Spencer's At The Waterfront

The restaurant offers a mixed experience. Matcha enthusiasts might be disappointed with the matcha cheesecake, as it lacks the expected flavor. On a positive note, The beef tartare at this restaurant is a culinary delight. The finely chopped beef is expertly seasoned, offering a perfect balance of flavors, definite must-try.the option to bring your own wine is a plus, though the $35 corking fee should be considered. Service consistently excels, adding to the overall dining experience.

Best service I have had in the last decade! However, I had a hard time choosing something to eat. I ended up having falafel since I did not know what majority of the menu was. This is a place for a nice date but not a night out with family for NYE. The drinks made by the bartender were very small portioned and also far from what the taste should have been (Long Island iced tea was nothing like what it should have been). At the end of the seating we were left with nearly $400 of a bill with one drink per person and barely an entree. Overpriced if you ask me.

Previously, I had a great reserved brunch date with my partner here, the food was fresh and delicious, service was extremely attentive and enjoyable, and the view outside was great. Unfortunately, this experience could not have been more different.

I booked in advance to celebrate my partners birthday, making a note about the occasion and planning in advance. When we arrived for our reservation, there was not a table ready for us, and we were asked to wait by the bar, which was no problem. We spent some time looking through the drinks and picked a couple to get, but no one ever came back to take any orders.

Eventually, about 15-20 minutes later we got seated. Even with our booking and the delay to get seated, the front of the house elected to place us on a two person table set up ad-hoc directly adjacent to the only entrance to the kitchen for the staff, beside a large counter that the staff would collect themselves together to process orders and co-ordinate.

Besides conversation being very difficult due to the noise, we also appeared to be in a blind spot of server coverage, with it taking over a half hour for someone to come back with the drink order we immediately put in after being seated from the bar. The only visitor we received in that time frame was a literal cockroach running across the hallway to the kitchen from our table area.

We decided to make the best out of what should have been a celebration and enjoy ourselves, but waited another 45 minutes to make an appetizer order, which we eventually conceded for our main course given the lack of service we had.

This is when under our table, max AC activated for the entire restaurant in winter weather, and we realized our table was also on the main air vent for the restaurant. After waiting another 10 minutes to get anyone's attention, we were able to get a new table (was much later in the night due to the delays, and spots had now opened up). About an hour later our food showed up which was great (credit to the kitchen), and then after waiting to get service to ask for our bill, it took another 45 minutes to actually get it, with the server making multiple stops at the table beside us in the meantime, accidentally making eye contact about 20 minutes in, saying the receipt was "coming right up"?

I then noticed that a birthday item was being brought out with our bill, for it only to be the table that had been serviced now three times since we had asked for our bill getting it, only for us to receive the bill on the fourth trip.

We really wanted to make this our spot for special occasions, I can't imagine we will be going back any time soon given the cost and level of service received.

Absolutely great place! Not so expensive is at looks like! Staff is a top! Food is fantastic! Negroni is perfect!

Came here a while back in the summer with my partner as a going away date, since I would be going on a month long trip. Food was alright, however the miso salmon, and rapini were not the best, and because we were younger the service seemed to be less attentive.

The food is very tasty and the service is excellent. It's a nice place to dine in when we visit the city.

Our family’s favourite restaurant in Burlington, part of the Ancaster Old Mill group. Stunning architecture, gorgeous lake views and an excellent patio. Have been so many times since they opened, their dishes always exceed expectations, corkage currently $35 if you want to bring your own wine (we often do). Service team is absolutely top notch, extremely professional and personable. Fried chicken sandwiches today were outstanding, as was the gnocchi, crab cakes and steak tartare. Make sure you try their Parker rolls. Wow. Highly recommend.

Wonderful setting.
Great food and service.
A bit on the pricey side but worth it for a specisl brunch, lunch, dinner or drinks.

My wife and I had dinner at Spencer's most recently for our anniversary (mention an anniversary and you'll each get a free glass of sparkling wine). We've been there on several occasions, including earlier anniversaries and our kids' graduations from high school.

We've always enjoyed the food and the service at Spencer's; we've never had any complaints about the delicious food and our service has always been excellent. That's why we keep going back!

We normally sit on their second-story patio with its beautiful view out over Lake Ontario. And part of that patio is covered, so even on rainy days it's possible to dine outdoors.

Highly recommended.

I came here for my bday weekend! Staff was so nice and welcoming.the food was super amazing and flavourful. I got the shrimp and scallop spaghetti.the burst if shrimp flavor was wow! Amazing.the portion size was very generous for the cost of the plate.they have little shirmps inside so you can taste shrimp with every bite if the pasta.my partner got the spencer burger.it was delicious. The view is breathtaking. I highly recommend checking this place out. I would definitely come back!

My wife and I got married here at Spencer's. Every year, we celebrate our anniversary there, and it's always an enjoyable experience. Great service, great food, and great company.

I really enjoyed the time at Spencer’s.
The thing I was not happy about was their table, cutlery set, and plates! They were so old and full of scratches. In these types of restaurants, customers care about details not just the food!
The other thing, I wish they had more options for main course.overall, I really enjoyed the food and the lake view.

I've returned after an amazing dinner at a wedding. However the lunch was disappointing. First they have a different menu for lunch than dinner, and it was not specified on the website. Despite booking the reservation a week in advance, requesting indoor seating with lakeview when we got there (on time) there was only patio (heating was placed weirdly above your head and pointed outwards) or bar seats. Food for lunch was okay, nothing to brag about. It is definitely disappointing considering it was for my dad's birthday.

We had dinner here for my mums birthday. The service was excellent. The food was top quality. The atmosphere was lovely.
We paid $450 for 6 adults. However we all agreed the portions were too small. No one had leftovers. They charged us for bread, which we thought was tacky for a restaurant of this caliber.
I had a wedge salad and shrimp for my main course, but I will still hungry after dinner. I was shocked when my main course arrived with only 3 shrimp. My husband and I shared a dessert. And ended up ordering more bread.
It’s elegant and fancy, but at the end of the day I’d rather check out a new restaurant than go back

Fantastic views and friendly relaxed service. The food was surprisingly good and staff are very accommodating. Will definitely return.

Was a wonderful place for us to have dinner. Very good array of dishes to choose from and each dish was good. The only one we did not like was the crab cake

Location awesome nice service but food was ok like they dont have something special in menu but we enjoyed the time

Fantasies place with a beautiful view.
Fodd is bit expensive but cant complain based on the location.

Excellent restaurant with great service. Everyone in my party had something different and we all liked what was ordered. Great views as well.

Classy place, amazing view of the lake, delicious food and great staff. Patio is amazing with gorgeous shade and breeze in the afternoon. I keep going back

I have a lot of complicated allergies but spencers went above and beyond to make sure I could eat something at a family lunch, salmon was cooked to perfection and everyone enjoyed a lovely afternoon.

5 star if you go with adults, I went with my toddler, a bit slow and the environment did not fit him

Amazing atmosphere, great food and wonderful service. This is definitely a must visit place after your delicious meal you can take a nice stroll along the boardwalk and enjoy some wonderful views.

Visited here whilst on vacation - A lovely place to sit outside under a canopy with heaters due to it being a bit chilly, food was good for lunch - I had the burger and tried a little of a friend's lobster roll. Chips were incredible! Staff were very pleasant and happy to help. Would visit again.

Amazing patio. Food, service, and dining experience all wonderful. While it's expensive, the view and experience on top of the great food is worth it.

The patio and atmosphere are delightful with a very nice view of the lake. Service was great and our server was very courteous and attentive. As the night went, it became quite busy and we didn't get as much attention from our server but we were never neglected.

Ordered the tomahawk steak cooked medium for the table and it came out perfectly. All the food is perfectly seasoned; not too salty and not bland at all. I didn't care for the short rib croquette appetizer, but all other food that was ordered was delicious.

Probably should have just got the burger and fries like most people at the restaurant. But went to get fancier with seafood and brazen beef. Definitely won't do it again

First time visit today and won't be our last. We both had the burger and it was a fantastic, flavourful burger and the fries done to perfection. Service from the bartender was outstanding too. Only drawback was an infant who's parent insisted in walking around the restaurant sharing the crying child. Back to the food.it is on the pricey side, but the service, flavours, quality and views are worth it. Will return.

First time here, honestly the best service and food I've had in a while.food was so fresh and the staff overall made my experience.great view and food was amazing.nothing bad to say.restaurant made me super safe during the pandemic.my new fav spot.

Spencer's was topnotch, service, great cocktails and excellent food, all with the best view in Burlington, its worth it!

Desserts are a little flat but the food I had during brunch buffet was fresh and well made. View is fantastic.

Expected more from this "upper scale" restaurant. We were first seated on the patio overlooking the water. While the view was nice, the plastic chairs and sticky tables left a lot to be desired, not what you would expect from an establishment like this. We eventually went inside due to the swarm of bees. While the food had great flavours, the menu items were very limited.

Food was average, food menu options is limited, overpriced for food quality, service was modest. My first visit and don't think will repeat it.
Not sure if this due to Covid, but was not really a pleasant experience, actually ruined my daughter's birthday.

Good place for a small wedding. Especially like the lake front and the architecture mimicking the bottom of a boat on the ceiling. Restaurant serves good fine dining.

Exceptional food and exceptional staff. Location is amazing. A have to enjoy place with special friends.

I just called to make a business reservation for Tuesday evening dinner. Allie picked up the phone and she explained that she is a new hire and for my questions she would ask the so called manager to help out. After 5 min wait time the manager picked up the phone and STORMED at me with explaining BS policies and procedures, constantly interrupting me by raising her voice over me. She had 0 sense regarding customer service and had no professional holding what so ever. My ask was just to add a note next to my reservation to try and put us in a booth or some other appropriate seating where we can have a peaceful dinner and complete our business meeting goals.

To the owner of the Spencer restaurant - Sir/Madam, please reconsider if you want to keep this so called manager on duty, she has terrible approach and attitude. You just lost couple of customers that I am sure you can afford but we both know that every customer experience is important and matter in order to have consistent business that can build your stable revenue.

Thank you,
Nenad

Food was amazing and delicious! Service was excellent and the views amazing, definitely go back

A pricey though worth it resturant with a nice variety of apps, mains and desserts. Well presented by a proffesional wait staff. A great place for a special event.