like you are part of the group- the staff is having a great time, is eating great food, and you can share that experience with them. Richard Blais is either focused by the kitchen, checking orders, ensuring things are running smoothly- or hanging out with patrons and making sure we are all enjoying ourselves. When you order wine, a cute little card comes along with it, imparting you with wine wisdom for your next visit ("you should check out this new hot varietal"). The food is phenomenal. The foie gras with chocolate was silky and surprisingly delicate, the oysters and pearls were refreshing, the bone marrow with tuna tartare was just genius. (why shouldn't you pair marrow with fish?) The lamb entree was sumptuous (albeit small- almost the size of the small plates). I think this place is exactly what I would expect from Richard Blais- a little outside the box, a lot of great quality food, and amazing hospitality to match.
(5)
John M.
I'll never know. Circled the block twice looking for valet parking. It was very dark and I finally spotted the small sign that had an arrow pointing down the road. But there was no valet. And traffic was such I couldn't stop. Pulling around the block I called and they stated they only had one valet. I tried once more before giving up and heading to Empire State South. With this level of service outside the restaurant I doubt I'll ever try again.
5+ stars. Best customer service I've ever had at a restaurant. Actually, best customer service I've ever had anywhere! Our server, Alex, really made our experience above and beyond great. You should come here. I made a reservation for 8:30pm on a Sunday, and I was running late, so I called. The lady who answered the phone said, "No problem. Come in when you can." So, we did. Around 8:40pm on a Sunday. Little did we know that the Spence closes at 9pm on Sundays! No one said anything as we proceeded to have a very European-style dinner for the next couple of hours... that is, until one woman came by and angrily demanded our menus as we were preparing to order dessert. I looked around and saw that we were the only remaining customers, so I asked, "Are you closed?" and she snapped at me, "Yes! We CLOSED at NINE." I felt terrible. The thought hadn't even crossed my mind since I was able to make a reservation for 8:30pm. When our waitress, Alex, came back to our table I told her we would skip dessert because of what the other woman had said, and Alex very adamantly told us to stay and enjoy ourselves. Talk about 5-star service. She kept a smile on her face the whole time and was so extremely professional. I am so impressed with the caliber of service she gave us. Truly amazing. Anyway, onto the food, which also deserves 5 stars. The uni spaghettini was a nice starter small plate which had calamari and octopus. No one flavor overpowered the other, which was great because I was worried the uni flavor would be too strong. The pasta was perfectly cooked. The flavors were great. The seafood was also perfect. Strong start. We then had the pork belly with turnips and flat beans, which was a lovely balance of that strong meaty (yet fatty and buttery) pork belly flavor with the nice, complimentary softer flavors of the turnips and flat beans. For dessert, after our little run-in with the woman on staff, Alex convinced us to try the ricotta cheesecake, which was one of the best cheesecakes I have ever had. It was super light and packed with flavor. I want a piece now. As if that weren't enough, Alex the amazing server brought us out a complimentary piece of the pistachio shortcake with celery sorbet (for my birthday)! The shortcake was wonderful, and the celery sorbet was very light and refreshing. This was probably one of the best (birthday) meals I've ever had. Love it!
(5)
marissa m.
Great food. Great drinks. Great service....Thanks Mike! Very pleased with the bone marrow & quail egg and the duck.
(5)
Kim N.
Finally made it to the Spence over the weekend and it won't be my last time. Being such a fan of molecular gastronomy, I love the creativity of every dish that came out at our dinner. The presentation of every dish is spectacular (see pictures); each component/ingredient has its own purpose and they all just go so well together. I believe the Spence has been open for a little bit over a year. It didn't seem too busy when we came in for dinner on a Sunday night. I honestly think that location is one of the problems because it's in a college area, surrounded by fast food joints, and a little hidden. Every dish's very good with some minor problems I had because I'm just really picky. -Rolls with coconut butter( to munch one while you wait for your food) - LOVE the coconut butter & warm rolls. I can eat that coconut butter with anything! -Oysters & Pearls- the pearls melt in your mouth, flavors marry so well -Beef Tartare - topped with sunny side up quail eggs, wonderful flavor combination -Bone Marrow - hard to use the spoon that came with it bc the bone marrow we got was too narrow; otherwise, it was heavenly!! bone marrow, hamachi tartare, topped with sunny side up quail eggs -Uni Spaghettini - a tad too salty for me; nonetheless, good flavors -Roasted Porchetta w/ Mac n Cheese- served with a glass dome with smoke under, the smoky flavor compliments the whole dish so well; I think this was our favorite dish. -Brussels Sprouts- in Thai sauce, delicious -Mint Panna Cotta - served with cucumber sorbet & sunflower cake. I think this was the only slight disappointment of our entire meal. This dessert tasted decent, just not amazing like everything else. Server & hostess were very nice and friendly. Valet parking; however, there's street parking available. Open kitchen. Simple decorations.
(4)
Amanda W.
AMAZING!!! We have dined at fine dining restaurants before but this beat them all!! Our waiter Ryan was so knowledgable about everything and the other staff never failed to answer our questions or ask how we were doing. We had the braised goat beet arancini, the bone marrow w/ tuna tartare, whole white bass, and short rib. There was not a single complaint! Can't wait to come back to Atlanta to visit again.
(5)
Nicholas G.
Very impressive wine list and just as impressive food and service. Definitely and "must experience" spot for foodies and wine lovers.
(5)
Anna Marie C.
I love me some top chef. So I obvs was very excited to have a meeting in atl and have a chance to eat here. The menu sits between fun and too gimmicky. But seeing Blais on the show, I'm vote for fun. My beet salad was awesome, and so was my kale. The disappointment was in the bone marrow dish--it wasn't easy to eat, and it just felt greasy instead of rich. Luckily, the meal was slow paced and thus I felt full by the time the end rolled around. Dessert was fine but nothing to write home about. They had also run out of a dessert, but did not let us know prior to us ordering it. Overall, nice, not spectacular in the way I had hoped.
(4)
Jessy A.
Was disappointed. service was fine, but the food was mediocre. Tried several small plates and an entree which was steak. Temperature of food... Warm, not hot, seasoning ok. What I hoped would be interesting tasting and creative was just not that but rather lamely mixed tastes. Nothing at all special. Could have been at the Olive Garden.
(3)
Karen P.
Friday night at a Blais restaurant - not too crowded so we expected good service - it was okay.We opted to sit outside which meant that we were a little "disconnected" from the restaurant, probably because the tables are located across a sidewalk from the restaurant doors. We started with a bottle of Brunello - excellent wine and markup was pretty standard if not a little lower than some restuarants at this price point. Then on to dinner selections...maybe it was us but we thought that the menu was weird. There was a section for small plates which I usually translate to be appetizers and then the entrees - only 3. Maybe this is someone's definition of "trendy" but I found it confusing. The waiter explained that many people selected small plates for entrees - different but it opened the number of selections. We struggled with selections - everything was just a bit different - almost like it was trying too hard to be different. The gazpacho was good although the concept of eating "canned soup" at a restaurant scared me a bit - definitely better than the canned soup that I usually buy. For an entree, I selected a pasta - which was okay but so forgettable that I can't even remember what it was. My son had the steak and said it was "meh" - not a lot of flavor.
(2)
Nichole K.
Meet up with a bunch of girlfriend's after work, and once again Concentrics Restaurants has another hit. Trendy but louder atmosphere. Open kitchen. Decor was beautiful. Great place for post work cocktails. We order almost all of their appetizers and all of their desserts. If I could say one thing negative it would be the service. Wasn't bad, but wasn't great. Will go back again. And I highly recommend it.
(5)
S W.
Phenomenal head chef, Adrian, really took care of us. This guy is amazing! Meet him if you can. The food was fresh and highly creative. I felt as if the food came from the farm that day. i will be back.
(5)
Brian K.
Kudos to Chef Richard Blais for finally opening a restaurant that caters to a more culinarily adventurous crowd and not the milkshake-slurping, french fry-inhaling masses. Don't get me wrong - I've pounded my fair share of his delectable liquid nitrogen shakes over the years. However, it's refreshing to see his culinary ingenuity and talent showcased through the actual food instead of a kitschy theme. Food: The portions aren't very generous, but the flavor profiles are exceptional. The restaurant has also enlisted an incredibly talented sommelier, so the wine selection is equally as impressive. During my visit, I started with the General Tso's sweetbreads, which were well-executed, but slightly overpriced for the quality and portion size. For an entree, I opted for the Amish chicken, which consisted of both fried and sous-vide chicken served over grits. The dish was impeccable on all fronts. For a side, my dining partner and I opted for the macaroni & headcheese, which was excellent. For a dessert, I had the pineapple upside down cake with foie caramel, which proved to be the only underwhelming aspect of the meal. In my opinion, the dessert lacked the complexity and innovation you'd expect from a kitchen with Richard Blais at the helm. Service: Friendly, efficient, and eager to please. Our waitress did have to rely on her notes when we inquired about some of the dishes - however, this was expected considering that the menu changes on a a daily basis. Atmosphere: Casual, contemporary, and welcoming. Contrary to some of the other reviewers, I had no issues with the communal bar format - I've never been a fan of staring at the wall and found the high-top tables to be more conducive for conversation. The restaurant also has one of the most "open" kitchens I've ever seen - there are no counters or walls separating it from the dining room - I found it to be a refreshing deviation from the norm. Dress is smart casual. Cost: Expensive by most casual dining standards. Small plates are $5-$15, large plates are $15-$30, sides are $4-$5, and desserts are $5-$7. Specialty drinks are approximately $9-$10. Other: The Spence accepts reservations via phone or OpenTable. Communal "feasting tables" can also be reserved for larger groups or private events. Complimentary valet parking is available, but the lot is a decent trek from the actual restaurant - as such, you may have to wait a few minutes for service. Validated parking is also available at the parking deck on Williams St. Dining hours are Sunday-Thursday, 5:30PM-10:00PM, and Friday-Saturday, 5:30PM-11:00PM. The bar opens daily at 5:00PM.
(4)
Mere C.
We came here last night to celebrate our 2 year anniversary! We have heard great things and wanted to try something new. First off let me say that our server was AMAZING! He started us off with some complimentary champagne while he broke down the menu. He asked us what kind of drinks we liked, and we did a blind 3 glass wine tasting. He completely nailed our taste with the wine. We had several questions about the menu, but he was so patient and genuinely excited to assist. I honestly would have thought he was the chef because he was so knowledgeable. He was giving us all sorts of helpful tips about how they cook the food. After reading over the menu, we decided to start off with the oysters and pearl and the bone marrow. OMG!! The oysters were so flavorful and had an excellent presentation over baked salt. We detected citrus juice in them, and our server said they put pineapple juice in it for a little extra flavor. The bone marrow was honestly our favorite thing that we had. I have never had anything remotely close to bone marrow with tuna, and it's hard to describe the flavor, but my taste buds were loving every bite. For our main course, Steven ordered the duck and I ordered the steak. We tend to split meals so we had half of each others. Both were amazing. Mine arrived with potatoes and roasted vegetables. The duck came with brussel sprouts and veggies. The presentation was amazing! We both agreed that when we come back, we will probably do it "tapas style" and order several little bites instead since we enjoyed the appetizers so much. We finished the meal with the blondie brownie and ice cream. It was honestly heaven in my mouth! We will definitely be back. Although the menu rotates, the oysters and bone marrow are fixed options. I would highly recommend both. Also, the beekeeper cocktail was very good (bourbon with honey). It was top notch service and food combined into one great experience. Well done, and thank you more making our special day that much better.
(5)
B M.
All I can say is WOW!!!! I first and foremost have to say the warm welcome we received from Rori and Peter set the tone for the entire evening. They were genuine folks who truly wanted you to have a great experience. The food was just amazing!!! We tried four of the snacks, a couple of small plates, an entree and dessert....the salmon crudo was not only beautiful but tasty too. And if you want to lose your bone marrow virginity, this is the place. The goat trio was so delicious especially the croquette! I don't know what little saucy things were on that plate but I actually swiped up some with my finger. We had the blondie with coffee ice cream for dessert. The little coffee cocktail was a great compliment. I didn't get to meet Richard Blais which was a bummer but the phenomenal food at his restaurant showed why he is such an amazing chef and restaurant leader.
(5)
Mckenzie B.
I came here for my birthday on Saturday and I would say I was a little worried. I love food so I decided to give this place a shot. I think my servers name was Peter and I dont think I would have been as happy with it if he wasn't. The options made me nervous. He recommended a wine from Macedonia. Which was 14% alcohol. Loooooooooved it!!! On to the food. We had bone marrow, beef tartar, some pasta with clams, mussels and fried brussel sprouts. I have never had better food in my life. There is no doubt I would tell people to pick small plates over main courses. They also gave me champagne and a chocolate dessert for my birthday. I will be coming back.
(5)
Tony G.
This was me and my wife's third visit to The spence. Each time our experience has been unique and enjoyable. The service is on point always. The valet the hostess and our waiters were all what you would expect for a restaurant of this caliber. No pretentiousness no attitudes like I have experienced in some of the restaurants like bacchanalia or restaurant Eugene were the food is just not as creative neither it is worth the wait ,the rudeness of the staff , the douchey crowd and could get quite pricey. The food here is AMAZING and the menu is divided in to 3 parts and is ever changing. Oyster and pearls , beet salad with wasabi, and the famous bone marrow appetizers are some of the best in Atlanta. But there is always so many more that are just too good to pass up. The second section of the menu has small dishes which I usually order 2 different kinds to share with my wife. The squash linguini ,broccoli pappardelle and the english pea cavatappi with mint gremolata are some of my favorites as I love to try unique pasta combinations and these are hands down the most creative and delicious anywhere in Atlanta. But the foie gras terrine , squid ink ramen with garlic dash and fresh kimchi and the canned soup of the day are not to be missed. The third part of the menu has entree sizes portions. The smoke dome dish , the feathered steak with artichokes , duck with blood orange and chocolate and the juicy Lucy burger are our favorite. The deserts change everyday as well but the blood orange with orange cake with champagne shavings , the chocolate cake with violet ice cream are some of the best I have had. Even their cocktail menu is very unique with pisco pop , March hare and the left handed humming bird being our top choices of all times. This place is an experience that just never disappoints the service is impeccable waiters are knowledgeable and the food is their main focus and they execute every dish to surpass the most discerning diners expectations. Flavor profiles , ingredients and Blais's touch make for every plate to be unique and delicious. We love this place and I can tell you after 3 visits that it's consistent and always provides and amazing experience unlike some highly ranked restaurants in atlanta.
Loved the atmosphere and the menu. Great experience and will be back next time I'm in town.
(4)
Jon P.
I was excited to recently try The Spence, I'm a fan of Richard Blais and Top Chef and have eaten at his other spots. First of all, it is in a great location and the interior is very hip with an open kitchen and bar - its not stuffy, very casual - it reminds me of a smaller Empire State South. I'm not sure if it was the table where we were sitting, but I had a customer in town who I brought along for dinner, and we could barely hear each other talk. The music and other patrons talking were very loud and our table was a little cramped. As expected, the menu options are creative, and not what you typically find in Atlanta, I started off with the Bone Marrow and Tuna Tartare and Fried Quail eggs along with Oysters and Pearls - it was ok, and the portion size was small to split between two people. I had the steak as an entree and it was cooked perfectly, but the flavor was off, very odd taste. My customer had similar thoughts with his steak. The best part of the entire meal was my side of Brussel Sprouts, the vinaigrette over them was delicious. I was hoping to give The Spence a great review and after my experience I don't think I will return - Sorry Richard.
(3)
Linda O.
Had dinner tonight at theSpence. One of the worst meals ever. A mushy white fish, with 2 burnt baby carrots and a raw faned potato. Served with a pea puree that had no favor. Avoid this place if you want a decent meal.
(1)
Pratik S.
This was our first visit to The Spence and we were really excited to finally come here. I had not been in the location previously when it was The Globe, but I was really impressed with the space. It is pretty modern and very open. You can see the kitchen from pretty much any seat in the house. Yes, it is a little noisy but I did not think it was excessive. The music is also a little loud but I liked what they were playing. Our server was amazing. He asked if we had been before and quickly gave us a run-down of how the menu is laid out. We started with dirty martinis which were great. To start we ordered the oysters and pearls and we loved them, especially the frozen wasabi pearls that reminded us of dippin dots. We also ordered the bone marrow / tuna tartare / quail egg and we weren't the biggest fans of that dish. For our entrees I ordered the new york strip and my wife ordered the lamb osso buco. Both were cooked perfectly, well-seasoned, and delicious. If I had to pick one between the 2 I would say the lamb was slightly better. We also ordered a side of the fried Brussels sprouts and they might have been the best thing we had all night. Overall I was really impressed with everything we ordered. The space is really nice and the service was top notch. I have heard great things about the dessert but we were way too full to even think about dessert. I highly recommend checking The Spence out and we will definitely be back.
(4)
Shelly G.
Out of the Concentrics restaurants I've tried, the Spence was probably the most meh. The atmosphere is nice and the service was great, but the food was a hit or miss. They have complimentary bread similar to the Hawaiian rolls you get at the grocery store (not hating, that stuff is good), and the spread it came with was delicious. But why torture us with just two lonely rolls! We started with the calamari--flavorful and zesty, and whatever sauce it came with was yummy. Beside the fact that they creepily called it "fried sea creatures" which made me feel like I was eating Ariel's friends, I was a fan. For my entree, I was wavering between the cheeseburger and the pork and beans. I went with the latter and hated it. I consider myself a pretty adventurous eater and have no known food dislikes, but something about the pork just did not sit right with my taste buds.
(2)
Pam C.
Had another wonderful dinner here Monday night, Oct 28. The Mussels dish on the menu with the Ginger broth is amazing...they need to give extra bread to sop up the yummy broth. I loved the Beef Tartar. I would pass on the Rye Cavatelli with corned beef, it was just ok. Service was excellent again!
(5)
Happy Eater B.
We came here to see what Richard Blais and his creativity would mean for a special date night. Unfortunately, the team he's recruited and trained has pretty uneven performance and menu. On the pro side, the waiter was one of the best. Super friendly, knew the menu well, 'read' us great, and did a wonderful job welcoming us and providing great service. Some of the food was really great. A gazpacho wowed us and the juicy lucy burger was pretty strong. However, the burger was kind of one dimensional in its taste profile. The other dishes were just not that interesting. The concept was cool, but the reality was fairly bland and under-seasoned. Each dish had many ingredients, but only one taste or sensation. For instance, the 'goat fries', which are goat gonads, were so heavily coated in buffalo sauce that they were not much different from Domino's buffalo hot wings. So, there were some high points, but also some low points, and isn't a place I'd particularly recommend given the high price.
(3)
Julie C.
Richard Blais has created food nirvana in Atlanta, exploding the open kitchen concept -- the restaurant IS the kitchen -- that creates memorable, delectable dishes. Oysters & pearls; beef marrow, tuna tartare & quail eggs; beef tongue tacos -- signature sides also shine in Brussels sprouts w/ Thai vinaigrette & thrice-cooked fries. Extensive wine list with Tried & Trues as well as bolder choices for the adventuresome -- clearly the direction I explored with Spanish & Portuguese standouts, Prieto Picudo, Tinta Roriz-Touriga. Excellent servers, experts in the menu. An evening to relish & savor!
(5)
Paul C.
Service is SLOW! Food is good but way over priced. You're paying quite a premium for the showoffy, TV food aspects. Valet is NOT free.
(2)
Matt J.
We ate everything put in front of us, but in the end it was just OK. First off the space is gorgeous. Rough hewn woods, cast iron fittings, dim lighting, etc. Our party of four was seated at a smallish table, and I do have to say the plastic chairs aren't very comfortable. Our waiter was really nervous, like noticeably, and struggled with facts about the menu and wines he should have known. I asked him if he had a favorite wine while regarding the extensive list, he said he did, so I asked him to describe it. He basically said it was "red" and could produce no more of a description. I felt badly for the guy, but when you are waiting tables at a $20-$30 a plate restaurant, you need to have a few wines you have tasted and memorized a decent description. We ordered some appetizers which were produced in no less than 15 minutes, ironically too quick for me. I commented on that and his response was "well we're not really that busy". Sigh. The portion on the bone marrow with tuna tartare was humorous. The bone barely had any marrow in it, and the tuna had more panko than tuna. For $15 it was a bit insulting. The "canned soup" was good but could have used more ginger. It came out a little flat. We then waited a bit before ordering mains as we didn't want them showing up as soon as the words finished leaving our mouths. We ordered a good spread: half chicken, grouper, steak, whole black bass. All the mains were quite tasty. The steak was well cooked and the garnishes were nice. The chicken was tasty with a nice citrus taste. The bass was very bony (more than usual) although I guess you get that with whole fish. The brussels spouts side was awesome though. I just should have had that for appetizers. Even though the mains somewhat made up for the lackluster drink and appetizer service we opted not to have desert or coffee. I knew going into this place that, as the reviews suggest, I was going to get a mixed experience, and it certainly bore out. Richard Blais, help!
(3)
Anjali M.
We went 2 days ago for our anniversary. I had mentioned it on my reservation. They greeted us saying happy anniversary and brought us champagne and dessert on the house and made it very special for us. My husband was so impressed:) I ordered a veggie platter but wasn't happy with the vegetables so they whipped out a new one without any complaints! My husband had their burger and loved it! The dessert was great too. Nice ambience. The service was amazing. Will definitely go back.
(5)
Ana M.
You walk in and this place immediately liberates you- I started wondering why no one had thought of this earlier. Why would you need a formal bar when the whole center of the room can be a casual hang out spot where bartenders and patrons convene? Why not make an irreverent menu that changes daily, based on the whim and inspiration of the chefs? Why impose expectations of courses, when you can order whatever sounds good to you, and have it delivered to the table whenever it's ready? And who wouldn't want servers treat you like the guest of honor to this funky dinner party, sharing their favorite dishes, conversing about food and cocktails, and making you feel included and at home? And of course, you will be given the option to order their daily staff meal at cost, which when I went meant savory bread pudding and sausage for under six bucks. This is place is a mixture of extremes- it's modern, it's funky, but its also sophisticated. It is homey in the sense that you feel like you are part of the group- the staff is having a great time, is eating great food, and you can share that experience with them. Richard Blais is either focused by the kitchen, checking orders, ensuring things are running smoothly- or hanging out with patrons and making sure we are all enjoying ourselves. When you order wine, a cute little card comes along with it, imparting you with wine wisdom for your next visit ("you should check out this new hot varietal"). The food is phenomenal. The foie gras with chocolate was silky and surprisingly delicate, the oysters and pearls were refreshing, the bone marrow with tuna tartare was just genius. (why shouldn't you pair marrow with fish?) The lamb entree was sumptuous (albeit small- almost the size of the small plates). I think this place is exactly what I would expect from Richard Blais- a little outside the box, a lot of great quality food, and amazing hospitality to match.
(5)
John M.
I'll never know. Circled the block twice looking for valet parking. It was very dark and I finally spotted the small sign that had an arrow pointing down the road. But there was no valet. And traffic was such I couldn't stop. Pulling around the block I called and they stated they only had one valet. I tried once more before giving up and heading to Empire State South. With this level of service outside the restaurant I doubt I'll ever try again.
5+ stars. Best customer service I've ever had at a restaurant. Actually, best customer service I've ever had anywhere! Our server, Alex, really made our experience above and beyond great. You should come here. I made a reservation for 8:30pm on a Sunday, and I was running late, so I called. The lady who answered the phone said, "No problem. Come in when you can." So, we did. Around 8:40pm on a Sunday. Little did we know that the Spence closes at 9pm on Sundays! No one said anything as we proceeded to have a very European-style dinner for the next couple of hours... that is, until one woman came by and angrily demanded our menus as we were preparing to order dessert. I looked around and saw that we were the only remaining customers, so I asked, "Are you closed?" and she snapped at me, "Yes! We CLOSED at NINE." I felt terrible. The thought hadn't even crossed my mind since I was able to make a reservation for 8:30pm. When our waitress, Alex, came back to our table I told her we would skip dessert because of what the other woman had said, and Alex very adamantly told us to stay and enjoy ourselves. Talk about 5-star service. She kept a smile on her face the whole time and was so extremely professional. I am so impressed with the caliber of service she gave us. Truly amazing. Anyway, onto the food, which also deserves 5 stars. The uni spaghettini was a nice starter small plate which had calamari and octopus. No one flavor overpowered the other, which was great because I was worried the uni flavor would be too strong. The pasta was perfectly cooked. The flavors were great. The seafood was also perfect. Strong start. We then had the pork belly with turnips and flat beans, which was a lovely balance of that strong meaty (yet fatty and buttery) pork belly flavor with the nice, complimentary softer flavors of the turnips and flat beans. For dessert, after our little run-in with the woman on staff, Alex convinced us to try the ricotta cheesecake, which was one of the best cheesecakes I have ever had. It was super light and packed with flavor. I want a piece now. As if that weren't enough, Alex the amazing server brought us out a complimentary piece of the pistachio shortcake with celery sorbet (for my birthday)! The shortcake was wonderful, and the celery sorbet was very light and refreshing. This was probably one of the best (birthday) meals I've ever had. Love it!
(5)
marissa m.
Great food. Great drinks. Great service....Thanks Mike! Very pleased with the bone marrow & quail egg and the duck.
(5)
Kim N.
Finally made it to the Spence over the weekend and it won't be my last time. Being such a fan of molecular gastronomy, I love the creativity of every dish that came out at our dinner. The presentation of every dish is spectacular (see pictures); each component/ingredient has its own purpose and they all just go so well together. I believe the Spence has been open for a little bit over a year. It didn't seem too busy when we came in for dinner on a Sunday night. I honestly think that location is one of the problems because it's in a college area, surrounded by fast food joints, and a little hidden. Every dish's very good with some minor problems I had because I'm just really picky. -Rolls with coconut butter( to munch one while you wait for your food) - LOVE the coconut butter & warm rolls. I can eat that coconut butter with anything! -Oysters & Pearls- the pearls melt in your mouth, flavors marry so well -Beef Tartare - topped with sunny side up quail eggs, wonderful flavor combination -Bone Marrow - hard to use the spoon that came with it bc the bone marrow we got was too narrow; otherwise, it was heavenly!! bone marrow, hamachi tartare, topped with sunny side up quail eggs -Uni Spaghettini - a tad too salty for me; nonetheless, good flavors -Roasted Porchetta w/ Mac n Cheese- served with a glass dome with smoke under, the smoky flavor compliments the whole dish so well; I think this was our favorite dish. -Brussels Sprouts- in Thai sauce, delicious -Mint Panna Cotta - served with cucumber sorbet & sunflower cake. I think this was the only slight disappointment of our entire meal. This dessert tasted decent, just not amazing like everything else. Server & hostess were very nice and friendly. Valet parking; however, there's street parking available. Open kitchen. Simple decorations.
(4)
Amanda W.
AMAZING!!! We have dined at fine dining restaurants before but this beat them all!! Our waiter Ryan was so knowledgable about everything and the other staff never failed to answer our questions or ask how we were doing. We had the braised goat beet arancini, the bone marrow w/ tuna tartare, whole white bass, and short rib. There was not a single complaint! Can't wait to come back to Atlanta to visit again.
(5)
Nicholas G.
Very impressive wine list and just as impressive food and service. Definitely and "must experience" spot for foodies and wine lovers.
(5)
Anna Marie C.
I love me some top chef. So I obvs was very excited to have a meeting in atl and have a chance to eat here. The menu sits between fun and too gimmicky. But seeing Blais on the show, I'm vote for fun. My beet salad was awesome, and so was my kale. The disappointment was in the bone marrow dish--it wasn't easy to eat, and it just felt greasy instead of rich. Luckily, the meal was slow paced and thus I felt full by the time the end rolled around. Dessert was fine but nothing to write home about. They had also run out of a dessert, but did not let us know prior to us ordering it. Overall, nice, not spectacular in the way I had hoped.
(4)
Jessy A.
Was disappointed. service was fine, but the food was mediocre. Tried several small plates and an entree which was steak. Temperature of food... Warm, not hot, seasoning ok. What I hoped would be interesting tasting and creative was just not that but rather lamely mixed tastes. Nothing at all special. Could have been at the Olive Garden.
(3)
Karen P.
Friday night at a Blais restaurant - not too crowded so we expected good service - it was okay.We opted to sit outside which meant that we were a little "disconnected" from the restaurant, probably because the tables are located across a sidewalk from the restaurant doors. We started with a bottle of Brunello - excellent wine and markup was pretty standard if not a little lower than some restuarants at this price point. Then on to dinner selections...maybe it was us but we thought that the menu was weird. There was a section for small plates which I usually translate to be appetizers and then the entrees - only 3. Maybe this is someone's definition of "trendy" but I found it confusing. The waiter explained that many people selected small plates for entrees - different but it opened the number of selections. We struggled with selections - everything was just a bit different - almost like it was trying too hard to be different. The gazpacho was good although the concept of eating "canned soup" at a restaurant scared me a bit - definitely better than the canned soup that I usually buy. For an entree, I selected a pasta - which was okay but so forgettable that I can't even remember what it was. My son had the steak and said it was "meh" - not a lot of flavor.
(2)
Nichole K.
Meet up with a bunch of girlfriend's after work, and once again Concentrics Restaurants has another hit. Trendy but louder atmosphere. Open kitchen. Decor was beautiful. Great place for post work cocktails. We order almost all of their appetizers and all of their desserts. If I could say one thing negative it would be the service. Wasn't bad, but wasn't great. Will go back again. And I highly recommend it.
(5)
S W.
Phenomenal head chef, Adrian, really took care of us. This guy is amazing! Meet him if you can. The food was fresh and highly creative. I felt as if the food came from the farm that day. i will be back.
(5)
Brian K.
Kudos to Chef Richard Blais for finally opening a restaurant that caters to a more culinarily adventurous crowd and not the milkshake-slurping, french fry-inhaling masses. Don't get me wrong - I've pounded my fair share of his delectable liquid nitrogen shakes over the years. However, it's refreshing to see his culinary ingenuity and talent showcased through the actual food instead of a kitschy theme. Food: The portions aren't very generous, but the flavor profiles are exceptional. The restaurant has also enlisted an incredibly talented sommelier, so the wine selection is equally as impressive. During my visit, I started with the General Tso's sweetbreads, which were well-executed, but slightly overpriced for the quality and portion size. For an entree, I opted for the Amish chicken, which consisted of both fried and sous-vide chicken served over grits. The dish was impeccable on all fronts. For a side, my dining partner and I opted for the macaroni & headcheese, which was excellent. For a dessert, I had the pineapple upside down cake with foie caramel, which proved to be the only underwhelming aspect of the meal. In my opinion, the dessert lacked the complexity and innovation you'd expect from a kitchen with Richard Blais at the helm. Service: Friendly, efficient, and eager to please. Our waitress did have to rely on her notes when we inquired about some of the dishes - however, this was expected considering that the menu changes on a a daily basis. Atmosphere: Casual, contemporary, and welcoming. Contrary to some of the other reviewers, I had no issues with the communal bar format - I've never been a fan of staring at the wall and found the high-top tables to be more conducive for conversation. The restaurant also has one of the most "open" kitchens I've ever seen - there are no counters or walls separating it from the dining room - I found it to be a refreshing deviation from the norm. Dress is smart casual. Cost: Expensive by most casual dining standards. Small plates are $5-$15, large plates are $15-$30, sides are $4-$5, and desserts are $5-$7. Specialty drinks are approximately $9-$10. Other: The Spence accepts reservations via phone or OpenTable. Communal "feasting tables" can also be reserved for larger groups or private events. Complimentary valet parking is available, but the lot is a decent trek from the actual restaurant - as such, you may have to wait a few minutes for service. Validated parking is also available at the parking deck on Williams St. Dining hours are Sunday-Thursday, 5:30PM-10:00PM, and Friday-Saturday, 5:30PM-11:00PM. The bar opens daily at 5:00PM.
(4)
Mere C.
We came here last night to celebrate our 2 year anniversary! We have heard great things and wanted to try something new. First off let me say that our server was AMAZING! He started us off with some complimentary champagne while he broke down the menu. He asked us what kind of drinks we liked, and we did a blind 3 glass wine tasting. He completely nailed our taste with the wine. We had several questions about the menu, but he was so patient and genuinely excited to assist. I honestly would have thought he was the chef because he was so knowledgeable. He was giving us all sorts of helpful tips about how they cook the food. After reading over the menu, we decided to start off with the oysters and pearl and the bone marrow. OMG!! The oysters were so flavorful and had an excellent presentation over baked salt. We detected citrus juice in them, and our server said they put pineapple juice in it for a little extra flavor. The bone marrow was honestly our favorite thing that we had. I have never had anything remotely close to bone marrow with tuna, and it's hard to describe the flavor, but my taste buds were loving every bite. For our main course, Steven ordered the duck and I ordered the steak. We tend to split meals so we had half of each others. Both were amazing. Mine arrived with potatoes and roasted vegetables. The duck came with brussel sprouts and veggies. The presentation was amazing! We both agreed that when we come back, we will probably do it "tapas style" and order several little bites instead since we enjoyed the appetizers so much. We finished the meal with the blondie brownie and ice cream. It was honestly heaven in my mouth! We will definitely be back. Although the menu rotates, the oysters and bone marrow are fixed options. I would highly recommend both. Also, the beekeeper cocktail was very good (bourbon with honey). It was top notch service and food combined into one great experience. Well done, and thank you more making our special day that much better.
(5)
B M.
All I can say is WOW!!!! I first and foremost have to say the warm welcome we received from Rori and Peter set the tone for the entire evening. They were genuine folks who truly wanted you to have a great experience. The food was just amazing!!! We tried four of the snacks, a couple of small plates, an entree and dessert....the salmon crudo was not only beautiful but tasty too. And if you want to lose your bone marrow virginity, this is the place. The goat trio was so delicious especially the croquette! I don't know what little saucy things were on that plate but I actually swiped up some with my finger. We had the blondie with coffee ice cream for dessert. The little coffee cocktail was a great compliment. I didn't get to meet Richard Blais which was a bummer but the phenomenal food at his restaurant showed why he is such an amazing chef and restaurant leader.
(5)
Mckenzie B.
I came here for my birthday on Saturday and I would say I was a little worried. I love food so I decided to give this place a shot. I think my servers name was Peter and I dont think I would have been as happy with it if he wasn't. The options made me nervous. He recommended a wine from Macedonia. Which was 14% alcohol. Loooooooooved it!!! On to the food. We had bone marrow, beef tartar, some pasta with clams, mussels and fried brussel sprouts. I have never had better food in my life. There is no doubt I would tell people to pick small plates over main courses. They also gave me champagne and a chocolate dessert for my birthday. I will be coming back.
(5)
Tony G.
This was me and my wife's third visit to The spence. Each time our experience has been unique and enjoyable. The service is on point always. The valet the hostess and our waiters were all what you would expect for a restaurant of this caliber. No pretentiousness no attitudes like I have experienced in some of the restaurants like bacchanalia or restaurant Eugene were the food is just not as creative neither it is worth the wait ,the rudeness of the staff , the douchey crowd and could get quite pricey. The food here is AMAZING and the menu is divided in to 3 parts and is ever changing. Oyster and pearls , beet salad with wasabi, and the famous bone marrow appetizers are some of the best in Atlanta. But there is always so many more that are just too good to pass up. The second section of the menu has small dishes which I usually order 2 different kinds to share with my wife. The squash linguini ,broccoli pappardelle and the english pea cavatappi with mint gremolata are some of my favorites as I love to try unique pasta combinations and these are hands down the most creative and delicious anywhere in Atlanta. But the foie gras terrine , squid ink ramen with garlic dash and fresh kimchi and the canned soup of the day are not to be missed. The third part of the menu has entree sizes portions. The smoke dome dish , the feathered steak with artichokes , duck with blood orange and chocolate and the juicy Lucy burger are our favorite. The deserts change everyday as well but the blood orange with orange cake with champagne shavings , the chocolate cake with violet ice cream are some of the best I have had. Even their cocktail menu is very unique with pisco pop , March hare and the left handed humming bird being our top choices of all times. This place is an experience that just never disappoints the service is impeccable waiters are knowledgeable and the food is their main focus and they execute every dish to surpass the most discerning diners expectations. Flavor profiles , ingredients and Blais's touch make for every plate to be unique and delicious. We love this place and I can tell you after 3 visits that it's consistent and always provides and amazing experience unlike some highly ranked restaurants in atlanta.
Loved the atmosphere and the menu. Great experience and will be back next time I'm in town.
(4)
Jon P.
I was excited to recently try The Spence, I'm a fan of Richard Blais and Top Chef and have eaten at his other spots. First of all, it is in a great location and the interior is very hip with an open kitchen and bar - its not stuffy, very casual - it reminds me of a smaller Empire State South. I'm not sure if it was the table where we were sitting, but I had a customer in town who I brought along for dinner, and we could barely hear each other talk. The music and other patrons talking were very loud and our table was a little cramped. As expected, the menu options are creative, and not what you typically find in Atlanta, I started off with the Bone Marrow and Tuna Tartare and Fried Quail eggs along with Oysters and Pearls - it was ok, and the portion size was small to split between two people. I had the steak as an entree and it was cooked perfectly, but the flavor was off, very odd taste. My customer had similar thoughts with his steak. The best part of the entire meal was my side of Brussel Sprouts, the vinaigrette over them was delicious. I was hoping to give The Spence a great review and after my experience I don't think I will return - Sorry Richard.
(3)
Linda O.
Had dinner tonight at theSpence. One of the worst meals ever. A mushy white fish, with 2 burnt baby carrots and a raw faned potato. Served with a pea puree that had no favor. Avoid this place if you want a decent meal.
(1)
Pratik S.
This was our first visit to The Spence and we were really excited to finally come here. I had not been in the location previously when it was The Globe, but I was really impressed with the space. It is pretty modern and very open. You can see the kitchen from pretty much any seat in the house. Yes, it is a little noisy but I did not think it was excessive. The music is also a little loud but I liked what they were playing. Our server was amazing. He asked if we had been before and quickly gave us a run-down of how the menu is laid out. We started with dirty martinis which were great. To start we ordered the oysters and pearls and we loved them, especially the frozen wasabi pearls that reminded us of dippin dots. We also ordered the bone marrow / tuna tartare / quail egg and we weren't the biggest fans of that dish. For our entrees I ordered the new york strip and my wife ordered the lamb osso buco. Both were cooked perfectly, well-seasoned, and delicious. If I had to pick one between the 2 I would say the lamb was slightly better. We also ordered a side of the fried Brussels sprouts and they might have been the best thing we had all night. Overall I was really impressed with everything we ordered. The space is really nice and the service was top notch. I have heard great things about the dessert but we were way too full to even think about dessert. I highly recommend checking The Spence out and we will definitely be back.
(4)
Shelly G.
Out of the Concentrics restaurants I've tried, the Spence was probably the most meh. The atmosphere is nice and the service was great, but the food was a hit or miss. They have complimentary bread similar to the Hawaiian rolls you get at the grocery store (not hating, that stuff is good), and the spread it came with was delicious. But why torture us with just two lonely rolls! We started with the calamari--flavorful and zesty, and whatever sauce it came with was yummy. Beside the fact that they creepily called it "fried sea creatures" which made me feel like I was eating Ariel's friends, I was a fan. For my entree, I was wavering between the cheeseburger and the pork and beans. I went with the latter and hated it. I consider myself a pretty adventurous eater and have no known food dislikes, but something about the pork just did not sit right with my taste buds.
(2)
Pam C.
Had another wonderful dinner here Monday night, Oct 28. The Mussels dish on the menu with the Ginger broth is amazing...they need to give extra bread to sop up the yummy broth. I loved the Beef Tartar. I would pass on the Rye Cavatelli with corned beef, it was just ok. Service was excellent again!
(5)
Happy Eater B.
We came here to see what Richard Blais and his creativity would mean for a special date night. Unfortunately, the team he's recruited and trained has pretty uneven performance and menu. On the pro side, the waiter was one of the best. Super friendly, knew the menu well, 'read' us great, and did a wonderful job welcoming us and providing great service. Some of the food was really great. A gazpacho wowed us and the juicy lucy burger was pretty strong. However, the burger was kind of one dimensional in its taste profile. The other dishes were just not that interesting. The concept was cool, but the reality was fairly bland and under-seasoned. Each dish had many ingredients, but only one taste or sensation. For instance, the 'goat fries', which are goat gonads, were so heavily coated in buffalo sauce that they were not much different from Domino's buffalo hot wings. So, there were some high points, but also some low points, and isn't a place I'd particularly recommend given the high price.
(3)
Julie C.
Richard Blais has created food nirvana in Atlanta, exploding the open kitchen concept -- the restaurant IS the kitchen -- that creates memorable, delectable dishes. Oysters & pearls; beef marrow, tuna tartare & quail eggs; beef tongue tacos -- signature sides also shine in Brussels sprouts w/ Thai vinaigrette & thrice-cooked fries. Extensive wine list with Tried & Trues as well as bolder choices for the adventuresome -- clearly the direction I explored with Spanish & Portuguese standouts, Prieto Picudo, Tinta Roriz-Touriga. Excellent servers, experts in the menu. An evening to relish & savor!
(5)
Paul C.
Service is SLOW! Food is good but way over priced. You're paying quite a premium for the showoffy, TV food aspects. Valet is NOT free.
(2)
Mariel J.
Just wanted to add a quick update regarding the lunch service - lunch is a great way to experience this restaurant. Prices were very reasonable ($10-$15 entrees) and the food was great. I went for the pork belly tacos with green chile, and they did not disappoint!
(5)
Angela M.
I love Richard Blais, and I would like to love his place. The ambiance was fun, but loud. The food was good. The service seemed a little disorganized. I had the shredded kale "cesar", the "canned" squash soup with pumpkin seeds, and split the mint sponge cake with sweet tea ice cream with my dining companion. It was all delicious, but lacked "wow". The "canned" soup is presented as a bowl with carrots, cheese tuile, micro greens, and pumpkin seeds over which a can portion is poured. It was very creamy, and just a little sweet. There was something about the flavor that really did remind me of canned tomato soup, but maybe it was just the power of suggestion. The other components added more texture than flavor, with the pumpkin seeds being quite thick and not as crispy crunchy as I expected. Then again, I let the soup sit while I was eating most of my "cesar." The salad was nicely spicy from the greens that seemed more arugula-sized than the kale I'm used to seeing. There was a little to much dressing for my usual taste. Don't get me wrong, this was all tasty food and I would happily eat here again, but it just didn't have the oomph that I was expecting. I'd remember the sweet tea ice cream from my visit to Home. The dessert was definitely the highlight of my evening. The flavors and textures were fun and well assembled, resulting in familiar flavors in new textures that was comfortable and exciting at the same time. I would definitely go back for that. The service was somewhat lacking. We were seated quickly, but then sat for several minutes before our server brought water. He always made time to explain why he was terribly busy, but he seemed to be in a hurry every time he stopped to take our orders or process our check. The checks were split easily for our party of 2. I'll happily try it again - especially some of the signature dishes.
(3)
Mary Ellen M.
Trendy and Tasty. We enjoyed the fantastic service from Peter with the cool eyeglasses. Fun atmosphere. Loved the loft ladder. Food (three of us shared several tapas items) was delicious. The Kahle salad is yum. Be sure to split the warm chocolate cake with honey ice cream.
(4)
Marta P.
This is my second experience at this restaurant since it has opened, and I come back with mixed reviews. We made reservations in advance and were nicely sat in the front of the restaurant (although the door opening with it being cold outside made it chilly at times). With the 4 of us, we decided to go with a few small plates and then do an entree each. We ordered: Bone Marrow, tuna tartare, & fried quail egg Beets, soft boiled egg, blue cheese, wasabi Squash gnocchi with boar ragout & chestnuts White truffle with "corkscrew" pasta & sunchokes For an entree I got the lamb sirloin with sourdough, kohlrabi & turnips and for dessert I got the ricotta cheesecake, blueberry, graham. I was slightly disappointed by the bone marrow. Although it was tasty, the marrow itself seemed overshadowed by the tuna, I could barely taste it. It seemed like the proportions of the tuna and marrow were off. The best part of that dish was soaking the bread in the bone to get the marrow juices left over. The beets were delish, I just wish there were a touch more blue cheese. It seemed to just be crumbled over to the side, but the contrast between the beets, wasabi, and blue cheese worked really nicely. My absolute favorite was the squash gnocchi. We gobbled that one up quick! It definitely tasted like fall. And the roasted chestnuts added a nice crunch element to the dish. The white truffle pasta was equally tasty. The server informed us that they have ordered too many white truffles for New Year's Eve so they were generous with it in the dish. The sauce in the pasta was nice and creamy and held to the pasta very well. The entree was also very good and portioned well. The vegetables were roasted, allowing them to still have some crunch, and cooking the kohlrabi gave it a completely different taste. My favorite was the sauce on the dish. I was disappointed by the dessert. It was a deconstructed ricotta cheesecake...but upon the first bite it tasted like those Jell-O Cheesecake pudding cups...I won't be ordering that one again. I suggest skipping that one. The other side of the table got the milk chocolate, peanut, and burnt banana ice cream, which I've tried before and is very good. All in all the meal was good. The good flavors overshadowed the mediocre ones. I would go back and try it again, but it's not really at the top of my list. Both times I went I loved the music (mainly bc it's what I normally listen to, a mix of Radiohead, Death Cab, some club music, etc) and the service and atmosphere is great. I love that the finishing station for the dishes is out in the open, allowing you to see every dish completed.
(3)
Stephie Z.
2 things: 1) The lobster roll ($17) is actually 2 small rolls with chicharones. I didn't eat the fried pig skin, but that lobster roll was delicious. Probably one of the best I've had in the city. It's making my mouth water just thinking about it. 2) The bartender/wine dude (skinny, tall, midwestern accent) is awesome! He is very knowledgeable about wines and was super excited when we wanted to try out some new ones. He made the visit for me (him, the lobster roll, and the fried cauliflower) ; I love when people are passionate about what they do.
(4)
Mayu A.
I LOVE Richard Blaise and am a huge fan of Top Chef, so when I heard about The Spence, I couldn't wait to go. Located at the intersection of Spring Street and 5th Street, this Midtown restaurant is very trendy. The interior has high ceilings, decorative lighting and tall curtains. The furniture is a mix of retro 70s and and modern metallic. It's a bustling restaurant with tight quarters and loud hip hop playing on the speakers. It has a very NYC feel which is also reflected in the clientele. My companion and I were seated at a 2-seater close to the entrance and window. He ordered the "Left-Handed Hummingbird" to drink, a tequila-based beverage with limoncello, burnt orange and a large basil ice cube. Yup, you read right, an ice cube with basil frozen right into it. Brilliant! To start, we ordered the English Muffin Pizza topped with Cheese & Basil and the shaved Fluke with Fried Chicken and Cucumber. The pizza was mediocre and something that could easily be recreated at home. The shaved fluke on the other hand was very well done. The presentation was like a piece of art. The fluke was thinly sliced and rolled into a rose bud. The fried chicken were very small bite size pieces packed with so much flavor. The cucumber was paper thin and rolled with a mayo-like sauce inside complimented by pickled radishes and celery. The appetizer was overall very light and tasty. As an entree, I ordered two small plates: the Bone Marrow topped with Tuna Tartare and Quail Egg and Bucatini with Peas and Bacon. My counterpart ordered the Arctic Char with Mashed Potatoes. I had only sampled bone marrow once prior to the Spence, so was hesitant to order it as my entree but it came highly recommended by a foodie friend as well as the waiter. The marrow melted in your mouth and the tartare complemented it well. The quail egg was fried and was a good addition but I would have preferred it to be a little runny. The Bucatini tasted like a pea carbonara with a sweet flavor from the pea sauce. The Arctic Char was slightly seared and served medium rare. Its similar to salmon and was cooked perfectly but for those who are squeamish to raw fish, this may not be the dish for you. For dessert, we ordered the Milk Chocolate and Banana Ice Cream and the Doughnuts with Milk Cream Ice Cream. Both were very good and the portions are small and easy to finish. Overall, the food was good. The service was HORRIBLE. We had four different people serve us throughout the meal and waited at least 15 minutes for our check to arrive. At first we thought it was because it was busy but as the restaurant cleared out, the server was even harder to find. When I asked another server for help in finding our server, she replied with "I don't know who your server is." Thankfully, we saw him from a distance and she reluctantly went to flag him down. I like Richard Blaise and was disappointed not to see him there but the food definitely resembled his style. Everything was delicious but nothing blew me away. The desserts were definitely the best part and considering the poor service, I'm not in a huge rush to come back.
(3)
Robert E.
Folks are friendly however the food is mediocre at best... On top of that they lost my order so have been waiting for 40 minutes... Funny the place is nearly empty so how they could lose the ticket of one lone diner is beyond me! Ordered the Samosas as appetizer... Overly spiced, meat tastes like it had been in freeze too long, I would rate the steak however I'm still waiting... Going to pay for the samosas and its ADMF! Steak came 50 minutes after ordering... I do have to say the staff went out of their way to make right... So, kudos to them for doing their best to satisfy their customer... By the way the steak was very good and the complimentary cauliflower was great!
As an avid Richard Blais fan, I was so excited to see our hotel was right next to The Spence. Service was disappointing. The restaurant appeared swamped despite being a little more than 1/2 full. We had 8pm reservations. It took about 10 mins to receive menus and water. Our waiter came by around 8:37 to take drink orders and appetizers. Then a gentleman who appeared to be the GM came by 8:47, seeing we still had our menus and took our entree order. Though the little interaction we did have with the staff was pleasant and attentive. I think upping the frequency of check-in would've made a world of difference; at times it felt like we were forgotten. The GM apologized that they ran out of gnocchi and offered a complimentary dessert. We ordered: Baked Georgia peaches with goat cheese and toast - omg so good. Comes in a little ramekin and you top it upon toast slathered with goat cheese and radish. It worked so well together. Really blended, one element didn't over power any others. Bone marrow with sweet potato and veg ceviche - unlike the peaches, the veg ceviche totally overpowered the bone marrow. It's served as more of a relish on top of the bone marrow. Too acidic and killed the unctuousness of the bone marrow. Wished I didn't waste the calories on this. Branzino - Wow, really spectacular. Crispy, salty skin with well cooked fish. I was stuffed after this. Had a wonderful salad with peach and tomato on top. This has blown my previous whole fish experience out of the water. Burger - Partner ordered this after we were told they ran out of gnocchi. Really thick patty, about 1 3/4 inches. It was a little overseasoned for me, leaning towards overly salty. Fries are more on the thick cut side, also a lot of salt (which I happen to like) Korean creamed corn - nice bite to it! Topped on squash with ricotta, I think. Wish I didn't order this with my main, just too full from the fish! It's good as its own dish. Butter cake - topped with stone fruit and goat cheese ice cream. Not bad. It was a fairly dense butter cake, served cold. They had run out of profiteroles that we originally wanted. While I greatly appreciated the small gestures made by staff to accommodate the delay in service, some of the food did not meet expectations and combined with long waits just resulted in a disappointing experience. In summary, get the Branzino and anything with peaches in it.
(2)
Adrienne V.
Pretty good...lots of potential here. Limited drink menu is an area for improvement but the Yellowjackets we ordered were perfectly delicious, highly recommend. The Virginia oysters were outstanding, order a dozen and share. My gnocchi was a little undercooked but the flavors and textures were there. The burger was elevated by the wonderful bacon jam. Many other menu items sounded enticing but this was a quickie visit for us. One area that needs no improvement and makes up for any imperfections: the staff. Welcoming, considerate, generous, and fun, they are a huge part of any dining experience and at Spence's they really are wonderful!
(4)
Kashif K.
Shout out to good friend Alex P of the Atlanta Yelp Elite Squad, and Sasha, for a fantastic meal! Delicious food, assiduously attentive service, and wonderful company! We started off with complimentary rolls of bread with coconut butter. The bread was soft and warm, and the coconut butter was creamy and tasty. We decided to order a number of small plates to share. Here's a quick rundown: - The sweet potato creme brulee had a crunchy top layer that shielded a smooth, velvety mass, which would have been perfectly enjoyable as dessert, but also did well as a side in the main course. - The brussel sprouts were among the most delicious I have ever had. They were quick fried, which gave them a nicely charred exterior, and drenched in a Thai chili vinaigrette with sliced onions, which struck a nice balance of sweet and spicy. - The beef tartare was seasoned with chilaquiles sauce and crema, and topped with thinly sliced jalapenos and radish. It was served with tortilla chips rather than bread, which was delightfully unique. - The endive tartine had a complex flavor profile lent to it by a combination of shortrib mousse, blue cheese, crushed pistachios, and citrus (segments of orange and lemon). - The bone marrow was so tasty that I did not even need the bread to spread it on; just scooped it up with a spoon and ate it by itself. It was topped with tuna tartare and quail eggs. After an outstanding meal, I am always wary that the dessert might be anticlimactic. The Spence proved me wrong in this instance. The desserts were just as splendid as the main meal. The blondie cake was paired with scoops of coffee ice cream and frozen caramel, and topped with pecans. The crispy choux, which was my favorite of the two desserts, consisted of creampuffs filled with choux cream, with light rose petal cream and a scoop of ice cream. As I walked out of The Spence, I wondered if this was what true love felt like.
(5)
Alex P.
Had a great opportunity to visit The Spence this weekend with a fellow yelper, Kashif, who suggested this spot. Absolutely amazing experience ranging from fantastic dish preparations to perfect service. - BONE MARROW was prepared so well! Typically, bone marrow tends to be extremely fatty and even when the best oils are added, it tends to be overwhelming. Not the case here, tender, delicious and one of the highlights of the menu for me. - SERVERS THAT MOVE LIKE A NINJAS. Unfortunately, I cannot recall her name, but our server was attentive, and very fast. When we were missing a plate for just a second, she noticed it, grabbed a plate in the blink of an eye and slid the plate into perfect position before we even noticed it's missing. It was a also a great touch for her to check the cleanliness of wine glasses visually under lighting before putting on the table. Some of the best service I've ever received. - BRUSSELS SPROUTS were also the best I've had. Such a great preparation, just the right amount of spice and salted very lightly. - BEEF TARTARE was served in a very unusual fashion, on top of tortilla chips, with eggs, sliced jalapeños and cilantro. If you've read my reviews, you will know that anything with jalapeños and cilantro in the description will probably get an extra star just because I like them so much. However, this creative combination gets an easy five stars. - DESSERTS were also spectacular and really wrapped up this whole experience. I am now convinced that you can't go wrong with anything on their menu. Excellent, all around.
(5)
Ling X.
Mindy Kaling came here when she was in town, so you know it's not a bad spot to try. Menu changes daily depending on what they're feeling that day, which I can dig - keeps things fresh and different. Since it's peak peach season, that was a prominent ingredient of the dishes we got. I think some items are regulars though - such as the bone marrow which I was told they are known for - and it did not disappoint. We also got their burger which was a little too salty. We came here for a birthday dinner and brought a cake - and found out they charge an $18 cake cutting fee - a bit excessive in the opinion of everyone at my table, especially without even providing candles. They did do a nice job of slicing though. Maybe I should learn this as a skill.
(3)
Kathleen C.
First meal in Atlanta! This place is right across the street from Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center. Opentable reservations, but wasn't necessary as it wasn't very busy on a Sunday night. Place looks great. Service was very attentive and our server was pleasant and professional. This is def that New American cuisine. Sharing plates. Small plates were around mid teens, big plates were upper 20s/low 30s in price. Between two people, we ordered 1) gnocchi - small plate, it was ok/good, but not a must try. The gnocchi was softer than what I am used to. It was presented in a bowl, but all the contents were shifted to one side, leaving half the bowl empty. I thought this was a pretty interesting way to present a dish. Turns out, they do that for other items too! Like where did the other half of my food go?? Needless to say, portions are on the smaller end here. 2) lamb tartare - small plate, not very gamey which was good. There's an Indian spice/yogurt type of sauce on the side that I didn't think complemented the lamb too well. I enjoyed the cucumbers in this dish though. Light. Very small portion. 3) Pork belly - small plate, this was good, except it was fried and some parts were a bit dry. Also the plate was adorned with beets! Love beets! Presentationally this was the best dish. There's a beet/yogurt paste on it that ends up being hot pink like it got splashed with paint. 3) Monkfish, big plate, sooo there are mussels in it which i love. The fish itself was too firm for my liking. Had it been a different fish that was less dense I would've enjoyed this more. 5) roasted cauliflower, side, pretty standard. Just trying to get some veggies in. 6) coffee and brown butter ice cream, coffee was good! But the brown butter one was too sweet and heavy, though it is a little more unique. Overall, food was all nicely presented, but nothing was particularly wowing. Check was ~$110 w/ tax and tip. Not the cheapest of meals, but not super expensive, not sure it was worth it for alright food.
(3)
Caitlin S.
Absolutely loved this place. The service was great, the food was better. My boyfriend and I shared a few plates and it was wonderful!! I wish that we could go back, but unfortunately we live across the country. Definitely worth a try.
(5)
Meg P.
I enjoyed my experience at the Spence. The food and the experience were both quite good other than just being a little on the slow side. We went to the Spence at the recommendation of a friend prior to seeing a show at the Fox. The food, while a little spendy, was excellent! I had the beef tartare (from the "snacks" menu), red wine rigatoni pasta, and sweet potato creme brulee side. All of them were delicious, but I REALLY enjoyed the creme brulee! (I mean..."vegetables" that taste like dessert?! Who wouldn't love it?!) The waitstaff was just a little slow to bring us our check (even though we'd mentioned needing to get to a show), and the valet took quite a while to drop off a vehicle and then get ours. It stressed us out a little since we had to get to the show, but overall, it wasn't bad. The portions were a good size - enough to fill you up but not enough to have any leftovers to speak of, which was nice since we were attending a show - and I enjoyed the ambiance of the restaurant other than the music getting a touch too loud toward the end of our dining experience.
(4)
Jahmin L.
I've been to The Spence several times, both with friends and with colleagues. Each and every time, I have an amazing meal. The restaurant is always able to accommodate any size group and it has a really cool "feel" to it. While I've tried many of the dishes, my tried and true selection is "mussels with brussels". I usually order the steamed mussels with red sauce from the small plates menu and pair it with a side of fried brussels sprouts. These sprouts are by far my favorite in Atlanta (and I try them at pretty much every restaurant where they are offered). I love the Asian influence with the Thain vinaigrette. The mussels are served in a broth that is to die for--I order extra bread just so I can sop it all up! These two dishes together are enough for a full meal. (Side note: the fries are delicious too!) The waitstaff is always courteous and knowledgeable. I'd highly recommend The Spence to anyone considering the restaurant.
(5)
Ashley M.
My friend and I dined here for lunch on a Tuesday. I made a same-day reservation just to be safe, but it probably wasn't necessary as the restaurant was relatively quiet during our meal. We enjoyed very attentive, fantastic service. I think outside of their sandwich selections, there isn't much variety for lunch choices, so I opted for "A simple green w a bunch of vegetables" and a bowl of their featured soup, tomato. The salad arrives on a beautiful plate, and really turns out to be a bunch of vegetables, but included a few surprises such as jalapenos and crispy fried onions. The dressing that the salad was tossed in was a bit salty for my preference, but the fresh, crisp variety of vegetables easily distracted me from the dressing. The tomato soup is poured into a large bowl at the table and ends up in a pool of croutons, radish, and other pickled vegetable surprises. The tomato puree is fresh and at times chunky, which is a great reminder that this bowl didn't come out of a can. Again, the soup was a bit salty for my preference, but not overwhelming so. Overall, a quiet, charming lunch experience with delightful quick service. Can't wait to come back!
(4)
Marcelle A.
Dinner was good . I ordered trout , my first time every trying this type of fish. Service was good and food was good. Environment was cool. I liked the trout other than. Taking off the skin i each filet that the only challenge. Menu was limited but food was good
(3)
Ainsley A.
Just waiting for the day when I get to meet Richard Blais... Currently drinking the Midtown Mule which is PHENOMENAL and waiting for my juicy Lucy to arrive. No complaints here. A little pricey so I won't be here every day but it's delicious and I love the atmosphere. Also, they have a great bar.
(5)
Cailen B.
I'm a big fan of The Spence for a yummy lunch or dinner date. For lunch I will traditionally get a soup and a salad - the basic salad is my favorite with pickled green beans. For dinner I haven't found an option that I would not suggest- the braised shortrib may be my favorite so far. Dinner prices are higher, but the lunch prices are not exorbitant - especially when considering what you are getting. Beautiful layout, good vibe, and consistently friendly staff and local fresh foods. I love that the menu changes to fit what they have that is fresh rather than the same menu every day. GREAT addition to Tech Square since most other options are "fast food" oriented.
(5)
Jana C.
3.7 small portions, large prices. Consider yourself forewarned! We had a delicious dinner at Chef Blais' other place in Midtown... FliP for lunch, and got a little more gussied up for dinner in Midtown. Valet parking is in front, as it's near impossible to park... but there are other options. One can park in some garage, and that 411 is on their website. We dived into a myriad of small plates, and they were quite tasty! Our first dish out: the beet salad: a symphony of clean, bright, fresh flavors. Marrow with raw tuna on toast was not as great as the roasted Thai brussel sprouts... that was just the best dish we had all night. Parker rolls are fresh, served with a coconut cream cheese spread. Got another board of those pillowy, soft wonders. Cocktails were awesome!!! Very good and yummy. Place is bit too loud for my tastes, but I'm a fan of that low lighting, and open kitchen format, with a bar area that is rather unique in design! PS Having dined at Empire State the previous day, I had an in-road into meeting chef Adrian. Was so cool shaking his hand and speaking a bit with him regarding the business. Blais is going to open in TN after having launched a KY outfit!
(4)
Michael K.
A cool place for a date. The waiter recommended some beers to my liking and I was impressed. This is a good date place for drinks and some food. But this isn't somewhere I would go if I'm hungry because their food menu isn't extensive and somewhat pricey. Got mussels and brussels sprouts as appetizers and the juicy lucy. The food is good! I'm not a fan of brussels at all. But the waiter told me he was like me but the way the restaurant prepares it changed him. He was right! I did enjoy them! The juicy lucy burger is good. I liked it and the thrice cooked fries are super crunchy, which is a plus for me. Be warned, the portions are pretty small when it comes to appetizers. Overall, I like this place and wouldn't mind coming back. There is a parking deck behind the plaza where it's $2/hour. They have a valet. My reason for giving it 3 stars is because the food menu is very limited but they have a pretty good drink menu.
(3)
Sidra M.
We had such an incredible dining experience at the Spence tonight. Let me start by complimenting our waiter,Tom, who was extremely knowledgeable, personable, and just made the evening a very memorable experience for us. He arranged our many choices in perfect order of delivery to ensure maximum appreciation and really was one of the best servers I have had. The food was also everything I hoped for. We started with the watermelon salad, which was surprising and refreshing. I always neglect ordering salads, but we did at our waiter's advice and it was excellent. The bone marrow was buttery and delicious. The "summer snack(?)" was very interesting and educational, but the red pepper ice cream melted into the squid ink broth a bit too quickly to fully enjoy. The branzino was smokey& perfectly salted, paired with fresh pickled vegetables and sweet peaches; a beautifully balanced dish. The creamed corn appetizer was one of the most delicious items I have ever tasted. Just wow; we could not get enough. The eggplant side dish with harissa was an interesting, spicy preparation but not as satisfying as the other dishes we ordered. The peach & cake dessert was sublime: light, refreshing, small bursts of mint, balanced, and one of the most satisfying desserts I've had at a restaurant. The profiteroles dessert with caramel corn was also very nice- the saltiness of the popcorn was nice with the sweet cream puffs, but following that peach dessert it could not compare. Ive been a Richard Blaise fan for years and this exceeded all expectations.
(5)
Jeff M.
Came on a Sunday night and had great food. Portions might be small but flavors are big. Take your time and savor the food. Would recommend getting more small plates and snacks rather than large plates. Treat it like tapas and you'll have a great time :) Also, no point looking at pictures because they always change their menus. We came and pretty much didn't see anything that other people ordered
(5)
Claire M.
I ate at The Spence a few weeks ago and found that the food was excellent, but the service was not so excellent. I definitely would have given 4 to 5 stars had it not been for the sub-par service. We showed up on time for our 8 pm reservation on time and were seated immediately. At this point, the restaurant was only about 50% full, which was surprising on a Friday night. Our server came by the table to greet us and give us menus, and didn't return for nearly 20 minutes to take our drink order. The service was like this pretty much all night. We would go 30-40 minute stretches without seeing her at all. The bartender even came over to our table a few times to refresh our drinks or so we could order another item. I definitely appreciate a longer meal where the server isn't rushing you out the door, but our server was pretty inaccessible for most of the night. The food, on the other hand, was delicious. We had the kale Caesar, fluke crudo, beef tartare, bone marrow, French fries, and the pork belly. Other than the fluke crudo (which I didn't care for), everything was so flavorful and prepared perfectly. The kale Caesar was simple and lemony. The beef tartare was pretty traditional and came with a really nice pumpernickel crisp. The bone marrow (topped with tuna tartare) and the pork belly were amazing. Both dishes were mouthwatering, super rich, and we just couldn't get enough. Honestly, the food was worth coming back for, I just hope we get a more attentive server next time! Read about the full experience here: weekendeatsatl.com/2015/…
(3)
Chris B.
Great food, drinks, and service! It was a Tuesday night so not very busy, but the Spence did not disappoint. We sampled quite a bit of the menu - snacks, small plates, mains. It was all good. The drinks were solid too.
(5)
Carrie G.
I absolutely loved every second of my experience there because I love bizarre and unique foods, flavors and cooking techniques. That said, my parents who are traditionally plain eaters were not impressed. My mom hated it!! The service was wonderful, attentive, not rushed, and informative. They have valet parking for $3, which is totally worth it. We were able to make and change our reservation easily on opentable. The food: ranked in order of best to worst... Bone marrow- my favorite dish!! This just wowed me. I found the flavors worked very well and kept my palate surprised and interested. The tomatillo and avocado complimented the tuna tartare and the bone gushed out greasy tidbits of meat and fat I to the mix. The quail eggs were sunny side up so their yolk added to the rustic bread that I spread my mixture on top of. Brussel Sprouts- for a side dish, this was just a perfect flavor combination and cooking technique. The Asian sauce tasted like fish sauce, soy sauce and brown sugar, with accents of red onion, and green beans. The sprouts were charred and smoky on the outside, and soft yet firm in the middle. Beef tartare- very unique flavors and textures. The ground beef tasted fresh and melted in my mouth. Dollops of grape and sriracha completed it with a sweet heat that worked with the cool meat. The little scones and quail eggs were also a nice texture and taste addition. Our server told us the dish was inspired by Notorious BIG lyrics :) The fois gras- this dish was delicious, but I've had tastier versions. The fois is served the same consistency as goat cheese. It had little dollops of apricot (or peach?) with pecans. The Texas toast was a good vessel to spread the rich buttery goodness on. I enjoyed this dish but it ranked lower than others. Ricotta cheesecake- this listing is based on ranking so that's why it's here and not last. I really enjoyed the texture and flavors. It had 3 dollops each of cheese paste and lemony foam, and it was more of a dash of ingredients spread on the plate than a formed triangular slice of cake. I really enjoyed the fresh blueberries and dipping dot blueberry pearls accenting the soft was of the cheese and foam. My parents love dessert but they were disappointed in this one. They would have preferred a more traditional take on cheesecake, I think, and a larger portion size. Turnip canned soup- rich and creamy with textures of mushrooms and crunchier turnips mixed in. Nice presentation. This was the only dish at the table my mom really liked. :) Mussels- the tomato and fennel sauce was good (I normally hate fennel, but it wasn't dominant). Decent portion side in terms of number of mussels. My only issue with this dish was the mussels inside the shells were tinier than an anorexic model's biceps. Kale ceasar salad- this was good but very simple. Just kale, dressing and croutons with a sprinkling of cheese. I like my salads with stuff inside of it so it was a bit plain, but the dressing was good. Very lemony! Would have loved some anchovies in it. Last and certainly least was the duck entree. Our server told us the duck is smoked for 6-8 hours and finished on the grill and very tender. What arrived was still raw somehow even after all the cooking time. Rare duck is fine but it was tough as leather! I had to saw at it even with a steak knife. The fav a beams it was served with were under seasoned and not cooked long enough. They were mealy and dry. If Blaise served this one on Top Chef, he would have to pack his knives. Overall, I give this 4.5 stars if it was only up to me- I'd deduct 1/2 star for the mess of a duck dish, but the rest of everything compensated for the 1 flop item. My mom gave it zero stars and my dad gave it 2. Overall, not for the picky or unadventurous eater. When returning, I'll come early so the service isn't rushed and I'll only order the small plates and starters and desserts. Skip the entrees and avoid the duck! I'd order the Brussel sprouts and marrow again and try a new suite of dishes to experience more unique and tasty things from the imagination of Blaise.
(5)
Brian I.
What a lovely surprise on a rainy evening in Atlanta. Wonderful atmosphere. Lovely blend of American and Japanese flavors. The red pepper ice cream on the starter menu was a treat. This is on my "come again" list next time I am in Atlanta.
(5)
Ryan K.
Great meal tonight. Had dinner with one of my great friends tonight which was completely random for us to both be in Atlanta. Glad we chose this place. We started off with the bone marrow and damn was it good! I can't say it was the best I have had but it was amazing nonetheless. I will say it's a little on the pricey side for the portions but when the check came I didn't mind. On to the main course. My buddy had the pork cheeks while I had the duck. Both were great, though if I had to pick one it would have been the pork. Regardless what a great place and I highly recommend.
(5)
Tim H.
The Spence - Innovative Americana Helmed by Top Chef winner and guest judge, Richard Blais, the Spence is another molecular gastronomy Midtown smash. A modern haunt located near the Georgia tech campus, the Spence (an old English word for larder, a sort of primitive ice box) combines modern interior design with a lovely patio. The patio is accentuated by landscaped holly hedges in tall white pots and a comfortable tree canopy that blocks out most of the sun. I only stayed for the oyster happy hour, where they had a special of 6 oysters and pearls for $6 dollars. WOW. They were incredible. Chef Blais has outdone himself. The raw oysters are bathed in a dollop of cherry vinaigrette and garnished with horseradish-creme-fraiche pearls, small drops of horseradish sauce and creme fraiche eye dropped into a pool of liquid nitrogen. The finished oysters are then set on a bed of charred, blackened sea salt. The aesthetic effect is simply stunning. The flavor profile is a perfect mix of raw, velvety oyster texture with a hint of brine. The sweetness of the cherry vinaigrette enhances the natural fruity flavors of the oyster. The pearls melt in your mouth releasing a blast of creamy horseradish sauce which provides a resplendent compliment to the freshness of the oysters. The oysters paired extremely well with the vino verde de la casa (house green wine, $5) and I ended up having 24 oysters just by myself! Don't take my word for it though. Just go for yourself and eat.
(5)
Julie S.
The service was impeccable, the wine was delicious and I'm already planning my next trip. Must orders: Mac & Cheese, Mussels, Fried Brussels Sprouts, & the Bone Marrow The broth the mussels were in was literally so good that I poured the leftovers on my macaroni & cheese. The only thing I didn't care for were the Beef Tacos, they had absolutely no flavor, I ate half of one and left the rest.
(5)
Christy D.
I've given 2 stars because we did have an outstanding server - Jeremy F. - who did his best to recover for the entire restaurant experience. In short, we will never return. Here's the recap: Dinner Reservation at 9:30pm on 2/14/15 (yes, I know it was Valentine's Day- all the more reason for this restaurant to have been prepared). We arrived via Uber at 9:25pm - it's a good thing. They offer valet but apparently it's around the block and there were grumblings about this. Hostess was polite enough, checked us in and said it would be a few minutes before they could seat us. She offered us a menu and said we could wait at the bar -- lol! Ok, so I'm looking around for the bar and realized she meant the make shift "cluster" bar they attempted to establish. 2 high top tables backed up to a counter with a trough/well on top for ice. I question the validity of food safety on that. Anyways, the bartender's back was to us the entire time - she never asked to take our order. We were Seated at 10:02pm- still no drinks-- At the "chef's table" facing the open kitchen. Server greeted us almost Immediately and brought water. We ordered 2 aperitifs + 2 appetizers. Appetizers were delivered and complete before I complained about our drinks. At 10:28pm, we finally received our cocktails. It's obvious bar was understaffed and not having a worker friendly station - a real bar- Is also wasted time. We ordered dinner. I had the kale Caesar - which was fantastic and the steak - lovely. My husband ordered the duck - smallest portion of duck ever and we wonder if it was something ordered in bulk from say Sysco. Poor wine selection although we did settle on a bottle of Pinot noir for dinner. As the restaurant began winding down the kitchen staff began to get a little lax. Meaning, I watched the kitchen staff eating and or drinking various things in front of us! Remember, we were sat at the fancy "chef table." For the untrained eye, it probably wouldn't matter-- however, I've worked in the industry before and eating where food is prepared/cooked is a hazard. We went on to order dessert, after dinner drinks and have conversation with Jeremy about the restaurant because in the 2.5 hours we were there - no table touch from a manager. He listened well and made apologies as best he could. It was pretty disappointing to pay $$$$ prices for a 2 star experience. If you turned the lights up in the restaurant and really looked around -- it's a diner at best.
(2)
Leslie T.
I am giving this an ok The service was bad.......if you are a foodie....the food is great But the service....needs to pay attention
(3)
Regina Q.
This place is yummy! It's a modern cozy vibe. Love the coconut butter that's served with the bread. They have a lot of good options on the menu; Their burgers are delicious with the caramelized onions. Their cauliflower soup was delicious , so creamy and flavorful. They have small plates and larger plates to choose from. The menu changes daily so will have to go back!
(4)
Ryan F.
One of the best meals I've had in Atlanta. The chicken biscuit with bacon jam is an absolute must. Great decor and vibe in the heart of the new Tech Square area. Menu changes daily.
(5)
Rosie G.
I wanted to love this place, the plates were beautiful and the staff was knowledgeable and helpful. The menu also looked amazing, but I found the food to feel heavy. The wine selections were tasty, but I felt the food was over priced. The atmosphere was fun and vibrant, the decor was casual yet classy. My mother had a vegetarian warm salad dish and I found the flavor to be mild instead of bright. My husband had the mushroom gnocchi appetizer for his main, he is half Italian and commented that his mothers gnocchi was better. My friend had the swordfish and that was really good. I had the Kobe beef flank steak and while the dish was tasty, I felt that the cheddar broccoli sauce was a bit heavy. By the time we had our mains though we had tried 4 appetizers, there was a miso custard that wasn't on the menu yet and I am interested to see where the chef takes that dish. The octopus ceviche was awkward to eat with the popcorn, but the ceviche itself had good flavor and was tender. The shrimp fritters were very flavorful and delicious. My favorite appetizer was a warm peach concoction with goat cheese and toast, the flavors all went together splendid and left me wanting more. All in all I really liked the staff and the whole ambiance of the whole place.
(4)
Llani R.
Parking: wait until attendant returns to the Valet stand. It can take a few minutes because the parking isn't close. Oysters: tasty blend of horseradish and citrus. Pork Terrine: Perfect blend of savory and sweet. Loved it. I had the Osso Bucco: Nicely cooked with a great blend of root vegetables. Husband had Scallopes: Nicely seared and perfectly cooked. Buttery In all I recommend this restaurant but I do think that the parking situation could be improved. Love the ambience of the restaurant. Nice date night. Service was amazing
(4)
Eric H.
Man, was I disappointed about this place. First of all, let me preface this by saying that the service and environment were excellent. It's a great place to come during the evening, where the lighting is dim and the mood is intimate. Our server was very attentive and jovial, tending to our needs before we asked. No complaints on these two fronts. The food, on the other hand, was, uhh, quite something. So first of all you get some dinner rolls that are brushed with butter, laid out on a wooden board with some spread coconut butter. The presentation was really great; however, the texture seemed too light and dry for my tastes. I expected the soft, rich texture of a brioche, but was extremely disappointed. Then came the bone marrow/tuna tartare: it sounded interesting, but I have decided that it is one of the worst combinations in the world. I love bone marrow, and I truly believe that the best way to enjoy it is to have it served warm/hot, so that the flavors kind of dance around in your mouth. However, this bone marrow/tuna mixture was disappointingly lukewarm/cold. The richness of the bone marrow was diluted with the sourness of the tartare - as much as I love contrast, this turned out to be a rather homogeneous mixture without any distinct flavors popping. The steak, however, was pretty great. The medium-rare steak was definitely of good quality and with a tender bite. The horseradish sauce was actually pretty tasty as well. What I didn't like about this dish was the rutabagas and the carrots that accompanied it; they were undercooked and too crunchy. So all in all - meh. Maybe we ordered the wrong things? Who knows: at a price of well over $40 per person, I am unwilling to try again. Summary: Service: 5/5 stars Food: 2/5 stars Value: 2/5 stars
I had an absolutely amazing and delicious meal here. From the starters to the dessert to the wine; a wide variety of menu items were sampled and everything was spectacular. The ambiance is comfortable and the service was great. Highly recommended.
(5)
Gillian R.
I wish I had written this review right after my visit, because I'm struggling to remember all of the dishes we sampled. My boyfriend is a sucker for Blais, and I can't say that I don't have a soft spot for him as well. We're nerds, we love food, and we have love for fellow food-loving nerds! Although I'd just started eating meat again, The Spence's menu looked a little scary to me. I love mac & cheese, but throw head cheese in there, and I'm suddenly looking for a complimentary barf bag. I mean, maybe head cheese is delicious. And maybe in ten years, I'll have garnered the courage to try it. But for now, just the thought of jiggly chopped up meat bits makes my stomach turn. I'd said I wasn't going to eat bone marrow, but guess what? I ate it. And I liked it. The quail eggs were a nice touch on top as well! We had the mussels and really enjoyed them, but I still think Sun in my Belly has the best mussels in town. For my meal, I had the juicy lucy and my boyfriend had the duck. We both enjoyed our dishes, but there was a tiny bit of disappointment for me. My cheese seemed to just melt into my burger or squirt out the edge, because I never got to the fun volcano pocket of delicious liquid gold! It was my first burger post-vegetarianism, and I have to say, I did enjoy it. The fries were tasty too. Although I was a bit full, I was in monthly chocolate mode, so we had a peanut butter and chocolate dessert. I can't remember details, except that it arrived on a slab of wood and it seemed like an awfully big portion. Oh, and it was delicious. I remember that. But my number one favorite part of the meal? You're going to laugh... It was the bread service. The sweet roll with the coconut butter? Holy. Cow. Shut the front door, I can hardly believe how rich and sweet and amazing that stuff was. If you told me I could buy a jar, I would buy ten. No, thirty. No, fifty. It was that good. The atmosphere is laid-back and cozy. The service was perfect. And there's a lovely patio area where you can have drinks around an outdoor fireplace. I sincerely hope that we make it on a date here again in the near future.
(4)
Vivian F.
Having spent the last five years at Tech, I've seen that space go from vacant to failed ritzy restaurant to even more failed Parking and Transportation office space. Thus, it came as a surprise to me that another ritzy-looking restaurant was setting up shop last week when I drove by campus. However, when I found out it was the great Top Chef champion and Atlanta food god Richard Blais at the helm, my skepticism subsided. If anyone could turn that space into something successful, it ought to be him. Predictably, the place was packed when we got there, so we resigned to sitting at the bar, which was more like community tables and probably more entertaining than getting a table. Like the lovely southern ladies that we are, we ordered two cocktails -- The Fairbanks Fizz (gin-based with flower water and lemon lime) and the Left-Handed Hummingbird (tequila-based mixed with herbs and topped off with a basil icecube). The Hummingbird was strong and packed a punch that you can only get from good tequila, and the Fizz was a light and fruity ending to balance out the tequila. Upon the recommendation of the bartender, I ordered the suckling pig with fingerling potatoes. I'm not the biggest fan of pork, so the dish didn't do much to change my feelings. Patricia's "Juicy Lucy" burger however, dripped in juicy deliciousness, and the crisp steak frites were nicely seasoned. Above all else, Blais knows how to make a good burger and a great cocktail. The prices make it a little bit on the upper levels of expensive for the average college student, but it's a great place to take mommy and daddy to and make them pay for it.
(4)
Claudia W.
Dissappointing... - Starting with a bad and slow valet service. - Continued with a long waiting time to order drinks and food and also to get the food. - Then the food was served in stages. - Finally they took away some of the plates although some people of our group were still eating.
(1)
James D.
Ok, nice tasting and plating. I had, amongst other things, the bone marrow and quail eggs. I think that was the highlight but very light on the marrow, which seemed to be a trend in all the portions. I don't mind small portions, I prefer it but these were really small portions! Honestly, you can get more for less money at other places with the same level of creativity and quality. Nice place, tiny portions and big prices. I later learned it was owned by a famous chef so maybe if you want to check it out for that reason, it would be fun to visit.
(3)
Marisa G.
Surprisingly awesome. 4 of us went with the small plates choices and ordered basically all their options. The bone marrow was amazing, squash souffle uniquely great, mussels delicious sauce, and pork croquettes were delicious. Will definitely be back.
(5)
Tanya O.
The suspence is over...kudos to Richard Blais for a delicious achievement. In a modern yet somehow rustic space, I tasted the uni spaghettini, Mac and headcheese, and fried Brussels sprouts. All three exceeded my expectations. The spaghettini was creamy without being too rich. The Mac and cheese had a nice crust on top, and the fried Brussels sprouts, which came with red onions and cilantro, had just the right bite. So good I contemplated going back again the next night. I didn't go back the next night, but I did go back again a few weeks later. Based on my first visit, I would've given this place 5 stars. My second visit made me reconsider that perfect 5 rating. I had a red snapper dish that barely even qualified as an appetizer, let alone an entree. As far as taste - just so-so. Still no reason to cross this one off the list, but perhaps not all the dishes are as fantastic as I originally thought.
(4)
Alexis G.
Amazing! We take everyone who visits from out of town, including business associates to the Spence. They never disappoint. The drinks are always ridiculously good (Chip always makes us our favorite drink we had the very first time we came in even when it's not on the menu). The food is always great! We have never had a meal that was anything but fabulous. Deserts are good, but I've had better.
(4)
Jean C.
Very hip interior. Their portions are not big. I had their lunch set coming with a soup, salad, and a sandwich, and it was gorgeous. However, their restroom signs for male and female are confusing. Ask the waiter and don't get embarrassed.
(5)
Lynn L.
Food was delicious as expected but very poor experience w staff and service. They were running behind and could not t seat us for our reservation for 45 min or more. But this was not a problem for us and they did comp our first drinks, very nice. Also have to note that the "unique" bar design may have seemed like a great idea but it is not very functional or emjoyable in reality. We actually had to ask to clarify if we were standing " in the bar". Also bartenders climbing over patrons to get wine stored over our heads. Then they were out of first two entrees we selected , disappointing for such a limited menu. Service was SLOW and not very friendly, aloof at best. If you completely forget to bring the glass of wine i ordered 30 min ago, just appoligize and get it to me. Dont pretend that it is "on its way". Prices were very reasonable but we do expect stellar service from this genre of restaurant. Especially in the south! Although unfriendly service seemed to be the norm all over Atlanta this trip. Then valet could not seem to find us a cab so we called our own after waiting for an hour. And while waiting for cab, not one member of staff checked on us. They missed potential to sell a few extra drinks! The hostess was nowhere to be seen which is why we asked valet to get a cab. Writing this for Richard so maybe these basic issues can be addressed. Wish him all the best with this restaurant! But if they can not turn tables faster than this and with better service I don't have High hopes.
(3)
Lauren B.
Excellent food and Excellent service!
(5)
Jonathan G.
I'd heard so much about this restaurant. It was owned by a Top Chef winner! He created the menu! Oh this will be a great experience! Well, it wasn't! I found the menu to be decidedly on the pretentious side. There were only a couple of items that really interested me. We were a party of 4, with 2 of arriving much later than the second 2. I was 1 of the first 2. Naturally, we ordered ahead of the 2nd 2. After an interminable wait, the waiter comes and informs us the kitchen will be closing in 10 minutes, did we care to order? Well, somehow, he'd gotten the 2nd couple's order in but never put ours in! A good restaurant needs more than just good food (my chop, by the way, all right, but nothing special!). This waiter totally blew it! I won't be making a return trip!
(2)
Megan S.
Midtown got a boost in its culinary jugular when Chef Richard Blais, the winner of Bravo's Top Chef All-Stars, decided to re-enter the fine dining scene after re-inventing the burger and hot dog for hungry Atlantans when he opened his latest venture, The Spence. Getting its name from an old English term that means the pantry or dispensary of foods and provisions; this modern day dispensary seems more like an alchemist's laboratory where Chef Blais transcends into his alter ego by becoming a Merlin-like figure, a wizard of the kitchen. Here, Chef Blais takes foods and alters them using somewhat unconventional cooking techniques or ingredients to create flavors and textures that brings an unexpected surprise into the meal that challenges the comfort zone in a good way. This newly opened eatery has become an overnight sensation for dinners that seek a surreal experience in a robust trendy atmosphere where foods are exciting, unique, and simply a thrill to taste. A stimulating place to start is with one of the creative offerings from the drink list that changes as frequently as the food menu making each visit a new adventure. No matter which cocktail is chosen it will surely help to erase the day's edge as these libations are made with a fusion of bold and exhilarating flavors. In addition to these hypnotic beverages, The Spence is home to one of the youngest and most knowledgeable sommeliers in Atlanta, Justin Amick, who also serves as the beverage director for the Concentrics Group. The wine list that Justin has assembled consists of the standard varietals, but also has many obscure grapes from small production vintners that are fun to explore and compliment Chef Blais' foods impeccably. Strongly suggest letting Justin help guide your stroll through the extensive listing, as his suggestions are spot on. While sipping on your beverage of the night, consider a shared table grazer with the Buttermilk Fried Sea Creatures that's served with a lively sea urchin tartare - it's a tasty collection of squid, shrimp, scallops, and whatever else arrives off the docks that day. Whatever, do not overlook the beautifully set Oysters and Pearls - plump Beausoleil oysters with their distinctively refine taste are graced with frozen horseradish pearls and served with a sassy sun crisp apple champagne mignonette - when in the mouth, there's an explosion of sensual flavors. The dish that is one of those total surprises is the Beef Bone Marrow with an Ahi Tuna Tartare and a Fried Quail Egg, which when blended together makes a luscious spread for the crisp toast points that caress the palate with its creamy texture. There's a velvety duck Foie Gras that's prepared with cognac that's simply manna from heaven, but the starter that stole my heart is the otherworldly Baby Kale Caesar Salad; this OMG salad is one of the best ever. Thought I had tasted the best Kale salad in Aspen at Lulu Wilson but Chef Blais' interpretation of nature's superfood is sensation, full of tender yet crisp savory flavors with a slightly tangy classic dressing and a touch of earthiness from the aged Parmesan cheese, wow! When you think the dining experience can't get any better, well it does with the large plates. The over-sized ultra tender center cut bone-in pork chop from Riverview Farms is grilled flawlessly, and when cut the juicy charred flavors drools out to marry with the stir-fried mustard greens, caramelized pearl onions, and roasted sweet potato - yum. Then there is the not-to-be-missed braised beef short ribs with pickled walnuts and smoked new potatoes that's guaranteed to make your fellow dinners ask for a taste as they watch you sink into a delightful daze as the rich beefy flavors of this dish takes control of the senses. Of the sides, the two must do's are the seductive Buttercup Squash Crème Brulee made with kabocha squash, and the off-the-chart fried Brussels Sprouts that's tossed in a tangy Thai vinaigrette - both of these are quite special - need these recipes. When its time to arouse the forgotten sweet tooth, the artistic treats made by the Pastry Chef Andrea Litvin have the necessary finesse to give it a jolt. Each of Andrea's desserts is masterfully plated, as the visual pleasures of her goodies are just as intense as the oral. The deconstructed Ricotta Cheesecake with plump juicy blueberries and housemade chocolate graham cracker crust is absolute bliss. When a touch of decadence is in order, there's a Baked Alaska that's from the first to last bite pure pleasure - the smoked meringue chocolate cake filled with a zesty peppermint ice cream is drizzled with a rich housemade chocolate sauce, a dessert like this is what makes dreams into sweet dreams. When seeking a dining experience that centers on foods and beverages that are provocative, distinctive and full of lively tastes and flavors, The Spence has something in its pantry that will surely satisfy your hunger for culinary excitement like none other. Enjoy!!!
(5)
Ed M.
A pretty good place overall. More details below. I agree with the menu layout comment below - it could be improved. The hostess and wait staff were very friendly, and Richard Blais was present and checking in on most tables and agreed to pictures when asked. The drinks - I just had some beers, which were all fine. My buddy had a drink that included home made ginger beer, but it was too strong on the ginger. The waiter took it back without question and apologized profusely. Food - The Family Meal was a fish wrap that was excellent, and just over $4 (although advertised by the server as $3.01). In contrast, the appetizer that included tuna and heirloom tomatoes on a crisp tortilla was a bit too salty and overpriced ($14) in comparison to the Family Meal. As for the entrees, we each had the Juicy Lucy hamburger. It was well-seasoned, but undercooked to my taste. (Full disclosure - I didn't specify how I wanted it cooked, and the waiter didn't ask.) Maybe it was a better cut of hamburger to justify rare, like a steak, but not my cup of tea. Layout - I like the open layout and we spent our time at the bar common tables. Will definitely go again.
(3)
Nafisa J.
Unfortunately, my husband and I were super disappointed with the food and service. We love Richard Blaise and wanted to give his new place try...here is the scoop. 1. Service: - We made reservations and ended up waiting for an additional 20 minutes which it most cases would not bother me if the hostess communicated well with us, but I had to ask her if our table was ready after seeing others seated and at first said it would be a little longer without checking and then someone else came by and checked the tables and seated us quickly. -Our waitress was great, but our food came out cold and our side dish came out well after we finished our meals (so much so that our dessert came out at the same time). 2. Food: -Unfortunately the food wasn't wow...we were definitely expecting more. We were starving and ended up eating most of our food because of pure hunger, but we wouldn't come back for any of the appetizers or entrees. The fries were soggy and gross, the beef rib was tender but the taste was eh, the Lucy was good but not enough to come back for... The two things we did like were the dessert (we had an ice cream chocolate concoction which was pretty good) and the corn creme brulee. I just expected much more from the restaurant...perhaps in a couple months it will get better.
(2)
Steve T.
Last night (Friday) was my third visit. The four of us got a table along the windows facing 5th street, so we were away from a lot of the noise, but it still got extremely loud in there. Our service was not that great on the first two visits, but improved on the third. We still waited a long time for the server to close out our table at the end of the meal. My three friends all opted for the burger. The triple fried fries are outstanding, but they all complained that the burgers were practically raw. I tried foie gras appetizer (small, but the pate was fantastic), fried brussel sprouts (we all agreed these were amazing), and the mac n cheese. Very disappointed in the mac n cheese as it was bland and had pieces of chicken meat on top? My friends enjoyed the turnips. Our drinks were good, but mixed drinks came in small glasses at high prices. We definitely have restaurants in Atlanta with consistently better food and service. I'm not sure why this place is struggling to get it together.
(3)
Wendy H.
Awesome food! The staff is great and the atmosphere is laid back. Would definitely go again!
(4)
Belinda S.
Ug! New Years Eve at The Spence with an 8:30 reservation. We showed up a few minutes early to a packed restaurant and were very excited to see Richard Blais front and center at the kitchen (too bad 30 minutes later he was long gone) We were directed to the bar and told it would be a few minutes before our table was ready. My girlfriend ordered a jack and diet coke, literally the only thing she drinks. After a sip she knew it was wrong but not wanting to be difficult continued with her drink. We did inquire from the waitress later and she told us that they don't serve Jack Daniels only Jim Beam. Obviously the bartender didn't commit a crime but you order what you want not the sort of close thing.This seems to be a common problem for them, selling off drinks as something else, as I've read it in other posts. We were called for our table moments later, walked to one table then redirected to another where a very odd incident occurred. Another hostess ran up told us to wait and started wiping down the table. We stood awkwardly in the small space around the chairs waiting. When we sat down we noticed all the water glasses had lipstick on them and the bread plates were used. We showed the waitress who didnt apologize she just ran away. My appetite was near gone at this point but being such fans of the Top Chef we wanted to get some food! We did small plates and trust me they were SMALL. To really put the final nail in the coffin we received most of our food at the same time and then waited at least 30 minutes to receive the final 2. We decided to forgo dessert because we'd already been there 3 hours and just weren't in the mood for any more. I can't imagine we'll be going back. The food was not impressive and the service was atrocious. Seriously when was the last time you were at a fine dining restaurant with lipstick on the glasses? No thanks!
(1)
Stephanie R.
I really want to give The Spence more stars. But I just can't. They seem to attract a young crowd of 20 to 30 somethings. We started by ordering a bottle of wine. Our server seems shocked by that. He said that most people order by the glass. Then, when he brought over the wine, he also brought us a card explaining what the Legs of a Wine were. I guess he had no way of knowing that we have actually know more about wine that most of the guests. On the menu, a dish was served with the today's jam. My husband asked what today's jam was, as in flavor. Our server replied Pandora. Funny but not the answer we were looking for. We enjoyed our dinner. The Bone Marrow with quail egg was amazing. We also loved the smoked rigatoni with octopus and the brussel sprouts. We were practically fighting over the brussel sprouts. The kale salad was just ok. My hubby also was not impressed with the oysters. He enjoyed the oysters at Lure much more. The service was good, the atmosphere was nice. It is a beautiful space however it is really loud. We had a hard time hearing our server. My biggest complaint is that one of the chefs on the line had long hair that he kept swinging out of his face. It was like watching David Grohl in the kitchen. Yuck! Seriously, put you hair in a pony tail or put a hat on. I don't care for a side of hair in my salad.
(3)
Adam M.
Good food with cool drinks. Friendly service. Overall a great experience.
(4)
Kathleen O.
I have been following Richard Blais since his first series on Top Chef and was so excited to get to try out his signature restaurant - The Spence. Blais cut his teeth when he opened up Flip Burger followed by HD1 which are both great offerings however, THIS restaurant is exactly what I had hoped Blais would share with Atlanta. He has crazy items on his menu that I have had neither the opportunity OR desire to try until now. The waiter described the bone marrow appetizer as "buttery meat". I couldn't have described it any better except to add, "oowie goowie yum" in front of "buttery meat". It was simply delish! I had read enough reviews before going to know that I wanted to try the Juicy Lucy Burger. It turned out to very well be the best burger I have ever had in my life....OMG! I say bring on the Juicy Lucy! Blais injects cheese into the most amazing grounded ribeye and braised pork rib meat patty for the most incridible bite of yum you can imagine (and we are not talking plain old american cheese for this patty). Mom always said to eat my veggies. Well, if she had ever served me the brussel sprouts the way they made them at the Spence, I would have been sold. This was one of the few restaurants in my life that I walked out of (with a copy of the daily menu in hand, of course) that, before I was in the parking lot I was saying I couldn't wait to come back and try and try the upside down pineapple cake, the pork belly with chick peas and the oyster pearls. If I had to mention an area for improvement, it would be with some crowd control around the bar area. Communal bar is a great concept but hard to execute with hundreds of people. I hope you enjoy the Spence as much as I did!
(5)
Marie M.
MMmmm..mmmm...good! My only complaint about this place is the way its set up and that the music is out of control loud. Its just not that fun or romantic..its just a little too hectic for my taste. The service was great, the food was fantastic. A tip of the hat to the truffle grits! Best I ever had and will go back just for those!
(4)
Diantha L.
My husband and I are big fans of Richard Blais and were excited to try out this restaurant during a local trip back to visit family. He did not disappoint! We even got to meet him! Okay, details. The menu changes everyday, but I'm sure some things come up more frequently. There were several of us at the table, so we started with a few small dishes. The corn brulee was so good, we ordered a second one. The lobster knuckle sandwich was also a hit. Other faves for the table: the Juicy Lucy (a cheeseburger), pork belly, and bone marrow with quail eggs. Oh, and the pineapple upside down cake for dessert. Everything was great--a fun dining experience! Our server was very knowledgeable and answered all our questions. And, I loved my fizzy cocktail. Absolutely, no complaints--thanks, Richard Blais!
(5)
Kee O.
Have been twice now and both times some dishes were stupid good while others were a complete miss. Overall though, a great dining experience both times.
(4)
Susie Q.
A bit pricey for the food given competition in Atlanta. Service was good.
(4)
Phil P.
The Spence... In one word... Meh... The food itself was very good however portions were a little to small in my opinion. We spent about 150.00 on dinner and me and my fiancee left the restaurant hungry. The bone marrow was interesting but not great. It tasted like a fatty beefy goo. Like I said... Meh. The music playlist however was incredible listening to Ol' Dirty Bastard and Souls of Mischief while dining was definitely amazing and just right. Overall I am not saying this place sucks I am just saying if you are really hungry order a lot of food. A little pricey for tiny portions but hey I guess thats what you get at all these fancy joints these days. 3.5 Stars.
(3)
Julie H.
We loved everything about this restaurant - great food, wine list, service and atmosphere. The bone marrow with tuna tartare and quail egg was my favorite - simply divine!!!
(4)
Mark C.
Disclaimer : I have only done lunch and happy hour at The Spence. The food is fresh and very tastey. Portions are smallish but the quality and obvious effort put into the food (even the grilled cheese, my favorite) makes it worth it. Staff is quick and super helpful at lunch. Thank god for this place, without it Tech Square (with its many horrible restaurants) would be a food desert.
(4)
Meribeth G.
Went by myself while on a business trip... Loved the communal tables along with smaller tables- staff amazing, unique wines, food killer! Good job Richard Blais!!!!
(4)
John T.
Burger and Brussels sprouts. Yum.
(5)
Kenneth E.
The best dining experience I've had in Atlanta in many years. Now, I understand why everyone makes such a big deal about Richard Blais. His new restaurant -- in the fairly small Tech Square location formerly occupied by The Globe -- specializes in small tapas style dishes, which are most notable for his delicate but authoritative use of vegetables for flavor and texture. Some dishes feature foams and other molecular gastronomy, but not in an overly showy way. We started with sweet dinner rolls with a fantastic coconut butter and a couple of the signature cocktails, including one chilled with a tea bag in an ice-cube (gets better and better as you let the cube melt). As appetizers (really more like tapas), the five of us shared beets with soft boiled egg and wasabi (I don't usually like beets but really liked this dish), bone marrow with tuna tartare and fried quail eggs (delightfully rich when spread on crispy buttery toast), gnocchi with roast pork (my favorite of the starters), a very flavorful celery root "canned" soup, and oysters & pearls. A 3-year-old was satisfied with curly pasta and fungi (the biggest serving among these small plates, it would have been a bit rich if not shared). For entrees, I had a monkfish (kind of like cod) that was delightfully chunky and flaky, complemented with root vegetables that were surprisingly delicate and flavorful; two others in our party split some roast veal, which was tasty but perhaps a little tough; and another person had a very small snapper (rolled up shaving sashimi-style) and sweetbread croutons -- that she said was great. Also, she also ordered one side dish: A squash creme brulee that was worth fighting over. We all shared two desserts -- a sort of apple crisp ice cream and the ricotta cheesecake (a foam dish). Both were spectacular. Plus our server was excellent -- knowledgeable and attentive. The space is designed very comfortably; although it got loud later toward the front of the restaurant, we sat toward the back and dined early, so noise wasn't bad. Be aware that servings aren't large, but they're more than made up for with complex, well-balanced flavors. A wonderful, unique dining experience.
(5)
Nestlee M.
I liked the decor and wait staff. However, it was not just loud, it was VERY LOUD. And we were in a booth. It is clear that The Spence wants to be a restaurant, not just a bar, because they are proud of their menu and there are many tables and few (if any?) bar seats. Since everyone says it is noisy, it wasn't just noisy last night. The owners must like it that way. There was a background music track with a heavy bass plus bad acoustics. Four of us got together to have a nice evening out and we thought we'd try a new place. We couldn't hear each other. We started w drinks and stayed thru dessert, but as we were leaving, each of said we would not come back. Food was above average (several small plates were great, hamburger and fries were also good, the duck was so-so). I am not sure who they want as customers, but not us.
(2)
Barbara S.
As good as a new restaurant can be! But, this is not the place for everyone... Let me tell you the story...I came right from work, literally the building next door, so I was still stressed and, living in the hotel across the street, tonight I just couldn't face another mediocre sushi or salad from the neighborhood student joints. I was a tiny bit leery of this place as it's clearly a step above the neighborhood, and I had not heard any reviews yet. In fact, I didn't even know that one of the owners was Richard Blais (so even though I cried when he won Top Chef, I was not yet granting any unearned points to the place). The eccentric but warm decor with odd table choices tell you right away that this is not your father's steakhouse. I was given a choice of seating areas/styles - one of which was a "get to know your neighbor" communal table. My mood being what it was, I took the booth in the back, stuffed in my computer bag, and grumpily took a look at the menu. As others have mentioned, it's a little tricky to figure it out the menu. I couldn't, at first, get my mind around it. So for my first step, I asked for a limoncello drink of some kind, sort of a mojito, margarita, lemony, fizz. Geesh, I couldn't even articulate a drink I wanted. BAM! It was exactly that, and now it's called the "Babs", after me! Please feel free to enjoy at will. Nice! Drink in hand, I was able to start asking questions about the menu. If you aren't comfortable asking questions about your meal, this might not be the place for you. There were small and larger dishes in the same list, causing me to really think about what I wanted to taste rather than just picking one from each category as usual. The descriptions were factual, without hyperbole, which means I had to actually picture the dish and taste it with my mind to make selections between foods I might not have had very often (or at all) and certainly not combined in the ways these were... Fortunately, I have priorities, so I was able to start at the back end, ordering a ricotta cream dessert that I thought was a ricotta cheesecake, but no, when it came (at the end of the meal, of course, I'm not crazy!) it was a beautiful ricotta cream decorated plate with chocolate crumbs and berries... personally I would have sprayed the berries with a bit of Licor 43 for an added aroma, but I do tend to use alcohol way too much in my own desserts! I initially thought to order a pate, and the beets looked good too, but after discussing the menu with the waitress, I ordered the duck confit, which is finished in the oven to get a crisp skin and brought covered to capture the smoky essence. I thought maybe it was gimmicky but to my surprise, it really did add to the pleasure of my experience. And that's all I'm going to tell you about the dish because taste is personal. Despite what the food shows will have you believe, we all have different palettes, and we should be tested and surprised rather than given the expected flavors each time. By the way, it's been open a few days now and the wait staff was, at 6 pm at least, extremely attentive and organized. Taking my time over dessert, I looked across the way and saw a familiar face watching over the open cooking area. When the waitress came over, I had to ask who it was - afraid to seem silly in thinking it was actually Richard Blais. She confirmed it for me, and for once I couldn't stop myself from approaching a celebrity. I went over and congratulated him on a great meal, a wonderful restaurant, and oh, by the way, winning Top Chef. Bottom line: It's hard, financially risky and personally revealing to open a restaurant, and even more so when you are going for something that will challenge and entice rather than simply "meet expectations". I'm sure, as I go back these next couple of times, there will be dishes, or sides, that don't excite me as much as the duck. And yet, here's a man living his dream, committing his heart, soul and probably most of his wallet as he offers us the chance to critique his taste and his team's execution. It's brave, and in the end, damn tasty! Well done!
(5)
Sara B.
I have always liked Richard Blais on Top Chef and was very excited to try out The Spence. I grew a little apprehensive, however, after reading the reviews on this site. I have to say, I was very impressed. The food and the service were incredible. We were lucky to sit in Peter's section. He truly made it an enjoyable experience for us. He recommended a great Austrian wine we otherwise would have never chosen. I also appreciated the fact that he had an opinion - he is not one of these "Oh, everything is great" types. He directed two people in my party to change their entrees based on our wine, and both were very pleased with his suggestions. As for the food - I loved everything we tried. We started out with the cheese plate (seems simple but was delicious), the oysters and pearls (loved them, but was worried about an allergy so I stopped at one), and the squash gnocchi (good, but I am simply not a huge fan of gnocchi). For our entrees, we had the lamb and the short ribs. The short ribs were tender and delicious. Peter also had us try the fried brussel sprouts. I have never like a brussel sprout in my life, but I think I could have eaten five orders of them by myself. We also had the squash creme brulee. Some have complained that it is too sweet. I thought it was delicious. As for dessert, I got the blood orange sponge cake with champagne ice cream. If I was not worried about embarrassing myself, I would have licked the plate clean and then asked for another order. All in all, it was a great experience. Between Peter and the food, I am going back again a week later! Highly recommended.
(5)
Scott H.
I was very excited to dine here after all the TV shows, and watching the Life After Top Chef, etc. Overall I ended up disappointed, there are some very good things but my main complaint was in the food. Parking: There's a Valet, that is very poorly run. I had to circle the block a couple times to even find them in attendance, and finally just parked in one of their spaces, they came up to get my keys as I went into the restaurant. Not a great first impression. Interior of the Spence, This was right up what I was expecting, it was early in the evening so it wasn't loud, and I found it to be quite nice. Service: I found the service to be very good, knowledgeable about the menu, prompt, helpful, great overall! Menu ; I found the menu to be confusing at best. It's simply not descriptive about the dishes, and this lead to disappointment in a number of the dishes that I tried. I also wasn't impressed with any of the cocktail descriptions so I ended up skipping them. It would be great if there was a bit more explanation on the dishes. For example, "Slab of Fois Gras" sounds like a slab of Fois Gras, it turned out to be something very different then what I was expecting, still OK, but not great. Food: I had the Oysters, they were exactly what I was expecting, having seen them tasted on the show. Very well executed, but very small portion size. 4 small oysters, and I felt like it should have been more like 5 or 6. Slab of Fois Gras : This was served cold, and was not at all what I was expecting. The toast was burnt, dried out , and hard. Just poorly executed, and one that I wouldn't have ordered had the menu been more descriptive. Pork Belly and shoulder: This was described by the Waitress as a pork shoulder wrapped around a slab of pork belly. Sounded lovely, but turned out to be a slice of pork roast with a piece of undercooked under seared pork belly with some rather tasteless puree underneath it. Pecan tart with ice creme. The tart had no texture at all, almost like they took the desert and ran it through a food processor, then baked it, it was terribly sweet. The ice creme that was on it was very good, but extremely small. They could make the tart half the size and double the size of the ice creme. Overall my impression of the Spence is that it's a restaurant that is capitalizing on Richard's name, but does not have the attention to detail that he should be requiring. I would have never found it except for the Richard's involvement, and am sorry that I did.
(2)
Alaina S.
Good food, fabulous wine list, tasty cocktails. Servers are friendly and unpretentious, and their recommendations have been spot-on the past few times I've been here. The patio is lovely when the weather is nice, and inside has a wonderful relaxed atmosphere. Highly recommended.
(4)
Jess B.
Fun ambiance, great food and extra points for being within walking distance of my apt! My husband and I went here to celebrate his birthday and while it was a splurge, we both enjoyed our meal thoroughly. We started off with some cocktails; my husband really enjoyed "The Methodist". Then we split several of the smaller plates, which I highly recommend to sample all the tastiness The Spence is serving up... we had a pork belly wrapped in sturgeon dish that is easily the best bite of food I've had in awhile. Other highlights were brussel sprouts in a Thai vinaigrette and roast suckling pig... yum!
(5)
Academic Socialite X.
This was my 4th visit to The Spence & the only time I felt it was off. Tonight we tried the signature burger for the first time ("Juicy Lucy") & the also had the duck. Unfortunately, both were disappointments. Lucy was over-cooked to a grey medium-well. Flavorful, but dry & not up to the restaurant's standards. The duck was also over-cooked, tough & quite flavorless. While Lucy & the duck were both over-cooked, the accompanying veg. served with the duck were nearly raw & should have had a little more pan time. I haved loved my other trips to The Spence. The bone marrow served with raw tuna is an exceptional dish and one of the best dishes I've eaten at any restaurant! I will definitely visit again, but will probably stay away from the entrees & stick to the small plates. Also, at dinner the noise level can be deafening! Lunch noise seems much more reasonable. Blais is very often in the restaurant and comes out into the dining room at times. Fun if you're into the celebrity chef thing...
(2)
Jack H.
This is a 3.5 star review, because honestly there are still a few rough edges to be smoothed out, in my opinion. My lovely bride and I visited on a Saturday night for a birthday celebration. We sat at the bar, looking over the dining room, which was quite active and entertaining. Excellent Midtown eye-candy. The cocktails were first rate, on a par with Holeman & Finch and Bocado. The selections of wine by the glass were impressive. Standing out head-and-shoulders above everything else was the lobster roll on brioche; as good as The Lobster Roll in Manhattan (rest in peace). The hamachi tostada was nicely paired with the tequila-based cocktail. The next course was a true disappointment. The chicken-fried ribeye was gristly and overcooked. The lamb dish was just acceptable, nothing more. Dessert was a ricotta "cheesecake", but quite underwhelming. It looked like a little something that belonged on top of a big fat slice of true NY-style cheesecake. Where was the cheesecake? We finished the night with a couple glasses of Italian brachetto, and it was a beautiful finish. Service from our hungover server was above average. We will return because we are big fans of Richard Blais, but the Spence is not where we would expect it to be.
(3)
Brian A.
Went here for lunch recently and ordered the steak special. For $18 I received about 4 oz of fatty chewy flank steak that didn't have an ounce of seasoning on it (if you're not going to put salt/pepper on the tables then you damn well better properly season your food!), about 2 tablespoons worth of cheese grits and a few green beans that were overcooked. Don't go here if you're looking for value or a good meal. Blais is apparently resting on his laurels. What a shame!!! Will not be back.
(1)
Tina H.
went there on a Friday night. Loved the oysters, foie gras w/peaches, short ribs, caesar salad, juicy lucey. The bone marrow w/tuna and quail eggs were eh. Didn't care for the mushroom noodles w/egg.
(4)
Alan R.
4 stars for ambience, 2 stars for food and service. trendy, arrogant and does not seal the deal. I have lived abroad and in a few great food cities, and I was so excited to try The Spence, but sorry just was not wowed and for the price I need wow. I understand the menu concept, but just way, way too limited. Very overpriced. Best thing was wine list, but too pricey.
(3)
Michelle B.
I really am not giving this place a bad review, it was just not my type of dining. It is a very safe cute area of town, but next to a college campus, who in college can afford the items on this menu !! When you walk in it is very hip and happening, very hipsterish, am not sure I like the open concept of the bar, interesting and maybe a good concept for more of a causal dinning atmosphere. Loud was an understatement, we where dining here with friends from out of town, between the music and other conversations it was extremely distracting. The sweet-coconut butter served with the rolls was interesting. As was everything else on the menu. Our friends who are foodies loved the food, especially the oysters, seafood pasta, and the ever changing menu. For me overpriced strange pairing dining is not for me.
(3)
Teri S.
4.5 stars. The only thing I would change is the very loud noise level (hence 4.5 stars instead of 5). Every other aspect was brilliant. Genuine service, outstanding cocktails & wine and delicious food. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Kelly W.
Absolutely fabulous! Richard Blais was my favorite Top Chef personality and his cuisine does not disappoint. The atmosphere, including the open kitchen, was very fun and modern, yet inviting. The cocktail and food menu were overwhelming as there are so many great, inventive options. We ended up with the Hamachi and Spaghettini apps, the flat iron steak and pork belly entrees, and the milk chocolate/peanut with burnt banana ice cream dessert - all were 'melt in your mouth' good and very fun to eat. Our server wasn't the warmest, bubbliest person, yet he was very knowledgable and attentive. Chef Blais was there and greeted us at our table - such a fun, personal touch! Now if he would only open something in Chicago where I currently reside!
(5)
Broderick S.
I've only had an app & a drink here but enjoyed both immensely and prices seem fair, especially with cocktail prices rising - was surprised to have numerous $9 options. The uni spaghetti w/ lobster was delicious
(4)
Shay B.
My party agreed that while we enjoyed our meal, not one of us would rush back to The Spence. With every menu item, you get the feeling that the goal of The Spence to impress fans of cooking competitions so that you know, without a doubt, that you are at a winner's restaurant- which is both good and bad. Interesting dishes are a nice, but not every single item needs to be exotic (example - an app of bone marrow with tuna tartare and quail eggs). Food good need not always be complicated. Despite the constant attempt to up-sell and flip our table as quickly as possible, our waiter was very attentive and entertaining.
(3)
Kim A.
It's unfortunate that I have to give the Spence only 2 stars because Tech Square needs a more upscale restaurant, I just don't think this is it. The food is so ridiculously overpriced! We had a drink each, some oysters, and two burgers and ended up paying around $120. I have no idea how this happened or how our tab got so out of control. The staff is pretty snooty, they really aren't interested in helping you or coming back to check on you either. Drink refills? Forget it. The burger was pretty good but not good enough for $16 so I can't say I'll ever be coming back. Don't waste your time or your money here, there are much better restaurants in Midtown!
(2)
Janice B.
Our party of six dined last night at The Spence. It was so disappointing in so many ways. The service was absolutely horrible and deserves the worst of the review. A few key points: When delivering the wine our waiter announced that he would pour the first round and put the bottle in the middle of the table so that we could serve ourselves from then on. Um, service? When serving courses, he failed to provide utensils for the dishes or individual utensils for the diners. For some shared courses, he failed to provide plates. When courses were delivered the servers didn't know who ordered what and frequently misdelivered. Timing was terribly off between courses with only appetizers having arrived 90 minutes into the meal. As we sat beside the open kitchen, we saw the finishing chefs chatting idly while we waited for our food. But of most concern in the kitchen beyond its lackadaisical delivery was the fellow with the surfer hair draped over every plate. No hair net or bandana and a set of bangs down to his chin. We were fascinated to watch it swing over the food. He tossed his hair back every time he lifted his head in order to see the next plate coming. One dining companion tweeted the image to Blais to say, what? It was so unkempt that we checked each plate for hair. Great way to spend an evening. And then there was the food. The magret duck was beautifully done as was the hamburger. Oysters were fine as was the pork terrine and french fries.The smoked rigatoni, tortellini and squash brulee equally so. For those, two stars. However, the ribs were stringy and dry, suggesting cheap meat and overcooking. At nearly $30 for the plate, diners deserve better. The grits were bland and recall Waffle House quality. The Brussels sprouts, inventive with the use of mint were in fact briny. Yes, briny. The halibut was grossly overcooked and oversalted, a real shame given the potential of that fish. The pate was mediocre in execution and plating. The pigs feet empanadas were mostly dough and deserve no revisit. The Fall salad unremarkable although the beet salad was good. One companion order a glass of Viognier, specifically asking the server if it was available by the glass. Assuring him that it was, the server delivered a glass without a word. My companion tasted it and recognized that it wasn't Viognier. He asked the server who then said Viognier wasn't available by the glass and so the server had chosen what he considered to be the closest substitute. This is simply not okay to do. Not a word of this decision-making would have been shared had my companion not asked. In what service world is it okay to do this without a conversation? So we hit about 50% good food, 50% that should never again be served and perhaps the worst service ever received in Altanta. Plus the hair show and a sound level that made shouting necessary to communicate. But that's a minor point compared to the rest. Given that our bill before tip was over $500, we expected, and deserved, better. If Blais wants to charge these prices, then teach the servers to serve, clean up the chef, fix the quality of dishes, adjust the pacing and the delivery, and act like a better restaurant that respects clientele and delivers on its prose. We were sorely disappointed by the entire experience as it was a holiday treat for us all to go out together and nothing short of food poisoning could have made that dining experience less of a treat.
(2)
Kimberly R.
First off let me say the food at this restaurant is amazing! I had the kale Caesar and fried Brussels sprouts and my friend had the Juicy Lucy (fancy name for a burger) and we were both beyond satisfied. She had some kind of specialty cocktail that came with liquid smoke that she said was really good as well. I only had wine but was happy with it. The ambiance is adorable - very chic and trendy. We're both a little on the fence about the location given that's in right in the middle of all things university. Not sure how well it will do considering college kids aren't known for their wealth and there's a Waffle House right across the street. Hopefully they survive because I would love to eat there again. Fun place for a date night. The one gripe I did have was the service, or lack thereof. Our waiter, when he was around was really good and knowledgeable about the dishes and everything however he didn't come around very much. There was one point where we literally just sitting there waiting for him to come take our cards. He didn't even seem to notice when he finally did come back. Other than that, it was a great experience and I'll definitely go back.
(4)
mary F.
i'm going to officially call "bull puckey" on every single on of the reviews that dogs the spence....especially those that dog the food and service. the ones that have beef with the location....okay, fair enough. first, the food: the oysters are fabulous, fabulous bites of heaven. one of the best dishes for sure in atlanta. the bone marrow and tuna is stellar as well. I saw a review saying it wasn't "big enough"? let me say two things on this: it's extremely rich and the only way portion size becomes an issue is when your dining mate(s) gobble up your portion. the macaroni and head cheese is a MUST try- if it bothers you to eat head cheese- get over it to try this dish. man, the juicy lucy is divine; the squid ink pasta is insane; the spring tart and brussles sprouts are also ridiculously delicious. yes, you still want desert. the service is stellar. the only thing i could improve upon were the cocktails- they were good, but not as stellar. the wine list was solid though. this now rivals one eared stag for best place in atlanta.
(5)
William R.
Weird experience. It has potential, but not sure I'll return to eat there again. Four of us went on Saturday night. The place was crowded - cool bar with an interesting drink menu. It was hot though and the kitchen is literally in the restaurant. The menu is cool and more like a Tapas menu. The portions are extremely small on most dishes. Although Pork Belly and their burger are huge. So it's hit or miss, but everything we ordered - hamachi, octopus, brussel sprouts, creme brulee corn, etc, were all very tasty. Stuff comes out of the kitchen completely randomly, so be ready for that (like Tapas). Service was completely uncoordinated. Their wines weren't chilled. They seemed confused. Not a smoothly run restaurant. Worth checking out, but don't if it will last.
(3)
chessie s.
Overall, I really enjoyed my meal at The Spence. We were looking forward to the meal in no small part because we had been following Richard Blais' restaurant trajectory on all the various Bravo shows. The space and food did not disappoint. I really liked the concept of the open bar (wines stacked above you, long tables for communal drinking and you see the bartenders work in front of you). The decor hit just the right sweet spot of modern and hip, but not being over the top. It's still very comfortable. On the night we were there (a few days before Christmas), the food and drinks were incredibly good. Highlights were the eggnog, the pearls and oysters, the bone marrow, the lamb and the squash souffle, but really everything I tried was excellent. One of the better meals I have had in a while. There were a few missteps though, and thus the reason for four stars and not five. The music was incredibly loud. We were a party of six and I had trouble hearing not only the people at the other end of my table, but also the people right across and next to me. It might have been where we sitting, but it was uncomfortably loud. Also, the service. The service was perfectly pleasant, but our server was pretty slow. We waited a long time for our first round of drinks and in between, and there were lulls between courses that went on too long. We stayed till closing, and we waited a long time for the check. We were all ready to go, but our server was nowhere to be found. And again, although pleasant, she did she particularly inspired by or knowledgeable about the food. I was really looking forward to the bouche de noel for dessert when I saw it on the menu, and we ordered it. Although pretty, it was actually very dry. The other two desserts were good though. All in all, it was a very nice evening with very good food. I just wish the music had been a tad more quiet and that our service had a been a bit more peppy and focused.
(4)
Todd S.
I enjoyed the food and was pleasantly surprised after reading the reviews. I went with a few friends and we tried just about everything on the menu sans the entrees of which we only had the steak and juicy Lucy. My faves were the Rigatoni with Octopus and bottarga, hamachi, and pig feet empanadas, Although not a pig bone marrow fan I found that it along with the tuna tar tare and quail egg to be tasty as well. Misses for me were the squash pasta dish. I cannot remember all that went into the dish, but for me the pasta was a little doughy without all that much flavor. I give it 4 stars but would probably lean towards 3.5. One of my friends although happy with the food did find a rather long hair on one of his dishes. I overlooked this as it was not on my plate. He would probably not be so kind. I am generous in this regard and see it as something that does not happen all that often, although I did notice a similar statement in a prior review. I assume that the OCD Blais will correct this issue otherwise these reviews could start to trend negatively. I would definitely go back and was particularly happy with the corkage which is 0 on the 1st bottle and $15 on each additional. Hope that does not change. Overall good value for this level of food.
(4)
Destin D.
I have to start by saying that the milk chocolate with peanuts and burnt banana ice cream really saved the meal for me. It was like an episode of Chopped where one of the chefs really nails the dessert round and wins the competition. Otherwise, it was a pretty tame meal mostly because of the service. I really wanted to love the Richard Blais upscale-ish restaurant, but it didn't meet expectations. Yes, it was a client dinner and a table of 10, but the server committed one of the deadly serving sins. After the entree is served, you must follow up soon thereafter to make sure everyone is okay. That didn't happen. There were some missing sides and meat that was not cooked to the requested temperature. There were often empty wine glasses and too many long delays between meals. The restaurant was full for a Thursday, but not overly slammed that we couldn't have been paid more attention. Besides the service, the ambiance was fun. There's an open kitchen and wood fire grill and the farm to table concept is on full display. The music was a little loud though. I agree with Angela M. in that the food was all delicious, but it lacked a "wow" factor, except the short ribs, I guess. They are served with a lid that is removed to show smoke. Smelled and tasted delicious, but not amazing. The brussel sprouts were a very good side choice. Overall, I feel like my review mirrors some of the other recent reviews. Service and entrees need work, but this place certainly has the potential to do great things.
(3)
Kate S.
Food was great. We got a ton of stuff and it ranged from really good to amazing. Unfortunately, the place is just too loud - cramped tables, no sound-proofing and booming music. I don't want to work that hard to have conversation.
(3)
JP H.
This establishment has an ultra-cool vibe, fits right in with Midtown. My friend and I had our last dinner in ATL here and it ended on a good note. It was true to Blaise's modern style and favors quality over quantity. I had the duck---the dinner menu changes frequently and I can't remember the exact preparation but it was delicious though there were a few pieces of silverskin on the piece of meat. That was my least favorite part of the meal and I would attribute that to the butchering rather than the cooking. The whole plate was just amazing when eaten together. Many run of the mill chain restaurants serve foods that are to be eaten separately but I encourage to eat food from The Spence TOGETHER, the way it is meant to be eaten. Sides are served "family style" I would say that is true for the brussel sprouts but the other side we chose was a savory brulee of some sort (sweet-potato like tuber is what it was described as) and it was more an individual-sized portion. By far my favorite part of the meal was the brussel sprouts; holy moly those babies are good. Dessert was so-so; not a great selection but tasty. Service was GREAT! Servers are extremely knowledgeable and appear to know more about food than just memorizing the night's menu. They are unobtrusive without being neglectful; just the way I like!
(4)
Bigatlwineguy S.
Excited for a new chef Blaise creation. For the hype, the food was very similar to home (his old restaurant) without the wow factor.
(3)
Jerry G.
Dined with a friend.. Heard this was a really cool place. Left before the main course was ordered.. It's not that good.. First, while imaginative, the food is mundane. Oysters and Pearls are interesting.. Oysters small however but the pearl component (nitrogen frozen horseradish) added an interesting twist.. Lobster roll way over rated.. Not much lobster and the whole grain mustard atop took away from the flavor. Fried Seafood small plate was nicely presented, not greasy but lacked flavor.. In fact the fried vegetables that were on the platter were better than the fish. Breading was a bit heavy as well so what little fish there was got lost but, still not greasy.. Wine list is long, beer list decent but the price for food and drink was a bit high for the quantity and quality. But it is in Midtown Atlanta so there is a premium to be paid. Apparently the chef is considered a celebrity.. OK, so please refer to my comments regarding Emeril's and how I tend to shy away from "Celebrity Chefs" and The Spence is a good indication why I have taken this position. Top all this off with the fact that it is physically impossible to carry on a conversation without screaming and you'll understand that this may not be the place for a quite dinner. Would I go back? Nope.. Would I recommend it? Not for dinner, maybe for a drink and only if the weather were great and I could sit outside where it is much quieter.!!
(2)
Laura G.
Excellent dinner! We dined Father's Day evening and the service and food was gret. I love how unpretentious the service was!! I felt at home here. The flank steak was delish as well as the lamb. The Brussel sprouts are a don't miss item. I also highly reccomend the fresh squeezed emonade and pana cotta cheesecake for dessert! Everything wa super fresh. Richard Blais was walking around as well. I am already planning our next visit!
(4)
Steven H.
Just tried The Spence with a good friend. Overall, I give the place 4 stars. Excellent interior, though the space is a bit loud for one on on conversation. Love the open bar, that the bartenders (as well as customers) circulate around). The food: Excellent. One of my favs, the Oysters & Pearls. Absolutely incredible. An order is only 4....I could have eat two dozen! Get more than one order of these. The bone marrow and hamachi tartare was also excellent, though I think I would have prefered it chilled, instead of warm. Will be going back, until I've tried all the inventive cocktails....had both the Fairbanks Fizz and the Methodist and both were excellent. Our server was very good....so friendly in fact, he chatted a bit too long.....you almost wanted to tell him "shoo", go check on our food and let my friend and I chat, but he was too sweet.
(4)
Davis H.
I really had high hopes for this place after reading all the reviews but it was honestly a terrible experience. Here's why: there were six of us. Our table was literally 2 feet from the kitchen so by the time we walked out we were sweaty and smelled like food. The service was Terribly slow. I'm talking it took us an hour just to get our appetizer and anouther 45 minutes for our food. I think it was the kitchen, not our server. They only had 5 entree choices and none of them sounded good to me. I really had to struggle to find something. My entree was ok. I got pork belly and prawns. I was excited for the prawns but when it came it had one prawn on it still in the shell. I tried to peel it but it was a sticky mess. The pork was fine. Very small portion. What topped it off for me was the valet afterwards. We had to wait 25 minutes for our car. There were only two valets working and the parking must be far away since it took about 6-7 minutes for one car. So overall I left extremely annoyed and hungry. Will not go back.
(2)
Mark H.
I was skeptical with all the reviews about bad service. Nothing ruins a good meal more than bad service in my opinion. The service was beyond good, seems like they have corrected that problem with a vengeance. The food was fantastic, we did the little plates and tried a bunch of things. The oysters were my favorite, but I also really liked the bone marrow and both kamachi plates. I went with my parents, we are foodies, and love good food, this is good, We loved it all, completely out of the norm for them, but they were impressed as well, thank you for the great meal, keep it up!!
(5)
Tara M.
I love the variety of styles of food on the menu. Italian, Asian, American, etc all thoughtfully created and executed. The wine list is unique and the recommendation made to us was perfect. This was one of my top culinary experiences in Atlanta thus far.
(5)
Vanessa L.
Stopped by for drinks the Saturday after they opened. I immediately fell in love with the atmosphere; very lively and inviting with simple, sophisticated decor. The bar consists of two long parallel high top tables with seating on each side; the alcohol is stored above and drinks are made wherever the bartenders find an open spot. Our bartender was very friendly. I'm looking forward to returning for dinner and trying some speciality cocktails.
(4)
Yung B.
I went for lunch and ordered the pork belly tacos (the one thing on the lunch menu that did not have a creamy substance on it--I can't really deal with mayo/sour cream/etc). The tacos came out with sour cream on them. I asked the waiter if I could get them made again, since the menu did not mention the sour cream. He obliged, and then informed me that the coleslaw also had mayonnaise. Really sweet of him. When the tacos came back, they were dry with the guac and salsa on the side. Nice touch. Unfortunately, the salsa had aioli in it! The pork belly was fine and the tacos were nice and crispy. I could not finish and left a taco on the plate. I find myself unable to imagine the fatty tacos with the additional sour cream, mayonnaise, and aioli sauces. The waiter charged me a dollar extra--maybe there was a recent price change that was not reflected in the menu. I'm not sure if I'd go back. If you love creamy sauces, this is the place for you. This cuisine is definitely "New American" and I can see why many people love it, but it wasn't for me.
(2)
Courtny B.
My husband and I went to The Spence for my birthday and loved it. Being an avid Richard Blais fan our expectations were high of course and each course blew us away. Our waiter was great and I hate that I can't remember his name (Jack I think). Just ask for the guy from Chicago. He made the perfect suggestions for the "Blais Experience." We started with the bone marrow and oysters & pearls appetizers. Never having tried bone marrow we didn't know what to expect but the flavor combination was unreal. For entrees my husband had the pork belly with a side of the mac/head cheese with truffle and I ordered the seared duck with brussel sprouts. I hate brussel sprouts but I knew if anyone could make me a believer, Blais could and of course he did. The duck was phenomenal. My husband loved the pork belly. For dessert we order the cheesecake which was nothing traditional and more amazing than any cheesecake we've ever had. We also had a milk chocolate dessert with banana ice cream which was great but I loved the cheesecake dish better. All in all we couldn't have picked a better restaurant to go to. LOVE The Spence!
(5)
Eric S.
Overall my experience at the Spence was pretty disappointing. i mean, when the best thing we ordered was brussel sprouts, it's hard to think your going to go back. The service was pretty poor as well. We like to order a few different things with the intent to share. The waitress said they would bring one dish out at a time so we could enjoy at our leisure. Well that didn't happen, we were brought both appetizers at once, then it took about 30 minutes after finishing our apps to get our entrees. One of the entrees, a roasted goat with a ravioli and golden beats was pretty terrible. The filling in the ravioli was bad and the "golden beets" were not beats, they seemed more like turnips and the waitress who was pretty un-knowledgeable was very defensive of the kitchen instead of trying to satisfy the customer. The bone marrow and pork belly were good, but didnt blow us away, have had those dishes better at multiple other places in atlanta. Anyways i dont think i will be making a return trip. Although the decor was pretty cool.
(2)
Jonathon B.
Attended 02/12/2015 Ambiance: Trendy atmosphere, high ceilings, small space of maybe 14 tables, but they had a room closed off for higher volume nights. The inspiration for the menu is posted at the top of the menu is a very unique feature that I liked. Drinks: Signature cocktails were delicious. Food: (The menu changes daily) Upon ordering you receive small rolls with coconut butter which were delicate, warm, and gobbled up in seconds. The menu is starter/app based vs having a lot of entrees. I initially noticed they used 2-3 items 4 times repeatedly on the menu (ie quail eggs were on the menu 4 times, pork terrine 3 times, mustard 4 times, etc) They had only 6 entrees listed while their starters had around 12 options and 8 small plates. We decided to get the pork terrine with pickles, mustard, and cranberry gastrique. It was definitely the best dish of the night! The fat of the pork ate well with the acid of the pickles, sweetness of the cranberries, and spice from the mustard. We also had the mussels with red sauce, basil, and cacciatore sausage. The dish was simple, light and delicious. The red sauce was more of a brodo vs a tomato sauce. Excellent! For our last app, we decided to get the red wine rigatoni, bacon, and a poached egg. This dish was near our favorite but the pasta tasted/looked like a prepackaged product. The fatty egg and acidic red wine sauce made you crave more and more. Unfortunately, the entrees weren't nearly as good as the apps/starters. We ordered the Mahi with blood orange and the flank steak with carrots, potatoes, and beet puree. The Mahi although seasoned well, was dry and tough to eat. The flank steak was rather bland but the seasoned carrots, potatoes, and beet puree made up for it. I would definitely return to the Spence, but the entrees need improvement especially since they are the pricey items on the menu. Stick to the Apps/Snacks/Starters.
(4)
Shaye B.
I do not have a single complaint about The Spence. I went with 2 girl friends before a night out and I am so glad we came here. We were running late for our reservation but we were able to easily call and push it back 15 minutes. None of us had been there before so we asked our waiter for his advice on how to tackle the menu and he did not disappoint. To start off he was very helpful with drinks - brought us 2 different wines to taste. We weren't crazy about them and since we were going out later we just went with cocktails. We did not want to go the entree route because everything looked so good on the menu so we opted for the small plates. I highly recommend the small plates because they were all very unique and creative. We ordered the oysters, beet salad, brussel sprouts, pasta, and mussels. The beet salad, mussels and brussel sprouts were all absolutely amazing. The pasta and oysters were decent, we didn't like them as much as our other 3 dishes. The chef also sent us a fried oyster dish to try which was divine. Ambiance at this place is spectacular. You walk in and its modern with a dark and neutral color scheme. The space isn't very big and it has an open kitchen which makes it a really unique experience. They have a chef's table that looks like it can seat 6 and I would love to try that out one night! Another thing about this place I really appreciated was that it wasn't too loud. I expected walking in and seeing a trendy full restaurant with an open kitchen to be screaming at my friends for a conversation. Nope, not the case at all. This was probably one of the most relaxing and fun dining experiences I have had at a trendy restaurant. Since they change the menu frequently (maybe daily) I will certainly be back. For an out of town visitor who is a foodie, I would highly recommend this place because it is a great example of Atlanta's restaurant scene!
(5)
Michele A.
I so wanted to love this place more than I did. It was not bad by any stretch, and everyone keeps talking about how expensive it was. Maybe because I am from NY, it wasn't expensive to me. Granted my check was $130, but we had 2 mixed cocktails, 3 beers, 1 after dinner drink, Bread with a delish coconut butter, 1 app, 1 small plate, 2 entrees, 1 side, and 1 dessert. To me, not that expensive. Let's move past the price. The cocktail I had was DELISH. I had the mule, and it was so good. The beers, sorry, but when you order a beer and it comes in a can, I don't like it. This is supposed to be fine dining, so canned beer turned me off. Now for the food. The coconut butter was good. The coconut butter was understated, and the rolls were slightly greasy, but good. We started with the kale 'caeser' and the stuffed olives. I loved both. The Kale salad had a lemon note that elevated it to great. The olives, while small, where a great little bite. Okay, my entree was the strip steak, and there was not a single thing wrong with it. It all tasted great together and it was the most perfect cooked steak I have ever eaten. My hubby who hates fine dining, loved the roasted chicken he ordered. I thought it was on the plain side. The side of brussel sprouts were good. There was a touch too much vinegar, but they were solid. The dessert, ah the dessert, that was AWESOME. We had the blondie with coffee ice cream and frozen caramel. OMG, it was awesome. Why only 3 stars you say, I answer, this is a Richard Blais restaurant. After years of watching him dominate on Top Chef and dying to eat his food, I was disappointed in the experience. I expected every bite to wow me, and it just didn't. I feel like I could have gone to any number of restaurants in NY and had the same experience. I guess he just fell short of my expectations. I wanted my hubby to finally go to a fine dining restaurant and be wowed, and neither one of us were wow'ed and it just set me back getting him to try again. I still love Blais, but not the best choice in trying to get your husband to love foods the way you do. Last note, there was no salt and pepper on the table which kind of struck me as arrogant. I love my steak with extra salt and pepper and I didn't want to ask, so I went through without it.
(3)
Julia B.
Good atmosphere and service from a server, Sophie, who said she was new. She apologized for inconsequential things and was good. Water glasses were constantly filled. The food? Mostly, meh. The think I expected more from the Top Chef. The flavors were good. The crab bacon fritters were bland. The Georgia Shrimp was awesome! The baked onion bulbs were baked onions but the toast that came with it was good with cheese, radishes, and snapdragons. Three of us had flap steak and one had the hamburger. The flap steak, a usually tough cut, went through a special process to make it tender, which did not work. It was like chewing gum. It was cooked to a perfect medium rare. The presentation of the flap steak, potatoes, and burnt broccoli (the actual name) looked like it had been dumped on the plate out of a big mixing bowl. The broccoli lived up to its name, burnt. The potatoes were cooked perfectly! The burger was supposed to come medium rare, as they serve it; instead it was well done. Fries were good. Desserts were delicious but small. We ordered two and ended up with three. The incorrect desert came and they let us keep it and brought the correct dessert. Men's room was dirty.
(3)
Piper J. D.
I was in town for a conference and wanted to have an out-of-the-ordinary meal. Spence did not disappoint. My friend and I chose multiple smaller plates to taste. The oysters and pearls, with the nitrogen frozen pearls were unusual and tasty. The bone marrow and quail's eggs was tasty and served in an appealing way. The head cheese mac & cheese was probably my favorite though the sea urchin pasta was very interesting as well. Really, the menu changes but any of the small plates were good and more importantly to me, imaginative. The nitrogen cocktail was also very interesting to try. ;)
(5)
Jeremy M.
Meh. Wanted to love it. Didn't. I won't bore you with the details but our group tried every single item and only two would be ordered again. There are too many better choices in Atlanta these days to waste your time or money on this one. Not awful, but there are just too many better options.
(3)
Heather U.
I was recently in Atlanta for work, and was excited to eat at The Spence. I loved RIchard Blais on Top Chef, and his restaurant did NOT disappoint! The atmosphere, service, drinks, and food were all top-notch. Other reviews mention small portions for the price, however I thought all the portion sizes were generous - especially the "small plates". In my experience with small shared dishes, they have typically been much smaller than those at The Spence. Dinner began with warm, buttery yeast rolls served with coconut "butter", which was more the consistency of a lightly whipped cream - it was like starting the meal with dessert - scrumptious. We shared two small plates - the cilantro bucatini with chicken, and the roasted beets with salsa verde & mascarpone. The bucatini was my least favorite dish of the night, but I am a sucker for cilantro anything, and the cilantro was actually cooked into the pasta - a very unique dish and flavor. The beets were outstanding - one of my favorite dishes of the night. The beets paired perfectly with the smooth & creamy cheese. For an entree, we split the beef short ribs, with sides of corn creme brulee and fried cauliflower with thai vinaigrette. The short ribs were topped with a horseradish whipped cream and served with corn puree and roasted carrots. Honestly, I have had better short ribs elsewhere, however these were still very good, and the composition of the entire flavor palette was impressive. I couldn't stop eating the cauliflower - I wish vegetables always tasted so good! We were really too full for dessert, but couldn't pass up the strawberry rhubarb cobbler with rice flavored ice cream. The ice cream really tasted like rice - unlike anything I've ever tried before. Overall, I had an excellent dining experience at The Spence. I had very high expectations going into the night, so I was thrilled that they were exceeded (I have been disappointed at celebrity restaurants in the past). Would definitely return on my next trip back to Atlanta.
(5)
Matthew C.
We made a reservation for 2 at 8 on a Friday night. The place was full but not overly crowded or noisy. I know very little about food, but I know when it is good, and everything I ate was "good" to "quite good", some of it even bordered on "really, really good". My girlfriend can confirm these ratings. Now that I've given Richard Blais the accolades he no doubt set out for in opening this place, we'll get to the specifics. We did the bone marrow and cauliflower for starters and followed the with sweet potato gnocchi and the strip. They also threw in a complimentary side of brussel sprouts. Again, everything was great. The marrow and strip were the clear winners as meat maintained its winning tradition over vegetables...The sprouts were the least enjoyable, but their free-ness more than overcame any notable shortcomings. Definitely worth checking out. The menu is approachable and the food and atmosphere don't disappoint.
(4)
Carrie Neal W.
Well, color me surprised! Outside our hotel room last night, we had a direct view onto 5th Street and saw The Spence right there. I'd perused a few midtown choices for dinner and my favorite pick, Empire State South, didn't look so good to C as there were too many choices where he didn't like one or more ingredients; interestingly, I felt the same about The Spence's menu.... We finally decided to just go over to maybe have an appetizer or plan where to "really" go. And ended up with awesome service from Rory and a really excellent meal. The space is designed so well, and I love the open-air kitchen they have. It wasn't busy so we got seats at one of the long tables in front of the bar. I had thought there were too many things I wouldn't like- from lots of shellfish, which I do not enjoy, to the sides or sauces....happily, I was proven wrong. To start, C went for the kale Caesar - it was great! The kale was leafy and fresh, and the traditional Caesar set up was enhanced with a dash of lemon in the dressing. I opted for the casa de carna cheese plate, which was prepared with toasted toffee "croutons" and some tomatoes. I love this particular cheese and if you like such, try this. For our entree we shared the excellent tile fish, with a salsa verde - it was so tender and delicious, if you like white, flaky fishes, you will love this. I don't spend much time in this part of town, but if you do or find yourself nearby, give The Spence a try!
(4)
Alan D.
Not bad. I've tried the roast duck breast and a lamb dish and a steak (don't remember which kind). They were all very good. The brocolli with the steak was burned pretty bad so I didn't eat it. The portions are on the small side, but surprisingly filling. I love the coconut butter that comes with the rolls. The fried lobster balls were quite tasty as well. Definitely a nice place to come if you don't mind spending a little more. I'm still a student, but I would consider coming back for a special occasion.
(4)
McDavid A.
I've went here several times. The first two a few years ago. Sadly Richard must not be involved much anymore because the quality the last few times from the incompetent wait staff to the food has gone from unbelievable to terrible ;( such a shame use to be my favorite spot in town and I gave this place so much good word of mouth I'm now embarrassed .
(1)
Cindy T.
I am a little disappointed of how low of a rating I have to give The Spence, but in all honesty it wasn't good. It's one thing to have bad service and good food to make up for it, but the night that I went, I had mediocre service and mediocre food. For starters we had the bone marrow which is one of the best pieces I have ever had. There was so much richness with a good amount of marrow in the bone. However the marrow as very under-seasoned. Other plates we got were the toast with blue cheese which was so-so. I can tell it was thought out but just didn't wow me. My date had the oyster po boy which he said was decent. The asparagus dish I ordered literally had 5 pieces of baby asparagus, with some type of puree and shreds of greens. The plate looked creative, but really lacked in flavor and was a bit pricey for what it was. I also ordered the roasted cauliflower which was a good chunk of a cauliflower but had some type of tangy sauce which was unappealing. Most notably, after all of our small plates, we watched our waitress ignore us for at least 20 minutes before we could order main entrees. I decided to opt out of ordering a main course since I don't see my main entree tasting any better than the small plates I just had. My date ordered the fish and had to wait at least 30 minutes only for it to come out cold. My side of macaroni came out hot though. But even finding the waitress to complain about our dish was difficult. I know it was a busy night, but that shouldn't be an excuse. We were just so discouraged from eating here that my date decided to return the dish and not have them make him a new one as offered. We were just ready to get out of there. The manager came over to apologize to us . I can tell she felt bad, and even offered to get us something else on the menu. Her words exactly " I don't want you guys to go home hungry". As a nice gesture she sent over two desserts on the house which were actually really good. The ambiance there is great, a very fun and trendy restaurant indeed. With the reviews on yelp, I had high expectations. Unfortunately none of it was met. Maybe they had an off night. Do try the complementary bread rolls with coconut butter. It's great.
(2)
Karina C.
Very surprising combinations.. Some balanced and some..well, off. Beef tartare is an amazing first course with melon-balled avocado. Flat iron steak perfectly prepared. Chocolate caramel brittle with celery ice cream... Not so much. Fantastic Rockpile Zif wine selection.
(4)
Tami H.
I returned to The Spence again this year while in Atlanta for meetings... but it has gone a bit downhill from last year. The food seemed a bit gimmicky, and lacked robust flavors. Everything was solid especially oysters, bone marrow, foie gras, cauliflower, braised short rib... but was not as special as I recalled. Desserts were also a bit lackluster. I wonder if Richard Blais is distracted with other openings and not spending as much time with this establishment.
(3)
Boris K.
Great place. Pork belly was awesome! Coffee drink was too sweet, but nice bourbon selection.
(4)
Craig R.
Very very disappointed. The service was extremely slow. We counted our waitress serving 10 tables at once. The food was also just average. The menu is somewhat limited and nothing stood out as exceptional. In fact, nothing was really that good and we ordered "snacks", two entrees, two sides and dessert. 6 on a scale of 1-10. Oh well, worth the try but we won't be back.
(3)
Lindy F.
What an amazing experience! I am a huge Richard Blais fan and tonight I was privileged to be able to attend a special event - a cookbook release party for Try This at Home dubbed an Evening with Richard Blais. Okay, well it took me exactly .3 seconds to call when I received the email. The premise of this event was that you could go and spend 2 hours at The Spence, meet Richard, taste bites from the cookbook and buy and get your cookbook signed by the man himself. Okay, you had me at meet and greet. Having never visited The Spence to eat a meal (always been a bit concerned due to my food allergies), I figured this was the perfect opportunity to try it out and meet one of my chef heroes. We walked in (a bit late thanks to traffic) and had to find ourselves a table all the way in the back. Unfortunately, this means we were ignored for probably 30 minutes - no wine, no bites. This was not looking good. The sun started to shine through the window in my eyes and I put my hand up to shade them and suddenly a server came over to the table and asked what we needed (apparently it looked like I was flagging her down). Oh darn. Two glasses of red wine were promptly delivered and I made a thankful comment of being taken care of and she clearly took this to heart, so she sent over a very nice young man with a "tray" (wooden plank) with some bites on it. Okay, let's talk bites: Bruschetta with Ricotta, Beets and Candied wasabi Bruschetta with Mashed Potatoes and Cod Arancini with cheese and peas (calling this Fritter 1) Green Olives stuffed with Cheddarwurst - fried (calling this Fritter 2) Fried Pork Belly with a radish slice, green apple, carrot (calling this Fritter 3) Cheese Puffs Smoked Salmon in puff pastry Everything I ate was A-MAZING! Obviously, I could NOT eat the 2 fish items. My Mom had them both and enjoyed them. I worked a deal with our server and he made sure to keep bringing me fritter items - I know how to flirt for food, especially Fritters (Fritter Fan Club Founding Member). The Q&A with Richard was fun, informative and he really is quite engaging. He was pretty funny and self-deprecating once he warmed up. Being a shy person in large groups, I normally wouldn't speak up, but I needed to know something. So I worked my way through the crowd so he would see my hand-raise and asked about his web series, Burger Lab and he seemed quite happy to talk about it. I hope I got him more viewers as well - it really is a great series. Once he finished came the line for autographs. I ended up at the end, but met people and bonded and by the time I got to the front, I got to bond more and talk to Richard and he is a great and personable guy. I think overall this place is great, the food is delicious and Richard is a genius. I would give 5 stars, but this was not really a Spence normal experience. I know, I need to go back for a real sit-down, Spence menu deal. I will for Richard, as I expect he deserves the 5th star for his achievement.
(4)
Mike L.
** WARNING...painfully long review ahead ** Although the point of our trip was to catch the Niners-Falcons playoff game, checking out The Spence was a close second for me. Top Chef is one of the few TV shows I follow regularly, so I just HAD to check out Richard Blais's restaurant while I was in town! While some have described the food as a bit pretentious and trying too hard, I didn't get that impression. To me, the food is much like the ambiance - trendy, yet casual ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ). The menu is like tapas style, with a diverse array of small dishes to choose from. - DINNER ROLLS WITH COCONUT BUTTER...Complimentary ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ) If you're familiar with Chinese coconut cocktail buns, this tastes exactly the same. The coconut butter was so good, I wished we had more rolls to slather it on. - OYSTERS AND PEARLS...$12 ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ) Pretty good, and a perfect example of Chef Blais's playful style - raw oysters topped with crème fraîche "pearls". Surprisingly, the oysters weren't overpowered by the sourness of the crème fraîche. - FOIE GRAS TERRINE WITH CANDIED PECANS...$16 ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ) I hadn't had foie gras in ages, but this was my least favorite dish. It didn't fail...it just wasn't notable. The terrine was just okay (a bit rich), but instead of the thick, toasted bread, I wish they had used something more rustic or a baguette. - BONE MARROW, TUNA TARTARE AND FRIED QUAIL EGGS...$13 ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ) You never know what kind of yield you'll get when ordering bone marrow, but we lucked out with a generous serving. The tuna helped to freshen up the dish, and the choice of bread here was perfect. One of the better bone marrows I've had. - FRIED BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH A THAI VINAIGRETTE...$6 ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ) I hated Brussels sprouts when I was a kid, but I may not have if they were always this good! The sprouts were roasted perfectly, and the vinaigrette added a mildly tangy twist. - SQUID INK MEZZI RIGATONI, CLAMS, AND OCTOPUS...$14 ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ) As much as I like clams and octopus, the squid ink was what caught my eye. I liked how the rigatoni was dense, yet cooked to a perfect al dente. The seafood was pretty fresh as well, and the sauce had a nice "zing" to it. Solid all around. - ROASTED PORK BELLY WITH RUTABAGA, ENDIVE, AND APPLES...$26 ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ) My favorite of the night. Each chunk of meat was decently large and balanced - not too fatty nor too lean. The pork belly was full of savory flavors, with the endives and rutabaga adding some bitterness to the apples' sweetness. Straight up delicious. - RICOTTA CHEESECAKE, BLUEBERRY, GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST...$7 ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ) It was unexpected but not shocking to see it served deconstructed - definitely fits Chef Blais's style. The ricotta and the ice cream blended together quite well, but the best part for me though was the graham crumbles. Yum. - HOUSEMADE "PEANUT BRITTLE" WITH SALTED CARAMEL AND HOUSEMADE CHOCOLATE...Complimentary ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ) Funny - our complimentary dessert (from our awesome waitress, Kerrine!) was better than the one we ordered. The salted caramel and housemade chocolate were both tasty, but the peanut brittle was the star. Loved it! While I thoroughly enjoyed our meal, it should be noted that my experience may differ from most. The restaurant was relatively quiet while we were there (late on a Sunday night), so I didn't feel the laggy service others have mentioned. We even had the chance to chat with Kerrine (which may have led to our free dessert). Now, I know I probably just sound like some sort of groupie, but the food really was delicious. Easily four and a half on its own, but rounding up for the terrific service (even without the free dessert). Watching the Niners beat the Falcons that day was the highlight of the trip, but The Spence was the icing on the cake!
(5)
Jessica K.
Cozy little spot with a great cocktail menu and creative tastes.
(4)
Katie R.
The atmosphere is lively, the bone marrow tuna tartare is like buttah and the 90's rap had me at hello. I'll definitely be going back.
(4)
Emily B.
I really enjoyed the food here, particularly the coconut butter served with rolls while waiting for our food. It was amazing! My husband had the pork belly, and I had the Juicy Lucy (burger) with fries and a side order of Thai Brussels Sprouts, which were all great. We shared the orange oil cake with brown sugar ice cream for dessert and it was good, but after the entrees I was expecting better. The portion was also very small (even for a fine dining dessert) and probably wasn't really worth the $7 we paid. The decor is very cool and the staff was consistently friendly. When we arrived, we were our server's only table and she was very attentive. Once she had three tables, our water glasses were not refilled for over 20 minutes and it took a long time to order dessert and then get our check. The restaurant isn't perfect, but my husband and I were very happy that we came while in the area.
(4)
Jessica B.
I am, sadly, incredibly disappointed. After partaking in the three-course, chef's special seating, I couldn't be filled with more regret for buying into this travesty. Hook. Line. Sinker. First course was the appetizer, which consisted of a pork terrine. Ultimately, friends, it was an overly fried pork nugget. It was paired with a watermelon and cantaloupe salad. The fruit was the best part of the entire meal, aside from the burbon (which was not included, but the only reason why I say through the meal). The entree was surf n' turf, and the turf was just that chewy. It was also cold. But, the wine reduction and the horseradish foam was delightful. The surf consisted of an anorexic fish. There were more bones per square inch (and an inch was hard to find) than the Oakland Cemetery. Along with the entree came the "famous" duck fat friend french fries. Typically, they are good. However, this evening, they were soggy poles of potatoes. The curried cauliflower was pretty ok as the bone marrow lacked flavor, which is a feat in and of itself. The final course, was a frozen piece or chocolate and a non descript scoop of ice cream. I'm sure I could've found an equally good dessert at my local grocery store. It pains me to write this review and I wish that it weren't so. I can only suggest that anyone looking for a fantastic, chef's selected meal, head over to Serpas or King + Duke.
(2)
Larry B.
My wife and I are visiting for a nice relaxing weekend away from NYC and being that we watched and became a fan of Richard Blais on Top Chef we decided to try out his restaurant The Spence last night. We consider ourselves foodies and last night we were treated to one of the best dining experiences yet. My hat goes off to the chef and everyone in this fine establishment. The service was impeccable and the food was spectacular.
(5)
Kate W.
Holy Moly please excuse my language. Just kidding. But shoot, this food is delicious. No matter how weird or odd something sounds or may possibly seem UN appetizing, it was all fantastic. Can't give them enough stars. Get everything.
(5)
Jennifer N.
Well... after reading several reviews and seeing the Spence listed on several lists as one of the best spots in Atlanta, I had to go. I was very excited about the menu, especially the bone marrow dish that people have raved about. Maybe it is just me but the food was just ok. The bone marrow with capers on a toasted baguette was ok. The Juicy Lucy ( burger) was just ok. The foie gras was just ok and the drinks that we tried, were also just ok. Now what was awesome, the French fries served with the Juicy Lucy were amazing. The bread served with the bone marrow was great, it carried the entire dish. The service was great and the restaurants overall look and feel were fantastic ! Overall, I am glad that I tried the Spence. If by chance I return and find that it I enjoy the food more I will issue a prompt update. It could have just been an "off-night" for the restaurant and that happens.
(3)
Simon C.
I love that Atlanta has progressed to having a mature enough food scene that it supports a pretentious restaurant with awful food. The cocktails were mediocre, at best, and might as well have been premixed. The wine list is mostly unimpressive and overpriced. The food is eclectic, and served on lovely dishes, however you should not seek it out if your idea of farm to table is that the food be fresh. None of our meat could be prepared to order, so no, my steak could not be prepared medium rare...and it was pre sliced and might've been pre-cooked at medium-well with the hopes no one would notice. It also came in a beet ketchup, and it tasted like it sounds. It wouldn't have been worth it at half the price. The burger suffered the same miserable fate, from what I heard of my party. The vegetables were not fresh nor were they tasty, and many were just burned. While their choices are creative that does not translate naturally to edible, and the effort here did not carry it to that point. The name, branding and appointments were all lovely, but that does not improve flatly bad food. At this price there are far better, and equally adventurous, restaurants in Atlanta.
(1)
Rob C.
Great space, great service, good food. The salad was fresh, the carrot soup was just rich enough, and the pulled pork was simply delicious (though not the usual pulled pork, which is also often delicious). A great choice for lunch if you're in the area.
I was wanting more. Much more. We came in and there was oddly some kinda rush at lunch. They sat us quickly, eventually took our order. Eventually refilled our water (and something was floating in there now...so we had to ask for fresh glasses). And finally our food came out. It took over an hour and a half to get in and out for lunch...not good. That said, that bone marrow dish was freaking amazing...like amazing amazing. I likely went in at a weird time but I'd assume a place like this could handle a lunch rush.
(3)
Liz K.
For a Friday night I thought this place would be buzzing but it wasn't... I thought the drinks were tasty and the food was mediocore. Ordered the oysters and pearls, bone marrow, crawfish pasta, tartare, and some kind of toffee-ish dessert with coffee ice cream. I can't remember! The portions were quite small, I thought the bone marrow was delish, however it was small. It looked like it came from a calf. lol. Highlight may have been the complimentary bread with the coconut butter- OMG soooo out of this world! The bone marrow comes second to being my favorte. I'd like to try this place out again in the future though.
(3)
Shay H.
Reaaaallly delicious. We made a meal of a few snacks and small plates and split the burger. I'm glad we got that burger. I'd go back for it alone. Also standout was the friend pork terrine and fried Brussels sprouts. As others noted, maybe the service could have been more attentive. Still a great dining experience.
Welcome back to fine dining, Richard Blais! My first trip to The Spence was a relatively good experience, although I'll be curious to see if my rating changes when the celebrity chef is actually in the house. There were a few service missteps and some strange goings-on near the bar, involving boxes and very loud packaging tape. I'm guessing none of that would have happened if Chef Blais had been on premises. But I hope to find out for sure on a future visit. Stay tuned... The space is gorgeously redesigned, and virtually unrecognizable if you had frequented The Globe. However, due to the high ceilings and hard surfaces, it can get quite loud even when the restaurant is not at capacity. I do like the comfy banquettes behind the bar. You get to sit up high and observe all the goings-on. Start off with one of the signature cocktails. On my latest visit, I had the Crutch No. 2, which was tasty and quite refreshing. The menu changes frequently, so be sure to ask your server for a recommendation if that particular drink is no longer on the menu. My favorite dish right now is the beet salad. Even if you think you don't like beets, please give this one a try. Bonus - it's gluten free! I also enjoyed the pork belly tacos with fresh, made-in-house corn tortillas. And my dining companion consented to order the Juicy Lucy sans bun so I could have a taste. I'm sure it's better with the bread, but even on its own it packs quite a punch.
(4)
Quang N.
Great food, came on a weekday with a friend. Food was a 4.5 stars, but I rounded up to a 5 due to the service we had from our server. We split the beef tartare, brussel sprouts, bone marrow, and a pasta dish. The pasta dish was average, hence my memory lapse on what it actually was. The beef tartare was also average, as the heat from the chili oil/spice basically overpowered the dish. The brussel sprouts were great as the thai/asian flavor added a nice subtle heat to the dish. The best dish by far was the bone marrow as many have elaborated on.
(5)
Azim D.
Went for the 2nd time for my brother's birthday and It's a solid option. I wouldn't eat here again simply because I've been twice now and there are other great restaurants that I still need to try in Atlanta. Full Disclosure: I am a huge fan of Richard Blais but I'll try and be as impartial as possible. I had the same server both times and the service was excellent. He made a couple small mistakes but worked to remedy them as quick as possible and my water glass was refilled 6 or 7 times even though he left a carafe on our table. I don't know his name but he slightly resembles Patton Oswald and I recommend him highly. Ordering food here can be confusing but it's all made to be shared. For 2 people, I think one "snack" and either 2 small dishes and one main dish or vice versa(depending on how hungry you are) is fine. The can soup, short rib and blueberry ricotta cheesecake are my favorites. Worth a try.
(4)
Jordan P.
Really overpriced for the small portions they give you, but the duck was still the best I've ever had
(4)
Chris S.
I went to The Spence and was hoping for much better than what it turned out to be. The good: enjoyed the empanadas, short ribs, wine list and the staff were friendly. The bad: mediocre hamburger (juicy lucy) and awful bone marrow that tasted like old beef grease from a griddle. yuck. It wasn't the worst experience, but the hype didn't match reality. If I return, it will be for a few select items and the convenient location.
(2)
Sally L.
I actually loved the food. Everything I had was great: beet salad, melon gazpacho, lobster roll, and the blondie. However, I have two qualms. The service was very friendly but quite slow throughout the meal. Also, on our way out, the hostess was nowhere to be found in order to validate parking. We stood there for a good while until one of the servers took notice of us. The main issue for most of my party of 8 was the noise factor. The music was incredibly loud and clubby. It was near impossible to have a conversation. There was a lot of shouting, it felt, at times. Perhaps, this is what The Spence is going for and what works for them. However, I don't see myself going back anytime soon or at all. Sharing good food with people is also about engaging and connecting with them through conversation. This restaurant, for me, is worthy of a higher rating if based on food alone. However, I'm going for the whole experience. Perhaps, The Spence is just too "young" for me.
(2)
Ben X.
Great Decor/Great service but food is just okay. Visited this place while travelling expecting something above average. Had the tile fish based on a reco from the server but it was way overcooked and the Trumpet Tartine tasted undercooked. Seems more of place where you just meet someone for a couple of drinks.
(3)
Jennifer C.
After some much anticipation my friend Sarah and I headed to Spence to celebrate our annual Holiday dinner exchange. We both are fans of Chef Blais so we had high hopes for Spence. We ordered {BEET SALAD} a beautiful presentation and tasted great too, while im generally not a fan of pecans, the candied pecans were deliciou {CHOCOLATE DUCK RAVIOLI} sounded better on paper than the actual dish itself, the duck was pretty dry in my opinion {BONE MARROW} not overly rich and quite tasty, I loved the eggs on top. {FOIE GRAS} skip this {BUTTERNUT SQUASK CREME BRULEE} sweet but tasty but I have a sweet tooth so some of you might want to save this for later {BRUSSEL SPROUTS} hands down my favorite dish of the evening, I would come back just to order these sprouts, crispy, bacon, salty, but a little sweet. Definitely has hints of asian flavoring possibly some fish sauce? either way the clear winner.
(3)
Kevin L.
Everything here was great. Alex was my server - great. Very nice, helped me pick out dishes, explained how everything was prepared, she was awesome. The look of the place - great. Giant square hanging thing with what looks like a collection of Richard's favorite ingredients. Cool. (Although, what's with the "boob in the bottom" drinking glasses?) Appetizer: bone marrow, with tuna, lemon capers, and quail eggs - great. Very tasty and surprisingly light way to start the meal. Main: sous vide hanger steak, with "trove cooked" fries. Alex gave me a side of the "red pepper jelly" upon request for my fries. Normally they come with blue cheese crumbles. I liked that, but the jelly was even better - it's like a chunky Thai sweet pepper dipping sauce and I ate every last bit. Steak was very good - flavorful and moist with just enough sauce. Whoever is cooking in the back knows their stuff. Dessert: "cheesecake" - great! I'll try y best to describe it: small scoops of cheesecake, surrounded by chocolate graham cracker dust, with bits of crispy meringue (?), froze blueberry balls, wild blueberries, and lemon foam. The foam was more gel-like than I imagined from seeing dudes do foams on TV, but that's awesome. Really flavorful, balanced, and sweet, but light. All together u had a really good time there. I bet get to eat out fancy, but I've been a fan of watching Blais on TV for years, and was traveling through the area, and a family member gave me money to treat myself. I was worried that fine dining food wouldn't suit me, or that even of the food was good the service would be crappy or the place too pretentious for me to feel comfortable - I was really really pleased to have enjoyed every part of my trip to Spence. I'd definitely go again I I'm ver anywhere close to Atlanta. Come to CA!!!
(5)
Derek B.
Continuing with our tradition of eating at a Top Chef related restaurant on our Anniversary, my wife and I dined here this year. I really liked the decor and set up, open kitchens are a huge plus for me. However, it was a little loud and the music was a little weird. Made having a conversation a little difficult, so I wouldn't recommend this for a romantic date. But it's great for a fun meal with a group. Richard Blais was present this particular evening and walked around talking to a few tables, but he missed ours :(. Thats another huge plus, love to see chefs/owners in their restaurant rather than just stamping their name on it and letting it run itself (usually into the ground). Food was all around excellent. Everything was delicious. The highlight for me was the bone marrow dish. I would have eaten the marrow by itself with a spoon and been happy. Throw on some tuna tartare, a quail egg and some awesome toast to spread it on, and I was in heaven. Amazing. Also had the Sweetbread Parmesan which was spot on. 2 slider sized sandwiches with an awesome sauce, melty mozz and perfectly cooked sweetbreads. Yum. My wife went with a pheasant dish that was a special that night. The meat was delicious(cooked sous vide and then finished on woodfire grill) but the highlight for her was the fried mash potato puffs. And I agree they were cool little things, almost like a fancy tater tot filled with creamy mashed potato. We could have eaten a bowl of them alone. All in all it was a great experience. I'd go back for sure.
Not impressed. Was hoping to be wowed but flavors really fell short of the mark. Tried the beef tartar, potted chicken, blistered peppers, pork terrine, pappardelle, bone marrow and cauliflower. The only two dishes worth mentioning were the cauliflower and the peppers. The restaurant was exceptionally loud. Not the experience we were hoping for.
(2)
Leigh B.
We expected to have a good dinner, and were still pleasantly surprised! The food is playful *and* substantial. Each dish was a total treat. The oysters were delicate and effing delicious. The bone marrow blew us both away. What a fantastic idea: to add the tuna to lighten the feel of such a heavy, intense dish. We both could have eaten and enjoyed several times that amount, and as much as I like marrow, I've never said that about a bone marrow dish. So impressed!! The steak was perfectly cooked and the mushrooms were last supper quality. The kitchen staff hit it spot on, and I couldn't be happier with the meal as a whole. We were there on a super slow Sunday night, but the server (Sabrina) was attentive and fun. I love the open line, and wonder if the chefs hate it when it's busy. Regardless, it's a really great feature to feel like you are in someone's home and they are in the kitchen cooking for you. Well designed. The team hit the mark on Sunday. Well done!!
(5)
Emilia L.
We went here for my friend's birthday dinner. I've never been to a Richard Blais establishment, so I was excited. The restaurant was nice enough to store away the birthday cake and bring it out at the end of dinner so the birthday girl was properly surprised -- I appreciated it that. We tried: Oysters and pearls -- the pearls were apparently made of creme fraiche. Very interesting and nice presentation. How the hell did they get the pearls to stay spherical? Fried sea creatures with uni tartar sauce -- This was a big portion. It was calamari, basically, with fried cauliflower and zucchini. I loved the tartar sauce. Bone marrow, tuna tartare and quail eggs -- Having never tried bone marrow before, I didn't know what to expect. The marrow itself wasn't quite my thing (texturally), but it was tasty. I wish the portion came with a bit more bread. Polenta with truffle oil and parmesan -- I was expecting a solid polenta cake. Instead, we got a bowl of creamy polenta, very similar to grits. This was absolutely delicious and perfectly paired with our chicken entree. Crispy chicken stuffed with foie gras, apple and turnip -- Unfortunately, I can't remember what exactly went in this dish. Our server kept raving about it, so I had to get it. While the chicken was not very crispy, it was moist and flavorful. I really enjoyed it. Our server was pretty on top of things and really took care of our large group. At the end, the birthday girl got her wish as Richard Blais was in the house and stopped by our table to say hello and pose for a pic or two!
(4)
Kirk L.
I don't throw around 5-star reviews so easily, but The Spence earns it. The little lady took me here for an early Valentine's day dinner last weekend, and it was an absolute home run. Great service, great food, great decor. Details, in order of preference: -Brussel Sprouts with Thai Vinaigrette. I hate brussel sprouts. I've tried them a number of times, and could never even finish one. Ever. But the little lady loves them, and the server raved about them, so we ordered them. And I couldn't stop eating them. They were amazing. As in, I would pay good money for them to teach me exactly how they make them. Yes, I've been wowed. -The Beet Salad was the single best Beet dish I've ever had. I'm not a huge beet fan, but I could have eaten another of these (and I still liked the Brussel Sprouts more). -Roasted/Stuffed Chicken - I almost never order chicken at good restaurants, but the server recommended this, and I'm glad she did. There was definitely way more going on here than any chicken dish I've ever had. Highly recommended! -Fried Sea Creatures - Simply fried calamari, oysters, and shrimp with a few fried veggies mixed in. I wanted to try something more unique, but we saw this coming out of the kitchen and it looked to good to pass on. And it did not disappoint - great breading, perfectly fried, delicious sauce - complementary but not overpowering. -Foie Gras - Good, but probably our least favorite of what we tried. Not notable. Oh yeah - and the bread and butter they served to start the meal was crazy good. Yes, I'm lauding bread and butter. And we had a few excellent cocktails as well. Seriously, you need to check it out. Go.
(5)
Gdawg W.
Portions are small. The appetizers for the most part minus the oysters and bone marrow had very little taste. The entrees were good, just small. The sides with dinner arrived after everybody at our table was finished eating the entree (service timing is horrible). Desserts (I sampled all of them) were not rich or tasty. This place is very expensive and not good. Avoid. There are much better places in Atlanta. I am not sure how this place has 4 stars.
(2)
Kevin J.
A little pretentious behavior mixed with over-the-top food makes for an ever so... SO-SO dining experience. Recent Top Chef contestant Chef Richard Blais serves up some good food, no doubt, but sometimes it's a bit too much. I think the fancifulness needs to step down and notch and focus needs to be put more into the taste of the food and not just presentation. With that being said, I thought the food tasted great. I just think that the service can get away with much more because of the name and "show" of it all. My experience might not be like all others but having to wait 30mins for a requested wine bottle, and having entrees come out before appetizers while other party members are still waiting on salads is awkward. Maybe we should just serve entire tables at once, and not whenever the food is ready? Let's get the kinks worked out before throwing food on the table.
(3)
Julee D.
Great food and service here. Loved the goat and potato gnocchi curry and brussel sprouts. Nice wine list too. Yummy bread and coconut butter spread served while waiting for our meal. My only complaint is the noise level in there. It felt like I was screaming across the table trying to talk to others I was dining with.
(4)
Andrew D.
I've been hoping to post a five star rating for some time. I've eaten all over Atlanta and the U.S. and have finally found my first in my home town. I don't think five stars means necessarily "the best food" ever or the "best" of some other category. I think it means, in totality, was this superior to others in the area in the same class. I have been to other Concentric Corp. spots and have generally been pleased. The Spence, however, sets a new standard for the company. The reservations, on Saturday at 8, were cheerfully and immediately honored. Our server, Mike, was top notch. The cocktails (from someone who usually takes his bourbon neat) were very tasty, interesting and fairly priced. I had the Beekeeper which mixed bourbon, honey and herbs while my wife had the Moscow Fizz which she loved. We had two "small plates," the pappardelle and the panzanella. One was rich and savory while the other was cooling on a hot August night. For entree, my wife had the tile fish which was fresh and wholesome while I had the Goat Trio which consisted of three different but complimentary locally sourced goat preparations served with a combo of creatively prepared vegetables. We also ordered the fried cauliflower served in a ginger, lime, cilantro light sauce. I generally don't write long reviews, preferring to recommend or not. In this case, it's a must try. We will go back again.
(5)
Gerry K.
Family birthday gathering went extremely well . Had assorted small plates, entrees and desserts. Porchetta, tile fish and juicy Lucy were superb. The liquid nitrogen sundae was awesome too. 5 stars for a great meal and atmosphere.
(5)
Tom C.
Alright y- let's talk about this place. Given it's location, they have to have valet, which they do. It's super-easy. You just pull up right out front, the valet is there, and the door is about 30 feet away. No complaints. You walk in and are _immediately_ greeted by a hostess station. It's literally RIGHT THERE. they should probably back it up, because it's a bit disruptive to walk right into it. But, that's no big deal. Right past the hostess station is the bar about which everyone seems to be talking. It's a "deconstructed" bar - it's supposed to be like being in someone's kitchen. Rather than sitting at a bar, you sit at some tables, and the bar is adjacent but "turned around" so you're essentially behind the bar. When we were there (7-8 on a Saturday), there weren't all that many people, so it was comfortable, but I could imagine them running out of space. More critically, if I'm going to be "behind the bar", I'd want to be able to actually see more of what is going on. The drinks at the bar were great. I had a "Franco Pop", which is a bourbon drink with orange bitters. It came in an old soda bottle with a straw. My wife had something with a bunch of foam on top, which was gin-based and really, really good. Our friends had one of the bourbon drinks also as well as another gin-based drink with mint. Once we were finished with our drinks, we moved to our table. (The table was ready when we arrived, but we told them we wanted to hit the bar first.) We were in the back of the restaurant, which is where you want to be, as you're removed from a lot of the hustle-bustle that takes place in the center, around the open kitchen. Richard Blais was wandering around the place, talking to customers, taking pictures, etc. He seemed like a nice guy. Our waitress was nice but not over the top on helpfulness. The menu, it turns out, is appetizers, small plates, and entrees. We had some trouble figuring out what we were getting into, so we asked her. Then, she gave some guidance. But, we definitely needed to ask for more information than we should have had to. But, that's fine. The food was great. We ordered a bunch of small plates. There was variation in how well they came off, but all were good. My favorite, without a doubt, was the poached shrimp tacos. My wife liked the squid ink pasta with lobster best. The kale caesar salad was great, and I thought the fried cauliflower was really outstanding. The wine list was pretty good, very wide in terms of coverage - a couple of CA's, a couple of French, a couple of Italians. Each section (White, Red, Sparkling) is divided into traditional and more exotic wines. So, there are wines from places you'd never think make wine. We didn't go too adventurous but did order a South African chenin blanc and later a New Zealand pinot noir. The chenin was ok, but the pinot was great. The one real downside is that it's LOUD. Someone in one review said its decor is like JCT but quieter. I disagree. The decor is more like ONE (the place is a ONE venture, along with Blais, who used to be there), with a bit of Empire State South thrown in, and a lot of noise. There is not much soft in the place to absorb sound, so hopefully they'll fix that.
(4)
Tina C.
Open kitchen and Bar atmosphere is Hip and Trendy, not for the stuffed shirt or overdressed older crowd. Unusual menu items that change often; whenever the Chef thinks or want something else cool on the menu. Quality ingredients presented beautifully. Hand crafted and unique drinks. Outdoor seating when weather permits. They have valet but it is hard to see, it's just at the curb at the front door. Again it's really hard to see on a crowded pedestrian covered area.
(4)
Katy N.
Dinner last night at The Spence was spectacular! This was my fourth visit and usual I was excited to explore the continually changing menu. We were delight to try and selection of new dishes and always amazed at the creative and thoughtful choices on the menu. The meal was kicked off warm homemade rolls with coconut smear. Melted in our mouth. Next we dug into chili corn on the cob dressed in queso fresco and cilantro. Not the most flattering dish to eat, but we'll worth it. We followed that up with steak tartare with quail eggs. Devine. Then to my favorite and most surprising dish - small scone bits with apricot jam and a slice of cheese (I didn't catch the type - sorry). It sounds so simply but the balance of flavor was perfect. My husband and I fought over every bite. I would go back for that dish alone. We finished the meal off with Mac and head cheese (not actually cheese but delicious) and a spicy rigatoni with duck and bone marrow. Now we didn't get the bone marrow on this visit but HIGHLY recommended. It is decadent and has you wanting to lick the plate if it weren't socially awkward. Go for it ;)
(5)
Steve O.
It was fun and different from most restaurants. The oysters were great. The juicy Lucy was a good surprise. I would go again for sure. There are plenty of dishes to explore.
(5)
Nancy R.
This place has been open for about 6 weeks but what a great place! It's near the GA Tech campus and they have valet service which is great since street parking is hard to find. FOOD: We started with the oysters & pearls which are 4 raw oysters with little rounds of horseradish & butter/cream with a touch of citrus and cilantro....delicious! For dinner, I had the octopus dish, which is cooked octopus with cucumber slices on top of potato cylinders with a drizzle of some kind of sauce with sprinkles of greens. This dish was too pretty to eat, but very good, even though it wasn't a big dish. We didn't get dessert, but we were given 2 very small gingerbread & creme sandwich cookies. We asked if Richard Blais would come around so we could meet him, and he graciously came to our table. My friend and I were like two little schoolgirls wanting to get a pix with him.
(4)
Ms. M.
"Relentless hospitality" -- that is Richard Blais' new credo for The Spence, and that is exactly what we got when we visited The Spence twice during our trip to Atlanta. Everyone at the restaurant, from the hostess who seated us to our server Karen Ann to Justin & Bob Amick to Chef Blais himself, made us feel incredibly welcomed and honored. But as wonderful as the service was, it was ultimately the food that really blew us away. Since we traveled all the way from California just to eat at The Spence, we had very high expectations -- not only were those expectations met, they were exceeded. The food was not only delicious, but we were also excited to have finally experienced Chef Blais' creative, inventive, and famous "tongue-in-cheek" cuisine. Over the course of our two visits, we were lucky enough to sample about 20 different dishes. It's hard to pick just a few favorites, but the dishes that stood out most to us include: - the famed oysters & pearls (a must-order if you're a Top Chef fan, my favorite oyster dish ever, and a great palette-pick-me-up if you're getting too full and feel like you need a second wind); - shaved hamachi w/ fried clams (I thought this dish would be kind of boring because every restaurant these days serves a raw sliced yellowtail dish, but boy, was I wrong to have assumed that Chef Blais' version would be like any other such dish); - bone marrow w/ tuna tartare (I have had a lot of bone marrow, and this one is hands-down the most flavorful and interesting I have ever had); - General Tso's sweetbreads (I will never be satisfied with regular old Chinese take-out ever again); - Salisbury lamb chop (I was so surprised and amused when I first cut into the chop that I will never forget that moment); - pork belly (far better than Woodfire Grill's); - corn creme brulee (it's like a dessert, but it's actually a sweet/savory side dish); - panna cotta w/ popped sorghum (it's light but so flavorful, and the popped sorghum really adds a great touch); and - ricotta cheesecake & strawberry (it's definitely not your traditional cheesecake, but it will make your mouth happy). If we lived in Atlanta, we would go back once a week to sample the changing menu!
(5)
Gilbert C.
Maybe the best meal I've ever had. Had the oysters and pearls, bone marrow, squid ink pasta and mussels. Everything was ridiculously good. Waitress was very patient In explaining all dishes with a smile. A bucket list stop for all foodies!
(5)
Henrik C.
Went to the restaurant on the 3rd night they were open. The restaurant is in the space where the Globe used to be in Tech Square. The restaurant space has been seriously refurbished and the layout is with individual tables, community spaces and booths. The kitchen part for preparation of the hot meals is an integral part of the main diningroom. The chef, Richard Blais, is well known for creative dishes. The menu card has a number of interesting surprises. The "lamb chops" are minched, the New York strip cut in slices, ... overall a very interesting set of dishes and the prices are surprising accessible. We tried foie gras and General Tso Sweet Bread for appetizers. Both were really good. The foie gras is almost like butter. Both of the dishes are large enough to share. For the main dish we had strip steak and lamb chops. The strip was fatty and what the waiter called a long island cut. The dishes were well prepared. The sides were on the small side, but very tasty. We had cheese cake and panna cotta. The cheese cake is an interesting variation, whereas the panna cotta was fantastic. Our server, Tony, was very attentive and had great suggestions. Fantastic service. This is a serious step up from the earlier restaurants in this place. Fancy food but also a bit pretentious.
(4)
Nathan O.
Open kitchen- watching as chefs prepare meals is a part of the experience in and of itself. The kitchen has two large wood-burning ovens, which creates a warmth to the room (perfect after surviving the downpours that we had) Service: We were greeted by 2 people at the door, seated by another, and presented with food options by our server. Throughout the night, three various people cleared our table for the next course, and always filled up our water glasses. There were often times where it felt like a passing server would detour from their current route to fill that half-empty (or half-full, depending on your outlook) glass without any second-thought. Starters: Hawaiaan roll with sweet coconut butter. These sweet rolls were delicious; fortunately we were given a second round of them after we quickly devoured the first four within seconds of sitting down after battling the rain. Oysters & PearlsOysters on a bed of black salt, with creme fraiche and horseradish pearls placed onto each oyster. I have never thoroughly enjoyed an oyster until this meal. Beef Tartare, harissa, caraway, and fried quail egg Served on a wooden plank, temperatures were perfect (for raw meat). Much like the oysters, I wasn't expecting to enjoy this, but the taste combinations were wonderful and I found myself scraping up the last of it onto my plate. Smoked Beets with fresh ricotta and pineapple A well-balanced salad, the largest portioned dish of them all. This should be a staple of every dining experience at this restaurant. Bone Marrow, tuna tartare, fried quail eggs* If you could imagine a steak that could melt in your mouth, this is the result. A generously-sized bone filled with marrow, tuna tartare, and served with bread; the bread is needed to mix everything up and serve it until the plate is bare. This is my definite top choice. Foie Gras terrine w/ texas toast and candied pecans* This is a French dish, and a much fancier name for duck liver. I expected a dry and spongy texture, but was pleasantly surprised by the amount of flavors involved. It was very soft and spread onto the toast almost as if it were a paste. Explosive in flavor, wonderfully prepared. Main Dishes: Smoked Linguini and Clams, sea-beans and scampi butter The most "standard" dish of the night; much like a fine dish from a European seafood and pasta spot. Still delicious, just not as adventurous. Roasted Lamb Sirloin with Sunchoke, okra, and red cabbage Fantastic presentation- this was the only meal-choice that I didn't get my hands on. The inability to try it leads me to assume it was quite the treat. Long Island Duck breast w. Mild mushrooms and eggplant Caitlin's favorite; eggplant-based sauce smear and a very subtle mushrooms arrangement. Beef short rib w. smoked potato and horseradish The short ribs were extremely tender; one of my favorite pairings with the vegetables. I typically can not stand the bold tastes of horseradish, but loved this dish. Sides: Macaroni and Head Cheese I was initially very intimidated by this dish; my first head cheese sighting in a local deli had me convinced that head cheese was the unwanted fruitcake of meats. The macaroni was cooked and presented at perfect temperature, with a layer of head cheese melted and served on top.This dish isn't nearly as scary as it sounds, but seemed to taste much like the bacon mac & cheese dishes I've had at other restaurants. Fried Brussel Sprouts, thai vinaigrette If our moms had made brussel sprouts like this when we were kids, we'd all be vegetarians. The vinaigrette that it's tossed in was tangy and delicious. Deconstructed desserts: With Richard Blais, every bite is the "best part" of the dessert. These desserts were meant for those of us who can't stand to finish a piece of pie with the thick, undesirable crust remaining. Each bite was well-balanced and full of flavor. Lemon Curd, Toasted white chocolate mousse, meringue No way to explain it; just awesome Ricotta cheesecake, blueberry, graham Blueberries treated with liquid nitrogen to create a temperature-induced punch to the mouth with each bite. My photos can't show it, but this was one of the most beautifully-presented desserts I've ever seen. Cheesecake will never be the same. Mint panna cotta, cucumber sorbet, sunflower cake Refreshing; you could smell the distinct cucumber sorbet the moment it was brought out to the table. Warm chocolate cake, honey ice cream, almonds strong, intense chocolate- we're not talking standard milk chocolate either. This is the father of all "molten-lava chocolate" dishes that you'd find at many a American restaurants. Keys to Success: Pass your plates- there are too many great things on this menu to just try one. Leep an open mind...and wallet- adventurous souls will have a great time. Be bold. The statement of our night was, "don't be afraid of the headcheese" Enjoy the Spence with an intimate group of friends and family. Prepare to engage in your meal.
(5)
Matthew D.
We came here for a friend's birthday dinner and understanding we would be drinking, we cabbed, there is valet and know that parking in this area is tough. I had been to a few Richard Blais establishments before and I have always enjoyed myself, but nothing that left me with a 5 star experience, so to speak. That changed with this meal. The atmosphere is open, the bar was buzzing and the little touches like the seat up icon for the men's restroom and the seat down icon for the woman's restroom were clever without trying too hard. This is not the place for the claustrophobic, the bar is right in the middle of everything and tables are close. It didn't bother my group at all since we were looking for more of a party like feel, then something romantic. As for the food, they have a mix of small plates and entrees. We passed around the small plates and enjoyed everything. The Bone Marrow, hamachi tartare and fried quail egg was my favorite. It was like eating a campfire in the best possible way, smoky and rich, just incredible. I would put it on par or even slightly ahead of the Holeman & Finch version. The grilled octopus is a must and the beef tartare was good, but if you were only going to get two small plates, that one could be left off. The braised short ribs were wonderful, juicy and flavorful without trying to be too complicated. We shared 3 or 4 desserts which were all great, I don't have much of a sweet tooth and I still enjoyed them. To Recap: The Good: The atmosphere forces you to have a good time, great buzz about the place. The food was inventive and fun, I love it when you can try some dishes you would never attempt at home. As a little bonus Richard even came to our table and was a perfect gentleman. I was really impressed how he took the time to chat and thank us for coming, very classy. The Bad: If you don't like tight spaces, are looking for something quiet, like to park your own car, you would be 0 for 3 here. The Band This Restaurant Most Resembles: Early Rolling Stones. Loud, fun and looking for a little trouble.
(5)
Dalan C.
Was totally excited to check out Richard Blais's (one of my all time favorite Top Chef's ) restaurant. For those who complain about his food being pretentious, you obviously don't know his style. The place is beautiful and trendy looking. The service I received was completely awesome and friendly. The price is a on the more expensive side, but I thought it was worth every penny for the experience of eating at this place. I started with the compressed melon salad, and the presentation was stunning and it tasted awesome. Next, I had what I would call an Arancinni ball. That was balls of richness and one of my favorite dishes. My main dish was the Scallops. Cooked perfectly and presented even ore beautifully. Loved it. Because my main dish took so long to come out (there were 2 huge parties ahead of my ticket), the servers gave me a try of the Oysters and Pearls, I normally don't like oysters, but man these things were amazing. Finally, I ended the night with the best dessert I've had in a long time, which was a burnt banana ice cream with brittle and i think cherries? Chef Blais was walking around and greeting patrons, I just wish I had a chance to take a picture with him, but I didn't want to bug him.
(5)
Ray L.
As a big Richard Blais fan, I'm happy to say that this was a delicious experience - though the restaurant did show it's age a little, as a little expected from a recently opened establishment. Though confusing I bit, the deconstructed menu grew on me. There's no traditional sequence of starter, salad, soup, primo, entree, etc. You simply pick 1-2 of what you think looks good. But don't confuse these for small plates... the servings are hearty. Juicy Lucy - I think this cheese burger beats any of the ones I've had at Flip burger. This is Blais' best burger. Cod - perfectly cooked with a light crispy batter and moist fish Fries - triple cooked for a good crunch. Served with some type of homemade ketchup... taste buds couldn't place the infused taste... bourbon ketchup maybe? Fried brussel sprouts - delicoius and sturdy. Lightly glazed with a sweet sauce Cheescake - creatively squeezed out like a pudding. Not a traditional slice of cheesecake. Very good. Pineapple upside down cake - very good. One of the heavier desserts. Delicious, but kind of what you'd expect. Chocolate pudding - decadent and yet light at the same time. The elusive 5th star isn't included because the service was a little clunky and needs time to mature. Our server had trouble communicating the dishes... talking too much about some dishes (and all the technicalities) before we even showed any interest in them. Also tended to interrupt conversations... needs to be more conscious of what's going on at the table. With a little more training of the staff, this could be a fiver for me. Would be excited to come back to the area and try it again.
(4)
Hieu H.
The Spence makes me excited about Atlanta's evolving culinary scene. After winning Top Chef All-Stars, Richard Blais could have easily struck it out in New York or LA. But he chose to stay and create something that's speaks to Atlanta's palette. Forget the molecular gastronomic gimmicks (though there are subtle touches here and there), Blais really brings his A-Game with dishes like the Oysters and Pearls and the "Juicy Lucky" burger. Show-stoppers include the smoke and mirrors theatrics of the Pork Belly and Octopus entree that's brought to the table encased in smoke. Once the glass cover is removed, you're instantly assaulted with a cloud of smoke revealing luscious pork belly and tender baby octopus. I loved everything about The Spence. From the open kitchen to the amazing bread and light-as-air butter served on a wooden plank. The only dish that felt a little flat was the Uni spaghettini with lobster. It was a little heavy for an appetizer and could have been served as an entree. The salty oceanic taste of the uni was a little lost, and the lobster a little scant. For dessert, the pineapple upside down cake with fois caramel was too cloyingly sweet and the flavor of fois almost non-existant. Everything is quintessentially Richard Blais. A little tongue-in-cheek, and always walking the thin line between hi-brow aesthetics and simplicity. I can really see The Spence becoming a great spot for locals with a surprisingly affordable concise menu and a well-curated wine and cocktail list. The maldito's crutch is prefect for a warm summer night - light and refreshing. Another great recommendation is The Spence's take on a Manhattan with an absinthe cube. A great twist on a classic. Loved how the wine is divided into the "tired and true" and the "leap of faith". I'll always put my money on the unexpected. Looking forward to coming back and trying more of Blais' culinary dishes. Let's just hope he doesn't mistake the girl with the skinny jeans and sky-high stilletos as a stalker!
(4)
Sarah K.
Exceptional service. Delicious food. Perfect for "order and share". Try the kale salad and chocolate cake!
(5)
Jean-Marc P.
First visit, a business lunch - the food was delicious and the service quick and knowledgeable. We'll be back for dinner soon.
(4)
Phillip D.
The disappointment started as soon as we arrived. The food is terrible and the drinks aren't any good either. The ambiance is nice, but I don't think a restaurant can just ignore that people come there to eat too. Steer clear. For more details: 1) The beer menu is terrible. There's nothing wrong with getting creative on the beer list, but this place doesn't have anything worth drinking. This is low hanging fruit for them, start carrying Sweetwater, any Sweetwater, and you'll see instant gains. People like good beer, serve it to them 2) My girlfriend's cocktail was served in a soda bottle. According to her it tasted like a bottle full of "sour pucker" schnapps. I don't know what that tastes like, but it sounds turrrrible. Next easy fix, make tasty cocktails. It isn't hard, people do it ALL the time. 3) The steak tartar was covered in salt. I'm guessing to cover the use of questionable meat? I don't know. It might have been bearable, but there wasn't any good way to wash it down (see point 1). 4) I was there at the prime time of Saturday night and the exchange went like this: Me: I'll have the scallops Waitress: Oh, I'm sorry we are all out Me: Really? that's odd. Waitress: Oh yeah, it's because we source everything from Atlanta Me: Atlanta sourced scallops? Waitress: ah.... Ultimately, 1/3 of the menu was unavailable. There is no excuse for that. When you own a restaurant and want to sell food, you have to buy it first so you can cook it when people ask for it. One entree, ok. Two, that's odd. 1/3 of the menu? Bush league. 5) The service, in general, wasn't good either. Drinks came slow and the timing on bringing the food to the table was all over the place.
(1)
J W.
Ask for Rori ! She took care of everything from helping order apps, small plates, mains, and desserts. Definitely have a lil of each! We had empanadas which were delish, the bone marrow with quail eggs which were nothing short of orgasmic. The rigatoni with clams was so good I wish they served this as a main. The lamb was tender and looked too pretty to even eat. Every dish was prepared immaculate and tasted divine. I didn't save room for desert but was delighted to have it. The chocolate pastries and orange angel cake I wouldn't have wanted to miss- worth it! Finally let's talk wine as The Spence had an amazing selection. We went with a cab from Lebanon and a cab from Macedonia. This is the place to branch out and try new foods and wines. You will not be disappointed. Don't forget Rori either she coordinates such a fine dining experience.
(5)
James P.
Will be going back.
(5)
Jennifer B.
The Spence has the most original, creative, thoughtfully prepared and delicious food and drinks that I have ever enjoyed. My son, his gf and I went on a Monday night - the place was quite full and I was glad we had made a reservation. It is located on 5th right in the Ga Tech area, near typical college semi-fast food places. There is valet parking but he didn't show while I waited. Luckily, I snagged a meter space in the street. The place is attractive - clean and simple decor, which is becoming a little cliched lately. The atmosphere is city sophisticated and really great energy. Richard Blaise was buzzing about and I could also see him preparing food from my vantage point. I felt a little Top Chef starstruck. But the food - wow!!! we started with oysters and pearls of something delicious and bone marrow with hamachi tartare and 2 tiny little fried quail eggs - rich and flavorful. I had the beet, blue cheese, beet and wasabi salad and soft boiled egg plus the grilled shrimp small plate - it was all I could do not to lick my fingers - delicious. I had the Maltido's Crutch drink - also very good. It was just the best meal.
(5)
Gabe M.
I always enjoy The Spence. The service is good, the space is cool, and the food is good. We had the oysters and pearls, which we superb. Then we had some sandwiches that were both great. I also got soup which is always served table side. The butternut squash soup was excellent on a rainy day.
(4)
Shakira I.
The ambiance is the best part. The waiter and bartender provided superb service and the food was delectable. The wine collection is even better. My new favorite place.
(5)
Terry F.
A friend and I went to The Spence on another acquaintence's recommendation. Nice location in Midtown near Georgia Tech. They had valet parking, which came in handy since it was starting to rain when we got there. Service was okay, but we were wondering where our server was a few times. We decided to stick with Pinot Noir, so we tried the Mt. Difficult and the Cristom. This is mostly a small plate place, so we chose the beet salad, lobster knuckle, porcini noodles and pate de campange. For desert, we shared the ricotta cheesecake and had some complementary petit fours.
Had a chance to try out the newest restaurant from Top Chef all-star Richard Blais last night. I was a little apprehensive before going because as a traditionalist chef I'm not a huge fan of the molecular gastronomy movement. I can appreciate the science and creativity behind the food but my tastes are more simple. Overall I was very impressed with the entire meal and service. The space is warm and inviting while adding unique elements such as an open bar and kitchen with two wood burning ovens which add a nice smoky flavor to some of the dishes. The menu is a little difficult to navigate but the waitress knew it inside and out and we tested her knowledge extensibly! The layout made sense once it was explained. We were with another couple and the husband is also a chef with stints as executive at several well known restaurants around town so we were analyzing the food, service, drinks and even flatware! Most of the menu consists of small appetizer plates which can be shared among the table which I would suggest. We also ordered the lamb entree to share. This is not a place where I would order in a traditional manner (appetizer and entree for each person). To REALLY get the full experience you should share 6 small plates and 2 entrees for a table of 4. My only complaint was the size of the desserts. The portion size for the appetizers and mains were adequate but the desserts could stand to be a tad larger. Overall a great experience, amazing service in a cook atmosphere and adequately priced for the quality. Will definitely go back.
(4)
Barney B.
So at first I was perplexed by a 'less than 4' star review of this place. and then I walked there. and realized that, ok, this is not quite the location for this kind of place, so the less-than-stellar reviews are part due to the student-plus-tourist mix of folk that might not quite get what Richard is trying with this place..... ....and then I ate there. and I actually get what the goal is. but it's a goal is see off in the distance. it's not quite here. Because really, if you want to hit the goal, you have to deliver. as in, give what is meant to be on the plate. Instead, every question we had was answered with 'oh you didn't get that' and then an ingredient was brought out on a small plate. Or it was met with "hmmmm. I don't know, let me ask why this ingredient wasn't discernible" to be followed with an explanation of "well yes, it was meant to be a hint, almost imperceptible" really?? then why add it to the description? as it was, what we got only resembled the description viscerally, so anything you add to the mysteriousness of the vagueness that people aren't supposed to taste is just a big FUCK YOU of snobby proportions, right? (I mean, wasabi isn't something that even a hint is supposed to be hidden, dude. speck either) Top off ordering something that I was told 10 minutes later had run out, and you just show me that you focused on the periphery and not on the essentials of a well oiled resto. and the periphery is good. don't get me wrong. the space is cool. the concept is cool. even the menu might be cool. I just don't know. because anything we ordered either didn't quite match our extrapolation of what it was supposed to be - or simply didn't exist anymore , so we were writing our own plats du jour, it seemed. and for what we paid....we shouldn't have had to. but a solid two and a half is deserved because this could be a cool place - and the proof is in two things: the 'open' bar concept as well as....the burger - described only as 'juicy lucy' because um doy, why call it a burger!!! - but where it lacks in name, it makes up by making Flip seem pedestrian and causes the diner curl a toe or two. now let's focus on the rest, could we? because I want what I thought might have been on that menu. #cheers #thanks
(2)
Andrew D.
Hit and miss. Certainly a great addition to Midtown but I have my own take on the space and the experience. First thing that we noticed when walking in, is that there is no formal bar. Near the entrance towards the front of the restaurant the bartender is in front on a long stretch of ingredients. There are spaces to sit, but even those are pretty close to the front entrance. Just making the note that perhaps this is not the place just to grab a drink. That said, we were here for dinner. We had a few of the cocktails which were all in some degree or another Southern. Both cocktails were good and strong. We then switched to beer. Beer is all from small batch craft brewers. The exception was perhaps the Samuel Smiths Oatmeal which was the only one of the breweries that I had heard of. The beers were good, even if a but pricey at $6-8 a bottle. Drinks along with the service in general seemed to take longer then it should. I suspect the place is just getting its kinks worked out. Waitstaff on the plus side was very knowledgeable of both the food and drink. We sampled the Beef Tar tare hash, oysters, and The Uni Spaghetti. The Uni Spaghetti was for sure the standout of this lot. For entrees we had the Smoked leg of lamb and the Tile fish. I was not familiar with Tile fish but was most impressed with this dish. The fish was flaky and cooked perfectly with a creamy broth consisting of both capers and lemongrass. So good! The lamb had a very nice smoked flavor to it but was a smaller sized portion then perhaps we had anticipated. In going in, I suspect I expected a more refined, less casual experience, so perhaps that is why review is 3 stars. Knowing Concentrics, and how well they do upscale casual I should have known this would be more along those lines. I suspect I will be back, the Juicy Lucy sounds fun, and I need to try their strip. The Tile fish was great so that is probably my biggest call out with this review from only one dine.
(3)
Adabelle E.
Love this!!! Such a cute trendy place and a loud but fun atmosphere. Went there for a birthday dinner and say at the chef table having an up close view of the kitchen. I loved the vibe and food. Sounds simple but I strongly recommend the baby kale Cesar salad, delicious! The squid ink rigatoni with bacon and clams was to die for. I will definitely come back to try other dishes!
(5)
Paul S.
Oh Richard.... After much anticipation, we finally picked a birthday celebration to be our first of what most likely will be many visits to The Spence. Even though we're both a fan of his other restaurants as well as Top Chef, we hadn't done any prep work on our dinner so everything we experienced was like receiving wonderful little surprises, one after another. The Spence is fun! The ambiance is slightly upscale with a twist of loud and upbeat. The waitstaff is both knowledgeable and on point. Our service was spectacular and full of excellent suggestions. The food... adventurious and awesome. We had the Beet Salad, Bone Marrow, and Lobster Rolls with chicharones. All completely amazing and well composed. The plating was whimsical with class, the portions excellent with flavors that make you stop and say... damn. The highlight of the night ( a slight edge over the lobster rolls mmmmmmm) had to be the marrow... topped with tuna tartare and a fried quail egg served with toast points, it had to be the best marrow I've ever had. Our server even offered to pack up the bone for our dog to feast on when we got home. The best part... reasonably priced! We look forward to our next visit!
(4)
Matt C.
Everything that Richard Blais has touched in Atlanta has turned to gold, so my expectations were very high in visiting the Spence. I have been there twice in the past couple of weeks and I must say that the restaurant is good but not great. The menu is very forward thinking in the typical Richard Blais fashion, but unfortunately the portions are small and both times I have left hungry. The highlights are the fried brussel sprouts, oysters & pearls, and the short rib. The space is very slick and good for groups, but at times can be quite loud. It is a good addition for the Tech Square neighborhood which is filled with dreaded chain restaurants. Hopefully the restaurant will hit its stride because I definitely want to come back and continue to workshop at the culinary altar of Richard Blais.
(3)
Sophie M.
I love this place. Great food, great service. Interesting and different things on the menu, extensive wine list, cool cocktails.
(5)
Christine L.
I have admired Richard Blais from Top Chef and was so excited to experience The Spence. The set-up and ambiance was chic though sometimes too loud to have a conversation at our table and be heard. The experience that Richard envisioned for this restaurant did not come through. There was no warm interactions of the staff with the diners. I had the wahoo. While the flavor was not lacking from the chorizo and other accompaniments, the fish was dried out from being overcooked. My husband had the lamb and enjoyed it for the most part. The presentation of this dish was grand.... Perhaps they are still working through some things, but I'll be waiting to pay homage again.
(3)
Kristie K.
Last night three friends and I enjoyed an amazing dinner at The Spence. We did expect an exciting, adventurous meal (it's Richard Blais after all) - but we did not except such an incredible wine list and such impeccable service from our knowledgeable waiter, Peter. Seriously, he made us feel like VIPs the entire dinner, he educated us about the wines and the foods, and he laughed with us when, after each round, our plates were squeaky clean. As appetizers we enjoyed the bread, the gnocchi and the cheese tray. I would normally never order a cheese tray, but Peter steered us in the right direction and we were all impressed. Our main dishes included the lamb, the short ribs and the fish - and everyone enjoyed their entree tremendously. As sides, we selected the grits, the squash and the brussels sprouts. Again, I would never normally order brussels sprouts, but Peter encourages us, and The Spence's are to die for! Finally, we ended our meal with the deconstructed blueberry cheesecake, the blood orange cake, and the milk chocolate, peanut, burnt banana ice cream - which, not surprisingly, was the one round of food which nobody shared. Finally, after such an incredible meal and experience, the icing on the cake was the fact that it didn't cost us an arm and a leg. Everything is reasonably priced, which - of course - makes indulging all the more enjoyable.
(5)
Lisa L.
Not a fan of The Spence. I met a friend at this former Globe spot and admired the dramatic high ceilings and rustic tables and fixtures. When I arrived there were deep fried sweet breads on our table, an apparent error mistakenly rung up for another table. I ordered a March Hare cocktail, which was a bourbon, tea, lemon concoction that was yummy and playful with a ginormous ice cube dangling from a string. I started in on the sweetbreads and quit after a couple bites. They were crispy, sort of, with a mustard and caper sauce and dotted with an overbearing lemon ... something. This was the first time I had sweet breads so I'm not entirely sure how they should taste, but I know I don't understand the attraction. They tasted a little organ'y, but didn't have a lot of flavor aside from the accompaniments and were slightly chewy. I'd much rather have a nice crispy sweet vidalia onion ring. I wasn't fond of the menu that sat in front of me. I can't decide if it was pretentious or contrived, but there just weren't enough things that appealed to me and I was a little confused. Normally, when I'm at a restaurant offering small plates, I'm tempted to order way more than I know I'm able to eat because everything sounds so tasty. Not so at The Spence. We settled on the Bone Marrow, Tuna Tartare and Fried Quail Egg to start. Is this an attempt to combine the year's trendiest food items into one dish? I'm a little annoyed by this. There's no need to mess with bone marrow because it's perfect all by itself with some toasted crusty bread. The tuna tartare was overly lemony (what's with the lemon overkill at this place?) to the extent that i couldn't taste the tuna. The fried quail egg, while tasty, was wasted on this mess of a dish. We also shared a decent beet salad with a soft boiled egg that was nicely dressed. Keeping with the beet theme, we decided to try the beet papperdelle with duck, spinach and orange, which was recommended by our server. This one made sense and the flavors were beautifully complimentary. However, the pasta was overcooked, creating a viscous and mushy texture that was unappealing. My friend opted for a side of Squash Brulee that was a delicious custard of summer and butternut squash. This was definitely one of the highlights. For dessert, I ordered the Pecan Treacle Tart with Ice Cream and got something that I didn't expect. At the risk of sounding petty, I didn't get a tart. When I decided on this dessert, I pictured the pastry chef's interpretation of a pecan pie. What I got was some cake in a tart dish. It was a scrumptious moist cake, though, prepared with ground pecans and carrying a lovely brown sugar flavor from the treacle with a contrasting salty sprinkling on top. A small scoop of vanilla ice cream melted on top of the cake and I was happy to end my meal this way. Don't plan on having a conversation at The Spence, unless you want to repeat yourself or yell. It's really loud. I read previous reviews that talked about poor service, but our server was a welcome exception to an otherwise disappointing experience. Peter, with all of his glorious red hair, was friendly, efficient, helpful and appropriately distant. To end our night, as we waited for our cars at the valet stand, I noticed a sign on the podium that said, "$3" and "Gratuities Appreciated". I asked the attendant if the $3 amount was a suggested gratuity since The Spence website said that valet parking was complimentary. It is not complimentary, but $3, and since I rarely carry much cash, I'm glad that my friend was able to add to the $2 I had in my wallet. I don't see myself coming back to The Spence. There are too many other phenomenal chef-driven restaurants in this city for me to return.
(2)
Sarah N.
It pains me a little to write this review as I think of Richard Blais as a bit of a local rockstar. That said, after a much anticipated dinner at the Spence last night, I have to say I was a little disappointed. Not "no way will I ever go back" disappointed, but more "really? that's what I've been waiting for?" disappointed. Service: the service here was fine. Friendly enough, but not particularly warm or inviting. There certainly wasn't anything wrong with it, but it didn't stand out in the way most restaurants at this price-point do. Ambiance: warm feeling woods in an otherwise cold space work really well and the open kitchen is a fun touch. Not a huge fan of communal high-boy seating, which is peppered throughout the restaurant - might be better for a group but as a party of two, we asked for a proper table. Cocktails: I can only speak to the March Something-or-other, which was a solid bourbon drink with tea and honey. Good cocktail but nothing to go writing home about. Meals: Per the suggestion of our server, we opted to dine tapas-style and ordered the bone marrow (solid, not super innovative), the foie gras (really underwhelming - least favorite dish of the evening), the beet salad (excellent - the wasabi and candied nuts were a nice touch), the squash creme-brule (very sweet - should have ordered this for dessert), the chocolate ravioli with duck (such high hopes for this one - conceptually awesome, executed mediocrely including fairly dry duck) and the brussels sprouts (the clear winner of the table - almost ordered a second round). Menu notes: as with many restaurants in Atlanta, their menu changes seasonally. As we learned, the menu online is not always the same menu you will get in the restaurant. We are also usually dessert people but opted out after what we felt was a let-down of a meal. Parking: valet on the street which is $3 or you can find street parking, depending on how crowded that area of town is.
(3)
Heewon Y.
We went on a Friday night for a family dinner to celebrate my husband's birthday. Everything we ordered from drinks and appetizers to dessert was incredible. The oyster & pearls was definitely the favorite dish of the night. So good, we had to order some more. The lamb entree I had was phenomenal, and only made better with the side of Brussels sprouts. The MIL raved about her black bass. The presentation of the liquid nitrogen ice cream dessert was a nice finish to the fantastic meal. Th only thing that could have made our experience at The Spence better would have been to meet the man himself, Richard Blais.... and yes, that also happened!! He was gracious enough to take some pictures with us. What a perfect night!!!
(5)
Ryan S.
My girlfriend and I came in a month ago before the Kings of Leon concert. This was my second time here and I ordered the seared duck breast with sunchoke and turnips. We also had a charcuterie plate. My girlfriend had the carrot cavatappi. Food was outstanding period. The only difference between my first visit was the service was a little lackluster. Not friendly or informative. Our waitress the first time was over the top and one of the best servers I've had. Asides from that, an amazing atmosphere and feel and I'll be back.
(4)
Dio S.
Went to The Spence this weekend and ate the following: -Oysters&Pearls: decent but the pearls burst out into too sour of a taste -Fried "sea creatures" with sea urchin aioli: the frying is done very, very nicely and makes other fried dishes like the cod entree or sweetbreads seem like good bets. sea urchin in aioli was not a great idea though...the normally fresh taste completely replaced by a stale taste bordering on rankness. -Shaved kampachi+veal with some dressing: unremarkable...I'd much rather eat straight up kampachi sushi. -Bone marrow+hamachi tartare+fried quail egg: very heavy, but works nicely, especially the quail egg. with toast so good, I can eat this for breakfast. -smoked octopus rigatoni in a bottarga sauce: superb! octopus with perfect texture and flavor. delicious sauce although the bottarga sort of all melted into some goo, maybe by design. -mac and headcheese: a side dish. the execution is unremarkable but the idea is nice. Double the ratio of headcheese and it'll taste good no matter what. Also had 5 cocktails total and an ice cream dessert. Cocktails are fun and quite creative, though I found a couple of them to be too sour. The dinner rolls and coconut butter killed...I ordered a second helping while my wife ate the dessert. Overall, I found enough good things to like about Spence. Menu reads a lot like Octopus Bar's, very heavily Asian influenced, very keen to overload with heavy tastes, often could use a more delicate touch. The creativity is there but it's more Gatropub Blais than Alchemist Blais (think Element from 5 years ago). I like that you can make reservation...since you can't at a place like H&F or Octopus Bar. The space and vibe are likable but the open bar design is terribly-conceived: on two short rails perpendicular to the bartenders' prep area sit the customers, and the bartenders prep with their *back* to the customers, AND it's in the center of the restaurant so they have people to look at in front and to the sides of them! So if you sit at the "bar" you can't use the time-honored technique of using eye contact with bartender to get stuff done. We drank at the bar while waiting to be seated, and during ordering and paying (*both* getting the check and giving the card) had to stare at the back of bartenders (and it's not like they are shorthanded) for very, very long time, without anyone ever turning around to check. I could see we weren't the only ones frustrated by this. Complaints aside, a solid enough place with attractive menu.
(4)
Esteban A.
Only eat here is you want something that will blow your mind. Otherwise go to Chili's.
(5)
Sali Y.
I just wasn't impressed. The plank they served my meal on was not large enough to accommodate the meal, and the food was just mediocre. The daily salad was quite yummy, but my fish dish was just ok.
(2)
Jonathan G.
My wife and I joined another couple at The Spence on a Saturday evening. The restaurant is located downtown on 5th Street, just off Spring. Parking is valet. The dining area is open and high-ceilinged, but not carpeted at all so the noise level was very loud, at times so loud that it was difficult to carry on a conversation. The menu changes daily but on this night, most of the entrees were pork based. I do not eat pork or shellfish so there were literally only one or two items on the menu that I could eat. There were no vegetarian entrees. I settled on a salad, the black cod entree, plain and french fries. The cod dish was $33, which was the most expensive dish on the menu and the waiter did not offer to reduce it even though I ordered it plain. Our waiter was British and very formal. He was attentive but seemed a bit exasperated when my fellow diners and I asked for details about the menu items. The salad was fine, although the waiter never asked me for my choice of dressing. The cod was presented well, but it was not hot at all. The waiter apparently forgot to put in the french fry order, so those arrived about 10 minutes later, after I had finished the small portion of lukewarm cod. The fries were good, however. For dessert, I ordered a ricotta cheesecake which was tasty and creatively presented. All in all - this restaurant seems more concerned with style over substance. I will not be coming back.
(2)
George P.
I have read many reviews about the Spence saying they didn't like the portion size. I myself am looking for quality not quantity. If quantity is important to you, I would suggest The Olive Garden. I think they have unlimited salad, bread sticks and pasta for about 12.99. Now, onto the meal. We shared several tapas(the Spanish translation is small plates.) Some were just good; others were amazing! Here's the good: The oysters and pearls was a refreshing dish. It is a raw oyster with frozen crème fraiche(fancy sour crème.) It was good. The Fried Critters is your standard calamari, shrimp...etc. It was good but not out of this world. The foie gras was a terrine. Now the amazing: We started out with the bone marrow. Now for those who have never had bone marrow it is best described as if a steak and butter got busy and had a baby. It is meat butter. I would not recommend eating it without a piece of bread. What Blais does that makes his marrow stand out is he smokes it. It is possibly the best bone marrow I have ever had. The tuna tartar added a nice component to the dish and the quail egg was unnecessary. The mac and head cheese was absolutely mind blowing. Don't ask what head cheese is(it's not cheese,) just try it. I would absolutely go back! Blais has redeemed himself in my eyes after a mediocre hamburger restaurant and a great hotdog stand.
(4)
Jade D.
Spence needs work. LOVE love love Richard Blais from Top Chef and couldn't wait to try his food, but unfortunately, was very disappointed.... The problems started with the menu--it was, well, difficult. Difficult to read: the type is all caps and everything is bunched together; and more importantly, difficult to put your meal together esp if you're with a large party and not every one just wants to share. Many small plates and only 4 entrees so I made my meal up of (3) small plates which is normally okay by me but none of them were scrumptious really...Foodie ingredients aside, what I want to walk away from each dish with is that they are out of this world The service was good but on the slow side, as well somone in my party wanted a white wine spritzer...I get it, they shouldnt...and the waiter didnt feel she should either and kept trying to talk her into something else. Who cares, just give her what she wants (we report to her and have learned to just do that...hahaha)... The waiter brought 2 of the 3 as appetizers and the third with everyone else's entrees, which was weird, in retrospect, shouldnt he have brought 1 as my app and 2 as my entree ,but ,no matter no matter, it wouldnt have helped I suppose... The fluke with fried chicken was interesting and the cucumbers complemented it well, but it was on the small side, and the breading pulled away from the chicken which were cubes which I didn't like. It was decent overall. The bone marrow topped with Tuna Tartare and Quail Egg was greasy with a weird fatty consistency and didnt work... perhaps I am just not a fan of Bone Marrow as I read others that loved this dish and the waiter named it as one of his faves. I also had Beef Tartare which was fair/ I did not finish. I was with a large party and no one really raved about anything being delicious except the Brussel Sprouts that the table shared. These were great. But pretty disappointing overall ... Gorgeous place but the food's gotta shine--and it didnt :(
(2)
J1 J.
Parents took me here for my birthday a few weeks ago. I'm a big fan of the Top Chef series, liked Blais on the show given his penchant for molecular gastronomy and avant garde cuisine. I did have pretty big expectations given what I've seen him make on the show. Don't kill me, but the Spence, unfortunately, didn't live up to them. Sure there were interesting enough items - oysters with pearls made of creme fraiche in a tapioca form. Sea creatures with uni tartar sauce. Bone marrow with tuna tartare. I was hoping they'd have a sweetbreads dish or uni spaghettini which I saw on their sample menu online, but to my chagrin, those weren't being served the night we went. After ordering, we were given pre-meal dinner rolls with some coconut butter - ran more towards the sweet/dessert side of things, and was a bit off-putting prior to starting a meal, when i was craving something savory to start. First up, we had the oysters with pearls. The tapioca creme fraiche element was interesting, but there were only four oysters, the oysters themselves were small and honestly all I could taste was the vinaigrette they were put in. Also had the fried sea creatures. Mainly a combination of shrimp and calamari and vegetables, maybe 1-2 oysters thrown in. Fried well, seasoned OK. Breading was laid on pretty thick for my tastes. The uni tartar sauce was - well, it barely tasted of uni. I'm a big fan of uni, and I guess I was expecting more of that briney, sea water flavor. At the end of the day, the dish seemed like something I could get at chain restaurant. I think the standouts of the night were the trout and bone marrow. The trout was perfectly cooked, with really crisp skin, decently presented, but otherwise pretty straightforward, with little extras or interesting elements. Also good was the bone marrow with tuna tartare, which was prepared well, lots of flavorful, unctuous marrow to scrape off and complimented nicely by the tuna tartare. We didn't have any dessert as none looked particularly interesting (ricotta cheesecake, panna cotta). So I left wondering, where did the Blais I saw on Top Chef go? Where was the guy that put salmon and white chocolate together in the same dish, the guy that smoked raz al hanout into his food? Did we just go on an off night, when the menu options weren't as interesting? Maybe. Did he scale his menu back to better address the Atlanta food palette or please his investors? Maybe. Did I have unreasonable expectations of his restaurant based on what I had seen on the show? Probably. I guess I was partially expecting food along the lines of Achatz's Alinea or Dufresne's WD-50 - which I've only read and dreamed about but haven't actually tasted. Don't get me wrong - the experience was decent enough, and I'm happy Blais has set up camp in Atlanta and admire his inventive streak. Just want to see more of it, and maybe that'll happen if I decide to go again sometime.
(3)
Jen H.
Went for dinner while in town for work. I had many mixed reviews so was open minded when dining. I am from the gulf coast so I am used to a decent size oyster. Ordered the oyster and pearls to start. Very good, clean oysters, but a bit small. Also has the fois gras which was a good portion, but a patte which I didn't expect. For dinner, had the pork belly. Sides were amazing! Pork belly was a little too fatty compared to what I've had, but the meat of it was delicious. For desert, had the honey cake which was also very good. Service was on point. Was surprised at how slow the restaurant was. Would go back.
(4)
Fred J.
Mr Blais, I enjoy both FlB and HD1, and was really looking forward to The Spence. A friend had gone recently, really enjoyed it, etc. I didn't have the same experience. Let's talk about the service. I got there before my friend, and was pointed to wait at the bar. Ordered a beer, friend showed, and she went to the hostess to say we were all here. I was pointedly asked to close out my single beer tab by the hostess, which frankly, was odd as we were going to sit down not six feet away. The waiter dug through the tip jar to bring me change for my $6.38 Clown Shoes. Theme...Clown Shoes. Same bar waiter was now our dinner waiter. Don't get me wrong, he was very nice, but the service was up and down. To start with, we ordered the Roasted Veal and Kampachi appetizer. What came were battered chicken pieces and kampachi. No one talked about substitutions. Plate was very small, but the taste was okay. Let's just total this up, because I don't like long reviews. Kale Caesar, Thai Brussel Sprouts and the Juicy Lucy were really good. The Treacle Tart wasn't a tart, as noted by another reviewer, and the Milk Chocolate, Peanut and Burnt Banana Ice Cream desserts were overly sweet. Besides the kampachi, I think we had one other item, but I can't remember it for the life of me. The last comment about the service is someone would bring the plate, put it on the table and whisper what it was. Then, the waiter would come over and explain it. Don't think I'll be returning.
(2)
Greg C.
Service was great. We were running on a tight schedule, and they were able to accomodate us. Ambiance was interesting with the deconstructed/open-air bar and kitchen. Menu was mostly interesting, trendy small plates. I could see it being overwhelming for non-foodies or people with dietary restrictions. While most of the plates sounded interesting, the execution did not live up to the promise. All our dishes were well cooked and tasted fine, but were just a little off from our expectations. For example: We ordered a marrow bone with tuna tartar. I expected the tuna to be served to the side of the marrow bone, to serve as a contrast to the marrow flavor. Instead, the tuna was served on top of the bone, which completely overwhelmed the delicate flavors of the tartar. We also ordered the chocolate and hazelnut duck entree. Partially due to the brevity of the menu descriptions, I was expecting a sauce that incorporated chocolate and hazelnut in an interesting way. Instead we got duck in a typical fruit reduction sauce with some chocolate hazelnuts on the side. It was well prepared and tasty, but I've eaten duck that tasted like it a million other places. In the end, The Spence is completely competent as a slightly upscale, trendy eatery. Unfortunately, despite the promise of the menu, the dishes lack that special something that separates great restaurants from excellent restaurants.
(4)
Jorge O.
Don't understand how people can write a bad review about this place as maybe they had a bad experience buy mine and my wife's was outstanding. We had an earlier reservation (6:30) and found the restaurant easily, valet parking was simple as well. We were promptly seated and our server was extremely knowledgeable of the menu, wines and drinks on the menu. My wife and I opted to eat the small plates and appetizers as it gave us the opportunity to sample more of the food. We started with the oysters with pearls and fritto misto which were great. The oysters were so good, we ended up ordering five more plates throughout the night. Also ordered the trotters, octopus, bone marrow, foie gras and the pecan tart for dessert. We have eaten at most of Atlanta's high end restaurants and The Spence ranks right up there with the best. It doesn't feel very pretentious, the food is excellent and the service was top notch. An added treat was that Richard Blais came to our table and chatted with us and allowed us to take a picture with him. He checked up on us during our meal and others as well which is nice to see at a restaurant. My only minor complaint (very minor) was that it was a bit loud but not so much that I couldn't talk with my wife at a reasonable volume. We will be coming back here time and time again as we found a restaurant that compares well with other places in Atlanta such as Canoe, Muss & Turner's, Bacchanalia, Holeman and Finch and many others. Eat here, you won't be disappointed and if you can order a lot of small plates so you can taste a bunch of the great offerings.
(5)
Polo C.
I come here often for lunch, by myself or with guests. I like their "little lunch special" a lot, which includes a soup , salad and a sandwich. All these changes roughly daily. At $12, I think that's very reasonably priced and fulfilling. Their servers are always friendly! And service is fast. I'll go back again and again.
(5)
Kelsi V.
I had the Monkfish & it was amazing! Great service & lovely atmosphere.
(5)
Ryan L.
With high hopes of a great dinner with friends who were in town turned uncomfortable and unappetizing. Everything started off fine we ordered a couple bottles of wine with drinks while relaxing and looking over the menu. The waitress soon came out and told us some specials along with some restaurant week features (a set three course meal, sounded well). Shortly after we ordered our food knowing some would come out as an appetizer. The first course came out about 10 minutes after and then the problems started. We waited for almost an hour after our first course and we couldn't even find our waitress to ask what the holdup is. Sense the kitchen is right in front of you I could see all our food just sitting there in the cold no hot lamps and just starting to expire. To pass the time I go to the restroom and when I start my walk back to the table who do I see but our waitress cracking another waiter back right in the middle of the restaurant and getting in peoples way. The staff seemed way to comfortable and unprofessional something I would see in a 1 or 2 star atmosphere. We finally get our food after uncomfortably asking twice is our food almost here, which I think is the worst thing to have to do. Ready to feast down on my duck breast with much anticipation, soon to be utterly disappointed by the lack of heat in any part of my meal. The meal was cooold and this set me over the top with annoyance. Knowing I just waited 2 hours for a cold meal is not only ridiculous but so unprofessional for any restaurant especially one that is supposed to be at this level. I kept to myself and eat the horrible chewy undercooked meal, knowing I still have dessert coming. They remove our plates and we order another bottle of wine getting ready for some of our desserts to come out. I see a food runner from the rear come out with two of the desserts and place them on the table and leave, feeling as maybe she couldn't hold all three and went to get the third. After 5min pass I knew she wasn't coming back and I would again have to find our waitress from hiding. I finally see her walking pass our table when I speak aloud, I think you forgot a dessert with my meal. Her scowling remark at me asking for a dessert that I ordered was way out of line. I can see her stomping her feet and throwing a bottle of wine so loud in the trash it echoes through the restaurant while she types in the lost dessert and comes back saying it will take some time to come out. I can see the waitress in the back talking to another waitress while looking and gesturing towards our table as if we were so rude for waiting 2 hours and asking for our food, and then to set it off they asked me where there dessert that never came out was. That must be the rudest thing to do! I have never been so unhappy with a meal and service before. Richard if you read this as a suggestion have your chefs in a more professional outfit instead of tie dies shirts and hipster gear and please try and teach your staff about customer service. I did not see you in the restaurant and maybe they act better when you're around but when you are not there this happens. Sorry for the bad review but felt it was needed.
(1)
Anastasia T.
Why, oh, why Richard? Why you got to go ruin a good reputation like that, man? Flip Burger is awesome, you seem to know your stuff on TV, but have you already been swallowed by your Top Chef persona? Are you just another "celeb" irrelevant to actual food service? Are you like the Fabios and the Rachael Ray's of this culinary world? Don't you know that when you open up a "fine" dining restaurant in a foodie town like ATL, you need to be supervising everything to the "t"? I mean, I don't expect the owner/chef to cook for the patrons, at least not every night. I do expect them to have a hands-on- role in their own restaurant. Just selecting the menu (indeed very interesting menu) is not sufficient to put your signature under this facility. Let me just say before I explain, that if anyone wants to try this restaurant for a relatively low price, you should totally go: chances are your service will be screwed up, but they will comp you most of your dinner, so go! To me, it is not worth it, and that's why I am not trying this place again, not with all the other great restaurants I've yet to try. Money is one thing I like to save on, but not the only one: time is also important saving, and I will definitely not waste any more on this place. Four of us, Monday night. Place busy, but not enough to justify how slow the service was. But slowness wast not the only problem. Liked the wine list and ordered a Greek wine I rarely see here (Assyrtiko Sigalas, awesome white). It took them about 20 minutes to bring it (cause as they said they could not find the bottle!). May I just say, they charge $13 for a glass of it. My date and I decided to do the small plate thing, while the in-laws went with the full/regular plates: Juicy Lucy (cheeseburger) and Crispy chicken. We ( D and I) ordered the following: Bone marrow; kale salad; fries; sweet breads. I was SO looking froward to the bone marrow plate. That and the sweet breads came first. We tried to wait for the other plates to come so we can all eat together, but our food started getting cold. So we did start eating. Long story short. It was about 30' later that my in-laws got their food. And our other two small plates (salad and fries) came even after that, after we were definitely done with the rest of the food. It was just a disaster! We were so frustrated! We complained and they comped us my in-laws food (I guess it didn't matter that we got the salad last, but anyway). The food was not even that great: the bone marrow was 95% fat and a little too salty (bone marrow is fatty, but not that fatty). The sweet breads were good; the kale salad was average, and the fries were very good, as very good was the burger. But what does that say about a high-end restaurant when the best dishes are the burger and the fries? It says, stick with FLIP, Richard Blais!
(2)
Shannon H.
Everything is so delicious, and our waiter was very charming without being pushy. The only "complaints" would be that the food is just slightly above room temp instead of hot and the portions of the "main courses" are closer to tapas size. But the flavors are great!
(4)
Nicci R.
My husband and I went with a friend in a wheel chair over lunch. We were really unhappy to discover that the only entryway was up a few stairs. We went around the property and saw two patio options completely blocked by huge stone planters. The staff had to move stone planters and furniture so we could enter which created quite a scene unfortunately. Once seated, the restaurant has a nice atmosphere. We ordered the pork belly bahn mi, burger and soup/salad/sandwich combo as entrees. Burger was too charred and just okay. The bahn mi was pretty good and rich tasting. The chilled soup was poured from a can steaming from dry ice, i guess. Really everything was just average, except dessert. We ordered the cheesecake which came out completely deconstructed in the form of airy ricotta foam balls and crushed chocolate cookie crust piles. Very pretty and tasted great, except there really wasn't much to eat. When we were ready to leave, they has recreate the earlier scene by moving the patio furniture and huge planters AGAIN to let us out.
(3)
Chip P.
The first time in months that Bob has asked me on a date and I'm curious. Then he tells me we are going to the Spence. I am dressed in seconds flat. I pull out the very one and only seersucker jacket with white tailored pants. Looking my best and feeling it we enter. The bar is not a bar but the island in your rich friends kitchen. People that seem to be party goers mix drinks and keep you company. They return with your check. When a table becomes available you get it. The food. 4 stars is all the food. The lobster pasta we had was done in a uni sauce that I will dream about until death. The lamb was well seasoned. The pineapple upside down cake so great. The downfall was a "roll" that was served as we sat down. It was one of those roll's you got in a 24 roll case as a kid. Dry and boring. I thought it might be a joke but no one around was laughing. I loved having dinner here and have planned my return. I just hope Bob is paying oh I mean planning our return.
(4)
Dean H.
We enjoyed the Sunday Supper special of 4 courses with wine parings which is an amazing bargain. Beet salad was excellent but the marrow bone with tuna and quail eggs was the hit. Chicken roast with lemon curd tasted much better than is sounds. Fried cauliflower and bean side with Asian sauce wa my favorite. Strawberry-rhubarb cobbler was good. Service was excellent but slowed as the place filled. The outside patio looked great but it was raining. The regular menu is a la carte and it would be easy to spend a lot. There is large list of familiar and unusual wines well priced. On Thursday evening early, the bar was very quiet.
(5)
David B.
Super cool, molecular concept. Valet parking outside. It is located in midtown in a safe well lit area. Design is modern. Highlight is the hanging bar area where the upper bar that holds bottles is hanging from bolted ceiling supports. The music was old school hip hop (Dr Dre, Snoop, Outkast, etc. etc.) bringing me back to happier times when hip hop had something other to focus on than money, alcohol, and shouting out to the next rapper your trying to produce. The tables in my area were slightly close, but I'm not complaining. Our waiter was knowledgeable. There is possibly some Tom Keller inspiration (the first thing I noticed on the menu was "oyster and pearls". The menu changes daily which from a patron's perspective sounds exciting and edgy, and from an owner business perspective means that if they didn't sell the hell out of scallops the night before, yet sold all their tuna, they just eliminate fish from the menu and leave scallops as the only seafood entree option...(this is what happened last night). No big deal, because I like scallops. The menu concept is set up like tapas style. For appetizers we had the tuna tar tar on a marrow bone (femur of cow) with a fried quail egg. WOW!!! The presentation was excellent. The marrow and bone were oven cooked, browned and brushed in oil. They retained a smokey flavor to them likely from the wood burning oven. The fattiness of the marrow and quail egg eliminated any taste of the tar tar. The toasted bread that came with the entree was slightly overcooked leaving a burnt taste when combined with marrow, tuna, and egg. This was a show stopper however. I would order again. We also ordered the lobster knuckle sandwich appetizer. It came on a sweet, fresh bun with pickled relish and celery. I loved it. The salad was a Caesar concept but made with kale. I'm used to blanched kale, but I have to say this was interesting and not my favorite but not bad. The texture of kale to me is better fit for blanching and then cooked in oil and lightly salted with lemon. For an entree I had the short ribs, which were "roast-beefy" in taste, fatty and succulent. There was a nice balance of salty and sweet. For garnish sweet carrots and a blended white potato starch. I will be back here and give the place a high rating.
(4)
Ben B.
I came in for lunch and I really want to like this place since it is so close to GT. However, it was extremely disappointing. I ordered the lunch special ($11) which came with a half of a pulled pork sandwich, a 'canned' soup, and a garden salad. Service was good. The atmosphere is pretty cool. The food - utter meh. The sandwich - The best of the bunch and still disappointing. The pork was good but the sandwich had too much mayo and was overall bland and weird. It was a strange mix of bbq and curry (which could have been awesome but wasn't.) The bread was toasted in butter (think Zaxby's). The soup - Cool Presentation. It came out as a jar of crispy onions, peanuts, and other ingredients which the waiter poured hot cream of brocolli soup over. It was warm but bland. The salad - Worst salad I've had in a while. The greens and ingredients seemed ok but it was drowning in bad dressing. It had thin sliced radish, onions, mixed greens. This place seems to be all style and no substance. Perhaps the other entrees are better but what I had was extremely mediocre.
(2)
Jonathan D.
From the minute you step in this place, it's like a playful slap in the face from your buddy. It's a little startling, but you know it's meant as a sign of affection. Much has been made of the deconstructed bar space _ where the bartenders, booze, etc. are out in the open and not partitioned behind a counter top. It's jarring but pleasant and sets the tone for the whole space and the menu. As I was enjoying the second appetizer and groping for the right word to describe the total experience, the waiter articulated it in a conversation with the next table over: whimsical. Thanks, Kevin. The oysters and pearls were delicious. The shellfish themselves had a lot of flavor (and a difficult-to-remember Japanese name), while the frozen cream-and-citrus, dippin-dot-like accompaniments added the perfect accent. I enjoyed the snapper tostada, too. Spicy fish and tortillas make a great pair. But for the biggest gimmick of all, the kitchen produced a pork belly entree that comes with its own smoke-filled glass dome. To be honest, I'm not sure if the smoke enhanced my dining experience, but I give the place a thumbs-up for trying. It's the kind of stuff I've read about at daring restaurants like Alinea in Chicago but haven't been exposed to here in Atlanta before. So i think Blais has some lead time before the newness of the trick wears off. I didn't love the pork belly itself. In other places where I've had it as a main dish, the piece seemed more compact and less blubbery. Not sure if that's due to a different cut, or a way of cooking that renders out more of the fat. The cocktail I ordered was solid, but very vermouthy. After a few sips the pungency did recede, though. And the decor throughout the restaurant is pleasing _ somehow they managed to balance kitschy with sleek and industrial. Overall, a solid experience. I'll plan to go back.
Mistake on my part. I posted this under Ecco before. Apparently I had drunk too much of the lovely Viura! This place was a delight. A very good waiter helped it along, but the noise didn't. The high;ight dish were oysters with some horseradish pearls (nitro frozen), so they came as pearls and as they thawed they spread over the raw briny oyster. Oh yeah! The desserts were weak - a really bold chocolate creation would have worked wonders. they did have a viura from Rioja on the wine list - and that is both a rarity and a good thing!
(4)
Kathy J.
I'm sad to write this review, but feel like The Spence should hear it, if they care about Yelp reviews. My husband and I were excited to try The Spence while visiting Atlanta. We decided to course things out, starting with the oysters and pearls. I love mignonette on oysters, but these pre-dressed oysters tasted so much like vinegar, you couldn't taste anything else. Feeling like it was just an "off" dish, we moved onto the canned soup, which we thought was a clever presentation and one we've seen before. There was no can opening reveal, just lukewarm soup in an already-open can poured into the bowl. Ok, but only lukewarm and lackluster. Our final attempt was a pasta dish made with shell pasta and braised beef. This one was so overly salted, that we each took a bite and sent it back. We ended it there, skipping the short rib and dessert because everything had been so dismal. Went to another restaurant on the way back to our hotel, as it was our anniversary and we felt that the dinner was a disappointment and honestly, we were still hungry. We're fans of Blais, but felt like his level of expertise and care wasn't reflected in our experience.
The Spence is just great. Delicious and slightly molecular but totally accessible; cheap enough to try a bunch of different things; great bartenders and staff. They've got communal tables in the bar area if you don't have a reservation. The most amazing thing about this place is how open it is. The room is cavernous and there are literally no walls, counters, or even a bar separating you from the kitchen or the bar. The chefs work at essentially a tall table at the front of the room; i have no idea how they can turn out such great cooking in such small space. Bone marrow app is amazing and rich; the gazpacho was different and refreshing, and the burger is even special here. Get the corn creme brulee as a side dish, for sure. I wish they had a slightly longer cocktail list... they can obviously make anything, as the bar is teeming with good alcohol, but the cocktail list was only about 5 options long. No one wants to come up with more options? Not even a whiskey/bourbon cocktail listed. The fizzy gin one was superb, however... Read more here, with pictures: eattalk.net/2012/08/post…
(4)
Thomas W.
What a disappointment. I have long been excited about Richard Blais's dream restaurant being placed in Atlanta. I expected this to be another Atlanta Gem- something to compete with my big three: Rathbun's Steak, Restaurant Eugene and Bacchanalia. What I got this past Friday night was another Flip Burger: The food was pretty good, the music was way too loud, the service border-lined sucked, the bar menu was awful, the ambiance was terrible. I was so thoroughly disappointed with the Spence it's hard to talk about any one area...but I'll try. The menu was in the smallest print I've ever seen on a menu. Nothing jumps out at you. It's hard to even see where one dish begins and the next one ends. It's so poorly designed it's hard to understand what the person who designed it was thinking. The sound- if you want to be the cool-party place, by all means play loud music. However, understand that it takes away from the food. There is nothing pleasant or appealing about being blown away with Rock music while your trying to enjoy would should be wonderful food or wine. The bar drinks- fruit on top of fruit on top of sour on top of sweet. The didn't even have Crown for a standard Crown and Ginger. If you're over 25 stick to the wine, the drinks were awful. (If you can read the wine menu that is) The service. Blah. It's basically the same wait staff you would get at any average restaurant around Atlanta. The Food- Disappointing. The Uni Spaghetti was pretty good except they barely had any Lobster in it. I mean come on guys- charge $10 more dollars for the plate and put some lobster in it. The bone Morrow Tuna dish- interesting and strange- about what you would expect from Blais. I liked it. The Lamb and Duck- not bad, not bad. Dessert- decent, met expectations. Although the pineapple upside down cake didn't sit well in my stomach for the next hour or so. I left with a headache, a stomach ache from the pineapple cake and a hole in my heart. The is not a Top Chef worthy restaurant. This is not a dream restaurant. This is just another loud, run of the mill Atlanta restaurant. I could not be more disappointed. It was a shame. Blais is such an amazing talent but this restaurant is not the vehicle for his talent. My unsolicited advice for Richard Blais: stop running around the country trying to be a celebrity chef. Buy a hole in the wall building in Inman Park or somewhere off Edgewood. Dress it up. Get behind the line and cook. You have brilliance in you but no one will even know it if you keep lending your name to all these pedestrian restaurants. The Spence was a shame. Thomas C. Wooldridge
(1)
Doug S.
My wife and I really enjoyed our visit to The Spence. I'll say off the bat that the service was phenomenal, which really goes a long way at these types of places (since you may have questions as you are gorging yourself...). Started off with two warm rolls (made at Holman & Finch, I believe) with a coconut spread that was a great start. The wine, cocktail & beer list are all great - my wife had a gin, fresh lemon, and ginger beer cocktail that was unique and refreshing. We also ordered the bone marrow (awesome), the English pea pasta dish with bacon (surprisingly our favorite - a must try), the fried sea creatures, and the brussel sprouts in Thai vinaigrette (also a must try). The violet ice cream & marshmallow dessert capped it off nicely (and maybe a scotch or two). I'm glad I was a little loaded by the end so I didn't realize how much food I had just ingested...though it was totally worth it. The only downside for me here is similar to other restaurants owned by this ownership group - they go for a "cozy" feel by placing tables heinously close to each other which for some reason I absolutely despise. That being said this is a must try if you are in the area, at least for a drink and a couple apps.
(4)
Chan V.
This is my review straight up. I'm confused about this place. The small plates were VERY small. If you ordered anything, you get a bite size piece that is dressed up in side items that people don't really eat. You will spend a lot of money trying to get full here. The menu really doesn't entice me a bit. I came on a Saturday night (busiest night) and the menu changes every day depending on what's available. What does that mean? Leftover day? There were items like foie gras, halibut, bone marrow, spaghetti, and various bite size ingredients. Obviously the plate presentation was a key factor here but as far as having substance in your meal, it's not there. The food should be up for display and not really for eating. I ordered a strip steak instead which taste like pork due to some fancy method of slow preparation. If I wanted to taste pork, I would order pork. My six friends agree that the food was not all that impressive except the corn cream brulee and warm honey-glazed bread with coconut butter cream. The server recommended the popular Hemmingway Fizz cocktail but I had to get rid of it. The whipped egg white smell reminds me too much of sweaty kids on a hot summer day. The taste was exactly like water with lemon. The music was 90's hip-hop while the atmosphere was 2013 rustic modern. Like I said, I was confused. Perhaps this place was trying a little too hard?
(1)
Kate L.
The service started out incredibly slow. Nobody came to our table until about 15 minutes after we were seated. I'm not sure if this was a mis-communication with which servers were supposed to be at our table. Once we were served, however, we lucked out and ordered some good stuff. The Maldito's Crutch and Fairbanks Fizz cocktails were perfect and refreshing for a humid evening. The hamachi collar was delicious--I've never had it outside of sushi before. The corn brulee is a good side dish that's both sweet and savory. We also ordered the pork belly and sausage, and the juicy Lucy, and both were just the kinds of meat dishes you expect. The former was good, but nothing mind-blowing, and the latter was a good burger but difficult to eat. The pineapple upside down cake for dessert, however, was the perfect end to the meal.
(4)
Scott B.
I am really happy that I ignored the mediocre reviews on here and had dinner last night. I had a completely different experience than a lot of the reviews. The music wasn't very loud. In fact, I could barely hear it at all. If you look at my previous reviews, I am the first person to complain about loud music. The portions match the price for these quality ingredients. The service was a little cold at times. Not bad, but not Southern Hospitality. We had an issue getting our desserts. It was a simple communication breakdown at the kitchen. Not a huge deal. Our server took care of it. A great place to go and expand your palate. I would recommend ordering Tapas style and sharing dishes. Trust me, I didn't eat all of food listed below myself. Now to the food: -Oysters & Pearls- The perfect amount of heat to compliment the Oysters. A must try. They were so good that we ordered another plate of them. (10/10) -Fried Sea Creatures with Uni Tarter Sauce- A mix of fried calimari, swordfish (I believe), and vegetables. One of the larger portions on the menu. (8/10) -Bone Marrow, Tuna Tartar and Fried Quail Eggs- Come with a good amount of bread to mix everything on. Great flavoring and seasoning. Interesting take on any other way to serve tartar that I have seen. Must try. (9/10) -Pork Terrine with Kohlrabi - Orange Jam & Zucchini. Super sweet jam goes great with saltiness of the terrine. An improvement on the usual apricot jam that I normally see with terrine. (9/10) -Guinea Hen & Foie Terrine, Pistachios & Sweet Mascarpone- Best dish of the night. Best Dish that I have ever had. The terrine is great by itself, but the Foie Gras in the middle of the terrine was almost orgasmic. Best that I have ever had. A few other ingredients added to this. There was pickled ginger if my mind serves me correctly. Amazing. Two of us ordered this and couldn't stop talking about it. (10/10) -Milk Chocolate, Peanut, Burnt Banana Ice Cream - I was sold as soon as I saw burnt Banana. The Ice Cream was great. The texture of the chocolate was a little strange, but the flavors were spot on. I am not sure if this restaurant is too progressive for its diners, but put this in New York or Chicago, it would take weeks for reservations. I actually preferred this to Girl & the Goat, which is constantly receiving awards and accolades here in Chicago.
(5)
Dedrick B.
I was excited to see The Spence was on the Midtown Restaurant list, since I have been wanting to try it. Usually, I avoid restaurants with "pork belly" on the menu, since that just indicates that the restaruant is a tad too trendy for my taste. I wish I had enforced that rule in this case. On to the food. They brought out the bread, which tasted and resembled store bought Parker House rolls (or that's what we called these growing up). Note: there was also somethime called "canned soup" on the menu, and I am not sure why some trendy restaurants like to offer these types of menu items.(Example: government mac and cheese at Rathbun Steak) Do they want us to feel like, oh, this place isn't so fancy after all? The rolls were bland, so I took one bite. But the beet salad was one of the best I have had in this city, so no complaints there. I ordered the fish option, which was trout "cheeks", consistening of about 3 ounces of tasty fish sauted and served on a couple of tablespoonsful of pureed sweet potatoes, and a couple of asparagus spears. All I can say is that it was pretty tasty, but don't go hungry, since this serving was miniscule.. My friend had the duck breast, which he thought was a little too tough but flavorful. The chocolate cake with a dolllop of ice cream was good, but not something I would order again. (does not compare to the flourless chocolate cake at La Tavola)
(2)
Amy C.
Ever since I heard of Richard Blais and watch him win on Top Chef, I've tried any restaurant to which he is a co-owner or executive chef in. This year, The Spence, was part of midtown restaurant week and I couldn't have been more excited. I went and for my first course got his pearl and oysters which was very fresh but not like anything any other restaurant that offers fresh oyster? For my entree, I got the duck which I was VERY disappointed with when I saw it. IT WAS SO SMALL!!!! 5 thinly pieces of duck and I had asked for mine to be medium and received medium rare and it was at times SO RARE that it was hard to cut let alone chew and swallow. For my desert, I got the chocolate cake, and yes it was rich and delicious but again VERY SMALL portions. I am not someone who eats a ton each meal but I do eat (sorry that im not sorry for being ano Spence). Really, if you didn't pregame your meal at The Spence with a meal, you are NOT going to get full unless you are a child between the ages of 6-10. For how much it costs to eat here, there are PLENTY of other restaurants in town that are much better at the same cost, and oh! wait for it... will actually fill your tummy up!
First impression was waiting a half hour to be seated with a reservation. The appetizers were fabulous but the main course was very disappointing. Our duck was cold, the strip steak was over-cooked, much too salty and filled with gristle, and the fish was poor. The sides we ordered did not arrive until about ten minutes after we had finished our meal. (Of course, they were taken off the bill.) Our water glasses were empty and someone came with a pitcher that had enough for three of us. She never returned to fill the 4th glass. I wish I could be more positive but, if you do go, their apps are a must!
(2)
Sheila G.
Tried The Spence tonight because we're huge RB fans and if it was anywhere as good as Flip- we were fans! The atmosphere is great and the service was just as good. We played it safe (comparatively speaking) and ordered the fluke and the strip. they were both DELICIOUS! We also ordered the macaroni and head cheese just out of curiosity and I could definitely have passed on it. The entire center was cold. Not freezing by any means, just cold. I would have thought it was intentional except the entire plate and bowl it was served in was burning hot and steaming so we asked our server and she quickly replaced it for a new warmer one. I would definitely go back because the server said the menu changes daily so I'd be interested to try some more amazing dishes!
(4)
Melissa B.
I decided pretty early on in my visit I'd want to come back again. Nothing to do with the food yet, but the open layout of the space, especially at the bar is very inviting. Plus free valet in Tech Square is a great convenience as parking in this area can be annoying and not free. The hostesses and servers were very friendly and the cocktails are pretty refreshing. The menu has a good variety of options. They oysters were yummy, but I think I'm not quite classy enough to praise the 'pearls' they come with. I was curious and impressed by the idea of frozen pellets of creme fraiche...but I kinda just want some hot sauce instead (I know, already admitted I wasn't classy, don't hate). The smoke dome over the pork belly is a neat idea...but not being a big pork belly person, I was more curious to see how the sides were flavored by the smoke. And I must say that broccoli rabe should always come in a smoke dome, that was my favorite thing I tried on this visit. Great atmosphere and a great reason to venture into Tech Square, I'm sure this place will outlive everything else that was in this space before.
(4)
Ellen M.
Food: Hit and miss. Fantastic roasted carrot and radish salad served in a cold stone bowl. Perfect crunch with emphasis on earthy flavors of the vegetables themselves. Lamb, however, was kind of a mess. A lot of fat, even for lamb, and I thought it was overpowered by the spices. Good cocktail with bourbon, tea and honey. Setting: It's that ubiquitous cozy-meets-industrial vibe. Kitchen is open to the dining room. Good perch for people-watching with floor-to-ceiling windows that open to 5th Street and courtyard. Service: Competent. Friendly. Fine. Mixed bag, but I plan to try again.
(3)
Sophia S.
I have been crushing on this place since before it opened, and it took me a while to get here so I was overly excited. The whole entire experience was a disappointment. The server was absolutely awful, and the food was not that great. Our server said she was a sommelier but she knew nothing about wine. I ended up having to google things to figure out what we were drinking. I didn't think the oyster dish was worth the hype. On a positive note I loved the bone marrow, goat entree, brussel sprouts, and creamed kale. I did think it was well priced too for the quality of food we got.
(2)
Jeff M.
I've been here twice. Two for two. I came here shortly after it opened. I brought two friends who were visiting from out of town. First impression was fantastic. It has that same energy and feel say of JCT Kitchen, but less noise; you can actually converse with your table. The decor is not dissimilar from say Empire State South, Miller Union, or Cakes and Ale: lots of wood, modern, chic but warm and welcoming, cool but laid back. The open kitchen brings a sense of comfort and connection. The labels for the bathrooms reflects its sense of humor. The food is excellent. The bread and butter to start will get your mouth watering. The oysters and pearls was delicious and palate popping (though Thomas Keller's Oysters & Pearls remains the best). The bone marrow with hamachi tartare and quail egg was pure decadence. Superb. If you've never had bone marrow, try it here because you'll be hard pressed finding a place that makes it as good. The rabbit terrine with ramps and green peaches and beets, soft boiled egg, blue cheese, and wasabi were also perfectly balanced and delicious. The best dishes arguably will be outside your comfort zone. The entrees are equally impressive. The crisped pork belly with octopus and BBQ peas and fresh quail with vegetables were home runs. The Juicy Lucy (a cheese filled hamburger born in Minneapolis) is his best burger, better than any I've had at Flip. The triple cooked French fries are triple fantastic. The duck confit with succotash and beets is probably rivaled only by The Atmosphere's duck confit. The entrees are ambitious and diverse, but consistently excellent. Finally the desserts. No disappointment here. The ricotta cheesecake with strawberry and graham is sweet, savory, light, and satisfying. My favorite is the pineapple upside down cake with foie caramel. To me, this dessert hit me on all the right levels. I can't really explain it. Yes, it was satisfying to the taste buds. But it was something more. I've never really had a dessert comfort food. This is it for me. I've had it twice now. Everyone is incredibly friendly. As expected, there are some blips and bumps early in a restaurant's career. We experienced that more the second time around. Dishes were sent our way, which were not ours, and I sadly had to tell them that (though I question my decision as those dishes looked great). The first time, though, was issue free. In fact, one of the waiters had waited on me the first time I went to Bacchanalia. Ecstatic, he reacted in a way I didn't expect: he brought Richard Blais to our table! AWESOME! Down to earth and incredibly friendly, he took the time to say hello, talk to us about our dishes, elicit our feedback, and thank us for supporting him during these early times. I'm eager to watch The Spence mature. Once the early kinks are ironed out, the sky's the limit. It already surpasses Flip and HD1. Finally, the prior space used to be The Globe, which had been a favorite restaurant until I had an anaphylactic episode there (nut allergy), which sent me to the hospital. I haven't been back to this street because of that. With two great experiences here at The Spence, it provides satisfying closure to that chapter. I can't wait to return!
(4)
Emmelyn C.
In summary: Moments of brilliance from the food and service, let down by some execution errors which prevented it from being a really really great dining experience. Being big Top Chef fans, we couldn't miss eating at The Spence when passing through Atlanta - definitely curious as to whether Richard Blais' food lived up to all the hype. The space and decor are great with a casual vibe - I can see how it might get a bit noisy, but it wasn't a problem when we were here for an earlyish dinner around 6:45. For food, 2 of us shared the bone marrow with tuna tartare and quail egg, the smoked linguini with clams and sea beans, the oysters and pearls, fried brussels sprouts with Thai vinaigrette and a serve of the thrice cooked fries. All of it was tasty, with my favourites being the bone marrow (I would have picked up the bone to lick it), the oysters (the oysters were perfectly complemented by the creme fraiche and cucumber...even my raw-oyster hating husband liked it!). However, there were little things about the food that I felt could have been done better, and that I would have expected done better from Chef Blais to believe all his hype. Of the 4 clams our pasta was served with, one of the shells was empty, and another was incredibly sandy. The brussels sprouts were still tough in the centre, and were drowned in vinaigrette, making them over-seasoned. While delicious, the bone marrow dish was difficult to eat with the existing cutlery and would have benefitted from a specific spoon served with the dish (try shoving your knife into a small channel of marrow to scoop some out...it's needlessly difficult). The fries were not at all crisp on the outside when served, prompting my husband to comment that the thrice-fried version wasn't much better than a once-fried version. I know these are little things, but I think I expected better from Chef Blais (who was cooking that evening). The other let down was the pacing of the meal. ALL our food arrived within 5-10 minutes of us placing our order. Given the small plate dining concept, I suppose I understand why it all came together...but since they're small plates, they were gone all too soon (despite the fact that we took our waiter's advice and ordered 3 dishes between us (with the sprouts and fries comprising 1 dish)). If we'd stopped at this point, we would have been done with our dinner within roughly 30-40 minutes. At that point, we ordered the oysters, and that took another 10 minutes. I know I'd rather be served too quickly than too slowly, but there's something to be said for the pacing of a meal in a dining experience. We were leaving the restaurant just on 1 hour, which for dinner at a "fancy" restaurant is weird, even if we didn't have dessert. Service was fine, and gets a bonus star because our waiter was kind enough to get Chef Blais to come have a chat and very graciously take a photo with us (like I said, we're Top Chef fans!!). Anyway, potential for brilliance, but a few execution errors made for a so-so experience. If I was ever back in ATL I might try it again (after giving Hugh Acheson's place a go!) to see if a mediocre overall experience could be improved.
(3)
John M.
Outstanding experience! Server was informative and attentive without being overbearing. We had a group And tried 10 dishes "family style." Oysters, root vegetables, and bone marrow were highlights. The pork was a bit dry, and was the only one that was not a home run. Wine selection was excellent. Overall, the best meal I have had in a long time!
(5)
Reba Jean B.
I finally made it to The Spence. And I have to say, I'm a bit regretful for not making it here sooner. I've heard all the complaints about The Spence; it's loud, the food is soooo weird, blah blah blah. Well, I have to say, we had a fantastic dinner here on a rainy Tuesday evening. It was a perfect place to have a small birthday dinner. The setting is hip as the Smiths and Psychedelic Furs were blaring in the background. This probably would not have been the best dinner for an older crowd or a business dinner, but perfect for us. I imagine this place is uncomfortably loud on the weekends. But let me get to the food. It really knocked our socks off. We ordered quite a bit from the menu and all of it was outstanding. I am really, really impressed. Our lamb was cooked perfectly. The sweetbreads were great. The oysters, of course, were phenomenal. I love the menu and the way it is executed. Richard Blaise, you have made a fan out of me. You have turned this HD1 hater into a Spence lover. I thank you for your dinner rolls with coconut butter. Your menu is interesting and it will keep me coming back. However, I do have one complaint. It's a complaint I hear too often when I speak about The Spence. The service was terrible. Absolutely terrible. We sat at our table drinkless for most of our dinner. The restaurant was aware we were celebrating a birthday party. We were served one round of drinks the entire night. That one round took over an hour to get. I guess he was just too slow to care about actually serving anyone. We were also talked out of ordering a few plates. I was quite excited about a terrine being on the menu. The server explained to us what a terrine was in a smug British accent and I was like yeah, it's a terrine and I want it. What can I say? I am a meat cream/ gel fan. Whatever, the server won. When our plates were delivered to the table, many there were as well, there was no flatware. We sat there for what seemed a lifetime. I asked the food runner once I saw him again for the flatware and he said he couldn't get us anything but food. It was our servers duty to do everything else. The forks and knives were just behind him on the bar. That sorely irritated me. In the end, even with the terrible service, The Spence gets 4 stars from me. I loved the food. And Richard Blais, thank you for bringing a lil something new and hip into Atlanta.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet, Garage, Validated Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Loud Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Kee O.
Have been twice now and both times some dishes were stupid good while others were a complete miss. Overall though, a great dining experience both times.
(4)Susie Q.
A bit pricey for the food given competition in Atlanta. Service was good.
(4)Phil P.
The Spence... In one word... Meh... The food itself was very good however portions were a little to small in my opinion. We spent about 150.00 on dinner and me and my fiancee left the restaurant hungry. The bone marrow was interesting but not great. It tasted like a fatty beefy goo. Like I said... Meh. The music playlist however was incredible listening to Ol' Dirty Bastard and Souls of Mischief while dining was definitely amazing and just right. Overall I am not saying this place sucks I am just saying if you are really hungry order a lot of food. A little pricey for tiny portions but hey I guess thats what you get at all these fancy joints these days. 3.5 Stars.
(3)Julie H.
We loved everything about this restaurant - great food, wine list, service and atmosphere. The bone marrow with tuna tartare and quail egg was my favorite - simply divine!!!
(4)Mark C.
Disclaimer : I have only done lunch and happy hour at The Spence. The food is fresh and very tastey. Portions are smallish but the quality and obvious effort put into the food (even the grilled cheese, my favorite) makes it worth it. Staff is quick and super helpful at lunch. Thank god for this place, without it Tech Square (with its many horrible restaurants) would be a food desert.
(4)Meribeth G.
Went by myself while on a business trip... Loved the communal tables along with smaller tables- staff amazing, unique wines, food killer! Good job Richard Blais!!!!
(4)John T.
Burger and Brussels sprouts. Yum.
(5)Kenneth E.
The best dining experience I've had in Atlanta in many years. Now, I understand why everyone makes such a big deal about Richard Blais. His new restaurant -- in the fairly small Tech Square location formerly occupied by The Globe -- specializes in small tapas style dishes, which are most notable for his delicate but authoritative use of vegetables for flavor and texture. Some dishes feature foams and other molecular gastronomy, but not in an overly showy way. We started with sweet dinner rolls with a fantastic coconut butter and a couple of the signature cocktails, including one chilled with a tea bag in an ice-cube (gets better and better as you let the cube melt). As appetizers (really more like tapas), the five of us shared beets with soft boiled egg and wasabi (I don't usually like beets but really liked this dish), bone marrow with tuna tartare and fried quail eggs (delightfully rich when spread on crispy buttery toast), gnocchi with roast pork (my favorite of the starters), a very flavorful celery root "canned" soup, and oysters & pearls. A 3-year-old was satisfied with curly pasta and fungi (the biggest serving among these small plates, it would have been a bit rich if not shared). For entrees, I had a monkfish (kind of like cod) that was delightfully chunky and flaky, complemented with root vegetables that were surprisingly delicate and flavorful; two others in our party split some roast veal, which was tasty but perhaps a little tough; and another person had a very small snapper (rolled up shaving sashimi-style) and sweetbread croutons -- that she said was great. Also, she also ordered one side dish: A squash creme brulee that was worth fighting over. We all shared two desserts -- a sort of apple crisp ice cream and the ricotta cheesecake (a foam dish). Both were spectacular. Plus our server was excellent -- knowledgeable and attentive. The space is designed very comfortably; although it got loud later toward the front of the restaurant, we sat toward the back and dined early, so noise wasn't bad. Be aware that servings aren't large, but they're more than made up for with complex, well-balanced flavors. A wonderful, unique dining experience.
(5)Nestlee M.
I liked the decor and wait staff. However, it was not just loud, it was VERY LOUD. And we were in a booth. It is clear that The Spence wants to be a restaurant, not just a bar, because they are proud of their menu and there are many tables and few (if any?) bar seats. Since everyone says it is noisy, it wasn't just noisy last night. The owners must like it that way. There was a background music track with a heavy bass plus bad acoustics. Four of us got together to have a nice evening out and we thought we'd try a new place. We couldn't hear each other. We started w drinks and stayed thru dessert, but as we were leaving, each of said we would not come back. Food was above average (several small plates were great, hamburger and fries were also good, the duck was so-so). I am not sure who they want as customers, but not us.
(2)Barbara S.
As good as a new restaurant can be! But, this is not the place for everyone... Let me tell you the story...I came right from work, literally the building next door, so I was still stressed and, living in the hotel across the street, tonight I just couldn't face another mediocre sushi or salad from the neighborhood student joints. I was a tiny bit leery of this place as it's clearly a step above the neighborhood, and I had not heard any reviews yet. In fact, I didn't even know that one of the owners was Richard Blais (so even though I cried when he won Top Chef, I was not yet granting any unearned points to the place). The eccentric but warm decor with odd table choices tell you right away that this is not your father's steakhouse. I was given a choice of seating areas/styles - one of which was a "get to know your neighbor" communal table. My mood being what it was, I took the booth in the back, stuffed in my computer bag, and grumpily took a look at the menu. As others have mentioned, it's a little tricky to figure it out the menu. I couldn't, at first, get my mind around it. So for my first step, I asked for a limoncello drink of some kind, sort of a mojito, margarita, lemony, fizz. Geesh, I couldn't even articulate a drink I wanted. BAM! It was exactly that, and now it's called the "Babs", after me! Please feel free to enjoy at will. Nice! Drink in hand, I was able to start asking questions about the menu. If you aren't comfortable asking questions about your meal, this might not be the place for you. There were small and larger dishes in the same list, causing me to really think about what I wanted to taste rather than just picking one from each category as usual. The descriptions were factual, without hyperbole, which means I had to actually picture the dish and taste it with my mind to make selections between foods I might not have had very often (or at all) and certainly not combined in the ways these were... Fortunately, I have priorities, so I was able to start at the back end, ordering a ricotta cream dessert that I thought was a ricotta cheesecake, but no, when it came (at the end of the meal, of course, I'm not crazy!) it was a beautiful ricotta cream decorated plate with chocolate crumbs and berries... personally I would have sprayed the berries with a bit of Licor 43 for an added aroma, but I do tend to use alcohol way too much in my own desserts! I initially thought to order a pate, and the beets looked good too, but after discussing the menu with the waitress, I ordered the duck confit, which is finished in the oven to get a crisp skin and brought covered to capture the smoky essence. I thought maybe it was gimmicky but to my surprise, it really did add to the pleasure of my experience. And that's all I'm going to tell you about the dish because taste is personal. Despite what the food shows will have you believe, we all have different palettes, and we should be tested and surprised rather than given the expected flavors each time. By the way, it's been open a few days now and the wait staff was, at 6 pm at least, extremely attentive and organized. Taking my time over dessert, I looked across the way and saw a familiar face watching over the open cooking area. When the waitress came over, I had to ask who it was - afraid to seem silly in thinking it was actually Richard Blais. She confirmed it for me, and for once I couldn't stop myself from approaching a celebrity. I went over and congratulated him on a great meal, a wonderful restaurant, and oh, by the way, winning Top Chef. Bottom line: It's hard, financially risky and personally revealing to open a restaurant, and even more so when you are going for something that will challenge and entice rather than simply "meet expectations". I'm sure, as I go back these next couple of times, there will be dishes, or sides, that don't excite me as much as the duck. And yet, here's a man living his dream, committing his heart, soul and probably most of his wallet as he offers us the chance to critique his taste and his team's execution. It's brave, and in the end, damn tasty! Well done!
(5)Sara B.
I have always liked Richard Blais on Top Chef and was very excited to try out The Spence. I grew a little apprehensive, however, after reading the reviews on this site. I have to say, I was very impressed. The food and the service were incredible. We were lucky to sit in Peter's section. He truly made it an enjoyable experience for us. He recommended a great Austrian wine we otherwise would have never chosen. I also appreciated the fact that he had an opinion - he is not one of these "Oh, everything is great" types. He directed two people in my party to change their entrees based on our wine, and both were very pleased with his suggestions. As for the food - I loved everything we tried. We started out with the cheese plate (seems simple but was delicious), the oysters and pearls (loved them, but was worried about an allergy so I stopped at one), and the squash gnocchi (good, but I am simply not a huge fan of gnocchi). For our entrees, we had the lamb and the short ribs. The short ribs were tender and delicious. Peter also had us try the fried brussel sprouts. I have never like a brussel sprout in my life, but I think I could have eaten five orders of them by myself. We also had the squash creme brulee. Some have complained that it is too sweet. I thought it was delicious. As for dessert, I got the blood orange sponge cake with champagne ice cream. If I was not worried about embarrassing myself, I would have licked the plate clean and then asked for another order. All in all, it was a great experience. Between Peter and the food, I am going back again a week later! Highly recommended.
(5)Scott H.
I was very excited to dine here after all the TV shows, and watching the Life After Top Chef, etc. Overall I ended up disappointed, there are some very good things but my main complaint was in the food. Parking: There's a Valet, that is very poorly run. I had to circle the block a couple times to even find them in attendance, and finally just parked in one of their spaces, they came up to get my keys as I went into the restaurant. Not a great first impression. Interior of the Spence, This was right up what I was expecting, it was early in the evening so it wasn't loud, and I found it to be quite nice. Service: I found the service to be very good, knowledgeable about the menu, prompt, helpful, great overall! Menu ; I found the menu to be confusing at best. It's simply not descriptive about the dishes, and this lead to disappointment in a number of the dishes that I tried. I also wasn't impressed with any of the cocktail descriptions so I ended up skipping them. It would be great if there was a bit more explanation on the dishes. For example, "Slab of Fois Gras" sounds like a slab of Fois Gras, it turned out to be something very different then what I was expecting, still OK, but not great. Food: I had the Oysters, they were exactly what I was expecting, having seen them tasted on the show. Very well executed, but very small portion size. 4 small oysters, and I felt like it should have been more like 5 or 6. Slab of Fois Gras : This was served cold, and was not at all what I was expecting. The toast was burnt, dried out , and hard. Just poorly executed, and one that I wouldn't have ordered had the menu been more descriptive. Pork Belly and shoulder: This was described by the Waitress as a pork shoulder wrapped around a slab of pork belly. Sounded lovely, but turned out to be a slice of pork roast with a piece of undercooked under seared pork belly with some rather tasteless puree underneath it. Pecan tart with ice creme. The tart had no texture at all, almost like they took the desert and ran it through a food processor, then baked it, it was terribly sweet. The ice creme that was on it was very good, but extremely small. They could make the tart half the size and double the size of the ice creme. Overall my impression of the Spence is that it's a restaurant that is capitalizing on Richard's name, but does not have the attention to detail that he should be requiring. I would have never found it except for the Richard's involvement, and am sorry that I did.
(2)Alaina S.
Good food, fabulous wine list, tasty cocktails. Servers are friendly and unpretentious, and their recommendations have been spot-on the past few times I've been here. The patio is lovely when the weather is nice, and inside has a wonderful relaxed atmosphere. Highly recommended.
(4)Jess B.
Fun ambiance, great food and extra points for being within walking distance of my apt! My husband and I went here to celebrate his birthday and while it was a splurge, we both enjoyed our meal thoroughly. We started off with some cocktails; my husband really enjoyed "The Methodist". Then we split several of the smaller plates, which I highly recommend to sample all the tastiness The Spence is serving up... we had a pork belly wrapped in sturgeon dish that is easily the best bite of food I've had in awhile. Other highlights were brussel sprouts in a Thai vinaigrette and roast suckling pig... yum!
(5)Academic Socialite X.
This was my 4th visit to The Spence & the only time I felt it was off. Tonight we tried the signature burger for the first time ("Juicy Lucy") & the also had the duck. Unfortunately, both were disappointments. Lucy was over-cooked to a grey medium-well. Flavorful, but dry & not up to the restaurant's standards. The duck was also over-cooked, tough & quite flavorless. While Lucy & the duck were both over-cooked, the accompanying veg. served with the duck were nearly raw & should have had a little more pan time. I haved loved my other trips to The Spence. The bone marrow served with raw tuna is an exceptional dish and one of the best dishes I've eaten at any restaurant! I will definitely visit again, but will probably stay away from the entrees & stick to the small plates. Also, at dinner the noise level can be deafening! Lunch noise seems much more reasonable. Blais is very often in the restaurant and comes out into the dining room at times. Fun if you're into the celebrity chef thing...
(2)Jack H.
This is a 3.5 star review, because honestly there are still a few rough edges to be smoothed out, in my opinion. My lovely bride and I visited on a Saturday night for a birthday celebration. We sat at the bar, looking over the dining room, which was quite active and entertaining. Excellent Midtown eye-candy. The cocktails were first rate, on a par with Holeman & Finch and Bocado. The selections of wine by the glass were impressive. Standing out head-and-shoulders above everything else was the lobster roll on brioche; as good as The Lobster Roll in Manhattan (rest in peace). The hamachi tostada was nicely paired with the tequila-based cocktail. The next course was a true disappointment. The chicken-fried ribeye was gristly and overcooked. The lamb dish was just acceptable, nothing more. Dessert was a ricotta "cheesecake", but quite underwhelming. It looked like a little something that belonged on top of a big fat slice of true NY-style cheesecake. Where was the cheesecake? We finished the night with a couple glasses of Italian brachetto, and it was a beautiful finish. Service from our hungover server was above average. We will return because we are big fans of Richard Blais, but the Spence is not where we would expect it to be.
(3)Brian A.
Went here for lunch recently and ordered the steak special. For $18 I received about 4 oz of fatty chewy flank steak that didn't have an ounce of seasoning on it (if you're not going to put salt/pepper on the tables then you damn well better properly season your food!), about 2 tablespoons worth of cheese grits and a few green beans that were overcooked. Don't go here if you're looking for value or a good meal. Blais is apparently resting on his laurels. What a shame!!! Will not be back.
(1)Tina H.
went there on a Friday night. Loved the oysters, foie gras w/peaches, short ribs, caesar salad, juicy lucey. The bone marrow w/tuna and quail eggs were eh. Didn't care for the mushroom noodles w/egg.
(4)Alan R.
4 stars for ambience, 2 stars for food and service. trendy, arrogant and does not seal the deal. I have lived abroad and in a few great food cities, and I was so excited to try The Spence, but sorry just was not wowed and for the price I need wow. I understand the menu concept, but just way, way too limited. Very overpriced. Best thing was wine list, but too pricey.
(3)Michelle B.
I really am not giving this place a bad review, it was just not my type of dining. It is a very safe cute area of town, but next to a college campus, who in college can afford the items on this menu !! When you walk in it is very hip and happening, very hipsterish, am not sure I like the open concept of the bar, interesting and maybe a good concept for more of a causal dinning atmosphere. Loud was an understatement, we where dining here with friends from out of town, between the music and other conversations it was extremely distracting. The sweet-coconut butter served with the rolls was interesting. As was everything else on the menu. Our friends who are foodies loved the food, especially the oysters, seafood pasta, and the ever changing menu. For me overpriced strange pairing dining is not for me.
(3)Teri S.
4.5 stars. The only thing I would change is the very loud noise level (hence 4.5 stars instead of 5). Every other aspect was brilliant. Genuine service, outstanding cocktails & wine and delicious food. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Kelly W.
Absolutely fabulous! Richard Blais was my favorite Top Chef personality and his cuisine does not disappoint. The atmosphere, including the open kitchen, was very fun and modern, yet inviting. The cocktail and food menu were overwhelming as there are so many great, inventive options. We ended up with the Hamachi and Spaghettini apps, the flat iron steak and pork belly entrees, and the milk chocolate/peanut with burnt banana ice cream dessert - all were 'melt in your mouth' good and very fun to eat. Our server wasn't the warmest, bubbliest person, yet he was very knowledgable and attentive. Chef Blais was there and greeted us at our table - such a fun, personal touch! Now if he would only open something in Chicago where I currently reside!
(5)Broderick S.
I've only had an app & a drink here but enjoyed both immensely and prices seem fair, especially with cocktail prices rising - was surprised to have numerous $9 options. The uni spaghetti w/ lobster was delicious
(4)Shay B.
My party agreed that while we enjoyed our meal, not one of us would rush back to The Spence. With every menu item, you get the feeling that the goal of The Spence to impress fans of cooking competitions so that you know, without a doubt, that you are at a winner's restaurant- which is both good and bad. Interesting dishes are a nice, but not every single item needs to be exotic (example - an app of bone marrow with tuna tartare and quail eggs). Food good need not always be complicated. Despite the constant attempt to up-sell and flip our table as quickly as possible, our waiter was very attentive and entertaining.
(3)Kim A.
It's unfortunate that I have to give the Spence only 2 stars because Tech Square needs a more upscale restaurant, I just don't think this is it. The food is so ridiculously overpriced! We had a drink each, some oysters, and two burgers and ended up paying around $120. I have no idea how this happened or how our tab got so out of control. The staff is pretty snooty, they really aren't interested in helping you or coming back to check on you either. Drink refills? Forget it. The burger was pretty good but not good enough for $16 so I can't say I'll ever be coming back. Don't waste your time or your money here, there are much better restaurants in Midtown!
(2)Janice B.
Our party of six dined last night at The Spence. It was so disappointing in so many ways. The service was absolutely horrible and deserves the worst of the review. A few key points: When delivering the wine our waiter announced that he would pour the first round and put the bottle in the middle of the table so that we could serve ourselves from then on. Um, service? When serving courses, he failed to provide utensils for the dishes or individual utensils for the diners. For some shared courses, he failed to provide plates. When courses were delivered the servers didn't know who ordered what and frequently misdelivered. Timing was terribly off between courses with only appetizers having arrived 90 minutes into the meal. As we sat beside the open kitchen, we saw the finishing chefs chatting idly while we waited for our food. But of most concern in the kitchen beyond its lackadaisical delivery was the fellow with the surfer hair draped over every plate. No hair net or bandana and a set of bangs down to his chin. We were fascinated to watch it swing over the food. He tossed his hair back every time he lifted his head in order to see the next plate coming. One dining companion tweeted the image to Blais to say, what? It was so unkempt that we checked each plate for hair. Great way to spend an evening. And then there was the food. The magret duck was beautifully done as was the hamburger. Oysters were fine as was the pork terrine and french fries.The smoked rigatoni, tortellini and squash brulee equally so. For those, two stars. However, the ribs were stringy and dry, suggesting cheap meat and overcooking. At nearly $30 for the plate, diners deserve better. The grits were bland and recall Waffle House quality. The Brussels sprouts, inventive with the use of mint were in fact briny. Yes, briny. The halibut was grossly overcooked and oversalted, a real shame given the potential of that fish. The pate was mediocre in execution and plating. The pigs feet empanadas were mostly dough and deserve no revisit. The Fall salad unremarkable although the beet salad was good. One companion order a glass of Viognier, specifically asking the server if it was available by the glass. Assuring him that it was, the server delivered a glass without a word. My companion tasted it and recognized that it wasn't Viognier. He asked the server who then said Viognier wasn't available by the glass and so the server had chosen what he considered to be the closest substitute. This is simply not okay to do. Not a word of this decision-making would have been shared had my companion not asked. In what service world is it okay to do this without a conversation? So we hit about 50% good food, 50% that should never again be served and perhaps the worst service ever received in Altanta. Plus the hair show and a sound level that made shouting necessary to communicate. But that's a minor point compared to the rest. Given that our bill before tip was over $500, we expected, and deserved, better. If Blais wants to charge these prices, then teach the servers to serve, clean up the chef, fix the quality of dishes, adjust the pacing and the delivery, and act like a better restaurant that respects clientele and delivers on its prose. We were sorely disappointed by the entire experience as it was a holiday treat for us all to go out together and nothing short of food poisoning could have made that dining experience less of a treat.
(2)Kimberly R.
First off let me say the food at this restaurant is amazing! I had the kale Caesar and fried Brussels sprouts and my friend had the Juicy Lucy (fancy name for a burger) and we were both beyond satisfied. She had some kind of specialty cocktail that came with liquid smoke that she said was really good as well. I only had wine but was happy with it. The ambiance is adorable - very chic and trendy. We're both a little on the fence about the location given that's in right in the middle of all things university. Not sure how well it will do considering college kids aren't known for their wealth and there's a Waffle House right across the street. Hopefully they survive because I would love to eat there again. Fun place for a date night. The one gripe I did have was the service, or lack thereof. Our waiter, when he was around was really good and knowledgeable about the dishes and everything however he didn't come around very much. There was one point where we literally just sitting there waiting for him to come take our cards. He didn't even seem to notice when he finally did come back. Other than that, it was a great experience and I'll definitely go back.
(4)mary F.
i'm going to officially call "bull puckey" on every single on of the reviews that dogs the spence....especially those that dog the food and service. the ones that have beef with the location....okay, fair enough. first, the food: the oysters are fabulous, fabulous bites of heaven. one of the best dishes for sure in atlanta. the bone marrow and tuna is stellar as well. I saw a review saying it wasn't "big enough"? let me say two things on this: it's extremely rich and the only way portion size becomes an issue is when your dining mate(s) gobble up your portion. the macaroni and head cheese is a MUST try- if it bothers you to eat head cheese- get over it to try this dish. man, the juicy lucy is divine; the squid ink pasta is insane; the spring tart and brussles sprouts are also ridiculously delicious. yes, you still want desert. the service is stellar. the only thing i could improve upon were the cocktails- they were good, but not as stellar. the wine list was solid though. this now rivals one eared stag for best place in atlanta.
(5)William R.
Weird experience. It has potential, but not sure I'll return to eat there again. Four of us went on Saturday night. The place was crowded - cool bar with an interesting drink menu. It was hot though and the kitchen is literally in the restaurant. The menu is cool and more like a Tapas menu. The portions are extremely small on most dishes. Although Pork Belly and their burger are huge. So it's hit or miss, but everything we ordered - hamachi, octopus, brussel sprouts, creme brulee corn, etc, were all very tasty. Stuff comes out of the kitchen completely randomly, so be ready for that (like Tapas). Service was completely uncoordinated. Their wines weren't chilled. They seemed confused. Not a smoothly run restaurant. Worth checking out, but don't if it will last.
(3)chessie s.
Overall, I really enjoyed my meal at The Spence. We were looking forward to the meal in no small part because we had been following Richard Blais' restaurant trajectory on all the various Bravo shows. The space and food did not disappoint. I really liked the concept of the open bar (wines stacked above you, long tables for communal drinking and you see the bartenders work in front of you). The decor hit just the right sweet spot of modern and hip, but not being over the top. It's still very comfortable. On the night we were there (a few days before Christmas), the food and drinks were incredibly good. Highlights were the eggnog, the pearls and oysters, the bone marrow, the lamb and the squash souffle, but really everything I tried was excellent. One of the better meals I have had in a while. There were a few missteps though, and thus the reason for four stars and not five. The music was incredibly loud. We were a party of six and I had trouble hearing not only the people at the other end of my table, but also the people right across and next to me. It might have been where we sitting, but it was uncomfortably loud. Also, the service. The service was perfectly pleasant, but our server was pretty slow. We waited a long time for our first round of drinks and in between, and there were lulls between courses that went on too long. We stayed till closing, and we waited a long time for the check. We were all ready to go, but our server was nowhere to be found. And again, although pleasant, she did she particularly inspired by or knowledgeable about the food. I was really looking forward to the bouche de noel for dessert when I saw it on the menu, and we ordered it. Although pretty, it was actually very dry. The other two desserts were good though. All in all, it was a very nice evening with very good food. I just wish the music had been a tad more quiet and that our service had a been a bit more peppy and focused.
(4)Todd S.
I enjoyed the food and was pleasantly surprised after reading the reviews. I went with a few friends and we tried just about everything on the menu sans the entrees of which we only had the steak and juicy Lucy. My faves were the Rigatoni with Octopus and bottarga, hamachi, and pig feet empanadas, Although not a pig bone marrow fan I found that it along with the tuna tar tare and quail egg to be tasty as well. Misses for me were the squash pasta dish. I cannot remember all that went into the dish, but for me the pasta was a little doughy without all that much flavor. I give it 4 stars but would probably lean towards 3.5. One of my friends although happy with the food did find a rather long hair on one of his dishes. I overlooked this as it was not on my plate. He would probably not be so kind. I am generous in this regard and see it as something that does not happen all that often, although I did notice a similar statement in a prior review. I assume that the OCD Blais will correct this issue otherwise these reviews could start to trend negatively. I would definitely go back and was particularly happy with the corkage which is 0 on the 1st bottle and $15 on each additional. Hope that does not change. Overall good value for this level of food.
(4)Destin D.
I have to start by saying that the milk chocolate with peanuts and burnt banana ice cream really saved the meal for me. It was like an episode of Chopped where one of the chefs really nails the dessert round and wins the competition. Otherwise, it was a pretty tame meal mostly because of the service. I really wanted to love the Richard Blais upscale-ish restaurant, but it didn't meet expectations. Yes, it was a client dinner and a table of 10, but the server committed one of the deadly serving sins. After the entree is served, you must follow up soon thereafter to make sure everyone is okay. That didn't happen. There were some missing sides and meat that was not cooked to the requested temperature. There were often empty wine glasses and too many long delays between meals. The restaurant was full for a Thursday, but not overly slammed that we couldn't have been paid more attention. Besides the service, the ambiance was fun. There's an open kitchen and wood fire grill and the farm to table concept is on full display. The music was a little loud though. I agree with Angela M. in that the food was all delicious, but it lacked a "wow" factor, except the short ribs, I guess. They are served with a lid that is removed to show smoke. Smelled and tasted delicious, but not amazing. The brussel sprouts were a very good side choice. Overall, I feel like my review mirrors some of the other recent reviews. Service and entrees need work, but this place certainly has the potential to do great things.
(3)Kate S.
Food was great. We got a ton of stuff and it ranged from really good to amazing. Unfortunately, the place is just too loud - cramped tables, no sound-proofing and booming music. I don't want to work that hard to have conversation.
(3)JP H.
This establishment has an ultra-cool vibe, fits right in with Midtown. My friend and I had our last dinner in ATL here and it ended on a good note. It was true to Blaise's modern style and favors quality over quantity. I had the duck---the dinner menu changes frequently and I can't remember the exact preparation but it was delicious though there were a few pieces of silverskin on the piece of meat. That was my least favorite part of the meal and I would attribute that to the butchering rather than the cooking. The whole plate was just amazing when eaten together. Many run of the mill chain restaurants serve foods that are to be eaten separately but I encourage to eat food from The Spence TOGETHER, the way it is meant to be eaten. Sides are served "family style" I would say that is true for the brussel sprouts but the other side we chose was a savory brulee of some sort (sweet-potato like tuber is what it was described as) and it was more an individual-sized portion. By far my favorite part of the meal was the brussel sprouts; holy moly those babies are good. Dessert was so-so; not a great selection but tasty. Service was GREAT! Servers are extremely knowledgeable and appear to know more about food than just memorizing the night's menu. They are unobtrusive without being neglectful; just the way I like!
(4)Bigatlwineguy S.
Excited for a new chef Blaise creation. For the hype, the food was very similar to home (his old restaurant) without the wow factor.
(3)Jerry G.
Dined with a friend.. Heard this was a really cool place. Left before the main course was ordered.. It's not that good.. First, while imaginative, the food is mundane. Oysters and Pearls are interesting.. Oysters small however but the pearl component (nitrogen frozen horseradish) added an interesting twist.. Lobster roll way over rated.. Not much lobster and the whole grain mustard atop took away from the flavor. Fried Seafood small plate was nicely presented, not greasy but lacked flavor.. In fact the fried vegetables that were on the platter were better than the fish. Breading was a bit heavy as well so what little fish there was got lost but, still not greasy.. Wine list is long, beer list decent but the price for food and drink was a bit high for the quantity and quality. But it is in Midtown Atlanta so there is a premium to be paid. Apparently the chef is considered a celebrity.. OK, so please refer to my comments regarding Emeril's and how I tend to shy away from "Celebrity Chefs" and The Spence is a good indication why I have taken this position. Top all this off with the fact that it is physically impossible to carry on a conversation without screaming and you'll understand that this may not be the place for a quite dinner. Would I go back? Nope.. Would I recommend it? Not for dinner, maybe for a drink and only if the weather were great and I could sit outside where it is much quieter.!!
(2)Laura G.
Excellent dinner! We dined Father's Day evening and the service and food was gret. I love how unpretentious the service was!! I felt at home here. The flank steak was delish as well as the lamb. The Brussel sprouts are a don't miss item. I also highly reccomend the fresh squeezed emonade and pana cotta cheesecake for dessert! Everything wa super fresh. Richard Blais was walking around as well. I am already planning our next visit!
(4)Steven H.
Just tried The Spence with a good friend. Overall, I give the place 4 stars. Excellent interior, though the space is a bit loud for one on on conversation. Love the open bar, that the bartenders (as well as customers) circulate around). The food: Excellent. One of my favs, the Oysters & Pearls. Absolutely incredible. An order is only 4....I could have eat two dozen! Get more than one order of these. The bone marrow and hamachi tartare was also excellent, though I think I would have prefered it chilled, instead of warm. Will be going back, until I've tried all the inventive cocktails....had both the Fairbanks Fizz and the Methodist and both were excellent. Our server was very good....so friendly in fact, he chatted a bit too long.....you almost wanted to tell him "shoo", go check on our food and let my friend and I chat, but he was too sweet.
(4)Davis H.
I really had high hopes for this place after reading all the reviews but it was honestly a terrible experience. Here's why: there were six of us. Our table was literally 2 feet from the kitchen so by the time we walked out we were sweaty and smelled like food. The service was Terribly slow. I'm talking it took us an hour just to get our appetizer and anouther 45 minutes for our food. I think it was the kitchen, not our server. They only had 5 entree choices and none of them sounded good to me. I really had to struggle to find something. My entree was ok. I got pork belly and prawns. I was excited for the prawns but when it came it had one prawn on it still in the shell. I tried to peel it but it was a sticky mess. The pork was fine. Very small portion. What topped it off for me was the valet afterwards. We had to wait 25 minutes for our car. There were only two valets working and the parking must be far away since it took about 6-7 minutes for one car. So overall I left extremely annoyed and hungry. Will not go back.
(2)Mark H.
I was skeptical with all the reviews about bad service. Nothing ruins a good meal more than bad service in my opinion. The service was beyond good, seems like they have corrected that problem with a vengeance. The food was fantastic, we did the little plates and tried a bunch of things. The oysters were my favorite, but I also really liked the bone marrow and both kamachi plates. I went with my parents, we are foodies, and love good food, this is good, We loved it all, completely out of the norm for them, but they were impressed as well, thank you for the great meal, keep it up!!
(5)Tara M.
I love the variety of styles of food on the menu. Italian, Asian, American, etc all thoughtfully created and executed. The wine list is unique and the recommendation made to us was perfect. This was one of my top culinary experiences in Atlanta thus far.
(5)Vanessa L.
Stopped by for drinks the Saturday after they opened. I immediately fell in love with the atmosphere; very lively and inviting with simple, sophisticated decor. The bar consists of two long parallel high top tables with seating on each side; the alcohol is stored above and drinks are made wherever the bartenders find an open spot. Our bartender was very friendly. I'm looking forward to returning for dinner and trying some speciality cocktails.
(4)Yung B.
I went for lunch and ordered the pork belly tacos (the one thing on the lunch menu that did not have a creamy substance on it--I can't really deal with mayo/sour cream/etc). The tacos came out with sour cream on them. I asked the waiter if I could get them made again, since the menu did not mention the sour cream. He obliged, and then informed me that the coleslaw also had mayonnaise. Really sweet of him. When the tacos came back, they were dry with the guac and salsa on the side. Nice touch. Unfortunately, the salsa had aioli in it! The pork belly was fine and the tacos were nice and crispy. I could not finish and left a taco on the plate. I find myself unable to imagine the fatty tacos with the additional sour cream, mayonnaise, and aioli sauces. The waiter charged me a dollar extra--maybe there was a recent price change that was not reflected in the menu. I'm not sure if I'd go back. If you love creamy sauces, this is the place for you. This cuisine is definitely "New American" and I can see why many people love it, but it wasn't for me.
(2)Courtny B.
My husband and I went to The Spence for my birthday and loved it. Being an avid Richard Blais fan our expectations were high of course and each course blew us away. Our waiter was great and I hate that I can't remember his name (Jack I think). Just ask for the guy from Chicago. He made the perfect suggestions for the "Blais Experience." We started with the bone marrow and oysters & pearls appetizers. Never having tried bone marrow we didn't know what to expect but the flavor combination was unreal. For entrees my husband had the pork belly with a side of the mac/head cheese with truffle and I ordered the seared duck with brussel sprouts. I hate brussel sprouts but I knew if anyone could make me a believer, Blais could and of course he did. The duck was phenomenal. My husband loved the pork belly. For dessert we order the cheesecake which was nothing traditional and more amazing than any cheesecake we've ever had. We also had a milk chocolate dessert with banana ice cream which was great but I loved the cheesecake dish better. All in all we couldn't have picked a better restaurant to go to. LOVE The Spence!
(5)Eric S.
Overall my experience at the Spence was pretty disappointing. i mean, when the best thing we ordered was brussel sprouts, it's hard to think your going to go back. The service was pretty poor as well. We like to order a few different things with the intent to share. The waitress said they would bring one dish out at a time so we could enjoy at our leisure. Well that didn't happen, we were brought both appetizers at once, then it took about 30 minutes after finishing our apps to get our entrees. One of the entrees, a roasted goat with a ravioli and golden beats was pretty terrible. The filling in the ravioli was bad and the "golden beets" were not beats, they seemed more like turnips and the waitress who was pretty un-knowledgeable was very defensive of the kitchen instead of trying to satisfy the customer. The bone marrow and pork belly were good, but didnt blow us away, have had those dishes better at multiple other places in atlanta. Anyways i dont think i will be making a return trip. Although the decor was pretty cool.
(2)Mariel J.
Just wanted to add a quick update regarding the lunch service - lunch is a great way to experience this restaurant. Prices were very reasonable ($10-$15 entrees) and the food was great. I went for the pork belly tacos with green chile, and they did not disappoint!
(5)Angela M.
I love Richard Blais, and I would like to love his place. The ambiance was fun, but loud. The food was good. The service seemed a little disorganized. I had the shredded kale "cesar", the "canned" squash soup with pumpkin seeds, and split the mint sponge cake with sweet tea ice cream with my dining companion. It was all delicious, but lacked "wow". The "canned" soup is presented as a bowl with carrots, cheese tuile, micro greens, and pumpkin seeds over which a can portion is poured. It was very creamy, and just a little sweet. There was something about the flavor that really did remind me of canned tomato soup, but maybe it was just the power of suggestion. The other components added more texture than flavor, with the pumpkin seeds being quite thick and not as crispy crunchy as I expected. Then again, I let the soup sit while I was eating most of my "cesar." The salad was nicely spicy from the greens that seemed more arugula-sized than the kale I'm used to seeing. There was a little to much dressing for my usual taste. Don't get me wrong, this was all tasty food and I would happily eat here again, but it just didn't have the oomph that I was expecting. I'd remember the sweet tea ice cream from my visit to Home. The dessert was definitely the highlight of my evening. The flavors and textures were fun and well assembled, resulting in familiar flavors in new textures that was comfortable and exciting at the same time. I would definitely go back for that. The service was somewhat lacking. We were seated quickly, but then sat for several minutes before our server brought water. He always made time to explain why he was terribly busy, but he seemed to be in a hurry every time he stopped to take our orders or process our check. The checks were split easily for our party of 2. I'll happily try it again - especially some of the signature dishes.
(3)Mary Ellen M.
Trendy and Tasty. We enjoyed the fantastic service from Peter with the cool eyeglasses. Fun atmosphere. Loved the loft ladder. Food (three of us shared several tapas items) was delicious. The Kahle salad is yum. Be sure to split the warm chocolate cake with honey ice cream.
(4)Marta P.
This is my second experience at this restaurant since it has opened, and I come back with mixed reviews. We made reservations in advance and were nicely sat in the front of the restaurant (although the door opening with it being cold outside made it chilly at times). With the 4 of us, we decided to go with a few small plates and then do an entree each. We ordered: Bone Marrow, tuna tartare, & fried quail egg Beets, soft boiled egg, blue cheese, wasabi Squash gnocchi with boar ragout & chestnuts White truffle with "corkscrew" pasta & sunchokes For an entree I got the lamb sirloin with sourdough, kohlrabi & turnips and for dessert I got the ricotta cheesecake, blueberry, graham. I was slightly disappointed by the bone marrow. Although it was tasty, the marrow itself seemed overshadowed by the tuna, I could barely taste it. It seemed like the proportions of the tuna and marrow were off. The best part of that dish was soaking the bread in the bone to get the marrow juices left over. The beets were delish, I just wish there were a touch more blue cheese. It seemed to just be crumbled over to the side, but the contrast between the beets, wasabi, and blue cheese worked really nicely. My absolute favorite was the squash gnocchi. We gobbled that one up quick! It definitely tasted like fall. And the roasted chestnuts added a nice crunch element to the dish. The white truffle pasta was equally tasty. The server informed us that they have ordered too many white truffles for New Year's Eve so they were generous with it in the dish. The sauce in the pasta was nice and creamy and held to the pasta very well. The entree was also very good and portioned well. The vegetables were roasted, allowing them to still have some crunch, and cooking the kohlrabi gave it a completely different taste. My favorite was the sauce on the dish. I was disappointed by the dessert. It was a deconstructed ricotta cheesecake...but upon the first bite it tasted like those Jell-O Cheesecake pudding cups...I won't be ordering that one again. I suggest skipping that one. The other side of the table got the milk chocolate, peanut, and burnt banana ice cream, which I've tried before and is very good. All in all the meal was good. The good flavors overshadowed the mediocre ones. I would go back and try it again, but it's not really at the top of my list. Both times I went I loved the music (mainly bc it's what I normally listen to, a mix of Radiohead, Death Cab, some club music, etc) and the service and atmosphere is great. I love that the finishing station for the dishes is out in the open, allowing you to see every dish completed.
(3)Stephie Z.
2 things: 1) The lobster roll ($17) is actually 2 small rolls with chicharones. I didn't eat the fried pig skin, but that lobster roll was delicious. Probably one of the best I've had in the city. It's making my mouth water just thinking about it. 2) The bartender/wine dude (skinny, tall, midwestern accent) is awesome! He is very knowledgeable about wines and was super excited when we wanted to try out some new ones. He made the visit for me (him, the lobster roll, and the fried cauliflower) ; I love when people are passionate about what they do.
(4)Mayu A.
I LOVE Richard Blaise and am a huge fan of Top Chef, so when I heard about The Spence, I couldn't wait to go. Located at the intersection of Spring Street and 5th Street, this Midtown restaurant is very trendy. The interior has high ceilings, decorative lighting and tall curtains. The furniture is a mix of retro 70s and and modern metallic. It's a bustling restaurant with tight quarters and loud hip hop playing on the speakers. It has a very NYC feel which is also reflected in the clientele. My companion and I were seated at a 2-seater close to the entrance and window. He ordered the "Left-Handed Hummingbird" to drink, a tequila-based beverage with limoncello, burnt orange and a large basil ice cube. Yup, you read right, an ice cube with basil frozen right into it. Brilliant! To start, we ordered the English Muffin Pizza topped with Cheese & Basil and the shaved Fluke with Fried Chicken and Cucumber. The pizza was mediocre and something that could easily be recreated at home. The shaved fluke on the other hand was very well done. The presentation was like a piece of art. The fluke was thinly sliced and rolled into a rose bud. The fried chicken were very small bite size pieces packed with so much flavor. The cucumber was paper thin and rolled with a mayo-like sauce inside complimented by pickled radishes and celery. The appetizer was overall very light and tasty. As an entree, I ordered two small plates: the Bone Marrow topped with Tuna Tartare and Quail Egg and Bucatini with Peas and Bacon. My counterpart ordered the Arctic Char with Mashed Potatoes. I had only sampled bone marrow once prior to the Spence, so was hesitant to order it as my entree but it came highly recommended by a foodie friend as well as the waiter. The marrow melted in your mouth and the tartare complemented it well. The quail egg was fried and was a good addition but I would have preferred it to be a little runny. The Bucatini tasted like a pea carbonara with a sweet flavor from the pea sauce. The Arctic Char was slightly seared and served medium rare. Its similar to salmon and was cooked perfectly but for those who are squeamish to raw fish, this may not be the dish for you. For dessert, we ordered the Milk Chocolate and Banana Ice Cream and the Doughnuts with Milk Cream Ice Cream. Both were very good and the portions are small and easy to finish. Overall, the food was good. The service was HORRIBLE. We had four different people serve us throughout the meal and waited at least 15 minutes for our check to arrive. At first we thought it was because it was busy but as the restaurant cleared out, the server was even harder to find. When I asked another server for help in finding our server, she replied with "I don't know who your server is." Thankfully, we saw him from a distance and she reluctantly went to flag him down. I like Richard Blaise and was disappointed not to see him there but the food definitely resembled his style. Everything was delicious but nothing blew me away. The desserts were definitely the best part and considering the poor service, I'm not in a huge rush to come back.
(3)Carol F.
Not impressed. Was hoping to be wowed but flavors really fell short of the mark. Tried the beef tartar, potted chicken, blistered peppers, pork terrine, pappardelle, bone marrow and cauliflower. The only two dishes worth mentioning were the cauliflower and the peppers. The restaurant was exceptionally loud. Not the experience we were hoping for.
(2)Leigh B.
We expected to have a good dinner, and were still pleasantly surprised! The food is playful *and* substantial. Each dish was a total treat. The oysters were delicate and effing delicious. The bone marrow blew us both away. What a fantastic idea: to add the tuna to lighten the feel of such a heavy, intense dish. We both could have eaten and enjoyed several times that amount, and as much as I like marrow, I've never said that about a bone marrow dish. So impressed!! The steak was perfectly cooked and the mushrooms were last supper quality. The kitchen staff hit it spot on, and I couldn't be happier with the meal as a whole. We were there on a super slow Sunday night, but the server (Sabrina) was attentive and fun. I love the open line, and wonder if the chefs hate it when it's busy. Regardless, it's a really great feature to feel like you are in someone's home and they are in the kitchen cooking for you. Well designed. The team hit the mark on Sunday. Well done!!
(5)Emilia L.
We went here for my friend's birthday dinner. I've never been to a Richard Blais establishment, so I was excited. The restaurant was nice enough to store away the birthday cake and bring it out at the end of dinner so the birthday girl was properly surprised -- I appreciated it that. We tried: Oysters and pearls -- the pearls were apparently made of creme fraiche. Very interesting and nice presentation. How the hell did they get the pearls to stay spherical? Fried sea creatures with uni tartar sauce -- This was a big portion. It was calamari, basically, with fried cauliflower and zucchini. I loved the tartar sauce. Bone marrow, tuna tartare and quail eggs -- Having never tried bone marrow before, I didn't know what to expect. The marrow itself wasn't quite my thing (texturally), but it was tasty. I wish the portion came with a bit more bread. Polenta with truffle oil and parmesan -- I was expecting a solid polenta cake. Instead, we got a bowl of creamy polenta, very similar to grits. This was absolutely delicious and perfectly paired with our chicken entree. Crispy chicken stuffed with foie gras, apple and turnip -- Unfortunately, I can't remember what exactly went in this dish. Our server kept raving about it, so I had to get it. While the chicken was not very crispy, it was moist and flavorful. I really enjoyed it. Our server was pretty on top of things and really took care of our large group. At the end, the birthday girl got her wish as Richard Blais was in the house and stopped by our table to say hello and pose for a pic or two!
(4)Kirk L.
I don't throw around 5-star reviews so easily, but The Spence earns it. The little lady took me here for an early Valentine's day dinner last weekend, and it was an absolute home run. Great service, great food, great decor. Details, in order of preference: -Brussel Sprouts with Thai Vinaigrette. I hate brussel sprouts. I've tried them a number of times, and could never even finish one. Ever. But the little lady loves them, and the server raved about them, so we ordered them. And I couldn't stop eating them. They were amazing. As in, I would pay good money for them to teach me exactly how they make them. Yes, I've been wowed. -The Beet Salad was the single best Beet dish I've ever had. I'm not a huge beet fan, but I could have eaten another of these (and I still liked the Brussel Sprouts more). -Roasted/Stuffed Chicken - I almost never order chicken at good restaurants, but the server recommended this, and I'm glad she did. There was definitely way more going on here than any chicken dish I've ever had. Highly recommended! -Fried Sea Creatures - Simply fried calamari, oysters, and shrimp with a few fried veggies mixed in. I wanted to try something more unique, but we saw this coming out of the kitchen and it looked to good to pass on. And it did not disappoint - great breading, perfectly fried, delicious sauce - complementary but not overpowering. -Foie Gras - Good, but probably our least favorite of what we tried. Not notable. Oh yeah - and the bread and butter they served to start the meal was crazy good. Yes, I'm lauding bread and butter. And we had a few excellent cocktails as well. Seriously, you need to check it out. Go.
(5)Gdawg W.
Portions are small. The appetizers for the most part minus the oysters and bone marrow had very little taste. The entrees were good, just small. The sides with dinner arrived after everybody at our table was finished eating the entree (service timing is horrible). Desserts (I sampled all of them) were not rich or tasty. This place is very expensive and not good. Avoid. There are much better places in Atlanta. I am not sure how this place has 4 stars.
(2)Kevin J.
A little pretentious behavior mixed with over-the-top food makes for an ever so... SO-SO dining experience. Recent Top Chef contestant Chef Richard Blais serves up some good food, no doubt, but sometimes it's a bit too much. I think the fancifulness needs to step down and notch and focus needs to be put more into the taste of the food and not just presentation. With that being said, I thought the food tasted great. I just think that the service can get away with much more because of the name and "show" of it all. My experience might not be like all others but having to wait 30mins for a requested wine bottle, and having entrees come out before appetizers while other party members are still waiting on salads is awkward. Maybe we should just serve entire tables at once, and not whenever the food is ready? Let's get the kinks worked out before throwing food on the table.
(3)Julee D.
Great food and service here. Loved the goat and potato gnocchi curry and brussel sprouts. Nice wine list too. Yummy bread and coconut butter spread served while waiting for our meal. My only complaint is the noise level in there. It felt like I was screaming across the table trying to talk to others I was dining with.
(4)Andrew D.
I've been hoping to post a five star rating for some time. I've eaten all over Atlanta and the U.S. and have finally found my first in my home town. I don't think five stars means necessarily "the best food" ever or the "best" of some other category. I think it means, in totality, was this superior to others in the area in the same class. I have been to other Concentric Corp. spots and have generally been pleased. The Spence, however, sets a new standard for the company. The reservations, on Saturday at 8, were cheerfully and immediately honored. Our server, Mike, was top notch. The cocktails (from someone who usually takes his bourbon neat) were very tasty, interesting and fairly priced. I had the Beekeeper which mixed bourbon, honey and herbs while my wife had the Moscow Fizz which she loved. We had two "small plates," the pappardelle and the panzanella. One was rich and savory while the other was cooling on a hot August night. For entree, my wife had the tile fish which was fresh and wholesome while I had the Goat Trio which consisted of three different but complimentary locally sourced goat preparations served with a combo of creatively prepared vegetables. We also ordered the fried cauliflower served in a ginger, lime, cilantro light sauce. I generally don't write long reviews, preferring to recommend or not. In this case, it's a must try. We will go back again.
(5)Gerry K.
Family birthday gathering went extremely well . Had assorted small plates, entrees and desserts. Porchetta, tile fish and juicy Lucy were superb. The liquid nitrogen sundae was awesome too. 5 stars for a great meal and atmosphere.
(5)Tom C.
Alright y- let's talk about this place. Given it's location, they have to have valet, which they do. It's super-easy. You just pull up right out front, the valet is there, and the door is about 30 feet away. No complaints. You walk in and are _immediately_ greeted by a hostess station. It's literally RIGHT THERE. they should probably back it up, because it's a bit disruptive to walk right into it. But, that's no big deal. Right past the hostess station is the bar about which everyone seems to be talking. It's a "deconstructed" bar - it's supposed to be like being in someone's kitchen. Rather than sitting at a bar, you sit at some tables, and the bar is adjacent but "turned around" so you're essentially behind the bar. When we were there (7-8 on a Saturday), there weren't all that many people, so it was comfortable, but I could imagine them running out of space. More critically, if I'm going to be "behind the bar", I'd want to be able to actually see more of what is going on. The drinks at the bar were great. I had a "Franco Pop", which is a bourbon drink with orange bitters. It came in an old soda bottle with a straw. My wife had something with a bunch of foam on top, which was gin-based and really, really good. Our friends had one of the bourbon drinks also as well as another gin-based drink with mint. Once we were finished with our drinks, we moved to our table. (The table was ready when we arrived, but we told them we wanted to hit the bar first.) We were in the back of the restaurant, which is where you want to be, as you're removed from a lot of the hustle-bustle that takes place in the center, around the open kitchen. Richard Blais was wandering around the place, talking to customers, taking pictures, etc. He seemed like a nice guy. Our waitress was nice but not over the top on helpfulness. The menu, it turns out, is appetizers, small plates, and entrees. We had some trouble figuring out what we were getting into, so we asked her. Then, she gave some guidance. But, we definitely needed to ask for more information than we should have had to. But, that's fine. The food was great. We ordered a bunch of small plates. There was variation in how well they came off, but all were good. My favorite, without a doubt, was the poached shrimp tacos. My wife liked the squid ink pasta with lobster best. The kale caesar salad was great, and I thought the fried cauliflower was really outstanding. The wine list was pretty good, very wide in terms of coverage - a couple of CA's, a couple of French, a couple of Italians. Each section (White, Red, Sparkling) is divided into traditional and more exotic wines. So, there are wines from places you'd never think make wine. We didn't go too adventurous but did order a South African chenin blanc and later a New Zealand pinot noir. The chenin was ok, but the pinot was great. The one real downside is that it's LOUD. Someone in one review said its decor is like JCT but quieter. I disagree. The decor is more like ONE (the place is a ONE venture, along with Blais, who used to be there), with a bit of Empire State South thrown in, and a lot of noise. There is not much soft in the place to absorb sound, so hopefully they'll fix that.
(4)Tina C.
Open kitchen and Bar atmosphere is Hip and Trendy, not for the stuffed shirt or overdressed older crowd. Unusual menu items that change often; whenever the Chef thinks or want something else cool on the menu. Quality ingredients presented beautifully. Hand crafted and unique drinks. Outdoor seating when weather permits. They have valet but it is hard to see, it's just at the curb at the front door. Again it's really hard to see on a crowded pedestrian covered area.
(4)Katy N.
Dinner last night at The Spence was spectacular! This was my fourth visit and usual I was excited to explore the continually changing menu. We were delight to try and selection of new dishes and always amazed at the creative and thoughtful choices on the menu. The meal was kicked off warm homemade rolls with coconut smear. Melted in our mouth. Next we dug into chili corn on the cob dressed in queso fresco and cilantro. Not the most flattering dish to eat, but we'll worth it. We followed that up with steak tartare with quail eggs. Devine. Then to my favorite and most surprising dish - small scone bits with apricot jam and a slice of cheese (I didn't catch the type - sorry). It sounds so simply but the balance of flavor was perfect. My husband and I fought over every bite. I would go back for that dish alone. We finished the meal off with Mac and head cheese (not actually cheese but delicious) and a spicy rigatoni with duck and bone marrow. Now we didn't get the bone marrow on this visit but HIGHLY recommended. It is decadent and has you wanting to lick the plate if it weren't socially awkward. Go for it ;)
(5)Steve O.
It was fun and different from most restaurants. The oysters were great. The juicy Lucy was a good surprise. I would go again for sure. There are plenty of dishes to explore.
(5)Nancy R.
This place has been open for about 6 weeks but what a great place! It's near the GA Tech campus and they have valet service which is great since street parking is hard to find. FOOD: We started with the oysters & pearls which are 4 raw oysters with little rounds of horseradish & butter/cream with a touch of citrus and cilantro....delicious! For dinner, I had the octopus dish, which is cooked octopus with cucumber slices on top of potato cylinders with a drizzle of some kind of sauce with sprinkles of greens. This dish was too pretty to eat, but very good, even though it wasn't a big dish. We didn't get dessert, but we were given 2 very small gingerbread & creme sandwich cookies. We asked if Richard Blais would come around so we could meet him, and he graciously came to our table. My friend and I were like two little schoolgirls wanting to get a pix with him.
(4)Ms. M.
"Relentless hospitality" -- that is Richard Blais' new credo for The Spence, and that is exactly what we got when we visited The Spence twice during our trip to Atlanta. Everyone at the restaurant, from the hostess who seated us to our server Karen Ann to Justin & Bob Amick to Chef Blais himself, made us feel incredibly welcomed and honored. But as wonderful as the service was, it was ultimately the food that really blew us away. Since we traveled all the way from California just to eat at The Spence, we had very high expectations -- not only were those expectations met, they were exceeded. The food was not only delicious, but we were also excited to have finally experienced Chef Blais' creative, inventive, and famous "tongue-in-cheek" cuisine. Over the course of our two visits, we were lucky enough to sample about 20 different dishes. It's hard to pick just a few favorites, but the dishes that stood out most to us include: - the famed oysters & pearls (a must-order if you're a Top Chef fan, my favorite oyster dish ever, and a great palette-pick-me-up if you're getting too full and feel like you need a second wind); - shaved hamachi w/ fried clams (I thought this dish would be kind of boring because every restaurant these days serves a raw sliced yellowtail dish, but boy, was I wrong to have assumed that Chef Blais' version would be like any other such dish); - bone marrow w/ tuna tartare (I have had a lot of bone marrow, and this one is hands-down the most flavorful and interesting I have ever had); - General Tso's sweetbreads (I will never be satisfied with regular old Chinese take-out ever again); - Salisbury lamb chop (I was so surprised and amused when I first cut into the chop that I will never forget that moment); - pork belly (far better than Woodfire Grill's); - corn creme brulee (it's like a dessert, but it's actually a sweet/savory side dish); - panna cotta w/ popped sorghum (it's light but so flavorful, and the popped sorghum really adds a great touch); and - ricotta cheesecake & strawberry (it's definitely not your traditional cheesecake, but it will make your mouth happy). If we lived in Atlanta, we would go back once a week to sample the changing menu!
(5)Gilbert C.
Maybe the best meal I've ever had. Had the oysters and pearls, bone marrow, squid ink pasta and mussels. Everything was ridiculously good. Waitress was very patient In explaining all dishes with a smile. A bucket list stop for all foodies!
(5)Henrik C.
Went to the restaurant on the 3rd night they were open. The restaurant is in the space where the Globe used to be in Tech Square. The restaurant space has been seriously refurbished and the layout is with individual tables, community spaces and booths. The kitchen part for preparation of the hot meals is an integral part of the main diningroom. The chef, Richard Blais, is well known for creative dishes. The menu card has a number of interesting surprises. The "lamb chops" are minched, the New York strip cut in slices, ... overall a very interesting set of dishes and the prices are surprising accessible. We tried foie gras and General Tso Sweet Bread for appetizers. Both were really good. The foie gras is almost like butter. Both of the dishes are large enough to share. For the main dish we had strip steak and lamb chops. The strip was fatty and what the waiter called a long island cut. The dishes were well prepared. The sides were on the small side, but very tasty. We had cheese cake and panna cotta. The cheese cake is an interesting variation, whereas the panna cotta was fantastic. Our server, Tony, was very attentive and had great suggestions. Fantastic service. This is a serious step up from the earlier restaurants in this place. Fancy food but also a bit pretentious.
(4)Nathan O.
Open kitchen- watching as chefs prepare meals is a part of the experience in and of itself. The kitchen has two large wood-burning ovens, which creates a warmth to the room (perfect after surviving the downpours that we had) Service: We were greeted by 2 people at the door, seated by another, and presented with food options by our server. Throughout the night, three various people cleared our table for the next course, and always filled up our water glasses. There were often times where it felt like a passing server would detour from their current route to fill that half-empty (or half-full, depending on your outlook) glass without any second-thought. Starters: Hawaiaan roll with sweet coconut butter. These sweet rolls were delicious; fortunately we were given a second round of them after we quickly devoured the first four within seconds of sitting down after battling the rain. Oysters & PearlsOysters on a bed of black salt, with creme fraiche and horseradish pearls placed onto each oyster. I have never thoroughly enjoyed an oyster until this meal. Beef Tartare, harissa, caraway, and fried quail egg Served on a wooden plank, temperatures were perfect (for raw meat). Much like the oysters, I wasn't expecting to enjoy this, but the taste combinations were wonderful and I found myself scraping up the last of it onto my plate. Smoked Beets with fresh ricotta and pineapple A well-balanced salad, the largest portioned dish of them all. This should be a staple of every dining experience at this restaurant. Bone Marrow, tuna tartare, fried quail eggs* If you could imagine a steak that could melt in your mouth, this is the result. A generously-sized bone filled with marrow, tuna tartare, and served with bread; the bread is needed to mix everything up and serve it until the plate is bare. This is my definite top choice. Foie Gras terrine w/ texas toast and candied pecans* This is a French dish, and a much fancier name for duck liver. I expected a dry and spongy texture, but was pleasantly surprised by the amount of flavors involved. It was very soft and spread onto the toast almost as if it were a paste. Explosive in flavor, wonderfully prepared. Main Dishes: Smoked Linguini and Clams, sea-beans and scampi butter The most "standard" dish of the night; much like a fine dish from a European seafood and pasta spot. Still delicious, just not as adventurous. Roasted Lamb Sirloin with Sunchoke, okra, and red cabbage Fantastic presentation- this was the only meal-choice that I didn't get my hands on. The inability to try it leads me to assume it was quite the treat. Long Island Duck breast w. Mild mushrooms and eggplant Caitlin's favorite; eggplant-based sauce smear and a very subtle mushrooms arrangement. Beef short rib w. smoked potato and horseradish The short ribs were extremely tender; one of my favorite pairings with the vegetables. I typically can not stand the bold tastes of horseradish, but loved this dish. Sides: Macaroni and Head Cheese I was initially very intimidated by this dish; my first head cheese sighting in a local deli had me convinced that head cheese was the unwanted fruitcake of meats. The macaroni was cooked and presented at perfect temperature, with a layer of head cheese melted and served on top.This dish isn't nearly as scary as it sounds, but seemed to taste much like the bacon mac & cheese dishes I've had at other restaurants. Fried Brussel Sprouts, thai vinaigrette If our moms had made brussel sprouts like this when we were kids, we'd all be vegetarians. The vinaigrette that it's tossed in was tangy and delicious. Deconstructed desserts: With Richard Blais, every bite is the "best part" of the dessert. These desserts were meant for those of us who can't stand to finish a piece of pie with the thick, undesirable crust remaining. Each bite was well-balanced and full of flavor. Lemon Curd, Toasted white chocolate mousse, meringue No way to explain it; just awesome Ricotta cheesecake, blueberry, graham Blueberries treated with liquid nitrogen to create a temperature-induced punch to the mouth with each bite. My photos can't show it, but this was one of the most beautifully-presented desserts I've ever seen. Cheesecake will never be the same. Mint panna cotta, cucumber sorbet, sunflower cake Refreshing; you could smell the distinct cucumber sorbet the moment it was brought out to the table. Warm chocolate cake, honey ice cream, almonds strong, intense chocolate- we're not talking standard milk chocolate either. This is the father of all "molten-lava chocolate" dishes that you'd find at many a American restaurants. Keys to Success: Pass your plates- there are too many great things on this menu to just try one. Leep an open mind...and wallet- adventurous souls will have a great time. Be bold. The statement of our night was, "don't be afraid of the headcheese" Enjoy the Spence with an intimate group of friends and family. Prepare to engage in your meal.
(5)Matthew D.
We came here for a friend's birthday dinner and understanding we would be drinking, we cabbed, there is valet and know that parking in this area is tough. I had been to a few Richard Blais establishments before and I have always enjoyed myself, but nothing that left me with a 5 star experience, so to speak. That changed with this meal. The atmosphere is open, the bar was buzzing and the little touches like the seat up icon for the men's restroom and the seat down icon for the woman's restroom were clever without trying too hard. This is not the place for the claustrophobic, the bar is right in the middle of everything and tables are close. It didn't bother my group at all since we were looking for more of a party like feel, then something romantic. As for the food, they have a mix of small plates and entrees. We passed around the small plates and enjoyed everything. The Bone Marrow, hamachi tartare and fried quail egg was my favorite. It was like eating a campfire in the best possible way, smoky and rich, just incredible. I would put it on par or even slightly ahead of the Holeman & Finch version. The grilled octopus is a must and the beef tartare was good, but if you were only going to get two small plates, that one could be left off. The braised short ribs were wonderful, juicy and flavorful without trying to be too complicated. We shared 3 or 4 desserts which were all great, I don't have much of a sweet tooth and I still enjoyed them. To Recap: The Good: The atmosphere forces you to have a good time, great buzz about the place. The food was inventive and fun, I love it when you can try some dishes you would never attempt at home. As a little bonus Richard even came to our table and was a perfect gentleman. I was really impressed how he took the time to chat and thank us for coming, very classy. The Bad: If you don't like tight spaces, are looking for something quiet, like to park your own car, you would be 0 for 3 here. The Band This Restaurant Most Resembles: Early Rolling Stones. Loud, fun and looking for a little trouble.
(5)Dalan C.
Was totally excited to check out Richard Blais's (one of my all time favorite Top Chef's ) restaurant. For those who complain about his food being pretentious, you obviously don't know his style. The place is beautiful and trendy looking. The service I received was completely awesome and friendly. The price is a on the more expensive side, but I thought it was worth every penny for the experience of eating at this place. I started with the compressed melon salad, and the presentation was stunning and it tasted awesome. Next, I had what I would call an Arancinni ball. That was balls of richness and one of my favorite dishes. My main dish was the Scallops. Cooked perfectly and presented even ore beautifully. Loved it. Because my main dish took so long to come out (there were 2 huge parties ahead of my ticket), the servers gave me a try of the Oysters and Pearls, I normally don't like oysters, but man these things were amazing. Finally, I ended the night with the best dessert I've had in a long time, which was a burnt banana ice cream with brittle and i think cherries? Chef Blais was walking around and greeting patrons, I just wish I had a chance to take a picture with him, but I didn't want to bug him.
(5)Ray L.
As a big Richard Blais fan, I'm happy to say that this was a delicious experience - though the restaurant did show it's age a little, as a little expected from a recently opened establishment. Though confusing I bit, the deconstructed menu grew on me. There's no traditional sequence of starter, salad, soup, primo, entree, etc. You simply pick 1-2 of what you think looks good. But don't confuse these for small plates... the servings are hearty. Juicy Lucy - I think this cheese burger beats any of the ones I've had at Flip burger. This is Blais' best burger. Cod - perfectly cooked with a light crispy batter and moist fish Fries - triple cooked for a good crunch. Served with some type of homemade ketchup... taste buds couldn't place the infused taste... bourbon ketchup maybe? Fried brussel sprouts - delicoius and sturdy. Lightly glazed with a sweet sauce Cheescake - creatively squeezed out like a pudding. Not a traditional slice of cheesecake. Very good. Pineapple upside down cake - very good. One of the heavier desserts. Delicious, but kind of what you'd expect. Chocolate pudding - decadent and yet light at the same time. The elusive 5th star isn't included because the service was a little clunky and needs time to mature. Our server had trouble communicating the dishes... talking too much about some dishes (and all the technicalities) before we even showed any interest in them. Also tended to interrupt conversations... needs to be more conscious of what's going on at the table. With a little more training of the staff, this could be a fiver for me. Would be excited to come back to the area and try it again.
(4)Hieu H.
The Spence makes me excited about Atlanta's evolving culinary scene. After winning Top Chef All-Stars, Richard Blais could have easily struck it out in New York or LA. But he chose to stay and create something that's speaks to Atlanta's palette. Forget the molecular gastronomic gimmicks (though there are subtle touches here and there), Blais really brings his A-Game with dishes like the Oysters and Pearls and the "Juicy Lucky" burger. Show-stoppers include the smoke and mirrors theatrics of the Pork Belly and Octopus entree that's brought to the table encased in smoke. Once the glass cover is removed, you're instantly assaulted with a cloud of smoke revealing luscious pork belly and tender baby octopus. I loved everything about The Spence. From the open kitchen to the amazing bread and light-as-air butter served on a wooden plank. The only dish that felt a little flat was the Uni spaghettini with lobster. It was a little heavy for an appetizer and could have been served as an entree. The salty oceanic taste of the uni was a little lost, and the lobster a little scant. For dessert, the pineapple upside down cake with fois caramel was too cloyingly sweet and the flavor of fois almost non-existant. Everything is quintessentially Richard Blais. A little tongue-in-cheek, and always walking the thin line between hi-brow aesthetics and simplicity. I can really see The Spence becoming a great spot for locals with a surprisingly affordable concise menu and a well-curated wine and cocktail list. The maldito's crutch is prefect for a warm summer night - light and refreshing. Another great recommendation is The Spence's take on a Manhattan with an absinthe cube. A great twist on a classic. Loved how the wine is divided into the "tired and true" and the "leap of faith". I'll always put my money on the unexpected. Looking forward to coming back and trying more of Blais' culinary dishes. Let's just hope he doesn't mistake the girl with the skinny jeans and sky-high stilletos as a stalker!
(4)Sarah K.
Exceptional service. Delicious food. Perfect for "order and share". Try the kale salad and chocolate cake!
(5)Jean-Marc P.
First visit, a business lunch - the food was delicious and the service quick and knowledgeable. We'll be back for dinner soon.
(4)Phillip D.
The disappointment started as soon as we arrived. The food is terrible and the drinks aren't any good either. The ambiance is nice, but I don't think a restaurant can just ignore that people come there to eat too. Steer clear. For more details: 1) The beer menu is terrible. There's nothing wrong with getting creative on the beer list, but this place doesn't have anything worth drinking. This is low hanging fruit for them, start carrying Sweetwater, any Sweetwater, and you'll see instant gains. People like good beer, serve it to them 2) My girlfriend's cocktail was served in a soda bottle. According to her it tasted like a bottle full of "sour pucker" schnapps. I don't know what that tastes like, but it sounds turrrrible. Next easy fix, make tasty cocktails. It isn't hard, people do it ALL the time. 3) The steak tartar was covered in salt. I'm guessing to cover the use of questionable meat? I don't know. It might have been bearable, but there wasn't any good way to wash it down (see point 1). 4) I was there at the prime time of Saturday night and the exchange went like this: Me: I'll have the scallops Waitress: Oh, I'm sorry we are all out Me: Really? that's odd. Waitress: Oh yeah, it's because we source everything from Atlanta Me: Atlanta sourced scallops? Waitress: ah.... Ultimately, 1/3 of the menu was unavailable. There is no excuse for that. When you own a restaurant and want to sell food, you have to buy it first so you can cook it when people ask for it. One entree, ok. Two, that's odd. 1/3 of the menu? Bush league. 5) The service, in general, wasn't good either. Drinks came slow and the timing on bringing the food to the table was all over the place.
(1)J W.
Ask for Rori ! She took care of everything from helping order apps, small plates, mains, and desserts. Definitely have a lil of each! We had empanadas which were delish, the bone marrow with quail eggs which were nothing short of orgasmic. The rigatoni with clams was so good I wish they served this as a main. The lamb was tender and looked too pretty to even eat. Every dish was prepared immaculate and tasted divine. I didn't save room for desert but was delighted to have it. The chocolate pastries and orange angel cake I wouldn't have wanted to miss- worth it! Finally let's talk wine as The Spence had an amazing selection. We went with a cab from Lebanon and a cab from Macedonia. This is the place to branch out and try new foods and wines. You will not be disappointed. Don't forget Rori either she coordinates such a fine dining experience.
(5)James P.
Will be going back.
(5)Jennifer B.
The Spence has the most original, creative, thoughtfully prepared and delicious food and drinks that I have ever enjoyed. My son, his gf and I went on a Monday night - the place was quite full and I was glad we had made a reservation. It is located on 5th right in the Ga Tech area, near typical college semi-fast food places. There is valet parking but he didn't show while I waited. Luckily, I snagged a meter space in the street. The place is attractive - clean and simple decor, which is becoming a little cliched lately. The atmosphere is city sophisticated and really great energy. Richard Blaise was buzzing about and I could also see him preparing food from my vantage point. I felt a little Top Chef starstruck. But the food - wow!!! we started with oysters and pearls of something delicious and bone marrow with hamachi tartare and 2 tiny little fried quail eggs - rich and flavorful. I had the beet, blue cheese, beet and wasabi salad and soft boiled egg plus the grilled shrimp small plate - it was all I could do not to lick my fingers - delicious. I had the Maltido's Crutch drink - also very good. It was just the best meal.
(5)Gabe M.
I always enjoy The Spence. The service is good, the space is cool, and the food is good. We had the oysters and pearls, which we superb. Then we had some sandwiches that were both great. I also got soup which is always served table side. The butternut squash soup was excellent on a rainy day.
(4)Shakira I.
The ambiance is the best part. The waiter and bartender provided superb service and the food was delectable. The wine collection is even better. My new favorite place.
(5)Terry F.
A friend and I went to The Spence on another acquaintence's recommendation. Nice location in Midtown near Georgia Tech. They had valet parking, which came in handy since it was starting to rain when we got there. Service was okay, but we were wondering where our server was a few times. We decided to stick with Pinot Noir, so we tried the Mt. Difficult and the Cristom. This is mostly a small plate place, so we chose the beet salad, lobster knuckle, porcini noodles and pate de campange. For desert, we shared the ricotta cheesecake and had some complementary petit fours.
(3)Sali Y.
I just wasn't impressed. The plank they served my meal on was not large enough to accommodate the meal, and the food was just mediocre. The daily salad was quite yummy, but my fish dish was just ok.
(2)Caroline C.
Yum. The Spence was best restaurant we've tried in a while. Everything we had was pretty good...although some much better than others. The meal started out with some rolls that looked as though they were packaged. Immediately stopped caring about that when I tasted the salty, homemade butter that was smeared on the serving plate. We started out with the Uni Lobster Spaghettini. It was good, the flavors were nice but the dish was cold when it arrived and the noodles over cooked. I liked the flavor but overall, I didn't find it that unique. Regardless, we cleaned the plate because that's what you do when lobster, noodles and butter are involved. Hubs had the Pork Belly and Octopus with BBQ Chickpeas. The chickpeas did not really strike me as BBQ but...who's to say. The dish was good but just that. The most fun part of the dish was the presentation. The star of the show was my fish and brussel sprouts! I believe it was tilefish that was served with ridiculously delicious brussel sprouts. Blais said that he braised them with some sort of vinaigrette. Hands down, they were the best thing we ate. The fish was perfectly cooked and garnished with boiled peanuts. The marriage of all three was delightful. The ambience did leave something to be desired. There is very little room in between tables, so much so that you can hear the conversation of the next table (which says a lot because they bump the jams pretty loud) and waiters have a hard time serving you (without looking awkward) and or hearing you. This makes it difficult for them to be able to explain the dishes to you, etc. Other wise the décor is pretty hip. Definitely was digging the floor to ceiling plaid curtains. The "inspired by section" on the menu does come off as a bit pretentious, but one might think that by looking at the wait staff, too. I would 100% go back and do it all over again.
(4)Jad D.
Had a chance to try out the newest restaurant from Top Chef all-star Richard Blais last night. I was a little apprehensive before going because as a traditionalist chef I'm not a huge fan of the molecular gastronomy movement. I can appreciate the science and creativity behind the food but my tastes are more simple. Overall I was very impressed with the entire meal and service. The space is warm and inviting while adding unique elements such as an open bar and kitchen with two wood burning ovens which add a nice smoky flavor to some of the dishes. The menu is a little difficult to navigate but the waitress knew it inside and out and we tested her knowledge extensibly! The layout made sense once it was explained. We were with another couple and the husband is also a chef with stints as executive at several well known restaurants around town so we were analyzing the food, service, drinks and even flatware! Most of the menu consists of small appetizer plates which can be shared among the table which I would suggest. We also ordered the lamb entree to share. This is not a place where I would order in a traditional manner (appetizer and entree for each person). To REALLY get the full experience you should share 6 small plates and 2 entrees for a table of 4. My only complaint was the size of the desserts. The portion size for the appetizers and mains were adequate but the desserts could stand to be a tad larger. Overall a great experience, amazing service in a cook atmosphere and adequately priced for the quality. Will definitely go back.
(4)Barney B.
So at first I was perplexed by a 'less than 4' star review of this place. and then I walked there. and realized that, ok, this is not quite the location for this kind of place, so the less-than-stellar reviews are part due to the student-plus-tourist mix of folk that might not quite get what Richard is trying with this place..... ....and then I ate there. and I actually get what the goal is. but it's a goal is see off in the distance. it's not quite here. Because really, if you want to hit the goal, you have to deliver. as in, give what is meant to be on the plate. Instead, every question we had was answered with 'oh you didn't get that' and then an ingredient was brought out on a small plate. Or it was met with "hmmmm. I don't know, let me ask why this ingredient wasn't discernible" to be followed with an explanation of "well yes, it was meant to be a hint, almost imperceptible" really?? then why add it to the description? as it was, what we got only resembled the description viscerally, so anything you add to the mysteriousness of the vagueness that people aren't supposed to taste is just a big FUCK YOU of snobby proportions, right? (I mean, wasabi isn't something that even a hint is supposed to be hidden, dude. speck either) Top off ordering something that I was told 10 minutes later had run out, and you just show me that you focused on the periphery and not on the essentials of a well oiled resto. and the periphery is good. don't get me wrong. the space is cool. the concept is cool. even the menu might be cool. I just don't know. because anything we ordered either didn't quite match our extrapolation of what it was supposed to be - or simply didn't exist anymore , so we were writing our own plats du jour, it seemed. and for what we paid....we shouldn't have had to. but a solid two and a half is deserved because this could be a cool place - and the proof is in two things: the 'open' bar concept as well as....the burger - described only as 'juicy lucy' because um doy, why call it a burger!!! - but where it lacks in name, it makes up by making Flip seem pedestrian and causes the diner curl a toe or two. now let's focus on the rest, could we? because I want what I thought might have been on that menu. #cheers #thanks
(2)Andrew D.
Hit and miss. Certainly a great addition to Midtown but I have my own take on the space and the experience. First thing that we noticed when walking in, is that there is no formal bar. Near the entrance towards the front of the restaurant the bartender is in front on a long stretch of ingredients. There are spaces to sit, but even those are pretty close to the front entrance. Just making the note that perhaps this is not the place just to grab a drink. That said, we were here for dinner. We had a few of the cocktails which were all in some degree or another Southern. Both cocktails were good and strong. We then switched to beer. Beer is all from small batch craft brewers. The exception was perhaps the Samuel Smiths Oatmeal which was the only one of the breweries that I had heard of. The beers were good, even if a but pricey at $6-8 a bottle. Drinks along with the service in general seemed to take longer then it should. I suspect the place is just getting its kinks worked out. Waitstaff on the plus side was very knowledgeable of both the food and drink. We sampled the Beef Tar tare hash, oysters, and The Uni Spaghetti. The Uni Spaghetti was for sure the standout of this lot. For entrees we had the Smoked leg of lamb and the Tile fish. I was not familiar with Tile fish but was most impressed with this dish. The fish was flaky and cooked perfectly with a creamy broth consisting of both capers and lemongrass. So good! The lamb had a very nice smoked flavor to it but was a smaller sized portion then perhaps we had anticipated. In going in, I suspect I expected a more refined, less casual experience, so perhaps that is why review is 3 stars. Knowing Concentrics, and how well they do upscale casual I should have known this would be more along those lines. I suspect I will be back, the Juicy Lucy sounds fun, and I need to try their strip. The Tile fish was great so that is probably my biggest call out with this review from only one dine.
(3)Adabelle E.
Love this!!! Such a cute trendy place and a loud but fun atmosphere. Went there for a birthday dinner and say at the chef table having an up close view of the kitchen. I loved the vibe and food. Sounds simple but I strongly recommend the baby kale Cesar salad, delicious! The squid ink rigatoni with bacon and clams was to die for. I will definitely come back to try other dishes!
(5)Paul S.
Oh Richard.... After much anticipation, we finally picked a birthday celebration to be our first of what most likely will be many visits to The Spence. Even though we're both a fan of his other restaurants as well as Top Chef, we hadn't done any prep work on our dinner so everything we experienced was like receiving wonderful little surprises, one after another. The Spence is fun! The ambiance is slightly upscale with a twist of loud and upbeat. The waitstaff is both knowledgeable and on point. Our service was spectacular and full of excellent suggestions. The food... adventurious and awesome. We had the Beet Salad, Bone Marrow, and Lobster Rolls with chicharones. All completely amazing and well composed. The plating was whimsical with class, the portions excellent with flavors that make you stop and say... damn. The highlight of the night ( a slight edge over the lobster rolls mmmmmmm) had to be the marrow... topped with tuna tartare and a fried quail egg served with toast points, it had to be the best marrow I've ever had. Our server even offered to pack up the bone for our dog to feast on when we got home. The best part... reasonably priced! We look forward to our next visit!
(4)Matt C.
Everything that Richard Blais has touched in Atlanta has turned to gold, so my expectations were very high in visiting the Spence. I have been there twice in the past couple of weeks and I must say that the restaurant is good but not great. The menu is very forward thinking in the typical Richard Blais fashion, but unfortunately the portions are small and both times I have left hungry. The highlights are the fried brussel sprouts, oysters & pearls, and the short rib. The space is very slick and good for groups, but at times can be quite loud. It is a good addition for the Tech Square neighborhood which is filled with dreaded chain restaurants. Hopefully the restaurant will hit its stride because I definitely want to come back and continue to workshop at the culinary altar of Richard Blais.
(3)Sophie M.
I love this place. Great food, great service. Interesting and different things on the menu, extensive wine list, cool cocktails.
(5)Christine L.
I have admired Richard Blais from Top Chef and was so excited to experience The Spence. The set-up and ambiance was chic though sometimes too loud to have a conversation at our table and be heard. The experience that Richard envisioned for this restaurant did not come through. There was no warm interactions of the staff with the diners. I had the wahoo. While the flavor was not lacking from the chorizo and other accompaniments, the fish was dried out from being overcooked. My husband had the lamb and enjoyed it for the most part. The presentation of this dish was grand.... Perhaps they are still working through some things, but I'll be waiting to pay homage again.
(3)Kristie K.
Last night three friends and I enjoyed an amazing dinner at The Spence. We did expect an exciting, adventurous meal (it's Richard Blais after all) - but we did not except such an incredible wine list and such impeccable service from our knowledgeable waiter, Peter. Seriously, he made us feel like VIPs the entire dinner, he educated us about the wines and the foods, and he laughed with us when, after each round, our plates were squeaky clean. As appetizers we enjoyed the bread, the gnocchi and the cheese tray. I would normally never order a cheese tray, but Peter steered us in the right direction and we were all impressed. Our main dishes included the lamb, the short ribs and the fish - and everyone enjoyed their entree tremendously. As sides, we selected the grits, the squash and the brussels sprouts. Again, I would never normally order brussels sprouts, but Peter encourages us, and The Spence's are to die for! Finally, we ended our meal with the deconstructed blueberry cheesecake, the blood orange cake, and the milk chocolate, peanut, burnt banana ice cream - which, not surprisingly, was the one round of food which nobody shared. Finally, after such an incredible meal and experience, the icing on the cake was the fact that it didn't cost us an arm and a leg. Everything is reasonably priced, which - of course - makes indulging all the more enjoyable.
(5)Lisa L.
Not a fan of The Spence. I met a friend at this former Globe spot and admired the dramatic high ceilings and rustic tables and fixtures. When I arrived there were deep fried sweet breads on our table, an apparent error mistakenly rung up for another table. I ordered a March Hare cocktail, which was a bourbon, tea, lemon concoction that was yummy and playful with a ginormous ice cube dangling from a string. I started in on the sweetbreads and quit after a couple bites. They were crispy, sort of, with a mustard and caper sauce and dotted with an overbearing lemon ... something. This was the first time I had sweet breads so I'm not entirely sure how they should taste, but I know I don't understand the attraction. They tasted a little organ'y, but didn't have a lot of flavor aside from the accompaniments and were slightly chewy. I'd much rather have a nice crispy sweet vidalia onion ring. I wasn't fond of the menu that sat in front of me. I can't decide if it was pretentious or contrived, but there just weren't enough things that appealed to me and I was a little confused. Normally, when I'm at a restaurant offering small plates, I'm tempted to order way more than I know I'm able to eat because everything sounds so tasty. Not so at The Spence. We settled on the Bone Marrow, Tuna Tartare and Fried Quail Egg to start. Is this an attempt to combine the year's trendiest food items into one dish? I'm a little annoyed by this. There's no need to mess with bone marrow because it's perfect all by itself with some toasted crusty bread. The tuna tartare was overly lemony (what's with the lemon overkill at this place?) to the extent that i couldn't taste the tuna. The fried quail egg, while tasty, was wasted on this mess of a dish. We also shared a decent beet salad with a soft boiled egg that was nicely dressed. Keeping with the beet theme, we decided to try the beet papperdelle with duck, spinach and orange, which was recommended by our server. This one made sense and the flavors were beautifully complimentary. However, the pasta was overcooked, creating a viscous and mushy texture that was unappealing. My friend opted for a side of Squash Brulee that was a delicious custard of summer and butternut squash. This was definitely one of the highlights. For dessert, I ordered the Pecan Treacle Tart with Ice Cream and got something that I didn't expect. At the risk of sounding petty, I didn't get a tart. When I decided on this dessert, I pictured the pastry chef's interpretation of a pecan pie. What I got was some cake in a tart dish. It was a scrumptious moist cake, though, prepared with ground pecans and carrying a lovely brown sugar flavor from the treacle with a contrasting salty sprinkling on top. A small scoop of vanilla ice cream melted on top of the cake and I was happy to end my meal this way. Don't plan on having a conversation at The Spence, unless you want to repeat yourself or yell. It's really loud. I read previous reviews that talked about poor service, but our server was a welcome exception to an otherwise disappointing experience. Peter, with all of his glorious red hair, was friendly, efficient, helpful and appropriately distant. To end our night, as we waited for our cars at the valet stand, I noticed a sign on the podium that said, "$3" and "Gratuities Appreciated". I asked the attendant if the $3 amount was a suggested gratuity since The Spence website said that valet parking was complimentary. It is not complimentary, but $3, and since I rarely carry much cash, I'm glad that my friend was able to add to the $2 I had in my wallet. I don't see myself coming back to The Spence. There are too many other phenomenal chef-driven restaurants in this city for me to return.
(2)Sarah N.
It pains me a little to write this review as I think of Richard Blais as a bit of a local rockstar. That said, after a much anticipated dinner at the Spence last night, I have to say I was a little disappointed. Not "no way will I ever go back" disappointed, but more "really? that's what I've been waiting for?" disappointed. Service: the service here was fine. Friendly enough, but not particularly warm or inviting. There certainly wasn't anything wrong with it, but it didn't stand out in the way most restaurants at this price-point do. Ambiance: warm feeling woods in an otherwise cold space work really well and the open kitchen is a fun touch. Not a huge fan of communal high-boy seating, which is peppered throughout the restaurant - might be better for a group but as a party of two, we asked for a proper table. Cocktails: I can only speak to the March Something-or-other, which was a solid bourbon drink with tea and honey. Good cocktail but nothing to go writing home about. Meals: Per the suggestion of our server, we opted to dine tapas-style and ordered the bone marrow (solid, not super innovative), the foie gras (really underwhelming - least favorite dish of the evening), the beet salad (excellent - the wasabi and candied nuts were a nice touch), the squash creme-brule (very sweet - should have ordered this for dessert), the chocolate ravioli with duck (such high hopes for this one - conceptually awesome, executed mediocrely including fairly dry duck) and the brussels sprouts (the clear winner of the table - almost ordered a second round). Menu notes: as with many restaurants in Atlanta, their menu changes seasonally. As we learned, the menu online is not always the same menu you will get in the restaurant. We are also usually dessert people but opted out after what we felt was a let-down of a meal. Parking: valet on the street which is $3 or you can find street parking, depending on how crowded that area of town is.
(3)Heewon Y.
We went on a Friday night for a family dinner to celebrate my husband's birthday. Everything we ordered from drinks and appetizers to dessert was incredible. The oyster & pearls was definitely the favorite dish of the night. So good, we had to order some more. The lamb entree I had was phenomenal, and only made better with the side of Brussels sprouts. The MIL raved about her black bass. The presentation of the liquid nitrogen ice cream dessert was a nice finish to the fantastic meal. Th only thing that could have made our experience at The Spence better would have been to meet the man himself, Richard Blais.... and yes, that also happened!! He was gracious enough to take some pictures with us. What a perfect night!!!
(5)Ryan S.
My girlfriend and I came in a month ago before the Kings of Leon concert. This was my second time here and I ordered the seared duck breast with sunchoke and turnips. We also had a charcuterie plate. My girlfriend had the carrot cavatappi. Food was outstanding period. The only difference between my first visit was the service was a little lackluster. Not friendly or informative. Our waitress the first time was over the top and one of the best servers I've had. Asides from that, an amazing atmosphere and feel and I'll be back.
(4)Dio S.
Went to The Spence this weekend and ate the following: -Oysters&Pearls: decent but the pearls burst out into too sour of a taste -Fried "sea creatures" with sea urchin aioli: the frying is done very, very nicely and makes other fried dishes like the cod entree or sweetbreads seem like good bets. sea urchin in aioli was not a great idea though...the normally fresh taste completely replaced by a stale taste bordering on rankness. -Shaved kampachi+veal with some dressing: unremarkable...I'd much rather eat straight up kampachi sushi. -Bone marrow+hamachi tartare+fried quail egg: very heavy, but works nicely, especially the quail egg. with toast so good, I can eat this for breakfast. -smoked octopus rigatoni in a bottarga sauce: superb! octopus with perfect texture and flavor. delicious sauce although the bottarga sort of all melted into some goo, maybe by design. -mac and headcheese: a side dish. the execution is unremarkable but the idea is nice. Double the ratio of headcheese and it'll taste good no matter what. Also had 5 cocktails total and an ice cream dessert. Cocktails are fun and quite creative, though I found a couple of them to be too sour. The dinner rolls and coconut butter killed...I ordered a second helping while my wife ate the dessert. Overall, I found enough good things to like about Spence. Menu reads a lot like Octopus Bar's, very heavily Asian influenced, very keen to overload with heavy tastes, often could use a more delicate touch. The creativity is there but it's more Gatropub Blais than Alchemist Blais (think Element from 5 years ago). I like that you can make reservation...since you can't at a place like H&F or Octopus Bar. The space and vibe are likable but the open bar design is terribly-conceived: on two short rails perpendicular to the bartenders' prep area sit the customers, and the bartenders prep with their *back* to the customers, AND it's in the center of the restaurant so they have people to look at in front and to the sides of them! So if you sit at the "bar" you can't use the time-honored technique of using eye contact with bartender to get stuff done. We drank at the bar while waiting to be seated, and during ordering and paying (*both* getting the check and giving the card) had to stare at the back of bartenders (and it's not like they are shorthanded) for very, very long time, without anyone ever turning around to check. I could see we weren't the only ones frustrated by this. Complaints aside, a solid enough place with attractive menu.
(4)Esteban A.
Only eat here is you want something that will blow your mind. Otherwise go to Chili's.
(5)Jonathan G.
My wife and I joined another couple at The Spence on a Saturday evening. The restaurant is located downtown on 5th Street, just off Spring. Parking is valet. The dining area is open and high-ceilinged, but not carpeted at all so the noise level was very loud, at times so loud that it was difficult to carry on a conversation. The menu changes daily but on this night, most of the entrees were pork based. I do not eat pork or shellfish so there were literally only one or two items on the menu that I could eat. There were no vegetarian entrees. I settled on a salad, the black cod entree, plain and french fries. The cod dish was $33, which was the most expensive dish on the menu and the waiter did not offer to reduce it even though I ordered it plain. Our waiter was British and very formal. He was attentive but seemed a bit exasperated when my fellow diners and I asked for details about the menu items. The salad was fine, although the waiter never asked me for my choice of dressing. The cod was presented well, but it was not hot at all. The waiter apparently forgot to put in the french fry order, so those arrived about 10 minutes later, after I had finished the small portion of lukewarm cod. The fries were good, however. For dessert, I ordered a ricotta cheesecake which was tasty and creatively presented. All in all - this restaurant seems more concerned with style over substance. I will not be coming back.
(2)George P.
I have read many reviews about the Spence saying they didn't like the portion size. I myself am looking for quality not quantity. If quantity is important to you, I would suggest The Olive Garden. I think they have unlimited salad, bread sticks and pasta for about 12.99. Now, onto the meal. We shared several tapas(the Spanish translation is small plates.) Some were just good; others were amazing! Here's the good: The oysters and pearls was a refreshing dish. It is a raw oyster with frozen crème fraiche(fancy sour crème.) It was good. The Fried Critters is your standard calamari, shrimp...etc. It was good but not out of this world. The foie gras was a terrine. Now the amazing: We started out with the bone marrow. Now for those who have never had bone marrow it is best described as if a steak and butter got busy and had a baby. It is meat butter. I would not recommend eating it without a piece of bread. What Blais does that makes his marrow stand out is he smokes it. It is possibly the best bone marrow I have ever had. The tuna tartar added a nice component to the dish and the quail egg was unnecessary. The mac and head cheese was absolutely mind blowing. Don't ask what head cheese is(it's not cheese,) just try it. I would absolutely go back! Blais has redeemed himself in my eyes after a mediocre hamburger restaurant and a great hotdog stand.
(4)Jade D.
Spence needs work. LOVE love love Richard Blais from Top Chef and couldn't wait to try his food, but unfortunately, was very disappointed.... The problems started with the menu--it was, well, difficult. Difficult to read: the type is all caps and everything is bunched together; and more importantly, difficult to put your meal together esp if you're with a large party and not every one just wants to share. Many small plates and only 4 entrees so I made my meal up of (3) small plates which is normally okay by me but none of them were scrumptious really...Foodie ingredients aside, what I want to walk away from each dish with is that they are out of this world The service was good but on the slow side, as well somone in my party wanted a white wine spritzer...I get it, they shouldnt...and the waiter didnt feel she should either and kept trying to talk her into something else. Who cares, just give her what she wants (we report to her and have learned to just do that...hahaha)... The waiter brought 2 of the 3 as appetizers and the third with everyone else's entrees, which was weird, in retrospect, shouldnt he have brought 1 as my app and 2 as my entree ,but ,no matter no matter, it wouldnt have helped I suppose... The fluke with fried chicken was interesting and the cucumbers complemented it well, but it was on the small side, and the breading pulled away from the chicken which were cubes which I didn't like. It was decent overall. The bone marrow topped with Tuna Tartare and Quail Egg was greasy with a weird fatty consistency and didnt work... perhaps I am just not a fan of Bone Marrow as I read others that loved this dish and the waiter named it as one of his faves. I also had Beef Tartare which was fair/ I did not finish. I was with a large party and no one really raved about anything being delicious except the Brussel Sprouts that the table shared. These were great. But pretty disappointing overall ... Gorgeous place but the food's gotta shine--and it didnt :(
(2)J1 J.
Parents took me here for my birthday a few weeks ago. I'm a big fan of the Top Chef series, liked Blais on the show given his penchant for molecular gastronomy and avant garde cuisine. I did have pretty big expectations given what I've seen him make on the show. Don't kill me, but the Spence, unfortunately, didn't live up to them. Sure there were interesting enough items - oysters with pearls made of creme fraiche in a tapioca form. Sea creatures with uni tartar sauce. Bone marrow with tuna tartare. I was hoping they'd have a sweetbreads dish or uni spaghettini which I saw on their sample menu online, but to my chagrin, those weren't being served the night we went. After ordering, we were given pre-meal dinner rolls with some coconut butter - ran more towards the sweet/dessert side of things, and was a bit off-putting prior to starting a meal, when i was craving something savory to start. First up, we had the oysters with pearls. The tapioca creme fraiche element was interesting, but there were only four oysters, the oysters themselves were small and honestly all I could taste was the vinaigrette they were put in. Also had the fried sea creatures. Mainly a combination of shrimp and calamari and vegetables, maybe 1-2 oysters thrown in. Fried well, seasoned OK. Breading was laid on pretty thick for my tastes. The uni tartar sauce was - well, it barely tasted of uni. I'm a big fan of uni, and I guess I was expecting more of that briney, sea water flavor. At the end of the day, the dish seemed like something I could get at chain restaurant. I think the standouts of the night were the trout and bone marrow. The trout was perfectly cooked, with really crisp skin, decently presented, but otherwise pretty straightforward, with little extras or interesting elements. Also good was the bone marrow with tuna tartare, which was prepared well, lots of flavorful, unctuous marrow to scrape off and complimented nicely by the tuna tartare. We didn't have any dessert as none looked particularly interesting (ricotta cheesecake, panna cotta). So I left wondering, where did the Blais I saw on Top Chef go? Where was the guy that put salmon and white chocolate together in the same dish, the guy that smoked raz al hanout into his food? Did we just go on an off night, when the menu options weren't as interesting? Maybe. Did he scale his menu back to better address the Atlanta food palette or please his investors? Maybe. Did I have unreasonable expectations of his restaurant based on what I had seen on the show? Probably. I guess I was partially expecting food along the lines of Achatz's Alinea or Dufresne's WD-50 - which I've only read and dreamed about but haven't actually tasted. Don't get me wrong - the experience was decent enough, and I'm happy Blais has set up camp in Atlanta and admire his inventive streak. Just want to see more of it, and maybe that'll happen if I decide to go again sometime.
(3)Jen H.
Went for dinner while in town for work. I had many mixed reviews so was open minded when dining. I am from the gulf coast so I am used to a decent size oyster. Ordered the oyster and pearls to start. Very good, clean oysters, but a bit small. Also has the fois gras which was a good portion, but a patte which I didn't expect. For dinner, had the pork belly. Sides were amazing! Pork belly was a little too fatty compared to what I've had, but the meat of it was delicious. For desert, had the honey cake which was also very good. Service was on point. Was surprised at how slow the restaurant was. Would go back.
(4)Fred J.
Mr Blais, I enjoy both FlB and HD1, and was really looking forward to The Spence. A friend had gone recently, really enjoyed it, etc. I didn't have the same experience. Let's talk about the service. I got there before my friend, and was pointed to wait at the bar. Ordered a beer, friend showed, and she went to the hostess to say we were all here. I was pointedly asked to close out my single beer tab by the hostess, which frankly, was odd as we were going to sit down not six feet away. The waiter dug through the tip jar to bring me change for my $6.38 Clown Shoes. Theme...Clown Shoes. Same bar waiter was now our dinner waiter. Don't get me wrong, he was very nice, but the service was up and down. To start with, we ordered the Roasted Veal and Kampachi appetizer. What came were battered chicken pieces and kampachi. No one talked about substitutions. Plate was very small, but the taste was okay. Let's just total this up, because I don't like long reviews. Kale Caesar, Thai Brussel Sprouts and the Juicy Lucy were really good. The Treacle Tart wasn't a tart, as noted by another reviewer, and the Milk Chocolate, Peanut and Burnt Banana Ice Cream desserts were overly sweet. Besides the kampachi, I think we had one other item, but I can't remember it for the life of me. The last comment about the service is someone would bring the plate, put it on the table and whisper what it was. Then, the waiter would come over and explain it. Don't think I'll be returning.
(2)Greg C.
Service was great. We were running on a tight schedule, and they were able to accomodate us. Ambiance was interesting with the deconstructed/open-air bar and kitchen. Menu was mostly interesting, trendy small plates. I could see it being overwhelming for non-foodies or people with dietary restrictions. While most of the plates sounded interesting, the execution did not live up to the promise. All our dishes were well cooked and tasted fine, but were just a little off from our expectations. For example: We ordered a marrow bone with tuna tartar. I expected the tuna to be served to the side of the marrow bone, to serve as a contrast to the marrow flavor. Instead, the tuna was served on top of the bone, which completely overwhelmed the delicate flavors of the tartar. We also ordered the chocolate and hazelnut duck entree. Partially due to the brevity of the menu descriptions, I was expecting a sauce that incorporated chocolate and hazelnut in an interesting way. Instead we got duck in a typical fruit reduction sauce with some chocolate hazelnuts on the side. It was well prepared and tasty, but I've eaten duck that tasted like it a million other places. In the end, The Spence is completely competent as a slightly upscale, trendy eatery. Unfortunately, despite the promise of the menu, the dishes lack that special something that separates great restaurants from excellent restaurants.
(4)Jorge O.
Don't understand how people can write a bad review about this place as maybe they had a bad experience buy mine and my wife's was outstanding. We had an earlier reservation (6:30) and found the restaurant easily, valet parking was simple as well. We were promptly seated and our server was extremely knowledgeable of the menu, wines and drinks on the menu. My wife and I opted to eat the small plates and appetizers as it gave us the opportunity to sample more of the food. We started with the oysters with pearls and fritto misto which were great. The oysters were so good, we ended up ordering five more plates throughout the night. Also ordered the trotters, octopus, bone marrow, foie gras and the pecan tart for dessert. We have eaten at most of Atlanta's high end restaurants and The Spence ranks right up there with the best. It doesn't feel very pretentious, the food is excellent and the service was top notch. An added treat was that Richard Blais came to our table and chatted with us and allowed us to take a picture with him. He checked up on us during our meal and others as well which is nice to see at a restaurant. My only minor complaint (very minor) was that it was a bit loud but not so much that I couldn't talk with my wife at a reasonable volume. We will be coming back here time and time again as we found a restaurant that compares well with other places in Atlanta such as Canoe, Muss & Turner's, Bacchanalia, Holeman and Finch and many others. Eat here, you won't be disappointed and if you can order a lot of small plates so you can taste a bunch of the great offerings.
(5)Polo C.
I come here often for lunch, by myself or with guests. I like their "little lunch special" a lot, which includes a soup , salad and a sandwich. All these changes roughly daily. At $12, I think that's very reasonably priced and fulfilling. Their servers are always friendly! And service is fast. I'll go back again and again.
(5)Kelsi V.
I had the Monkfish & it was amazing! Great service & lovely atmosphere.
(5)Ryan L.
With high hopes of a great dinner with friends who were in town turned uncomfortable and unappetizing. Everything started off fine we ordered a couple bottles of wine with drinks while relaxing and looking over the menu. The waitress soon came out and told us some specials along with some restaurant week features (a set three course meal, sounded well). Shortly after we ordered our food knowing some would come out as an appetizer. The first course came out about 10 minutes after and then the problems started. We waited for almost an hour after our first course and we couldn't even find our waitress to ask what the holdup is. Sense the kitchen is right in front of you I could see all our food just sitting there in the cold no hot lamps and just starting to expire. To pass the time I go to the restroom and when I start my walk back to the table who do I see but our waitress cracking another waiter back right in the middle of the restaurant and getting in peoples way. The staff seemed way to comfortable and unprofessional something I would see in a 1 or 2 star atmosphere. We finally get our food after uncomfortably asking twice is our food almost here, which I think is the worst thing to have to do. Ready to feast down on my duck breast with much anticipation, soon to be utterly disappointed by the lack of heat in any part of my meal. The meal was cooold and this set me over the top with annoyance. Knowing I just waited 2 hours for a cold meal is not only ridiculous but so unprofessional for any restaurant especially one that is supposed to be at this level. I kept to myself and eat the horrible chewy undercooked meal, knowing I still have dessert coming. They remove our plates and we order another bottle of wine getting ready for some of our desserts to come out. I see a food runner from the rear come out with two of the desserts and place them on the table and leave, feeling as maybe she couldn't hold all three and went to get the third. After 5min pass I knew she wasn't coming back and I would again have to find our waitress from hiding. I finally see her walking pass our table when I speak aloud, I think you forgot a dessert with my meal. Her scowling remark at me asking for a dessert that I ordered was way out of line. I can see her stomping her feet and throwing a bottle of wine so loud in the trash it echoes through the restaurant while she types in the lost dessert and comes back saying it will take some time to come out. I can see the waitress in the back talking to another waitress while looking and gesturing towards our table as if we were so rude for waiting 2 hours and asking for our food, and then to set it off they asked me where there dessert that never came out was. That must be the rudest thing to do! I have never been so unhappy with a meal and service before. Richard if you read this as a suggestion have your chefs in a more professional outfit instead of tie dies shirts and hipster gear and please try and teach your staff about customer service. I did not see you in the restaurant and maybe they act better when you're around but when you are not there this happens. Sorry for the bad review but felt it was needed.
(1)Anastasia T.
Why, oh, why Richard? Why you got to go ruin a good reputation like that, man? Flip Burger is awesome, you seem to know your stuff on TV, but have you already been swallowed by your Top Chef persona? Are you just another "celeb" irrelevant to actual food service? Are you like the Fabios and the Rachael Ray's of this culinary world? Don't you know that when you open up a "fine" dining restaurant in a foodie town like ATL, you need to be supervising everything to the "t"? I mean, I don't expect the owner/chef to cook for the patrons, at least not every night. I do expect them to have a hands-on- role in their own restaurant. Just selecting the menu (indeed very interesting menu) is not sufficient to put your signature under this facility. Let me just say before I explain, that if anyone wants to try this restaurant for a relatively low price, you should totally go: chances are your service will be screwed up, but they will comp you most of your dinner, so go! To me, it is not worth it, and that's why I am not trying this place again, not with all the other great restaurants I've yet to try. Money is one thing I like to save on, but not the only one: time is also important saving, and I will definitely not waste any more on this place. Four of us, Monday night. Place busy, but not enough to justify how slow the service was. But slowness wast not the only problem. Liked the wine list and ordered a Greek wine I rarely see here (Assyrtiko Sigalas, awesome white). It took them about 20 minutes to bring it (cause as they said they could not find the bottle!). May I just say, they charge $13 for a glass of it. My date and I decided to do the small plate thing, while the in-laws went with the full/regular plates: Juicy Lucy (cheeseburger) and Crispy chicken. We ( D and I) ordered the following: Bone marrow; kale salad; fries; sweet breads. I was SO looking froward to the bone marrow plate. That and the sweet breads came first. We tried to wait for the other plates to come so we can all eat together, but our food started getting cold. So we did start eating. Long story short. It was about 30' later that my in-laws got their food. And our other two small plates (salad and fries) came even after that, after we were definitely done with the rest of the food. It was just a disaster! We were so frustrated! We complained and they comped us my in-laws food (I guess it didn't matter that we got the salad last, but anyway). The food was not even that great: the bone marrow was 95% fat and a little too salty (bone marrow is fatty, but not that fatty). The sweet breads were good; the kale salad was average, and the fries were very good, as very good was the burger. But what does that say about a high-end restaurant when the best dishes are the burger and the fries? It says, stick with FLIP, Richard Blais!
(2)Shannon H.
Everything is so delicious, and our waiter was very charming without being pushy. The only "complaints" would be that the food is just slightly above room temp instead of hot and the portions of the "main courses" are closer to tapas size. But the flavors are great!
(4)Nicci R.
My husband and I went with a friend in a wheel chair over lunch. We were really unhappy to discover that the only entryway was up a few stairs. We went around the property and saw two patio options completely blocked by huge stone planters. The staff had to move stone planters and furniture so we could enter which created quite a scene unfortunately. Once seated, the restaurant has a nice atmosphere. We ordered the pork belly bahn mi, burger and soup/salad/sandwich combo as entrees. Burger was too charred and just okay. The bahn mi was pretty good and rich tasting. The chilled soup was poured from a can steaming from dry ice, i guess. Really everything was just average, except dessert. We ordered the cheesecake which came out completely deconstructed in the form of airy ricotta foam balls and crushed chocolate cookie crust piles. Very pretty and tasted great, except there really wasn't much to eat. When we were ready to leave, they has recreate the earlier scene by moving the patio furniture and huge planters AGAIN to let us out.
(3)Chip P.
The first time in months that Bob has asked me on a date and I'm curious. Then he tells me we are going to the Spence. I am dressed in seconds flat. I pull out the very one and only seersucker jacket with white tailored pants. Looking my best and feeling it we enter. The bar is not a bar but the island in your rich friends kitchen. People that seem to be party goers mix drinks and keep you company. They return with your check. When a table becomes available you get it. The food. 4 stars is all the food. The lobster pasta we had was done in a uni sauce that I will dream about until death. The lamb was well seasoned. The pineapple upside down cake so great. The downfall was a "roll" that was served as we sat down. It was one of those roll's you got in a 24 roll case as a kid. Dry and boring. I thought it might be a joke but no one around was laughing. I loved having dinner here and have planned my return. I just hope Bob is paying oh I mean planning our return.
(4)Dean H.
We enjoyed the Sunday Supper special of 4 courses with wine parings which is an amazing bargain. Beet salad was excellent but the marrow bone with tuna and quail eggs was the hit. Chicken roast with lemon curd tasted much better than is sounds. Fried cauliflower and bean side with Asian sauce wa my favorite. Strawberry-rhubarb cobbler was good. Service was excellent but slowed as the place filled. The outside patio looked great but it was raining. The regular menu is a la carte and it would be easy to spend a lot. There is large list of familiar and unusual wines well priced. On Thursday evening early, the bar was very quiet.
(5)David B.
Super cool, molecular concept. Valet parking outside. It is located in midtown in a safe well lit area. Design is modern. Highlight is the hanging bar area where the upper bar that holds bottles is hanging from bolted ceiling supports. The music was old school hip hop (Dr Dre, Snoop, Outkast, etc. etc.) bringing me back to happier times when hip hop had something other to focus on than money, alcohol, and shouting out to the next rapper your trying to produce. The tables in my area were slightly close, but I'm not complaining. Our waiter was knowledgeable. There is possibly some Tom Keller inspiration (the first thing I noticed on the menu was "oyster and pearls". The menu changes daily which from a patron's perspective sounds exciting and edgy, and from an owner business perspective means that if they didn't sell the hell out of scallops the night before, yet sold all their tuna, they just eliminate fish from the menu and leave scallops as the only seafood entree option...(this is what happened last night). No big deal, because I like scallops. The menu concept is set up like tapas style. For appetizers we had the tuna tar tar on a marrow bone (femur of cow) with a fried quail egg. WOW!!! The presentation was excellent. The marrow and bone were oven cooked, browned and brushed in oil. They retained a smokey flavor to them likely from the wood burning oven. The fattiness of the marrow and quail egg eliminated any taste of the tar tar. The toasted bread that came with the entree was slightly overcooked leaving a burnt taste when combined with marrow, tuna, and egg. This was a show stopper however. I would order again. We also ordered the lobster knuckle sandwich appetizer. It came on a sweet, fresh bun with pickled relish and celery. I loved it. The salad was a Caesar concept but made with kale. I'm used to blanched kale, but I have to say this was interesting and not my favorite but not bad. The texture of kale to me is better fit for blanching and then cooked in oil and lightly salted with lemon. For an entree I had the short ribs, which were "roast-beefy" in taste, fatty and succulent. There was a nice balance of salty and sweet. For garnish sweet carrots and a blended white potato starch. I will be back here and give the place a high rating.
(4)Ben B.
I came in for lunch and I really want to like this place since it is so close to GT. However, it was extremely disappointing. I ordered the lunch special ($11) which came with a half of a pulled pork sandwich, a 'canned' soup, and a garden salad. Service was good. The atmosphere is pretty cool. The food - utter meh. The sandwich - The best of the bunch and still disappointing. The pork was good but the sandwich had too much mayo and was overall bland and weird. It was a strange mix of bbq and curry (which could have been awesome but wasn't.) The bread was toasted in butter (think Zaxby's). The soup - Cool Presentation. It came out as a jar of crispy onions, peanuts, and other ingredients which the waiter poured hot cream of brocolli soup over. It was warm but bland. The salad - Worst salad I've had in a while. The greens and ingredients seemed ok but it was drowning in bad dressing. It had thin sliced radish, onions, mixed greens. This place seems to be all style and no substance. Perhaps the other entrees are better but what I had was extremely mediocre.
(2)Jonathan D.
From the minute you step in this place, it's like a playful slap in the face from your buddy. It's a little startling, but you know it's meant as a sign of affection. Much has been made of the deconstructed bar space _ where the bartenders, booze, etc. are out in the open and not partitioned behind a counter top. It's jarring but pleasant and sets the tone for the whole space and the menu. As I was enjoying the second appetizer and groping for the right word to describe the total experience, the waiter articulated it in a conversation with the next table over: whimsical. Thanks, Kevin. The oysters and pearls were delicious. The shellfish themselves had a lot of flavor (and a difficult-to-remember Japanese name), while the frozen cream-and-citrus, dippin-dot-like accompaniments added the perfect accent. I enjoyed the snapper tostada, too. Spicy fish and tortillas make a great pair. But for the biggest gimmick of all, the kitchen produced a pork belly entree that comes with its own smoke-filled glass dome. To be honest, I'm not sure if the smoke enhanced my dining experience, but I give the place a thumbs-up for trying. It's the kind of stuff I've read about at daring restaurants like Alinea in Chicago but haven't been exposed to here in Atlanta before. So i think Blais has some lead time before the newness of the trick wears off. I didn't love the pork belly itself. In other places where I've had it as a main dish, the piece seemed more compact and less blubbery. Not sure if that's due to a different cut, or a way of cooking that renders out more of the fat. The cocktail I ordered was solid, but very vermouthy. After a few sips the pungency did recede, though. And the decor throughout the restaurant is pleasing _ somehow they managed to balance kitschy with sleek and industrial. Overall, a solid experience. I'll plan to go back.
(4)K K.
The food was great and our server was friendly and knowledgeable. The tuna tartare, corn brûlée, cauliflower, and the burnt banana and chocolate dessert were standouts. We didn't try the Juicy Lucy but I think I would if I went back. Few places have so much whimsy and still taste this good.
(4)Christopher B.
Mistake on my part. I posted this under Ecco before. Apparently I had drunk too much of the lovely Viura! This place was a delight. A very good waiter helped it along, but the noise didn't. The high;ight dish were oysters with some horseradish pearls (nitro frozen), so they came as pearls and as they thawed they spread over the raw briny oyster. Oh yeah! The desserts were weak - a really bold chocolate creation would have worked wonders. they did have a viura from Rioja on the wine list - and that is both a rarity and a good thing!
(4)Kathy J.
I'm sad to write this review, but feel like The Spence should hear it, if they care about Yelp reviews. My husband and I were excited to try The Spence while visiting Atlanta. We decided to course things out, starting with the oysters and pearls. I love mignonette on oysters, but these pre-dressed oysters tasted so much like vinegar, you couldn't taste anything else. Feeling like it was just an "off" dish, we moved onto the canned soup, which we thought was a clever presentation and one we've seen before. There was no can opening reveal, just lukewarm soup in an already-open can poured into the bowl. Ok, but only lukewarm and lackluster. Our final attempt was a pasta dish made with shell pasta and braised beef. This one was so overly salted, that we each took a bite and sent it back. We ended it there, skipping the short rib and dessert because everything had been so dismal. Went to another restaurant on the way back to our hotel, as it was our anniversary and we felt that the dinner was a disappointment and honestly, we were still hungry. We're fans of Blais, but felt like his level of expertise and care wasn't reflected in our experience.
(1)Mayet C.
The Spence was one of the things we looked forward on our first trip to Atlanta. One of my friends loved Richard Blais. There were 9 of us. We were seated at the chefs table. It was a Tuesday night and the restaurant wasn't very full at 7:30 p.m. nor did it get really busy all night. It took a while for our server, Mike to greet us. We could tell that he was already a bit flustered when we arrived. Our drinks took a while to arrive and we had to flag him over a few times to get service. We waited a while for drink refills. We tried everything on the menu except for a couple of sides dishes. The plating and the plates were beautiful. The food itself lacked seasoning and was just short of being right. The crudo didn't have any salt at all. The squash blossoms stuffed with pimento lost the stuffing during the frying. The bone marrow tuna tartare, while tasty just didn't have enough of either component. The rigatoni was tasty. The Juicy Lucy was tasty and the fries were yum. The steamed mussels were ordered in the beginning but came last when we were almost done with the meal. The boucheron with fried tomatillos was really just sliced cheese with a couple of tomatillo croutons. The short rib was good although the potatoes that came in it wasn't salted at all. The pork belly was tender but needed seasoning as well. The fried cauliflower was greasy and needed more flavors of lime and fish sauce. Mike recommended the corn brûlée side dish. This dish was way too sweet to go with any of the savory dishes-would have made a terrific dessert. We were also not given spoons to eat the corn brûlée and he wasn't available for us to ask for spoons so we had to eat it using our fork. The pork terrine needed salt. We also tried the beef tartare, and foie gras, which were both okay. The worst part of our experience was the service. Our server was unavailable most of the time. He was short with his answers when we had questions. His recommendations on portions for each dish was way off. It was obvious that there wasn't a manager present. We expected more from a Richard Blais restaurant. It could have been great.
(2)Erin L.
The Spence is just great. Delicious and slightly molecular but totally accessible; cheap enough to try a bunch of different things; great bartenders and staff. They've got communal tables in the bar area if you don't have a reservation. The most amazing thing about this place is how open it is. The room is cavernous and there are literally no walls, counters, or even a bar separating you from the kitchen or the bar. The chefs work at essentially a tall table at the front of the room; i have no idea how they can turn out such great cooking in such small space. Bone marrow app is amazing and rich; the gazpacho was different and refreshing, and the burger is even special here. Get the corn creme brulee as a side dish, for sure. I wish they had a slightly longer cocktail list... they can obviously make anything, as the bar is teeming with good alcohol, but the cocktail list was only about 5 options long. No one wants to come up with more options? Not even a whiskey/bourbon cocktail listed. The fizzy gin one was superb, however... Read more here, with pictures: eattalk.net/2012/08/post…
(4)Thomas W.
What a disappointment. I have long been excited about Richard Blais's dream restaurant being placed in Atlanta. I expected this to be another Atlanta Gem- something to compete with my big three: Rathbun's Steak, Restaurant Eugene and Bacchanalia. What I got this past Friday night was another Flip Burger: The food was pretty good, the music was way too loud, the service border-lined sucked, the bar menu was awful, the ambiance was terrible. I was so thoroughly disappointed with the Spence it's hard to talk about any one area...but I'll try. The menu was in the smallest print I've ever seen on a menu. Nothing jumps out at you. It's hard to even see where one dish begins and the next one ends. It's so poorly designed it's hard to understand what the person who designed it was thinking. The sound- if you want to be the cool-party place, by all means play loud music. However, understand that it takes away from the food. There is nothing pleasant or appealing about being blown away with Rock music while your trying to enjoy would should be wonderful food or wine. The bar drinks- fruit on top of fruit on top of sour on top of sweet. The didn't even have Crown for a standard Crown and Ginger. If you're over 25 stick to the wine, the drinks were awful. (If you can read the wine menu that is) The service. Blah. It's basically the same wait staff you would get at any average restaurant around Atlanta. The Food- Disappointing. The Uni Spaghetti was pretty good except they barely had any Lobster in it. I mean come on guys- charge $10 more dollars for the plate and put some lobster in it. The bone Morrow Tuna dish- interesting and strange- about what you would expect from Blais. I liked it. The Lamb and Duck- not bad, not bad. Dessert- decent, met expectations. Although the pineapple upside down cake didn't sit well in my stomach for the next hour or so. I left with a headache, a stomach ache from the pineapple cake and a hole in my heart. The is not a Top Chef worthy restaurant. This is not a dream restaurant. This is just another loud, run of the mill Atlanta restaurant. I could not be more disappointed. It was a shame. Blais is such an amazing talent but this restaurant is not the vehicle for his talent. My unsolicited advice for Richard Blais: stop running around the country trying to be a celebrity chef. Buy a hole in the wall building in Inman Park or somewhere off Edgewood. Dress it up. Get behind the line and cook. You have brilliance in you but no one will even know it if you keep lending your name to all these pedestrian restaurants. The Spence was a shame. Thomas C. Wooldridge
(1)Doug S.
My wife and I really enjoyed our visit to The Spence. I'll say off the bat that the service was phenomenal, which really goes a long way at these types of places (since you may have questions as you are gorging yourself...). Started off with two warm rolls (made at Holman & Finch, I believe) with a coconut spread that was a great start. The wine, cocktail & beer list are all great - my wife had a gin, fresh lemon, and ginger beer cocktail that was unique and refreshing. We also ordered the bone marrow (awesome), the English pea pasta dish with bacon (surprisingly our favorite - a must try), the fried sea creatures, and the brussel sprouts in Thai vinaigrette (also a must try). The violet ice cream & marshmallow dessert capped it off nicely (and maybe a scotch or two). I'm glad I was a little loaded by the end so I didn't realize how much food I had just ingested...though it was totally worth it. The only downside for me here is similar to other restaurants owned by this ownership group - they go for a "cozy" feel by placing tables heinously close to each other which for some reason I absolutely despise. That being said this is a must try if you are in the area, at least for a drink and a couple apps.
(4)Chan V.
This is my review straight up. I'm confused about this place. The small plates were VERY small. If you ordered anything, you get a bite size piece that is dressed up in side items that people don't really eat. You will spend a lot of money trying to get full here. The menu really doesn't entice me a bit. I came on a Saturday night (busiest night) and the menu changes every day depending on what's available. What does that mean? Leftover day? There were items like foie gras, halibut, bone marrow, spaghetti, and various bite size ingredients. Obviously the plate presentation was a key factor here but as far as having substance in your meal, it's not there. The food should be up for display and not really for eating. I ordered a strip steak instead which taste like pork due to some fancy method of slow preparation. If I wanted to taste pork, I would order pork. My six friends agree that the food was not all that impressive except the corn cream brulee and warm honey-glazed bread with coconut butter cream. The server recommended the popular Hemmingway Fizz cocktail but I had to get rid of it. The whipped egg white smell reminds me too much of sweaty kids on a hot summer day. The taste was exactly like water with lemon. The music was 90's hip-hop while the atmosphere was 2013 rustic modern. Like I said, I was confused. Perhaps this place was trying a little too hard?
(1)Kate L.
The service started out incredibly slow. Nobody came to our table until about 15 minutes after we were seated. I'm not sure if this was a mis-communication with which servers were supposed to be at our table. Once we were served, however, we lucked out and ordered some good stuff. The Maldito's Crutch and Fairbanks Fizz cocktails were perfect and refreshing for a humid evening. The hamachi collar was delicious--I've never had it outside of sushi before. The corn brulee is a good side dish that's both sweet and savory. We also ordered the pork belly and sausage, and the juicy Lucy, and both were just the kinds of meat dishes you expect. The former was good, but nothing mind-blowing, and the latter was a good burger but difficult to eat. The pineapple upside down cake for dessert, however, was the perfect end to the meal.
(4)Scott B.
I am really happy that I ignored the mediocre reviews on here and had dinner last night. I had a completely different experience than a lot of the reviews. The music wasn't very loud. In fact, I could barely hear it at all. If you look at my previous reviews, I am the first person to complain about loud music. The portions match the price for these quality ingredients. The service was a little cold at times. Not bad, but not Southern Hospitality. We had an issue getting our desserts. It was a simple communication breakdown at the kitchen. Not a huge deal. Our server took care of it. A great place to go and expand your palate. I would recommend ordering Tapas style and sharing dishes. Trust me, I didn't eat all of food listed below myself. Now to the food: -Oysters & Pearls- The perfect amount of heat to compliment the Oysters. A must try. They were so good that we ordered another plate of them. (10/10) -Fried Sea Creatures with Uni Tarter Sauce- A mix of fried calimari, swordfish (I believe), and vegetables. One of the larger portions on the menu. (8/10) -Bone Marrow, Tuna Tartar and Fried Quail Eggs- Come with a good amount of bread to mix everything on. Great flavoring and seasoning. Interesting take on any other way to serve tartar that I have seen. Must try. (9/10) -Pork Terrine with Kohlrabi - Orange Jam & Zucchini. Super sweet jam goes great with saltiness of the terrine. An improvement on the usual apricot jam that I normally see with terrine. (9/10) -Guinea Hen & Foie Terrine, Pistachios & Sweet Mascarpone- Best dish of the night. Best Dish that I have ever had. The terrine is great by itself, but the Foie Gras in the middle of the terrine was almost orgasmic. Best that I have ever had. A few other ingredients added to this. There was pickled ginger if my mind serves me correctly. Amazing. Two of us ordered this and couldn't stop talking about it. (10/10) -Milk Chocolate, Peanut, Burnt Banana Ice Cream - I was sold as soon as I saw burnt Banana. The Ice Cream was great. The texture of the chocolate was a little strange, but the flavors were spot on. I am not sure if this restaurant is too progressive for its diners, but put this in New York or Chicago, it would take weeks for reservations. I actually preferred this to Girl & the Goat, which is constantly receiving awards and accolades here in Chicago.
(5)Dedrick B.
I was excited to see The Spence was on the Midtown Restaurant list, since I have been wanting to try it. Usually, I avoid restaurants with "pork belly" on the menu, since that just indicates that the restaruant is a tad too trendy for my taste. I wish I had enforced that rule in this case. On to the food. They brought out the bread, which tasted and resembled store bought Parker House rolls (or that's what we called these growing up). Note: there was also somethime called "canned soup" on the menu, and I am not sure why some trendy restaurants like to offer these types of menu items.(Example: government mac and cheese at Rathbun Steak) Do they want us to feel like, oh, this place isn't so fancy after all? The rolls were bland, so I took one bite. But the beet salad was one of the best I have had in this city, so no complaints there. I ordered the fish option, which was trout "cheeks", consistening of about 3 ounces of tasty fish sauted and served on a couple of tablespoonsful of pureed sweet potatoes, and a couple of asparagus spears. All I can say is that it was pretty tasty, but don't go hungry, since this serving was miniscule.. My friend had the duck breast, which he thought was a little too tough but flavorful. The chocolate cake with a dolllop of ice cream was good, but not something I would order again. (does not compare to the flourless chocolate cake at La Tavola)
(2)Amy C.
Ever since I heard of Richard Blais and watch him win on Top Chef, I've tried any restaurant to which he is a co-owner or executive chef in. This year, The Spence, was part of midtown restaurant week and I couldn't have been more excited. I went and for my first course got his pearl and oysters which was very fresh but not like anything any other restaurant that offers fresh oyster? For my entree, I got the duck which I was VERY disappointed with when I saw it. IT WAS SO SMALL!!!! 5 thinly pieces of duck and I had asked for mine to be medium and received medium rare and it was at times SO RARE that it was hard to cut let alone chew and swallow. For my desert, I got the chocolate cake, and yes it was rich and delicious but again VERY SMALL portions. I am not someone who eats a ton each meal but I do eat (sorry that im not sorry for being ano Spence). Really, if you didn't pregame your meal at The Spence with a meal, you are NOT going to get full unless you are a child between the ages of 6-10. For how much it costs to eat here, there are PLENTY of other restaurants in town that are much better at the same cost, and oh! wait for it... will actually fill your tummy up!
(2)Adam D.
We made reservations for early Friday evening. Turns out we didn't need them as there were plenty of open tables. Our server, Jessica, helped us immensely to understand the menu. It is not that it is difficult to comprehend the concept, just the food is a little exotic and she knew it well. She told us that most of the menu was meant for sharing with just a few dishes meant as full entrees. We took a few minutes and went through the sharing dishes and selected three we wanted to try and two sides to share. The Sardinian gnocchi and bone marrow came out first. The gnocchi was phenomenal and my wife devoured most of it. The bone marrow was really meant for me. It was great and particularly when the marrow and tuna tartare was spread on the toasted bread they brought with it. Then our scallops came out. The scallops are life changing. Apparently, they are new to the menu in this way but I was shocked at how much better they were than any other scallop I've ever had before. They were with Spanish sausage, black garlic and a pho broth and it created such a great flavor together. For sides we had the corn creme brûlée which was so fun and the mac and head cheese which was super creamy. For dessert we tried the mint panna cotta with cucumber sorbet (super refreshing), the warm chocolate cake with honey ice cream and what was surprisingly fantastic to me which was the pistachio shortcake with strawberries and cream. We also tried many of their specialty cocktails and each one was good in its own way. Lastly, my wife remarked about how clean The Spence was. The decorations are cool but it is the attention to detail in cleanliness that puts the decor over the top. We loved The Spence, not sure we can afford to go back though :)
(5)David D.
First impression was waiting a half hour to be seated with a reservation. The appetizers were fabulous but the main course was very disappointing. Our duck was cold, the strip steak was over-cooked, much too salty and filled with gristle, and the fish was poor. The sides we ordered did not arrive until about ten minutes after we had finished our meal. (Of course, they were taken off the bill.) Our water glasses were empty and someone came with a pitcher that had enough for three of us. She never returned to fill the 4th glass. I wish I could be more positive but, if you do go, their apps are a must!
(2)Sheila G.
Tried The Spence tonight because we're huge RB fans and if it was anywhere as good as Flip- we were fans! The atmosphere is great and the service was just as good. We played it safe (comparatively speaking) and ordered the fluke and the strip. they were both DELICIOUS! We also ordered the macaroni and head cheese just out of curiosity and I could definitely have passed on it. The entire center was cold. Not freezing by any means, just cold. I would have thought it was intentional except the entire plate and bowl it was served in was burning hot and steaming so we asked our server and she quickly replaced it for a new warmer one. I would definitely go back because the server said the menu changes daily so I'd be interested to try some more amazing dishes!
(4)Melissa B.
I decided pretty early on in my visit I'd want to come back again. Nothing to do with the food yet, but the open layout of the space, especially at the bar is very inviting. Plus free valet in Tech Square is a great convenience as parking in this area can be annoying and not free. The hostesses and servers were very friendly and the cocktails are pretty refreshing. The menu has a good variety of options. They oysters were yummy, but I think I'm not quite classy enough to praise the 'pearls' they come with. I was curious and impressed by the idea of frozen pellets of creme fraiche...but I kinda just want some hot sauce instead (I know, already admitted I wasn't classy, don't hate). The smoke dome over the pork belly is a neat idea...but not being a big pork belly person, I was more curious to see how the sides were flavored by the smoke. And I must say that broccoli rabe should always come in a smoke dome, that was my favorite thing I tried on this visit. Great atmosphere and a great reason to venture into Tech Square, I'm sure this place will outlive everything else that was in this space before.
(4)Ellen M.
Food: Hit and miss. Fantastic roasted carrot and radish salad served in a cold stone bowl. Perfect crunch with emphasis on earthy flavors of the vegetables themselves. Lamb, however, was kind of a mess. A lot of fat, even for lamb, and I thought it was overpowered by the spices. Good cocktail with bourbon, tea and honey. Setting: It's that ubiquitous cozy-meets-industrial vibe. Kitchen is open to the dining room. Good perch for people-watching with floor-to-ceiling windows that open to 5th Street and courtyard. Service: Competent. Friendly. Fine. Mixed bag, but I plan to try again.
(3)Sophia S.
I have been crushing on this place since before it opened, and it took me a while to get here so I was overly excited. The whole entire experience was a disappointment. The server was absolutely awful, and the food was not that great. Our server said she was a sommelier but she knew nothing about wine. I ended up having to google things to figure out what we were drinking. I didn't think the oyster dish was worth the hype. On a positive note I loved the bone marrow, goat entree, brussel sprouts, and creamed kale. I did think it was well priced too for the quality of food we got.
(2)Jeff M.
I've been here twice. Two for two. I came here shortly after it opened. I brought two friends who were visiting from out of town. First impression was fantastic. It has that same energy and feel say of JCT Kitchen, but less noise; you can actually converse with your table. The decor is not dissimilar from say Empire State South, Miller Union, or Cakes and Ale: lots of wood, modern, chic but warm and welcoming, cool but laid back. The open kitchen brings a sense of comfort and connection. The labels for the bathrooms reflects its sense of humor. The food is excellent. The bread and butter to start will get your mouth watering. The oysters and pearls was delicious and palate popping (though Thomas Keller's Oysters & Pearls remains the best). The bone marrow with hamachi tartare and quail egg was pure decadence. Superb. If you've never had bone marrow, try it here because you'll be hard pressed finding a place that makes it as good. The rabbit terrine with ramps and green peaches and beets, soft boiled egg, blue cheese, and wasabi were also perfectly balanced and delicious. The best dishes arguably will be outside your comfort zone. The entrees are equally impressive. The crisped pork belly with octopus and BBQ peas and fresh quail with vegetables were home runs. The Juicy Lucy (a cheese filled hamburger born in Minneapolis) is his best burger, better than any I've had at Flip. The triple cooked French fries are triple fantastic. The duck confit with succotash and beets is probably rivaled only by The Atmosphere's duck confit. The entrees are ambitious and diverse, but consistently excellent. Finally the desserts. No disappointment here. The ricotta cheesecake with strawberry and graham is sweet, savory, light, and satisfying. My favorite is the pineapple upside down cake with foie caramel. To me, this dessert hit me on all the right levels. I can't really explain it. Yes, it was satisfying to the taste buds. But it was something more. I've never really had a dessert comfort food. This is it for me. I've had it twice now. Everyone is incredibly friendly. As expected, there are some blips and bumps early in a restaurant's career. We experienced that more the second time around. Dishes were sent our way, which were not ours, and I sadly had to tell them that (though I question my decision as those dishes looked great). The first time, though, was issue free. In fact, one of the waiters had waited on me the first time I went to Bacchanalia. Ecstatic, he reacted in a way I didn't expect: he brought Richard Blais to our table! AWESOME! Down to earth and incredibly friendly, he took the time to say hello, talk to us about our dishes, elicit our feedback, and thank us for supporting him during these early times. I'm eager to watch The Spence mature. Once the early kinks are ironed out, the sky's the limit. It already surpasses Flip and HD1. Finally, the prior space used to be The Globe, which had been a favorite restaurant until I had an anaphylactic episode there (nut allergy), which sent me to the hospital. I haven't been back to this street because of that. With two great experiences here at The Spence, it provides satisfying closure to that chapter. I can't wait to return!
(4)Emmelyn C.
In summary: Moments of brilliance from the food and service, let down by some execution errors which prevented it from being a really really great dining experience. Being big Top Chef fans, we couldn't miss eating at The Spence when passing through Atlanta - definitely curious as to whether Richard Blais' food lived up to all the hype. The space and decor are great with a casual vibe - I can see how it might get a bit noisy, but it wasn't a problem when we were here for an earlyish dinner around 6:45. For food, 2 of us shared the bone marrow with tuna tartare and quail egg, the smoked linguini with clams and sea beans, the oysters and pearls, fried brussels sprouts with Thai vinaigrette and a serve of the thrice cooked fries. All of it was tasty, with my favourites being the bone marrow (I would have picked up the bone to lick it), the oysters (the oysters were perfectly complemented by the creme fraiche and cucumber...even my raw-oyster hating husband liked it!). However, there were little things about the food that I felt could have been done better, and that I would have expected done better from Chef Blais to believe all his hype. Of the 4 clams our pasta was served with, one of the shells was empty, and another was incredibly sandy. The brussels sprouts were still tough in the centre, and were drowned in vinaigrette, making them over-seasoned. While delicious, the bone marrow dish was difficult to eat with the existing cutlery and would have benefitted from a specific spoon served with the dish (try shoving your knife into a small channel of marrow to scoop some out...it's needlessly difficult). The fries were not at all crisp on the outside when served, prompting my husband to comment that the thrice-fried version wasn't much better than a once-fried version. I know these are little things, but I think I expected better from Chef Blais (who was cooking that evening). The other let down was the pacing of the meal. ALL our food arrived within 5-10 minutes of us placing our order. Given the small plate dining concept, I suppose I understand why it all came together...but since they're small plates, they were gone all too soon (despite the fact that we took our waiter's advice and ordered 3 dishes between us (with the sprouts and fries comprising 1 dish)). If we'd stopped at this point, we would have been done with our dinner within roughly 30-40 minutes. At that point, we ordered the oysters, and that took another 10 minutes. I know I'd rather be served too quickly than too slowly, but there's something to be said for the pacing of a meal in a dining experience. We were leaving the restaurant just on 1 hour, which for dinner at a "fancy" restaurant is weird, even if we didn't have dessert. Service was fine, and gets a bonus star because our waiter was kind enough to get Chef Blais to come have a chat and very graciously take a photo with us (like I said, we're Top Chef fans!!). Anyway, potential for brilliance, but a few execution errors made for a so-so experience. If I was ever back in ATL I might try it again (after giving Hugh Acheson's place a go!) to see if a mediocre overall experience could be improved.
(3)John M.
Outstanding experience! Server was informative and attentive without being overbearing. We had a group And tried 10 dishes "family style." Oysters, root vegetables, and bone marrow were highlights. The pork was a bit dry, and was the only one that was not a home run. Wine selection was excellent. Overall, the best meal I have had in a long time!
(5)Reba Jean B.
I finally made it to The Spence. And I have to say, I'm a bit regretful for not making it here sooner. I've heard all the complaints about The Spence; it's loud, the food is soooo weird, blah blah blah. Well, I have to say, we had a fantastic dinner here on a rainy Tuesday evening. It was a perfect place to have a small birthday dinner. The setting is hip as the Smiths and Psychedelic Furs were blaring in the background. This probably would not have been the best dinner for an older crowd or a business dinner, but perfect for us. I imagine this place is uncomfortably loud on the weekends. But let me get to the food. It really knocked our socks off. We ordered quite a bit from the menu and all of it was outstanding. I am really, really impressed. Our lamb was cooked perfectly. The sweetbreads were great. The oysters, of course, were phenomenal. I love the menu and the way it is executed. Richard Blaise, you have made a fan out of me. You have turned this HD1 hater into a Spence lover. I thank you for your dinner rolls with coconut butter. Your menu is interesting and it will keep me coming back. However, I do have one complaint. It's a complaint I hear too often when I speak about The Spence. The service was terrible. Absolutely terrible. We sat at our table drinkless for most of our dinner. The restaurant was aware we were celebrating a birthday party. We were served one round of drinks the entire night. That one round took over an hour to get. I guess he was just too slow to care about actually serving anyone. We were also talked out of ordering a few plates. I was quite excited about a terrine being on the menu. The server explained to us what a terrine was in a smug British accent and I was like yeah, it's a terrine and I want it. What can I say? I am a meat cream/ gel fan. Whatever, the server won. When our plates were delivered to the table, many there were as well, there was no flatware. We sat there for what seemed a lifetime. I asked the food runner once I saw him again for the flatware and he said he couldn't get us anything but food. It was our servers duty to do everything else. The forks and knives were just behind him on the bar. That sorely irritated me. In the end, even with the terrible service, The Spence gets 4 stars from me. I loved the food. And Richard Blais, thank you for bringing a lil something new and hip into Atlanta.
(4)Vivian F.
Having spent the last five years at Tech, I've seen that space go from vacant to failed ritzy restaurant to even more failed Parking and Transportation office space. Thus, it came as a surprise to me that another ritzy-looking restaurant was setting up shop last week when I drove by campus. However, when I found out it was the great Top Chef champion and Atlanta food god Richard Blais at the helm, my skepticism subsided. If anyone could turn that space into something successful, it ought to be him. Predictably, the place was packed when we got there, so we resigned to sitting at the bar, which was more like community tables and probably more entertaining than getting a table. Like the lovely southern ladies that we are, we ordered two cocktails -- The Fairbanks Fizz (gin-based with flower water and lemon lime) and the Left-Handed Hummingbird (tequila-based mixed with herbs and topped off with a basil icecube). The Hummingbird was strong and packed a punch that you can only get from good tequila, and the Fizz was a light and fruity ending to balance out the tequila. Upon the recommendation of the bartender, I ordered the suckling pig with fingerling potatoes. I'm not the biggest fan of pork, so the dish didn't do much to change my feelings. Patricia's "Juicy Lucy" burger however, dripped in juicy deliciousness, and the crisp steak frites were nicely seasoned. Above all else, Blais knows how to make a good burger and a great cocktail. The prices make it a little bit on the upper levels of expensive for the average college student, but it's a great place to take mommy and daddy to and make them pay for it.
(4)Claudia W.
Dissappointing... - Starting with a bad and slow valet service. - Continued with a long waiting time to order drinks and food and also to get the food. - Then the food was served in stages. - Finally they took away some of the plates although some people of our group were still eating.
(1)James D.
Ok, nice tasting and plating. I had, amongst other things, the bone marrow and quail eggs. I think that was the highlight but very light on the marrow, which seemed to be a trend in all the portions. I don't mind small portions, I prefer it but these were really small portions! Honestly, you can get more for less money at other places with the same level of creativity and quality. Nice place, tiny portions and big prices. I later learned it was owned by a famous chef so maybe if you want to check it out for that reason, it would be fun to visit.
(3)Marisa G.
Surprisingly awesome. 4 of us went with the small plates choices and ordered basically all their options. The bone marrow was amazing, squash souffle uniquely great, mussels delicious sauce, and pork croquettes were delicious. Will definitely be back.
(5)Tanya O.
The suspence is over...kudos to Richard Blais for a delicious achievement. In a modern yet somehow rustic space, I tasted the uni spaghettini, Mac and headcheese, and fried Brussels sprouts. All three exceeded my expectations. The spaghettini was creamy without being too rich. The Mac and cheese had a nice crust on top, and the fried Brussels sprouts, which came with red onions and cilantro, had just the right bite. So good I contemplated going back again the next night. I didn't go back the next night, but I did go back again a few weeks later. Based on my first visit, I would've given this place 5 stars. My second visit made me reconsider that perfect 5 rating. I had a red snapper dish that barely even qualified as an appetizer, let alone an entree. As far as taste - just so-so. Still no reason to cross this one off the list, but perhaps not all the dishes are as fantastic as I originally thought.
(4)Alexis G.
Amazing! We take everyone who visits from out of town, including business associates to the Spence. They never disappoint. The drinks are always ridiculously good (Chip always makes us our favorite drink we had the very first time we came in even when it's not on the menu). The food is always great! We have never had a meal that was anything but fabulous. Deserts are good, but I've had better.
(4)Jean C.
Very hip interior. Their portions are not big. I had their lunch set coming with a soup, salad, and a sandwich, and it was gorgeous. However, their restroom signs for male and female are confusing. Ask the waiter and don't get embarrassed.
(5)Lynn L.
Food was delicious as expected but very poor experience w staff and service. They were running behind and could not t seat us for our reservation for 45 min or more. But this was not a problem for us and they did comp our first drinks, very nice. Also have to note that the "unique" bar design may have seemed like a great idea but it is not very functional or emjoyable in reality. We actually had to ask to clarify if we were standing " in the bar". Also bartenders climbing over patrons to get wine stored over our heads. Then they were out of first two entrees we selected , disappointing for such a limited menu. Service was SLOW and not very friendly, aloof at best. If you completely forget to bring the glass of wine i ordered 30 min ago, just appoligize and get it to me. Dont pretend that it is "on its way". Prices were very reasonable but we do expect stellar service from this genre of restaurant. Especially in the south! Although unfriendly service seemed to be the norm all over Atlanta this trip. Then valet could not seem to find us a cab so we called our own after waiting for an hour. And while waiting for cab, not one member of staff checked on us. They missed potential to sell a few extra drinks! The hostess was nowhere to be seen which is why we asked valet to get a cab. Writing this for Richard so maybe these basic issues can be addressed. Wish him all the best with this restaurant! But if they can not turn tables faster than this and with better service I don't have High hopes.
(3)Lauren B.
Excellent food and Excellent service!
(5)Jonathan G.
I'd heard so much about this restaurant. It was owned by a Top Chef winner! He created the menu! Oh this will be a great experience! Well, it wasn't! I found the menu to be decidedly on the pretentious side. There were only a couple of items that really interested me. We were a party of 4, with 2 of arriving much later than the second 2. I was 1 of the first 2. Naturally, we ordered ahead of the 2nd 2. After an interminable wait, the waiter comes and informs us the kitchen will be closing in 10 minutes, did we care to order? Well, somehow, he'd gotten the 2nd couple's order in but never put ours in! A good restaurant needs more than just good food (my chop, by the way, all right, but nothing special!). This waiter totally blew it! I won't be making a return trip!
(2)Megan S.
Midtown got a boost in its culinary jugular when Chef Richard Blais, the winner of Bravo's Top Chef All-Stars, decided to re-enter the fine dining scene after re-inventing the burger and hot dog for hungry Atlantans when he opened his latest venture, The Spence. Getting its name from an old English term that means the pantry or dispensary of foods and provisions; this modern day dispensary seems more like an alchemist's laboratory where Chef Blais transcends into his alter ego by becoming a Merlin-like figure, a wizard of the kitchen. Here, Chef Blais takes foods and alters them using somewhat unconventional cooking techniques or ingredients to create flavors and textures that brings an unexpected surprise into the meal that challenges the comfort zone in a good way. This newly opened eatery has become an overnight sensation for dinners that seek a surreal experience in a robust trendy atmosphere where foods are exciting, unique, and simply a thrill to taste. A stimulating place to start is with one of the creative offerings from the drink list that changes as frequently as the food menu making each visit a new adventure. No matter which cocktail is chosen it will surely help to erase the day's edge as these libations are made with a fusion of bold and exhilarating flavors. In addition to these hypnotic beverages, The Spence is home to one of the youngest and most knowledgeable sommeliers in Atlanta, Justin Amick, who also serves as the beverage director for the Concentrics Group. The wine list that Justin has assembled consists of the standard varietals, but also has many obscure grapes from small production vintners that are fun to explore and compliment Chef Blais' foods impeccably. Strongly suggest letting Justin help guide your stroll through the extensive listing, as his suggestions are spot on. While sipping on your beverage of the night, consider a shared table grazer with the Buttermilk Fried Sea Creatures that's served with a lively sea urchin tartare - it's a tasty collection of squid, shrimp, scallops, and whatever else arrives off the docks that day. Whatever, do not overlook the beautifully set Oysters and Pearls - plump Beausoleil oysters with their distinctively refine taste are graced with frozen horseradish pearls and served with a sassy sun crisp apple champagne mignonette - when in the mouth, there's an explosion of sensual flavors. The dish that is one of those total surprises is the Beef Bone Marrow with an Ahi Tuna Tartare and a Fried Quail Egg, which when blended together makes a luscious spread for the crisp toast points that caress the palate with its creamy texture. There's a velvety duck Foie Gras that's prepared with cognac that's simply manna from heaven, but the starter that stole my heart is the otherworldly Baby Kale Caesar Salad; this OMG salad is one of the best ever. Thought I had tasted the best Kale salad in Aspen at Lulu Wilson but Chef Blais' interpretation of nature's superfood is sensation, full of tender yet crisp savory flavors with a slightly tangy classic dressing and a touch of earthiness from the aged Parmesan cheese, wow! When you think the dining experience can't get any better, well it does with the large plates. The over-sized ultra tender center cut bone-in pork chop from Riverview Farms is grilled flawlessly, and when cut the juicy charred flavors drools out to marry with the stir-fried mustard greens, caramelized pearl onions, and roasted sweet potato - yum. Then there is the not-to-be-missed braised beef short ribs with pickled walnuts and smoked new potatoes that's guaranteed to make your fellow dinners ask for a taste as they watch you sink into a delightful daze as the rich beefy flavors of this dish takes control of the senses. Of the sides, the two must do's are the seductive Buttercup Squash Crème Brulee made with kabocha squash, and the off-the-chart fried Brussels Sprouts that's tossed in a tangy Thai vinaigrette - both of these are quite special - need these recipes. When its time to arouse the forgotten sweet tooth, the artistic treats made by the Pastry Chef Andrea Litvin have the necessary finesse to give it a jolt. Each of Andrea's desserts is masterfully plated, as the visual pleasures of her goodies are just as intense as the oral. The deconstructed Ricotta Cheesecake with plump juicy blueberries and housemade chocolate graham cracker crust is absolute bliss. When a touch of decadence is in order, there's a Baked Alaska that's from the first to last bite pure pleasure - the smoked meringue chocolate cake filled with a zesty peppermint ice cream is drizzled with a rich housemade chocolate sauce, a dessert like this is what makes dreams into sweet dreams. When seeking a dining experience that centers on foods and beverages that are provocative, distinctive and full of lively tastes and flavors, The Spence has something in its pantry that will surely satisfy your hunger for culinary excitement like none other. Enjoy!!!
(5)Ed M.
A pretty good place overall. More details below. I agree with the menu layout comment below - it could be improved. The hostess and wait staff were very friendly, and Richard Blais was present and checking in on most tables and agreed to pictures when asked. The drinks - I just had some beers, which were all fine. My buddy had a drink that included home made ginger beer, but it was too strong on the ginger. The waiter took it back without question and apologized profusely. Food - The Family Meal was a fish wrap that was excellent, and just over $4 (although advertised by the server as $3.01). In contrast, the appetizer that included tuna and heirloom tomatoes on a crisp tortilla was a bit too salty and overpriced ($14) in comparison to the Family Meal. As for the entrees, we each had the Juicy Lucy hamburger. It was well-seasoned, but undercooked to my taste. (Full disclosure - I didn't specify how I wanted it cooked, and the waiter didn't ask.) Maybe it was a better cut of hamburger to justify rare, like a steak, but not my cup of tea. Layout - I like the open layout and we spent our time at the bar common tables. Will definitely go again.
(3)Nafisa J.
Unfortunately, my husband and I were super disappointed with the food and service. We love Richard Blaise and wanted to give his new place try...here is the scoop. 1. Service: - We made reservations and ended up waiting for an additional 20 minutes which it most cases would not bother me if the hostess communicated well with us, but I had to ask her if our table was ready after seeing others seated and at first said it would be a little longer without checking and then someone else came by and checked the tables and seated us quickly. -Our waitress was great, but our food came out cold and our side dish came out well after we finished our meals (so much so that our dessert came out at the same time). 2. Food: -Unfortunately the food wasn't wow...we were definitely expecting more. We were starving and ended up eating most of our food because of pure hunger, but we wouldn't come back for any of the appetizers or entrees. The fries were soggy and gross, the beef rib was tender but the taste was eh, the Lucy was good but not enough to come back for... The two things we did like were the dessert (we had an ice cream chocolate concoction which was pretty good) and the corn creme brulee. I just expected much more from the restaurant...perhaps in a couple months it will get better.
(2)Steve T.
Last night (Friday) was my third visit. The four of us got a table along the windows facing 5th street, so we were away from a lot of the noise, but it still got extremely loud in there. Our service was not that great on the first two visits, but improved on the third. We still waited a long time for the server to close out our table at the end of the meal. My three friends all opted for the burger. The triple fried fries are outstanding, but they all complained that the burgers were practically raw. I tried foie gras appetizer (small, but the pate was fantastic), fried brussel sprouts (we all agreed these were amazing), and the mac n cheese. Very disappointed in the mac n cheese as it was bland and had pieces of chicken meat on top? My friends enjoyed the turnips. Our drinks were good, but mixed drinks came in small glasses at high prices. We definitely have restaurants in Atlanta with consistently better food and service. I'm not sure why this place is struggling to get it together.
(3)Wendy H.
Awesome food! The staff is great and the atmosphere is laid back. Would definitely go again!
(4)Belinda S.
Ug! New Years Eve at The Spence with an 8:30 reservation. We showed up a few minutes early to a packed restaurant and were very excited to see Richard Blais front and center at the kitchen (too bad 30 minutes later he was long gone) We were directed to the bar and told it would be a few minutes before our table was ready. My girlfriend ordered a jack and diet coke, literally the only thing she drinks. After a sip she knew it was wrong but not wanting to be difficult continued with her drink. We did inquire from the waitress later and she told us that they don't serve Jack Daniels only Jim Beam. Obviously the bartender didn't commit a crime but you order what you want not the sort of close thing.This seems to be a common problem for them, selling off drinks as something else, as I've read it in other posts. We were called for our table moments later, walked to one table then redirected to another where a very odd incident occurred. Another hostess ran up told us to wait and started wiping down the table. We stood awkwardly in the small space around the chairs waiting. When we sat down we noticed all the water glasses had lipstick on them and the bread plates were used. We showed the waitress who didnt apologize she just ran away. My appetite was near gone at this point but being such fans of the Top Chef we wanted to get some food! We did small plates and trust me they were SMALL. To really put the final nail in the coffin we received most of our food at the same time and then waited at least 30 minutes to receive the final 2. We decided to forgo dessert because we'd already been there 3 hours and just weren't in the mood for any more. I can't imagine we'll be going back. The food was not impressive and the service was atrocious. Seriously when was the last time you were at a fine dining restaurant with lipstick on the glasses? No thanks!
(1)Stephanie R.
I really want to give The Spence more stars. But I just can't. They seem to attract a young crowd of 20 to 30 somethings. We started by ordering a bottle of wine. Our server seems shocked by that. He said that most people order by the glass. Then, when he brought over the wine, he also brought us a card explaining what the Legs of a Wine were. I guess he had no way of knowing that we have actually know more about wine that most of the guests. On the menu, a dish was served with the today's jam. My husband asked what today's jam was, as in flavor. Our server replied Pandora. Funny but not the answer we were looking for. We enjoyed our dinner. The Bone Marrow with quail egg was amazing. We also loved the smoked rigatoni with octopus and the brussel sprouts. We were practically fighting over the brussel sprouts. The kale salad was just ok. My hubby also was not impressed with the oysters. He enjoyed the oysters at Lure much more. The service was good, the atmosphere was nice. It is a beautiful space however it is really loud. We had a hard time hearing our server. My biggest complaint is that one of the chefs on the line had long hair that he kept swinging out of his face. It was like watching David Grohl in the kitchen. Yuck! Seriously, put you hair in a pony tail or put a hat on. I don't care for a side of hair in my salad.
(3)Adam M.
Good food with cool drinks. Friendly service. Overall a great experience.
(4)Kathleen O.
I have been following Richard Blais since his first series on Top Chef and was so excited to get to try out his signature restaurant - The Spence. Blais cut his teeth when he opened up Flip Burger followed by HD1 which are both great offerings however, THIS restaurant is exactly what I had hoped Blais would share with Atlanta. He has crazy items on his menu that I have had neither the opportunity OR desire to try until now. The waiter described the bone marrow appetizer as "buttery meat". I couldn't have described it any better except to add, "oowie goowie yum" in front of "buttery meat". It was simply delish! I had read enough reviews before going to know that I wanted to try the Juicy Lucy Burger. It turned out to very well be the best burger I have ever had in my life....OMG! I say bring on the Juicy Lucy! Blais injects cheese into the most amazing grounded ribeye and braised pork rib meat patty for the most incridible bite of yum you can imagine (and we are not talking plain old american cheese for this patty). Mom always said to eat my veggies. Well, if she had ever served me the brussel sprouts the way they made them at the Spence, I would have been sold. This was one of the few restaurants in my life that I walked out of (with a copy of the daily menu in hand, of course) that, before I was in the parking lot I was saying I couldn't wait to come back and try and try the upside down pineapple cake, the pork belly with chick peas and the oyster pearls. If I had to mention an area for improvement, it would be with some crowd control around the bar area. Communal bar is a great concept but hard to execute with hundreds of people. I hope you enjoy the Spence as much as I did!
(5)Marie M.
MMmmm..mmmm...good! My only complaint about this place is the way its set up and that the music is out of control loud. Its just not that fun or romantic..its just a little too hectic for my taste. The service was great, the food was fantastic. A tip of the hat to the truffle grits! Best I ever had and will go back just for those!
(4)Diantha L.
My husband and I are big fans of Richard Blais and were excited to try out this restaurant during a local trip back to visit family. He did not disappoint! We even got to meet him! Okay, details. The menu changes everyday, but I'm sure some things come up more frequently. There were several of us at the table, so we started with a few small dishes. The corn brulee was so good, we ordered a second one. The lobster knuckle sandwich was also a hit. Other faves for the table: the Juicy Lucy (a cheeseburger), pork belly, and bone marrow with quail eggs. Oh, and the pineapple upside down cake for dessert. Everything was great--a fun dining experience! Our server was very knowledgeable and answered all our questions. And, I loved my fizzy cocktail. Absolutely, no complaints--thanks, Richard Blais!
(5)Robert E.
Folks are friendly however the food is mediocre at best... On top of that they lost my order so have been waiting for 40 minutes... Funny the place is nearly empty so how they could lose the ticket of one lone diner is beyond me! Ordered the Samosas as appetizer... Overly spiced, meat tastes like it had been in freeze too long, I would rate the steak however I'm still waiting... Going to pay for the samosas and its ADMF! Steak came 50 minutes after ordering... I do have to say the staff went out of their way to make right... So, kudos to them for doing their best to satisfy their customer... By the way the steak was very good and the complimentary cauliflower was great!
(4)David W.
I came in with low expectations and was pleasantly surprised. It helps that we were with wonderful company, but I think the food and service were both superb. Menu is definitely designed for sharing and we ordered a lot. Favorites: burger was good, but they came with the best basic fries I can remember eating. Looked like steak fries but they were all crunch and they were delicious. Crave worthy. The lamb larb danced in your mouth. Full of so many flavors and it reminded me of the Thai food host you can't find stateside. Ricotta was delicious. Trout dip was good. Very creamy, fishy, smokey. And it came with lots of veggie crudités.
(5)Anita L.
As an avid Richard Blais fan, I was so excited to see our hotel was right next to The Spence. Service was disappointing. The restaurant appeared swamped despite being a little more than 1/2 full. We had 8pm reservations. It took about 10 mins to receive menus and water. Our waiter came by around 8:37 to take drink orders and appetizers. Then a gentleman who appeared to be the GM came by 8:47, seeing we still had our menus and took our entree order. Though the little interaction we did have with the staff was pleasant and attentive. I think upping the frequency of check-in would've made a world of difference; at times it felt like we were forgotten. The GM apologized that they ran out of gnocchi and offered a complimentary dessert. We ordered: Baked Georgia peaches with goat cheese and toast - omg so good. Comes in a little ramekin and you top it upon toast slathered with goat cheese and radish. It worked so well together. Really blended, one element didn't over power any others. Bone marrow with sweet potato and veg ceviche - unlike the peaches, the veg ceviche totally overpowered the bone marrow. It's served as more of a relish on top of the bone marrow. Too acidic and killed the unctuousness of the bone marrow. Wished I didn't waste the calories on this. Branzino - Wow, really spectacular. Crispy, salty skin with well cooked fish. I was stuffed after this. Had a wonderful salad with peach and tomato on top. This has blown my previous whole fish experience out of the water. Burger - Partner ordered this after we were told they ran out of gnocchi. Really thick patty, about 1 3/4 inches. It was a little overseasoned for me, leaning towards overly salty. Fries are more on the thick cut side, also a lot of salt (which I happen to like) Korean creamed corn - nice bite to it! Topped on squash with ricotta, I think. Wish I didn't order this with my main, just too full from the fish! It's good as its own dish. Butter cake - topped with stone fruit and goat cheese ice cream. Not bad. It was a fairly dense butter cake, served cold. They had run out of profiteroles that we originally wanted. While I greatly appreciated the small gestures made by staff to accommodate the delay in service, some of the food did not meet expectations and combined with long waits just resulted in a disappointing experience. In summary, get the Branzino and anything with peaches in it.
(2)Adrienne V.
Pretty good...lots of potential here. Limited drink menu is an area for improvement but the Yellowjackets we ordered were perfectly delicious, highly recommend. The Virginia oysters were outstanding, order a dozen and share. My gnocchi was a little undercooked but the flavors and textures were there. The burger was elevated by the wonderful bacon jam. Many other menu items sounded enticing but this was a quickie visit for us. One area that needs no improvement and makes up for any imperfections: the staff. Welcoming, considerate, generous, and fun, they are a huge part of any dining experience and at Spence's they really are wonderful!
(4)Kashif K.
Shout out to good friend Alex P of the Atlanta Yelp Elite Squad, and Sasha, for a fantastic meal! Delicious food, assiduously attentive service, and wonderful company! We started off with complimentary rolls of bread with coconut butter. The bread was soft and warm, and the coconut butter was creamy and tasty. We decided to order a number of small plates to share. Here's a quick rundown: - The sweet potato creme brulee had a crunchy top layer that shielded a smooth, velvety mass, which would have been perfectly enjoyable as dessert, but also did well as a side in the main course. - The brussel sprouts were among the most delicious I have ever had. They were quick fried, which gave them a nicely charred exterior, and drenched in a Thai chili vinaigrette with sliced onions, which struck a nice balance of sweet and spicy. - The beef tartare was seasoned with chilaquiles sauce and crema, and topped with thinly sliced jalapenos and radish. It was served with tortilla chips rather than bread, which was delightfully unique. - The endive tartine had a complex flavor profile lent to it by a combination of shortrib mousse, blue cheese, crushed pistachios, and citrus (segments of orange and lemon). - The bone marrow was so tasty that I did not even need the bread to spread it on; just scooped it up with a spoon and ate it by itself. It was topped with tuna tartare and quail eggs. After an outstanding meal, I am always wary that the dessert might be anticlimactic. The Spence proved me wrong in this instance. The desserts were just as splendid as the main meal. The blondie cake was paired with scoops of coffee ice cream and frozen caramel, and topped with pecans. The crispy choux, which was my favorite of the two desserts, consisted of creampuffs filled with choux cream, with light rose petal cream and a scoop of ice cream. As I walked out of The Spence, I wondered if this was what true love felt like.
(5)Alex P.
Had a great opportunity to visit The Spence this weekend with a fellow yelper, Kashif, who suggested this spot. Absolutely amazing experience ranging from fantastic dish preparations to perfect service. - BONE MARROW was prepared so well! Typically, bone marrow tends to be extremely fatty and even when the best oils are added, it tends to be overwhelming. Not the case here, tender, delicious and one of the highlights of the menu for me. - SERVERS THAT MOVE LIKE A NINJAS. Unfortunately, I cannot recall her name, but our server was attentive, and very fast. When we were missing a plate for just a second, she noticed it, grabbed a plate in the blink of an eye and slid the plate into perfect position before we even noticed it's missing. It was a also a great touch for her to check the cleanliness of wine glasses visually under lighting before putting on the table. Some of the best service I've ever received. - BRUSSELS SPROUTS were also the best I've had. Such a great preparation, just the right amount of spice and salted very lightly. - BEEF TARTARE was served in a very unusual fashion, on top of tortilla chips, with eggs, sliced jalapeños and cilantro. If you've read my reviews, you will know that anything with jalapeños and cilantro in the description will probably get an extra star just because I like them so much. However, this creative combination gets an easy five stars. - DESSERTS were also spectacular and really wrapped up this whole experience. I am now convinced that you can't go wrong with anything on their menu. Excellent, all around.
(5)Ling X.
Mindy Kaling came here when she was in town, so you know it's not a bad spot to try. Menu changes daily depending on what they're feeling that day, which I can dig - keeps things fresh and different. Since it's peak peach season, that was a prominent ingredient of the dishes we got. I think some items are regulars though - such as the bone marrow which I was told they are known for - and it did not disappoint. We also got their burger which was a little too salty. We came here for a birthday dinner and brought a cake - and found out they charge an $18 cake cutting fee - a bit excessive in the opinion of everyone at my table, especially without even providing candles. They did do a nice job of slicing though. Maybe I should learn this as a skill.
(3)Kathleen C.
First meal in Atlanta! This place is right across the street from Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center. Opentable reservations, but wasn't necessary as it wasn't very busy on a Sunday night. Place looks great. Service was very attentive and our server was pleasant and professional. This is def that New American cuisine. Sharing plates. Small plates were around mid teens, big plates were upper 20s/low 30s in price. Between two people, we ordered 1) gnocchi - small plate, it was ok/good, but not a must try. The gnocchi was softer than what I am used to. It was presented in a bowl, but all the contents were shifted to one side, leaving half the bowl empty. I thought this was a pretty interesting way to present a dish. Turns out, they do that for other items too! Like where did the other half of my food go?? Needless to say, portions are on the smaller end here. 2) lamb tartare - small plate, not very gamey which was good. There's an Indian spice/yogurt type of sauce on the side that I didn't think complemented the lamb too well. I enjoyed the cucumbers in this dish though. Light. Very small portion. 3) Pork belly - small plate, this was good, except it was fried and some parts were a bit dry. Also the plate was adorned with beets! Love beets! Presentationally this was the best dish. There's a beet/yogurt paste on it that ends up being hot pink like it got splashed with paint. 3) Monkfish, big plate, sooo there are mussels in it which i love. The fish itself was too firm for my liking. Had it been a different fish that was less dense I would've enjoyed this more. 5) roasted cauliflower, side, pretty standard. Just trying to get some veggies in. 6) coffee and brown butter ice cream, coffee was good! But the brown butter one was too sweet and heavy, though it is a little more unique. Overall, food was all nicely presented, but nothing was particularly wowing. Check was ~$110 w/ tax and tip. Not the cheapest of meals, but not super expensive, not sure it was worth it for alright food.
(3)Caitlin S.
Absolutely loved this place. The service was great, the food was better. My boyfriend and I shared a few plates and it was wonderful!! I wish that we could go back, but unfortunately we live across the country. Definitely worth a try.
(5)Meg P.
I enjoyed my experience at the Spence. The food and the experience were both quite good other than just being a little on the slow side. We went to the Spence at the recommendation of a friend prior to seeing a show at the Fox. The food, while a little spendy, was excellent! I had the beef tartare (from the "snacks" menu), red wine rigatoni pasta, and sweet potato creme brulee side. All of them were delicious, but I REALLY enjoyed the creme brulee! (I mean..."vegetables" that taste like dessert?! Who wouldn't love it?!) The waitstaff was just a little slow to bring us our check (even though we'd mentioned needing to get to a show), and the valet took quite a while to drop off a vehicle and then get ours. It stressed us out a little since we had to get to the show, but overall, it wasn't bad. The portions were a good size - enough to fill you up but not enough to have any leftovers to speak of, which was nice since we were attending a show - and I enjoyed the ambiance of the restaurant other than the music getting a touch too loud toward the end of our dining experience.
(4)Jahmin L.
I've been to The Spence several times, both with friends and with colleagues. Each and every time, I have an amazing meal. The restaurant is always able to accommodate any size group and it has a really cool "feel" to it. While I've tried many of the dishes, my tried and true selection is "mussels with brussels". I usually order the steamed mussels with red sauce from the small plates menu and pair it with a side of fried brussels sprouts. These sprouts are by far my favorite in Atlanta (and I try them at pretty much every restaurant where they are offered). I love the Asian influence with the Thain vinaigrette. The mussels are served in a broth that is to die for--I order extra bread just so I can sop it all up! These two dishes together are enough for a full meal. (Side note: the fries are delicious too!) The waitstaff is always courteous and knowledgeable. I'd highly recommend The Spence to anyone considering the restaurant.
(5)Ashley M.
My friend and I dined here for lunch on a Tuesday. I made a same-day reservation just to be safe, but it probably wasn't necessary as the restaurant was relatively quiet during our meal. We enjoyed very attentive, fantastic service. I think outside of their sandwich selections, there isn't much variety for lunch choices, so I opted for "A simple green w a bunch of vegetables" and a bowl of their featured soup, tomato. The salad arrives on a beautiful plate, and really turns out to be a bunch of vegetables, but included a few surprises such as jalapenos and crispy fried onions. The dressing that the salad was tossed in was a bit salty for my preference, but the fresh, crisp variety of vegetables easily distracted me from the dressing. The tomato soup is poured into a large bowl at the table and ends up in a pool of croutons, radish, and other pickled vegetable surprises. The tomato puree is fresh and at times chunky, which is a great reminder that this bowl didn't come out of a can. Again, the soup was a bit salty for my preference, but not overwhelming so. Overall, a quiet, charming lunch experience with delightful quick service. Can't wait to come back!
(4)Marcelle A.
Dinner was good . I ordered trout , my first time every trying this type of fish. Service was good and food was good. Environment was cool. I liked the trout other than. Taking off the skin i each filet that the only challenge. Menu was limited but food was good
(3)Ainsley A.
Just waiting for the day when I get to meet Richard Blais... Currently drinking the Midtown Mule which is PHENOMENAL and waiting for my juicy Lucy to arrive. No complaints here. A little pricey so I won't be here every day but it's delicious and I love the atmosphere. Also, they have a great bar.
(5)Cailen B.
I'm a big fan of The Spence for a yummy lunch or dinner date. For lunch I will traditionally get a soup and a salad - the basic salad is my favorite with pickled green beans. For dinner I haven't found an option that I would not suggest- the braised shortrib may be my favorite so far. Dinner prices are higher, but the lunch prices are not exorbitant - especially when considering what you are getting. Beautiful layout, good vibe, and consistently friendly staff and local fresh foods. I love that the menu changes to fit what they have that is fresh rather than the same menu every day. GREAT addition to Tech Square since most other options are "fast food" oriented.
(5)Jana C.
3.7 small portions, large prices. Consider yourself forewarned! We had a delicious dinner at Chef Blais' other place in Midtown... FliP for lunch, and got a little more gussied up for dinner in Midtown. Valet parking is in front, as it's near impossible to park... but there are other options. One can park in some garage, and that 411 is on their website. We dived into a myriad of small plates, and they were quite tasty! Our first dish out: the beet salad: a symphony of clean, bright, fresh flavors. Marrow with raw tuna on toast was not as great as the roasted Thai brussel sprouts... that was just the best dish we had all night. Parker rolls are fresh, served with a coconut cream cheese spread. Got another board of those pillowy, soft wonders. Cocktails were awesome!!! Very good and yummy. Place is bit too loud for my tastes, but I'm a fan of that low lighting, and open kitchen format, with a bar area that is rather unique in design! PS Having dined at Empire State the previous day, I had an in-road into meeting chef Adrian. Was so cool shaking his hand and speaking a bit with him regarding the business. Blais is going to open in TN after having launched a KY outfit!
(4)Michael K.
A cool place for a date. The waiter recommended some beers to my liking and I was impressed. This is a good date place for drinks and some food. But this isn't somewhere I would go if I'm hungry because their food menu isn't extensive and somewhat pricey. Got mussels and brussels sprouts as appetizers and the juicy lucy. The food is good! I'm not a fan of brussels at all. But the waiter told me he was like me but the way the restaurant prepares it changed him. He was right! I did enjoy them! The juicy lucy burger is good. I liked it and the thrice cooked fries are super crunchy, which is a plus for me. Be warned, the portions are pretty small when it comes to appetizers. Overall, I like this place and wouldn't mind coming back. There is a parking deck behind the plaza where it's $2/hour. They have a valet. My reason for giving it 3 stars is because the food menu is very limited but they have a pretty good drink menu.
(3)Sidra M.
We had such an incredible dining experience at the Spence tonight. Let me start by complimenting our waiter,Tom, who was extremely knowledgeable, personable, and just made the evening a very memorable experience for us. He arranged our many choices in perfect order of delivery to ensure maximum appreciation and really was one of the best servers I have had. The food was also everything I hoped for. We started with the watermelon salad, which was surprising and refreshing. I always neglect ordering salads, but we did at our waiter's advice and it was excellent. The bone marrow was buttery and delicious. The "summer snack(?)" was very interesting and educational, but the red pepper ice cream melted into the squid ink broth a bit too quickly to fully enjoy. The branzino was smokey& perfectly salted, paired with fresh pickled vegetables and sweet peaches; a beautifully balanced dish. The creamed corn appetizer was one of the most delicious items I have ever tasted. Just wow; we could not get enough. The eggplant side dish with harissa was an interesting, spicy preparation but not as satisfying as the other dishes we ordered. The peach & cake dessert was sublime: light, refreshing, small bursts of mint, balanced, and one of the most satisfying desserts I've had at a restaurant. The profiteroles dessert with caramel corn was also very nice- the saltiness of the popcorn was nice with the sweet cream puffs, but following that peach dessert it could not compare. Ive been a Richard Blaise fan for years and this exceeded all expectations.
(5)Jeff M.
Came on a Sunday night and had great food. Portions might be small but flavors are big. Take your time and savor the food. Would recommend getting more small plates and snacks rather than large plates. Treat it like tapas and you'll have a great time :) Also, no point looking at pictures because they always change their menus. We came and pretty much didn't see anything that other people ordered
(5)Claire M.
I ate at The Spence a few weeks ago and found that the food was excellent, but the service was not so excellent. I definitely would have given 4 to 5 stars had it not been for the sub-par service. We showed up on time for our 8 pm reservation on time and were seated immediately. At this point, the restaurant was only about 50% full, which was surprising on a Friday night. Our server came by the table to greet us and give us menus, and didn't return for nearly 20 minutes to take our drink order. The service was like this pretty much all night. We would go 30-40 minute stretches without seeing her at all. The bartender even came over to our table a few times to refresh our drinks or so we could order another item. I definitely appreciate a longer meal where the server isn't rushing you out the door, but our server was pretty inaccessible for most of the night. The food, on the other hand, was delicious. We had the kale Caesar, fluke crudo, beef tartare, bone marrow, French fries, and the pork belly. Other than the fluke crudo (which I didn't care for), everything was so flavorful and prepared perfectly. The kale Caesar was simple and lemony. The beef tartare was pretty traditional and came with a really nice pumpernickel crisp. The bone marrow (topped with tuna tartare) and the pork belly were amazing. Both dishes were mouthwatering, super rich, and we just couldn't get enough. Honestly, the food was worth coming back for, I just hope we get a more attentive server next time! Read about the full experience here: weekendeatsatl.com/2015/…
(3)Chris B.
Great food, drinks, and service! It was a Tuesday night so not very busy, but the Spence did not disappoint. We sampled quite a bit of the menu - snacks, small plates, mains. It was all good. The drinks were solid too.
(5)Carrie G.
I absolutely loved every second of my experience there because I love bizarre and unique foods, flavors and cooking techniques. That said, my parents who are traditionally plain eaters were not impressed. My mom hated it!! The service was wonderful, attentive, not rushed, and informative. They have valet parking for $3, which is totally worth it. We were able to make and change our reservation easily on opentable. The food: ranked in order of best to worst... Bone marrow- my favorite dish!! This just wowed me. I found the flavors worked very well and kept my palate surprised and interested. The tomatillo and avocado complimented the tuna tartare and the bone gushed out greasy tidbits of meat and fat I to the mix. The quail eggs were sunny side up so their yolk added to the rustic bread that I spread my mixture on top of. Brussel Sprouts- for a side dish, this was just a perfect flavor combination and cooking technique. The Asian sauce tasted like fish sauce, soy sauce and brown sugar, with accents of red onion, and green beans. The sprouts were charred and smoky on the outside, and soft yet firm in the middle. Beef tartare- very unique flavors and textures. The ground beef tasted fresh and melted in my mouth. Dollops of grape and sriracha completed it with a sweet heat that worked with the cool meat. The little scones and quail eggs were also a nice texture and taste addition. Our server told us the dish was inspired by Notorious BIG lyrics :) The fois gras- this dish was delicious, but I've had tastier versions. The fois is served the same consistency as goat cheese. It had little dollops of apricot (or peach?) with pecans. The Texas toast was a good vessel to spread the rich buttery goodness on. I enjoyed this dish but it ranked lower than others. Ricotta cheesecake- this listing is based on ranking so that's why it's here and not last. I really enjoyed the texture and flavors. It had 3 dollops each of cheese paste and lemony foam, and it was more of a dash of ingredients spread on the plate than a formed triangular slice of cake. I really enjoyed the fresh blueberries and dipping dot blueberry pearls accenting the soft was of the cheese and foam. My parents love dessert but they were disappointed in this one. They would have preferred a more traditional take on cheesecake, I think, and a larger portion size. Turnip canned soup- rich and creamy with textures of mushrooms and crunchier turnips mixed in. Nice presentation. This was the only dish at the table my mom really liked. :) Mussels- the tomato and fennel sauce was good (I normally hate fennel, but it wasn't dominant). Decent portion side in terms of number of mussels. My only issue with this dish was the mussels inside the shells were tinier than an anorexic model's biceps. Kale ceasar salad- this was good but very simple. Just kale, dressing and croutons with a sprinkling of cheese. I like my salads with stuff inside of it so it was a bit plain, but the dressing was good. Very lemony! Would have loved some anchovies in it. Last and certainly least was the duck entree. Our server told us the duck is smoked for 6-8 hours and finished on the grill and very tender. What arrived was still raw somehow even after all the cooking time. Rare duck is fine but it was tough as leather! I had to saw at it even with a steak knife. The fav a beams it was served with were under seasoned and not cooked long enough. They were mealy and dry. If Blaise served this one on Top Chef, he would have to pack his knives. Overall, I give this 4.5 stars if it was only up to me- I'd deduct 1/2 star for the mess of a duck dish, but the rest of everything compensated for the 1 flop item. My mom gave it zero stars and my dad gave it 2. Overall, not for the picky or unadventurous eater. When returning, I'll come early so the service isn't rushed and I'll only order the small plates and starters and desserts. Skip the entrees and avoid the duck! I'd order the Brussel sprouts and marrow again and try a new suite of dishes to experience more unique and tasty things from the imagination of Blaise.
(5)Brian I.
What a lovely surprise on a rainy evening in Atlanta. Wonderful atmosphere. Lovely blend of American and Japanese flavors. The red pepper ice cream on the starter menu was a treat. This is on my "come again" list next time I am in Atlanta.
(5)Ryan K.
Great meal tonight. Had dinner with one of my great friends tonight which was completely random for us to both be in Atlanta. Glad we chose this place. We started off with the bone marrow and damn was it good! I can't say it was the best I have had but it was amazing nonetheless. I will say it's a little on the pricey side for the portions but when the check came I didn't mind. On to the main course. My buddy had the pork cheeks while I had the duck. Both were great, though if I had to pick one it would have been the pork. Regardless what a great place and I highly recommend.
(5)Tim H.
The Spence - Innovative Americana Helmed by Top Chef winner and guest judge, Richard Blais, the Spence is another molecular gastronomy Midtown smash. A modern haunt located near the Georgia tech campus, the Spence (an old English word for larder, a sort of primitive ice box) combines modern interior design with a lovely patio. The patio is accentuated by landscaped holly hedges in tall white pots and a comfortable tree canopy that blocks out most of the sun. I only stayed for the oyster happy hour, where they had a special of 6 oysters and pearls for $6 dollars. WOW. They were incredible. Chef Blais has outdone himself. The raw oysters are bathed in a dollop of cherry vinaigrette and garnished with horseradish-creme-fraiche pearls, small drops of horseradish sauce and creme fraiche eye dropped into a pool of liquid nitrogen. The finished oysters are then set on a bed of charred, blackened sea salt. The aesthetic effect is simply stunning. The flavor profile is a perfect mix of raw, velvety oyster texture with a hint of brine. The sweetness of the cherry vinaigrette enhances the natural fruity flavors of the oyster. The pearls melt in your mouth releasing a blast of creamy horseradish sauce which provides a resplendent compliment to the freshness of the oysters. The oysters paired extremely well with the vino verde de la casa (house green wine, $5) and I ended up having 24 oysters just by myself! Don't take my word for it though. Just go for yourself and eat.
(5)Julie S.
The service was impeccable, the wine was delicious and I'm already planning my next trip. Must orders: Mac & Cheese, Mussels, Fried Brussels Sprouts, & the Bone Marrow The broth the mussels were in was literally so good that I poured the leftovers on my macaroni & cheese. The only thing I didn't care for were the Beef Tacos, they had absolutely no flavor, I ate half of one and left the rest.
(5)Christy D.
I've given 2 stars because we did have an outstanding server - Jeremy F. - who did his best to recover for the entire restaurant experience. In short, we will never return. Here's the recap: Dinner Reservation at 9:30pm on 2/14/15 (yes, I know it was Valentine's Day- all the more reason for this restaurant to have been prepared). We arrived via Uber at 9:25pm - it's a good thing. They offer valet but apparently it's around the block and there were grumblings about this. Hostess was polite enough, checked us in and said it would be a few minutes before they could seat us. She offered us a menu and said we could wait at the bar -- lol! Ok, so I'm looking around for the bar and realized she meant the make shift "cluster" bar they attempted to establish. 2 high top tables backed up to a counter with a trough/well on top for ice. I question the validity of food safety on that. Anyways, the bartender's back was to us the entire time - she never asked to take our order. We were Seated at 10:02pm- still no drinks-- At the "chef's table" facing the open kitchen. Server greeted us almost Immediately and brought water. We ordered 2 aperitifs + 2 appetizers. Appetizers were delivered and complete before I complained about our drinks. At 10:28pm, we finally received our cocktails. It's obvious bar was understaffed and not having a worker friendly station - a real bar- Is also wasted time. We ordered dinner. I had the kale Caesar - which was fantastic and the steak - lovely. My husband ordered the duck - smallest portion of duck ever and we wonder if it was something ordered in bulk from say Sysco. Poor wine selection although we did settle on a bottle of Pinot noir for dinner. As the restaurant began winding down the kitchen staff began to get a little lax. Meaning, I watched the kitchen staff eating and or drinking various things in front of us! Remember, we were sat at the fancy "chef table." For the untrained eye, it probably wouldn't matter-- however, I've worked in the industry before and eating where food is prepared/cooked is a hazard. We went on to order dessert, after dinner drinks and have conversation with Jeremy about the restaurant because in the 2.5 hours we were there - no table touch from a manager. He listened well and made apologies as best he could. It was pretty disappointing to pay $$$$ prices for a 2 star experience. If you turned the lights up in the restaurant and really looked around -- it's a diner at best.
(2)Leslie T.
I am giving this an ok The service was bad.......if you are a foodie....the food is great But the service....needs to pay attention
(3)Regina Q.
This place is yummy! It's a modern cozy vibe. Love the coconut butter that's served with the bread. They have a lot of good options on the menu; Their burgers are delicious with the caramelized onions. Their cauliflower soup was delicious , so creamy and flavorful. They have small plates and larger plates to choose from. The menu changes daily so will have to go back!
(4)Ryan F.
One of the best meals I've had in Atlanta. The chicken biscuit with bacon jam is an absolute must. Great decor and vibe in the heart of the new Tech Square area. Menu changes daily.
(5)Rosie G.
I wanted to love this place, the plates were beautiful and the staff was knowledgeable and helpful. The menu also looked amazing, but I found the food to feel heavy. The wine selections were tasty, but I felt the food was over priced. The atmosphere was fun and vibrant, the decor was casual yet classy. My mother had a vegetarian warm salad dish and I found the flavor to be mild instead of bright. My husband had the mushroom gnocchi appetizer for his main, he is half Italian and commented that his mothers gnocchi was better. My friend had the swordfish and that was really good. I had the Kobe beef flank steak and while the dish was tasty, I felt that the cheddar broccoli sauce was a bit heavy. By the time we had our mains though we had tried 4 appetizers, there was a miso custard that wasn't on the menu yet and I am interested to see where the chef takes that dish. The octopus ceviche was awkward to eat with the popcorn, but the ceviche itself had good flavor and was tender. The shrimp fritters were very flavorful and delicious. My favorite appetizer was a warm peach concoction with goat cheese and toast, the flavors all went together splendid and left me wanting more. All in all I really liked the staff and the whole ambiance of the whole place.
(4)Llani R.
Parking: wait until attendant returns to the Valet stand. It can take a few minutes because the parking isn't close. Oysters: tasty blend of horseradish and citrus. Pork Terrine: Perfect blend of savory and sweet. Loved it. I had the Osso Bucco: Nicely cooked with a great blend of root vegetables. Husband had Scallopes: Nicely seared and perfectly cooked. Buttery In all I recommend this restaurant but I do think that the parking situation could be improved. Love the ambience of the restaurant. Nice date night. Service was amazing
(4)Eric H.
Man, was I disappointed about this place. First of all, let me preface this by saying that the service and environment were excellent. It's a great place to come during the evening, where the lighting is dim and the mood is intimate. Our server was very attentive and jovial, tending to our needs before we asked. No complaints on these two fronts. The food, on the other hand, was, uhh, quite something. So first of all you get some dinner rolls that are brushed with butter, laid out on a wooden board with some spread coconut butter. The presentation was really great; however, the texture seemed too light and dry for my tastes. I expected the soft, rich texture of a brioche, but was extremely disappointed. Then came the bone marrow/tuna tartare: it sounded interesting, but I have decided that it is one of the worst combinations in the world. I love bone marrow, and I truly believe that the best way to enjoy it is to have it served warm/hot, so that the flavors kind of dance around in your mouth. However, this bone marrow/tuna mixture was disappointingly lukewarm/cold. The richness of the bone marrow was diluted with the sourness of the tartare - as much as I love contrast, this turned out to be a rather homogeneous mixture without any distinct flavors popping. The steak, however, was pretty great. The medium-rare steak was definitely of good quality and with a tender bite. The horseradish sauce was actually pretty tasty as well. What I didn't like about this dish was the rutabagas and the carrots that accompanied it; they were undercooked and too crunchy. So all in all - meh. Maybe we ordered the wrong things? Who knows: at a price of well over $40 per person, I am unwilling to try again. Summary: Service: 5/5 stars Food: 2/5 stars Value: 2/5 stars
(2)Tom B.
Myself and six friends just ate at the Spence and we're treated royally. Being vegetarian I was disappointed to find little in the way of veggie options. However the waiter informed me that they would rustle up something for the entrée to my liking. How right he was. After the peach salad starter I was treated to a spätzle pasta meal, comprising of a combination of 3 different types of cherry tomatoes, 2 or 3 different mushrooms. With 4 delicious options for dessert, it was the best veggie 3 course dinner I have had since arriving in the US this time around. My omnivorous friends all enjoyed their choices, each cooked exactly as ordered. A very pleasant evening made more cordial by great service. Thank you The Spence.
(5)Tara S.
I had an absolutely amazing and delicious meal here. From the starters to the dessert to the wine; a wide variety of menu items were sampled and everything was spectacular. The ambiance is comfortable and the service was great. Highly recommended.
(5)Gillian R.
I wish I had written this review right after my visit, because I'm struggling to remember all of the dishes we sampled. My boyfriend is a sucker for Blais, and I can't say that I don't have a soft spot for him as well. We're nerds, we love food, and we have love for fellow food-loving nerds! Although I'd just started eating meat again, The Spence's menu looked a little scary to me. I love mac & cheese, but throw head cheese in there, and I'm suddenly looking for a complimentary barf bag. I mean, maybe head cheese is delicious. And maybe in ten years, I'll have garnered the courage to try it. But for now, just the thought of jiggly chopped up meat bits makes my stomach turn. I'd said I wasn't going to eat bone marrow, but guess what? I ate it. And I liked it. The quail eggs were a nice touch on top as well! We had the mussels and really enjoyed them, but I still think Sun in my Belly has the best mussels in town. For my meal, I had the juicy lucy and my boyfriend had the duck. We both enjoyed our dishes, but there was a tiny bit of disappointment for me. My cheese seemed to just melt into my burger or squirt out the edge, because I never got to the fun volcano pocket of delicious liquid gold! It was my first burger post-vegetarianism, and I have to say, I did enjoy it. The fries were tasty too. Although I was a bit full, I was in monthly chocolate mode, so we had a peanut butter and chocolate dessert. I can't remember details, except that it arrived on a slab of wood and it seemed like an awfully big portion. Oh, and it was delicious. I remember that. But my number one favorite part of the meal? You're going to laugh... It was the bread service. The sweet roll with the coconut butter? Holy. Cow. Shut the front door, I can hardly believe how rich and sweet and amazing that stuff was. If you told me I could buy a jar, I would buy ten. No, thirty. No, fifty. It was that good. The atmosphere is laid-back and cozy. The service was perfect. And there's a lovely patio area where you can have drinks around an outdoor fireplace. I sincerely hope that we make it on a date here again in the near future.
(4)Jonathon B.
Attended 02/12/2015 Ambiance: Trendy atmosphere, high ceilings, small space of maybe 14 tables, but they had a room closed off for higher volume nights. The inspiration for the menu is posted at the top of the menu is a very unique feature that I liked. Drinks: Signature cocktails were delicious. Food: (The menu changes daily) Upon ordering you receive small rolls with coconut butter which were delicate, warm, and gobbled up in seconds. The menu is starter/app based vs having a lot of entrees. I initially noticed they used 2-3 items 4 times repeatedly on the menu (ie quail eggs were on the menu 4 times, pork terrine 3 times, mustard 4 times, etc) They had only 6 entrees listed while their starters had around 12 options and 8 small plates. We decided to get the pork terrine with pickles, mustard, and cranberry gastrique. It was definitely the best dish of the night! The fat of the pork ate well with the acid of the pickles, sweetness of the cranberries, and spice from the mustard. We also had the mussels with red sauce, basil, and cacciatore sausage. The dish was simple, light and delicious. The red sauce was more of a brodo vs a tomato sauce. Excellent! For our last app, we decided to get the red wine rigatoni, bacon, and a poached egg. This dish was near our favorite but the pasta tasted/looked like a prepackaged product. The fatty egg and acidic red wine sauce made you crave more and more. Unfortunately, the entrees weren't nearly as good as the apps/starters. We ordered the Mahi with blood orange and the flank steak with carrots, potatoes, and beet puree. The Mahi although seasoned well, was dry and tough to eat. The flank steak was rather bland but the seasoned carrots, potatoes, and beet puree made up for it. I would definitely return to the Spence, but the entrees need improvement especially since they are the pricey items on the menu. Stick to the Apps/Snacks/Starters.
(4)Shaye B.
I do not have a single complaint about The Spence. I went with 2 girl friends before a night out and I am so glad we came here. We were running late for our reservation but we were able to easily call and push it back 15 minutes. None of us had been there before so we asked our waiter for his advice on how to tackle the menu and he did not disappoint. To start off he was very helpful with drinks - brought us 2 different wines to taste. We weren't crazy about them and since we were going out later we just went with cocktails. We did not want to go the entree route because everything looked so good on the menu so we opted for the small plates. I highly recommend the small plates because they were all very unique and creative. We ordered the oysters, beet salad, brussel sprouts, pasta, and mussels. The beet salad, mussels and brussel sprouts were all absolutely amazing. The pasta and oysters were decent, we didn't like them as much as our other 3 dishes. The chef also sent us a fried oyster dish to try which was divine. Ambiance at this place is spectacular. You walk in and its modern with a dark and neutral color scheme. The space isn't very big and it has an open kitchen which makes it a really unique experience. They have a chef's table that looks like it can seat 6 and I would love to try that out one night! Another thing about this place I really appreciated was that it wasn't too loud. I expected walking in and seeing a trendy full restaurant with an open kitchen to be screaming at my friends for a conversation. Nope, not the case at all. This was probably one of the most relaxing and fun dining experiences I have had at a trendy restaurant. Since they change the menu frequently (maybe daily) I will certainly be back. For an out of town visitor who is a foodie, I would highly recommend this place because it is a great example of Atlanta's restaurant scene!
(5)Michele A.
I so wanted to love this place more than I did. It was not bad by any stretch, and everyone keeps talking about how expensive it was. Maybe because I am from NY, it wasn't expensive to me. Granted my check was $130, but we had 2 mixed cocktails, 3 beers, 1 after dinner drink, Bread with a delish coconut butter, 1 app, 1 small plate, 2 entrees, 1 side, and 1 dessert. To me, not that expensive. Let's move past the price. The cocktail I had was DELISH. I had the mule, and it was so good. The beers, sorry, but when you order a beer and it comes in a can, I don't like it. This is supposed to be fine dining, so canned beer turned me off. Now for the food. The coconut butter was good. The coconut butter was understated, and the rolls were slightly greasy, but good. We started with the kale 'caeser' and the stuffed olives. I loved both. The Kale salad had a lemon note that elevated it to great. The olives, while small, where a great little bite. Okay, my entree was the strip steak, and there was not a single thing wrong with it. It all tasted great together and it was the most perfect cooked steak I have ever eaten. My hubby who hates fine dining, loved the roasted chicken he ordered. I thought it was on the plain side. The side of brussel sprouts were good. There was a touch too much vinegar, but they were solid. The dessert, ah the dessert, that was AWESOME. We had the blondie with coffee ice cream and frozen caramel. OMG, it was awesome. Why only 3 stars you say, I answer, this is a Richard Blais restaurant. After years of watching him dominate on Top Chef and dying to eat his food, I was disappointed in the experience. I expected every bite to wow me, and it just didn't. I feel like I could have gone to any number of restaurants in NY and had the same experience. I guess he just fell short of my expectations. I wanted my hubby to finally go to a fine dining restaurant and be wowed, and neither one of us were wow'ed and it just set me back getting him to try again. I still love Blais, but not the best choice in trying to get your husband to love foods the way you do. Last note, there was no salt and pepper on the table which kind of struck me as arrogant. I love my steak with extra salt and pepper and I didn't want to ask, so I went through without it.
(3)Julia B.
Good atmosphere and service from a server, Sophie, who said she was new. She apologized for inconsequential things and was good. Water glasses were constantly filled. The food? Mostly, meh. The think I expected more from the Top Chef. The flavors were good. The crab bacon fritters were bland. The Georgia Shrimp was awesome! The baked onion bulbs were baked onions but the toast that came with it was good with cheese, radishes, and snapdragons. Three of us had flap steak and one had the hamburger. The flap steak, a usually tough cut, went through a special process to make it tender, which did not work. It was like chewing gum. It was cooked to a perfect medium rare. The presentation of the flap steak, potatoes, and burnt broccoli (the actual name) looked like it had been dumped on the plate out of a big mixing bowl. The broccoli lived up to its name, burnt. The potatoes were cooked perfectly! The burger was supposed to come medium rare, as they serve it; instead it was well done. Fries were good. Desserts were delicious but small. We ordered two and ended up with three. The incorrect desert came and they let us keep it and brought the correct dessert. Men's room was dirty.
(3)Piper J. D.
I was in town for a conference and wanted to have an out-of-the-ordinary meal. Spence did not disappoint. My friend and I chose multiple smaller plates to taste. The oysters and pearls, with the nitrogen frozen pearls were unusual and tasty. The bone marrow and quail's eggs was tasty and served in an appealing way. The head cheese mac & cheese was probably my favorite though the sea urchin pasta was very interesting as well. Really, the menu changes but any of the small plates were good and more importantly to me, imaginative. The nitrogen cocktail was also very interesting to try. ;)
(5)Jeremy M.
Meh. Wanted to love it. Didn't. I won't bore you with the details but our group tried every single item and only two would be ordered again. There are too many better choices in Atlanta these days to waste your time or money on this one. Not awful, but there are just too many better options.
(3)Heather U.
I was recently in Atlanta for work, and was excited to eat at The Spence. I loved RIchard Blais on Top Chef, and his restaurant did NOT disappoint! The atmosphere, service, drinks, and food were all top-notch. Other reviews mention small portions for the price, however I thought all the portion sizes were generous - especially the "small plates". In my experience with small shared dishes, they have typically been much smaller than those at The Spence. Dinner began with warm, buttery yeast rolls served with coconut "butter", which was more the consistency of a lightly whipped cream - it was like starting the meal with dessert - scrumptious. We shared two small plates - the cilantro bucatini with chicken, and the roasted beets with salsa verde & mascarpone. The bucatini was my least favorite dish of the night, but I am a sucker for cilantro anything, and the cilantro was actually cooked into the pasta - a very unique dish and flavor. The beets were outstanding - one of my favorite dishes of the night. The beets paired perfectly with the smooth & creamy cheese. For an entree, we split the beef short ribs, with sides of corn creme brulee and fried cauliflower with thai vinaigrette. The short ribs were topped with a horseradish whipped cream and served with corn puree and roasted carrots. Honestly, I have had better short ribs elsewhere, however these were still very good, and the composition of the entire flavor palette was impressive. I couldn't stop eating the cauliflower - I wish vegetables always tasted so good! We were really too full for dessert, but couldn't pass up the strawberry rhubarb cobbler with rice flavored ice cream. The ice cream really tasted like rice - unlike anything I've ever tried before. Overall, I had an excellent dining experience at The Spence. I had very high expectations going into the night, so I was thrilled that they were exceeded (I have been disappointed at celebrity restaurants in the past). Would definitely return on my next trip back to Atlanta.
(5)Matthew C.
We made a reservation for 2 at 8 on a Friday night. The place was full but not overly crowded or noisy. I know very little about food, but I know when it is good, and everything I ate was "good" to "quite good", some of it even bordered on "really, really good". My girlfriend can confirm these ratings. Now that I've given Richard Blais the accolades he no doubt set out for in opening this place, we'll get to the specifics. We did the bone marrow and cauliflower for starters and followed the with sweet potato gnocchi and the strip. They also threw in a complimentary side of brussel sprouts. Again, everything was great. The marrow and strip were the clear winners as meat maintained its winning tradition over vegetables...The sprouts were the least enjoyable, but their free-ness more than overcame any notable shortcomings. Definitely worth checking out. The menu is approachable and the food and atmosphere don't disappoint.
(4)Carrie Neal W.
Well, color me surprised! Outside our hotel room last night, we had a direct view onto 5th Street and saw The Spence right there. I'd perused a few midtown choices for dinner and my favorite pick, Empire State South, didn't look so good to C as there were too many choices where he didn't like one or more ingredients; interestingly, I felt the same about The Spence's menu.... We finally decided to just go over to maybe have an appetizer or plan where to "really" go. And ended up with awesome service from Rory and a really excellent meal. The space is designed so well, and I love the open-air kitchen they have. It wasn't busy so we got seats at one of the long tables in front of the bar. I had thought there were too many things I wouldn't like- from lots of shellfish, which I do not enjoy, to the sides or sauces....happily, I was proven wrong. To start, C went for the kale Caesar - it was great! The kale was leafy and fresh, and the traditional Caesar set up was enhanced with a dash of lemon in the dressing. I opted for the casa de carna cheese plate, which was prepared with toasted toffee "croutons" and some tomatoes. I love this particular cheese and if you like such, try this. For our entree we shared the excellent tile fish, with a salsa verde - it was so tender and delicious, if you like white, flaky fishes, you will love this. I don't spend much time in this part of town, but if you do or find yourself nearby, give The Spence a try!
(4)Alan D.
Not bad. I've tried the roast duck breast and a lamb dish and a steak (don't remember which kind). They were all very good. The brocolli with the steak was burned pretty bad so I didn't eat it. The portions are on the small side, but surprisingly filling. I love the coconut butter that comes with the rolls. The fried lobster balls were quite tasty as well. Definitely a nice place to come if you don't mind spending a little more. I'm still a student, but I would consider coming back for a special occasion.
(4)McDavid A.
I've went here several times. The first two a few years ago. Sadly Richard must not be involved much anymore because the quality the last few times from the incompetent wait staff to the food has gone from unbelievable to terrible ;( such a shame use to be my favorite spot in town and I gave this place so much good word of mouth I'm now embarrassed .
(1)Cindy T.
I am a little disappointed of how low of a rating I have to give The Spence, but in all honesty it wasn't good. It's one thing to have bad service and good food to make up for it, but the night that I went, I had mediocre service and mediocre food. For starters we had the bone marrow which is one of the best pieces I have ever had. There was so much richness with a good amount of marrow in the bone. However the marrow as very under-seasoned. Other plates we got were the toast with blue cheese which was so-so. I can tell it was thought out but just didn't wow me. My date had the oyster po boy which he said was decent. The asparagus dish I ordered literally had 5 pieces of baby asparagus, with some type of puree and shreds of greens. The plate looked creative, but really lacked in flavor and was a bit pricey for what it was. I also ordered the roasted cauliflower which was a good chunk of a cauliflower but had some type of tangy sauce which was unappealing. Most notably, after all of our small plates, we watched our waitress ignore us for at least 20 minutes before we could order main entrees. I decided to opt out of ordering a main course since I don't see my main entree tasting any better than the small plates I just had. My date ordered the fish and had to wait at least 30 minutes only for it to come out cold. My side of macaroni came out hot though. But even finding the waitress to complain about our dish was difficult. I know it was a busy night, but that shouldn't be an excuse. We were just so discouraged from eating here that my date decided to return the dish and not have them make him a new one as offered. We were just ready to get out of there. The manager came over to apologize to us . I can tell she felt bad, and even offered to get us something else on the menu. Her words exactly " I don't want you guys to go home hungry". As a nice gesture she sent over two desserts on the house which were actually really good. The ambiance there is great, a very fun and trendy restaurant indeed. With the reviews on yelp, I had high expectations. Unfortunately none of it was met. Maybe they had an off night. Do try the complementary bread rolls with coconut butter. It's great.
(2)Karina C.
Very surprising combinations.. Some balanced and some..well, off. Beef tartare is an amazing first course with melon-balled avocado. Flat iron steak perfectly prepared. Chocolate caramel brittle with celery ice cream... Not so much. Fantastic Rockpile Zif wine selection.
(4)Tami H.
I returned to The Spence again this year while in Atlanta for meetings... but it has gone a bit downhill from last year. The food seemed a bit gimmicky, and lacked robust flavors. Everything was solid especially oysters, bone marrow, foie gras, cauliflower, braised short rib... but was not as special as I recalled. Desserts were also a bit lackluster. I wonder if Richard Blais is distracted with other openings and not spending as much time with this establishment.
(3)Boris K.
Great place. Pork belly was awesome! Coffee drink was too sweet, but nice bourbon selection.
(4)Craig R.
Very very disappointed. The service was extremely slow. We counted our waitress serving 10 tables at once. The food was also just average. The menu is somewhat limited and nothing stood out as exceptional. In fact, nothing was really that good and we ordered "snacks", two entrees, two sides and dessert. 6 on a scale of 1-10. Oh well, worth the try but we won't be back.
(3)Lindy F.
What an amazing experience! I am a huge Richard Blais fan and tonight I was privileged to be able to attend a special event - a cookbook release party for Try This at Home dubbed an Evening with Richard Blais. Okay, well it took me exactly .3 seconds to call when I received the email. The premise of this event was that you could go and spend 2 hours at The Spence, meet Richard, taste bites from the cookbook and buy and get your cookbook signed by the man himself. Okay, you had me at meet and greet. Having never visited The Spence to eat a meal (always been a bit concerned due to my food allergies), I figured this was the perfect opportunity to try it out and meet one of my chef heroes. We walked in (a bit late thanks to traffic) and had to find ourselves a table all the way in the back. Unfortunately, this means we were ignored for probably 30 minutes - no wine, no bites. This was not looking good. The sun started to shine through the window in my eyes and I put my hand up to shade them and suddenly a server came over to the table and asked what we needed (apparently it looked like I was flagging her down). Oh darn. Two glasses of red wine were promptly delivered and I made a thankful comment of being taken care of and she clearly took this to heart, so she sent over a very nice young man with a "tray" (wooden plank) with some bites on it. Okay, let's talk bites: Bruschetta with Ricotta, Beets and Candied wasabi Bruschetta with Mashed Potatoes and Cod Arancini with cheese and peas (calling this Fritter 1) Green Olives stuffed with Cheddarwurst - fried (calling this Fritter 2) Fried Pork Belly with a radish slice, green apple, carrot (calling this Fritter 3) Cheese Puffs Smoked Salmon in puff pastry Everything I ate was A-MAZING! Obviously, I could NOT eat the 2 fish items. My Mom had them both and enjoyed them. I worked a deal with our server and he made sure to keep bringing me fritter items - I know how to flirt for food, especially Fritters (Fritter Fan Club Founding Member). The Q&A with Richard was fun, informative and he really is quite engaging. He was pretty funny and self-deprecating once he warmed up. Being a shy person in large groups, I normally wouldn't speak up, but I needed to know something. So I worked my way through the crowd so he would see my hand-raise and asked about his web series, Burger Lab and he seemed quite happy to talk about it. I hope I got him more viewers as well - it really is a great series. Once he finished came the line for autographs. I ended up at the end, but met people and bonded and by the time I got to the front, I got to bond more and talk to Richard and he is a great and personable guy. I think overall this place is great, the food is delicious and Richard is a genius. I would give 5 stars, but this was not really a Spence normal experience. I know, I need to go back for a real sit-down, Spence menu deal. I will for Richard, as I expect he deserves the 5th star for his achievement.
(4)Mike L.
** WARNING...painfully long review ahead ** Although the point of our trip was to catch the Niners-Falcons playoff game, checking out The Spence was a close second for me. Top Chef is one of the few TV shows I follow regularly, so I just HAD to check out Richard Blais's restaurant while I was in town! While some have described the food as a bit pretentious and trying too hard, I didn't get that impression. To me, the food is much like the ambiance - trendy, yet casual ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ). The menu is like tapas style, with a diverse array of small dishes to choose from. - DINNER ROLLS WITH COCONUT BUTTER...Complimentary ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ) If you're familiar with Chinese coconut cocktail buns, this tastes exactly the same. The coconut butter was so good, I wished we had more rolls to slather it on. - OYSTERS AND PEARLS...$12 ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ) Pretty good, and a perfect example of Chef Blais's playful style - raw oysters topped with crème fraîche "pearls". Surprisingly, the oysters weren't overpowered by the sourness of the crème fraîche. - FOIE GRAS TERRINE WITH CANDIED PECANS...$16 ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ) I hadn't had foie gras in ages, but this was my least favorite dish. It didn't fail...it just wasn't notable. The terrine was just okay (a bit rich), but instead of the thick, toasted bread, I wish they had used something more rustic or a baguette. - BONE MARROW, TUNA TARTARE AND FRIED QUAIL EGGS...$13 ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ) You never know what kind of yield you'll get when ordering bone marrow, but we lucked out with a generous serving. The tuna helped to freshen up the dish, and the choice of bread here was perfect. One of the better bone marrows I've had. - FRIED BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH A THAI VINAIGRETTE...$6 ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ) I hated Brussels sprouts when I was a kid, but I may not have if they were always this good! The sprouts were roasted perfectly, and the vinaigrette added a mildly tangy twist. - SQUID INK MEZZI RIGATONI, CLAMS, AND OCTOPUS...$14 ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ) As much as I like clams and octopus, the squid ink was what caught my eye. I liked how the rigatoni was dense, yet cooked to a perfect al dente. The seafood was pretty fresh as well, and the sauce had a nice "zing" to it. Solid all around. - ROASTED PORK BELLY WITH RUTABAGA, ENDIVE, AND APPLES...$26 ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ) My favorite of the night. Each chunk of meat was decently large and balanced - not too fatty nor too lean. The pork belly was full of savory flavors, with the endives and rutabaga adding some bitterness to the apples' sweetness. Straight up delicious. - RICOTTA CHEESECAKE, BLUEBERRY, GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST...$7 ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ) It was unexpected but not shocking to see it served deconstructed - definitely fits Chef Blais's style. The ricotta and the ice cream blended together quite well, but the best part for me though was the graham crumbles. Yum. - HOUSEMADE "PEANUT BRITTLE" WITH SALTED CARAMEL AND HOUSEMADE CHOCOLATE...Complimentary ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ) Funny - our complimentary dessert (from our awesome waitress, Kerrine!) was better than the one we ordered. The salted caramel and housemade chocolate were both tasty, but the peanut brittle was the star. Loved it! While I thoroughly enjoyed our meal, it should be noted that my experience may differ from most. The restaurant was relatively quiet while we were there (late on a Sunday night), so I didn't feel the laggy service others have mentioned. We even had the chance to chat with Kerrine (which may have led to our free dessert). Now, I know I probably just sound like some sort of groupie, but the food really was delicious. Easily four and a half on its own, but rounding up for the terrific service (even without the free dessert). Watching the Niners beat the Falcons that day was the highlight of the trip, but The Spence was the icing on the cake!
(5)Jessica K.
Cozy little spot with a great cocktail menu and creative tastes.
(4)Katie R.
The atmosphere is lively, the bone marrow tuna tartare is like buttah and the 90's rap had me at hello. I'll definitely be going back.
(4)Emily B.
I really enjoyed the food here, particularly the coconut butter served with rolls while waiting for our food. It was amazing! My husband had the pork belly, and I had the Juicy Lucy (burger) with fries and a side order of Thai Brussels Sprouts, which were all great. We shared the orange oil cake with brown sugar ice cream for dessert and it was good, but after the entrees I was expecting better. The portion was also very small (even for a fine dining dessert) and probably wasn't really worth the $7 we paid. The decor is very cool and the staff was consistently friendly. When we arrived, we were our server's only table and she was very attentive. Once she had three tables, our water glasses were not refilled for over 20 minutes and it took a long time to order dessert and then get our check. The restaurant isn't perfect, but my husband and I were very happy that we came while in the area.
(4)Jessica B.
I am, sadly, incredibly disappointed. After partaking in the three-course, chef's special seating, I couldn't be filled with more regret for buying into this travesty. Hook. Line. Sinker. First course was the appetizer, which consisted of a pork terrine. Ultimately, friends, it was an overly fried pork nugget. It was paired with a watermelon and cantaloupe salad. The fruit was the best part of the entire meal, aside from the burbon (which was not included, but the only reason why I say through the meal). The entree was surf n' turf, and the turf was just that chewy. It was also cold. But, the wine reduction and the horseradish foam was delightful. The surf consisted of an anorexic fish. There were more bones per square inch (and an inch was hard to find) than the Oakland Cemetery. Along with the entree came the "famous" duck fat friend french fries. Typically, they are good. However, this evening, they were soggy poles of potatoes. The curried cauliflower was pretty ok as the bone marrow lacked flavor, which is a feat in and of itself. The final course, was a frozen piece or chocolate and a non descript scoop of ice cream. I'm sure I could've found an equally good dessert at my local grocery store. It pains me to write this review and I wish that it weren't so. I can only suggest that anyone looking for a fantastic, chef's selected meal, head over to Serpas or King + Duke.
(2)Larry B.
My wife and I are visiting for a nice relaxing weekend away from NYC and being that we watched and became a fan of Richard Blais on Top Chef we decided to try out his restaurant The Spence last night. We consider ourselves foodies and last night we were treated to one of the best dining experiences yet. My hat goes off to the chef and everyone in this fine establishment. The service was impeccable and the food was spectacular.
(5)Kate W.
Holy Moly please excuse my language. Just kidding. But shoot, this food is delicious. No matter how weird or odd something sounds or may possibly seem UN appetizing, it was all fantastic. Can't give them enough stars. Get everything.
(5)Jennifer N.
Well... after reading several reviews and seeing the Spence listed on several lists as one of the best spots in Atlanta, I had to go. I was very excited about the menu, especially the bone marrow dish that people have raved about. Maybe it is just me but the food was just ok. The bone marrow with capers on a toasted baguette was ok. The Juicy Lucy ( burger) was just ok. The foie gras was just ok and the drinks that we tried, were also just ok. Now what was awesome, the French fries served with the Juicy Lucy were amazing. The bread served with the bone marrow was great, it carried the entire dish. The service was great and the restaurants overall look and feel were fantastic ! Overall, I am glad that I tried the Spence. If by chance I return and find that it I enjoy the food more I will issue a prompt update. It could have just been an "off-night" for the restaurant and that happens.
(3)Simon C.
I love that Atlanta has progressed to having a mature enough food scene that it supports a pretentious restaurant with awful food. The cocktails were mediocre, at best, and might as well have been premixed. The wine list is mostly unimpressive and overpriced. The food is eclectic, and served on lovely dishes, however you should not seek it out if your idea of farm to table is that the food be fresh. None of our meat could be prepared to order, so no, my steak could not be prepared medium rare...and it was pre sliced and might've been pre-cooked at medium-well with the hopes no one would notice. It also came in a beet ketchup, and it tasted like it sounds. It wouldn't have been worth it at half the price. The burger suffered the same miserable fate, from what I heard of my party. The vegetables were not fresh nor were they tasty, and many were just burned. While their choices are creative that does not translate naturally to edible, and the effort here did not carry it to that point. The name, branding and appointments were all lovely, but that does not improve flatly bad food. At this price there are far better, and equally adventurous, restaurants in Atlanta.
(1)Rob C.
Great space, great service, good food. The salad was fresh, the carrot soup was just rich enough, and the pulled pork was simply delicious (though not the usual pulled pork, which is also often delicious). A great choice for lunch if you're in the area.
(4)Juliana I.
Amazing food!!! Every dish was perfect! My favorites: bone marrow, kale salad, sweet potato creme brûlée, duck, sea bass, and the pecan pie for dessert . The service was incredible! Omg and the complimentary rolls of bread with coconut butter were out of this world!!
(5)David S.
I was wanting more. Much more. We came in and there was oddly some kinda rush at lunch. They sat us quickly, eventually took our order. Eventually refilled our water (and something was floating in there now...so we had to ask for fresh glasses). And finally our food came out. It took over an hour and a half to get in and out for lunch...not good. That said, that bone marrow dish was freaking amazing...like amazing amazing. I likely went in at a weird time but I'd assume a place like this could handle a lunch rush.
(3)Liz K.
For a Friday night I thought this place would be buzzing but it wasn't... I thought the drinks were tasty and the food was mediocore. Ordered the oysters and pearls, bone marrow, crawfish pasta, tartare, and some kind of toffee-ish dessert with coffee ice cream. I can't remember! The portions were quite small, I thought the bone marrow was delish, however it was small. It looked like it came from a calf. lol. Highlight may have been the complimentary bread with the coconut butter- OMG soooo out of this world! The bone marrow comes second to being my favorte. I'd like to try this place out again in the future though.
(3)Shay H.
Reaaaallly delicious. We made a meal of a few snacks and small plates and split the burger. I'm glad we got that burger. I'd go back for it alone. Also standout was the friend pork terrine and fried Brussels sprouts. As others noted, maybe the service could have been more attentive. Still a great dining experience.
(4)Sarah K.
Whatever the other reviews say, our experience was perfection! We had 3 items from the "Snack Plate" portion of the menu, 2 from the "Small Plate" part of the menu, an entree, 2 side dishes, and a special order dish for the kids. Our bill was reasonable for everything we had. Snack Plate Selection: The arancini with rice, lemon and pork belly with a spicy sauce was very tasty, though a little more pork belly would be nice since I only saw one small bite in the whole of our plate. The bone marrow and tuna tartar wasn't my thing - too heavy on the tuna for me. But my husband liked it and there was more than enough bone marrow for the 2 pieces of toast it comes with. Quick tip: don't be afraid to ask for new toast if yours is too black. I didn't trade mine out since I expect chef's to catch errors like that and if he sent it out, I'll try it the way he serves it. However, next time, if I get black toast, it's going back. The rest of the dish, including the quail eggs were perfectly prepared. The third dish was their green tomato and cheese plate. The cheese looks like a combination Brie and goat/feta cheese with similar taste. The tomatoes were well cooked. The sauce was delicious. However the proportions were off. Too much cheese, not enough sauce or tomato. But the flavors were all there if you are each item together. Small Plate Selections: the heirloom tomato salad was AMAZING! The ricotta, dressing, and tomatoes were fresh and light. A great salad and perfectly flavored. The sunchoke ravioli dish was sheer perfection! Wish I had that all to myself. Both my husband and I loved this dish! The scallops, mushrooms, ravioli and sauce individually tasted light and fresh, but all together in one bite was heaven! Side dishes: thrice fried fries were perfect French fries. Nothing new, but something simple done perfectly is to be commended. The corn creme brûlée is a must!!! I was expecting a dessert tasting side dish but it wasn't overly sweet. It was like a sweet corn pudding with a creme brûlée top and we will definitely eat that again. Our main dish was the duck. The fig reduction, roasted figs, horseradish and duck was a fabulous combination over the turnip purée. The duck was perfectly cooked and the fat perfectly rendered and crispy. No complaints. Just watch out for the whole roasted horseradishes if you're not into that type of spicy root vegetable. Our special ordered meal was for our 3 and 5 year olds. We asked for something simple to please our picky eaters and came up with chicken and pasta after talking with our waitress and her talking with the chef. You'd think it wouldn't be anything to write about, but honestly, this was a dish I would order for myself! The chicken was sous vide and grilled to perfect juiciness. The pasta was tossed in a very light and tasty olive oil. The kids (and my husband and I) LOVED it! We split the dish between the two of them and their was still enough for my husband to have a full plate. They were very generous for a $12 special order dish. The bread was good, but honestly, the other reviewers made it sound mind blowing and it wasn't for me. It was new and tasty, and a great way to welcome guests to the restaurant, the flavor of coconut shavings, creamed butter with cracked salt is great, it just wasn't my favorite thing. Which is a good thing! If your bread is all you do well, not a restaurant do you make. Their bread is a perfect start for the culinary experience. The atmosphere is relaxed like a nicely decorated downtown home. Very comfortable and loungy. It gives me a little more insight as to who Richard Blais is. The service was professional and friendly. We had the bar tender and a waitress taking care of us, not sure if that's normal or of it's just because we were near the bar (probably the reason), but it was nice to be so well taken care of. Dishes came out one at a time which gave us plenty of time to enjoy each one. The kids food came out with one of our small plates so it was perfect timing after sampling their fries. We were not visited by the manager at all, which I do like when I go to a restaurant like this, but I don't expect it. The restaurant progressively got busier as the evening got later - we had an early dinner at 5:30pm so we could leave by 7:30 to drive 9 hours home. Our one day stop in Atlanta was made perfect because of our experience at The Spence. I said perfect a lot because in many ways they could not have done any better. My taste buds had a new adventure with a few dishes, and the service made us feel welcomed and cared for. We will definitely be back! I am already craving their raviolis!!
(5)Maria S.
Welcome back to fine dining, Richard Blais! My first trip to The Spence was a relatively good experience, although I'll be curious to see if my rating changes when the celebrity chef is actually in the house. There were a few service missteps and some strange goings-on near the bar, involving boxes and very loud packaging tape. I'm guessing none of that would have happened if Chef Blais had been on premises. But I hope to find out for sure on a future visit. Stay tuned... The space is gorgeously redesigned, and virtually unrecognizable if you had frequented The Globe. However, due to the high ceilings and hard surfaces, it can get quite loud even when the restaurant is not at capacity. I do like the comfy banquettes behind the bar. You get to sit up high and observe all the goings-on. Start off with one of the signature cocktails. On my latest visit, I had the Crutch No. 2, which was tasty and quite refreshing. The menu changes frequently, so be sure to ask your server for a recommendation if that particular drink is no longer on the menu. My favorite dish right now is the beet salad. Even if you think you don't like beets, please give this one a try. Bonus - it's gluten free! I also enjoyed the pork belly tacos with fresh, made-in-house corn tortillas. And my dining companion consented to order the Juicy Lucy sans bun so I could have a taste. I'm sure it's better with the bread, but even on its own it packs quite a punch.
(4)Quang N.
Great food, came on a weekday with a friend. Food was a 4.5 stars, but I rounded up to a 5 due to the service we had from our server. We split the beef tartare, brussel sprouts, bone marrow, and a pasta dish. The pasta dish was average, hence my memory lapse on what it actually was. The beef tartare was also average, as the heat from the chili oil/spice basically overpowered the dish. The brussel sprouts were great as the thai/asian flavor added a nice subtle heat to the dish. The best dish by far was the bone marrow as many have elaborated on.
(5)Azim D.
Went for the 2nd time for my brother's birthday and It's a solid option. I wouldn't eat here again simply because I've been twice now and there are other great restaurants that I still need to try in Atlanta. Full Disclosure: I am a huge fan of Richard Blais but I'll try and be as impartial as possible. I had the same server both times and the service was excellent. He made a couple small mistakes but worked to remedy them as quick as possible and my water glass was refilled 6 or 7 times even though he left a carafe on our table. I don't know his name but he slightly resembles Patton Oswald and I recommend him highly. Ordering food here can be confusing but it's all made to be shared. For 2 people, I think one "snack" and either 2 small dishes and one main dish or vice versa(depending on how hungry you are) is fine. The can soup, short rib and blueberry ricotta cheesecake are my favorites. Worth a try.
(4)Jordan P.
Really overpriced for the small portions they give you, but the duck was still the best I've ever had
(4)Chris S.
I went to The Spence and was hoping for much better than what it turned out to be. The good: enjoyed the empanadas, short ribs, wine list and the staff were friendly. The bad: mediocre hamburger (juicy lucy) and awful bone marrow that tasted like old beef grease from a griddle. yuck. It wasn't the worst experience, but the hype didn't match reality. If I return, it will be for a few select items and the convenient location.
(2)Sally L.
I actually loved the food. Everything I had was great: beet salad, melon gazpacho, lobster roll, and the blondie. However, I have two qualms. The service was very friendly but quite slow throughout the meal. Also, on our way out, the hostess was nowhere to be found in order to validate parking. We stood there for a good while until one of the servers took notice of us. The main issue for most of my party of 8 was the noise factor. The music was incredibly loud and clubby. It was near impossible to have a conversation. There was a lot of shouting, it felt, at times. Perhaps, this is what The Spence is going for and what works for them. However, I don't see myself going back anytime soon or at all. Sharing good food with people is also about engaging and connecting with them through conversation. This restaurant, for me, is worthy of a higher rating if based on food alone. However, I'm going for the whole experience. Perhaps, The Spence is just too "young" for me.
(2)Ben X.
Great Decor/Great service but food is just okay. Visited this place while travelling expecting something above average. Had the tile fish based on a reco from the server but it was way overcooked and the Trumpet Tartine tasted undercooked. Seems more of place where you just meet someone for a couple of drinks.
(3)Jennifer C.
After some much anticipation my friend Sarah and I headed to Spence to celebrate our annual Holiday dinner exchange. We both are fans of Chef Blais so we had high hopes for Spence. We ordered {BEET SALAD} a beautiful presentation and tasted great too, while im generally not a fan of pecans, the candied pecans were deliciou {CHOCOLATE DUCK RAVIOLI} sounded better on paper than the actual dish itself, the duck was pretty dry in my opinion {BONE MARROW} not overly rich and quite tasty, I loved the eggs on top. {FOIE GRAS} skip this {BUTTERNUT SQUASK CREME BRULEE} sweet but tasty but I have a sweet tooth so some of you might want to save this for later {BRUSSEL SPROUTS} hands down my favorite dish of the evening, I would come back just to order these sprouts, crispy, bacon, salty, but a little sweet. Definitely has hints of asian flavoring possibly some fish sauce? either way the clear winner.
(3)Kevin L.
Everything here was great. Alex was my server - great. Very nice, helped me pick out dishes, explained how everything was prepared, she was awesome. The look of the place - great. Giant square hanging thing with what looks like a collection of Richard's favorite ingredients. Cool. (Although, what's with the "boob in the bottom" drinking glasses?) Appetizer: bone marrow, with tuna, lemon capers, and quail eggs - great. Very tasty and surprisingly light way to start the meal. Main: sous vide hanger steak, with "trove cooked" fries. Alex gave me a side of the "red pepper jelly" upon request for my fries. Normally they come with blue cheese crumbles. I liked that, but the jelly was even better - it's like a chunky Thai sweet pepper dipping sauce and I ate every last bit. Steak was very good - flavorful and moist with just enough sauce. Whoever is cooking in the back knows their stuff. Dessert: "cheesecake" - great! I'll try y best to describe it: small scoops of cheesecake, surrounded by chocolate graham cracker dust, with bits of crispy meringue (?), froze blueberry balls, wild blueberries, and lemon foam. The foam was more gel-like than I imagined from seeing dudes do foams on TV, but that's awesome. Really flavorful, balanced, and sweet, but light. All together u had a really good time there. I bet get to eat out fancy, but I've been a fan of watching Blais on TV for years, and was traveling through the area, and a family member gave me money to treat myself. I was worried that fine dining food wouldn't suit me, or that even of the food was good the service would be crappy or the place too pretentious for me to feel comfortable - I was really really pleased to have enjoyed every part of my trip to Spence. I'd definitely go again I I'm ver anywhere close to Atlanta. Come to CA!!!
(5)Derek B.
Continuing with our tradition of eating at a Top Chef related restaurant on our Anniversary, my wife and I dined here this year. I really liked the decor and set up, open kitchens are a huge plus for me. However, it was a little loud and the music was a little weird. Made having a conversation a little difficult, so I wouldn't recommend this for a romantic date. But it's great for a fun meal with a group. Richard Blais was present this particular evening and walked around talking to a few tables, but he missed ours :(. Thats another huge plus, love to see chefs/owners in their restaurant rather than just stamping their name on it and letting it run itself (usually into the ground). Food was all around excellent. Everything was delicious. The highlight for me was the bone marrow dish. I would have eaten the marrow by itself with a spoon and been happy. Throw on some tuna tartare, a quail egg and some awesome toast to spread it on, and I was in heaven. Amazing. Also had the Sweetbread Parmesan which was spot on. 2 slider sized sandwiches with an awesome sauce, melty mozz and perfectly cooked sweetbreads. Yum. My wife went with a pheasant dish that was a special that night. The meat was delicious(cooked sous vide and then finished on woodfire grill) but the highlight for her was the fried mash potato puffs. And I agree they were cool little things, almost like a fancy tater tot filled with creamy mashed potato. We could have eaten a bowl of them alone. All in all it was a great experience. I'd go back for sure.
(4)Brittany B.
Great service and yummy cocktails. We really like the quality if food for the price. It was also cool that we could order small plates and try everything. We tried the oysters, bone marrow, squash soufflé, the cheese dish, and Brussel sprouts. The bone marrow had a great flavor, but the texture was too squishy for me. The cheese dish was yummy, but more of an appetizer. The squash and brussels were amazing. However, the oysters are by far the best thing I ate. They were perfect. Also, you cannot beat the price point. A meal like this would cost $300 in NYC.
(5)Matt J.
We ate everything put in front of us, but in the end it was just OK. First off the space is gorgeous. Rough hewn woods, cast iron fittings, dim lighting, etc. Our party of four was seated at a smallish table, and I do have to say the plastic chairs aren't very comfortable. Our waiter was really nervous, like noticeably, and struggled with facts about the menu and wines he should have known. I asked him if he had a favorite wine while regarding the extensive list, he said he did, so I asked him to describe it. He basically said it was "red" and could produce no more of a description. I felt badly for the guy, but when you are waiting tables at a $20-$30 a plate restaurant, you need to have a few wines you have tasted and memorized a decent description. We ordered some appetizers which were produced in no less than 15 minutes, ironically too quick for me. I commented on that and his response was "well we're not really that busy". Sigh. The portion on the bone marrow with tuna tartare was humorous. The bone barely had any marrow in it, and the tuna had more panko than tuna. For $15 it was a bit insulting. The "canned soup" was good but could have used more ginger. It came out a little flat. We then waited a bit before ordering mains as we didn't want them showing up as soon as the words finished leaving our mouths. We ordered a good spread: half chicken, grouper, steak, whole black bass. All the mains were quite tasty. The steak was well cooked and the garnishes were nice. The chicken was tasty with a nice citrus taste. The bass was very bony (more than usual) although I guess you get that with whole fish. The brussels spouts side was awesome though. I just should have had that for appetizers. Even though the mains somewhat made up for the lackluster drink and appetizer service we opted not to have desert or coffee. I knew going into this place that, as the reviews suggest, I was going to get a mixed experience, and it certainly bore out. Richard Blais, help!
(3)Anjali M.
We went 2 days ago for our anniversary. I had mentioned it on my reservation. They greeted us saying happy anniversary and brought us champagne and dessert on the house and made it very special for us. My husband was so impressed:) I ordered a veggie platter but wasn't happy with the vegetables so they whipped out a new one without any complaints! My husband had their burger and loved it! The dessert was great too. Nice ambience. The service was amazing. Will definitely go back.
(5)Ana M.
You walk in and this place immediately liberates you- I started wondering why no one had thought of this earlier. Why would you need a formal bar when the whole center of the room can be a casual hang out spot where bartenders and patrons convene? Why not make an irreverent menu that changes daily, based on the whim and inspiration of the chefs? Why impose expectations of courses, when you can order whatever sounds good to you, and have it delivered to the table whenever it's ready? And who wouldn't want servers treat you like the guest of honor to this funky dinner party, sharing their favorite dishes, conversing about food and cocktails, and making you feel included and at home? And of course, you will be given the option to order their daily staff meal at cost, which when I went meant savory bread pudding and sausage for under six bucks. This is place is a mixture of extremes- it's modern, it's funky, but its also sophisticated. It is homey in the sense that you feel like you are part of the group- the staff is having a great time, is eating great food, and you can share that experience with them. Richard Blais is either focused by the kitchen, checking orders, ensuring things are running smoothly- or hanging out with patrons and making sure we are all enjoying ourselves. When you order wine, a cute little card comes along with it, imparting you with wine wisdom for your next visit ("you should check out this new hot varietal"). The food is phenomenal. The foie gras with chocolate was silky and surprisingly delicate, the oysters and pearls were refreshing, the bone marrow with tuna tartare was just genius. (why shouldn't you pair marrow with fish?) The lamb entree was sumptuous (albeit small- almost the size of the small plates). I think this place is exactly what I would expect from Richard Blais- a little outside the box, a lot of great quality food, and amazing hospitality to match.
(5)John M.
I'll never know. Circled the block twice looking for valet parking. It was very dark and I finally spotted the small sign that had an arrow pointing down the road. But there was no valet. And traffic was such I couldn't stop. Pulling around the block I called and they stated they only had one valet. I tried once more before giving up and heading to Empire State South. With this level of service outside the restaurant I doubt I'll ever try again.
(1)H P.
Visited for the weekday summer special, $20 for 4 courses. Kale salad, Pork Terrine, Trout with Celery purée with sides of fried Cauliflower and thrice cooked fries and chocolate layer cake with marshmallow icing. All of the food was good, but the fried cauliflower was a standout with a slight sweetness that was extra delicious. Fantastic value and plenty of food. Also ordered Fried Risotto. Well worth extra calories and carbs! Best I have had. Only 4 stars because waiter did not mention summer special, did not know what the food was in each course and neglected to mention sides came with entree course.
(4)Ambar C.
5+ stars. Best customer service I've ever had at a restaurant. Actually, best customer service I've ever had anywhere! Our server, Alex, really made our experience above and beyond great. You should come here. I made a reservation for 8:30pm on a Sunday, and I was running late, so I called. The lady who answered the phone said, "No problem. Come in when you can." So, we did. Around 8:40pm on a Sunday. Little did we know that the Spence closes at 9pm on Sundays! No one said anything as we proceeded to have a very European-style dinner for the next couple of hours... that is, until one woman came by and angrily demanded our menus as we were preparing to order dessert. I looked around and saw that we were the only remaining customers, so I asked, "Are you closed?" and she snapped at me, "Yes! We CLOSED at NINE." I felt terrible. The thought hadn't even crossed my mind since I was able to make a reservation for 8:30pm. When our waitress, Alex, came back to our table I told her we would skip dessert because of what the other woman had said, and Alex very adamantly told us to stay and enjoy ourselves. Talk about 5-star service. She kept a smile on her face the whole time and was so extremely professional. I am so impressed with the caliber of service she gave us. Truly amazing. Anyway, onto the food, which also deserves 5 stars. The uni spaghettini was a nice starter small plate which had calamari and octopus. No one flavor overpowered the other, which was great because I was worried the uni flavor would be too strong. The pasta was perfectly cooked. The flavors were great. The seafood was also perfect. Strong start. We then had the pork belly with turnips and flat beans, which was a lovely balance of that strong meaty (yet fatty and buttery) pork belly flavor with the nice, complimentary softer flavors of the turnips and flat beans. For dessert, after our little run-in with the woman on staff, Alex convinced us to try the ricotta cheesecake, which was one of the best cheesecakes I have ever had. It was super light and packed with flavor. I want a piece now. As if that weren't enough, Alex the amazing server brought us out a complimentary piece of the pistachio shortcake with celery sorbet (for my birthday)! The shortcake was wonderful, and the celery sorbet was very light and refreshing. This was probably one of the best (birthday) meals I've ever had. Love it!
(5)marissa m.
Great food. Great drinks. Great service....Thanks Mike! Very pleased with the bone marrow & quail egg and the duck.
(5)Kim N.
Finally made it to the Spence over the weekend and it won't be my last time. Being such a fan of molecular gastronomy, I love the creativity of every dish that came out at our dinner. The presentation of every dish is spectacular (see pictures); each component/ingredient has its own purpose and they all just go so well together. I believe the Spence has been open for a little bit over a year. It didn't seem too busy when we came in for dinner on a Sunday night. I honestly think that location is one of the problems because it's in a college area, surrounded by fast food joints, and a little hidden. Every dish's very good with some minor problems I had because I'm just really picky. -Rolls with coconut butter( to munch one while you wait for your food) - LOVE the coconut butter & warm rolls. I can eat that coconut butter with anything! -Oysters & Pearls- the pearls melt in your mouth, flavors marry so well -Beef Tartare - topped with sunny side up quail eggs, wonderful flavor combination -Bone Marrow - hard to use the spoon that came with it bc the bone marrow we got was too narrow; otherwise, it was heavenly!! bone marrow, hamachi tartare, topped with sunny side up quail eggs -Uni Spaghettini - a tad too salty for me; nonetheless, good flavors -Roasted Porchetta w/ Mac n Cheese- served with a glass dome with smoke under, the smoky flavor compliments the whole dish so well; I think this was our favorite dish. -Brussels Sprouts- in Thai sauce, delicious -Mint Panna Cotta - served with cucumber sorbet & sunflower cake. I think this was the only slight disappointment of our entire meal. This dessert tasted decent, just not amazing like everything else. Server & hostess were very nice and friendly. Valet parking; however, there's street parking available. Open kitchen. Simple decorations.
(4)Amanda W.
AMAZING!!! We have dined at fine dining restaurants before but this beat them all!! Our waiter Ryan was so knowledgable about everything and the other staff never failed to answer our questions or ask how we were doing. We had the braised goat beet arancini, the bone marrow w/ tuna tartare, whole white bass, and short rib. There was not a single complaint! Can't wait to come back to Atlanta to visit again.
(5)Nicholas G.
Very impressive wine list and just as impressive food and service. Definitely and "must experience" spot for foodies and wine lovers.
(5)Anna Marie C.
I love me some top chef. So I obvs was very excited to have a meeting in atl and have a chance to eat here. The menu sits between fun and too gimmicky. But seeing Blais on the show, I'm vote for fun. My beet salad was awesome, and so was my kale. The disappointment was in the bone marrow dish--it wasn't easy to eat, and it just felt greasy instead of rich. Luckily, the meal was slow paced and thus I felt full by the time the end rolled around. Dessert was fine but nothing to write home about. They had also run out of a dessert, but did not let us know prior to us ordering it. Overall, nice, not spectacular in the way I had hoped.
(4)Jessy A.
Was disappointed. service was fine, but the food was mediocre. Tried several small plates and an entree which was steak. Temperature of food... Warm, not hot, seasoning ok. What I hoped would be interesting tasting and creative was just not that but rather lamely mixed tastes. Nothing at all special. Could have been at the Olive Garden.
(3)Karen P.
Friday night at a Blais restaurant - not too crowded so we expected good service - it was okay.We opted to sit outside which meant that we were a little "disconnected" from the restaurant, probably because the tables are located across a sidewalk from the restaurant doors. We started with a bottle of Brunello - excellent wine and markup was pretty standard if not a little lower than some restuarants at this price point. Then on to dinner selections...maybe it was us but we thought that the menu was weird. There was a section for small plates which I usually translate to be appetizers and then the entrees - only 3. Maybe this is someone's definition of "trendy" but I found it confusing. The waiter explained that many people selected small plates for entrees - different but it opened the number of selections. We struggled with selections - everything was just a bit different - almost like it was trying too hard to be different. The gazpacho was good although the concept of eating "canned soup" at a restaurant scared me a bit - definitely better than the canned soup that I usually buy. For an entree, I selected a pasta - which was okay but so forgettable that I can't even remember what it was. My son had the steak and said it was "meh" - not a lot of flavor.
(2)Nichole K.
Meet up with a bunch of girlfriend's after work, and once again Concentrics Restaurants has another hit. Trendy but louder atmosphere. Open kitchen. Decor was beautiful. Great place for post work cocktails. We order almost all of their appetizers and all of their desserts. If I could say one thing negative it would be the service. Wasn't bad, but wasn't great. Will go back again. And I highly recommend it.
(5)S W.
Phenomenal head chef, Adrian, really took care of us. This guy is amazing! Meet him if you can. The food was fresh and highly creative. I felt as if the food came from the farm that day. i will be back.
(5)Brian K.
Kudos to Chef Richard Blais for finally opening a restaurant that caters to a more culinarily adventurous crowd and not the milkshake-slurping, french fry-inhaling masses. Don't get me wrong - I've pounded my fair share of his delectable liquid nitrogen shakes over the years. However, it's refreshing to see his culinary ingenuity and talent showcased through the actual food instead of a kitschy theme. Food: The portions aren't very generous, but the flavor profiles are exceptional. The restaurant has also enlisted an incredibly talented sommelier, so the wine selection is equally as impressive. During my visit, I started with the General Tso's sweetbreads, which were well-executed, but slightly overpriced for the quality and portion size. For an entree, I opted for the Amish chicken, which consisted of both fried and sous-vide chicken served over grits. The dish was impeccable on all fronts. For a side, my dining partner and I opted for the macaroni & headcheese, which was excellent. For a dessert, I had the pineapple upside down cake with foie caramel, which proved to be the only underwhelming aspect of the meal. In my opinion, the dessert lacked the complexity and innovation you'd expect from a kitchen with Richard Blais at the helm. Service: Friendly, efficient, and eager to please. Our waitress did have to rely on her notes when we inquired about some of the dishes - however, this was expected considering that the menu changes on a a daily basis. Atmosphere: Casual, contemporary, and welcoming. Contrary to some of the other reviewers, I had no issues with the communal bar format - I've never been a fan of staring at the wall and found the high-top tables to be more conducive for conversation. The restaurant also has one of the most "open" kitchens I've ever seen - there are no counters or walls separating it from the dining room - I found it to be a refreshing deviation from the norm. Dress is smart casual. Cost: Expensive by most casual dining standards. Small plates are $5-$15, large plates are $15-$30, sides are $4-$5, and desserts are $5-$7. Specialty drinks are approximately $9-$10. Other: The Spence accepts reservations via phone or OpenTable. Communal "feasting tables" can also be reserved for larger groups or private events. Complimentary valet parking is available, but the lot is a decent trek from the actual restaurant - as such, you may have to wait a few minutes for service. Validated parking is also available at the parking deck on Williams St. Dining hours are Sunday-Thursday, 5:30PM-10:00PM, and Friday-Saturday, 5:30PM-11:00PM. The bar opens daily at 5:00PM.
(4)Mere C.
We came here last night to celebrate our 2 year anniversary! We have heard great things and wanted to try something new. First off let me say that our server was AMAZING! He started us off with some complimentary champagne while he broke down the menu. He asked us what kind of drinks we liked, and we did a blind 3 glass wine tasting. He completely nailed our taste with the wine. We had several questions about the menu, but he was so patient and genuinely excited to assist. I honestly would have thought he was the chef because he was so knowledgeable. He was giving us all sorts of helpful tips about how they cook the food. After reading over the menu, we decided to start off with the oysters and pearl and the bone marrow. OMG!! The oysters were so flavorful and had an excellent presentation over baked salt. We detected citrus juice in them, and our server said they put pineapple juice in it for a little extra flavor. The bone marrow was honestly our favorite thing that we had. I have never had anything remotely close to bone marrow with tuna, and it's hard to describe the flavor, but my taste buds were loving every bite. For our main course, Steven ordered the duck and I ordered the steak. We tend to split meals so we had half of each others. Both were amazing. Mine arrived with potatoes and roasted vegetables. The duck came with brussel sprouts and veggies. The presentation was amazing! We both agreed that when we come back, we will probably do it "tapas style" and order several little bites instead since we enjoyed the appetizers so much. We finished the meal with the blondie brownie and ice cream. It was honestly heaven in my mouth! We will definitely be back. Although the menu rotates, the oysters and bone marrow are fixed options. I would highly recommend both. Also, the beekeeper cocktail was very good (bourbon with honey). It was top notch service and food combined into one great experience. Well done, and thank you more making our special day that much better.
(5)B M.
All I can say is WOW!!!! I first and foremost have to say the warm welcome we received from Rori and Peter set the tone for the entire evening. They were genuine folks who truly wanted you to have a great experience. The food was just amazing!!! We tried four of the snacks, a couple of small plates, an entree and dessert....the salmon crudo was not only beautiful but tasty too. And if you want to lose your bone marrow virginity, this is the place. The goat trio was so delicious especially the croquette! I don't know what little saucy things were on that plate but I actually swiped up some with my finger. We had the blondie with coffee ice cream for dessert. The little coffee cocktail was a great compliment. I didn't get to meet Richard Blais which was a bummer but the phenomenal food at his restaurant showed why he is such an amazing chef and restaurant leader.
(5)Mckenzie B.
I came here for my birthday on Saturday and I would say I was a little worried. I love food so I decided to give this place a shot. I think my servers name was Peter and I dont think I would have been as happy with it if he wasn't. The options made me nervous. He recommended a wine from Macedonia. Which was 14% alcohol. Loooooooooved it!!! On to the food. We had bone marrow, beef tartar, some pasta with clams, mussels and fried brussel sprouts. I have never had better food in my life. There is no doubt I would tell people to pick small plates over main courses. They also gave me champagne and a chocolate dessert for my birthday. I will be coming back.
(5)Tony G.
This was me and my wife's third visit to The spence. Each time our experience has been unique and enjoyable. The service is on point always. The valet the hostess and our waiters were all what you would expect for a restaurant of this caliber. No pretentiousness no attitudes like I have experienced in some of the restaurants like bacchanalia or restaurant Eugene were the food is just not as creative neither it is worth the wait ,the rudeness of the staff , the douchey crowd and could get quite pricey. The food here is AMAZING and the menu is divided in to 3 parts and is ever changing. Oyster and pearls , beet salad with wasabi, and the famous bone marrow appetizers are some of the best in Atlanta. But there is always so many more that are just too good to pass up. The second section of the menu has small dishes which I usually order 2 different kinds to share with my wife. The squash linguini ,broccoli pappardelle and the english pea cavatappi with mint gremolata are some of my favorites as I love to try unique pasta combinations and these are hands down the most creative and delicious anywhere in Atlanta. But the foie gras terrine , squid ink ramen with garlic dash and fresh kimchi and the canned soup of the day are not to be missed. The third part of the menu has entree sizes portions. The smoke dome dish , the feathered steak with artichokes , duck with blood orange and chocolate and the juicy Lucy burger are our favorite. The deserts change everyday as well but the blood orange with orange cake with champagne shavings , the chocolate cake with violet ice cream are some of the best I have had. Even their cocktail menu is very unique with pisco pop , March hare and the left handed humming bird being our top choices of all times. This place is an experience that just never disappoints the service is impeccable waiters are knowledgeable and the food is their main focus and they execute every dish to surpass the most discerning diners expectations. Flavor profiles , ingredients and Blais's touch make for every plate to be unique and delicious. We love this place and I can tell you after 3 visits that it's consistent and always provides and amazing experience unlike some highly ranked restaurants in atlanta.
(5)Beth M.
Drove a long way and it didn't disappoint. Service was great and drinks were strong. ::check check:: The foie gras was delicious with star fruit, but there was quite a bit of it and not enough toast. The squash Creme brûlée was exactly that not a pun (burnt sugar and everything) it was delicious. I found my new ATL spot.
(5)Steve S.
Note to readers, I do not watch Top Chef so my review is not biased due to me being a fan of the show. Our group of 10 arrived for dinner on a Saturday and had a great experience. Half of us arrived early and had to kill some time in the crowded bar area. There is no actual bar to rest a drink on though, so you have to mill around the two tables until seats open up. I liked the modern, open design of the restaurant. Even though I'm not much of a wine drinker, I enjoyed how they broke down the wine list to "Tried and True" vs "Leap of Faith". Also, try the Hitachino Nest White if you're into beer. We were seated at the prime table in the middle of the dining room, giving us a great view of the open kitchen. Our server was excellent and she elevated a great dining experience. The meal was well paced and she routinely stopped by to check if we needed more drinks. What impressed me the most was her having the foresight to split our bill into separate checks based on our seating arrangements. Some restaurants refuse to split checks more than 3 times, our server correctly split our bill into 7 checks. This was awesome because we didn't have to deal with sorting out a huge check at the end of our meal. Not sure if what we had for dinner will appear on the menu again, but here's my best shot. First off, the table bread was pretty damned good. Also, let's start with the sides. You have to order the head mac and cheese and the corn creme brûlée. Both were delicious. The head mac was more cheek meat than ear or tongue so you'll either be more likely or less likely to try it depending on your tastes. The brussels sprouts came out a little too oily, so you may want to skip it. For starters, I enjoyed the rye pasta with poached egg and the braised pork cheek with polenta. Both are packed with savory goodness. I was also able to taste the bone marrow w/ tuna tartare and foie gras. The combination of tuna, yolk and marrow needs to be experienced. The foie was good, but similar to other restaurants. For dinner, I ordered my first ever juicy lucy. I got a kick out of the large, rustic wooden plates the burgers were served on. Its like they were made from chain sawing rounds off a log and warped a little for shape. Its funny because this bowl is something I could totally picture eating food from with only my hands and really fitting for a gooey cheese burger. The Lucy was very tasty, with only minor cheese eruptions. I don't care how adept you are at eating foods with your fingers (I openly laugh at people who need all ten fingers to eat wings) you will need a napkin. In fact, you may want to roll your sleeves past your elbow prior to eating just to be safe. The Spence was a great dining experience and I would recommend people check it out.
(4)Jonathan G.
Loved the atmosphere and the menu. Great experience and will be back next time I'm in town.
(4)Jon P.
I was excited to recently try The Spence, I'm a fan of Richard Blais and Top Chef and have eaten at his other spots. First of all, it is in a great location and the interior is very hip with an open kitchen and bar - its not stuffy, very casual - it reminds me of a smaller Empire State South. I'm not sure if it was the table where we were sitting, but I had a customer in town who I brought along for dinner, and we could barely hear each other talk. The music and other patrons talking were very loud and our table was a little cramped. As expected, the menu options are creative, and not what you typically find in Atlanta, I started off with the Bone Marrow and Tuna Tartare and Fried Quail eggs along with Oysters and Pearls - it was ok, and the portion size was small to split between two people. I had the steak as an entree and it was cooked perfectly, but the flavor was off, very odd taste. My customer had similar thoughts with his steak. The best part of the entire meal was my side of Brussel Sprouts, the vinaigrette over them was delicious. I was hoping to give The Spence a great review and after my experience I don't think I will return - Sorry Richard.
(3)Linda O.
Had dinner tonight at theSpence. One of the worst meals ever. A mushy white fish, with 2 burnt baby carrots and a raw faned potato. Served with a pea puree that had no favor. Avoid this place if you want a decent meal.
(1)Pratik S.
This was our first visit to The Spence and we were really excited to finally come here. I had not been in the location previously when it was The Globe, but I was really impressed with the space. It is pretty modern and very open. You can see the kitchen from pretty much any seat in the house. Yes, it is a little noisy but I did not think it was excessive. The music is also a little loud but I liked what they were playing. Our server was amazing. He asked if we had been before and quickly gave us a run-down of how the menu is laid out. We started with dirty martinis which were great. To start we ordered the oysters and pearls and we loved them, especially the frozen wasabi pearls that reminded us of dippin dots. We also ordered the bone marrow / tuna tartare / quail egg and we weren't the biggest fans of that dish. For our entrees I ordered the new york strip and my wife ordered the lamb osso buco. Both were cooked perfectly, well-seasoned, and delicious. If I had to pick one between the 2 I would say the lamb was slightly better. We also ordered a side of the fried Brussels sprouts and they might have been the best thing we had all night. Overall I was really impressed with everything we ordered. The space is really nice and the service was top notch. I have heard great things about the dessert but we were way too full to even think about dessert. I highly recommend checking The Spence out and we will definitely be back.
(4)Shelly G.
Out of the Concentrics restaurants I've tried, the Spence was probably the most meh. The atmosphere is nice and the service was great, but the food was a hit or miss. They have complimentary bread similar to the Hawaiian rolls you get at the grocery store (not hating, that stuff is good), and the spread it came with was delicious. But why torture us with just two lonely rolls! We started with the calamari--flavorful and zesty, and whatever sauce it came with was yummy. Beside the fact that they creepily called it "fried sea creatures" which made me feel like I was eating Ariel's friends, I was a fan. For my entree, I was wavering between the cheeseburger and the pork and beans. I went with the latter and hated it. I consider myself a pretty adventurous eater and have no known food dislikes, but something about the pork just did not sit right with my taste buds.
(2)Pam C.
Had another wonderful dinner here Monday night, Oct 28. The Mussels dish on the menu with the Ginger broth is amazing...they need to give extra bread to sop up the yummy broth. I loved the Beef Tartar. I would pass on the Rye Cavatelli with corned beef, it was just ok. Service was excellent again!
(5)Happy Eater B.
We came here to see what Richard Blais and his creativity would mean for a special date night. Unfortunately, the team he's recruited and trained has pretty uneven performance and menu. On the pro side, the waiter was one of the best. Super friendly, knew the menu well, 'read' us great, and did a wonderful job welcoming us and providing great service. Some of the food was really great. A gazpacho wowed us and the juicy lucy burger was pretty strong. However, the burger was kind of one dimensional in its taste profile. The other dishes were just not that interesting. The concept was cool, but the reality was fairly bland and under-seasoned. Each dish had many ingredients, but only one taste or sensation. For instance, the 'goat fries', which are goat gonads, were so heavily coated in buffalo sauce that they were not much different from Domino's buffalo hot wings. So, there were some high points, but also some low points, and isn't a place I'd particularly recommend given the high price.
(3)Julie C.
Richard Blais has created food nirvana in Atlanta, exploding the open kitchen concept -- the restaurant IS the kitchen -- that creates memorable, delectable dishes. Oysters & pearls; beef marrow, tuna tartare & quail eggs; beef tongue tacos -- signature sides also shine in Brussels sprouts w/ Thai vinaigrette & thrice-cooked fries. Extensive wine list with Tried & Trues as well as bolder choices for the adventuresome -- clearly the direction I explored with Spanish & Portuguese standouts, Prieto Picudo, Tinta Roriz-Touriga. Excellent servers, experts in the menu. An evening to relish & savor!
(5)Paul C.
Service is SLOW! Food is good but way over priced. You're paying quite a premium for the showoffy, TV food aspects. Valet is NOT free.
(2)Matt J.
We ate everything put in front of us, but in the end it was just OK. First off the space is gorgeous. Rough hewn woods, cast iron fittings, dim lighting, etc. Our party of four was seated at a smallish table, and I do have to say the plastic chairs aren't very comfortable. Our waiter was really nervous, like noticeably, and struggled with facts about the menu and wines he should have known. I asked him if he had a favorite wine while regarding the extensive list, he said he did, so I asked him to describe it. He basically said it was "red" and could produce no more of a description. I felt badly for the guy, but when you are waiting tables at a $20-$30 a plate restaurant, you need to have a few wines you have tasted and memorized a decent description. We ordered some appetizers which were produced in no less than 15 minutes, ironically too quick for me. I commented on that and his response was "well we're not really that busy". Sigh. The portion on the bone marrow with tuna tartare was humorous. The bone barely had any marrow in it, and the tuna had more panko than tuna. For $15 it was a bit insulting. The "canned soup" was good but could have used more ginger. It came out a little flat. We then waited a bit before ordering mains as we didn't want them showing up as soon as the words finished leaving our mouths. We ordered a good spread: half chicken, grouper, steak, whole black bass. All the mains were quite tasty. The steak was well cooked and the garnishes were nice. The chicken was tasty with a nice citrus taste. The bass was very bony (more than usual) although I guess you get that with whole fish. The brussels spouts side was awesome though. I just should have had that for appetizers. Even though the mains somewhat made up for the lackluster drink and appetizer service we opted not to have desert or coffee. I knew going into this place that, as the reviews suggest, I was going to get a mixed experience, and it certainly bore out. Richard Blais, help!
(3)Anjali M.
We went 2 days ago for our anniversary. I had mentioned it on my reservation. They greeted us saying happy anniversary and brought us champagne and dessert on the house and made it very special for us. My husband was so impressed:) I ordered a veggie platter but wasn't happy with the vegetables so they whipped out a new one without any complaints! My husband had their burger and loved it! The dessert was great too. Nice ambience. The service was amazing. Will definitely go back.
(5)Ana M.
You walk in and this place immediately liberates you- I started wondering why no one had thought of this earlier. Why would you need a formal bar when the whole center of the room can be a casual hang out spot where bartenders and patrons convene? Why not make an irreverent menu that changes daily, based on the whim and inspiration of the chefs? Why impose expectations of courses, when you can order whatever sounds good to you, and have it delivered to the table whenever it's ready? And who wouldn't want servers treat you like the guest of honor to this funky dinner party, sharing their favorite dishes, conversing about food and cocktails, and making you feel included and at home? And of course, you will be given the option to order their daily staff meal at cost, which when I went meant savory bread pudding and sausage for under six bucks. This is place is a mixture of extremes- it's modern, it's funky, but its also sophisticated. It is homey in the sense that you feel like you are part of the group- the staff is having a great time, is eating great food, and you can share that experience with them. Richard Blais is either focused by the kitchen, checking orders, ensuring things are running smoothly- or hanging out with patrons and making sure we are all enjoying ourselves. When you order wine, a cute little card comes along with it, imparting you with wine wisdom for your next visit ("you should check out this new hot varietal"). The food is phenomenal. The foie gras with chocolate was silky and surprisingly delicate, the oysters and pearls were refreshing, the bone marrow with tuna tartare was just genius. (why shouldn't you pair marrow with fish?) The lamb entree was sumptuous (albeit small- almost the size of the small plates). I think this place is exactly what I would expect from Richard Blais- a little outside the box, a lot of great quality food, and amazing hospitality to match.
(5)John M.
I'll never know. Circled the block twice looking for valet parking. It was very dark and I finally spotted the small sign that had an arrow pointing down the road. But there was no valet. And traffic was such I couldn't stop. Pulling around the block I called and they stated they only had one valet. I tried once more before giving up and heading to Empire State South. With this level of service outside the restaurant I doubt I'll ever try again.
(1)H P.
Visited for the weekday summer special, $20 for 4 courses. Kale salad, Pork Terrine, Trout with Celery purée with sides of fried Cauliflower and thrice cooked fries and chocolate layer cake with marshmallow icing. All of the food was good, but the fried cauliflower was a standout with a slight sweetness that was extra delicious. Fantastic value and plenty of food. Also ordered Fried Risotto. Well worth extra calories and carbs! Best I have had. Only 4 stars because waiter did not mention summer special, did not know what the food was in each course and neglected to mention sides came with entree course.
(4)Ambar C.
5+ stars. Best customer service I've ever had at a restaurant. Actually, best customer service I've ever had anywhere! Our server, Alex, really made our experience above and beyond great. You should come here. I made a reservation for 8:30pm on a Sunday, and I was running late, so I called. The lady who answered the phone said, "No problem. Come in when you can." So, we did. Around 8:40pm on a Sunday. Little did we know that the Spence closes at 9pm on Sundays! No one said anything as we proceeded to have a very European-style dinner for the next couple of hours... that is, until one woman came by and angrily demanded our menus as we were preparing to order dessert. I looked around and saw that we were the only remaining customers, so I asked, "Are you closed?" and she snapped at me, "Yes! We CLOSED at NINE." I felt terrible. The thought hadn't even crossed my mind since I was able to make a reservation for 8:30pm. When our waitress, Alex, came back to our table I told her we would skip dessert because of what the other woman had said, and Alex very adamantly told us to stay and enjoy ourselves. Talk about 5-star service. She kept a smile on her face the whole time and was so extremely professional. I am so impressed with the caliber of service she gave us. Truly amazing. Anyway, onto the food, which also deserves 5 stars. The uni spaghettini was a nice starter small plate which had calamari and octopus. No one flavor overpowered the other, which was great because I was worried the uni flavor would be too strong. The pasta was perfectly cooked. The flavors were great. The seafood was also perfect. Strong start. We then had the pork belly with turnips and flat beans, which was a lovely balance of that strong meaty (yet fatty and buttery) pork belly flavor with the nice, complimentary softer flavors of the turnips and flat beans. For dessert, after our little run-in with the woman on staff, Alex convinced us to try the ricotta cheesecake, which was one of the best cheesecakes I have ever had. It was super light and packed with flavor. I want a piece now. As if that weren't enough, Alex the amazing server brought us out a complimentary piece of the pistachio shortcake with celery sorbet (for my birthday)! The shortcake was wonderful, and the celery sorbet was very light and refreshing. This was probably one of the best (birthday) meals I've ever had. Love it!
(5)marissa m.
Great food. Great drinks. Great service....Thanks Mike! Very pleased with the bone marrow & quail egg and the duck.
(5)Kim N.
Finally made it to the Spence over the weekend and it won't be my last time. Being such a fan of molecular gastronomy, I love the creativity of every dish that came out at our dinner. The presentation of every dish is spectacular (see pictures); each component/ingredient has its own purpose and they all just go so well together. I believe the Spence has been open for a little bit over a year. It didn't seem too busy when we came in for dinner on a Sunday night. I honestly think that location is one of the problems because it's in a college area, surrounded by fast food joints, and a little hidden. Every dish's very good with some minor problems I had because I'm just really picky. -Rolls with coconut butter( to munch one while you wait for your food) - LOVE the coconut butter & warm rolls. I can eat that coconut butter with anything! -Oysters & Pearls- the pearls melt in your mouth, flavors marry so well -Beef Tartare - topped with sunny side up quail eggs, wonderful flavor combination -Bone Marrow - hard to use the spoon that came with it bc the bone marrow we got was too narrow; otherwise, it was heavenly!! bone marrow, hamachi tartare, topped with sunny side up quail eggs -Uni Spaghettini - a tad too salty for me; nonetheless, good flavors -Roasted Porchetta w/ Mac n Cheese- served with a glass dome with smoke under, the smoky flavor compliments the whole dish so well; I think this was our favorite dish. -Brussels Sprouts- in Thai sauce, delicious -Mint Panna Cotta - served with cucumber sorbet & sunflower cake. I think this was the only slight disappointment of our entire meal. This dessert tasted decent, just not amazing like everything else. Server & hostess were very nice and friendly. Valet parking; however, there's street parking available. Open kitchen. Simple decorations.
(4)Amanda W.
AMAZING!!! We have dined at fine dining restaurants before but this beat them all!! Our waiter Ryan was so knowledgable about everything and the other staff never failed to answer our questions or ask how we were doing. We had the braised goat beet arancini, the bone marrow w/ tuna tartare, whole white bass, and short rib. There was not a single complaint! Can't wait to come back to Atlanta to visit again.
(5)Nicholas G.
Very impressive wine list and just as impressive food and service. Definitely and "must experience" spot for foodies and wine lovers.
(5)Anna Marie C.
I love me some top chef. So I obvs was very excited to have a meeting in atl and have a chance to eat here. The menu sits between fun and too gimmicky. But seeing Blais on the show, I'm vote for fun. My beet salad was awesome, and so was my kale. The disappointment was in the bone marrow dish--it wasn't easy to eat, and it just felt greasy instead of rich. Luckily, the meal was slow paced and thus I felt full by the time the end rolled around. Dessert was fine but nothing to write home about. They had also run out of a dessert, but did not let us know prior to us ordering it. Overall, nice, not spectacular in the way I had hoped.
(4)Jessy A.
Was disappointed. service was fine, but the food was mediocre. Tried several small plates and an entree which was steak. Temperature of food... Warm, not hot, seasoning ok. What I hoped would be interesting tasting and creative was just not that but rather lamely mixed tastes. Nothing at all special. Could have been at the Olive Garden.
(3)Karen P.
Friday night at a Blais restaurant - not too crowded so we expected good service - it was okay.We opted to sit outside which meant that we were a little "disconnected" from the restaurant, probably because the tables are located across a sidewalk from the restaurant doors. We started with a bottle of Brunello - excellent wine and markup was pretty standard if not a little lower than some restuarants at this price point. Then on to dinner selections...maybe it was us but we thought that the menu was weird. There was a section for small plates which I usually translate to be appetizers and then the entrees - only 3. Maybe this is someone's definition of "trendy" but I found it confusing. The waiter explained that many people selected small plates for entrees - different but it opened the number of selections. We struggled with selections - everything was just a bit different - almost like it was trying too hard to be different. The gazpacho was good although the concept of eating "canned soup" at a restaurant scared me a bit - definitely better than the canned soup that I usually buy. For an entree, I selected a pasta - which was okay but so forgettable that I can't even remember what it was. My son had the steak and said it was "meh" - not a lot of flavor.
(2)Nichole K.
Meet up with a bunch of girlfriend's after work, and once again Concentrics Restaurants has another hit. Trendy but louder atmosphere. Open kitchen. Decor was beautiful. Great place for post work cocktails. We order almost all of their appetizers and all of their desserts. If I could say one thing negative it would be the service. Wasn't bad, but wasn't great. Will go back again. And I highly recommend it.
(5)S W.
Phenomenal head chef, Adrian, really took care of us. This guy is amazing! Meet him if you can. The food was fresh and highly creative. I felt as if the food came from the farm that day. i will be back.
(5)Brian K.
Kudos to Chef Richard Blais for finally opening a restaurant that caters to a more culinarily adventurous crowd and not the milkshake-slurping, french fry-inhaling masses. Don't get me wrong - I've pounded my fair share of his delectable liquid nitrogen shakes over the years. However, it's refreshing to see his culinary ingenuity and talent showcased through the actual food instead of a kitschy theme. Food: The portions aren't very generous, but the flavor profiles are exceptional. The restaurant has also enlisted an incredibly talented sommelier, so the wine selection is equally as impressive. During my visit, I started with the General Tso's sweetbreads, which were well-executed, but slightly overpriced for the quality and portion size. For an entree, I opted for the Amish chicken, which consisted of both fried and sous-vide chicken served over grits. The dish was impeccable on all fronts. For a side, my dining partner and I opted for the macaroni & headcheese, which was excellent. For a dessert, I had the pineapple upside down cake with foie caramel, which proved to be the only underwhelming aspect of the meal. In my opinion, the dessert lacked the complexity and innovation you'd expect from a kitchen with Richard Blais at the helm. Service: Friendly, efficient, and eager to please. Our waitress did have to rely on her notes when we inquired about some of the dishes - however, this was expected considering that the menu changes on a a daily basis. Atmosphere: Casual, contemporary, and welcoming. Contrary to some of the other reviewers, I had no issues with the communal bar format - I've never been a fan of staring at the wall and found the high-top tables to be more conducive for conversation. The restaurant also has one of the most "open" kitchens I've ever seen - there are no counters or walls separating it from the dining room - I found it to be a refreshing deviation from the norm. Dress is smart casual. Cost: Expensive by most casual dining standards. Small plates are $5-$15, large plates are $15-$30, sides are $4-$5, and desserts are $5-$7. Specialty drinks are approximately $9-$10. Other: The Spence accepts reservations via phone or OpenTable. Communal "feasting tables" can also be reserved for larger groups or private events. Complimentary valet parking is available, but the lot is a decent trek from the actual restaurant - as such, you may have to wait a few minutes for service. Validated parking is also available at the parking deck on Williams St. Dining hours are Sunday-Thursday, 5:30PM-10:00PM, and Friday-Saturday, 5:30PM-11:00PM. The bar opens daily at 5:00PM.
(4)Mere C.
We came here last night to celebrate our 2 year anniversary! We have heard great things and wanted to try something new. First off let me say that our server was AMAZING! He started us off with some complimentary champagne while he broke down the menu. He asked us what kind of drinks we liked, and we did a blind 3 glass wine tasting. He completely nailed our taste with the wine. We had several questions about the menu, but he was so patient and genuinely excited to assist. I honestly would have thought he was the chef because he was so knowledgeable. He was giving us all sorts of helpful tips about how they cook the food. After reading over the menu, we decided to start off with the oysters and pearl and the bone marrow. OMG!! The oysters were so flavorful and had an excellent presentation over baked salt. We detected citrus juice in them, and our server said they put pineapple juice in it for a little extra flavor. The bone marrow was honestly our favorite thing that we had. I have never had anything remotely close to bone marrow with tuna, and it's hard to describe the flavor, but my taste buds were loving every bite. For our main course, Steven ordered the duck and I ordered the steak. We tend to split meals so we had half of each others. Both were amazing. Mine arrived with potatoes and roasted vegetables. The duck came with brussel sprouts and veggies. The presentation was amazing! We both agreed that when we come back, we will probably do it "tapas style" and order several little bites instead since we enjoyed the appetizers so much. We finished the meal with the blondie brownie and ice cream. It was honestly heaven in my mouth! We will definitely be back. Although the menu rotates, the oysters and bone marrow are fixed options. I would highly recommend both. Also, the beekeeper cocktail was very good (bourbon with honey). It was top notch service and food combined into one great experience. Well done, and thank you more making our special day that much better.
(5)B M.
All I can say is WOW!!!! I first and foremost have to say the warm welcome we received from Rori and Peter set the tone for the entire evening. They were genuine folks who truly wanted you to have a great experience. The food was just amazing!!! We tried four of the snacks, a couple of small plates, an entree and dessert....the salmon crudo was not only beautiful but tasty too. And if you want to lose your bone marrow virginity, this is the place. The goat trio was so delicious especially the croquette! I don't know what little saucy things were on that plate but I actually swiped up some with my finger. We had the blondie with coffee ice cream for dessert. The little coffee cocktail was a great compliment. I didn't get to meet Richard Blais which was a bummer but the phenomenal food at his restaurant showed why he is such an amazing chef and restaurant leader.
(5)Mckenzie B.
I came here for my birthday on Saturday and I would say I was a little worried. I love food so I decided to give this place a shot. I think my servers name was Peter and I dont think I would have been as happy with it if he wasn't. The options made me nervous. He recommended a wine from Macedonia. Which was 14% alcohol. Loooooooooved it!!! On to the food. We had bone marrow, beef tartar, some pasta with clams, mussels and fried brussel sprouts. I have never had better food in my life. There is no doubt I would tell people to pick small plates over main courses. They also gave me champagne and a chocolate dessert for my birthday. I will be coming back.
(5)Tony G.
This was me and my wife's third visit to The spence. Each time our experience has been unique and enjoyable. The service is on point always. The valet the hostess and our waiters were all what you would expect for a restaurant of this caliber. No pretentiousness no attitudes like I have experienced in some of the restaurants like bacchanalia or restaurant Eugene were the food is just not as creative neither it is worth the wait ,the rudeness of the staff , the douchey crowd and could get quite pricey. The food here is AMAZING and the menu is divided in to 3 parts and is ever changing. Oyster and pearls , beet salad with wasabi, and the famous bone marrow appetizers are some of the best in Atlanta. But there is always so many more that are just too good to pass up. The second section of the menu has small dishes which I usually order 2 different kinds to share with my wife. The squash linguini ,broccoli pappardelle and the english pea cavatappi with mint gremolata are some of my favorites as I love to try unique pasta combinations and these are hands down the most creative and delicious anywhere in Atlanta. But the foie gras terrine , squid ink ramen with garlic dash and fresh kimchi and the canned soup of the day are not to be missed. The third part of the menu has entree sizes portions. The smoke dome dish , the feathered steak with artichokes , duck with blood orange and chocolate and the juicy Lucy burger are our favorite. The deserts change everyday as well but the blood orange with orange cake with champagne shavings , the chocolate cake with violet ice cream are some of the best I have had. Even their cocktail menu is very unique with pisco pop , March hare and the left handed humming bird being our top choices of all times. This place is an experience that just never disappoints the service is impeccable waiters are knowledgeable and the food is their main focus and they execute every dish to surpass the most discerning diners expectations. Flavor profiles , ingredients and Blais's touch make for every plate to be unique and delicious. We love this place and I can tell you after 3 visits that it's consistent and always provides and amazing experience unlike some highly ranked restaurants in atlanta.
(5)Beth M.
Drove a long way and it didn't disappoint. Service was great and drinks were strong. ::check check:: The foie gras was delicious with star fruit, but there was quite a bit of it and not enough toast. The squash Creme brûlée was exactly that not a pun (burnt sugar and everything) it was delicious. I found my new ATL spot.
(5)Steve S.
Note to readers, I do not watch Top Chef so my review is not biased due to me being a fan of the show. Our group of 10 arrived for dinner on a Saturday and had a great experience. Half of us arrived early and had to kill some time in the crowded bar area. There is no actual bar to rest a drink on though, so you have to mill around the two tables until seats open up. I liked the modern, open design of the restaurant. Even though I'm not much of a wine drinker, I enjoyed how they broke down the wine list to "Tried and True" vs "Leap of Faith". Also, try the Hitachino Nest White if you're into beer. We were seated at the prime table in the middle of the dining room, giving us a great view of the open kitchen. Our server was excellent and she elevated a great dining experience. The meal was well paced and she routinely stopped by to check if we needed more drinks. What impressed me the most was her having the foresight to split our bill into separate checks based on our seating arrangements. Some restaurants refuse to split checks more than 3 times, our server correctly split our bill into 7 checks. This was awesome because we didn't have to deal with sorting out a huge check at the end of our meal. Not sure if what we had for dinner will appear on the menu again, but here's my best shot. First off, the table bread was pretty damned good. Also, let's start with the sides. You have to order the head mac and cheese and the corn creme brûlée. Both were delicious. The head mac was more cheek meat than ear or tongue so you'll either be more likely or less likely to try it depending on your tastes. The brussels sprouts came out a little too oily, so you may want to skip it. For starters, I enjoyed the rye pasta with poached egg and the braised pork cheek with polenta. Both are packed with savory goodness. I was also able to taste the bone marrow w/ tuna tartare and foie gras. The combination of tuna, yolk and marrow needs to be experienced. The foie was good, but similar to other restaurants. For dinner, I ordered my first ever juicy lucy. I got a kick out of the large, rustic wooden plates the burgers were served on. Its like they were made from chain sawing rounds off a log and warped a little for shape. Its funny because this bowl is something I could totally picture eating food from with only my hands and really fitting for a gooey cheese burger. The Lucy was very tasty, with only minor cheese eruptions. I don't care how adept you are at eating foods with your fingers (I openly laugh at people who need all ten fingers to eat wings) you will need a napkin. In fact, you may want to roll your sleeves past your elbow prior to eating just to be safe. The Spence was a great dining experience and I would recommend people check it out.
(4)Jonathan G.
Loved the atmosphere and the menu. Great experience and will be back next time I'm in town.
(4)Jon P.
I was excited to recently try The Spence, I'm a fan of Richard Blais and Top Chef and have eaten at his other spots. First of all, it is in a great location and the interior is very hip with an open kitchen and bar - its not stuffy, very casual - it reminds me of a smaller Empire State South. I'm not sure if it was the table where we were sitting, but I had a customer in town who I brought along for dinner, and we could barely hear each other talk. The music and other patrons talking were very loud and our table was a little cramped. As expected, the menu options are creative, and not what you typically find in Atlanta, I started off with the Bone Marrow and Tuna Tartare and Fried Quail eggs along with Oysters and Pearls - it was ok, and the portion size was small to split between two people. I had the steak as an entree and it was cooked perfectly, but the flavor was off, very odd taste. My customer had similar thoughts with his steak. The best part of the entire meal was my side of Brussel Sprouts, the vinaigrette over them was delicious. I was hoping to give The Spence a great review and after my experience I don't think I will return - Sorry Richard.
(3)Linda O.
Had dinner tonight at theSpence. One of the worst meals ever. A mushy white fish, with 2 burnt baby carrots and a raw faned potato. Served with a pea puree that had no favor. Avoid this place if you want a decent meal.
(1)Pratik S.
This was our first visit to The Spence and we were really excited to finally come here. I had not been in the location previously when it was The Globe, but I was really impressed with the space. It is pretty modern and very open. You can see the kitchen from pretty much any seat in the house. Yes, it is a little noisy but I did not think it was excessive. The music is also a little loud but I liked what they were playing. Our server was amazing. He asked if we had been before and quickly gave us a run-down of how the menu is laid out. We started with dirty martinis which were great. To start we ordered the oysters and pearls and we loved them, especially the frozen wasabi pearls that reminded us of dippin dots. We also ordered the bone marrow / tuna tartare / quail egg and we weren't the biggest fans of that dish. For our entrees I ordered the new york strip and my wife ordered the lamb osso buco. Both were cooked perfectly, well-seasoned, and delicious. If I had to pick one between the 2 I would say the lamb was slightly better. We also ordered a side of the fried Brussels sprouts and they might have been the best thing we had all night. Overall I was really impressed with everything we ordered. The space is really nice and the service was top notch. I have heard great things about the dessert but we were way too full to even think about dessert. I highly recommend checking The Spence out and we will definitely be back.
(4)Shelly G.
Out of the Concentrics restaurants I've tried, the Spence was probably the most meh. The atmosphere is nice and the service was great, but the food was a hit or miss. They have complimentary bread similar to the Hawaiian rolls you get at the grocery store (not hating, that stuff is good), and the spread it came with was delicious. But why torture us with just two lonely rolls! We started with the calamari--flavorful and zesty, and whatever sauce it came with was yummy. Beside the fact that they creepily called it "fried sea creatures" which made me feel like I was eating Ariel's friends, I was a fan. For my entree, I was wavering between the cheeseburger and the pork and beans. I went with the latter and hated it. I consider myself a pretty adventurous eater and have no known food dislikes, but something about the pork just did not sit right with my taste buds.
(2)Pam C.
Had another wonderful dinner here Monday night, Oct 28. The Mussels dish on the menu with the Ginger broth is amazing...they need to give extra bread to sop up the yummy broth. I loved the Beef Tartar. I would pass on the Rye Cavatelli with corned beef, it was just ok. Service was excellent again!
(5)Happy Eater B.
We came here to see what Richard Blais and his creativity would mean for a special date night. Unfortunately, the team he's recruited and trained has pretty uneven performance and menu. On the pro side, the waiter was one of the best. Super friendly, knew the menu well, 'read' us great, and did a wonderful job welcoming us and providing great service. Some of the food was really great. A gazpacho wowed us and the juicy lucy burger was pretty strong. However, the burger was kind of one dimensional in its taste profile. The other dishes were just not that interesting. The concept was cool, but the reality was fairly bland and under-seasoned. Each dish had many ingredients, but only one taste or sensation. For instance, the 'goat fries', which are goat gonads, were so heavily coated in buffalo sauce that they were not much different from Domino's buffalo hot wings. So, there were some high points, but also some low points, and isn't a place I'd particularly recommend given the high price.
(3)Julie C.
Richard Blais has created food nirvana in Atlanta, exploding the open kitchen concept -- the restaurant IS the kitchen -- that creates memorable, delectable dishes. Oysters & pearls; beef marrow, tuna tartare & quail eggs; beef tongue tacos -- signature sides also shine in Brussels sprouts w/ Thai vinaigrette & thrice-cooked fries. Extensive wine list with Tried & Trues as well as bolder choices for the adventuresome -- clearly the direction I explored with Spanish & Portuguese standouts, Prieto Picudo, Tinta Roriz-Touriga. Excellent servers, experts in the menu. An evening to relish & savor!
(5)Paul C.
Service is SLOW! Food is good but way over priced. You're paying quite a premium for the showoffy, TV food aspects. Valet is NOT free.
(2)Mariel J.
Just wanted to add a quick update regarding the lunch service - lunch is a great way to experience this restaurant. Prices were very reasonable ($10-$15 entrees) and the food was great. I went for the pork belly tacos with green chile, and they did not disappoint!
(5)Angela M.
I love Richard Blais, and I would like to love his place. The ambiance was fun, but loud. The food was good. The service seemed a little disorganized. I had the shredded kale "cesar", the "canned" squash soup with pumpkin seeds, and split the mint sponge cake with sweet tea ice cream with my dining companion. It was all delicious, but lacked "wow". The "canned" soup is presented as a bowl with carrots, cheese tuile, micro greens, and pumpkin seeds over which a can portion is poured. It was very creamy, and just a little sweet. There was something about the flavor that really did remind me of canned tomato soup, but maybe it was just the power of suggestion. The other components added more texture than flavor, with the pumpkin seeds being quite thick and not as crispy crunchy as I expected. Then again, I let the soup sit while I was eating most of my "cesar." The salad was nicely spicy from the greens that seemed more arugula-sized than the kale I'm used to seeing. There was a little to much dressing for my usual taste. Don't get me wrong, this was all tasty food and I would happily eat here again, but it just didn't have the oomph that I was expecting. I'd remember the sweet tea ice cream from my visit to Home. The dessert was definitely the highlight of my evening. The flavors and textures were fun and well assembled, resulting in familiar flavors in new textures that was comfortable and exciting at the same time. I would definitely go back for that. The service was somewhat lacking. We were seated quickly, but then sat for several minutes before our server brought water. He always made time to explain why he was terribly busy, but he seemed to be in a hurry every time he stopped to take our orders or process our check. The checks were split easily for our party of 2. I'll happily try it again - especially some of the signature dishes.
(3)Mary Ellen M.
Trendy and Tasty. We enjoyed the fantastic service from Peter with the cool eyeglasses. Fun atmosphere. Loved the loft ladder. Food (three of us shared several tapas items) was delicious. The Kahle salad is yum. Be sure to split the warm chocolate cake with honey ice cream.
(4)Marta P.
This is my second experience at this restaurant since it has opened, and I come back with mixed reviews. We made reservations in advance and were nicely sat in the front of the restaurant (although the door opening with it being cold outside made it chilly at times). With the 4 of us, we decided to go with a few small plates and then do an entree each. We ordered: Bone Marrow, tuna tartare, & fried quail egg Beets, soft boiled egg, blue cheese, wasabi Squash gnocchi with boar ragout & chestnuts White truffle with "corkscrew" pasta & sunchokes For an entree I got the lamb sirloin with sourdough, kohlrabi & turnips and for dessert I got the ricotta cheesecake, blueberry, graham. I was slightly disappointed by the bone marrow. Although it was tasty, the marrow itself seemed overshadowed by the tuna, I could barely taste it. It seemed like the proportions of the tuna and marrow were off. The best part of that dish was soaking the bread in the bone to get the marrow juices left over. The beets were delish, I just wish there were a touch more blue cheese. It seemed to just be crumbled over to the side, but the contrast between the beets, wasabi, and blue cheese worked really nicely. My absolute favorite was the squash gnocchi. We gobbled that one up quick! It definitely tasted like fall. And the roasted chestnuts added a nice crunch element to the dish. The white truffle pasta was equally tasty. The server informed us that they have ordered too many white truffles for New Year's Eve so they were generous with it in the dish. The sauce in the pasta was nice and creamy and held to the pasta very well. The entree was also very good and portioned well. The vegetables were roasted, allowing them to still have some crunch, and cooking the kohlrabi gave it a completely different taste. My favorite was the sauce on the dish. I was disappointed by the dessert. It was a deconstructed ricotta cheesecake...but upon the first bite it tasted like those Jell-O Cheesecake pudding cups...I won't be ordering that one again. I suggest skipping that one. The other side of the table got the milk chocolate, peanut, and burnt banana ice cream, which I've tried before and is very good. All in all the meal was good. The good flavors overshadowed the mediocre ones. I would go back and try it again, but it's not really at the top of my list. Both times I went I loved the music (mainly bc it's what I normally listen to, a mix of Radiohead, Death Cab, some club music, etc) and the service and atmosphere is great. I love that the finishing station for the dishes is out in the open, allowing you to see every dish completed.
(3)Stephie Z.
2 things: 1) The lobster roll ($17) is actually 2 small rolls with chicharones. I didn't eat the fried pig skin, but that lobster roll was delicious. Probably one of the best I've had in the city. It's making my mouth water just thinking about it. 2) The bartender/wine dude (skinny, tall, midwestern accent) is awesome! He is very knowledgeable about wines and was super excited when we wanted to try out some new ones. He made the visit for me (him, the lobster roll, and the fried cauliflower) ; I love when people are passionate about what they do.
(4)Mayu A.
I LOVE Richard Blaise and am a huge fan of Top Chef, so when I heard about The Spence, I couldn't wait to go. Located at the intersection of Spring Street and 5th Street, this Midtown restaurant is very trendy. The interior has high ceilings, decorative lighting and tall curtains. The furniture is a mix of retro 70s and and modern metallic. It's a bustling restaurant with tight quarters and loud hip hop playing on the speakers. It has a very NYC feel which is also reflected in the clientele. My companion and I were seated at a 2-seater close to the entrance and window. He ordered the "Left-Handed Hummingbird" to drink, a tequila-based beverage with limoncello, burnt orange and a large basil ice cube. Yup, you read right, an ice cube with basil frozen right into it. Brilliant! To start, we ordered the English Muffin Pizza topped with Cheese & Basil and the shaved Fluke with Fried Chicken and Cucumber. The pizza was mediocre and something that could easily be recreated at home. The shaved fluke on the other hand was very well done. The presentation was like a piece of art. The fluke was thinly sliced and rolled into a rose bud. The fried chicken were very small bite size pieces packed with so much flavor. The cucumber was paper thin and rolled with a mayo-like sauce inside complimented by pickled radishes and celery. The appetizer was overall very light and tasty. As an entree, I ordered two small plates: the Bone Marrow topped with Tuna Tartare and Quail Egg and Bucatini with Peas and Bacon. My counterpart ordered the Arctic Char with Mashed Potatoes. I had only sampled bone marrow once prior to the Spence, so was hesitant to order it as my entree but it came highly recommended by a foodie friend as well as the waiter. The marrow melted in your mouth and the tartare complemented it well. The quail egg was fried and was a good addition but I would have preferred it to be a little runny. The Bucatini tasted like a pea carbonara with a sweet flavor from the pea sauce. The Arctic Char was slightly seared and served medium rare. Its similar to salmon and was cooked perfectly but for those who are squeamish to raw fish, this may not be the dish for you. For dessert, we ordered the Milk Chocolate and Banana Ice Cream and the Doughnuts with Milk Cream Ice Cream. Both were very good and the portions are small and easy to finish. Overall, the food was good. The service was HORRIBLE. We had four different people serve us throughout the meal and waited at least 15 minutes for our check to arrive. At first we thought it was because it was busy but as the restaurant cleared out, the server was even harder to find. When I asked another server for help in finding our server, she replied with "I don't know who your server is." Thankfully, we saw him from a distance and she reluctantly went to flag him down. I like Richard Blaise and was disappointed not to see him there but the food definitely resembled his style. Everything was delicious but nothing blew me away. The desserts were definitely the best part and considering the poor service, I'm not in a huge rush to come back.
(3)Robert E.
Folks are friendly however the food is mediocre at best... On top of that they lost my order so have been waiting for 40 minutes... Funny the place is nearly empty so how they could lose the ticket of one lone diner is beyond me! Ordered the Samosas as appetizer... Overly spiced, meat tastes like it had been in freeze too long, I would rate the steak however I'm still waiting... Going to pay for the samosas and its ADMF! Steak came 50 minutes after ordering... I do have to say the staff went out of their way to make right... So, kudos to them for doing their best to satisfy their customer... By the way the steak was very good and the complimentary cauliflower was great!
(4)David W.
I came in with low expectations and was pleasantly surprised. It helps that we were with wonderful company, but I think the food and service were both superb. Menu is definitely designed for sharing and we ordered a lot. Favorites: burger was good, but they came with the best basic fries I can remember eating. Looked like steak fries but they were all crunch and they were delicious. Crave worthy. The lamb larb danced in your mouth. Full of so many flavors and it reminded me of the Thai food host you can't find stateside. Ricotta was delicious. Trout dip was good. Very creamy, fishy, smokey. And it came with lots of veggie crudités.
(5)Anita L.
As an avid Richard Blais fan, I was so excited to see our hotel was right next to The Spence. Service was disappointing. The restaurant appeared swamped despite being a little more than 1/2 full. We had 8pm reservations. It took about 10 mins to receive menus and water. Our waiter came by around 8:37 to take drink orders and appetizers. Then a gentleman who appeared to be the GM came by 8:47, seeing we still had our menus and took our entree order. Though the little interaction we did have with the staff was pleasant and attentive. I think upping the frequency of check-in would've made a world of difference; at times it felt like we were forgotten. The GM apologized that they ran out of gnocchi and offered a complimentary dessert. We ordered: Baked Georgia peaches with goat cheese and toast - omg so good. Comes in a little ramekin and you top it upon toast slathered with goat cheese and radish. It worked so well together. Really blended, one element didn't over power any others. Bone marrow with sweet potato and veg ceviche - unlike the peaches, the veg ceviche totally overpowered the bone marrow. It's served as more of a relish on top of the bone marrow. Too acidic and killed the unctuousness of the bone marrow. Wished I didn't waste the calories on this. Branzino - Wow, really spectacular. Crispy, salty skin with well cooked fish. I was stuffed after this. Had a wonderful salad with peach and tomato on top. This has blown my previous whole fish experience out of the water. Burger - Partner ordered this after we were told they ran out of gnocchi. Really thick patty, about 1 3/4 inches. It was a little overseasoned for me, leaning towards overly salty. Fries are more on the thick cut side, also a lot of salt (which I happen to like) Korean creamed corn - nice bite to it! Topped on squash with ricotta, I think. Wish I didn't order this with my main, just too full from the fish! It's good as its own dish. Butter cake - topped with stone fruit and goat cheese ice cream. Not bad. It was a fairly dense butter cake, served cold. They had run out of profiteroles that we originally wanted. While I greatly appreciated the small gestures made by staff to accommodate the delay in service, some of the food did not meet expectations and combined with long waits just resulted in a disappointing experience. In summary, get the Branzino and anything with peaches in it.
(2)Adrienne V.
Pretty good...lots of potential here. Limited drink menu is an area for improvement but the Yellowjackets we ordered were perfectly delicious, highly recommend. The Virginia oysters were outstanding, order a dozen and share. My gnocchi was a little undercooked but the flavors and textures were there. The burger was elevated by the wonderful bacon jam. Many other menu items sounded enticing but this was a quickie visit for us. One area that needs no improvement and makes up for any imperfections: the staff. Welcoming, considerate, generous, and fun, they are a huge part of any dining experience and at Spence's they really are wonderful!
(4)Kashif K.
Shout out to good friend Alex P of the Atlanta Yelp Elite Squad, and Sasha, for a fantastic meal! Delicious food, assiduously attentive service, and wonderful company! We started off with complimentary rolls of bread with coconut butter. The bread was soft and warm, and the coconut butter was creamy and tasty. We decided to order a number of small plates to share. Here's a quick rundown: - The sweet potato creme brulee had a crunchy top layer that shielded a smooth, velvety mass, which would have been perfectly enjoyable as dessert, but also did well as a side in the main course. - The brussel sprouts were among the most delicious I have ever had. They were quick fried, which gave them a nicely charred exterior, and drenched in a Thai chili vinaigrette with sliced onions, which struck a nice balance of sweet and spicy. - The beef tartare was seasoned with chilaquiles sauce and crema, and topped with thinly sliced jalapenos and radish. It was served with tortilla chips rather than bread, which was delightfully unique. - The endive tartine had a complex flavor profile lent to it by a combination of shortrib mousse, blue cheese, crushed pistachios, and citrus (segments of orange and lemon). - The bone marrow was so tasty that I did not even need the bread to spread it on; just scooped it up with a spoon and ate it by itself. It was topped with tuna tartare and quail eggs. After an outstanding meal, I am always wary that the dessert might be anticlimactic. The Spence proved me wrong in this instance. The desserts were just as splendid as the main meal. The blondie cake was paired with scoops of coffee ice cream and frozen caramel, and topped with pecans. The crispy choux, which was my favorite of the two desserts, consisted of creampuffs filled with choux cream, with light rose petal cream and a scoop of ice cream. As I walked out of The Spence, I wondered if this was what true love felt like.
(5)Alex P.
Had a great opportunity to visit The Spence this weekend with a fellow yelper, Kashif, who suggested this spot. Absolutely amazing experience ranging from fantastic dish preparations to perfect service. - BONE MARROW was prepared so well! Typically, bone marrow tends to be extremely fatty and even when the best oils are added, it tends to be overwhelming. Not the case here, tender, delicious and one of the highlights of the menu for me. - SERVERS THAT MOVE LIKE A NINJAS. Unfortunately, I cannot recall her name, but our server was attentive, and very fast. When we were missing a plate for just a second, she noticed it, grabbed a plate in the blink of an eye and slid the plate into perfect position before we even noticed it's missing. It was a also a great touch for her to check the cleanliness of wine glasses visually under lighting before putting on the table. Some of the best service I've ever received. - BRUSSELS SPROUTS were also the best I've had. Such a great preparation, just the right amount of spice and salted very lightly. - BEEF TARTARE was served in a very unusual fashion, on top of tortilla chips, with eggs, sliced jalapeños and cilantro. If you've read my reviews, you will know that anything with jalapeños and cilantro in the description will probably get an extra star just because I like them so much. However, this creative combination gets an easy five stars. - DESSERTS were also spectacular and really wrapped up this whole experience. I am now convinced that you can't go wrong with anything on their menu. Excellent, all around.
(5)Ling X.
Mindy Kaling came here when she was in town, so you know it's not a bad spot to try. Menu changes daily depending on what they're feeling that day, which I can dig - keeps things fresh and different. Since it's peak peach season, that was a prominent ingredient of the dishes we got. I think some items are regulars though - such as the bone marrow which I was told they are known for - and it did not disappoint. We also got their burger which was a little too salty. We came here for a birthday dinner and brought a cake - and found out they charge an $18 cake cutting fee - a bit excessive in the opinion of everyone at my table, especially without even providing candles. They did do a nice job of slicing though. Maybe I should learn this as a skill.
(3)Kathleen C.
First meal in Atlanta! This place is right across the street from Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center. Opentable reservations, but wasn't necessary as it wasn't very busy on a Sunday night. Place looks great. Service was very attentive and our server was pleasant and professional. This is def that New American cuisine. Sharing plates. Small plates were around mid teens, big plates were upper 20s/low 30s in price. Between two people, we ordered 1) gnocchi - small plate, it was ok/good, but not a must try. The gnocchi was softer than what I am used to. It was presented in a bowl, but all the contents were shifted to one side, leaving half the bowl empty. I thought this was a pretty interesting way to present a dish. Turns out, they do that for other items too! Like where did the other half of my food go?? Needless to say, portions are on the smaller end here. 2) lamb tartare - small plate, not very gamey which was good. There's an Indian spice/yogurt type of sauce on the side that I didn't think complemented the lamb too well. I enjoyed the cucumbers in this dish though. Light. Very small portion. 3) Pork belly - small plate, this was good, except it was fried and some parts were a bit dry. Also the plate was adorned with beets! Love beets! Presentationally this was the best dish. There's a beet/yogurt paste on it that ends up being hot pink like it got splashed with paint. 3) Monkfish, big plate, sooo there are mussels in it which i love. The fish itself was too firm for my liking. Had it been a different fish that was less dense I would've enjoyed this more. 5) roasted cauliflower, side, pretty standard. Just trying to get some veggies in. 6) coffee and brown butter ice cream, coffee was good! But the brown butter one was too sweet and heavy, though it is a little more unique. Overall, food was all nicely presented, but nothing was particularly wowing. Check was ~$110 w/ tax and tip. Not the cheapest of meals, but not super expensive, not sure it was worth it for alright food.
(3)Caitlin S.
Absolutely loved this place. The service was great, the food was better. My boyfriend and I shared a few plates and it was wonderful!! I wish that we could go back, but unfortunately we live across the country. Definitely worth a try.
(5)Meg P.
I enjoyed my experience at the Spence. The food and the experience were both quite good other than just being a little on the slow side. We went to the Spence at the recommendation of a friend prior to seeing a show at the Fox. The food, while a little spendy, was excellent! I had the beef tartare (from the "snacks" menu), red wine rigatoni pasta, and sweet potato creme brulee side. All of them were delicious, but I REALLY enjoyed the creme brulee! (I mean..."vegetables" that taste like dessert?! Who wouldn't love it?!) The waitstaff was just a little slow to bring us our check (even though we'd mentioned needing to get to a show), and the valet took quite a while to drop off a vehicle and then get ours. It stressed us out a little since we had to get to the show, but overall, it wasn't bad. The portions were a good size - enough to fill you up but not enough to have any leftovers to speak of, which was nice since we were attending a show - and I enjoyed the ambiance of the restaurant other than the music getting a touch too loud toward the end of our dining experience.
(4)Jahmin L.
I've been to The Spence several times, both with friends and with colleagues. Each and every time, I have an amazing meal. The restaurant is always able to accommodate any size group and it has a really cool "feel" to it. While I've tried many of the dishes, my tried and true selection is "mussels with brussels". I usually order the steamed mussels with red sauce from the small plates menu and pair it with a side of fried brussels sprouts. These sprouts are by far my favorite in Atlanta (and I try them at pretty much every restaurant where they are offered). I love the Asian influence with the Thain vinaigrette. The mussels are served in a broth that is to die for--I order extra bread just so I can sop it all up! These two dishes together are enough for a full meal. (Side note: the fries are delicious too!) The waitstaff is always courteous and knowledgeable. I'd highly recommend The Spence to anyone considering the restaurant.
(5)Ashley M.
My friend and I dined here for lunch on a Tuesday. I made a same-day reservation just to be safe, but it probably wasn't necessary as the restaurant was relatively quiet during our meal. We enjoyed very attentive, fantastic service. I think outside of their sandwich selections, there isn't much variety for lunch choices, so I opted for "A simple green w a bunch of vegetables" and a bowl of their featured soup, tomato. The salad arrives on a beautiful plate, and really turns out to be a bunch of vegetables, but included a few surprises such as jalapenos and crispy fried onions. The dressing that the salad was tossed in was a bit salty for my preference, but the fresh, crisp variety of vegetables easily distracted me from the dressing. The tomato soup is poured into a large bowl at the table and ends up in a pool of croutons, radish, and other pickled vegetable surprises. The tomato puree is fresh and at times chunky, which is a great reminder that this bowl didn't come out of a can. Again, the soup was a bit salty for my preference, but not overwhelming so. Overall, a quiet, charming lunch experience with delightful quick service. Can't wait to come back!
(4)Marcelle A.
Dinner was good . I ordered trout , my first time every trying this type of fish. Service was good and food was good. Environment was cool. I liked the trout other than. Taking off the skin i each filet that the only challenge. Menu was limited but food was good
(3)Ainsley A.
Just waiting for the day when I get to meet Richard Blais... Currently drinking the Midtown Mule which is PHENOMENAL and waiting for my juicy Lucy to arrive. No complaints here. A little pricey so I won't be here every day but it's delicious and I love the atmosphere. Also, they have a great bar.
(5)Cailen B.
I'm a big fan of The Spence for a yummy lunch or dinner date. For lunch I will traditionally get a soup and a salad - the basic salad is my favorite with pickled green beans. For dinner I haven't found an option that I would not suggest- the braised shortrib may be my favorite so far. Dinner prices are higher, but the lunch prices are not exorbitant - especially when considering what you are getting. Beautiful layout, good vibe, and consistently friendly staff and local fresh foods. I love that the menu changes to fit what they have that is fresh rather than the same menu every day. GREAT addition to Tech Square since most other options are "fast food" oriented.
(5)Jana C.
3.7 small portions, large prices. Consider yourself forewarned! We had a delicious dinner at Chef Blais' other place in Midtown... FliP for lunch, and got a little more gussied up for dinner in Midtown. Valet parking is in front, as it's near impossible to park... but there are other options. One can park in some garage, and that 411 is on their website. We dived into a myriad of small plates, and they were quite tasty! Our first dish out: the beet salad: a symphony of clean, bright, fresh flavors. Marrow with raw tuna on toast was not as great as the roasted Thai brussel sprouts... that was just the best dish we had all night. Parker rolls are fresh, served with a coconut cream cheese spread. Got another board of those pillowy, soft wonders. Cocktails were awesome!!! Very good and yummy. Place is bit too loud for my tastes, but I'm a fan of that low lighting, and open kitchen format, with a bar area that is rather unique in design! PS Having dined at Empire State the previous day, I had an in-road into meeting chef Adrian. Was so cool shaking his hand and speaking a bit with him regarding the business. Blais is going to open in TN after having launched a KY outfit!
(4)Michael K.
A cool place for a date. The waiter recommended some beers to my liking and I was impressed. This is a good date place for drinks and some food. But this isn't somewhere I would go if I'm hungry because their food menu isn't extensive and somewhat pricey. Got mussels and brussels sprouts as appetizers and the juicy lucy. The food is good! I'm not a fan of brussels at all. But the waiter told me he was like me but the way the restaurant prepares it changed him. He was right! I did enjoy them! The juicy lucy burger is good. I liked it and the thrice cooked fries are super crunchy, which is a plus for me. Be warned, the portions are pretty small when it comes to appetizers. Overall, I like this place and wouldn't mind coming back. There is a parking deck behind the plaza where it's $2/hour. They have a valet. My reason for giving it 3 stars is because the food menu is very limited but they have a pretty good drink menu.
(3)Sidra M.
We had such an incredible dining experience at the Spence tonight. Let me start by complimenting our waiter,Tom, who was extremely knowledgeable, personable, and just made the evening a very memorable experience for us. He arranged our many choices in perfect order of delivery to ensure maximum appreciation and really was one of the best servers I have had. The food was also everything I hoped for. We started with the watermelon salad, which was surprising and refreshing. I always neglect ordering salads, but we did at our waiter's advice and it was excellent. The bone marrow was buttery and delicious. The "summer snack(?)" was very interesting and educational, but the red pepper ice cream melted into the squid ink broth a bit too quickly to fully enjoy. The branzino was smokey& perfectly salted, paired with fresh pickled vegetables and sweet peaches; a beautifully balanced dish. The creamed corn appetizer was one of the most delicious items I have ever tasted. Just wow; we could not get enough. The eggplant side dish with harissa was an interesting, spicy preparation but not as satisfying as the other dishes we ordered. The peach & cake dessert was sublime: light, refreshing, small bursts of mint, balanced, and one of the most satisfying desserts I've had at a restaurant. The profiteroles dessert with caramel corn was also very nice- the saltiness of the popcorn was nice with the sweet cream puffs, but following that peach dessert it could not compare. Ive been a Richard Blaise fan for years and this exceeded all expectations.
(5)Jeff M.
Came on a Sunday night and had great food. Portions might be small but flavors are big. Take your time and savor the food. Would recommend getting more small plates and snacks rather than large plates. Treat it like tapas and you'll have a great time :) Also, no point looking at pictures because they always change their menus. We came and pretty much didn't see anything that other people ordered
(5)Claire M.
I ate at The Spence a few weeks ago and found that the food was excellent, but the service was not so excellent. I definitely would have given 4 to 5 stars had it not been for the sub-par service. We showed up on time for our 8 pm reservation on time and were seated immediately. At this point, the restaurant was only about 50% full, which was surprising on a Friday night. Our server came by the table to greet us and give us menus, and didn't return for nearly 20 minutes to take our drink order. The service was like this pretty much all night. We would go 30-40 minute stretches without seeing her at all. The bartender even came over to our table a few times to refresh our drinks or so we could order another item. I definitely appreciate a longer meal where the server isn't rushing you out the door, but our server was pretty inaccessible for most of the night. The food, on the other hand, was delicious. We had the kale Caesar, fluke crudo, beef tartare, bone marrow, French fries, and the pork belly. Other than the fluke crudo (which I didn't care for), everything was so flavorful and prepared perfectly. The kale Caesar was simple and lemony. The beef tartare was pretty traditional and came with a really nice pumpernickel crisp. The bone marrow (topped with tuna tartare) and the pork belly were amazing. Both dishes were mouthwatering, super rich, and we just couldn't get enough. Honestly, the food was worth coming back for, I just hope we get a more attentive server next time! Read about the full experience here: weekendeatsatl.com/2015/…
(3)Chris B.
Great food, drinks, and service! It was a Tuesday night so not very busy, but the Spence did not disappoint. We sampled quite a bit of the menu - snacks, small plates, mains. It was all good. The drinks were solid too.
(5)Carrie G.
I absolutely loved every second of my experience there because I love bizarre and unique foods, flavors and cooking techniques. That said, my parents who are traditionally plain eaters were not impressed. My mom hated it!! The service was wonderful, attentive, not rushed, and informative. They have valet parking for $3, which is totally worth it. We were able to make and change our reservation easily on opentable. The food: ranked in order of best to worst... Bone marrow- my favorite dish!! This just wowed me. I found the flavors worked very well and kept my palate surprised and interested. The tomatillo and avocado complimented the tuna tartare and the bone gushed out greasy tidbits of meat and fat I to the mix. The quail eggs were sunny side up so their yolk added to the rustic bread that I spread my mixture on top of. Brussel Sprouts- for a side dish, this was just a perfect flavor combination and cooking technique. The Asian sauce tasted like fish sauce, soy sauce and brown sugar, with accents of red onion, and green beans. The sprouts were charred and smoky on the outside, and soft yet firm in the middle. Beef tartare- very unique flavors and textures. The ground beef tasted fresh and melted in my mouth. Dollops of grape and sriracha completed it with a sweet heat that worked with the cool meat. The little scones and quail eggs were also a nice texture and taste addition. Our server told us the dish was inspired by Notorious BIG lyrics :) The fois gras- this dish was delicious, but I've had tastier versions. The fois is served the same consistency as goat cheese. It had little dollops of apricot (or peach?) with pecans. The Texas toast was a good vessel to spread the rich buttery goodness on. I enjoyed this dish but it ranked lower than others. Ricotta cheesecake- this listing is based on ranking so that's why it's here and not last. I really enjoyed the texture and flavors. It had 3 dollops each of cheese paste and lemony foam, and it was more of a dash of ingredients spread on the plate than a formed triangular slice of cake. I really enjoyed the fresh blueberries and dipping dot blueberry pearls accenting the soft was of the cheese and foam. My parents love dessert but they were disappointed in this one. They would have preferred a more traditional take on cheesecake, I think, and a larger portion size. Turnip canned soup- rich and creamy with textures of mushrooms and crunchier turnips mixed in. Nice presentation. This was the only dish at the table my mom really liked. :) Mussels- the tomato and fennel sauce was good (I normally hate fennel, but it wasn't dominant). Decent portion side in terms of number of mussels. My only issue with this dish was the mussels inside the shells were tinier than an anorexic model's biceps. Kale ceasar salad- this was good but very simple. Just kale, dressing and croutons with a sprinkling of cheese. I like my salads with stuff inside of it so it was a bit plain, but the dressing was good. Very lemony! Would have loved some anchovies in it. Last and certainly least was the duck entree. Our server told us the duck is smoked for 6-8 hours and finished on the grill and very tender. What arrived was still raw somehow even after all the cooking time. Rare duck is fine but it was tough as leather! I had to saw at it even with a steak knife. The fav a beams it was served with were under seasoned and not cooked long enough. They were mealy and dry. If Blaise served this one on Top Chef, he would have to pack his knives. Overall, I give this 4.5 stars if it was only up to me- I'd deduct 1/2 star for the mess of a duck dish, but the rest of everything compensated for the 1 flop item. My mom gave it zero stars and my dad gave it 2. Overall, not for the picky or unadventurous eater. When returning, I'll come early so the service isn't rushed and I'll only order the small plates and starters and desserts. Skip the entrees and avoid the duck! I'd order the Brussel sprouts and marrow again and try a new suite of dishes to experience more unique and tasty things from the imagination of Blaise.
(5)Brian I.
What a lovely surprise on a rainy evening in Atlanta. Wonderful atmosphere. Lovely blend of American and Japanese flavors. The red pepper ice cream on the starter menu was a treat. This is on my "come again" list next time I am in Atlanta.
(5)Ryan K.
Great meal tonight. Had dinner with one of my great friends tonight which was completely random for us to both be in Atlanta. Glad we chose this place. We started off with the bone marrow and damn was it good! I can't say it was the best I have had but it was amazing nonetheless. I will say it's a little on the pricey side for the portions but when the check came I didn't mind. On to the main course. My buddy had the pork cheeks while I had the duck. Both were great, though if I had to pick one it would have been the pork. Regardless what a great place and I highly recommend.
(5)Tim H.
The Spence - Innovative Americana Helmed by Top Chef winner and guest judge, Richard Blais, the Spence is another molecular gastronomy Midtown smash. A modern haunt located near the Georgia tech campus, the Spence (an old English word for larder, a sort of primitive ice box) combines modern interior design with a lovely patio. The patio is accentuated by landscaped holly hedges in tall white pots and a comfortable tree canopy that blocks out most of the sun. I only stayed for the oyster happy hour, where they had a special of 6 oysters and pearls for $6 dollars. WOW. They were incredible. Chef Blais has outdone himself. The raw oysters are bathed in a dollop of cherry vinaigrette and garnished with horseradish-creme-fraiche pearls, small drops of horseradish sauce and creme fraiche eye dropped into a pool of liquid nitrogen. The finished oysters are then set on a bed of charred, blackened sea salt. The aesthetic effect is simply stunning. The flavor profile is a perfect mix of raw, velvety oyster texture with a hint of brine. The sweetness of the cherry vinaigrette enhances the natural fruity flavors of the oyster. The pearls melt in your mouth releasing a blast of creamy horseradish sauce which provides a resplendent compliment to the freshness of the oysters. The oysters paired extremely well with the vino verde de la casa (house green wine, $5) and I ended up having 24 oysters just by myself! Don't take my word for it though. Just go for yourself and eat.
(5)Julie S.
The service was impeccable, the wine was delicious and I'm already planning my next trip. Must orders: Mac & Cheese, Mussels, Fried Brussels Sprouts, & the Bone Marrow The broth the mussels were in was literally so good that I poured the leftovers on my macaroni & cheese. The only thing I didn't care for were the Beef Tacos, they had absolutely no flavor, I ate half of one and left the rest.
(5)Christy D.
I've given 2 stars because we did have an outstanding server - Jeremy F. - who did his best to recover for the entire restaurant experience. In short, we will never return. Here's the recap: Dinner Reservation at 9:30pm on 2/14/15 (yes, I know it was Valentine's Day- all the more reason for this restaurant to have been prepared). We arrived via Uber at 9:25pm - it's a good thing. They offer valet but apparently it's around the block and there were grumblings about this. Hostess was polite enough, checked us in and said it would be a few minutes before they could seat us. She offered us a menu and said we could wait at the bar -- lol! Ok, so I'm looking around for the bar and realized she meant the make shift "cluster" bar they attempted to establish. 2 high top tables backed up to a counter with a trough/well on top for ice. I question the validity of food safety on that. Anyways, the bartender's back was to us the entire time - she never asked to take our order. We were Seated at 10:02pm- still no drinks-- At the "chef's table" facing the open kitchen. Server greeted us almost Immediately and brought water. We ordered 2 aperitifs + 2 appetizers. Appetizers were delivered and complete before I complained about our drinks. At 10:28pm, we finally received our cocktails. It's obvious bar was understaffed and not having a worker friendly station - a real bar- Is also wasted time. We ordered dinner. I had the kale Caesar - which was fantastic and the steak - lovely. My husband ordered the duck - smallest portion of duck ever and we wonder if it was something ordered in bulk from say Sysco. Poor wine selection although we did settle on a bottle of Pinot noir for dinner. As the restaurant began winding down the kitchen staff began to get a little lax. Meaning, I watched the kitchen staff eating and or drinking various things in front of us! Remember, we were sat at the fancy "chef table." For the untrained eye, it probably wouldn't matter-- however, I've worked in the industry before and eating where food is prepared/cooked is a hazard. We went on to order dessert, after dinner drinks and have conversation with Jeremy about the restaurant because in the 2.5 hours we were there - no table touch from a manager. He listened well and made apologies as best he could. It was pretty disappointing to pay $$$$ prices for a 2 star experience. If you turned the lights up in the restaurant and really looked around -- it's a diner at best.
(2)Leslie T.
I am giving this an ok The service was bad.......if you are a foodie....the food is great But the service....needs to pay attention
(3)Regina Q.
This place is yummy! It's a modern cozy vibe. Love the coconut butter that's served with the bread. They have a lot of good options on the menu; Their burgers are delicious with the caramelized onions. Their cauliflower soup was delicious , so creamy and flavorful. They have small plates and larger plates to choose from. The menu changes daily so will have to go back!
(4)Ryan F.
One of the best meals I've had in Atlanta. The chicken biscuit with bacon jam is an absolute must. Great decor and vibe in the heart of the new Tech Square area. Menu changes daily.
(5)Rosie G.
I wanted to love this place, the plates were beautiful and the staff was knowledgeable and helpful. The menu also looked amazing, but I found the food to feel heavy. The wine selections were tasty, but I felt the food was over priced. The atmosphere was fun and vibrant, the decor was casual yet classy. My mother had a vegetarian warm salad dish and I found the flavor to be mild instead of bright. My husband had the mushroom gnocchi appetizer for his main, he is half Italian and commented that his mothers gnocchi was better. My friend had the swordfish and that was really good. I had the Kobe beef flank steak and while the dish was tasty, I felt that the cheddar broccoli sauce was a bit heavy. By the time we had our mains though we had tried 4 appetizers, there was a miso custard that wasn't on the menu yet and I am interested to see where the chef takes that dish. The octopus ceviche was awkward to eat with the popcorn, but the ceviche itself had good flavor and was tender. The shrimp fritters were very flavorful and delicious. My favorite appetizer was a warm peach concoction with goat cheese and toast, the flavors all went together splendid and left me wanting more. All in all I really liked the staff and the whole ambiance of the whole place.
(4)Llani R.
Parking: wait until attendant returns to the Valet stand. It can take a few minutes because the parking isn't close. Oysters: tasty blend of horseradish and citrus. Pork Terrine: Perfect blend of savory and sweet. Loved it. I had the Osso Bucco: Nicely cooked with a great blend of root vegetables. Husband had Scallopes: Nicely seared and perfectly cooked. Buttery In all I recommend this restaurant but I do think that the parking situation could be improved. Love the ambience of the restaurant. Nice date night. Service was amazing
(4)Eric H.
Man, was I disappointed about this place. First of all, let me preface this by saying that the service and environment were excellent. It's a great place to come during the evening, where the lighting is dim and the mood is intimate. Our server was very attentive and jovial, tending to our needs before we asked. No complaints on these two fronts. The food, on the other hand, was, uhh, quite something. So first of all you get some dinner rolls that are brushed with butter, laid out on a wooden board with some spread coconut butter. The presentation was really great; however, the texture seemed too light and dry for my tastes. I expected the soft, rich texture of a brioche, but was extremely disappointed. Then came the bone marrow/tuna tartare: it sounded interesting, but I have decided that it is one of the worst combinations in the world. I love bone marrow, and I truly believe that the best way to enjoy it is to have it served warm/hot, so that the flavors kind of dance around in your mouth. However, this bone marrow/tuna mixture was disappointingly lukewarm/cold. The richness of the bone marrow was diluted with the sourness of the tartare - as much as I love contrast, this turned out to be a rather homogeneous mixture without any distinct flavors popping. The steak, however, was pretty great. The medium-rare steak was definitely of good quality and with a tender bite. The horseradish sauce was actually pretty tasty as well. What I didn't like about this dish was the rutabagas and the carrots that accompanied it; they were undercooked and too crunchy. So all in all - meh. Maybe we ordered the wrong things? Who knows: at a price of well over $40 per person, I am unwilling to try again. Summary: Service: 5/5 stars Food: 2/5 stars Value: 2/5 stars
(2)Tom B.
Myself and six friends just ate at the Spence and we're treated royally. Being vegetarian I was disappointed to find little in the way of veggie options. However the waiter informed me that they would rustle up something for the entrée to my liking. How right he was. After the peach salad starter I was treated to a spätzle pasta meal, comprising of a combination of 3 different types of cherry tomatoes, 2 or 3 different mushrooms. With 4 delicious options for dessert, it was the best veggie 3 course dinner I have had since arriving in the US this time around. My omnivorous friends all enjoyed their choices, each cooked exactly as ordered. A very pleasant evening made more cordial by great service. Thank you The Spence.
(5)Tara S.
I had an absolutely amazing and delicious meal here. From the starters to the dessert to the wine; a wide variety of menu items were sampled and everything was spectacular. The ambiance is comfortable and the service was great. Highly recommended.
(5)Gillian R.
I wish I had written this review right after my visit, because I'm struggling to remember all of the dishes we sampled. My boyfriend is a sucker for Blais, and I can't say that I don't have a soft spot for him as well. We're nerds, we love food, and we have love for fellow food-loving nerds! Although I'd just started eating meat again, The Spence's menu looked a little scary to me. I love mac & cheese, but throw head cheese in there, and I'm suddenly looking for a complimentary barf bag. I mean, maybe head cheese is delicious. And maybe in ten years, I'll have garnered the courage to try it. But for now, just the thought of jiggly chopped up meat bits makes my stomach turn. I'd said I wasn't going to eat bone marrow, but guess what? I ate it. And I liked it. The quail eggs were a nice touch on top as well! We had the mussels and really enjoyed them, but I still think Sun in my Belly has the best mussels in town. For my meal, I had the juicy lucy and my boyfriend had the duck. We both enjoyed our dishes, but there was a tiny bit of disappointment for me. My cheese seemed to just melt into my burger or squirt out the edge, because I never got to the fun volcano pocket of delicious liquid gold! It was my first burger post-vegetarianism, and I have to say, I did enjoy it. The fries were tasty too. Although I was a bit full, I was in monthly chocolate mode, so we had a peanut butter and chocolate dessert. I can't remember details, except that it arrived on a slab of wood and it seemed like an awfully big portion. Oh, and it was delicious. I remember that. But my number one favorite part of the meal? You're going to laugh... It was the bread service. The sweet roll with the coconut butter? Holy. Cow. Shut the front door, I can hardly believe how rich and sweet and amazing that stuff was. If you told me I could buy a jar, I would buy ten. No, thirty. No, fifty. It was that good. The atmosphere is laid-back and cozy. The service was perfect. And there's a lovely patio area where you can have drinks around an outdoor fireplace. I sincerely hope that we make it on a date here again in the near future.
(4)Vivian F.
Having spent the last five years at Tech, I've seen that space go from vacant to failed ritzy restaurant to even more failed Parking and Transportation office space. Thus, it came as a surprise to me that another ritzy-looking restaurant was setting up shop last week when I drove by campus. However, when I found out it was the great Top Chef champion and Atlanta food god Richard Blais at the helm, my skepticism subsided. If anyone could turn that space into something successful, it ought to be him. Predictably, the place was packed when we got there, so we resigned to sitting at the bar, which was more like community tables and probably more entertaining than getting a table. Like the lovely southern ladies that we are, we ordered two cocktails -- The Fairbanks Fizz (gin-based with flower water and lemon lime) and the Left-Handed Hummingbird (tequila-based mixed with herbs and topped off with a basil icecube). The Hummingbird was strong and packed a punch that you can only get from good tequila, and the Fizz was a light and fruity ending to balance out the tequila. Upon the recommendation of the bartender, I ordered the suckling pig with fingerling potatoes. I'm not the biggest fan of pork, so the dish didn't do much to change my feelings. Patricia's "Juicy Lucy" burger however, dripped in juicy deliciousness, and the crisp steak frites were nicely seasoned. Above all else, Blais knows how to make a good burger and a great cocktail. The prices make it a little bit on the upper levels of expensive for the average college student, but it's a great place to take mommy and daddy to and make them pay for it.
(4)Claudia W.
Dissappointing... - Starting with a bad and slow valet service. - Continued with a long waiting time to order drinks and food and also to get the food. - Then the food was served in stages. - Finally they took away some of the plates although some people of our group were still eating.
(1)James D.
Ok, nice tasting and plating. I had, amongst other things, the bone marrow and quail eggs. I think that was the highlight but very light on the marrow, which seemed to be a trend in all the portions. I don't mind small portions, I prefer it but these were really small portions! Honestly, you can get more for less money at other places with the same level of creativity and quality. Nice place, tiny portions and big prices. I later learned it was owned by a famous chef so maybe if you want to check it out for that reason, it would be fun to visit.
(3)Marisa G.
Surprisingly awesome. 4 of us went with the small plates choices and ordered basically all their options. The bone marrow was amazing, squash souffle uniquely great, mussels delicious sauce, and pork croquettes were delicious. Will definitely be back.
(5)Tanya O.
The suspence is over...kudos to Richard Blais for a delicious achievement. In a modern yet somehow rustic space, I tasted the uni spaghettini, Mac and headcheese, and fried Brussels sprouts. All three exceeded my expectations. The spaghettini was creamy without being too rich. The Mac and cheese had a nice crust on top, and the fried Brussels sprouts, which came with red onions and cilantro, had just the right bite. So good I contemplated going back again the next night. I didn't go back the next night, but I did go back again a few weeks later. Based on my first visit, I would've given this place 5 stars. My second visit made me reconsider that perfect 5 rating. I had a red snapper dish that barely even qualified as an appetizer, let alone an entree. As far as taste - just so-so. Still no reason to cross this one off the list, but perhaps not all the dishes are as fantastic as I originally thought.
(4)Alexis G.
Amazing! We take everyone who visits from out of town, including business associates to the Spence. They never disappoint. The drinks are always ridiculously good (Chip always makes us our favorite drink we had the very first time we came in even when it's not on the menu). The food is always great! We have never had a meal that was anything but fabulous. Deserts are good, but I've had better.
(4)Jean C.
Very hip interior. Their portions are not big. I had their lunch set coming with a soup, salad, and a sandwich, and it was gorgeous. However, their restroom signs for male and female are confusing. Ask the waiter and don't get embarrassed.
(5)Lynn L.
Food was delicious as expected but very poor experience w staff and service. They were running behind and could not t seat us for our reservation for 45 min or more. But this was not a problem for us and they did comp our first drinks, very nice. Also have to note that the "unique" bar design may have seemed like a great idea but it is not very functional or emjoyable in reality. We actually had to ask to clarify if we were standing " in the bar". Also bartenders climbing over patrons to get wine stored over our heads. Then they were out of first two entrees we selected , disappointing for such a limited menu. Service was SLOW and not very friendly, aloof at best. If you completely forget to bring the glass of wine i ordered 30 min ago, just appoligize and get it to me. Dont pretend that it is "on its way". Prices were very reasonable but we do expect stellar service from this genre of restaurant. Especially in the south! Although unfriendly service seemed to be the norm all over Atlanta this trip. Then valet could not seem to find us a cab so we called our own after waiting for an hour. And while waiting for cab, not one member of staff checked on us. They missed potential to sell a few extra drinks! The hostess was nowhere to be seen which is why we asked valet to get a cab. Writing this for Richard so maybe these basic issues can be addressed. Wish him all the best with this restaurant! But if they can not turn tables faster than this and with better service I don't have High hopes.
(3)Lauren B.
Excellent food and Excellent service!
(5)Jonathan G.
I'd heard so much about this restaurant. It was owned by a Top Chef winner! He created the menu! Oh this will be a great experience! Well, it wasn't! I found the menu to be decidedly on the pretentious side. There were only a couple of items that really interested me. We were a party of 4, with 2 of arriving much later than the second 2. I was 1 of the first 2. Naturally, we ordered ahead of the 2nd 2. After an interminable wait, the waiter comes and informs us the kitchen will be closing in 10 minutes, did we care to order? Well, somehow, he'd gotten the 2nd couple's order in but never put ours in! A good restaurant needs more than just good food (my chop, by the way, all right, but nothing special!). This waiter totally blew it! I won't be making a return trip!
(2)Megan S.
Midtown got a boost in its culinary jugular when Chef Richard Blais, the winner of Bravo's Top Chef All-Stars, decided to re-enter the fine dining scene after re-inventing the burger and hot dog for hungry Atlantans when he opened his latest venture, The Spence. Getting its name from an old English term that means the pantry or dispensary of foods and provisions; this modern day dispensary seems more like an alchemist's laboratory where Chef Blais transcends into his alter ego by becoming a Merlin-like figure, a wizard of the kitchen. Here, Chef Blais takes foods and alters them using somewhat unconventional cooking techniques or ingredients to create flavors and textures that brings an unexpected surprise into the meal that challenges the comfort zone in a good way. This newly opened eatery has become an overnight sensation for dinners that seek a surreal experience in a robust trendy atmosphere where foods are exciting, unique, and simply a thrill to taste. A stimulating place to start is with one of the creative offerings from the drink list that changes as frequently as the food menu making each visit a new adventure. No matter which cocktail is chosen it will surely help to erase the day's edge as these libations are made with a fusion of bold and exhilarating flavors. In addition to these hypnotic beverages, The Spence is home to one of the youngest and most knowledgeable sommeliers in Atlanta, Justin Amick, who also serves as the beverage director for the Concentrics Group. The wine list that Justin has assembled consists of the standard varietals, but also has many obscure grapes from small production vintners that are fun to explore and compliment Chef Blais' foods impeccably. Strongly suggest letting Justin help guide your stroll through the extensive listing, as his suggestions are spot on. While sipping on your beverage of the night, consider a shared table grazer with the Buttermilk Fried Sea Creatures that's served with a lively sea urchin tartare - it's a tasty collection of squid, shrimp, scallops, and whatever else arrives off the docks that day. Whatever, do not overlook the beautifully set Oysters and Pearls - plump Beausoleil oysters with their distinctively refine taste are graced with frozen horseradish pearls and served with a sassy sun crisp apple champagne mignonette - when in the mouth, there's an explosion of sensual flavors. The dish that is one of those total surprises is the Beef Bone Marrow with an Ahi Tuna Tartare and a Fried Quail Egg, which when blended together makes a luscious spread for the crisp toast points that caress the palate with its creamy texture. There's a velvety duck Foie Gras that's prepared with cognac that's simply manna from heaven, but the starter that stole my heart is the otherworldly Baby Kale Caesar Salad; this OMG salad is one of the best ever. Thought I had tasted the best Kale salad in Aspen at Lulu Wilson but Chef Blais' interpretation of nature's superfood is sensation, full of tender yet crisp savory flavors with a slightly tangy classic dressing and a touch of earthiness from the aged Parmesan cheese, wow! When you think the dining experience can't get any better, well it does with the large plates. The over-sized ultra tender center cut bone-in pork chop from Riverview Farms is grilled flawlessly, and when cut the juicy charred flavors drools out to marry with the stir-fried mustard greens, caramelized pearl onions, and roasted sweet potato - yum. Then there is the not-to-be-missed braised beef short ribs with pickled walnuts and smoked new potatoes that's guaranteed to make your fellow dinners ask for a taste as they watch you sink into a delightful daze as the rich beefy flavors of this dish takes control of the senses. Of the sides, the two must do's are the seductive Buttercup Squash Crème Brulee made with kabocha squash, and the off-the-chart fried Brussels Sprouts that's tossed in a tangy Thai vinaigrette - both of these are quite special - need these recipes. When its time to arouse the forgotten sweet tooth, the artistic treats made by the Pastry Chef Andrea Litvin have the necessary finesse to give it a jolt. Each of Andrea's desserts is masterfully plated, as the visual pleasures of her goodies are just as intense as the oral. The deconstructed Ricotta Cheesecake with plump juicy blueberries and housemade chocolate graham cracker crust is absolute bliss. When a touch of decadence is in order, there's a Baked Alaska that's from the first to last bite pure pleasure - the smoked meringue chocolate cake filled with a zesty peppermint ice cream is drizzled with a rich housemade chocolate sauce, a dessert like this is what makes dreams into sweet dreams. When seeking a dining experience that centers on foods and beverages that are provocative, distinctive and full of lively tastes and flavors, The Spence has something in its pantry that will surely satisfy your hunger for culinary excitement like none other. Enjoy!!!
(5)Ed M.
A pretty good place overall. More details below. I agree with the menu layout comment below - it could be improved. The hostess and wait staff were very friendly, and Richard Blais was present and checking in on most tables and agreed to pictures when asked. The drinks - I just had some beers, which were all fine. My buddy had a drink that included home made ginger beer, but it was too strong on the ginger. The waiter took it back without question and apologized profusely. Food - The Family Meal was a fish wrap that was excellent, and just over $4 (although advertised by the server as $3.01). In contrast, the appetizer that included tuna and heirloom tomatoes on a crisp tortilla was a bit too salty and overpriced ($14) in comparison to the Family Meal. As for the entrees, we each had the Juicy Lucy hamburger. It was well-seasoned, but undercooked to my taste. (Full disclosure - I didn't specify how I wanted it cooked, and the waiter didn't ask.) Maybe it was a better cut of hamburger to justify rare, like a steak, but not my cup of tea. Layout - I like the open layout and we spent our time at the bar common tables. Will definitely go again.
(3)Nafisa J.
Unfortunately, my husband and I were super disappointed with the food and service. We love Richard Blaise and wanted to give his new place try...here is the scoop. 1. Service: - We made reservations and ended up waiting for an additional 20 minutes which it most cases would not bother me if the hostess communicated well with us, but I had to ask her if our table was ready after seeing others seated and at first said it would be a little longer without checking and then someone else came by and checked the tables and seated us quickly. -Our waitress was great, but our food came out cold and our side dish came out well after we finished our meals (so much so that our dessert came out at the same time). 2. Food: -Unfortunately the food wasn't wow...we were definitely expecting more. We were starving and ended up eating most of our food because of pure hunger, but we wouldn't come back for any of the appetizers or entrees. The fries were soggy and gross, the beef rib was tender but the taste was eh, the Lucy was good but not enough to come back for... The two things we did like were the dessert (we had an ice cream chocolate concoction which was pretty good) and the corn creme brulee. I just expected much more from the restaurant...perhaps in a couple months it will get better.
(2)Steve T.
Last night (Friday) was my third visit. The four of us got a table along the windows facing 5th street, so we were away from a lot of the noise, but it still got extremely loud in there. Our service was not that great on the first two visits, but improved on the third. We still waited a long time for the server to close out our table at the end of the meal. My three friends all opted for the burger. The triple fried fries are outstanding, but they all complained that the burgers were practically raw. I tried foie gras appetizer (small, but the pate was fantastic), fried brussel sprouts (we all agreed these were amazing), and the mac n cheese. Very disappointed in the mac n cheese as it was bland and had pieces of chicken meat on top? My friends enjoyed the turnips. Our drinks were good, but mixed drinks came in small glasses at high prices. We definitely have restaurants in Atlanta with consistently better food and service. I'm not sure why this place is struggling to get it together.
(3)Wendy H.
Awesome food! The staff is great and the atmosphere is laid back. Would definitely go again!
(4)Belinda S.
Ug! New Years Eve at The Spence with an 8:30 reservation. We showed up a few minutes early to a packed restaurant and were very excited to see Richard Blais front and center at the kitchen (too bad 30 minutes later he was long gone) We were directed to the bar and told it would be a few minutes before our table was ready. My girlfriend ordered a jack and diet coke, literally the only thing she drinks. After a sip she knew it was wrong but not wanting to be difficult continued with her drink. We did inquire from the waitress later and she told us that they don't serve Jack Daniels only Jim Beam. Obviously the bartender didn't commit a crime but you order what you want not the sort of close thing.This seems to be a common problem for them, selling off drinks as something else, as I've read it in other posts. We were called for our table moments later, walked to one table then redirected to another where a very odd incident occurred. Another hostess ran up told us to wait and started wiping down the table. We stood awkwardly in the small space around the chairs waiting. When we sat down we noticed all the water glasses had lipstick on them and the bread plates were used. We showed the waitress who didnt apologize she just ran away. My appetite was near gone at this point but being such fans of the Top Chef we wanted to get some food! We did small plates and trust me they were SMALL. To really put the final nail in the coffin we received most of our food at the same time and then waited at least 30 minutes to receive the final 2. We decided to forgo dessert because we'd already been there 3 hours and just weren't in the mood for any more. I can't imagine we'll be going back. The food was not impressive and the service was atrocious. Seriously when was the last time you were at a fine dining restaurant with lipstick on the glasses? No thanks!
(1)Stephanie R.
I really want to give The Spence more stars. But I just can't. They seem to attract a young crowd of 20 to 30 somethings. We started by ordering a bottle of wine. Our server seems shocked by that. He said that most people order by the glass. Then, when he brought over the wine, he also brought us a card explaining what the Legs of a Wine were. I guess he had no way of knowing that we have actually know more about wine that most of the guests. On the menu, a dish was served with the today's jam. My husband asked what today's jam was, as in flavor. Our server replied Pandora. Funny but not the answer we were looking for. We enjoyed our dinner. The Bone Marrow with quail egg was amazing. We also loved the smoked rigatoni with octopus and the brussel sprouts. We were practically fighting over the brussel sprouts. The kale salad was just ok. My hubby also was not impressed with the oysters. He enjoyed the oysters at Lure much more. The service was good, the atmosphere was nice. It is a beautiful space however it is really loud. We had a hard time hearing our server. My biggest complaint is that one of the chefs on the line had long hair that he kept swinging out of his face. It was like watching David Grohl in the kitchen. Yuck! Seriously, put you hair in a pony tail or put a hat on. I don't care for a side of hair in my salad.
(3)Adam M.
Good food with cool drinks. Friendly service. Overall a great experience.
(4)Kathleen O.
I have been following Richard Blais since his first series on Top Chef and was so excited to get to try out his signature restaurant - The Spence. Blais cut his teeth when he opened up Flip Burger followed by HD1 which are both great offerings however, THIS restaurant is exactly what I had hoped Blais would share with Atlanta. He has crazy items on his menu that I have had neither the opportunity OR desire to try until now. The waiter described the bone marrow appetizer as "buttery meat". I couldn't have described it any better except to add, "oowie goowie yum" in front of "buttery meat". It was simply delish! I had read enough reviews before going to know that I wanted to try the Juicy Lucy Burger. It turned out to very well be the best burger I have ever had in my life....OMG! I say bring on the Juicy Lucy! Blais injects cheese into the most amazing grounded ribeye and braised pork rib meat patty for the most incridible bite of yum you can imagine (and we are not talking plain old american cheese for this patty). Mom always said to eat my veggies. Well, if she had ever served me the brussel sprouts the way they made them at the Spence, I would have been sold. This was one of the few restaurants in my life that I walked out of (with a copy of the daily menu in hand, of course) that, before I was in the parking lot I was saying I couldn't wait to come back and try and try the upside down pineapple cake, the pork belly with chick peas and the oyster pearls. If I had to mention an area for improvement, it would be with some crowd control around the bar area. Communal bar is a great concept but hard to execute with hundreds of people. I hope you enjoy the Spence as much as I did!
(5)Marie M.
MMmmm..mmmm...good! My only complaint about this place is the way its set up and that the music is out of control loud. Its just not that fun or romantic..its just a little too hectic for my taste. The service was great, the food was fantastic. A tip of the hat to the truffle grits! Best I ever had and will go back just for those!
(4)Diantha L.
My husband and I are big fans of Richard Blais and were excited to try out this restaurant during a local trip back to visit family. He did not disappoint! We even got to meet him! Okay, details. The menu changes everyday, but I'm sure some things come up more frequently. There were several of us at the table, so we started with a few small dishes. The corn brulee was so good, we ordered a second one. The lobster knuckle sandwich was also a hit. Other faves for the table: the Juicy Lucy (a cheeseburger), pork belly, and bone marrow with quail eggs. Oh, and the pineapple upside down cake for dessert. Everything was great--a fun dining experience! Our server was very knowledgeable and answered all our questions. And, I loved my fizzy cocktail. Absolutely, no complaints--thanks, Richard Blais!
(5)Kee O.
Have been twice now and both times some dishes were stupid good while others were a complete miss. Overall though, a great dining experience both times.
(4)Susie Q.
A bit pricey for the food given competition in Atlanta. Service was good.
(4)Phil P.
The Spence... In one word... Meh... The food itself was very good however portions were a little to small in my opinion. We spent about 150.00 on dinner and me and my fiancee left the restaurant hungry. The bone marrow was interesting but not great. It tasted like a fatty beefy goo. Like I said... Meh. The music playlist however was incredible listening to Ol' Dirty Bastard and Souls of Mischief while dining was definitely amazing and just right. Overall I am not saying this place sucks I am just saying if you are really hungry order a lot of food. A little pricey for tiny portions but hey I guess thats what you get at all these fancy joints these days. 3.5 Stars.
(3)Julie H.
We loved everything about this restaurant - great food, wine list, service and atmosphere. The bone marrow with tuna tartare and quail egg was my favorite - simply divine!!!
(4)Mark C.
Disclaimer : I have only done lunch and happy hour at The Spence. The food is fresh and very tastey. Portions are smallish but the quality and obvious effort put into the food (even the grilled cheese, my favorite) makes it worth it. Staff is quick and super helpful at lunch. Thank god for this place, without it Tech Square (with its many horrible restaurants) would be a food desert.
(4)Meribeth G.
Went by myself while on a business trip... Loved the communal tables along with smaller tables- staff amazing, unique wines, food killer! Good job Richard Blais!!!!
(4)John T.
Burger and Brussels sprouts. Yum.
(5)Kenneth E.
The best dining experience I've had in Atlanta in many years. Now, I understand why everyone makes such a big deal about Richard Blais. His new restaurant -- in the fairly small Tech Square location formerly occupied by The Globe -- specializes in small tapas style dishes, which are most notable for his delicate but authoritative use of vegetables for flavor and texture. Some dishes feature foams and other molecular gastronomy, but not in an overly showy way. We started with sweet dinner rolls with a fantastic coconut butter and a couple of the signature cocktails, including one chilled with a tea bag in an ice-cube (gets better and better as you let the cube melt). As appetizers (really more like tapas), the five of us shared beets with soft boiled egg and wasabi (I don't usually like beets but really liked this dish), bone marrow with tuna tartare and fried quail eggs (delightfully rich when spread on crispy buttery toast), gnocchi with roast pork (my favorite of the starters), a very flavorful celery root "canned" soup, and oysters & pearls. A 3-year-old was satisfied with curly pasta and fungi (the biggest serving among these small plates, it would have been a bit rich if not shared). For entrees, I had a monkfish (kind of like cod) that was delightfully chunky and flaky, complemented with root vegetables that were surprisingly delicate and flavorful; two others in our party split some roast veal, which was tasty but perhaps a little tough; and another person had a very small snapper (rolled up shaving sashimi-style) and sweetbread croutons -- that she said was great. Also, she also ordered one side dish: A squash creme brulee that was worth fighting over. We all shared two desserts -- a sort of apple crisp ice cream and the ricotta cheesecake (a foam dish). Both were spectacular. Plus our server was excellent -- knowledgeable and attentive. The space is designed very comfortably; although it got loud later toward the front of the restaurant, we sat toward the back and dined early, so noise wasn't bad. Be aware that servings aren't large, but they're more than made up for with complex, well-balanced flavors. A wonderful, unique dining experience.
(5)Nestlee M.
I liked the decor and wait staff. However, it was not just loud, it was VERY LOUD. And we were in a booth. It is clear that The Spence wants to be a restaurant, not just a bar, because they are proud of their menu and there are many tables and few (if any?) bar seats. Since everyone says it is noisy, it wasn't just noisy last night. The owners must like it that way. There was a background music track with a heavy bass plus bad acoustics. Four of us got together to have a nice evening out and we thought we'd try a new place. We couldn't hear each other. We started w drinks and stayed thru dessert, but as we were leaving, each of said we would not come back. Food was above average (several small plates were great, hamburger and fries were also good, the duck was so-so). I am not sure who they want as customers, but not us.
(2)Barbara S.
As good as a new restaurant can be! But, this is not the place for everyone... Let me tell you the story...I came right from work, literally the building next door, so I was still stressed and, living in the hotel across the street, tonight I just couldn't face another mediocre sushi or salad from the neighborhood student joints. I was a tiny bit leery of this place as it's clearly a step above the neighborhood, and I had not heard any reviews yet. In fact, I didn't even know that one of the owners was Richard Blais (so even though I cried when he won Top Chef, I was not yet granting any unearned points to the place). The eccentric but warm decor with odd table choices tell you right away that this is not your father's steakhouse. I was given a choice of seating areas/styles - one of which was a "get to know your neighbor" communal table. My mood being what it was, I took the booth in the back, stuffed in my computer bag, and grumpily took a look at the menu. As others have mentioned, it's a little tricky to figure it out the menu. I couldn't, at first, get my mind around it. So for my first step, I asked for a limoncello drink of some kind, sort of a mojito, margarita, lemony, fizz. Geesh, I couldn't even articulate a drink I wanted. BAM! It was exactly that, and now it's called the "Babs", after me! Please feel free to enjoy at will. Nice! Drink in hand, I was able to start asking questions about the menu. If you aren't comfortable asking questions about your meal, this might not be the place for you. There were small and larger dishes in the same list, causing me to really think about what I wanted to taste rather than just picking one from each category as usual. The descriptions were factual, without hyperbole, which means I had to actually picture the dish and taste it with my mind to make selections between foods I might not have had very often (or at all) and certainly not combined in the ways these were... Fortunately, I have priorities, so I was able to start at the back end, ordering a ricotta cream dessert that I thought was a ricotta cheesecake, but no, when it came (at the end of the meal, of course, I'm not crazy!) it was a beautiful ricotta cream decorated plate with chocolate crumbs and berries... personally I would have sprayed the berries with a bit of Licor 43 for an added aroma, but I do tend to use alcohol way too much in my own desserts! I initially thought to order a pate, and the beets looked good too, but after discussing the menu with the waitress, I ordered the duck confit, which is finished in the oven to get a crisp skin and brought covered to capture the smoky essence. I thought maybe it was gimmicky but to my surprise, it really did add to the pleasure of my experience. And that's all I'm going to tell you about the dish because taste is personal. Despite what the food shows will have you believe, we all have different palettes, and we should be tested and surprised rather than given the expected flavors each time. By the way, it's been open a few days now and the wait staff was, at 6 pm at least, extremely attentive and organized. Taking my time over dessert, I looked across the way and saw a familiar face watching over the open cooking area. When the waitress came over, I had to ask who it was - afraid to seem silly in thinking it was actually Richard Blais. She confirmed it for me, and for once I couldn't stop myself from approaching a celebrity. I went over and congratulated him on a great meal, a wonderful restaurant, and oh, by the way, winning Top Chef. Bottom line: It's hard, financially risky and personally revealing to open a restaurant, and even more so when you are going for something that will challenge and entice rather than simply "meet expectations". I'm sure, as I go back these next couple of times, there will be dishes, or sides, that don't excite me as much as the duck. And yet, here's a man living his dream, committing his heart, soul and probably most of his wallet as he offers us the chance to critique his taste and his team's execution. It's brave, and in the end, damn tasty! Well done!
(5)Sara B.
I have always liked Richard Blais on Top Chef and was very excited to try out The Spence. I grew a little apprehensive, however, after reading the reviews on this site. I have to say, I was very impressed. The food and the service were incredible. We were lucky to sit in Peter's section. He truly made it an enjoyable experience for us. He recommended a great Austrian wine we otherwise would have never chosen. I also appreciated the fact that he had an opinion - he is not one of these "Oh, everything is great" types. He directed two people in my party to change their entrees based on our wine, and both were very pleased with his suggestions. As for the food - I loved everything we tried. We started out with the cheese plate (seems simple but was delicious), the oysters and pearls (loved them, but was worried about an allergy so I stopped at one), and the squash gnocchi (good, but I am simply not a huge fan of gnocchi). For our entrees, we had the lamb and the short ribs. The short ribs were tender and delicious. Peter also had us try the fried brussel sprouts. I have never like a brussel sprout in my life, but I think I could have eaten five orders of them by myself. We also had the squash creme brulee. Some have complained that it is too sweet. I thought it was delicious. As for dessert, I got the blood orange sponge cake with champagne ice cream. If I was not worried about embarrassing myself, I would have licked the plate clean and then asked for another order. All in all, it was a great experience. Between Peter and the food, I am going back again a week later! Highly recommended.
(5)Scott H.
I was very excited to dine here after all the TV shows, and watching the Life After Top Chef, etc. Overall I ended up disappointed, there are some very good things but my main complaint was in the food. Parking: There's a Valet, that is very poorly run. I had to circle the block a couple times to even find them in attendance, and finally just parked in one of their spaces, they came up to get my keys as I went into the restaurant. Not a great first impression. Interior of the Spence, This was right up what I was expecting, it was early in the evening so it wasn't loud, and I found it to be quite nice. Service: I found the service to be very good, knowledgeable about the menu, prompt, helpful, great overall! Menu ; I found the menu to be confusing at best. It's simply not descriptive about the dishes, and this lead to disappointment in a number of the dishes that I tried. I also wasn't impressed with any of the cocktail descriptions so I ended up skipping them. It would be great if there was a bit more explanation on the dishes. For example, "Slab of Fois Gras" sounds like a slab of Fois Gras, it turned out to be something very different then what I was expecting, still OK, but not great. Food: I had the Oysters, they were exactly what I was expecting, having seen them tasted on the show. Very well executed, but very small portion size. 4 small oysters, and I felt like it should have been more like 5 or 6. Slab of Fois Gras : This was served cold, and was not at all what I was expecting. The toast was burnt, dried out , and hard. Just poorly executed, and one that I wouldn't have ordered had the menu been more descriptive. Pork Belly and shoulder: This was described by the Waitress as a pork shoulder wrapped around a slab of pork belly. Sounded lovely, but turned out to be a slice of pork roast with a piece of undercooked under seared pork belly with some rather tasteless puree underneath it. Pecan tart with ice creme. The tart had no texture at all, almost like they took the desert and ran it through a food processor, then baked it, it was terribly sweet. The ice creme that was on it was very good, but extremely small. They could make the tart half the size and double the size of the ice creme. Overall my impression of the Spence is that it's a restaurant that is capitalizing on Richard's name, but does not have the attention to detail that he should be requiring. I would have never found it except for the Richard's involvement, and am sorry that I did.
(2)Alaina S.
Good food, fabulous wine list, tasty cocktails. Servers are friendly and unpretentious, and their recommendations have been spot-on the past few times I've been here. The patio is lovely when the weather is nice, and inside has a wonderful relaxed atmosphere. Highly recommended.
(4)Jess B.
Fun ambiance, great food and extra points for being within walking distance of my apt! My husband and I went here to celebrate his birthday and while it was a splurge, we both enjoyed our meal thoroughly. We started off with some cocktails; my husband really enjoyed "The Methodist". Then we split several of the smaller plates, which I highly recommend to sample all the tastiness The Spence is serving up... we had a pork belly wrapped in sturgeon dish that is easily the best bite of food I've had in awhile. Other highlights were brussel sprouts in a Thai vinaigrette and roast suckling pig... yum!
(5)Academic Socialite X.
This was my 4th visit to The Spence & the only time I felt it was off. Tonight we tried the signature burger for the first time ("Juicy Lucy") & the also had the duck. Unfortunately, both were disappointments. Lucy was over-cooked to a grey medium-well. Flavorful, but dry & not up to the restaurant's standards. The duck was also over-cooked, tough & quite flavorless. While Lucy & the duck were both over-cooked, the accompanying veg. served with the duck were nearly raw & should have had a little more pan time. I haved loved my other trips to The Spence. The bone marrow served with raw tuna is an exceptional dish and one of the best dishes I've eaten at any restaurant! I will definitely visit again, but will probably stay away from the entrees & stick to the small plates. Also, at dinner the noise level can be deafening! Lunch noise seems much more reasonable. Blais is very often in the restaurant and comes out into the dining room at times. Fun if you're into the celebrity chef thing...
(2)Jack H.
This is a 3.5 star review, because honestly there are still a few rough edges to be smoothed out, in my opinion. My lovely bride and I visited on a Saturday night for a birthday celebration. We sat at the bar, looking over the dining room, which was quite active and entertaining. Excellent Midtown eye-candy. The cocktails were first rate, on a par with Holeman & Finch and Bocado. The selections of wine by the glass were impressive. Standing out head-and-shoulders above everything else was the lobster roll on brioche; as good as The Lobster Roll in Manhattan (rest in peace). The hamachi tostada was nicely paired with the tequila-based cocktail. The next course was a true disappointment. The chicken-fried ribeye was gristly and overcooked. The lamb dish was just acceptable, nothing more. Dessert was a ricotta "cheesecake", but quite underwhelming. It looked like a little something that belonged on top of a big fat slice of true NY-style cheesecake. Where was the cheesecake? We finished the night with a couple glasses of Italian brachetto, and it was a beautiful finish. Service from our hungover server was above average. We will return because we are big fans of Richard Blais, but the Spence is not where we would expect it to be.
(3)Brian A.
Went here for lunch recently and ordered the steak special. For $18 I received about 4 oz of fatty chewy flank steak that didn't have an ounce of seasoning on it (if you're not going to put salt/pepper on the tables then you damn well better properly season your food!), about 2 tablespoons worth of cheese grits and a few green beans that were overcooked. Don't go here if you're looking for value or a good meal. Blais is apparently resting on his laurels. What a shame!!! Will not be back.
(1)Tina H.
went there on a Friday night. Loved the oysters, foie gras w/peaches, short ribs, caesar salad, juicy lucey. The bone marrow w/tuna and quail eggs were eh. Didn't care for the mushroom noodles w/egg.
(4)Alan R.
4 stars for ambience, 2 stars for food and service. trendy, arrogant and does not seal the deal. I have lived abroad and in a few great food cities, and I was so excited to try The Spence, but sorry just was not wowed and for the price I need wow. I understand the menu concept, but just way, way too limited. Very overpriced. Best thing was wine list, but too pricey.
(3)Michelle B.
I really am not giving this place a bad review, it was just not my type of dining. It is a very safe cute area of town, but next to a college campus, who in college can afford the items on this menu !! When you walk in it is very hip and happening, very hipsterish, am not sure I like the open concept of the bar, interesting and maybe a good concept for more of a causal dinning atmosphere. Loud was an understatement, we where dining here with friends from out of town, between the music and other conversations it was extremely distracting. The sweet-coconut butter served with the rolls was interesting. As was everything else on the menu. Our friends who are foodies loved the food, especially the oysters, seafood pasta, and the ever changing menu. For me overpriced strange pairing dining is not for me.
(3)Teri S.
4.5 stars. The only thing I would change is the very loud noise level (hence 4.5 stars instead of 5). Every other aspect was brilliant. Genuine service, outstanding cocktails & wine and delicious food. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Kelly W.
Absolutely fabulous! Richard Blais was my favorite Top Chef personality and his cuisine does not disappoint. The atmosphere, including the open kitchen, was very fun and modern, yet inviting. The cocktail and food menu were overwhelming as there are so many great, inventive options. We ended up with the Hamachi and Spaghettini apps, the flat iron steak and pork belly entrees, and the milk chocolate/peanut with burnt banana ice cream dessert - all were 'melt in your mouth' good and very fun to eat. Our server wasn't the warmest, bubbliest person, yet he was very knowledgable and attentive. Chef Blais was there and greeted us at our table - such a fun, personal touch! Now if he would only open something in Chicago where I currently reside!
(5)Broderick S.
I've only had an app & a drink here but enjoyed both immensely and prices seem fair, especially with cocktail prices rising - was surprised to have numerous $9 options. The uni spaghetti w/ lobster was delicious
(4)Shay B.
My party agreed that while we enjoyed our meal, not one of us would rush back to The Spence. With every menu item, you get the feeling that the goal of The Spence to impress fans of cooking competitions so that you know, without a doubt, that you are at a winner's restaurant- which is both good and bad. Interesting dishes are a nice, but not every single item needs to be exotic (example - an app of bone marrow with tuna tartare and quail eggs). Food good need not always be complicated. Despite the constant attempt to up-sell and flip our table as quickly as possible, our waiter was very attentive and entertaining.
(3)Kim A.
It's unfortunate that I have to give the Spence only 2 stars because Tech Square needs a more upscale restaurant, I just don't think this is it. The food is so ridiculously overpriced! We had a drink each, some oysters, and two burgers and ended up paying around $120. I have no idea how this happened or how our tab got so out of control. The staff is pretty snooty, they really aren't interested in helping you or coming back to check on you either. Drink refills? Forget it. The burger was pretty good but not good enough for $16 so I can't say I'll ever be coming back. Don't waste your time or your money here, there are much better restaurants in Midtown!
(2)Janice B.
Our party of six dined last night at The Spence. It was so disappointing in so many ways. The service was absolutely horrible and deserves the worst of the review. A few key points: When delivering the wine our waiter announced that he would pour the first round and put the bottle in the middle of the table so that we could serve ourselves from then on. Um, service? When serving courses, he failed to provide utensils for the dishes or individual utensils for the diners. For some shared courses, he failed to provide plates. When courses were delivered the servers didn't know who ordered what and frequently misdelivered. Timing was terribly off between courses with only appetizers having arrived 90 minutes into the meal. As we sat beside the open kitchen, we saw the finishing chefs chatting idly while we waited for our food. But of most concern in the kitchen beyond its lackadaisical delivery was the fellow with the surfer hair draped over every plate. No hair net or bandana and a set of bangs down to his chin. We were fascinated to watch it swing over the food. He tossed his hair back every time he lifted his head in order to see the next plate coming. One dining companion tweeted the image to Blais to say, what? It was so unkempt that we checked each plate for hair. Great way to spend an evening. And then there was the food. The magret duck was beautifully done as was the hamburger. Oysters were fine as was the pork terrine and french fries.The smoked rigatoni, tortellini and squash brulee equally so. For those, two stars. However, the ribs were stringy and dry, suggesting cheap meat and overcooking. At nearly $30 for the plate, diners deserve better. The grits were bland and recall Waffle House quality. The Brussels sprouts, inventive with the use of mint were in fact briny. Yes, briny. The halibut was grossly overcooked and oversalted, a real shame given the potential of that fish. The pate was mediocre in execution and plating. The pigs feet empanadas were mostly dough and deserve no revisit. The Fall salad unremarkable although the beet salad was good. One companion order a glass of Viognier, specifically asking the server if it was available by the glass. Assuring him that it was, the server delivered a glass without a word. My companion tasted it and recognized that it wasn't Viognier. He asked the server who then said Viognier wasn't available by the glass and so the server had chosen what he considered to be the closest substitute. This is simply not okay to do. Not a word of this decision-making would have been shared had my companion not asked. In what service world is it okay to do this without a conversation? So we hit about 50% good food, 50% that should never again be served and perhaps the worst service ever received in Altanta. Plus the hair show and a sound level that made shouting necessary to communicate. But that's a minor point compared to the rest. Given that our bill before tip was over $500, we expected, and deserved, better. If Blais wants to charge these prices, then teach the servers to serve, clean up the chef, fix the quality of dishes, adjust the pacing and the delivery, and act like a better restaurant that respects clientele and delivers on its prose. We were sorely disappointed by the entire experience as it was a holiday treat for us all to go out together and nothing short of food poisoning could have made that dining experience less of a treat.
(2)Kimberly R.
First off let me say the food at this restaurant is amazing! I had the kale Caesar and fried Brussels sprouts and my friend had the Juicy Lucy (fancy name for a burger) and we were both beyond satisfied. She had some kind of specialty cocktail that came with liquid smoke that she said was really good as well. I only had wine but was happy with it. The ambiance is adorable - very chic and trendy. We're both a little on the fence about the location given that's in right in the middle of all things university. Not sure how well it will do considering college kids aren't known for their wealth and there's a Waffle House right across the street. Hopefully they survive because I would love to eat there again. Fun place for a date night. The one gripe I did have was the service, or lack thereof. Our waiter, when he was around was really good and knowledgeable about the dishes and everything however he didn't come around very much. There was one point where we literally just sitting there waiting for him to come take our cards. He didn't even seem to notice when he finally did come back. Other than that, it was a great experience and I'll definitely go back.
(4)mary F.
i'm going to officially call "bull puckey" on every single on of the reviews that dogs the spence....especially those that dog the food and service. the ones that have beef with the location....okay, fair enough. first, the food: the oysters are fabulous, fabulous bites of heaven. one of the best dishes for sure in atlanta. the bone marrow and tuna is stellar as well. I saw a review saying it wasn't "big enough"? let me say two things on this: it's extremely rich and the only way portion size becomes an issue is when your dining mate(s) gobble up your portion. the macaroni and head cheese is a MUST try- if it bothers you to eat head cheese- get over it to try this dish. man, the juicy lucy is divine; the squid ink pasta is insane; the spring tart and brussles sprouts are also ridiculously delicious. yes, you still want desert. the service is stellar. the only thing i could improve upon were the cocktails- they were good, but not as stellar. the wine list was solid though. this now rivals one eared stag for best place in atlanta.
(5)William R.
Weird experience. It has potential, but not sure I'll return to eat there again. Four of us went on Saturday night. The place was crowded - cool bar with an interesting drink menu. It was hot though and the kitchen is literally in the restaurant. The menu is cool and more like a Tapas menu. The portions are extremely small on most dishes. Although Pork Belly and their burger are huge. So it's hit or miss, but everything we ordered - hamachi, octopus, brussel sprouts, creme brulee corn, etc, were all very tasty. Stuff comes out of the kitchen completely randomly, so be ready for that (like Tapas). Service was completely uncoordinated. Their wines weren't chilled. They seemed confused. Not a smoothly run restaurant. Worth checking out, but don't if it will last.
(3)chessie s.
Overall, I really enjoyed my meal at The Spence. We were looking forward to the meal in no small part because we had been following Richard Blais' restaurant trajectory on all the various Bravo shows. The space and food did not disappoint. I really liked the concept of the open bar (wines stacked above you, long tables for communal drinking and you see the bartenders work in front of you). The decor hit just the right sweet spot of modern and hip, but not being over the top. It's still very comfortable. On the night we were there (a few days before Christmas), the food and drinks were incredibly good. Highlights were the eggnog, the pearls and oysters, the bone marrow, the lamb and the squash souffle, but really everything I tried was excellent. One of the better meals I have had in a while. There were a few missteps though, and thus the reason for four stars and not five. The music was incredibly loud. We were a party of six and I had trouble hearing not only the people at the other end of my table, but also the people right across and next to me. It might have been where we sitting, but it was uncomfortably loud. Also, the service. The service was perfectly pleasant, but our server was pretty slow. We waited a long time for our first round of drinks and in between, and there were lulls between courses that went on too long. We stayed till closing, and we waited a long time for the check. We were all ready to go, but our server was nowhere to be found. And again, although pleasant, she did she particularly inspired by or knowledgeable about the food. I was really looking forward to the bouche de noel for dessert when I saw it on the menu, and we ordered it. Although pretty, it was actually very dry. The other two desserts were good though. All in all, it was a very nice evening with very good food. I just wish the music had been a tad more quiet and that our service had a been a bit more peppy and focused.
(4)Todd S.
I enjoyed the food and was pleasantly surprised after reading the reviews. I went with a few friends and we tried just about everything on the menu sans the entrees of which we only had the steak and juicy Lucy. My faves were the Rigatoni with Octopus and bottarga, hamachi, and pig feet empanadas, Although not a pig bone marrow fan I found that it along with the tuna tar tare and quail egg to be tasty as well. Misses for me were the squash pasta dish. I cannot remember all that went into the dish, but for me the pasta was a little doughy without all that much flavor. I give it 4 stars but would probably lean towards 3.5. One of my friends although happy with the food did find a rather long hair on one of his dishes. I overlooked this as it was not on my plate. He would probably not be so kind. I am generous in this regard and see it as something that does not happen all that often, although I did notice a similar statement in a prior review. I assume that the OCD Blais will correct this issue otherwise these reviews could start to trend negatively. I would definitely go back and was particularly happy with the corkage which is 0 on the 1st bottle and $15 on each additional. Hope that does not change. Overall good value for this level of food.
(4)Destin D.
I have to start by saying that the milk chocolate with peanuts and burnt banana ice cream really saved the meal for me. It was like an episode of Chopped where one of the chefs really nails the dessert round and wins the competition. Otherwise, it was a pretty tame meal mostly because of the service. I really wanted to love the Richard Blais upscale-ish restaurant, but it didn't meet expectations. Yes, it was a client dinner and a table of 10, but the server committed one of the deadly serving sins. After the entree is served, you must follow up soon thereafter to make sure everyone is okay. That didn't happen. There were some missing sides and meat that was not cooked to the requested temperature. There were often empty wine glasses and too many long delays between meals. The restaurant was full for a Thursday, but not overly slammed that we couldn't have been paid more attention. Besides the service, the ambiance was fun. There's an open kitchen and wood fire grill and the farm to table concept is on full display. The music was a little loud though. I agree with Angela M. in that the food was all delicious, but it lacked a "wow" factor, except the short ribs, I guess. They are served with a lid that is removed to show smoke. Smelled and tasted delicious, but not amazing. The brussel sprouts were a very good side choice. Overall, I feel like my review mirrors some of the other recent reviews. Service and entrees need work, but this place certainly has the potential to do great things.
(3)Kate S.
Food was great. We got a ton of stuff and it ranged from really good to amazing. Unfortunately, the place is just too loud - cramped tables, no sound-proofing and booming music. I don't want to work that hard to have conversation.
(3)JP H.
This establishment has an ultra-cool vibe, fits right in with Midtown. My friend and I had our last dinner in ATL here and it ended on a good note. It was true to Blaise's modern style and favors quality over quantity. I had the duck---the dinner menu changes frequently and I can't remember the exact preparation but it was delicious though there were a few pieces of silverskin on the piece of meat. That was my least favorite part of the meal and I would attribute that to the butchering rather than the cooking. The whole plate was just amazing when eaten together. Many run of the mill chain restaurants serve foods that are to be eaten separately but I encourage to eat food from The Spence TOGETHER, the way it is meant to be eaten. Sides are served "family style" I would say that is true for the brussel sprouts but the other side we chose was a savory brulee of some sort (sweet-potato like tuber is what it was described as) and it was more an individual-sized portion. By far my favorite part of the meal was the brussel sprouts; holy moly those babies are good. Dessert was so-so; not a great selection but tasty. Service was GREAT! Servers are extremely knowledgeable and appear to know more about food than just memorizing the night's menu. They are unobtrusive without being neglectful; just the way I like!
(4)Bigatlwineguy S.
Excited for a new chef Blaise creation. For the hype, the food was very similar to home (his old restaurant) without the wow factor.
(3)Jerry G.
Dined with a friend.. Heard this was a really cool place. Left before the main course was ordered.. It's not that good.. First, while imaginative, the food is mundane. Oysters and Pearls are interesting.. Oysters small however but the pearl component (nitrogen frozen horseradish) added an interesting twist.. Lobster roll way over rated.. Not much lobster and the whole grain mustard atop took away from the flavor. Fried Seafood small plate was nicely presented, not greasy but lacked flavor.. In fact the fried vegetables that were on the platter were better than the fish. Breading was a bit heavy as well so what little fish there was got lost but, still not greasy.. Wine list is long, beer list decent but the price for food and drink was a bit high for the quantity and quality. But it is in Midtown Atlanta so there is a premium to be paid. Apparently the chef is considered a celebrity.. OK, so please refer to my comments regarding Emeril's and how I tend to shy away from "Celebrity Chefs" and The Spence is a good indication why I have taken this position. Top all this off with the fact that it is physically impossible to carry on a conversation without screaming and you'll understand that this may not be the place for a quite dinner. Would I go back? Nope.. Would I recommend it? Not for dinner, maybe for a drink and only if the weather were great and I could sit outside where it is much quieter.!!
(2)Laura G.
Excellent dinner! We dined Father's Day evening and the service and food was gret. I love how unpretentious the service was!! I felt at home here. The flank steak was delish as well as the lamb. The Brussel sprouts are a don't miss item. I also highly reccomend the fresh squeezed emonade and pana cotta cheesecake for dessert! Everything wa super fresh. Richard Blais was walking around as well. I am already planning our next visit!
(4)Steven H.
Just tried The Spence with a good friend. Overall, I give the place 4 stars. Excellent interior, though the space is a bit loud for one on on conversation. Love the open bar, that the bartenders (as well as customers) circulate around). The food: Excellent. One of my favs, the Oysters & Pearls. Absolutely incredible. An order is only 4....I could have eat two dozen! Get more than one order of these. The bone marrow and hamachi tartare was also excellent, though I think I would have prefered it chilled, instead of warm. Will be going back, until I've tried all the inventive cocktails....had both the Fairbanks Fizz and the Methodist and both were excellent. Our server was very good....so friendly in fact, he chatted a bit too long.....you almost wanted to tell him "shoo", go check on our food and let my friend and I chat, but he was too sweet.
(4)Davis H.
I really had high hopes for this place after reading all the reviews but it was honestly a terrible experience. Here's why: there were six of us. Our table was literally 2 feet from the kitchen so by the time we walked out we were sweaty and smelled like food. The service was Terribly slow. I'm talking it took us an hour just to get our appetizer and anouther 45 minutes for our food. I think it was the kitchen, not our server. They only had 5 entree choices and none of them sounded good to me. I really had to struggle to find something. My entree was ok. I got pork belly and prawns. I was excited for the prawns but when it came it had one prawn on it still in the shell. I tried to peel it but it was a sticky mess. The pork was fine. Very small portion. What topped it off for me was the valet afterwards. We had to wait 25 minutes for our car. There were only two valets working and the parking must be far away since it took about 6-7 minutes for one car. So overall I left extremely annoyed and hungry. Will not go back.
(2)Mark H.
I was skeptical with all the reviews about bad service. Nothing ruins a good meal more than bad service in my opinion. The service was beyond good, seems like they have corrected that problem with a vengeance. The food was fantastic, we did the little plates and tried a bunch of things. The oysters were my favorite, but I also really liked the bone marrow and both kamachi plates. I went with my parents, we are foodies, and love good food, this is good, We loved it all, completely out of the norm for them, but they were impressed as well, thank you for the great meal, keep it up!!
(5)Tara M.
I love the variety of styles of food on the menu. Italian, Asian, American, etc all thoughtfully created and executed. The wine list is unique and the recommendation made to us was perfect. This was one of my top culinary experiences in Atlanta thus far.
(5)Vanessa L.
Stopped by for drinks the Saturday after they opened. I immediately fell in love with the atmosphere; very lively and inviting with simple, sophisticated decor. The bar consists of two long parallel high top tables with seating on each side; the alcohol is stored above and drinks are made wherever the bartenders find an open spot. Our bartender was very friendly. I'm looking forward to returning for dinner and trying some speciality cocktails.
(4)Yung B.
I went for lunch and ordered the pork belly tacos (the one thing on the lunch menu that did not have a creamy substance on it--I can't really deal with mayo/sour cream/etc). The tacos came out with sour cream on them. I asked the waiter if I could get them made again, since the menu did not mention the sour cream. He obliged, and then informed me that the coleslaw also had mayonnaise. Really sweet of him. When the tacos came back, they were dry with the guac and salsa on the side. Nice touch. Unfortunately, the salsa had aioli in it! The pork belly was fine and the tacos were nice and crispy. I could not finish and left a taco on the plate. I find myself unable to imagine the fatty tacos with the additional sour cream, mayonnaise, and aioli sauces. The waiter charged me a dollar extra--maybe there was a recent price change that was not reflected in the menu. I'm not sure if I'd go back. If you love creamy sauces, this is the place for you. This cuisine is definitely "New American" and I can see why many people love it, but it wasn't for me.
(2)Courtny B.
My husband and I went to The Spence for my birthday and loved it. Being an avid Richard Blais fan our expectations were high of course and each course blew us away. Our waiter was great and I hate that I can't remember his name (Jack I think). Just ask for the guy from Chicago. He made the perfect suggestions for the "Blais Experience." We started with the bone marrow and oysters & pearls appetizers. Never having tried bone marrow we didn't know what to expect but the flavor combination was unreal. For entrees my husband had the pork belly with a side of the mac/head cheese with truffle and I ordered the seared duck with brussel sprouts. I hate brussel sprouts but I knew if anyone could make me a believer, Blais could and of course he did. The duck was phenomenal. My husband loved the pork belly. For dessert we order the cheesecake which was nothing traditional and more amazing than any cheesecake we've ever had. We also had a milk chocolate dessert with banana ice cream which was great but I loved the cheesecake dish better. All in all we couldn't have picked a better restaurant to go to. LOVE The Spence!
(5)Eric S.
Overall my experience at the Spence was pretty disappointing. i mean, when the best thing we ordered was brussel sprouts, it's hard to think your going to go back. The service was pretty poor as well. We like to order a few different things with the intent to share. The waitress said they would bring one dish out at a time so we could enjoy at our leisure. Well that didn't happen, we were brought both appetizers at once, then it took about 30 minutes after finishing our apps to get our entrees. One of the entrees, a roasted goat with a ravioli and golden beats was pretty terrible. The filling in the ravioli was bad and the "golden beets" were not beats, they seemed more like turnips and the waitress who was pretty un-knowledgeable was very defensive of the kitchen instead of trying to satisfy the customer. The bone marrow and pork belly were good, but didnt blow us away, have had those dishes better at multiple other places in atlanta. Anyways i dont think i will be making a return trip. Although the decor was pretty cool.
(2)Jonathon B.
Attended 02/12/2015 Ambiance: Trendy atmosphere, high ceilings, small space of maybe 14 tables, but they had a room closed off for higher volume nights. The inspiration for the menu is posted at the top of the menu is a very unique feature that I liked. Drinks: Signature cocktails were delicious. Food: (The menu changes daily) Upon ordering you receive small rolls with coconut butter which were delicate, warm, and gobbled up in seconds. The menu is starter/app based vs having a lot of entrees. I initially noticed they used 2-3 items 4 times repeatedly on the menu (ie quail eggs were on the menu 4 times, pork terrine 3 times, mustard 4 times, etc) They had only 6 entrees listed while their starters had around 12 options and 8 small plates. We decided to get the pork terrine with pickles, mustard, and cranberry gastrique. It was definitely the best dish of the night! The fat of the pork ate well with the acid of the pickles, sweetness of the cranberries, and spice from the mustard. We also had the mussels with red sauce, basil, and cacciatore sausage. The dish was simple, light and delicious. The red sauce was more of a brodo vs a tomato sauce. Excellent! For our last app, we decided to get the red wine rigatoni, bacon, and a poached egg. This dish was near our favorite but the pasta tasted/looked like a prepackaged product. The fatty egg and acidic red wine sauce made you crave more and more. Unfortunately, the entrees weren't nearly as good as the apps/starters. We ordered the Mahi with blood orange and the flank steak with carrots, potatoes, and beet puree. The Mahi although seasoned well, was dry and tough to eat. The flank steak was rather bland but the seasoned carrots, potatoes, and beet puree made up for it. I would definitely return to the Spence, but the entrees need improvement especially since they are the pricey items on the menu. Stick to the Apps/Snacks/Starters.
(4)Shaye B.
I do not have a single complaint about The Spence. I went with 2 girl friends before a night out and I am so glad we came here. We were running late for our reservation but we were able to easily call and push it back 15 minutes. None of us had been there before so we asked our waiter for his advice on how to tackle the menu and he did not disappoint. To start off he was very helpful with drinks - brought us 2 different wines to taste. We weren't crazy about them and since we were going out later we just went with cocktails. We did not want to go the entree route because everything looked so good on the menu so we opted for the small plates. I highly recommend the small plates because they were all very unique and creative. We ordered the oysters, beet salad, brussel sprouts, pasta, and mussels. The beet salad, mussels and brussel sprouts were all absolutely amazing. The pasta and oysters were decent, we didn't like them as much as our other 3 dishes. The chef also sent us a fried oyster dish to try which was divine. Ambiance at this place is spectacular. You walk in and its modern with a dark and neutral color scheme. The space isn't very big and it has an open kitchen which makes it a really unique experience. They have a chef's table that looks like it can seat 6 and I would love to try that out one night! Another thing about this place I really appreciated was that it wasn't too loud. I expected walking in and seeing a trendy full restaurant with an open kitchen to be screaming at my friends for a conversation. Nope, not the case at all. This was probably one of the most relaxing and fun dining experiences I have had at a trendy restaurant. Since they change the menu frequently (maybe daily) I will certainly be back. For an out of town visitor who is a foodie, I would highly recommend this place because it is a great example of Atlanta's restaurant scene!
(5)Michele A.
I so wanted to love this place more than I did. It was not bad by any stretch, and everyone keeps talking about how expensive it was. Maybe because I am from NY, it wasn't expensive to me. Granted my check was $130, but we had 2 mixed cocktails, 3 beers, 1 after dinner drink, Bread with a delish coconut butter, 1 app, 1 small plate, 2 entrees, 1 side, and 1 dessert. To me, not that expensive. Let's move past the price. The cocktail I had was DELISH. I had the mule, and it was so good. The beers, sorry, but when you order a beer and it comes in a can, I don't like it. This is supposed to be fine dining, so canned beer turned me off. Now for the food. The coconut butter was good. The coconut butter was understated, and the rolls were slightly greasy, but good. We started with the kale 'caeser' and the stuffed olives. I loved both. The Kale salad had a lemon note that elevated it to great. The olives, while small, where a great little bite. Okay, my entree was the strip steak, and there was not a single thing wrong with it. It all tasted great together and it was the most perfect cooked steak I have ever eaten. My hubby who hates fine dining, loved the roasted chicken he ordered. I thought it was on the plain side. The side of brussel sprouts were good. There was a touch too much vinegar, but they were solid. The dessert, ah the dessert, that was AWESOME. We had the blondie with coffee ice cream and frozen caramel. OMG, it was awesome. Why only 3 stars you say, I answer, this is a Richard Blais restaurant. After years of watching him dominate on Top Chef and dying to eat his food, I was disappointed in the experience. I expected every bite to wow me, and it just didn't. I feel like I could have gone to any number of restaurants in NY and had the same experience. I guess he just fell short of my expectations. I wanted my hubby to finally go to a fine dining restaurant and be wowed, and neither one of us were wow'ed and it just set me back getting him to try again. I still love Blais, but not the best choice in trying to get your husband to love foods the way you do. Last note, there was no salt and pepper on the table which kind of struck me as arrogant. I love my steak with extra salt and pepper and I didn't want to ask, so I went through without it.
(3)Julia B.
Good atmosphere and service from a server, Sophie, who said she was new. She apologized for inconsequential things and was good. Water glasses were constantly filled. The food? Mostly, meh. The think I expected more from the Top Chef. The flavors were good. The crab bacon fritters were bland. The Georgia Shrimp was awesome! The baked onion bulbs were baked onions but the toast that came with it was good with cheese, radishes, and snapdragons. Three of us had flap steak and one had the hamburger. The flap steak, a usually tough cut, went through a special process to make it tender, which did not work. It was like chewing gum. It was cooked to a perfect medium rare. The presentation of the flap steak, potatoes, and burnt broccoli (the actual name) looked like it had been dumped on the plate out of a big mixing bowl. The broccoli lived up to its name, burnt. The potatoes were cooked perfectly! The burger was supposed to come medium rare, as they serve it; instead it was well done. Fries were good. Desserts were delicious but small. We ordered two and ended up with three. The incorrect desert came and they let us keep it and brought the correct dessert. Men's room was dirty.
(3)Piper J. D.
I was in town for a conference and wanted to have an out-of-the-ordinary meal. Spence did not disappoint. My friend and I chose multiple smaller plates to taste. The oysters and pearls, with the nitrogen frozen pearls were unusual and tasty. The bone marrow and quail's eggs was tasty and served in an appealing way. The head cheese mac & cheese was probably my favorite though the sea urchin pasta was very interesting as well. Really, the menu changes but any of the small plates were good and more importantly to me, imaginative. The nitrogen cocktail was also very interesting to try. ;)
(5)Jeremy M.
Meh. Wanted to love it. Didn't. I won't bore you with the details but our group tried every single item and only two would be ordered again. There are too many better choices in Atlanta these days to waste your time or money on this one. Not awful, but there are just too many better options.
(3)Heather U.
I was recently in Atlanta for work, and was excited to eat at The Spence. I loved RIchard Blais on Top Chef, and his restaurant did NOT disappoint! The atmosphere, service, drinks, and food were all top-notch. Other reviews mention small portions for the price, however I thought all the portion sizes were generous - especially the "small plates". In my experience with small shared dishes, they have typically been much smaller than those at The Spence. Dinner began with warm, buttery yeast rolls served with coconut "butter", which was more the consistency of a lightly whipped cream - it was like starting the meal with dessert - scrumptious. We shared two small plates - the cilantro bucatini with chicken, and the roasted beets with salsa verde & mascarpone. The bucatini was my least favorite dish of the night, but I am a sucker for cilantro anything, and the cilantro was actually cooked into the pasta - a very unique dish and flavor. The beets were outstanding - one of my favorite dishes of the night. The beets paired perfectly with the smooth & creamy cheese. For an entree, we split the beef short ribs, with sides of corn creme brulee and fried cauliflower with thai vinaigrette. The short ribs were topped with a horseradish whipped cream and served with corn puree and roasted carrots. Honestly, I have had better short ribs elsewhere, however these were still very good, and the composition of the entire flavor palette was impressive. I couldn't stop eating the cauliflower - I wish vegetables always tasted so good! We were really too full for dessert, but couldn't pass up the strawberry rhubarb cobbler with rice flavored ice cream. The ice cream really tasted like rice - unlike anything I've ever tried before. Overall, I had an excellent dining experience at The Spence. I had very high expectations going into the night, so I was thrilled that they were exceeded (I have been disappointed at celebrity restaurants in the past). Would definitely return on my next trip back to Atlanta.
(5)Matthew C.
We made a reservation for 2 at 8 on a Friday night. The place was full but not overly crowded or noisy. I know very little about food, but I know when it is good, and everything I ate was "good" to "quite good", some of it even bordered on "really, really good". My girlfriend can confirm these ratings. Now that I've given Richard Blais the accolades he no doubt set out for in opening this place, we'll get to the specifics. We did the bone marrow and cauliflower for starters and followed the with sweet potato gnocchi and the strip. They also threw in a complimentary side of brussel sprouts. Again, everything was great. The marrow and strip were the clear winners as meat maintained its winning tradition over vegetables...The sprouts were the least enjoyable, but their free-ness more than overcame any notable shortcomings. Definitely worth checking out. The menu is approachable and the food and atmosphere don't disappoint.
(4)Carrie Neal W.
Well, color me surprised! Outside our hotel room last night, we had a direct view onto 5th Street and saw The Spence right there. I'd perused a few midtown choices for dinner and my favorite pick, Empire State South, didn't look so good to C as there were too many choices where he didn't like one or more ingredients; interestingly, I felt the same about The Spence's menu.... We finally decided to just go over to maybe have an appetizer or plan where to "really" go. And ended up with awesome service from Rory and a really excellent meal. The space is designed so well, and I love the open-air kitchen they have. It wasn't busy so we got seats at one of the long tables in front of the bar. I had thought there were too many things I wouldn't like- from lots of shellfish, which I do not enjoy, to the sides or sauces....happily, I was proven wrong. To start, C went for the kale Caesar - it was great! The kale was leafy and fresh, and the traditional Caesar set up was enhanced with a dash of lemon in the dressing. I opted for the casa de carna cheese plate, which was prepared with toasted toffee "croutons" and some tomatoes. I love this particular cheese and if you like such, try this. For our entree we shared the excellent tile fish, with a salsa verde - it was so tender and delicious, if you like white, flaky fishes, you will love this. I don't spend much time in this part of town, but if you do or find yourself nearby, give The Spence a try!
(4)Alan D.
Not bad. I've tried the roast duck breast and a lamb dish and a steak (don't remember which kind). They were all very good. The brocolli with the steak was burned pretty bad so I didn't eat it. The portions are on the small side, but surprisingly filling. I love the coconut butter that comes with the rolls. The fried lobster balls were quite tasty as well. Definitely a nice place to come if you don't mind spending a little more. I'm still a student, but I would consider coming back for a special occasion.
(4)McDavid A.
I've went here several times. The first two a few years ago. Sadly Richard must not be involved much anymore because the quality the last few times from the incompetent wait staff to the food has gone from unbelievable to terrible ;( such a shame use to be my favorite spot in town and I gave this place so much good word of mouth I'm now embarrassed .
(1)Cindy T.
I am a little disappointed of how low of a rating I have to give The Spence, but in all honesty it wasn't good. It's one thing to have bad service and good food to make up for it, but the night that I went, I had mediocre service and mediocre food. For starters we had the bone marrow which is one of the best pieces I have ever had. There was so much richness with a good amount of marrow in the bone. However the marrow as very under-seasoned. Other plates we got were the toast with blue cheese which was so-so. I can tell it was thought out but just didn't wow me. My date had the oyster po boy which he said was decent. The asparagus dish I ordered literally had 5 pieces of baby asparagus, with some type of puree and shreds of greens. The plate looked creative, but really lacked in flavor and was a bit pricey for what it was. I also ordered the roasted cauliflower which was a good chunk of a cauliflower but had some type of tangy sauce which was unappealing. Most notably, after all of our small plates, we watched our waitress ignore us for at least 20 minutes before we could order main entrees. I decided to opt out of ordering a main course since I don't see my main entree tasting any better than the small plates I just had. My date ordered the fish and had to wait at least 30 minutes only for it to come out cold. My side of macaroni came out hot though. But even finding the waitress to complain about our dish was difficult. I know it was a busy night, but that shouldn't be an excuse. We were just so discouraged from eating here that my date decided to return the dish and not have them make him a new one as offered. We were just ready to get out of there. The manager came over to apologize to us . I can tell she felt bad, and even offered to get us something else on the menu. Her words exactly " I don't want you guys to go home hungry". As a nice gesture she sent over two desserts on the house which were actually really good. The ambiance there is great, a very fun and trendy restaurant indeed. With the reviews on yelp, I had high expectations. Unfortunately none of it was met. Maybe they had an off night. Do try the complementary bread rolls with coconut butter. It's great.
(2)Karina C.
Very surprising combinations.. Some balanced and some..well, off. Beef tartare is an amazing first course with melon-balled avocado. Flat iron steak perfectly prepared. Chocolate caramel brittle with celery ice cream... Not so much. Fantastic Rockpile Zif wine selection.
(4)Tami H.
I returned to The Spence again this year while in Atlanta for meetings... but it has gone a bit downhill from last year. The food seemed a bit gimmicky, and lacked robust flavors. Everything was solid especially oysters, bone marrow, foie gras, cauliflower, braised short rib... but was not as special as I recalled. Desserts were also a bit lackluster. I wonder if Richard Blais is distracted with other openings and not spending as much time with this establishment.
(3)Boris K.
Great place. Pork belly was awesome! Coffee drink was too sweet, but nice bourbon selection.
(4)Craig R.
Very very disappointed. The service was extremely slow. We counted our waitress serving 10 tables at once. The food was also just average. The menu is somewhat limited and nothing stood out as exceptional. In fact, nothing was really that good and we ordered "snacks", two entrees, two sides and dessert. 6 on a scale of 1-10. Oh well, worth the try but we won't be back.
(3)Lindy F.
What an amazing experience! I am a huge Richard Blais fan and tonight I was privileged to be able to attend a special event - a cookbook release party for Try This at Home dubbed an Evening with Richard Blais. Okay, well it took me exactly .3 seconds to call when I received the email. The premise of this event was that you could go and spend 2 hours at The Spence, meet Richard, taste bites from the cookbook and buy and get your cookbook signed by the man himself. Okay, you had me at meet and greet. Having never visited The Spence to eat a meal (always been a bit concerned due to my food allergies), I figured this was the perfect opportunity to try it out and meet one of my chef heroes. We walked in (a bit late thanks to traffic) and had to find ourselves a table all the way in the back. Unfortunately, this means we were ignored for probably 30 minutes - no wine, no bites. This was not looking good. The sun started to shine through the window in my eyes and I put my hand up to shade them and suddenly a server came over to the table and asked what we needed (apparently it looked like I was flagging her down). Oh darn. Two glasses of red wine were promptly delivered and I made a thankful comment of being taken care of and she clearly took this to heart, so she sent over a very nice young man with a "tray" (wooden plank) with some bites on it. Okay, let's talk bites: Bruschetta with Ricotta, Beets and Candied wasabi Bruschetta with Mashed Potatoes and Cod Arancini with cheese and peas (calling this Fritter 1) Green Olives stuffed with Cheddarwurst - fried (calling this Fritter 2) Fried Pork Belly with a radish slice, green apple, carrot (calling this Fritter 3) Cheese Puffs Smoked Salmon in puff pastry Everything I ate was A-MAZING! Obviously, I could NOT eat the 2 fish items. My Mom had them both and enjoyed them. I worked a deal with our server and he made sure to keep bringing me fritter items - I know how to flirt for food, especially Fritters (Fritter Fan Club Founding Member). The Q&A with Richard was fun, informative and he really is quite engaging. He was pretty funny and self-deprecating once he warmed up. Being a shy person in large groups, I normally wouldn't speak up, but I needed to know something. So I worked my way through the crowd so he would see my hand-raise and asked about his web series, Burger Lab and he seemed quite happy to talk about it. I hope I got him more viewers as well - it really is a great series. Once he finished came the line for autographs. I ended up at the end, but met people and bonded and by the time I got to the front, I got to bond more and talk to Richard and he is a great and personable guy. I think overall this place is great, the food is delicious and Richard is a genius. I would give 5 stars, but this was not really a Spence normal experience. I know, I need to go back for a real sit-down, Spence menu deal. I will for Richard, as I expect he deserves the 5th star for his achievement.
(4)Mike L.
** WARNING...painfully long review ahead ** Although the point of our trip was to catch the Niners-Falcons playoff game, checking out The Spence was a close second for me. Top Chef is one of the few TV shows I follow regularly, so I just HAD to check out Richard Blais's restaurant while I was in town! While some have described the food as a bit pretentious and trying too hard, I didn't get that impression. To me, the food is much like the ambiance - trendy, yet casual ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ). The menu is like tapas style, with a diverse array of small dishes to choose from. - DINNER ROLLS WITH COCONUT BUTTER...Complimentary ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ) If you're familiar with Chinese coconut cocktail buns, this tastes exactly the same. The coconut butter was so good, I wished we had more rolls to slather it on. - OYSTERS AND PEARLS...$12 ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ) Pretty good, and a perfect example of Chef Blais's playful style - raw oysters topped with crème fraîche "pearls". Surprisingly, the oysters weren't overpowered by the sourness of the crème fraîche. - FOIE GRAS TERRINE WITH CANDIED PECANS...$16 ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ) I hadn't had foie gras in ages, but this was my least favorite dish. It didn't fail...it just wasn't notable. The terrine was just okay (a bit rich), but instead of the thick, toasted bread, I wish they had used something more rustic or a baguette. - BONE MARROW, TUNA TARTARE AND FRIED QUAIL EGGS...$13 ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ) You never know what kind of yield you'll get when ordering bone marrow, but we lucked out with a generous serving. The tuna helped to freshen up the dish, and the choice of bread here was perfect. One of the better bone marrows I've had. - FRIED BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH A THAI VINAIGRETTE...$6 ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ) I hated Brussels sprouts when I was a kid, but I may not have if they were always this good! The sprouts were roasted perfectly, and the vinaigrette added a mildly tangy twist. - SQUID INK MEZZI RIGATONI, CLAMS, AND OCTOPUS...$14 ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ) As much as I like clams and octopus, the squid ink was what caught my eye. I liked how the rigatoni was dense, yet cooked to a perfect al dente. The seafood was pretty fresh as well, and the sauce had a nice "zing" to it. Solid all around. - ROASTED PORK BELLY WITH RUTABAGA, ENDIVE, AND APPLES...$26 ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ) My favorite of the night. Each chunk of meat was decently large and balanced - not too fatty nor too lean. The pork belly was full of savory flavors, with the endives and rutabaga adding some bitterness to the apples' sweetness. Straight up delicious. - RICOTTA CHEESECAKE, BLUEBERRY, GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST...$7 ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ) It was unexpected but not shocking to see it served deconstructed - definitely fits Chef Blais's style. The ricotta and the ice cream blended together quite well, but the best part for me though was the graham crumbles. Yum. - HOUSEMADE "PEANUT BRITTLE" WITH SALTED CARAMEL AND HOUSEMADE CHOCOLATE...Complimentary ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ) Funny - our complimentary dessert (from our awesome waitress, Kerrine!) was better than the one we ordered. The salted caramel and housemade chocolate were both tasty, but the peanut brittle was the star. Loved it! While I thoroughly enjoyed our meal, it should be noted that my experience may differ from most. The restaurant was relatively quiet while we were there (late on a Sunday night), so I didn't feel the laggy service others have mentioned. We even had the chance to chat with Kerrine (which may have led to our free dessert). Now, I know I probably just sound like some sort of groupie, but the food really was delicious. Easily four and a half on its own, but rounding up for the terrific service (even without the free dessert). Watching the Niners beat the Falcons that day was the highlight of the trip, but The Spence was the icing on the cake!
(5)Jessica K.
Cozy little spot with a great cocktail menu and creative tastes.
(4)Katie R.
The atmosphere is lively, the bone marrow tuna tartare is like buttah and the 90's rap had me at hello. I'll definitely be going back.
(4)Emily B.
I really enjoyed the food here, particularly the coconut butter served with rolls while waiting for our food. It was amazing! My husband had the pork belly, and I had the Juicy Lucy (burger) with fries and a side order of Thai Brussels Sprouts, which were all great. We shared the orange oil cake with brown sugar ice cream for dessert and it was good, but after the entrees I was expecting better. The portion was also very small (even for a fine dining dessert) and probably wasn't really worth the $7 we paid. The decor is very cool and the staff was consistently friendly. When we arrived, we were our server's only table and she was very attentive. Once she had three tables, our water glasses were not refilled for over 20 minutes and it took a long time to order dessert and then get our check. The restaurant isn't perfect, but my husband and I were very happy that we came while in the area.
(4)Jessica B.
I am, sadly, incredibly disappointed. After partaking in the three-course, chef's special seating, I couldn't be filled with more regret for buying into this travesty. Hook. Line. Sinker. First course was the appetizer, which consisted of a pork terrine. Ultimately, friends, it was an overly fried pork nugget. It was paired with a watermelon and cantaloupe salad. The fruit was the best part of the entire meal, aside from the burbon (which was not included, but the only reason why I say through the meal). The entree was surf n' turf, and the turf was just that chewy. It was also cold. But, the wine reduction and the horseradish foam was delightful. The surf consisted of an anorexic fish. There were more bones per square inch (and an inch was hard to find) than the Oakland Cemetery. Along with the entree came the "famous" duck fat friend french fries. Typically, they are good. However, this evening, they were soggy poles of potatoes. The curried cauliflower was pretty ok as the bone marrow lacked flavor, which is a feat in and of itself. The final course, was a frozen piece or chocolate and a non descript scoop of ice cream. I'm sure I could've found an equally good dessert at my local grocery store. It pains me to write this review and I wish that it weren't so. I can only suggest that anyone looking for a fantastic, chef's selected meal, head over to Serpas or King + Duke.
(2)Larry B.
My wife and I are visiting for a nice relaxing weekend away from NYC and being that we watched and became a fan of Richard Blais on Top Chef we decided to try out his restaurant The Spence last night. We consider ourselves foodies and last night we were treated to one of the best dining experiences yet. My hat goes off to the chef and everyone in this fine establishment. The service was impeccable and the food was spectacular.
(5)Kate W.
Holy Moly please excuse my language. Just kidding. But shoot, this food is delicious. No matter how weird or odd something sounds or may possibly seem UN appetizing, it was all fantastic. Can't give them enough stars. Get everything.
(5)Jennifer N.
Well... after reading several reviews and seeing the Spence listed on several lists as one of the best spots in Atlanta, I had to go. I was very excited about the menu, especially the bone marrow dish that people have raved about. Maybe it is just me but the food was just ok. The bone marrow with capers on a toasted baguette was ok. The Juicy Lucy ( burger) was just ok. The foie gras was just ok and the drinks that we tried, were also just ok. Now what was awesome, the French fries served with the Juicy Lucy were amazing. The bread served with the bone marrow was great, it carried the entire dish. The service was great and the restaurants overall look and feel were fantastic ! Overall, I am glad that I tried the Spence. If by chance I return and find that it I enjoy the food more I will issue a prompt update. It could have just been an "off-night" for the restaurant and that happens.
(3)Simon C.
I love that Atlanta has progressed to having a mature enough food scene that it supports a pretentious restaurant with awful food. The cocktails were mediocre, at best, and might as well have been premixed. The wine list is mostly unimpressive and overpriced. The food is eclectic, and served on lovely dishes, however you should not seek it out if your idea of farm to table is that the food be fresh. None of our meat could be prepared to order, so no, my steak could not be prepared medium rare...and it was pre sliced and might've been pre-cooked at medium-well with the hopes no one would notice. It also came in a beet ketchup, and it tasted like it sounds. It wouldn't have been worth it at half the price. The burger suffered the same miserable fate, from what I heard of my party. The vegetables were not fresh nor were they tasty, and many were just burned. While their choices are creative that does not translate naturally to edible, and the effort here did not carry it to that point. The name, branding and appointments were all lovely, but that does not improve flatly bad food. At this price there are far better, and equally adventurous, restaurants in Atlanta.
(1)Rob C.
Great space, great service, good food. The salad was fresh, the carrot soup was just rich enough, and the pulled pork was simply delicious (though not the usual pulled pork, which is also often delicious). A great choice for lunch if you're in the area.
(4)Juliana I.
Amazing food!!! Every dish was perfect! My favorites: bone marrow, kale salad, sweet potato creme brûlée, duck, sea bass, and the pecan pie for dessert . The service was incredible! Omg and the complimentary rolls of bread with coconut butter were out of this world!!
(5)David S.
I was wanting more. Much more. We came in and there was oddly some kinda rush at lunch. They sat us quickly, eventually took our order. Eventually refilled our water (and something was floating in there now...so we had to ask for fresh glasses). And finally our food came out. It took over an hour and a half to get in and out for lunch...not good. That said, that bone marrow dish was freaking amazing...like amazing amazing. I likely went in at a weird time but I'd assume a place like this could handle a lunch rush.
(3)Liz K.
For a Friday night I thought this place would be buzzing but it wasn't... I thought the drinks were tasty and the food was mediocore. Ordered the oysters and pearls, bone marrow, crawfish pasta, tartare, and some kind of toffee-ish dessert with coffee ice cream. I can't remember! The portions were quite small, I thought the bone marrow was delish, however it was small. It looked like it came from a calf. lol. Highlight may have been the complimentary bread with the coconut butter- OMG soooo out of this world! The bone marrow comes second to being my favorte. I'd like to try this place out again in the future though.
(3)Shay H.
Reaaaallly delicious. We made a meal of a few snacks and small plates and split the burger. I'm glad we got that burger. I'd go back for it alone. Also standout was the friend pork terrine and fried Brussels sprouts. As others noted, maybe the service could have been more attentive. Still a great dining experience.
(4)Sarah K.
Whatever the other reviews say, our experience was perfection! We had 3 items from the "Snack Plate" portion of the menu, 2 from the "Small Plate" part of the menu, an entree, 2 side dishes, and a special order dish for the kids. Our bill was reasonable for everything we had. Snack Plate Selection: The arancini with rice, lemon and pork belly with a spicy sauce was very tasty, though a little more pork belly would be nice since I only saw one small bite in the whole of our plate. The bone marrow and tuna tartar wasn't my thing - too heavy on the tuna for me. But my husband liked it and there was more than enough bone marrow for the 2 pieces of toast it comes with. Quick tip: don't be afraid to ask for new toast if yours is too black. I didn't trade mine out since I expect chef's to catch errors like that and if he sent it out, I'll try it the way he serves it. However, next time, if I get black toast, it's going back. The rest of the dish, including the quail eggs were perfectly prepared. The third dish was their green tomato and cheese plate. The cheese looks like a combination Brie and goat/feta cheese with similar taste. The tomatoes were well cooked. The sauce was delicious. However the proportions were off. Too much cheese, not enough sauce or tomato. But the flavors were all there if you are each item together. Small Plate Selections: the heirloom tomato salad was AMAZING! The ricotta, dressing, and tomatoes were fresh and light. A great salad and perfectly flavored. The sunchoke ravioli dish was sheer perfection! Wish I had that all to myself. Both my husband and I loved this dish! The scallops, mushrooms, ravioli and sauce individually tasted light and fresh, but all together in one bite was heaven! Side dishes: thrice fried fries were perfect French fries. Nothing new, but something simple done perfectly is to be commended. The corn creme brûlée is a must!!! I was expecting a dessert tasting side dish but it wasn't overly sweet. It was like a sweet corn pudding with a creme brûlée top and we will definitely eat that again. Our main dish was the duck. The fig reduction, roasted figs, horseradish and duck was a fabulous combination over the turnip purée. The duck was perfectly cooked and the fat perfectly rendered and crispy. No complaints. Just watch out for the whole roasted horseradishes if you're not into that type of spicy root vegetable. Our special ordered meal was for our 3 and 5 year olds. We asked for something simple to please our picky eaters and came up with chicken and pasta after talking with our waitress and her talking with the chef. You'd think it wouldn't be anything to write about, but honestly, this was a dish I would order for myself! The chicken was sous vide and grilled to perfect juiciness. The pasta was tossed in a very light and tasty olive oil. The kids (and my husband and I) LOVED it! We split the dish between the two of them and their was still enough for my husband to have a full plate. They were very generous for a $12 special order dish. The bread was good, but honestly, the other reviewers made it sound mind blowing and it wasn't for me. It was new and tasty, and a great way to welcome guests to the restaurant, the flavor of coconut shavings, creamed butter with cracked salt is great, it just wasn't my favorite thing. Which is a good thing! If your bread is all you do well, not a restaurant do you make. Their bread is a perfect start for the culinary experience. The atmosphere is relaxed like a nicely decorated downtown home. Very comfortable and loungy. It gives me a little more insight as to who Richard Blais is. The service was professional and friendly. We had the bar tender and a waitress taking care of us, not sure if that's normal or of it's just because we were near the bar (probably the reason), but it was nice to be so well taken care of. Dishes came out one at a time which gave us plenty of time to enjoy each one. The kids food came out with one of our small plates so it was perfect timing after sampling their fries. We were not visited by the manager at all, which I do like when I go to a restaurant like this, but I don't expect it. The restaurant progressively got busier as the evening got later - we had an early dinner at 5:30pm so we could leave by 7:30 to drive 9 hours home. Our one day stop in Atlanta was made perfect because of our experience at The Spence. I said perfect a lot because in many ways they could not have done any better. My taste buds had a new adventure with a few dishes, and the service made us feel welcomed and cared for. We will definitely be back! I am already craving their raviolis!!
(5)Maria S.
Welcome back to fine dining, Richard Blais! My first trip to The Spence was a relatively good experience, although I'll be curious to see if my rating changes when the celebrity chef is actually in the house. There were a few service missteps and some strange goings-on near the bar, involving boxes and very loud packaging tape. I'm guessing none of that would have happened if Chef Blais had been on premises. But I hope to find out for sure on a future visit. Stay tuned... The space is gorgeously redesigned, and virtually unrecognizable if you had frequented The Globe. However, due to the high ceilings and hard surfaces, it can get quite loud even when the restaurant is not at capacity. I do like the comfy banquettes behind the bar. You get to sit up high and observe all the goings-on. Start off with one of the signature cocktails. On my latest visit, I had the Crutch No. 2, which was tasty and quite refreshing. The menu changes frequently, so be sure to ask your server for a recommendation if that particular drink is no longer on the menu. My favorite dish right now is the beet salad. Even if you think you don't like beets, please give this one a try. Bonus - it's gluten free! I also enjoyed the pork belly tacos with fresh, made-in-house corn tortillas. And my dining companion consented to order the Juicy Lucy sans bun so I could have a taste. I'm sure it's better with the bread, but even on its own it packs quite a punch.
(4)Quang N.
Great food, came on a weekday with a friend. Food was a 4.5 stars, but I rounded up to a 5 due to the service we had from our server. We split the beef tartare, brussel sprouts, bone marrow, and a pasta dish. The pasta dish was average, hence my memory lapse on what it actually was. The beef tartare was also average, as the heat from the chili oil/spice basically overpowered the dish. The brussel sprouts were great as the thai/asian flavor added a nice subtle heat to the dish. The best dish by far was the bone marrow as many have elaborated on.
(5)Azim D.
Went for the 2nd time for my brother's birthday and It's a solid option. I wouldn't eat here again simply because I've been twice now and there are other great restaurants that I still need to try in Atlanta. Full Disclosure: I am a huge fan of Richard Blais but I'll try and be as impartial as possible. I had the same server both times and the service was excellent. He made a couple small mistakes but worked to remedy them as quick as possible and my water glass was refilled 6 or 7 times even though he left a carafe on our table. I don't know his name but he slightly resembles Patton Oswald and I recommend him highly. Ordering food here can be confusing but it's all made to be shared. For 2 people, I think one "snack" and either 2 small dishes and one main dish or vice versa(depending on how hungry you are) is fine. The can soup, short rib and blueberry ricotta cheesecake are my favorites. Worth a try.
(4)Jordan P.
Really overpriced for the small portions they give you, but the duck was still the best I've ever had
(4)Chris S.
I went to The Spence and was hoping for much better than what it turned out to be. The good: enjoyed the empanadas, short ribs, wine list and the staff were friendly. The bad: mediocre hamburger (juicy lucy) and awful bone marrow that tasted like old beef grease from a griddle. yuck. It wasn't the worst experience, but the hype didn't match reality. If I return, it will be for a few select items and the convenient location.
(2)Sally L.
I actually loved the food. Everything I had was great: beet salad, melon gazpacho, lobster roll, and the blondie. However, I have two qualms. The service was very friendly but quite slow throughout the meal. Also, on our way out, the hostess was nowhere to be found in order to validate parking. We stood there for a good while until one of the servers took notice of us. The main issue for most of my party of 8 was the noise factor. The music was incredibly loud and clubby. It was near impossible to have a conversation. There was a lot of shouting, it felt, at times. Perhaps, this is what The Spence is going for and what works for them. However, I don't see myself going back anytime soon or at all. Sharing good food with people is also about engaging and connecting with them through conversation. This restaurant, for me, is worthy of a higher rating if based on food alone. However, I'm going for the whole experience. Perhaps, The Spence is just too "young" for me.
(2)Ben X.
Great Decor/Great service but food is just okay. Visited this place while travelling expecting something above average. Had the tile fish based on a reco from the server but it was way overcooked and the Trumpet Tartine tasted undercooked. Seems more of place where you just meet someone for a couple of drinks.
(3)Jennifer C.
After some much anticipation my friend Sarah and I headed to Spence to celebrate our annual Holiday dinner exchange. We both are fans of Chef Blais so we had high hopes for Spence. We ordered {BEET SALAD} a beautiful presentation and tasted great too, while im generally not a fan of pecans, the candied pecans were deliciou {CHOCOLATE DUCK RAVIOLI} sounded better on paper than the actual dish itself, the duck was pretty dry in my opinion {BONE MARROW} not overly rich and quite tasty, I loved the eggs on top. {FOIE GRAS} skip this {BUTTERNUT SQUASK CREME BRULEE} sweet but tasty but I have a sweet tooth so some of you might want to save this for later {BRUSSEL SPROUTS} hands down my favorite dish of the evening, I would come back just to order these sprouts, crispy, bacon, salty, but a little sweet. Definitely has hints of asian flavoring possibly some fish sauce? either way the clear winner.
(3)Kevin L.
Everything here was great. Alex was my server - great. Very nice, helped me pick out dishes, explained how everything was prepared, she was awesome. The look of the place - great. Giant square hanging thing with what looks like a collection of Richard's favorite ingredients. Cool. (Although, what's with the "boob in the bottom" drinking glasses?) Appetizer: bone marrow, with tuna, lemon capers, and quail eggs - great. Very tasty and surprisingly light way to start the meal. Main: sous vide hanger steak, with "trove cooked" fries. Alex gave me a side of the "red pepper jelly" upon request for my fries. Normally they come with blue cheese crumbles. I liked that, but the jelly was even better - it's like a chunky Thai sweet pepper dipping sauce and I ate every last bit. Steak was very good - flavorful and moist with just enough sauce. Whoever is cooking in the back knows their stuff. Dessert: "cheesecake" - great! I'll try y best to describe it: small scoops of cheesecake, surrounded by chocolate graham cracker dust, with bits of crispy meringue (?), froze blueberry balls, wild blueberries, and lemon foam. The foam was more gel-like than I imagined from seeing dudes do foams on TV, but that's awesome. Really flavorful, balanced, and sweet, but light. All together u had a really good time there. I bet get to eat out fancy, but I've been a fan of watching Blais on TV for years, and was traveling through the area, and a family member gave me money to treat myself. I was worried that fine dining food wouldn't suit me, or that even of the food was good the service would be crappy or the place too pretentious for me to feel comfortable - I was really really pleased to have enjoyed every part of my trip to Spence. I'd definitely go again I I'm ver anywhere close to Atlanta. Come to CA!!!
(5)Derek B.
Continuing with our tradition of eating at a Top Chef related restaurant on our Anniversary, my wife and I dined here this year. I really liked the decor and set up, open kitchens are a huge plus for me. However, it was a little loud and the music was a little weird. Made having a conversation a little difficult, so I wouldn't recommend this for a romantic date. But it's great for a fun meal with a group. Richard Blais was present this particular evening and walked around talking to a few tables, but he missed ours :(. Thats another huge plus, love to see chefs/owners in their restaurant rather than just stamping their name on it and letting it run itself (usually into the ground). Food was all around excellent. Everything was delicious. The highlight for me was the bone marrow dish. I would have eaten the marrow by itself with a spoon and been happy. Throw on some tuna tartare, a quail egg and some awesome toast to spread it on, and I was in heaven. Amazing. Also had the Sweetbread Parmesan which was spot on. 2 slider sized sandwiches with an awesome sauce, melty mozz and perfectly cooked sweetbreads. Yum. My wife went with a pheasant dish that was a special that night. The meat was delicious(cooked sous vide and then finished on woodfire grill) but the highlight for her was the fried mash potato puffs. And I agree they were cool little things, almost like a fancy tater tot filled with creamy mashed potato. We could have eaten a bowl of them alone. All in all it was a great experience. I'd go back for sure.
(4)Brittany B.
Great service and yummy cocktails. We really like the quality if food for the price. It was also cool that we could order small plates and try everything. We tried the oysters, bone marrow, squash soufflé, the cheese dish, and Brussel sprouts. The bone marrow had a great flavor, but the texture was too squishy for me. The cheese dish was yummy, but more of an appetizer. The squash and brussels were amazing. However, the oysters are by far the best thing I ate. They were perfect. Also, you cannot beat the price point. A meal like this would cost $300 in NYC.
(5)Carol F.
Not impressed. Was hoping to be wowed but flavors really fell short of the mark. Tried the beef tartar, potted chicken, blistered peppers, pork terrine, pappardelle, bone marrow and cauliflower. The only two dishes worth mentioning were the cauliflower and the peppers. The restaurant was exceptionally loud. Not the experience we were hoping for.
(2)Leigh B.
We expected to have a good dinner, and were still pleasantly surprised! The food is playful *and* substantial. Each dish was a total treat. The oysters were delicate and effing delicious. The bone marrow blew us both away. What a fantastic idea: to add the tuna to lighten the feel of such a heavy, intense dish. We both could have eaten and enjoyed several times that amount, and as much as I like marrow, I've never said that about a bone marrow dish. So impressed!! The steak was perfectly cooked and the mushrooms were last supper quality. The kitchen staff hit it spot on, and I couldn't be happier with the meal as a whole. We were there on a super slow Sunday night, but the server (Sabrina) was attentive and fun. I love the open line, and wonder if the chefs hate it when it's busy. Regardless, it's a really great feature to feel like you are in someone's home and they are in the kitchen cooking for you. Well designed. The team hit the mark on Sunday. Well done!!
(5)Emilia L.
We went here for my friend's birthday dinner. I've never been to a Richard Blais establishment, so I was excited. The restaurant was nice enough to store away the birthday cake and bring it out at the end of dinner so the birthday girl was properly surprised -- I appreciated it that. We tried: Oysters and pearls -- the pearls were apparently made of creme fraiche. Very interesting and nice presentation. How the hell did they get the pearls to stay spherical? Fried sea creatures with uni tartar sauce -- This was a big portion. It was calamari, basically, with fried cauliflower and zucchini. I loved the tartar sauce. Bone marrow, tuna tartare and quail eggs -- Having never tried bone marrow before, I didn't know what to expect. The marrow itself wasn't quite my thing (texturally), but it was tasty. I wish the portion came with a bit more bread. Polenta with truffle oil and parmesan -- I was expecting a solid polenta cake. Instead, we got a bowl of creamy polenta, very similar to grits. This was absolutely delicious and perfectly paired with our chicken entree. Crispy chicken stuffed with foie gras, apple and turnip -- Unfortunately, I can't remember what exactly went in this dish. Our server kept raving about it, so I had to get it. While the chicken was not very crispy, it was moist and flavorful. I really enjoyed it. Our server was pretty on top of things and really took care of our large group. At the end, the birthday girl got her wish as Richard Blais was in the house and stopped by our table to say hello and pose for a pic or two!
(4)Kirk L.
I don't throw around 5-star reviews so easily, but The Spence earns it. The little lady took me here for an early Valentine's day dinner last weekend, and it was an absolute home run. Great service, great food, great decor. Details, in order of preference: -Brussel Sprouts with Thai Vinaigrette. I hate brussel sprouts. I've tried them a number of times, and could never even finish one. Ever. But the little lady loves them, and the server raved about them, so we ordered them. And I couldn't stop eating them. They were amazing. As in, I would pay good money for them to teach me exactly how they make them. Yes, I've been wowed. -The Beet Salad was the single best Beet dish I've ever had. I'm not a huge beet fan, but I could have eaten another of these (and I still liked the Brussel Sprouts more). -Roasted/Stuffed Chicken - I almost never order chicken at good restaurants, but the server recommended this, and I'm glad she did. There was definitely way more going on here than any chicken dish I've ever had. Highly recommended! -Fried Sea Creatures - Simply fried calamari, oysters, and shrimp with a few fried veggies mixed in. I wanted to try something more unique, but we saw this coming out of the kitchen and it looked to good to pass on. And it did not disappoint - great breading, perfectly fried, delicious sauce - complementary but not overpowering. -Foie Gras - Good, but probably our least favorite of what we tried. Not notable. Oh yeah - and the bread and butter they served to start the meal was crazy good. Yes, I'm lauding bread and butter. And we had a few excellent cocktails as well. Seriously, you need to check it out. Go.
(5)Gdawg W.
Portions are small. The appetizers for the most part minus the oysters and bone marrow had very little taste. The entrees were good, just small. The sides with dinner arrived after everybody at our table was finished eating the entree (service timing is horrible). Desserts (I sampled all of them) were not rich or tasty. This place is very expensive and not good. Avoid. There are much better places in Atlanta. I am not sure how this place has 4 stars.
(2)Kevin J.
A little pretentious behavior mixed with over-the-top food makes for an ever so... SO-SO dining experience. Recent Top Chef contestant Chef Richard Blais serves up some good food, no doubt, but sometimes it's a bit too much. I think the fancifulness needs to step down and notch and focus needs to be put more into the taste of the food and not just presentation. With that being said, I thought the food tasted great. I just think that the service can get away with much more because of the name and "show" of it all. My experience might not be like all others but having to wait 30mins for a requested wine bottle, and having entrees come out before appetizers while other party members are still waiting on salads is awkward. Maybe we should just serve entire tables at once, and not whenever the food is ready? Let's get the kinks worked out before throwing food on the table.
(3)Julee D.
Great food and service here. Loved the goat and potato gnocchi curry and brussel sprouts. Nice wine list too. Yummy bread and coconut butter spread served while waiting for our meal. My only complaint is the noise level in there. It felt like I was screaming across the table trying to talk to others I was dining with.
(4)Andrew D.
I've been hoping to post a five star rating for some time. I've eaten all over Atlanta and the U.S. and have finally found my first in my home town. I don't think five stars means necessarily "the best food" ever or the "best" of some other category. I think it means, in totality, was this superior to others in the area in the same class. I have been to other Concentric Corp. spots and have generally been pleased. The Spence, however, sets a new standard for the company. The reservations, on Saturday at 8, were cheerfully and immediately honored. Our server, Mike, was top notch. The cocktails (from someone who usually takes his bourbon neat) were very tasty, interesting and fairly priced. I had the Beekeeper which mixed bourbon, honey and herbs while my wife had the Moscow Fizz which she loved. We had two "small plates," the pappardelle and the panzanella. One was rich and savory while the other was cooling on a hot August night. For entree, my wife had the tile fish which was fresh and wholesome while I had the Goat Trio which consisted of three different but complimentary locally sourced goat preparations served with a combo of creatively prepared vegetables. We also ordered the fried cauliflower served in a ginger, lime, cilantro light sauce. I generally don't write long reviews, preferring to recommend or not. In this case, it's a must try. We will go back again.
(5)Gerry K.
Family birthday gathering went extremely well . Had assorted small plates, entrees and desserts. Porchetta, tile fish and juicy Lucy were superb. The liquid nitrogen sundae was awesome too. 5 stars for a great meal and atmosphere.
(5)Tom C.
Alright y- let's talk about this place. Given it's location, they have to have valet, which they do. It's super-easy. You just pull up right out front, the valet is there, and the door is about 30 feet away. No complaints. You walk in and are _immediately_ greeted by a hostess station. It's literally RIGHT THERE. they should probably back it up, because it's a bit disruptive to walk right into it. But, that's no big deal. Right past the hostess station is the bar about which everyone seems to be talking. It's a "deconstructed" bar - it's supposed to be like being in someone's kitchen. Rather than sitting at a bar, you sit at some tables, and the bar is adjacent but "turned around" so you're essentially behind the bar. When we were there (7-8 on a Saturday), there weren't all that many people, so it was comfortable, but I could imagine them running out of space. More critically, if I'm going to be "behind the bar", I'd want to be able to actually see more of what is going on. The drinks at the bar were great. I had a "Franco Pop", which is a bourbon drink with orange bitters. It came in an old soda bottle with a straw. My wife had something with a bunch of foam on top, which was gin-based and really, really good. Our friends had one of the bourbon drinks also as well as another gin-based drink with mint. Once we were finished with our drinks, we moved to our table. (The table was ready when we arrived, but we told them we wanted to hit the bar first.) We were in the back of the restaurant, which is where you want to be, as you're removed from a lot of the hustle-bustle that takes place in the center, around the open kitchen. Richard Blais was wandering around the place, talking to customers, taking pictures, etc. He seemed like a nice guy. Our waitress was nice but not over the top on helpfulness. The menu, it turns out, is appetizers, small plates, and entrees. We had some trouble figuring out what we were getting into, so we asked her. Then, she gave some guidance. But, we definitely needed to ask for more information than we should have had to. But, that's fine. The food was great. We ordered a bunch of small plates. There was variation in how well they came off, but all were good. My favorite, without a doubt, was the poached shrimp tacos. My wife liked the squid ink pasta with lobster best. The kale caesar salad was great, and I thought the fried cauliflower was really outstanding. The wine list was pretty good, very wide in terms of coverage - a couple of CA's, a couple of French, a couple of Italians. Each section (White, Red, Sparkling) is divided into traditional and more exotic wines. So, there are wines from places you'd never think make wine. We didn't go too adventurous but did order a South African chenin blanc and later a New Zealand pinot noir. The chenin was ok, but the pinot was great. The one real downside is that it's LOUD. Someone in one review said its decor is like JCT but quieter. I disagree. The decor is more like ONE (the place is a ONE venture, along with Blais, who used to be there), with a bit of Empire State South thrown in, and a lot of noise. There is not much soft in the place to absorb sound, so hopefully they'll fix that.
(4)Tina C.
Open kitchen and Bar atmosphere is Hip and Trendy, not for the stuffed shirt or overdressed older crowd. Unusual menu items that change often; whenever the Chef thinks or want something else cool on the menu. Quality ingredients presented beautifully. Hand crafted and unique drinks. Outdoor seating when weather permits. They have valet but it is hard to see, it's just at the curb at the front door. Again it's really hard to see on a crowded pedestrian covered area.
(4)Katy N.
Dinner last night at The Spence was spectacular! This was my fourth visit and usual I was excited to explore the continually changing menu. We were delight to try and selection of new dishes and always amazed at the creative and thoughtful choices on the menu. The meal was kicked off warm homemade rolls with coconut smear. Melted in our mouth. Next we dug into chili corn on the cob dressed in queso fresco and cilantro. Not the most flattering dish to eat, but we'll worth it. We followed that up with steak tartare with quail eggs. Devine. Then to my favorite and most surprising dish - small scone bits with apricot jam and a slice of cheese (I didn't catch the type - sorry). It sounds so simply but the balance of flavor was perfect. My husband and I fought over every bite. I would go back for that dish alone. We finished the meal off with Mac and head cheese (not actually cheese but delicious) and a spicy rigatoni with duck and bone marrow. Now we didn't get the bone marrow on this visit but HIGHLY recommended. It is decadent and has you wanting to lick the plate if it weren't socially awkward. Go for it ;)
(5)Steve O.
It was fun and different from most restaurants. The oysters were great. The juicy Lucy was a good surprise. I would go again for sure. There are plenty of dishes to explore.
(5)Nancy R.
This place has been open for about 6 weeks but what a great place! It's near the GA Tech campus and they have valet service which is great since street parking is hard to find. FOOD: We started with the oysters & pearls which are 4 raw oysters with little rounds of horseradish & butter/cream with a touch of citrus and cilantro....delicious! For dinner, I had the octopus dish, which is cooked octopus with cucumber slices on top of potato cylinders with a drizzle of some kind of sauce with sprinkles of greens. This dish was too pretty to eat, but very good, even though it wasn't a big dish. We didn't get dessert, but we were given 2 very small gingerbread & creme sandwich cookies. We asked if Richard Blais would come around so we could meet him, and he graciously came to our table. My friend and I were like two little schoolgirls wanting to get a pix with him.
(4)Ms. M.
"Relentless hospitality" -- that is Richard Blais' new credo for The Spence, and that is exactly what we got when we visited The Spence twice during our trip to Atlanta. Everyone at the restaurant, from the hostess who seated us to our server Karen Ann to Justin & Bob Amick to Chef Blais himself, made us feel incredibly welcomed and honored. But as wonderful as the service was, it was ultimately the food that really blew us away. Since we traveled all the way from California just to eat at The Spence, we had very high expectations -- not only were those expectations met, they were exceeded. The food was not only delicious, but we were also excited to have finally experienced Chef Blais' creative, inventive, and famous "tongue-in-cheek" cuisine. Over the course of our two visits, we were lucky enough to sample about 20 different dishes. It's hard to pick just a few favorites, but the dishes that stood out most to us include: - the famed oysters & pearls (a must-order if you're a Top Chef fan, my favorite oyster dish ever, and a great palette-pick-me-up if you're getting too full and feel like you need a second wind); - shaved hamachi w/ fried clams (I thought this dish would be kind of boring because every restaurant these days serves a raw sliced yellowtail dish, but boy, was I wrong to have assumed that Chef Blais' version would be like any other such dish); - bone marrow w/ tuna tartare (I have had a lot of bone marrow, and this one is hands-down the most flavorful and interesting I have ever had); - General Tso's sweetbreads (I will never be satisfied with regular old Chinese take-out ever again); - Salisbury lamb chop (I was so surprised and amused when I first cut into the chop that I will never forget that moment); - pork belly (far better than Woodfire Grill's); - corn creme brulee (it's like a dessert, but it's actually a sweet/savory side dish); - panna cotta w/ popped sorghum (it's light but so flavorful, and the popped sorghum really adds a great touch); and - ricotta cheesecake & strawberry (it's definitely not your traditional cheesecake, but it will make your mouth happy). If we lived in Atlanta, we would go back once a week to sample the changing menu!
(5)Gilbert C.
Maybe the best meal I've ever had. Had the oysters and pearls, bone marrow, squid ink pasta and mussels. Everything was ridiculously good. Waitress was very patient In explaining all dishes with a smile. A bucket list stop for all foodies!
(5)Henrik C.
Went to the restaurant on the 3rd night they were open. The restaurant is in the space where the Globe used to be in Tech Square. The restaurant space has been seriously refurbished and the layout is with individual tables, community spaces and booths. The kitchen part for preparation of the hot meals is an integral part of the main diningroom. The chef, Richard Blais, is well known for creative dishes. The menu card has a number of interesting surprises. The "lamb chops" are minched, the New York strip cut in slices, ... overall a very interesting set of dishes and the prices are surprising accessible. We tried foie gras and General Tso Sweet Bread for appetizers. Both were really good. The foie gras is almost like butter. Both of the dishes are large enough to share. For the main dish we had strip steak and lamb chops. The strip was fatty and what the waiter called a long island cut. The dishes were well prepared. The sides were on the small side, but very tasty. We had cheese cake and panna cotta. The cheese cake is an interesting variation, whereas the panna cotta was fantastic. Our server, Tony, was very attentive and had great suggestions. Fantastic service. This is a serious step up from the earlier restaurants in this place. Fancy food but also a bit pretentious.
(4)Nathan O.
Open kitchen- watching as chefs prepare meals is a part of the experience in and of itself. The kitchen has two large wood-burning ovens, which creates a warmth to the room (perfect after surviving the downpours that we had) Service: We were greeted by 2 people at the door, seated by another, and presented with food options by our server. Throughout the night, three various people cleared our table for the next course, and always filled up our water glasses. There were often times where it felt like a passing server would detour from their current route to fill that half-empty (or half-full, depending on your outlook) glass without any second-thought. Starters: Hawaiaan roll with sweet coconut butter. These sweet rolls were delicious; fortunately we were given a second round of them after we quickly devoured the first four within seconds of sitting down after battling the rain. Oysters & PearlsOysters on a bed of black salt, with creme fraiche and horseradish pearls placed onto each oyster. I have never thoroughly enjoyed an oyster until this meal. Beef Tartare, harissa, caraway, and fried quail egg Served on a wooden plank, temperatures were perfect (for raw meat). Much like the oysters, I wasn't expecting to enjoy this, but the taste combinations were wonderful and I found myself scraping up the last of it onto my plate. Smoked Beets with fresh ricotta and pineapple A well-balanced salad, the largest portioned dish of them all. This should be a staple of every dining experience at this restaurant. Bone Marrow, tuna tartare, fried quail eggs* If you could imagine a steak that could melt in your mouth, this is the result. A generously-sized bone filled with marrow, tuna tartare, and served with bread; the bread is needed to mix everything up and serve it until the plate is bare. This is my definite top choice. Foie Gras terrine w/ texas toast and candied pecans* This is a French dish, and a much fancier name for duck liver. I expected a dry and spongy texture, but was pleasantly surprised by the amount of flavors involved. It was very soft and spread onto the toast almost as if it were a paste. Explosive in flavor, wonderfully prepared. Main Dishes: Smoked Linguini and Clams, sea-beans and scampi butter The most "standard" dish of the night; much like a fine dish from a European seafood and pasta spot. Still delicious, just not as adventurous. Roasted Lamb Sirloin with Sunchoke, okra, and red cabbage Fantastic presentation- this was the only meal-choice that I didn't get my hands on. The inability to try it leads me to assume it was quite the treat. Long Island Duck breast w. Mild mushrooms and eggplant Caitlin's favorite; eggplant-based sauce smear and a very subtle mushrooms arrangement. Beef short rib w. smoked potato and horseradish The short ribs were extremely tender; one of my favorite pairings with the vegetables. I typically can not stand the bold tastes of horseradish, but loved this dish. Sides: Macaroni and Head Cheese I was initially very intimidated by this dish; my first head cheese sighting in a local deli had me convinced that head cheese was the unwanted fruitcake of meats. The macaroni was cooked and presented at perfect temperature, with a layer of head cheese melted and served on top.This dish isn't nearly as scary as it sounds, but seemed to taste much like the bacon mac & cheese dishes I've had at other restaurants. Fried Brussel Sprouts, thai vinaigrette If our moms had made brussel sprouts like this when we were kids, we'd all be vegetarians. The vinaigrette that it's tossed in was tangy and delicious. Deconstructed desserts: With Richard Blais, every bite is the "best part" of the dessert. These desserts were meant for those of us who can't stand to finish a piece of pie with the thick, undesirable crust remaining. Each bite was well-balanced and full of flavor. Lemon Curd, Toasted white chocolate mousse, meringue No way to explain it; just awesome Ricotta cheesecake, blueberry, graham Blueberries treated with liquid nitrogen to create a temperature-induced punch to the mouth with each bite. My photos can't show it, but this was one of the most beautifully-presented desserts I've ever seen. Cheesecake will never be the same. Mint panna cotta, cucumber sorbet, sunflower cake Refreshing; you could smell the distinct cucumber sorbet the moment it was brought out to the table. Warm chocolate cake, honey ice cream, almonds strong, intense chocolate- we're not talking standard milk chocolate either. This is the father of all "molten-lava chocolate" dishes that you'd find at many a American restaurants. Keys to Success: Pass your plates- there are too many great things on this menu to just try one. Leep an open mind...and wallet- adventurous souls will have a great time. Be bold. The statement of our night was, "don't be afraid of the headcheese" Enjoy the Spence with an intimate group of friends and family. Prepare to engage in your meal.
(5)Matthew D.
We came here for a friend's birthday dinner and understanding we would be drinking, we cabbed, there is valet and know that parking in this area is tough. I had been to a few Richard Blais establishments before and I have always enjoyed myself, but nothing that left me with a 5 star experience, so to speak. That changed with this meal. The atmosphere is open, the bar was buzzing and the little touches like the seat up icon for the men's restroom and the seat down icon for the woman's restroom were clever without trying too hard. This is not the place for the claustrophobic, the bar is right in the middle of everything and tables are close. It didn't bother my group at all since we were looking for more of a party like feel, then something romantic. As for the food, they have a mix of small plates and entrees. We passed around the small plates and enjoyed everything. The Bone Marrow, hamachi tartare and fried quail egg was my favorite. It was like eating a campfire in the best possible way, smoky and rich, just incredible. I would put it on par or even slightly ahead of the Holeman & Finch version. The grilled octopus is a must and the beef tartare was good, but if you were only going to get two small plates, that one could be left off. The braised short ribs were wonderful, juicy and flavorful without trying to be too complicated. We shared 3 or 4 desserts which were all great, I don't have much of a sweet tooth and I still enjoyed them. To Recap: The Good: The atmosphere forces you to have a good time, great buzz about the place. The food was inventive and fun, I love it when you can try some dishes you would never attempt at home. As a little bonus Richard even came to our table and was a perfect gentleman. I was really impressed how he took the time to chat and thank us for coming, very classy. The Bad: If you don't like tight spaces, are looking for something quiet, like to park your own car, you would be 0 for 3 here. The Band This Restaurant Most Resembles: Early Rolling Stones. Loud, fun and looking for a little trouble.
(5)Dalan C.
Was totally excited to check out Richard Blais's (one of my all time favorite Top Chef's ) restaurant. For those who complain about his food being pretentious, you obviously don't know his style. The place is beautiful and trendy looking. The service I received was completely awesome and friendly. The price is a on the more expensive side, but I thought it was worth every penny for the experience of eating at this place. I started with the compressed melon salad, and the presentation was stunning and it tasted awesome. Next, I had what I would call an Arancinni ball. That was balls of richness and one of my favorite dishes. My main dish was the Scallops. Cooked perfectly and presented even ore beautifully. Loved it. Because my main dish took so long to come out (there were 2 huge parties ahead of my ticket), the servers gave me a try of the Oysters and Pearls, I normally don't like oysters, but man these things were amazing. Finally, I ended the night with the best dessert I've had in a long time, which was a burnt banana ice cream with brittle and i think cherries? Chef Blais was walking around and greeting patrons, I just wish I had a chance to take a picture with him, but I didn't want to bug him.
(5)Ray L.
As a big Richard Blais fan, I'm happy to say that this was a delicious experience - though the restaurant did show it's age a little, as a little expected from a recently opened establishment. Though confusing I bit, the deconstructed menu grew on me. There's no traditional sequence of starter, salad, soup, primo, entree, etc. You simply pick 1-2 of what you think looks good. But don't confuse these for small plates... the servings are hearty. Juicy Lucy - I think this cheese burger beats any of the ones I've had at Flip burger. This is Blais' best burger. Cod - perfectly cooked with a light crispy batter and moist fish Fries - triple cooked for a good crunch. Served with some type of homemade ketchup... taste buds couldn't place the infused taste... bourbon ketchup maybe? Fried brussel sprouts - delicoius and sturdy. Lightly glazed with a sweet sauce Cheescake - creatively squeezed out like a pudding. Not a traditional slice of cheesecake. Very good. Pineapple upside down cake - very good. One of the heavier desserts. Delicious, but kind of what you'd expect. Chocolate pudding - decadent and yet light at the same time. The elusive 5th star isn't included because the service was a little clunky and needs time to mature. Our server had trouble communicating the dishes... talking too much about some dishes (and all the technicalities) before we even showed any interest in them. Also tended to interrupt conversations... needs to be more conscious of what's going on at the table. With a little more training of the staff, this could be a fiver for me. Would be excited to come back to the area and try it again.
(4)Hieu H.
The Spence makes me excited about Atlanta's evolving culinary scene. After winning Top Chef All-Stars, Richard Blais could have easily struck it out in New York or LA. But he chose to stay and create something that's speaks to Atlanta's palette. Forget the molecular gastronomic gimmicks (though there are subtle touches here and there), Blais really brings his A-Game with dishes like the Oysters and Pearls and the "Juicy Lucky" burger. Show-stoppers include the smoke and mirrors theatrics of the Pork Belly and Octopus entree that's brought to the table encased in smoke. Once the glass cover is removed, you're instantly assaulted with a cloud of smoke revealing luscious pork belly and tender baby octopus. I loved everything about The Spence. From the open kitchen to the amazing bread and light-as-air butter served on a wooden plank. The only dish that felt a little flat was the Uni spaghettini with lobster. It was a little heavy for an appetizer and could have been served as an entree. The salty oceanic taste of the uni was a little lost, and the lobster a little scant. For dessert, the pineapple upside down cake with fois caramel was too cloyingly sweet and the flavor of fois almost non-existant. Everything is quintessentially Richard Blais. A little tongue-in-cheek, and always walking the thin line between hi-brow aesthetics and simplicity. I can really see The Spence becoming a great spot for locals with a surprisingly affordable concise menu and a well-curated wine and cocktail list. The maldito's crutch is prefect for a warm summer night - light and refreshing. Another great recommendation is The Spence's take on a Manhattan with an absinthe cube. A great twist on a classic. Loved how the wine is divided into the "tired and true" and the "leap of faith". I'll always put my money on the unexpected. Looking forward to coming back and trying more of Blais' culinary dishes. Let's just hope he doesn't mistake the girl with the skinny jeans and sky-high stilletos as a stalker!
(4)Sarah K.
Exceptional service. Delicious food. Perfect for "order and share". Try the kale salad and chocolate cake!
(5)Jean-Marc P.
First visit, a business lunch - the food was delicious and the service quick and knowledgeable. We'll be back for dinner soon.
(4)Phillip D.
The disappointment started as soon as we arrived. The food is terrible and the drinks aren't any good either. The ambiance is nice, but I don't think a restaurant can just ignore that people come there to eat too. Steer clear. For more details: 1) The beer menu is terrible. There's nothing wrong with getting creative on the beer list, but this place doesn't have anything worth drinking. This is low hanging fruit for them, start carrying Sweetwater, any Sweetwater, and you'll see instant gains. People like good beer, serve it to them 2) My girlfriend's cocktail was served in a soda bottle. According to her it tasted like a bottle full of "sour pucker" schnapps. I don't know what that tastes like, but it sounds turrrrible. Next easy fix, make tasty cocktails. It isn't hard, people do it ALL the time. 3) The steak tartar was covered in salt. I'm guessing to cover the use of questionable meat? I don't know. It might have been bearable, but there wasn't any good way to wash it down (see point 1). 4) I was there at the prime time of Saturday night and the exchange went like this: Me: I'll have the scallops Waitress: Oh, I'm sorry we are all out Me: Really? that's odd. Waitress: Oh yeah, it's because we source everything from Atlanta Me: Atlanta sourced scallops? Waitress: ah.... Ultimately, 1/3 of the menu was unavailable. There is no excuse for that. When you own a restaurant and want to sell food, you have to buy it first so you can cook it when people ask for it. One entree, ok. Two, that's odd. 1/3 of the menu? Bush league. 5) The service, in general, wasn't good either. Drinks came slow and the timing on bringing the food to the table was all over the place.
(1)J W.
Ask for Rori ! She took care of everything from helping order apps, small plates, mains, and desserts. Definitely have a lil of each! We had empanadas which were delish, the bone marrow with quail eggs which were nothing short of orgasmic. The rigatoni with clams was so good I wish they served this as a main. The lamb was tender and looked too pretty to even eat. Every dish was prepared immaculate and tasted divine. I didn't save room for desert but was delighted to have it. The chocolate pastries and orange angel cake I wouldn't have wanted to miss- worth it! Finally let's talk wine as The Spence had an amazing selection. We went with a cab from Lebanon and a cab from Macedonia. This is the place to branch out and try new foods and wines. You will not be disappointed. Don't forget Rori either she coordinates such a fine dining experience.
(5)James P.
Will be going back.
(5)Jennifer B.
The Spence has the most original, creative, thoughtfully prepared and delicious food and drinks that I have ever enjoyed. My son, his gf and I went on a Monday night - the place was quite full and I was glad we had made a reservation. It is located on 5th right in the Ga Tech area, near typical college semi-fast food places. There is valet parking but he didn't show while I waited. Luckily, I snagged a meter space in the street. The place is attractive - clean and simple decor, which is becoming a little cliched lately. The atmosphere is city sophisticated and really great energy. Richard Blaise was buzzing about and I could also see him preparing food from my vantage point. I felt a little Top Chef starstruck. But the food - wow!!! we started with oysters and pearls of something delicious and bone marrow with hamachi tartare and 2 tiny little fried quail eggs - rich and flavorful. I had the beet, blue cheese, beet and wasabi salad and soft boiled egg plus the grilled shrimp small plate - it was all I could do not to lick my fingers - delicious. I had the Maltido's Crutch drink - also very good. It was just the best meal.
(5)Gabe M.
I always enjoy The Spence. The service is good, the space is cool, and the food is good. We had the oysters and pearls, which we superb. Then we had some sandwiches that were both great. I also got soup which is always served table side. The butternut squash soup was excellent on a rainy day.
(4)Shakira I.
The ambiance is the best part. The waiter and bartender provided superb service and the food was delectable. The wine collection is even better. My new favorite place.
(5)Terry F.
A friend and I went to The Spence on another acquaintence's recommendation. Nice location in Midtown near Georgia Tech. They had valet parking, which came in handy since it was starting to rain when we got there. Service was okay, but we were wondering where our server was a few times. We decided to stick with Pinot Noir, so we tried the Mt. Difficult and the Cristom. This is mostly a small plate place, so we chose the beet salad, lobster knuckle, porcini noodles and pate de campange. For desert, we shared the ricotta cheesecake and had some complementary petit fours.
(3)Caroline C.
Yum. The Spence was best restaurant we've tried in a while. Everything we had was pretty good...although some much better than others. The meal started out with some rolls that looked as though they were packaged. Immediately stopped caring about that when I tasted the salty, homemade butter that was smeared on the serving plate. We started out with the Uni Lobster Spaghettini. It was good, the flavors were nice but the dish was cold when it arrived and the noodles over cooked. I liked the flavor but overall, I didn't find it that unique. Regardless, we cleaned the plate because that's what you do when lobster, noodles and butter are involved. Hubs had the Pork Belly and Octopus with BBQ Chickpeas. The chickpeas did not really strike me as BBQ but...who's to say. The dish was good but just that. The most fun part of the dish was the presentation. The star of the show was my fish and brussel sprouts! I believe it was tilefish that was served with ridiculously delicious brussel sprouts. Blais said that he braised them with some sort of vinaigrette. Hands down, they were the best thing we ate. The fish was perfectly cooked and garnished with boiled peanuts. The marriage of all three was delightful. The ambience did leave something to be desired. There is very little room in between tables, so much so that you can hear the conversation of the next table (which says a lot because they bump the jams pretty loud) and waiters have a hard time serving you (without looking awkward) and or hearing you. This makes it difficult for them to be able to explain the dishes to you, etc. Other wise the décor is pretty hip. Definitely was digging the floor to ceiling plaid curtains. The "inspired by section" on the menu does come off as a bit pretentious, but one might think that by looking at the wait staff, too. I would 100% go back and do it all over again.
(4)Jad D.
Had a chance to try out the newest restaurant from Top Chef all-star Richard Blais last night. I was a little apprehensive before going because as a traditionalist chef I'm not a huge fan of the molecular gastronomy movement. I can appreciate the science and creativity behind the food but my tastes are more simple. Overall I was very impressed with the entire meal and service. The space is warm and inviting while adding unique elements such as an open bar and kitchen with two wood burning ovens which add a nice smoky flavor to some of the dishes. The menu is a little difficult to navigate but the waitress knew it inside and out and we tested her knowledge extensibly! The layout made sense once it was explained. We were with another couple and the husband is also a chef with stints as executive at several well known restaurants around town so we were analyzing the food, service, drinks and even flatware! Most of the menu consists of small appetizer plates which can be shared among the table which I would suggest. We also ordered the lamb entree to share. This is not a place where I would order in a traditional manner (appetizer and entree for each person). To REALLY get the full experience you should share 6 small plates and 2 entrees for a table of 4. My only complaint was the size of the desserts. The portion size for the appetizers and mains were adequate but the desserts could stand to be a tad larger. Overall a great experience, amazing service in a cook atmosphere and adequately priced for the quality. Will definitely go back.
(4)Barney B.
So at first I was perplexed by a 'less than 4' star review of this place. and then I walked there. and realized that, ok, this is not quite the location for this kind of place, so the less-than-stellar reviews are part due to the student-plus-tourist mix of folk that might not quite get what Richard is trying with this place..... ....and then I ate there. and I actually get what the goal is. but it's a goal is see off in the distance. it's not quite here. Because really, if you want to hit the goal, you have to deliver. as in, give what is meant to be on the plate. Instead, every question we had was answered with 'oh you didn't get that' and then an ingredient was brought out on a small plate. Or it was met with "hmmmm. I don't know, let me ask why this ingredient wasn't discernible" to be followed with an explanation of "well yes, it was meant to be a hint, almost imperceptible" really?? then why add it to the description? as it was, what we got only resembled the description viscerally, so anything you add to the mysteriousness of the vagueness that people aren't supposed to taste is just a big FUCK YOU of snobby proportions, right? (I mean, wasabi isn't something that even a hint is supposed to be hidden, dude. speck either) Top off ordering something that I was told 10 minutes later had run out, and you just show me that you focused on the periphery and not on the essentials of a well oiled resto. and the periphery is good. don't get me wrong. the space is cool. the concept is cool. even the menu might be cool. I just don't know. because anything we ordered either didn't quite match our extrapolation of what it was supposed to be - or simply didn't exist anymore , so we were writing our own plats du jour, it seemed. and for what we paid....we shouldn't have had to. but a solid two and a half is deserved because this could be a cool place - and the proof is in two things: the 'open' bar concept as well as....the burger - described only as 'juicy lucy' because um doy, why call it a burger!!! - but where it lacks in name, it makes up by making Flip seem pedestrian and causes the diner curl a toe or two. now let's focus on the rest, could we? because I want what I thought might have been on that menu. #cheers #thanks
(2)Andrew D.
Hit and miss. Certainly a great addition to Midtown but I have my own take on the space and the experience. First thing that we noticed when walking in, is that there is no formal bar. Near the entrance towards the front of the restaurant the bartender is in front on a long stretch of ingredients. There are spaces to sit, but even those are pretty close to the front entrance. Just making the note that perhaps this is not the place just to grab a drink. That said, we were here for dinner. We had a few of the cocktails which were all in some degree or another Southern. Both cocktails were good and strong. We then switched to beer. Beer is all from small batch craft brewers. The exception was perhaps the Samuel Smiths Oatmeal which was the only one of the breweries that I had heard of. The beers were good, even if a but pricey at $6-8 a bottle. Drinks along with the service in general seemed to take longer then it should. I suspect the place is just getting its kinks worked out. Waitstaff on the plus side was very knowledgeable of both the food and drink. We sampled the Beef Tar tare hash, oysters, and The Uni Spaghetti. The Uni Spaghetti was for sure the standout of this lot. For entrees we had the Smoked leg of lamb and the Tile fish. I was not familiar with Tile fish but was most impressed with this dish. The fish was flaky and cooked perfectly with a creamy broth consisting of both capers and lemongrass. So good! The lamb had a very nice smoked flavor to it but was a smaller sized portion then perhaps we had anticipated. In going in, I suspect I expected a more refined, less casual experience, so perhaps that is why review is 3 stars. Knowing Concentrics, and how well they do upscale casual I should have known this would be more along those lines. I suspect I will be back, the Juicy Lucy sounds fun, and I need to try their strip. The Tile fish was great so that is probably my biggest call out with this review from only one dine.
(3)Adabelle E.
Love this!!! Such a cute trendy place and a loud but fun atmosphere. Went there for a birthday dinner and say at the chef table having an up close view of the kitchen. I loved the vibe and food. Sounds simple but I strongly recommend the baby kale Cesar salad, delicious! The squid ink rigatoni with bacon and clams was to die for. I will definitely come back to try other dishes!
(5)Paul S.
Oh Richard.... After much anticipation, we finally picked a birthday celebration to be our first of what most likely will be many visits to The Spence. Even though we're both a fan of his other restaurants as well as Top Chef, we hadn't done any prep work on our dinner so everything we experienced was like receiving wonderful little surprises, one after another. The Spence is fun! The ambiance is slightly upscale with a twist of loud and upbeat. The waitstaff is both knowledgeable and on point. Our service was spectacular and full of excellent suggestions. The food... adventurious and awesome. We had the Beet Salad, Bone Marrow, and Lobster Rolls with chicharones. All completely amazing and well composed. The plating was whimsical with class, the portions excellent with flavors that make you stop and say... damn. The highlight of the night ( a slight edge over the lobster rolls mmmmmmm) had to be the marrow... topped with tuna tartare and a fried quail egg served with toast points, it had to be the best marrow I've ever had. Our server even offered to pack up the bone for our dog to feast on when we got home. The best part... reasonably priced! We look forward to our next visit!
(4)Matt C.
Everything that Richard Blais has touched in Atlanta has turned to gold, so my expectations were very high in visiting the Spence. I have been there twice in the past couple of weeks and I must say that the restaurant is good but not great. The menu is very forward thinking in the typical Richard Blais fashion, but unfortunately the portions are small and both times I have left hungry. The highlights are the fried brussel sprouts, oysters & pearls, and the short rib. The space is very slick and good for groups, but at times can be quite loud. It is a good addition for the Tech Square neighborhood which is filled with dreaded chain restaurants. Hopefully the restaurant will hit its stride because I definitely want to come back and continue to workshop at the culinary altar of Richard Blais.
(3)Sophie M.
I love this place. Great food, great service. Interesting and different things on the menu, extensive wine list, cool cocktails.
(5)Christine L.
I have admired Richard Blais from Top Chef and was so excited to experience The Spence. The set-up and ambiance was chic though sometimes too loud to have a conversation at our table and be heard. The experience that Richard envisioned for this restaurant did not come through. There was no warm interactions of the staff with the diners. I had the wahoo. While the flavor was not lacking from the chorizo and other accompaniments, the fish was dried out from being overcooked. My husband had the lamb and enjoyed it for the most part. The presentation of this dish was grand.... Perhaps they are still working through some things, but I'll be waiting to pay homage again.
(3)Kristie K.
Last night three friends and I enjoyed an amazing dinner at The Spence. We did expect an exciting, adventurous meal (it's Richard Blais after all) - but we did not except such an incredible wine list and such impeccable service from our knowledgeable waiter, Peter. Seriously, he made us feel like VIPs the entire dinner, he educated us about the wines and the foods, and he laughed with us when, after each round, our plates were squeaky clean. As appetizers we enjoyed the bread, the gnocchi and the cheese tray. I would normally never order a cheese tray, but Peter steered us in the right direction and we were all impressed. Our main dishes included the lamb, the short ribs and the fish - and everyone enjoyed their entree tremendously. As sides, we selected the grits, the squash and the brussels sprouts. Again, I would never normally order brussels sprouts, but Peter encourages us, and The Spence's are to die for! Finally, we ended our meal with the deconstructed blueberry cheesecake, the blood orange cake, and the milk chocolate, peanut, burnt banana ice cream - which, not surprisingly, was the one round of food which nobody shared. Finally, after such an incredible meal and experience, the icing on the cake was the fact that it didn't cost us an arm and a leg. Everything is reasonably priced, which - of course - makes indulging all the more enjoyable.
(5)Lisa L.
Not a fan of The Spence. I met a friend at this former Globe spot and admired the dramatic high ceilings and rustic tables and fixtures. When I arrived there were deep fried sweet breads on our table, an apparent error mistakenly rung up for another table. I ordered a March Hare cocktail, which was a bourbon, tea, lemon concoction that was yummy and playful with a ginormous ice cube dangling from a string. I started in on the sweetbreads and quit after a couple bites. They were crispy, sort of, with a mustard and caper sauce and dotted with an overbearing lemon ... something. This was the first time I had sweet breads so I'm not entirely sure how they should taste, but I know I don't understand the attraction. They tasted a little organ'y, but didn't have a lot of flavor aside from the accompaniments and were slightly chewy. I'd much rather have a nice crispy sweet vidalia onion ring. I wasn't fond of the menu that sat in front of me. I can't decide if it was pretentious or contrived, but there just weren't enough things that appealed to me and I was a little confused. Normally, when I'm at a restaurant offering small plates, I'm tempted to order way more than I know I'm able to eat because everything sounds so tasty. Not so at The Spence. We settled on the Bone Marrow, Tuna Tartare and Fried Quail Egg to start. Is this an attempt to combine the year's trendiest food items into one dish? I'm a little annoyed by this. There's no need to mess with bone marrow because it's perfect all by itself with some toasted crusty bread. The tuna tartare was overly lemony (what's with the lemon overkill at this place?) to the extent that i couldn't taste the tuna. The fried quail egg, while tasty, was wasted on this mess of a dish. We also shared a decent beet salad with a soft boiled egg that was nicely dressed. Keeping with the beet theme, we decided to try the beet papperdelle with duck, spinach and orange, which was recommended by our server. This one made sense and the flavors were beautifully complimentary. However, the pasta was overcooked, creating a viscous and mushy texture that was unappealing. My friend opted for a side of Squash Brulee that was a delicious custard of summer and butternut squash. This was definitely one of the highlights. For dessert, I ordered the Pecan Treacle Tart with Ice Cream and got something that I didn't expect. At the risk of sounding petty, I didn't get a tart. When I decided on this dessert, I pictured the pastry chef's interpretation of a pecan pie. What I got was some cake in a tart dish. It was a scrumptious moist cake, though, prepared with ground pecans and carrying a lovely brown sugar flavor from the treacle with a contrasting salty sprinkling on top. A small scoop of vanilla ice cream melted on top of the cake and I was happy to end my meal this way. Don't plan on having a conversation at The Spence, unless you want to repeat yourself or yell. It's really loud. I read previous reviews that talked about poor service, but our server was a welcome exception to an otherwise disappointing experience. Peter, with all of his glorious red hair, was friendly, efficient, helpful and appropriately distant. To end our night, as we waited for our cars at the valet stand, I noticed a sign on the podium that said, "$3" and "Gratuities Appreciated". I asked the attendant if the $3 amount was a suggested gratuity since The Spence website said that valet parking was complimentary. It is not complimentary, but $3, and since I rarely carry much cash, I'm glad that my friend was able to add to the $2 I had in my wallet. I don't see myself coming back to The Spence. There are too many other phenomenal chef-driven restaurants in this city for me to return.
(2)Sarah N.
It pains me a little to write this review as I think of Richard Blais as a bit of a local rockstar. That said, after a much anticipated dinner at the Spence last night, I have to say I was a little disappointed. Not "no way will I ever go back" disappointed, but more "really? that's what I've been waiting for?" disappointed. Service: the service here was fine. Friendly enough, but not particularly warm or inviting. There certainly wasn't anything wrong with it, but it didn't stand out in the way most restaurants at this price-point do. Ambiance: warm feeling woods in an otherwise cold space work really well and the open kitchen is a fun touch. Not a huge fan of communal high-boy seating, which is peppered throughout the restaurant - might be better for a group but as a party of two, we asked for a proper table. Cocktails: I can only speak to the March Something-or-other, which was a solid bourbon drink with tea and honey. Good cocktail but nothing to go writing home about. Meals: Per the suggestion of our server, we opted to dine tapas-style and ordered the bone marrow (solid, not super innovative), the foie gras (really underwhelming - least favorite dish of the evening), the beet salad (excellent - the wasabi and candied nuts were a nice touch), the squash creme-brule (very sweet - should have ordered this for dessert), the chocolate ravioli with duck (such high hopes for this one - conceptually awesome, executed mediocrely including fairly dry duck) and the brussels sprouts (the clear winner of the table - almost ordered a second round). Menu notes: as with many restaurants in Atlanta, their menu changes seasonally. As we learned, the menu online is not always the same menu you will get in the restaurant. We are also usually dessert people but opted out after what we felt was a let-down of a meal. Parking: valet on the street which is $3 or you can find street parking, depending on how crowded that area of town is.
(3)Heewon Y.
We went on a Friday night for a family dinner to celebrate my husband's birthday. Everything we ordered from drinks and appetizers to dessert was incredible. The oyster & pearls was definitely the favorite dish of the night. So good, we had to order some more. The lamb entree I had was phenomenal, and only made better with the side of Brussels sprouts. The MIL raved about her black bass. The presentation of the liquid nitrogen ice cream dessert was a nice finish to the fantastic meal. Th only thing that could have made our experience at The Spence better would have been to meet the man himself, Richard Blais.... and yes, that also happened!! He was gracious enough to take some pictures with us. What a perfect night!!!
(5)Ryan S.
My girlfriend and I came in a month ago before the Kings of Leon concert. This was my second time here and I ordered the seared duck breast with sunchoke and turnips. We also had a charcuterie plate. My girlfriend had the carrot cavatappi. Food was outstanding period. The only difference between my first visit was the service was a little lackluster. Not friendly or informative. Our waitress the first time was over the top and one of the best servers I've had. Asides from that, an amazing atmosphere and feel and I'll be back.
(4)Dio S.
Went to The Spence this weekend and ate the following: -Oysters&Pearls: decent but the pearls burst out into too sour of a taste -Fried "sea creatures" with sea urchin aioli: the frying is done very, very nicely and makes other fried dishes like the cod entree or sweetbreads seem like good bets. sea urchin in aioli was not a great idea though...the normally fresh taste completely replaced by a stale taste bordering on rankness. -Shaved kampachi+veal with some dressing: unremarkable...I'd much rather eat straight up kampachi sushi. -Bone marrow+hamachi tartare+fried quail egg: very heavy, but works nicely, especially the quail egg. with toast so good, I can eat this for breakfast. -smoked octopus rigatoni in a bottarga sauce: superb! octopus with perfect texture and flavor. delicious sauce although the bottarga sort of all melted into some goo, maybe by design. -mac and headcheese: a side dish. the execution is unremarkable but the idea is nice. Double the ratio of headcheese and it'll taste good no matter what. Also had 5 cocktails total and an ice cream dessert. Cocktails are fun and quite creative, though I found a couple of them to be too sour. The dinner rolls and coconut butter killed...I ordered a second helping while my wife ate the dessert. Overall, I found enough good things to like about Spence. Menu reads a lot like Octopus Bar's, very heavily Asian influenced, very keen to overload with heavy tastes, often could use a more delicate touch. The creativity is there but it's more Gatropub Blais than Alchemist Blais (think Element from 5 years ago). I like that you can make reservation...since you can't at a place like H&F or Octopus Bar. The space and vibe are likable but the open bar design is terribly-conceived: on two short rails perpendicular to the bartenders' prep area sit the customers, and the bartenders prep with their *back* to the customers, AND it's in the center of the restaurant so they have people to look at in front and to the sides of them! So if you sit at the "bar" you can't use the time-honored technique of using eye contact with bartender to get stuff done. We drank at the bar while waiting to be seated, and during ordering and paying (*both* getting the check and giving the card) had to stare at the back of bartenders (and it's not like they are shorthanded) for very, very long time, without anyone ever turning around to check. I could see we weren't the only ones frustrated by this. Complaints aside, a solid enough place with attractive menu.
(4)Esteban A.
Only eat here is you want something that will blow your mind. Otherwise go to Chili's.
(5)Sali Y.
I just wasn't impressed. The plank they served my meal on was not large enough to accommodate the meal, and the food was just mediocre. The daily salad was quite yummy, but my fish dish was just ok.
(2)Jonathan G.
My wife and I joined another couple at The Spence on a Saturday evening. The restaurant is located downtown on 5th Street, just off Spring. Parking is valet. The dining area is open and high-ceilinged, but not carpeted at all so the noise level was very loud, at times so loud that it was difficult to carry on a conversation. The menu changes daily but on this night, most of the entrees were pork based. I do not eat pork or shellfish so there were literally only one or two items on the menu that I could eat. There were no vegetarian entrees. I settled on a salad, the black cod entree, plain and french fries. The cod dish was $33, which was the most expensive dish on the menu and the waiter did not offer to reduce it even though I ordered it plain. Our waiter was British and very formal. He was attentive but seemed a bit exasperated when my fellow diners and I asked for details about the menu items. The salad was fine, although the waiter never asked me for my choice of dressing. The cod was presented well, but it was not hot at all. The waiter apparently forgot to put in the french fry order, so those arrived about 10 minutes later, after I had finished the small portion of lukewarm cod. The fries were good, however. For dessert, I ordered a ricotta cheesecake which was tasty and creatively presented. All in all - this restaurant seems more concerned with style over substance. I will not be coming back.
(2)George P.
I have read many reviews about the Spence saying they didn't like the portion size. I myself am looking for quality not quantity. If quantity is important to you, I would suggest The Olive Garden. I think they have unlimited salad, bread sticks and pasta for about 12.99. Now, onto the meal. We shared several tapas(the Spanish translation is small plates.) Some were just good; others were amazing! Here's the good: The oysters and pearls was a refreshing dish. It is a raw oyster with frozen crème fraiche(fancy sour crème.) It was good. The Fried Critters is your standard calamari, shrimp...etc. It was good but not out of this world. The foie gras was a terrine. Now the amazing: We started out with the bone marrow. Now for those who have never had bone marrow it is best described as if a steak and butter got busy and had a baby. It is meat butter. I would not recommend eating it without a piece of bread. What Blais does that makes his marrow stand out is he smokes it. It is possibly the best bone marrow I have ever had. The tuna tartar added a nice component to the dish and the quail egg was unnecessary. The mac and head cheese was absolutely mind blowing. Don't ask what head cheese is(it's not cheese,) just try it. I would absolutely go back! Blais has redeemed himself in my eyes after a mediocre hamburger restaurant and a great hotdog stand.
(4)Jade D.
Spence needs work. LOVE love love Richard Blais from Top Chef and couldn't wait to try his food, but unfortunately, was very disappointed.... The problems started with the menu--it was, well, difficult. Difficult to read: the type is all caps and everything is bunched together; and more importantly, difficult to put your meal together esp if you're with a large party and not every one just wants to share. Many small plates and only 4 entrees so I made my meal up of (3) small plates which is normally okay by me but none of them were scrumptious really...Foodie ingredients aside, what I want to walk away from each dish with is that they are out of this world The service was good but on the slow side, as well somone in my party wanted a white wine spritzer...I get it, they shouldnt...and the waiter didnt feel she should either and kept trying to talk her into something else. Who cares, just give her what she wants (we report to her and have learned to just do that...hahaha)... The waiter brought 2 of the 3 as appetizers and the third with everyone else's entrees, which was weird, in retrospect, shouldnt he have brought 1 as my app and 2 as my entree ,but ,no matter no matter, it wouldnt have helped I suppose... The fluke with fried chicken was interesting and the cucumbers complemented it well, but it was on the small side, and the breading pulled away from the chicken which were cubes which I didn't like. It was decent overall. The bone marrow topped with Tuna Tartare and Quail Egg was greasy with a weird fatty consistency and didnt work... perhaps I am just not a fan of Bone Marrow as I read others that loved this dish and the waiter named it as one of his faves. I also had Beef Tartare which was fair/ I did not finish. I was with a large party and no one really raved about anything being delicious except the Brussel Sprouts that the table shared. These were great. But pretty disappointing overall ... Gorgeous place but the food's gotta shine--and it didnt :(
(2)J1 J.
Parents took me here for my birthday a few weeks ago. I'm a big fan of the Top Chef series, liked Blais on the show given his penchant for molecular gastronomy and avant garde cuisine. I did have pretty big expectations given what I've seen him make on the show. Don't kill me, but the Spence, unfortunately, didn't live up to them. Sure there were interesting enough items - oysters with pearls made of creme fraiche in a tapioca form. Sea creatures with uni tartar sauce. Bone marrow with tuna tartare. I was hoping they'd have a sweetbreads dish or uni spaghettini which I saw on their sample menu online, but to my chagrin, those weren't being served the night we went. After ordering, we were given pre-meal dinner rolls with some coconut butter - ran more towards the sweet/dessert side of things, and was a bit off-putting prior to starting a meal, when i was craving something savory to start. First up, we had the oysters with pearls. The tapioca creme fraiche element was interesting, but there were only four oysters, the oysters themselves were small and honestly all I could taste was the vinaigrette they were put in. Also had the fried sea creatures. Mainly a combination of shrimp and calamari and vegetables, maybe 1-2 oysters thrown in. Fried well, seasoned OK. Breading was laid on pretty thick for my tastes. The uni tartar sauce was - well, it barely tasted of uni. I'm a big fan of uni, and I guess I was expecting more of that briney, sea water flavor. At the end of the day, the dish seemed like something I could get at chain restaurant. I think the standouts of the night were the trout and bone marrow. The trout was perfectly cooked, with really crisp skin, decently presented, but otherwise pretty straightforward, with little extras or interesting elements. Also good was the bone marrow with tuna tartare, which was prepared well, lots of flavorful, unctuous marrow to scrape off and complimented nicely by the tuna tartare. We didn't have any dessert as none looked particularly interesting (ricotta cheesecake, panna cotta). So I left wondering, where did the Blais I saw on Top Chef go? Where was the guy that put salmon and white chocolate together in the same dish, the guy that smoked raz al hanout into his food? Did we just go on an off night, when the menu options weren't as interesting? Maybe. Did he scale his menu back to better address the Atlanta food palette or please his investors? Maybe. Did I have unreasonable expectations of his restaurant based on what I had seen on the show? Probably. I guess I was partially expecting food along the lines of Achatz's Alinea or Dufresne's WD-50 - which I've only read and dreamed about but haven't actually tasted. Don't get me wrong - the experience was decent enough, and I'm happy Blais has set up camp in Atlanta and admire his inventive streak. Just want to see more of it, and maybe that'll happen if I decide to go again sometime.
(3)Jen H.
Went for dinner while in town for work. I had many mixed reviews so was open minded when dining. I am from the gulf coast so I am used to a decent size oyster. Ordered the oyster and pearls to start. Very good, clean oysters, but a bit small. Also has the fois gras which was a good portion, but a patte which I didn't expect. For dinner, had the pork belly. Sides were amazing! Pork belly was a little too fatty compared to what I've had, but the meat of it was delicious. For desert, had the honey cake which was also very good. Service was on point. Was surprised at how slow the restaurant was. Would go back.
(4)Fred J.
Mr Blais, I enjoy both FlB and HD1, and was really looking forward to The Spence. A friend had gone recently, really enjoyed it, etc. I didn't have the same experience. Let's talk about the service. I got there before my friend, and was pointed to wait at the bar. Ordered a beer, friend showed, and she went to the hostess to say we were all here. I was pointedly asked to close out my single beer tab by the hostess, which frankly, was odd as we were going to sit down not six feet away. The waiter dug through the tip jar to bring me change for my $6.38 Clown Shoes. Theme...Clown Shoes. Same bar waiter was now our dinner waiter. Don't get me wrong, he was very nice, but the service was up and down. To start with, we ordered the Roasted Veal and Kampachi appetizer. What came were battered chicken pieces and kampachi. No one talked about substitutions. Plate was very small, but the taste was okay. Let's just total this up, because I don't like long reviews. Kale Caesar, Thai Brussel Sprouts and the Juicy Lucy were really good. The Treacle Tart wasn't a tart, as noted by another reviewer, and the Milk Chocolate, Peanut and Burnt Banana Ice Cream desserts were overly sweet. Besides the kampachi, I think we had one other item, but I can't remember it for the life of me. The last comment about the service is someone would bring the plate, put it on the table and whisper what it was. Then, the waiter would come over and explain it. Don't think I'll be returning.
(2)Greg C.
Service was great. We were running on a tight schedule, and they were able to accomodate us. Ambiance was interesting with the deconstructed/open-air bar and kitchen. Menu was mostly interesting, trendy small plates. I could see it being overwhelming for non-foodies or people with dietary restrictions. While most of the plates sounded interesting, the execution did not live up to the promise. All our dishes were well cooked and tasted fine, but were just a little off from our expectations. For example: We ordered a marrow bone with tuna tartar. I expected the tuna to be served to the side of the marrow bone, to serve as a contrast to the marrow flavor. Instead, the tuna was served on top of the bone, which completely overwhelmed the delicate flavors of the tartar. We also ordered the chocolate and hazelnut duck entree. Partially due to the brevity of the menu descriptions, I was expecting a sauce that incorporated chocolate and hazelnut in an interesting way. Instead we got duck in a typical fruit reduction sauce with some chocolate hazelnuts on the side. It was well prepared and tasty, but I've eaten duck that tasted like it a million other places. In the end, The Spence is completely competent as a slightly upscale, trendy eatery. Unfortunately, despite the promise of the menu, the dishes lack that special something that separates great restaurants from excellent restaurants.
(4)Jorge O.
Don't understand how people can write a bad review about this place as maybe they had a bad experience buy mine and my wife's was outstanding. We had an earlier reservation (6:30) and found the restaurant easily, valet parking was simple as well. We were promptly seated and our server was extremely knowledgeable of the menu, wines and drinks on the menu. My wife and I opted to eat the small plates and appetizers as it gave us the opportunity to sample more of the food. We started with the oysters with pearls and fritto misto which were great. The oysters were so good, we ended up ordering five more plates throughout the night. Also ordered the trotters, octopus, bone marrow, foie gras and the pecan tart for dessert. We have eaten at most of Atlanta's high end restaurants and The Spence ranks right up there with the best. It doesn't feel very pretentious, the food is excellent and the service was top notch. An added treat was that Richard Blais came to our table and chatted with us and allowed us to take a picture with him. He checked up on us during our meal and others as well which is nice to see at a restaurant. My only minor complaint (very minor) was that it was a bit loud but not so much that I couldn't talk with my wife at a reasonable volume. We will be coming back here time and time again as we found a restaurant that compares well with other places in Atlanta such as Canoe, Muss & Turner's, Bacchanalia, Holeman and Finch and many others. Eat here, you won't be disappointed and if you can order a lot of small plates so you can taste a bunch of the great offerings.
(5)Polo C.
I come here often for lunch, by myself or with guests. I like their "little lunch special" a lot, which includes a soup , salad and a sandwich. All these changes roughly daily. At $12, I think that's very reasonably priced and fulfilling. Their servers are always friendly! And service is fast. I'll go back again and again.
(5)Kelsi V.
I had the Monkfish & it was amazing! Great service & lovely atmosphere.
(5)Ryan L.
With high hopes of a great dinner with friends who were in town turned uncomfortable and unappetizing. Everything started off fine we ordered a couple bottles of wine with drinks while relaxing and looking over the menu. The waitress soon came out and told us some specials along with some restaurant week features (a set three course meal, sounded well). Shortly after we ordered our food knowing some would come out as an appetizer. The first course came out about 10 minutes after and then the problems started. We waited for almost an hour after our first course and we couldn't even find our waitress to ask what the holdup is. Sense the kitchen is right in front of you I could see all our food just sitting there in the cold no hot lamps and just starting to expire. To pass the time I go to the restroom and when I start my walk back to the table who do I see but our waitress cracking another waiter back right in the middle of the restaurant and getting in peoples way. The staff seemed way to comfortable and unprofessional something I would see in a 1 or 2 star atmosphere. We finally get our food after uncomfortably asking twice is our food almost here, which I think is the worst thing to have to do. Ready to feast down on my duck breast with much anticipation, soon to be utterly disappointed by the lack of heat in any part of my meal. The meal was cooold and this set me over the top with annoyance. Knowing I just waited 2 hours for a cold meal is not only ridiculous but so unprofessional for any restaurant especially one that is supposed to be at this level. I kept to myself and eat the horrible chewy undercooked meal, knowing I still have dessert coming. They remove our plates and we order another bottle of wine getting ready for some of our desserts to come out. I see a food runner from the rear come out with two of the desserts and place them on the table and leave, feeling as maybe she couldn't hold all three and went to get the third. After 5min pass I knew she wasn't coming back and I would again have to find our waitress from hiding. I finally see her walking pass our table when I speak aloud, I think you forgot a dessert with my meal. Her scowling remark at me asking for a dessert that I ordered was way out of line. I can see her stomping her feet and throwing a bottle of wine so loud in the trash it echoes through the restaurant while she types in the lost dessert and comes back saying it will take some time to come out. I can see the waitress in the back talking to another waitress while looking and gesturing towards our table as if we were so rude for waiting 2 hours and asking for our food, and then to set it off they asked me where there dessert that never came out was. That must be the rudest thing to do! I have never been so unhappy with a meal and service before. Richard if you read this as a suggestion have your chefs in a more professional outfit instead of tie dies shirts and hipster gear and please try and teach your staff about customer service. I did not see you in the restaurant and maybe they act better when you're around but when you are not there this happens. Sorry for the bad review but felt it was needed.
(1)Anastasia T.
Why, oh, why Richard? Why you got to go ruin a good reputation like that, man? Flip Burger is awesome, you seem to know your stuff on TV, but have you already been swallowed by your Top Chef persona? Are you just another "celeb" irrelevant to actual food service? Are you like the Fabios and the Rachael Ray's of this culinary world? Don't you know that when you open up a "fine" dining restaurant in a foodie town like ATL, you need to be supervising everything to the "t"? I mean, I don't expect the owner/chef to cook for the patrons, at least not every night. I do expect them to have a hands-on- role in their own restaurant. Just selecting the menu (indeed very interesting menu) is not sufficient to put your signature under this facility. Let me just say before I explain, that if anyone wants to try this restaurant for a relatively low price, you should totally go: chances are your service will be screwed up, but they will comp you most of your dinner, so go! To me, it is not worth it, and that's why I am not trying this place again, not with all the other great restaurants I've yet to try. Money is one thing I like to save on, but not the only one: time is also important saving, and I will definitely not waste any more on this place. Four of us, Monday night. Place busy, but not enough to justify how slow the service was. But slowness wast not the only problem. Liked the wine list and ordered a Greek wine I rarely see here (Assyrtiko Sigalas, awesome white). It took them about 20 minutes to bring it (cause as they said they could not find the bottle!). May I just say, they charge $13 for a glass of it. My date and I decided to do the small plate thing, while the in-laws went with the full/regular plates: Juicy Lucy (cheeseburger) and Crispy chicken. We ( D and I) ordered the following: Bone marrow; kale salad; fries; sweet breads. I was SO looking froward to the bone marrow plate. That and the sweet breads came first. We tried to wait for the other plates to come so we can all eat together, but our food started getting cold. So we did start eating. Long story short. It was about 30' later that my in-laws got their food. And our other two small plates (salad and fries) came even after that, after we were definitely done with the rest of the food. It was just a disaster! We were so frustrated! We complained and they comped us my in-laws food (I guess it didn't matter that we got the salad last, but anyway). The food was not even that great: the bone marrow was 95% fat and a little too salty (bone marrow is fatty, but not that fatty). The sweet breads were good; the kale salad was average, and the fries were very good, as very good was the burger. But what does that say about a high-end restaurant when the best dishes are the burger and the fries? It says, stick with FLIP, Richard Blais!
(2)Shannon H.
Everything is so delicious, and our waiter was very charming without being pushy. The only "complaints" would be that the food is just slightly above room temp instead of hot and the portions of the "main courses" are closer to tapas size. But the flavors are great!
(4)Nicci R.
My husband and I went with a friend in a wheel chair over lunch. We were really unhappy to discover that the only entryway was up a few stairs. We went around the property and saw two patio options completely blocked by huge stone planters. The staff had to move stone planters and furniture so we could enter which created quite a scene unfortunately. Once seated, the restaurant has a nice atmosphere. We ordered the pork belly bahn mi, burger and soup/salad/sandwich combo as entrees. Burger was too charred and just okay. The bahn mi was pretty good and rich tasting. The chilled soup was poured from a can steaming from dry ice, i guess. Really everything was just average, except dessert. We ordered the cheesecake which came out completely deconstructed in the form of airy ricotta foam balls and crushed chocolate cookie crust piles. Very pretty and tasted great, except there really wasn't much to eat. When we were ready to leave, they has recreate the earlier scene by moving the patio furniture and huge planters AGAIN to let us out.
(3)Chip P.
The first time in months that Bob has asked me on a date and I'm curious. Then he tells me we are going to the Spence. I am dressed in seconds flat. I pull out the very one and only seersucker jacket with white tailored pants. Looking my best and feeling it we enter. The bar is not a bar but the island in your rich friends kitchen. People that seem to be party goers mix drinks and keep you company. They return with your check. When a table becomes available you get it. The food. 4 stars is all the food. The lobster pasta we had was done in a uni sauce that I will dream about until death. The lamb was well seasoned. The pineapple upside down cake so great. The downfall was a "roll" that was served as we sat down. It was one of those roll's you got in a 24 roll case as a kid. Dry and boring. I thought it might be a joke but no one around was laughing. I loved having dinner here and have planned my return. I just hope Bob is paying oh I mean planning our return.
(4)Dean H.
We enjoyed the Sunday Supper special of 4 courses with wine parings which is an amazing bargain. Beet salad was excellent but the marrow bone with tuna and quail eggs was the hit. Chicken roast with lemon curd tasted much better than is sounds. Fried cauliflower and bean side with Asian sauce wa my favorite. Strawberry-rhubarb cobbler was good. Service was excellent but slowed as the place filled. The outside patio looked great but it was raining. The regular menu is a la carte and it would be easy to spend a lot. There is large list of familiar and unusual wines well priced. On Thursday evening early, the bar was very quiet.
(5)David B.
Super cool, molecular concept. Valet parking outside. It is located in midtown in a safe well lit area. Design is modern. Highlight is the hanging bar area where the upper bar that holds bottles is hanging from bolted ceiling supports. The music was old school hip hop (Dr Dre, Snoop, Outkast, etc. etc.) bringing me back to happier times when hip hop had something other to focus on than money, alcohol, and shouting out to the next rapper your trying to produce. The tables in my area were slightly close, but I'm not complaining. Our waiter was knowledgeable. There is possibly some Tom Keller inspiration (the first thing I noticed on the menu was "oyster and pearls". The menu changes daily which from a patron's perspective sounds exciting and edgy, and from an owner business perspective means that if they didn't sell the hell out of scallops the night before, yet sold all their tuna, they just eliminate fish from the menu and leave scallops as the only seafood entree option...(this is what happened last night). No big deal, because I like scallops. The menu concept is set up like tapas style. For appetizers we had the tuna tar tar on a marrow bone (femur of cow) with a fried quail egg. WOW!!! The presentation was excellent. The marrow and bone were oven cooked, browned and brushed in oil. They retained a smokey flavor to them likely from the wood burning oven. The fattiness of the marrow and quail egg eliminated any taste of the tar tar. The toasted bread that came with the entree was slightly overcooked leaving a burnt taste when combined with marrow, tuna, and egg. This was a show stopper however. I would order again. We also ordered the lobster knuckle sandwich appetizer. It came on a sweet, fresh bun with pickled relish and celery. I loved it. The salad was a Caesar concept but made with kale. I'm used to blanched kale, but I have to say this was interesting and not my favorite but not bad. The texture of kale to me is better fit for blanching and then cooked in oil and lightly salted with lemon. For an entree I had the short ribs, which were "roast-beefy" in taste, fatty and succulent. There was a nice balance of salty and sweet. For garnish sweet carrots and a blended white potato starch. I will be back here and give the place a high rating.
(4)Ben B.
I came in for lunch and I really want to like this place since it is so close to GT. However, it was extremely disappointing. I ordered the lunch special ($11) which came with a half of a pulled pork sandwich, a 'canned' soup, and a garden salad. Service was good. The atmosphere is pretty cool. The food - utter meh. The sandwich - The best of the bunch and still disappointing. The pork was good but the sandwich had too much mayo and was overall bland and weird. It was a strange mix of bbq and curry (which could have been awesome but wasn't.) The bread was toasted in butter (think Zaxby's). The soup - Cool Presentation. It came out as a jar of crispy onions, peanuts, and other ingredients which the waiter poured hot cream of brocolli soup over. It was warm but bland. The salad - Worst salad I've had in a while. The greens and ingredients seemed ok but it was drowning in bad dressing. It had thin sliced radish, onions, mixed greens. This place seems to be all style and no substance. Perhaps the other entrees are better but what I had was extremely mediocre.
(2)Jonathan D.
From the minute you step in this place, it's like a playful slap in the face from your buddy. It's a little startling, but you know it's meant as a sign of affection. Much has been made of the deconstructed bar space _ where the bartenders, booze, etc. are out in the open and not partitioned behind a counter top. It's jarring but pleasant and sets the tone for the whole space and the menu. As I was enjoying the second appetizer and groping for the right word to describe the total experience, the waiter articulated it in a conversation with the next table over: whimsical. Thanks, Kevin. The oysters and pearls were delicious. The shellfish themselves had a lot of flavor (and a difficult-to-remember Japanese name), while the frozen cream-and-citrus, dippin-dot-like accompaniments added the perfect accent. I enjoyed the snapper tostada, too. Spicy fish and tortillas make a great pair. But for the biggest gimmick of all, the kitchen produced a pork belly entree that comes with its own smoke-filled glass dome. To be honest, I'm not sure if the smoke enhanced my dining experience, but I give the place a thumbs-up for trying. It's the kind of stuff I've read about at daring restaurants like Alinea in Chicago but haven't been exposed to here in Atlanta before. So i think Blais has some lead time before the newness of the trick wears off. I didn't love the pork belly itself. In other places where I've had it as a main dish, the piece seemed more compact and less blubbery. Not sure if that's due to a different cut, or a way of cooking that renders out more of the fat. The cocktail I ordered was solid, but very vermouthy. After a few sips the pungency did recede, though. And the decor throughout the restaurant is pleasing _ somehow they managed to balance kitschy with sleek and industrial. Overall, a solid experience. I'll plan to go back.
(4)K K.
The food was great and our server was friendly and knowledgeable. The tuna tartare, corn brûlée, cauliflower, and the burnt banana and chocolate dessert were standouts. We didn't try the Juicy Lucy but I think I would if I went back. Few places have so much whimsy and still taste this good.
(4)Christopher B.
Mistake on my part. I posted this under Ecco before. Apparently I had drunk too much of the lovely Viura! This place was a delight. A very good waiter helped it along, but the noise didn't. The high;ight dish were oysters with some horseradish pearls (nitro frozen), so they came as pearls and as they thawed they spread over the raw briny oyster. Oh yeah! The desserts were weak - a really bold chocolate creation would have worked wonders. they did have a viura from Rioja on the wine list - and that is both a rarity and a good thing!
(4)Kathy J.
I'm sad to write this review, but feel like The Spence should hear it, if they care about Yelp reviews. My husband and I were excited to try The Spence while visiting Atlanta. We decided to course things out, starting with the oysters and pearls. I love mignonette on oysters, but these pre-dressed oysters tasted so much like vinegar, you couldn't taste anything else. Feeling like it was just an "off" dish, we moved onto the canned soup, which we thought was a clever presentation and one we've seen before. There was no can opening reveal, just lukewarm soup in an already-open can poured into the bowl. Ok, but only lukewarm and lackluster. Our final attempt was a pasta dish made with shell pasta and braised beef. This one was so overly salted, that we each took a bite and sent it back. We ended it there, skipping the short rib and dessert because everything had been so dismal. Went to another restaurant on the way back to our hotel, as it was our anniversary and we felt that the dinner was a disappointment and honestly, we were still hungry. We're fans of Blais, but felt like his level of expertise and care wasn't reflected in our experience.
(1)Mayet C.
The Spence was one of the things we looked forward on our first trip to Atlanta. One of my friends loved Richard Blais. There were 9 of us. We were seated at the chefs table. It was a Tuesday night and the restaurant wasn't very full at 7:30 p.m. nor did it get really busy all night. It took a while for our server, Mike to greet us. We could tell that he was already a bit flustered when we arrived. Our drinks took a while to arrive and we had to flag him over a few times to get service. We waited a while for drink refills. We tried everything on the menu except for a couple of sides dishes. The plating and the plates were beautiful. The food itself lacked seasoning and was just short of being right. The crudo didn't have any salt at all. The squash blossoms stuffed with pimento lost the stuffing during the frying. The bone marrow tuna tartare, while tasty just didn't have enough of either component. The rigatoni was tasty. The Juicy Lucy was tasty and the fries were yum. The steamed mussels were ordered in the beginning but came last when we were almost done with the meal. The boucheron with fried tomatillos was really just sliced cheese with a couple of tomatillo croutons. The short rib was good although the potatoes that came in it wasn't salted at all. The pork belly was tender but needed seasoning as well. The fried cauliflower was greasy and needed more flavors of lime and fish sauce. Mike recommended the corn brûlée side dish. This dish was way too sweet to go with any of the savory dishes-would have made a terrific dessert. We were also not given spoons to eat the corn brûlée and he wasn't available for us to ask for spoons so we had to eat it using our fork. The pork terrine needed salt. We also tried the beef tartare, and foie gras, which were both okay. The worst part of our experience was the service. Our server was unavailable most of the time. He was short with his answers when we had questions. His recommendations on portions for each dish was way off. It was obvious that there wasn't a manager present. We expected more from a Richard Blais restaurant. It could have been great.
(2)Erin L.
The Spence is just great. Delicious and slightly molecular but totally accessible; cheap enough to try a bunch of different things; great bartenders and staff. They've got communal tables in the bar area if you don't have a reservation. The most amazing thing about this place is how open it is. The room is cavernous and there are literally no walls, counters, or even a bar separating you from the kitchen or the bar. The chefs work at essentially a tall table at the front of the room; i have no idea how they can turn out such great cooking in such small space. Bone marrow app is amazing and rich; the gazpacho was different and refreshing, and the burger is even special here. Get the corn creme brulee as a side dish, for sure. I wish they had a slightly longer cocktail list... they can obviously make anything, as the bar is teeming with good alcohol, but the cocktail list was only about 5 options long. No one wants to come up with more options? Not even a whiskey/bourbon cocktail listed. The fizzy gin one was superb, however... Read more here, with pictures: eattalk.net/2012/08/post…
(4)Thomas W.
What a disappointment. I have long been excited about Richard Blais's dream restaurant being placed in Atlanta. I expected this to be another Atlanta Gem- something to compete with my big three: Rathbun's Steak, Restaurant Eugene and Bacchanalia. What I got this past Friday night was another Flip Burger: The food was pretty good, the music was way too loud, the service border-lined sucked, the bar menu was awful, the ambiance was terrible. I was so thoroughly disappointed with the Spence it's hard to talk about any one area...but I'll try. The menu was in the smallest print I've ever seen on a menu. Nothing jumps out at you. It's hard to even see where one dish begins and the next one ends. It's so poorly designed it's hard to understand what the person who designed it was thinking. The sound- if you want to be the cool-party place, by all means play loud music. However, understand that it takes away from the food. There is nothing pleasant or appealing about being blown away with Rock music while your trying to enjoy would should be wonderful food or wine. The bar drinks- fruit on top of fruit on top of sour on top of sweet. The didn't even have Crown for a standard Crown and Ginger. If you're over 25 stick to the wine, the drinks were awful. (If you can read the wine menu that is) The service. Blah. It's basically the same wait staff you would get at any average restaurant around Atlanta. The Food- Disappointing. The Uni Spaghetti was pretty good except they barely had any Lobster in it. I mean come on guys- charge $10 more dollars for the plate and put some lobster in it. The bone Morrow Tuna dish- interesting and strange- about what you would expect from Blais. I liked it. The Lamb and Duck- not bad, not bad. Dessert- decent, met expectations. Although the pineapple upside down cake didn't sit well in my stomach for the next hour or so. I left with a headache, a stomach ache from the pineapple cake and a hole in my heart. The is not a Top Chef worthy restaurant. This is not a dream restaurant. This is just another loud, run of the mill Atlanta restaurant. I could not be more disappointed. It was a shame. Blais is such an amazing talent but this restaurant is not the vehicle for his talent. My unsolicited advice for Richard Blais: stop running around the country trying to be a celebrity chef. Buy a hole in the wall building in Inman Park or somewhere off Edgewood. Dress it up. Get behind the line and cook. You have brilliance in you but no one will even know it if you keep lending your name to all these pedestrian restaurants. The Spence was a shame. Thomas C. Wooldridge
(1)Doug S.
My wife and I really enjoyed our visit to The Spence. I'll say off the bat that the service was phenomenal, which really goes a long way at these types of places (since you may have questions as you are gorging yourself...). Started off with two warm rolls (made at Holman & Finch, I believe) with a coconut spread that was a great start. The wine, cocktail & beer list are all great - my wife had a gin, fresh lemon, and ginger beer cocktail that was unique and refreshing. We also ordered the bone marrow (awesome), the English pea pasta dish with bacon (surprisingly our favorite - a must try), the fried sea creatures, and the brussel sprouts in Thai vinaigrette (also a must try). The violet ice cream & marshmallow dessert capped it off nicely (and maybe a scotch or two). I'm glad I was a little loaded by the end so I didn't realize how much food I had just ingested...though it was totally worth it. The only downside for me here is similar to other restaurants owned by this ownership group - they go for a "cozy" feel by placing tables heinously close to each other which for some reason I absolutely despise. That being said this is a must try if you are in the area, at least for a drink and a couple apps.
(4)Chan V.
This is my review straight up. I'm confused about this place. The small plates were VERY small. If you ordered anything, you get a bite size piece that is dressed up in side items that people don't really eat. You will spend a lot of money trying to get full here. The menu really doesn't entice me a bit. I came on a Saturday night (busiest night) and the menu changes every day depending on what's available. What does that mean? Leftover day? There were items like foie gras, halibut, bone marrow, spaghetti, and various bite size ingredients. Obviously the plate presentation was a key factor here but as far as having substance in your meal, it's not there. The food should be up for display and not really for eating. I ordered a strip steak instead which taste like pork due to some fancy method of slow preparation. If I wanted to taste pork, I would order pork. My six friends agree that the food was not all that impressive except the corn cream brulee and warm honey-glazed bread with coconut butter cream. The server recommended the popular Hemmingway Fizz cocktail but I had to get rid of it. The whipped egg white smell reminds me too much of sweaty kids on a hot summer day. The taste was exactly like water with lemon. The music was 90's hip-hop while the atmosphere was 2013 rustic modern. Like I said, I was confused. Perhaps this place was trying a little too hard?
(1)Kate L.
The service started out incredibly slow. Nobody came to our table until about 15 minutes after we were seated. I'm not sure if this was a mis-communication with which servers were supposed to be at our table. Once we were served, however, we lucked out and ordered some good stuff. The Maldito's Crutch and Fairbanks Fizz cocktails were perfect and refreshing for a humid evening. The hamachi collar was delicious--I've never had it outside of sushi before. The corn brulee is a good side dish that's both sweet and savory. We also ordered the pork belly and sausage, and the juicy Lucy, and both were just the kinds of meat dishes you expect. The former was good, but nothing mind-blowing, and the latter was a good burger but difficult to eat. The pineapple upside down cake for dessert, however, was the perfect end to the meal.
(4)Scott B.
I am really happy that I ignored the mediocre reviews on here and had dinner last night. I had a completely different experience than a lot of the reviews. The music wasn't very loud. In fact, I could barely hear it at all. If you look at my previous reviews, I am the first person to complain about loud music. The portions match the price for these quality ingredients. The service was a little cold at times. Not bad, but not Southern Hospitality. We had an issue getting our desserts. It was a simple communication breakdown at the kitchen. Not a huge deal. Our server took care of it. A great place to go and expand your palate. I would recommend ordering Tapas style and sharing dishes. Trust me, I didn't eat all of food listed below myself. Now to the food: -Oysters & Pearls- The perfect amount of heat to compliment the Oysters. A must try. They were so good that we ordered another plate of them. (10/10) -Fried Sea Creatures with Uni Tarter Sauce- A mix of fried calimari, swordfish (I believe), and vegetables. One of the larger portions on the menu. (8/10) -Bone Marrow, Tuna Tartar and Fried Quail Eggs- Come with a good amount of bread to mix everything on. Great flavoring and seasoning. Interesting take on any other way to serve tartar that I have seen. Must try. (9/10) -Pork Terrine with Kohlrabi - Orange Jam & Zucchini. Super sweet jam goes great with saltiness of the terrine. An improvement on the usual apricot jam that I normally see with terrine. (9/10) -Guinea Hen & Foie Terrine, Pistachios & Sweet Mascarpone- Best dish of the night. Best Dish that I have ever had. The terrine is great by itself, but the Foie Gras in the middle of the terrine was almost orgasmic. Best that I have ever had. A few other ingredients added to this. There was pickled ginger if my mind serves me correctly. Amazing. Two of us ordered this and couldn't stop talking about it. (10/10) -Milk Chocolate, Peanut, Burnt Banana Ice Cream - I was sold as soon as I saw burnt Banana. The Ice Cream was great. The texture of the chocolate was a little strange, but the flavors were spot on. I am not sure if this restaurant is too progressive for its diners, but put this in New York or Chicago, it would take weeks for reservations. I actually preferred this to Girl & the Goat, which is constantly receiving awards and accolades here in Chicago.
(5)Dedrick B.
I was excited to see The Spence was on the Midtown Restaurant list, since I have been wanting to try it. Usually, I avoid restaurants with "pork belly" on the menu, since that just indicates that the restaruant is a tad too trendy for my taste. I wish I had enforced that rule in this case. On to the food. They brought out the bread, which tasted and resembled store bought Parker House rolls (or that's what we called these growing up). Note: there was also somethime called "canned soup" on the menu, and I am not sure why some trendy restaurants like to offer these types of menu items.(Example: government mac and cheese at Rathbun Steak) Do they want us to feel like, oh, this place isn't so fancy after all? The rolls were bland, so I took one bite. But the beet salad was one of the best I have had in this city, so no complaints there. I ordered the fish option, which was trout "cheeks", consistening of about 3 ounces of tasty fish sauted and served on a couple of tablespoonsful of pureed sweet potatoes, and a couple of asparagus spears. All I can say is that it was pretty tasty, but don't go hungry, since this serving was miniscule.. My friend had the duck breast, which he thought was a little too tough but flavorful. The chocolate cake with a dolllop of ice cream was good, but not something I would order again. (does not compare to the flourless chocolate cake at La Tavola)
(2)Amy C.
Ever since I heard of Richard Blais and watch him win on Top Chef, I've tried any restaurant to which he is a co-owner or executive chef in. This year, The Spence, was part of midtown restaurant week and I couldn't have been more excited. I went and for my first course got his pearl and oysters which was very fresh but not like anything any other restaurant that offers fresh oyster? For my entree, I got the duck which I was VERY disappointed with when I saw it. IT WAS SO SMALL!!!! 5 thinly pieces of duck and I had asked for mine to be medium and received medium rare and it was at times SO RARE that it was hard to cut let alone chew and swallow. For my desert, I got the chocolate cake, and yes it was rich and delicious but again VERY SMALL portions. I am not someone who eats a ton each meal but I do eat (sorry that im not sorry for being ano Spence). Really, if you didn't pregame your meal at The Spence with a meal, you are NOT going to get full unless you are a child between the ages of 6-10. For how much it costs to eat here, there are PLENTY of other restaurants in town that are much better at the same cost, and oh! wait for it... will actually fill your tummy up!
(2)Adam D.
We made reservations for early Friday evening. Turns out we didn't need them as there were plenty of open tables. Our server, Jessica, helped us immensely to understand the menu. It is not that it is difficult to comprehend the concept, just the food is a little exotic and she knew it well. She told us that most of the menu was meant for sharing with just a few dishes meant as full entrees. We took a few minutes and went through the sharing dishes and selected three we wanted to try and two sides to share. The Sardinian gnocchi and bone marrow came out first. The gnocchi was phenomenal and my wife devoured most of it. The bone marrow was really meant for me. It was great and particularly when the marrow and tuna tartare was spread on the toasted bread they brought with it. Then our scallops came out. The scallops are life changing. Apparently, they are new to the menu in this way but I was shocked at how much better they were than any other scallop I've ever had before. They were with Spanish sausage, black garlic and a pho broth and it created such a great flavor together. For sides we had the corn creme brûlée which was so fun and the mac and head cheese which was super creamy. For dessert we tried the mint panna cotta with cucumber sorbet (super refreshing), the warm chocolate cake with honey ice cream and what was surprisingly fantastic to me which was the pistachio shortcake with strawberries and cream. We also tried many of their specialty cocktails and each one was good in its own way. Lastly, my wife remarked about how clean The Spence was. The decorations are cool but it is the attention to detail in cleanliness that puts the decor over the top. We loved The Spence, not sure we can afford to go back though :)
(5)David D.
First impression was waiting a half hour to be seated with a reservation. The appetizers were fabulous but the main course was very disappointing. Our duck was cold, the strip steak was over-cooked, much too salty and filled with gristle, and the fish was poor. The sides we ordered did not arrive until about ten minutes after we had finished our meal. (Of course, they were taken off the bill.) Our water glasses were empty and someone came with a pitcher that had enough for three of us. She never returned to fill the 4th glass. I wish I could be more positive but, if you do go, their apps are a must!
(2)Sheila G.
Tried The Spence tonight because we're huge RB fans and if it was anywhere as good as Flip- we were fans! The atmosphere is great and the service was just as good. We played it safe (comparatively speaking) and ordered the fluke and the strip. they were both DELICIOUS! We also ordered the macaroni and head cheese just out of curiosity and I could definitely have passed on it. The entire center was cold. Not freezing by any means, just cold. I would have thought it was intentional except the entire plate and bowl it was served in was burning hot and steaming so we asked our server and she quickly replaced it for a new warmer one. I would definitely go back because the server said the menu changes daily so I'd be interested to try some more amazing dishes!
(4)Melissa B.
I decided pretty early on in my visit I'd want to come back again. Nothing to do with the food yet, but the open layout of the space, especially at the bar is very inviting. Plus free valet in Tech Square is a great convenience as parking in this area can be annoying and not free. The hostesses and servers were very friendly and the cocktails are pretty refreshing. The menu has a good variety of options. They oysters were yummy, but I think I'm not quite classy enough to praise the 'pearls' they come with. I was curious and impressed by the idea of frozen pellets of creme fraiche...but I kinda just want some hot sauce instead (I know, already admitted I wasn't classy, don't hate). The smoke dome over the pork belly is a neat idea...but not being a big pork belly person, I was more curious to see how the sides were flavored by the smoke. And I must say that broccoli rabe should always come in a smoke dome, that was my favorite thing I tried on this visit. Great atmosphere and a great reason to venture into Tech Square, I'm sure this place will outlive everything else that was in this space before.
(4)Ellen M.
Food: Hit and miss. Fantastic roasted carrot and radish salad served in a cold stone bowl. Perfect crunch with emphasis on earthy flavors of the vegetables themselves. Lamb, however, was kind of a mess. A lot of fat, even for lamb, and I thought it was overpowered by the spices. Good cocktail with bourbon, tea and honey. Setting: It's that ubiquitous cozy-meets-industrial vibe. Kitchen is open to the dining room. Good perch for people-watching with floor-to-ceiling windows that open to 5th Street and courtyard. Service: Competent. Friendly. Fine. Mixed bag, but I plan to try again.
(3)Sophia S.
I have been crushing on this place since before it opened, and it took me a while to get here so I was overly excited. The whole entire experience was a disappointment. The server was absolutely awful, and the food was not that great. Our server said she was a sommelier but she knew nothing about wine. I ended up having to google things to figure out what we were drinking. I didn't think the oyster dish was worth the hype. On a positive note I loved the bone marrow, goat entree, brussel sprouts, and creamed kale. I did think it was well priced too for the quality of food we got.
(2)Jeff M.
I've been here twice. Two for two. I came here shortly after it opened. I brought two friends who were visiting from out of town. First impression was fantastic. It has that same energy and feel say of JCT Kitchen, but less noise; you can actually converse with your table. The decor is not dissimilar from say Empire State South, Miller Union, or Cakes and Ale: lots of wood, modern, chic but warm and welcoming, cool but laid back. The open kitchen brings a sense of comfort and connection. The labels for the bathrooms reflects its sense of humor. The food is excellent. The bread and butter to start will get your mouth watering. The oysters and pearls was delicious and palate popping (though Thomas Keller's Oysters & Pearls remains the best). The bone marrow with hamachi tartare and quail egg was pure decadence. Superb. If you've never had bone marrow, try it here because you'll be hard pressed finding a place that makes it as good. The rabbit terrine with ramps and green peaches and beets, soft boiled egg, blue cheese, and wasabi were also perfectly balanced and delicious. The best dishes arguably will be outside your comfort zone. The entrees are equally impressive. The crisped pork belly with octopus and BBQ peas and fresh quail with vegetables were home runs. The Juicy Lucy (a cheese filled hamburger born in Minneapolis) is his best burger, better than any I've had at Flip. The triple cooked French fries are triple fantastic. The duck confit with succotash and beets is probably rivaled only by The Atmosphere's duck confit. The entrees are ambitious and diverse, but consistently excellent. Finally the desserts. No disappointment here. The ricotta cheesecake with strawberry and graham is sweet, savory, light, and satisfying. My favorite is the pineapple upside down cake with foie caramel. To me, this dessert hit me on all the right levels. I can't really explain it. Yes, it was satisfying to the taste buds. But it was something more. I've never really had a dessert comfort food. This is it for me. I've had it twice now. Everyone is incredibly friendly. As expected, there are some blips and bumps early in a restaurant's career. We experienced that more the second time around. Dishes were sent our way, which were not ours, and I sadly had to tell them that (though I question my decision as those dishes looked great). The first time, though, was issue free. In fact, one of the waiters had waited on me the first time I went to Bacchanalia. Ecstatic, he reacted in a way I didn't expect: he brought Richard Blais to our table! AWESOME! Down to earth and incredibly friendly, he took the time to say hello, talk to us about our dishes, elicit our feedback, and thank us for supporting him during these early times. I'm eager to watch The Spence mature. Once the early kinks are ironed out, the sky's the limit. It already surpasses Flip and HD1. Finally, the prior space used to be The Globe, which had been a favorite restaurant until I had an anaphylactic episode there (nut allergy), which sent me to the hospital. I haven't been back to this street because of that. With two great experiences here at The Spence, it provides satisfying closure to that chapter. I can't wait to return!
(4)Emmelyn C.
In summary: Moments of brilliance from the food and service, let down by some execution errors which prevented it from being a really really great dining experience. Being big Top Chef fans, we couldn't miss eating at The Spence when passing through Atlanta - definitely curious as to whether Richard Blais' food lived up to all the hype. The space and decor are great with a casual vibe - I can see how it might get a bit noisy, but it wasn't a problem when we were here for an earlyish dinner around 6:45. For food, 2 of us shared the bone marrow with tuna tartare and quail egg, the smoked linguini with clams and sea beans, the oysters and pearls, fried brussels sprouts with Thai vinaigrette and a serve of the thrice cooked fries. All of it was tasty, with my favourites being the bone marrow (I would have picked up the bone to lick it), the oysters (the oysters were perfectly complemented by the creme fraiche and cucumber...even my raw-oyster hating husband liked it!). However, there were little things about the food that I felt could have been done better, and that I would have expected done better from Chef Blais to believe all his hype. Of the 4 clams our pasta was served with, one of the shells was empty, and another was incredibly sandy. The brussels sprouts were still tough in the centre, and were drowned in vinaigrette, making them over-seasoned. While delicious, the bone marrow dish was difficult to eat with the existing cutlery and would have benefitted from a specific spoon served with the dish (try shoving your knife into a small channel of marrow to scoop some out...it's needlessly difficult). The fries were not at all crisp on the outside when served, prompting my husband to comment that the thrice-fried version wasn't much better than a once-fried version. I know these are little things, but I think I expected better from Chef Blais (who was cooking that evening). The other let down was the pacing of the meal. ALL our food arrived within 5-10 minutes of us placing our order. Given the small plate dining concept, I suppose I understand why it all came together...but since they're small plates, they were gone all too soon (despite the fact that we took our waiter's advice and ordered 3 dishes between us (with the sprouts and fries comprising 1 dish)). If we'd stopped at this point, we would have been done with our dinner within roughly 30-40 minutes. At that point, we ordered the oysters, and that took another 10 minutes. I know I'd rather be served too quickly than too slowly, but there's something to be said for the pacing of a meal in a dining experience. We were leaving the restaurant just on 1 hour, which for dinner at a "fancy" restaurant is weird, even if we didn't have dessert. Service was fine, and gets a bonus star because our waiter was kind enough to get Chef Blais to come have a chat and very graciously take a photo with us (like I said, we're Top Chef fans!!). Anyway, potential for brilliance, but a few execution errors made for a so-so experience. If I was ever back in ATL I might try it again (after giving Hugh Acheson's place a go!) to see if a mediocre overall experience could be improved.
(3)John M.
Outstanding experience! Server was informative and attentive without being overbearing. We had a group And tried 10 dishes "family style." Oysters, root vegetables, and bone marrow were highlights. The pork was a bit dry, and was the only one that was not a home run. Wine selection was excellent. Overall, the best meal I have had in a long time!
(5)Reba Jean B.
I finally made it to The Spence. And I have to say, I'm a bit regretful for not making it here sooner. I've heard all the complaints about The Spence; it's loud, the food is soooo weird, blah blah blah. Well, I have to say, we had a fantastic dinner here on a rainy Tuesday evening. It was a perfect place to have a small birthday dinner. The setting is hip as the Smiths and Psychedelic Furs were blaring in the background. This probably would not have been the best dinner for an older crowd or a business dinner, but perfect for us. I imagine this place is uncomfortably loud on the weekends. But let me get to the food. It really knocked our socks off. We ordered quite a bit from the menu and all of it was outstanding. I am really, really impressed. Our lamb was cooked perfectly. The sweetbreads were great. The oysters, of course, were phenomenal. I love the menu and the way it is executed. Richard Blaise, you have made a fan out of me. You have turned this HD1 hater into a Spence lover. I thank you for your dinner rolls with coconut butter. Your menu is interesting and it will keep me coming back. However, I do have one complaint. It's a complaint I hear too often when I speak about The Spence. The service was terrible. Absolutely terrible. We sat at our table drinkless for most of our dinner. The restaurant was aware we were celebrating a birthday party. We were served one round of drinks the entire night. That one round took over an hour to get. I guess he was just too slow to care about actually serving anyone. We were also talked out of ordering a few plates. I was quite excited about a terrine being on the menu. The server explained to us what a terrine was in a smug British accent and I was like yeah, it's a terrine and I want it. What can I say? I am a meat cream/ gel fan. Whatever, the server won. When our plates were delivered to the table, many there were as well, there was no flatware. We sat there for what seemed a lifetime. I asked the food runner once I saw him again for the flatware and he said he couldn't get us anything but food. It was our servers duty to do everything else. The forks and knives were just behind him on the bar. That sorely irritated me. In the end, even with the terrible service, The Spence gets 4 stars from me. I loved the food. And Richard Blais, thank you for bringing a lil something new and hip into Atlanta.
(4)