The old Avalon is now Spence 312 and always good to have another BYO open. We used to go to the old Spence Cafe and Butterfish, both owned by the same person, so we kinda knew the food would be good. The soup de jour was a very creamy and piping hot She Crab soup that was in a nice sized bowl. The duck Sping rolls were 4 tasty rolls with confit and came with a soy dipping sauce. The rack of lamb, which seems to be special every Saturday, was 6 chops of tender lamb that came with Squash and Rutabaga. The speical pasta was pillows of al dente pasta filled with cheese and came with peas and a nice light cream sauce. The service was friendly and attentive. The price is very reasonable as the entire bill was $65.00. Didn't stay for dessert as a large table next to us was over the top loud. Parking is street and they take most credit cards. Will go back in the Sping when they open the outdoor patio in hopes for a nice meal with a little more quiet.
(4)
Deron J.
FANTASTIC!!!! So glad to have Chef Andy back in action in West Chester. We have been here about 5 times since they opened about 5 months ago, and that's because we have never been anything but thrilled by a meal yet. The Short Ribs are drool-worthy, the specials are always phenomenal, and the calamari and flatbread are great, and I don't remember dessert-but I know I always like it. It is busy, and reservations are a must. We love that it's BYO. The Service always impresses me. They are a top notch team all-around. We will be back again and again!
(5)
Jennifer B.
So glad to see Spence back. All our food was first rate: calamari appetizer, chicken in phyllo, short ribs, sides of kale and Brussels sprouts, and goat-cheese-and-honey appetizer that our server wisely suggested makes an outstanding dessert. We particularly appreciated her in-depth knowledge of the menu.
(4)
J L.
I forgot to give a write up when I visited here with my cousins two Fridays ago. Thought it was worth noting that all 5 of us had a different entree and all loved our food. Service was great and you can't beat another West Chester BYOB! Goat cheese appetizer is a must... And I'm not even a big goat cheese guy!
(4)
Gina M.
It's great to have Spence back in West Chester! Chef Andrew cannot miss a beat when it comes to comfort food with a modern twist and flavors that are amazing! We had the raw oysters, amazing goat cheese appetizer, phyllo chicken dinner and short rib dinner. Intimate setting, great staff, and super awesome food. The chicken phyllo is a must, I gotta say...
(5)
Julia B.
Such a wonderful restaurant. The food is outstanding. The services is equally wonderful, and the ambiance is great. The portions are very generous for this type of high quality food. It is clearly prepared in-house with fresh ingredients. I've eaten here a few times and have always left feeling like it was money well spent. Hubby and I have enjoyed a late night dinner, and we have also taken our three young kids for an early dinner. The waiters are well trained and provide excellent service. The cookiewich with salted caramel ice cream was one of the most incredible desserts I've ever eaten. I highly recommend Spence 312.
(5)
Jack M.
Went here with my parents looking for a nice seafood dinner. It's nice that it's a BYOB, but unlike other reviewers, I don't let work I did to bring wine influence my review. This place was good, not great. We started with fried calamari and oysters. The oysters were pretty good, those not as briny or as meaty as those I've become accustomed to from the Chesapeake Bay. The chile sauce served with the calamari was awesome. Get that to start. As for the main course, I got the clam bake. This is just all right. For the price I'd expect very meticulously crafted seafood which this was not. The sauce was too acidic for something delicate like seafood. It lacked an element of unctuousness and fat content that deterred from both the mouthfeel and flavor profile of the dish. Nothing really pulled it all together. It was just a bunch of different types of seafood in a bowl with a sauce I felt was not well thought-out. My mom got a special: crab stuffed trout. That I thought was spectacular. It had a blend of buttery richness and freshness that packed a bomb of a flavor explosion. I never see my mother finish her whole plate and this time she did. Spence 312 is an OK spot. It didn't wow. As a budget conscious young adult I just can't justify coming back.
(3)
Matt V.
We had an incredible meal here for a pre-wedding pre-rehearsal dinner. The place is also BYOB which is a nice change a pace as far as I am concerned. I had the Scottish salmon which was excellent while my girlfriend had with almond chicken with quinoa. Both were very tasty. Service was very good and I really liked the decor it what seemed to be located in a West Chester. Will be sure to visit again when back in town.
(4)
Anda D.
Steak and seafood BYO. Interior is deceptively small, there are seating areas upstairs and outdoor as well. Food was very good. For appetizers we tried calamari (a C due to slight chewiness), flatbread (a B) and the cheese plate which also had sopressata, olives and fig jam with it (A). Main dishes our party ordered: short ribs (B+, could've been little more tender if it had more liquid while cooking), black bass (A), fettuccini with shrimp, scallops and muscles (B+), and the special cowboy steak with oyster mushrooms in a balsamic reduction sauce (A). The fava beans offered as a side were a bit dry, but the fingerling potatoes were very good. For dessert we tried the chocolate torte, bread pudding and a cheesecake. The bread pudding won out! Service was good as well.
(4)
Abbie D.
I had no expectations when we went and we LOVED our food. I got one of the specials which was a crab salad and it was amazing. Lumps of meat with basil and tomatoes stacked high. Delicious. Can't wait to go back. The chef also came out and talked with us, which was a nice touch. And it's BYOB.
(5)
Andrew V.
A great new spot where Avalon once was before it moved. Seams to be mostly specialized in seafood dishes but there are some land critters on the menu as well. It's a casual atmosphere and BYOB. We arrived at 5:30 for an early dinner and it wasn't really busy, that changed around 6, so make sure to book reservations because it got packed. We started out with the flatbread which is apparently changed often, ours had some Italian meats and cheeses on it and was delicious. It was almost like a small pizza. The calamari was different from what I'm used to. It wasn't terrible, the sauce was actually great (kind of like a sweet chili sauce), but the it was fried in an unusual manner that reminded me of the short lived Burger King chicken fries. The entrees were all fantastic though. We had the mussels, scallops, and lobster mac which was one of the specials of the evening. I ordered the lobster mac and it had huge pieces of lobster in it. The scallops though were probably the best I've ever had. Perfectly seared and as tender as butter. We also ordered some desserts which were all great too. As I said, this place did get very busy as the night went on which slowed service quite a bit, but the food was still fantastic and it gave us plenty of time to finish our wine. I'm sure this place has yet to hit its stride and it's already pretty darn good.
Restaurant is great but unfortunately sounds like a high school cafeteria when full. Food is delicious and service is excellent just be prepared to say "what?" a lot.
(4)
Steve O.
Good experience overall. Nice atmosphere inside. Service was good. Had the oysters spence which were ok only 4 for $12 tho. My wife had the scallops for dinner which were ok but they only give you 3, so hope ur not too hungry! The steak frites were pretty good, nice portion. One suggestion for management is get some real rolls. Those dinner rolls are not up to par for a top restaurant, seem like something you'd buy in a grocery store. We didn't have any desert but they looked pretty good. I think we will try it again as we really like byob 's
(3)
Michael K.
GREAT food... My wife and I are huge BYOB fans and we track down anyone in the area that we haven't tried. So we i found that Spence312 moved into what use to be Avalon and i thought lets give it a shot. Apparently there was a Spence cafe at one point. (never tried it, wasnt from the area before) But who cares thats old news. This place is 5 stars all the way. Every course we had was amazing. My wife got She-Crab soup and it was blow your socks off good, we joked about asking for a bucket to go. I ordered the Flat bread special and was not let down at all. (i cant remember what all was on it, sounded fancy, tasted great sorry for the poor review on it but just order it) For main course my wife got the Scallops which were very good. they had a cauliflower puree that i spend 5 mins telling my wife it was mashed potatoes and she promised me it was cauliflower. I said no one makes Caulifower this good.... it was Cauliflower, my wife was right.......again. I orderd the Lamb Shank (special that night) it was AMAZING... i have used that word too much in this review...lets go with it was DEVINE.... no lets just stick with AMAZING because it was. I hate every last bit and if the restraurant was empty i would have licked the plate clean!!! Friendly service, it was a tuesday so it was quiet in the place. I am sure on a friday or saturday night it gets loud but that means your at a nice place, so deal with it, your there for the food not a quiet atmosphere. if thats what you want go to barnes and noble. Anyway Def give this shot a try, its got to be one of the best BYOB in West Chester!!!
(5)
Tara O.
Not buying the hype...I had such high expectations for this restaurant...realistic, not crazy. I went with my family for a late holiday celebration, 12 of us on a Tuesday night. The restaurant was not super busy, which is always reassuring when you have such a large party. The waitress was absolutely HORRIBLE with an even worse attitude. She was constantly making snide remarks under her breath and when we asked if we could just order our apps first so we did not feel rushed, she flat out said NO, and said that the kitchen times everything. Well, low and behold, our apps and salads came out at the same time, shorty followed by our entrees :( I was not blown away with the entrees, especially for the price. BYOB is a nice option, but not when there is a $5 corking fee per bottle over 2. (There should be some sort of arrangements that can be made for large parties) The dessert however, was fantastic!!! Almond Cheesecake. I am not sure if that was because I was starving from having a mediocre dinner? Would I go back? Probably not...would I recommend? Probably not. There are so many BETTER restaurants in WC to visit before here...sorry, just being honest.
(2)
Doug J.
So glad to see Andy back cooking in downtown WC. We picked the worst night to go to Spence 312 as it was Christmas Parade night...so really tough parking, but we made it in time unlike others who had to cancel. Nice menu and a few specials like rack of lamb and crab risotto which our table enjoyed. Salads were very nice with not too much dressing. As my dear wife says...any place that has really good side dishes like veg and potatoes is going to have really good entrees. That was the case here. Shredded rutabaga and scalloped potatoes were great with the lamb. Almond pear tart with salted caramel ice cream to end the night was super. We'll be back soon. Nice job Andy....welcome back!
(4)
Genny S.
All I can say is WOW!! Wonderful, delicious food! I had the mushroom soup to start and I enjoyed it, it was the best mushroom soup I have ever had, nice base with chunks of mushrooms; I had the crabcakes with the mango chutney and sauted veggies. The crab cakes were over the top awesome. The chutney MADE the crab cake. My husband was equilly wowed by the samon and crab salad, he also had the flatbread but wasn't as floored by that and said he would have liked a bit more flavor. I would certainly dine there again! We also had the most wonderful waitness, Kelsey, she was very knowledgable regarding the menu. We sat outside and it was so pleasant walking through the restuant on the way out, it seemed really noisy so I am glad we chose outside. Everything appears to be rather dark inside; black tablecloths as well as a very dark floor.i can't wait to go back!!!
The restaurant is well appointed and the service is excellent. I had the soup, steak frites, and side of kale/spinach. The food was good but everything was a tad bit too salty, and I love salt. The steak was also a touch dry on the ends. Prices are on the higher end but would be worth it if they adjusted the cooking slightly. Definitely has potential to be a great place.
(4)
J. S.
This was our first time dining at Spence 312, though we've lived in West Chester for a couple of years now. We arrived for dinner before the rush, and there was only one or two tables occupied in the entire restaurant. I mention this because we were seated at what was probably the least attractive spot in the restaurant (a high-traffic area right next to a drafty window) even though many better tables were vacant. It made us feel like we were unappreciated from the get-go... not a very good first impression. The food was decent. We ordered a flatbread to start, and the short rib and scallops as entrees. We though all of the food was good, but not great. The scallops were luke-warm when they arrived. The pricing was average for the area. The service was, again, good but not great. To start, it took the server about two minutes to get the cork out of the wine bottle... a bit awkward. And, instead of just bringing obvious things to the table (water, bread, salt/pepper), we had to ask for these or at least confirm that we wanted them. Just bring them! Why not? They are at no cost to the customer, and they cost the restaurant virtually nothing, so there's no reason not to add them to the table. Other than these flaws, the service was fine. Overall, we had a good experience, but nothing to write home about. We would come back to try Spence 312 again, just because we don't think any venue can be truly judged based on one experience. That said, we wouldn't go out of our way to eat here, especially when there is an abundance of great restaurants in downtown West Chester to choose from.
(3)
Sharon D.
Great experience. We were given a gift card for Spence 312 and decided to go. What a wonderful meal we had!! Kelsey our server was very attentive and had great personality. We started out with the oyster appestizer. They were so good, we order seconds!! I had crab cakes as an entree which were the best I ever tasted and my husband had the Grouper special which was also excellent.
Excellent menu. Delectable dinner. Salmon was the best I've had in a long time. Prices are reasonable. However, the noise level was painful. I recognize that it was a crowded weekend evening but I felt my ears were beginning to bleed. My party had to actually lean in to carry on a conversation. Good thing we didn't have much to discuss. I will return but not without my earplugs.
(4)
Kelsey S.
Dined here last evening for V-Day and had a great experience. Ambiance was quaint and cozy, low lighting for a romantic atmosphere. This spot is BYOB so we enjoyed being able to have a couple bottles of wine too! Waiter was kind and attentive throughout the experience. There was a special menu for Valentines day which had a nice selection of appetizers, salads, entrees, and desserts. We started with the mussels in a spicy coconut broth which was amazing! The sauce was the perfect amount of spicy, and the coconut gave a creamy consistency that really help to off set the heat. Mussels were cooked very well, not overdone as I have seen in many places and they gave a good portion amount. I really liked how we ordered everything at once but they were able to space out the timing in between appetizer and entree. For an entree, I ordered the scallops which was served over beet risotto. These were the best scallops and risotto I have had in quite some time! Risotto was cooked perfectly and the unexpected use of beets really brought out a great unique flavor in the dish! My boyfriend ordered the peppercorn encrusted new york strip medium rare. The piece of meat was huge and very well cooked. I tried a few pieces of the steak and it was juicy with the right amount of fat. The pink peppercorn encrusting gave the perfect amount of spice and flavor. They brought us out a complimentary glass of champagne which was a really sweet touch! Pricing was very fair, I've spent the same amounts at other restaurants and have been very dissatisfied! I was very happy with the overall experience and I will surely be back again soon!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : No Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Charles R.
The old Avalon is now Spence 312 and always good to have another BYO open. We used to go to the old Spence Cafe and Butterfish, both owned by the same person, so we kinda knew the food would be good. The soup de jour was a very creamy and piping hot She Crab soup that was in a nice sized bowl. The duck Sping rolls were 4 tasty rolls with confit and came with a soy dipping sauce. The rack of lamb, which seems to be special every Saturday, was 6 chops of tender lamb that came with Squash and Rutabaga. The speical pasta was pillows of al dente pasta filled with cheese and came with peas and a nice light cream sauce. The service was friendly and attentive. The price is very reasonable as the entire bill was $65.00. Didn't stay for dessert as a large table next to us was over the top loud. Parking is street and they take most credit cards. Will go back in the Sping when they open the outdoor patio in hopes for a nice meal with a little more quiet.
(4)Deron J.
FANTASTIC!!!! So glad to have Chef Andy back in action in West Chester. We have been here about 5 times since they opened about 5 months ago, and that's because we have never been anything but thrilled by a meal yet. The Short Ribs are drool-worthy, the specials are always phenomenal, and the calamari and flatbread are great, and I don't remember dessert-but I know I always like it. It is busy, and reservations are a must. We love that it's BYO. The Service always impresses me. They are a top notch team all-around. We will be back again and again!
(5)Jennifer B.
So glad to see Spence back. All our food was first rate: calamari appetizer, chicken in phyllo, short ribs, sides of kale and Brussels sprouts, and goat-cheese-and-honey appetizer that our server wisely suggested makes an outstanding dessert. We particularly appreciated her in-depth knowledge of the menu.
(4)J L.
I forgot to give a write up when I visited here with my cousins two Fridays ago. Thought it was worth noting that all 5 of us had a different entree and all loved our food. Service was great and you can't beat another West Chester BYOB! Goat cheese appetizer is a must... And I'm not even a big goat cheese guy!
(4)Gina M.
It's great to have Spence back in West Chester! Chef Andrew cannot miss a beat when it comes to comfort food with a modern twist and flavors that are amazing! We had the raw oysters, amazing goat cheese appetizer, phyllo chicken dinner and short rib dinner. Intimate setting, great staff, and super awesome food. The chicken phyllo is a must, I gotta say...
(5)Julia B.
Such a wonderful restaurant. The food is outstanding. The services is equally wonderful, and the ambiance is great. The portions are very generous for this type of high quality food. It is clearly prepared in-house with fresh ingredients. I've eaten here a few times and have always left feeling like it was money well spent. Hubby and I have enjoyed a late night dinner, and we have also taken our three young kids for an early dinner. The waiters are well trained and provide excellent service. The cookiewich with salted caramel ice cream was one of the most incredible desserts I've ever eaten. I highly recommend Spence 312.
(5)Jack M.
Went here with my parents looking for a nice seafood dinner. It's nice that it's a BYOB, but unlike other reviewers, I don't let work I did to bring wine influence my review. This place was good, not great. We started with fried calamari and oysters. The oysters were pretty good, those not as briny or as meaty as those I've become accustomed to from the Chesapeake Bay. The chile sauce served with the calamari was awesome. Get that to start. As for the main course, I got the clam bake. This is just all right. For the price I'd expect very meticulously crafted seafood which this was not. The sauce was too acidic for something delicate like seafood. It lacked an element of unctuousness and fat content that deterred from both the mouthfeel and flavor profile of the dish. Nothing really pulled it all together. It was just a bunch of different types of seafood in a bowl with a sauce I felt was not well thought-out. My mom got a special: crab stuffed trout. That I thought was spectacular. It had a blend of buttery richness and freshness that packed a bomb of a flavor explosion. I never see my mother finish her whole plate and this time she did. Spence 312 is an OK spot. It didn't wow. As a budget conscious young adult I just can't justify coming back.
(3)Matt V.
We had an incredible meal here for a pre-wedding pre-rehearsal dinner. The place is also BYOB which is a nice change a pace as far as I am concerned. I had the Scottish salmon which was excellent while my girlfriend had with almond chicken with quinoa. Both were very tasty. Service was very good and I really liked the decor it what seemed to be located in a West Chester. Will be sure to visit again when back in town.
(4)Anda D.
Steak and seafood BYO. Interior is deceptively small, there are seating areas upstairs and outdoor as well. Food was very good. For appetizers we tried calamari (a C due to slight chewiness), flatbread (a B) and the cheese plate which also had sopressata, olives and fig jam with it (A). Main dishes our party ordered: short ribs (B+, could've been little more tender if it had more liquid while cooking), black bass (A), fettuccini with shrimp, scallops and muscles (B+), and the special cowboy steak with oyster mushrooms in a balsamic reduction sauce (A). The fava beans offered as a side were a bit dry, but the fingerling potatoes were very good. For dessert we tried the chocolate torte, bread pudding and a cheesecake. The bread pudding won out! Service was good as well.
(4)Abbie D.
I had no expectations when we went and we LOVED our food. I got one of the specials which was a crab salad and it was amazing. Lumps of meat with basil and tomatoes stacked high. Delicious. Can't wait to go back. The chef also came out and talked with us, which was a nice touch. And it's BYOB.
(5)Andrew V.
A great new spot where Avalon once was before it moved. Seams to be mostly specialized in seafood dishes but there are some land critters on the menu as well. It's a casual atmosphere and BYOB. We arrived at 5:30 for an early dinner and it wasn't really busy, that changed around 6, so make sure to book reservations because it got packed. We started out with the flatbread which is apparently changed often, ours had some Italian meats and cheeses on it and was delicious. It was almost like a small pizza. The calamari was different from what I'm used to. It wasn't terrible, the sauce was actually great (kind of like a sweet chili sauce), but the it was fried in an unusual manner that reminded me of the short lived Burger King chicken fries. The entrees were all fantastic though. We had the mussels, scallops, and lobster mac which was one of the specials of the evening. I ordered the lobster mac and it had huge pieces of lobster in it. The scallops though were probably the best I've ever had. Perfectly seared and as tender as butter. We also ordered some desserts which were all great too. As I said, this place did get very busy as the night went on which slowed service quite a bit, but the food was still fantastic and it gave us plenty of time to finish our wine. I'm sure this place has yet to hit its stride and it's already pretty darn good.
(4)Stephen W.
The restaurant is good. We were recommended to try the grilled Caesar salad and the short ribs with puréed cauliflower. Both were decent, although u got roasted potatoes instead (the server packed some of the cauliflower to go as an apology). My wife had salmon, which was fine, you cannot expect much from salmon in a restaurant. We tried a crawfish/oyster appetizer that was creative, although a little bland. Service was fine, food was decent, BYOB meant a low over all bill. Wait staff is friendly, atmosphere a bit sterile but pleasant. Clearly Spence 312 is trying hard, and are pleasing many already. We probably just ordered the wrong things and will certainly try them again. .
(3)Jim C.
Restaurant is great but unfortunately sounds like a high school cafeteria when full. Food is delicious and service is excellent just be prepared to say "what?" a lot.
(4)Steve O.
Good experience overall. Nice atmosphere inside. Service was good. Had the oysters spence which were ok only 4 for $12 tho. My wife had the scallops for dinner which were ok but they only give you 3, so hope ur not too hungry! The steak frites were pretty good, nice portion. One suggestion for management is get some real rolls. Those dinner rolls are not up to par for a top restaurant, seem like something you'd buy in a grocery store. We didn't have any desert but they looked pretty good. I think we will try it again as we really like byob 's
(3)Michael K.
GREAT food... My wife and I are huge BYOB fans and we track down anyone in the area that we haven't tried. So we i found that Spence312 moved into what use to be Avalon and i thought lets give it a shot. Apparently there was a Spence cafe at one point. (never tried it, wasnt from the area before) But who cares thats old news. This place is 5 stars all the way. Every course we had was amazing. My wife got She-Crab soup and it was blow your socks off good, we joked about asking for a bucket to go. I ordered the Flat bread special and was not let down at all. (i cant remember what all was on it, sounded fancy, tasted great sorry for the poor review on it but just order it) For main course my wife got the Scallops which were very good. they had a cauliflower puree that i spend 5 mins telling my wife it was mashed potatoes and she promised me it was cauliflower. I said no one makes Caulifower this good.... it was Cauliflower, my wife was right.......again. I orderd the Lamb Shank (special that night) it was AMAZING... i have used that word too much in this review...lets go with it was DEVINE.... no lets just stick with AMAZING because it was. I hate every last bit and if the restraurant was empty i would have licked the plate clean!!! Friendly service, it was a tuesday so it was quiet in the place. I am sure on a friday or saturday night it gets loud but that means your at a nice place, so deal with it, your there for the food not a quiet atmosphere. if thats what you want go to barnes and noble. Anyway Def give this shot a try, its got to be one of the best BYOB in West Chester!!!
(5)Tara O.
Not buying the hype...I had such high expectations for this restaurant...realistic, not crazy. I went with my family for a late holiday celebration, 12 of us on a Tuesday night. The restaurant was not super busy, which is always reassuring when you have such a large party. The waitress was absolutely HORRIBLE with an even worse attitude. She was constantly making snide remarks under her breath and when we asked if we could just order our apps first so we did not feel rushed, she flat out said NO, and said that the kitchen times everything. Well, low and behold, our apps and salads came out at the same time, shorty followed by our entrees :( I was not blown away with the entrees, especially for the price. BYOB is a nice option, but not when there is a $5 corking fee per bottle over 2. (There should be some sort of arrangements that can be made for large parties) The dessert however, was fantastic!!! Almond Cheesecake. I am not sure if that was because I was starving from having a mediocre dinner? Would I go back? Probably not...would I recommend? Probably not. There are so many BETTER restaurants in WC to visit before here...sorry, just being honest.
(2)Doug J.
So glad to see Andy back cooking in downtown WC. We picked the worst night to go to Spence 312 as it was Christmas Parade night...so really tough parking, but we made it in time unlike others who had to cancel. Nice menu and a few specials like rack of lamb and crab risotto which our table enjoyed. Salads were very nice with not too much dressing. As my dear wife says...any place that has really good side dishes like veg and potatoes is going to have really good entrees. That was the case here. Shredded rutabaga and scalloped potatoes were great with the lamb. Almond pear tart with salted caramel ice cream to end the night was super. We'll be back soon. Nice job Andy....welcome back!
(4)Genny S.
All I can say is WOW!! Wonderful, delicious food! I had the mushroom soup to start and I enjoyed it, it was the best mushroom soup I have ever had, nice base with chunks of mushrooms; I had the crabcakes with the mango chutney and sauted veggies. The crab cakes were over the top awesome. The chutney MADE the crab cake. My husband was equilly wowed by the samon and crab salad, he also had the flatbread but wasn't as floored by that and said he would have liked a bit more flavor. I would certainly dine there again! We also had the most wonderful waitness, Kelsey, she was very knowledgable regarding the menu. We sat outside and it was so pleasant walking through the restuant on the way out, it seemed really noisy so I am glad we chose outside. Everything appears to be rather dark inside; black tablecloths as well as a very dark floor.i can't wait to go back!!!
(5)Caitlin L.
What a great restaurant! I liked it so much I raved about the joint on Facebook that night. BYOB will always give a place at least 2 stars in my book, but regardless it deserves all 5. I ordered the Shecrab soup special as I always get that down the shore. So delicious and wasn't too filling! We also tried the fried calamari with the Thai sauce. Amazing. For dinner my fiancé ordered the pork chops. Let me start by saying I hate pork chops, but this place changed my mind about them. Very moist and had some sort of cranberry or fruit chutney that I could have eaten alone. I had the steak and potatoes and was very impressed. Cooked exactly how I liked it and had enough for lunch the next day. Service was great as well as the price. $65 total for everything. Highly recommend!
(5)Scott K.
The restaurant is well appointed and the service is excellent. I had the soup, steak frites, and side of kale/spinach. The food was good but everything was a tad bit too salty, and I love salt. The steak was also a touch dry on the ends. Prices are on the higher end but would be worth it if they adjusted the cooking slightly. Definitely has potential to be a great place.
(4)J. S.
This was our first time dining at Spence 312, though we've lived in West Chester for a couple of years now. We arrived for dinner before the rush, and there was only one or two tables occupied in the entire restaurant. I mention this because we were seated at what was probably the least attractive spot in the restaurant (a high-traffic area right next to a drafty window) even though many better tables were vacant. It made us feel like we were unappreciated from the get-go... not a very good first impression. The food was decent. We ordered a flatbread to start, and the short rib and scallops as entrees. We though all of the food was good, but not great. The scallops were luke-warm when they arrived. The pricing was average for the area. The service was, again, good but not great. To start, it took the server about two minutes to get the cork out of the wine bottle... a bit awkward. And, instead of just bringing obvious things to the table (water, bread, salt/pepper), we had to ask for these or at least confirm that we wanted them. Just bring them! Why not? They are at no cost to the customer, and they cost the restaurant virtually nothing, so there's no reason not to add them to the table. Other than these flaws, the service was fine. Overall, we had a good experience, but nothing to write home about. We would come back to try Spence 312 again, just because we don't think any venue can be truly judged based on one experience. That said, we wouldn't go out of our way to eat here, especially when there is an abundance of great restaurants in downtown West Chester to choose from.
(3)Sharon D.
Great experience. We were given a gift card for Spence 312 and decided to go. What a wonderful meal we had!! Kelsey our server was very attentive and had great personality. We started out with the oyster appestizer. They were so good, we order seconds!! I had crab cakes as an entree which were the best I ever tasted and my husband had the Grouper special which was also excellent.
(5)Adrienne M.
I went here for the first time with another couple over the holidays. I was so excited to see Spence back again in WC because I used to love going there. The only downside is that they don't have much of a lobby/foyer, so when a lot of people are waiting it is super crowded. But they have a great system set up. You give them your cell number and head over to the High Street Café next door for drinks. They texted me within 5-10 minutes and we headed back. The restaurant is BYOB. I love that because you can save money on alcohol, bring what you want and the restaurant can just focus on making delicious food. My husband and I went with another couple. We shared the calamari and also the goat cheese appetizers. Amazing! Everything was so good. My husband got the steak fritz and loved it. I got the Cioppino dish with a ton of seafood in an amazing tomato broth and crusty bread. It was delicious! Everyone was so jealous and said that they were going to come back again to have it. We finished up the meal with sea salt caramel ice cream. Fantastic! It is so hard to find a restaurant that can provide apps, entrees and dessert for everyone without missing the mark on any. The service was quick and the entire dinner wasn't too expensive. Especially since we brought our own wine. I highly recommend going back there. It's going to be our new favorite. We have tried some of the newer restaurants that have opened up in West Chester and they just blew it on the food and service front. Spence 312 is awesome.
(4)Peter H.
Excellent menu. Delectable dinner. Salmon was the best I've had in a long time. Prices are reasonable. However, the noise level was painful. I recognize that it was a crowded weekend evening but I felt my ears were beginning to bleed. My party had to actually lean in to carry on a conversation. Good thing we didn't have much to discuss. I will return but not without my earplugs.
(4)Kelsey S.
Dined here last evening for V-Day and had a great experience. Ambiance was quaint and cozy, low lighting for a romantic atmosphere. This spot is BYOB so we enjoyed being able to have a couple bottles of wine too! Waiter was kind and attentive throughout the experience. There was a special menu for Valentines day which had a nice selection of appetizers, salads, entrees, and desserts. We started with the mussels in a spicy coconut broth which was amazing! The sauce was the perfect amount of spicy, and the coconut gave a creamy consistency that really help to off set the heat. Mussels were cooked very well, not overdone as I have seen in many places and they gave a good portion amount. I really liked how we ordered everything at once but they were able to space out the timing in between appetizer and entree. For an entree, I ordered the scallops which was served over beet risotto. These were the best scallops and risotto I have had in quite some time! Risotto was cooked perfectly and the unexpected use of beets really brought out a great unique flavor in the dish! My boyfriend ordered the peppercorn encrusted new york strip medium rare. The piece of meat was huge and very well cooked. I tried a few pieces of the steak and it was juicy with the right amount of fat. The pink peppercorn encrusting gave the perfect amount of spice and flavor. They brought us out a complimentary glass of champagne which was a really sweet touch! Pricing was very fair, I've spent the same amounts at other restaurants and have been very dissatisfied! I was very happy with the overall experience and I will surely be back again soon!
(5)