Spencer's At The Waterfront in Burlington

1340 Lakeshore Rd., Burlington, ON L7S 1B1, Canada

★★★★☆
(2756 reviews)
Categories: Restaurant Event venue Wedding venue

About

Dining spot offering floor-to-ceiling water views, plus an eclectic menu with seafood specialties.

Website
spencers.ca
Address
1340 Lakeshore Rd., Burlington, ON L7S 1B1, Canada
Plus Code
85CX+5X Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Time Zone
America/Toronto

Business Hours

Sunday
11 AM–8 PM
Monday
11 AM–9 PM
Tuesday
11 AM–9 PM
Wednesday
Closed
Thursday
Closed
Friday
11 AM–9:30 PM
Saturday
11 AM–9:30 PM

Services

Service options
Outdoor seating Takeaway Dine-in Delivery
Highlights
Fireplace Great cocktails Great tea selection
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible car park Wheelchair-accessible entrance Wheelchair-accessible seating Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Offerings
Alcohol Beer Cocktails Coffee Healthy options Organic dishes Small plates Spirits Vegetarian options Wine
Dining options
Breakfast Brunch Lunch Dinner Catering Dessert Seating
Amenities
Bar on site Toilets Wi-Fi Wi-Fi
Atmosphere
Cosy Romantic Upmarket
Crowd
Groups
Planning
Reservations required Accepts reservations
Payments
Credit cards Debit cards NFC mobile payments Credit cards
Children
High chairs
Parking
Free of charge street parking Free parking lot Paid parking lot

Photos

Reviews

4.2
★★★★☆
2756 reviews

Most Mentioned

brunch (148) patio (146) lake (134) anniversary (59) oysters (54) lobster roll (52) crab cakes (47) wedding reception (32) striploin (19) burrata (16)
5 stars
1661
4 stars
563
3 stars
197
2 stars
132
1 stars
203
★★★★★
November 19, 2024

My husband and I recently celebrated our anniversary at Spencer's and had an absolutely wonderful experience. From the moment we walked in, we were impressed with the beautiful ambiance and warm atmosphere. The food was nothing short of amazing. We particularly enjoyed the crab cakes, burrata and steak. What made our evening even more special was the fact that they were able to cater to our dietary needs. They ensured that all our dishes were halal, which we truly appreciated. We highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for delicious food, elegant ambiance and exceptional service.

★★★★★
November 18, 2024

This restaurant is a beautiful place to enjoy a Sunday family luncheon! While we had to wait a little longer for all our meals, it was understandable given how busy the place was. The wait was worth it, though—every dish we had was fresh, flavorful, and absolutely delicious. After lunch, we took a leisurely stroll along the beach, soaking in the gorgeous day. It was the perfect way to round off a lovely meal. Highly recommended if you’re in the area!

★★★★
October 28, 2024

Tried Spencer’s for the first time a couple weeks ago and overall it was a good dining experience. The service was outstanding, our waiter was on top of everything, made sure wine was topped up before empty. The atmosphere and views are some of the best in town, this helps justify the cost. The food was good, maybe my expectations were too high given the rest of the experience, but the food was just good, not bad, but good. I had heard this was the same CDC from Black Tree which I went to many times, specifically for gnocchi, that dish here wasn’t nearly as good as I remember. Also my crab cake to start want evenly cooked however the presentation on everything was great. If it weren’t for the outstanding service this review might go another direction however I would definitely return and try something else on their menu.

★★★★★
October 22, 2024

Loved the ambiance, coziness leading to a feel good restaurant experience. We ordered couple of drinks, truffle fries which were amazing and portion size was beyond expectations. Gnocchi and salmon dishes were tasty and you can feel the freshness. All in all great experience. They also have HALAL chicken dishes.

★★★★★
September 14, 2024

This review is going to be a 2 part review. One to review their restaurant side and the other part to review their event space side. First the restaurant. We’ve eaten here multiple times and have enjoyed all the food we’ve had here! Staff are very nice and service is great! They always check up on you to ensure you’re doing alright and ensure water is always topped up. There’s a patio outside and some private booth seating on the inside leading to the washrooms in the back. Highly recommend Spencer’s for their food and also their views! Ok, onto the event space side. They have a smaller space called the Solarium and is great for cocktail hour for an event like a wedding or a corporate one. The main space is called the Observatory and its space just takes your breath away! The view of the lake with their ceiling to floor windows is just so amazing, words can’t describe. The space fits 120 seated, which I was shocked at because from the outside, it looks smaller than it really is. I fell in love with this space and had to have our wedding here, which we did :) The only critical feedback I have is 1. If you look to the left, you see a lot of people in the park area and it’s not as serene as if you look straight to the lake (obviously it’s not something the venue can control at all, but just something to note). 2. The washrooms for wedding guests are located downstairs which is open to the public until 6 or 7pm and if you decide to do your wedding during the summer months there, the washroom floors get super wet from all the the people using the splash pad or playgrounds outside. It’s definitely not conducive for wedding dresses that have a train or any nice evening dresses. I was advised to not use the bathroom downstairs so I had to use the restaurant one. This is the only thing I was a bit disappointed about this venue, and felt bad for my guests that had to share a bathroom with the public. The food was absolutely amazing, and tasted exactly the same as our tasting which was super awesome. We kept getting positive feedback from guests on how delicious the food was and also about the service from the staff. Shout out to Ben who was our on site manager for the night and his team that made the evening super smooth. Definitely a 👍🏻 and highly recommend this venue for your every day meal or a private event!!!

★★★★
July 28, 2024

First time visitors! Made a reservation for 8pm and was seated in bar area until table ready (closer to 830pm). Unfortunately, wasn’t greeted by a server to order a drink while waiting so went back to the entrance and asked hostess to find a server (who eventually did come and get our drink order)….this took about 15 minutes. Many servers passed our table but no one asked if we wanted a drink or even water. The “initial seating and being acknowledged” is really the only aspect of our experience that should be improved. Appreciated that our first drink was complimentary! Once we were seated on the patio, the remainder of our experience was excellent, the food arrived hot and tasty (loved the brussel sprouts and wedge salad) and our server (he didn’t tell us his name but was an older gentlemen and very competent) was great! Pleasantly surprised at the portion size, visual appeal and quality of the food. Will return again.

★★★★★
June 28, 2024

Had a very enjoyable experience. We had dinner on the patio, which was heated so it was the perfect temperature. Dustin served us and he was phenomenal. Was present the perfect amount, made recommendations for us and was very fun to chat with. We ordered the leek flatbread, crab cakes, seafood pasta, braised short rib, truffle fries and brussel sprouts as sides. We opted out of dessert only because we were so full, portions were excellent and everything was delicious. We will be back for dessert and more cocktails!

★★★★★
April 21, 2024

Changing from 1 to 5 stars. After talking with Jon to explain my concerns and that he ensured me that measures were taken to fix them, I decided to give this restaurant another try. I this opportunity the experience was totally different, aligned with what it is expected from a high end restaurant as this one. The service was amazing. Our waitress, Josh, was very attentive not only with us, but also with the other tables around ours, which he was serving. He came several times to ask how we were doing and if there was anything else we needed. The time to get our drinks, appetizers and main courses was correct. The noise level was also reduced. The food was very good. Nothing to complain about this time. I am pleased with the improvements. Thank you for taking in consideration the opinions expressed in the reviews. Initial Review : We had a reservation on Saturday night at 7:30 pm to celebrate my birthday. It was mentioned on the reservation, but no reference to it was done at all. It was useless to mention about it in the reservation. Once we arrived we had to wait 12 minutes before we were assigned a table. We were told that the menu was new and they would welcome any questions, however when we wanted to ask the waitress left and we couldn't ask anything. All the beers and wines listed on the menu were not available and we had to take alternatives to what we wanted. It took an hour and fifteen minutes to get our appetizers and the main courses another hour and fifteen minutes. Tables around ours that were empty got customers served their appetizers, main courses, desserts and bill before we got our food. Very frustrating. The high volume level of the music on top of the noise created by other customers, made very difficult to hold a conversation in the table. For the price, I found the quality of the steaks very poor. Three of the four we ordered had connected tissue or grease. The waitress never came to our table to find out how we were doing or ask how was the food. We were ignored all the time. In general, my experience was extremely bad and will never come back to this place. There are a lot of steakhouse restaurants with a better quality of food and service for similar price.

★★★
Local Guide
December 19, 2024

I like the shrimp cocktail very much. The service is also good. But the steak is not cooked well. I cant chew it at all and the taste is too bland.

★★★★
December 15, 2024

Good food. Good flavour. Decent prices

★★★★★
December 15, 2024

Just had Brunch and the food was Good and the Service was Excellent !!!!

★★★★★
December 14, 2024

Was a guest (+1) for my partners holiday work party. We were in the private room, with great service from the bar team, and enjoyed very tasty hors d oeuvres. The nice gentleman kept coming back to me as he knew I was going to keep accepting them! We sat down, and enjoyed a lovely three course meal. I had the burrata appy, which was amazing, followed with the seafood pasta. Finished the whole thing. Then to top it all off enjoyed the chocolate tart for dessert. Everything came out great and in great timely fashion. 100000/10 experience. Would highly recommend to others. We ll be back!

December 14, 2024

I m disappointed to give this place a one-star rating. I had a reservation for 8:15 PM but was still not seated by 9:30 PM, despite agreeing to be seated inside rather than on the busy patio. The front desk kept me waiting for another 20 minutes with no explanation, even though I noticed a lot of empty tables. This experience suggests poor management and lack of communication with guests. I recommend avoiding this place during holidays or busy weekends unless they improve their reservation system and customer service.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 7, 2024

Service was top notch and the food even better!

★★★★★
December 7, 2024

From start to finish, the greeters, servers and the manager were sincerely friendly and appreciative of our compliments. The food was delicious and beautifully prepared & presented. The atmosphere was both welcoming and relaxing. Thank you for a most memorable afternoon. Dietary restrictions: Gluten free options available

★★★★★
December 7, 2024

Had booked a private room and it was a great experience! The server, Ian, was absolutely amazing, very attentive and always one step ahead of us! Food was also super delicious.

★★★★★
December 7, 2024

Great menu.

★★★★★
November 30, 2024

We looked at Spencer s as our wedding reception and I had the most wonderful experience with their special events coordinator Alexandra Janeczko. She was a pleasure to communicate with, and full of knowledge and support for every question we had. I would highly recommend Spencer s and Alexandra was an absolute highlight

November 30, 2024

unfortunately i had the worst service ever when i came to this restaurant all the employees seemed disinterested and like they didn t want to work and no one checked up on us we even asked for more sauce and plates and drinks and they either never came or was delayed till we asked again as a server who works in the restaurant industry i am completely disappointed and expected a lot better than this

★★★★★
November 30, 2024

I came here for a wedding (I worked the event as a photographer) and absolutely loved the food! I even took some shots of all the courses :)

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 21, 2024

Great place for a wedding and a reception. Food was great, staff were very helpful. Parking can get tight.

★★★
Local Guide
November 21, 2024

I love this place and have always found the food to be outstanding but on this particular occasion the venison was undercooked. That night I had a bad case of food poisoning. A few days later I brought to the attention of the management to which they replied, that no one has ever complained about the rare venison . I find that response to be unacceptable. The manager who also lives in Dundas insisted on making it right and dropping off a little something to compensate the situation which I appreciated but unfortunately he never did follow through with that commitment. Sad story all around

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 21, 2024

Everything was great...food & service

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 21, 2024

Beautiful venue, food was amazing, the obscured view of the lake front really sets the bar for the fine dining experience. Parking in front can be filled up with park goers, however there are Green Ps nearby.

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 21, 2024

Beautiful place, very pleasant atmosphere, wonderful food, especially the Shrimp Tempura with Avocado, Orange, Chili and the New York Striploin. Congratulations to the entire team, especially the impeccable service from the waiter, who, it was my fault, didnt ask your name. Truly an unforgettable dinner and we will be back.

November 21, 2024

Very poor customer service.

★★★★
November 21, 2024

My family and I tried Spencers for the first time on September 15th, 2024. Atmosphere/Ambiance was amazing, and the food was unique given the more premium ingredients associated with each dish. I highly recommend the Branzino for anyone who likes fish, and the Gnocchi for anyone who likes pasta. For myself, I tried the gnocchi and found the dish incredibly mellow! Very soft textures but also very rich in their ingredients. When I tried the Gnocchi, Spencers used a chive emulsion. Though it seems Spencers likes to modify their menu every month by retaining the dishes (i.e., Gnocchi), but modifying their ingredients to present a sense of newness for returning customers! The Branzino (I believe it is a sea bass) presents a rich flavour profile which includes a Livornese sauce. I tasted hints of olive oil, eggplant, tomatoes and many other ingredients that the staff at Spencers could probably articulate better! Of all the dishes, the Branzino impressed me who is Chinese and likes to steam and cook my own fish at home! The Shrimp and Scallop Spaghetti however was disappointing for 2 reasons: a) My nephew who ordered the dish was given 1 scallop and 1 jumbo shrimp (with multiple baby shrimp). I dont know but 1 scallop for a near $50 spaghetti dish that has Scallop in the name is cheap... just my honest opinion. I can let that go though, as the second reason was more disappointing. The dish itself was incredibly salty. We found that the pasta itself (and not the sauce) was salty which perhaps was a mistake on the chefs end. It is very reasonable to assume that everyones salt tolerance is different, but given that my 12 year old nephew found the dish salty (which my sister and myself proceeded to agree with after trying his dish), I think thats a red flag given my nephew loves pasta and is already learning how to cook for himself... Unfortunately, our waitress did not give us a discount on our bill which I presume is customary especially with high-end restaurants that take great pride in their food. For that alone, my final review will be 4 stars as opposed to 5. Honest mistakes such as overly salty pasta happen and thats okay with me personally. But I think compensation or at least a small discount would demonstrate that you care about your customers. Summary: -I Highly recommend the Gnocchi (soft, mellow, relaxing dish) and Branzino (rich flavour profile from the sauce) -Beware of the Shrimp and Scallop Spaghetti (pasta may be salty, and you may only receive 1 scallop for a near $50 dish) -Compensation (e.g., discounts on the bill) may not be given even if a dish is unsatisfactory to a customer

Local Guide
November 21, 2024

I hadnt been to this restaurant in years because the food quality left a lot to be desired. After all this time, I decided to give it another shot on October 26, 2024, but unfortunately, it was a big disappointment. I ordered the Prime Rib Sandwich, and the first half was so dry it was almost inedible; the side salad wasn t fresh either. The latte was even worse honestly, I make better coffee at home. It looked like the barista attempted latte art, but it ended up as a messy blob. I won t be coming back here again. Parking: The staff informed me that there s additional parking available behind the restaurant and across the street.

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 21, 2024

Fantastic restaurant, delicious food with nice portions. Accommodating of food allergies / intolerances. Excellent drink menu and wine list options. Enjoy a classy meal overlooking the lake!

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 21, 2024

Excellent food and service in front of the lake.

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 21, 2024

An awesome dining experience!

★★★★★
November 21, 2024

First time at spencer s celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary and we had a wonderful experience. Food was excellent. The hostesses were welcoming, the staff that helped bring out the food pleasant and our server Alex was amazing. He was polite, friiendly, efficient. He was great with recommending appetizers and meals. And a manager came over and checked on us as well. Thank u for s wonderful exoerience

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 21, 2024

Best place friendly staff great environment to work love my coworkers and love coming here won my days off to eat with my family great vibes always here such an amazing family to work with love my job at Spencers Im so happy and glad to be apart of this wonderful team its just such a beautiful place to work everyday I come to work Im so happy to be there everyone is just so kind !!!! Parking: Beautiful park and at Christmas time free ice skating rink and beautiful lights to walk around in the park ! Kid-friendliness: Great ! Wheelchair accessibility: Yes

★★★
November 21, 2024

Our 3rd time meeting with friends for dinner. We all ordered different plates the oysters and Caesar salad were delicious as the shrimp pasta, beef short ribs and the gnocchi. I decided to try the one bone lamb which was very disappointing the cut was very fatty and a bit undercooked as it left fat rubbery globs, it was also a very petite serving leaving very little lamb , really it was the first substandard dish I ve had there. They did comp a dessert.

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 21, 2024

Great views outside and the ambience is good inside. We really enjoyed the Falafel.

★★★
October 21, 2024

My wife and I had a lovely evening last Saturday. Everything felt right on our special anniversary dinner until our food was brought out. The Cornish hen was delicious but my Ribeye steak was quite disappointing. I had high expectations but the steak was quite tough to eat considering the cut of beef let alone the cost. It was a lovely place with great atmosphere but I m not sure about the quality of the beef.

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 21, 2024

What a great experience coming here. Our server was super attentive everything came within a timely manner and the food was absolutely delicious!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 21, 2024

Beautiful day for a truly yummy snack on the gorgeous patio. What a view! Excellent (modest fee) parking availability. Food

October 21, 2024

My husband and I went for our anniversary tonight and had a reservation booked 4 days previous to the date. Got there and had to wait for our booked table because there were no tables they tried to sit us at the bar and we declined. We were then sat at a table that was beside a group of 16 people that were loud and standing in the isle right beside us. They left and then another group of 16 people were sat there and again, standing in the isle right in our personal space. The prices went up significantly and the quality and atmosphere has decreased. We have been going here for years for special occasions and never had a bad time previously. It seems as if this place was bought out by someone that doesn t respect quality or service. There was something added to our bill that we didn t order. We will not be back. Over $200 for two small pints of Stella, 2 steaks and we each had one fingerling potato cut in half and each had a carrot, two beans and a broccolini. It s very unfortunate that this place has went downhill so drastically since last year. Wish we read the other recent bad reviews before we went.

October 21, 2024

My wife and I have been going here for years for special occasions. We went there tonight for our anniversary and it is NOT the same Spencer s at all. The food was okay, but wayyyy overpriced for what it was. Not even close to the quality it used to be. Not sure what happened to this place, but we will definitely be going to the Keg the next time we want a good steak and atmosphere.

★★★★★
October 21, 2024

Ben for events is just phenomenal!! He is on point, so helpful and organized. If your having an event this guys your guy. Even allergies to professional cake cutting this guy is a Rockstar!

★★★★
Local Guide
October 21, 2024

Wheelchair accessibility: Generally accessible but some spaces are tight, especially the corridor leading to the washroom Food

★★★★
Local Guide
October 21, 2024

Amazing date night or first date spot as there is that lovely walking path for after meal to chat and see if its a good fit lol. Parking: There are 2 lots for parking along the path. If possible, just car pool or Uber it!

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 21, 2024

Amazing spot and delicious food! Had a great time

★★★
Local Guide
October 21, 2024

People are friendly and very polite the experience was nice but the food was a little bit over cook and very expensive for what I got.

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 21, 2024

Best french toast Ive had in my life!

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 21, 2024

My first time coming to Spencers and I was greatly impressed. The atmosphere was amazing. Our server Alex did a very excellent job taking care of all our needs. The food was equally excellent and reminded me of Gordon Ramsays restaurant in Las Vegas.

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 21, 2024

Spencers provided an exceptional venue for our wedding and reception. The elegant ambiance, coupled with the outstanding service from the staff, contributed to a truly memorable evening! The culinary offerings were exquisite, and the positive feedback from our guests was most gratifying. We extend our sincere gratitude to John, Emily, Ben, and Sonia for their exceptional contributions to our special day. We wholeheartedly recommend Spencers to anyone seeking a premier venue for their wedding celebration!

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 21, 2024

Great view, delicious food and wonderful hospitality

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 21, 2024

Very nice atmosphere, kid friendly, clean, great food, and amazing staff.

★★★★★
October 21, 2024

From our hotel in Mississauga Canada, we were referred to Spencer s and we made the trip there, had a wonderful time getting a seat in the middle of the action quickly for dinner, greeted well by the team and John came over and said hi. had a great conversation Cameron the bartender and server took wonderful care of us, we didn t know John was the GM until later, but what a fantastic evening for our 44th anniversary just rolling in from Michigan! Thanks so much to the entire team for making our evening special, the ribeye was delicious. The drinks were fantastic and the atmosphere was joyful!

★★★★★
October 21, 2024

My partner and I went to Spencers Saturday night for drinks. The restaurant was VERY busy. The bar had a great atmosphere that seemed to flow into the whole restaurant. We were greated by Jocob! He was SO lovely. He was very personable, but also gave us our space just to enjoy our time together. He would check in every so often, but did not make us feel like he was hovering. He let us know a bit about who he was as a person (how long he had worked at Spencer s, how much he liked it there, and where he was prior). He gave me exceptional descriptions/tasting notes of two cocktail I was torn between (I appreciated that he wasnt just reiterating the ingredients listed on the cocktail menu. I liked that he was able to described the two different drinks in his own words and gave his personal option on the difference between the two). WELL DONE JACOB! We will deffinately be returning in the future to enjoy both the restaurant and the top notch service!

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 21, 2024

A waiter is great, and the starters and the main course are enjoyable too! The area of dining has large windows for a perfect view of the park and the lake. This review is from 4 years ago. It has been edited to remove something that doesnt apply anymore.

★★★★★
September 21, 2024

It was a perfect dinner, with perfect service and many amazing people working there. The best views of the lake and a great ambiance topped it off. Thank you.

September 21, 2024

I visited yesterday and had to wait 15 minutes at the bar before being seated on the patio. I asked the young lady who showed us to the patio if we could sit by the glass wall, and she mentioned that the wait might be longer but would try to accommodate us. She was polite and kind. Later, a male server took over, and we ordered drinks, but they took an incredibly long time to arrive. While waiting, we noticed an empty table by the glass wall and decided to move there since we hadnt been served yet. When the server returned, he raised his voice, saying, You can t just change tables, in a condescending and rude tone. I was ready to leave, but my partner convinced me to return to our original seats. You don t speak to customers that way! When he finally brought our food and drinks, there was no apology for the delay. It seemed like he wasnt interested at all. The fries I received were mostly broken. When it came time to pay, he just dropped the bill on the table and walked away. We had to call him over while he was serving another table to let him know we were ready to pay. This experience completely ruined my night. Although the space is beautiful, I definitely won t be returning for any reason.

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 21, 2024

We arrived at this restaurant quite by chance for lunch and we loved it. Excellent and not excessive in terms of price! We had lobsters with homemade fries and a turie salad! And a very good flank steak too. The Banana Split is a real treat! Restaurant to absolutely try.

★★★★★
September 21, 2024

Our server Frank made our evening very special and memorable. It was our first time here and we were very pleased with Frank s attention to detail and ensuring we had something to remember for our 4th year anniversary. He offered us each a glass of dragonfruit Prosecco to start off our celebration. He had recommended the 3-day slow cooked braised beef but we did not feel it was up to standards he had boasted about. However the rest of the other dishes were really good. Especially the baby kale Caesar salad, snow crab cakes and the New York striploin. At the end of the night, Frank squeezed in some tasty cookies to bring home and we loved it. Thanks again for everything.

September 21, 2024

So I went to Spencer s for the first time from Brampton after driving like 45 minutes. I had a reservation, so there was no problem getting in. I was seated however nobody came to me to take my order for 35 minutes.. I got there at 1:40 and at 2:15 someone came and took a drink order for me after the drink was served, the server, who was taking my order, rushed me to order instead of recommending more food items to my taste, so I end up ordering the first item she mentioned. After halfheartedly, ordering my food, I had to wait for another 25 minutes for my food to be served. It was a burrata plate, To begin with, but I had to wait so long that I decided to leave. The table in front of me had their drinks and ate their food and were waiting for the bill before my food was even served. Moreover, when I decided to leave, my server came rushing with my food plate and instead of apologizing, she said that you did not tell me that you were waiting so long and she kind of got mad at me for trying to leave after waiting so long. So I ate the burrata plate to avoid creating the scene with her. When she came back to take my plate. She said so it will be the bill for you now, right ? So I said yes because I was eventually planning to leave after waiting so long. After driving so long and having such a bad experience, she said oh you don t have to add any tip. We add a 15% gratuity on every table so I end up paying 15% on top of my bill, which is OK if I get a good service, but after such a poor service and bad experience, I had to pay it and then I left. I had high hopes for this place as I was planning to visit there for weeks. Honestly, the food was OK whatever little food I ate there but if I was really not happy with the service and that it had to be 90 mins for a burrata and a drink.

★★
September 21, 2024

Been here several times and usually a great experience. This time not so much. Seated at a dirty table, moved to an alternate when we asked. Food took over an hour to arrive and was lukewarm. Had dessert and coffee elsewhere given the level of service. Left disappointed overall :(

★★★
September 21, 2024

Food and service was okay but view is beautiful if you get the waterfront seating. The server s behavior was condescending, but we still left a good tip because it was Mom s special day.

★★
September 21, 2024

Hummus flatbread combination of flavours didnt work. Service was ok. View on patio is really nice, but music from the restaurant was competing with a saxophone on the harbour. Food was overpriced for the quality, it was just ok as well.

★★
September 21, 2024

Disappointed. We were so looking forward to celebrating a family milestone at what we thought was an upscale restaurant, but the food was not good and the music was horrible (video game music?) and too loud. Im not sure why they ask you about the special occasion when making the reservation, but they dont mention it at all during your stay. We did enjoy eating on the patio overlooking the lake. The crab cake appetizers were pretty good but the braised short ribs had this horribly sweet sauce with these candied cherries. So weird. Oysters ruined by a mound of cheese and bacon. Fancy presentation consisted of topping everything with a mound of pea shoots. Not going back.

★★
September 21, 2024

My mom and I went for dinner tonight and her crab cakes were amazing and beautiful presentation. Unfortunately my flatbread with hummus was completely the opposite with a grey liquid on top of pink feta with a thick dough crust. No flavour and looked like sludge. Do yourself a favour and don t order that. Chef, please make appropriate changes!!!

★★★
September 21, 2024

Nice restaurant and great views. Had a light lunch with glass of wine and salad. Do not order the Kale Caesar unless you like your salad overloaded with dressing, also some of the kale looked withered. I mentioned these to the waiter (also said I was not requesting it to be taken off the bill) and he said the withered looking kale is crisp kale not withered......I said with all the dressing it was not crisp. No apology or acknowledgement. Paid full bill and left.

★★
September 21, 2024

Overrated , my server did not Listen to my request. Dietary restrictions: sugar free, I requested plain fish ,no sauce but olive oil on the side , but I was serve the regular menu Food : 2/5 |

★★★★★
September 21, 2024

My husband and I found Spencer s spontaneously after having to change our wedding venue and guest count and we were in desperate need of a venue to work with us and accommodate us. Emily from the Pearle Weddings Events Team was the first person I was in contact with after inquiring. Emily was VERY proactive and helpful in getting all the details figured out and even had a contract and additional paperwork ready for review within 2 days! After booking with the events team, we were then in touch with Alexandra from the Spencer s events team. Alexandra was there throughout all of the pre wedding chaos, ups and downs and uncertainties but she handled it like a champ and worked with us for every step and detail that needed to be figured out. Alexandra is highly organized, professional, caring and determined to make your wedding day - big or small - memorable and special. She ENSURED that all of the details and our vendors all knew what was happening and kept us in the loop throughout the whole process. We can t thank Alexandra enough for everything that she has done for us to make our small and intimate wedding come true when at one point, we didn t think it would even happen anymore! Alexandra and the rest of the events team have blown us away and we can t recommend this team enough to host your next special milestone event! Special thanks to Jenn for being our on-site coordinator and Ben who graciously allowed us to drop off our personal items the night before our wedding. We will always look back on our wedding with gratitude and memories and we can t wait to come back to celebrate our 1 year wedding anniversary here at the restaurant!

★★★★★
September 21, 2024

Spencers At The Waterfront is an amazing wedding and dinner location. We celebrated our wedding there 4 yrs ago, and have returned every year on our anniversary since. The food is exceptional, and the staff is professional and friendly. Steve was our waiter this year, and we had a great time as his guests! The restaurant ambiance is stylish and sleek, so it is a great opportunity to get dressed up for a special night out. We love sitting on the patio and enjoying the view.

★★★★
Local Guide
September 21, 2024

The restaurant is very suitable to have a wedding party as it is located beside the lake and also the art gallery We had attend a friend s wedding The servants did a good job of serving the Cocktails and wine, and they always have a smiling face . The dinner will have the beef Or chicken, We have a good time. May consider to have a gathering in this restaurant.

★★★★
Local Guide
September 21, 2024

Attended a wedding at the Spencer s at the Waterfront. The atrium with full length glass panels has a wonderful unobstructed view of Lake Ontario. There is a bar right by the entrance is. A table is setup near the bar with finger foods and memorabilia of the married couple to be. It was a sweet and intimate ceremony with approximately 50 attendees plus the Bridal party. Since it s attached to the main restaurant, the ceremonial music and matrimonial service was kept to a minimum sound level. It was a simple and memorable Wedding with a beautiful lake view. Parking: Limited number of parking spots. It s a paid public parking lot. Note: The parking lot is also used by people who want to spend time at the boardwalk. There s a paid public parking lot a short walking distance away. It is across the street. It s is also limited in parking spaces.

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 21, 2024

i ve been here a million times and i ve never had a bad experience. i had my bridesmaids proposal here and we all absolutely loved it! katie helped me so much with planning everything despite me being so last minute. she helped me pick the menu and worked within my budget, she printed out the menu i designed for me and asked me how id like it placed on the table, the service was just overall great and we were all so happy :) thank you so much to the staff at spencer s

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 21, 2024

Ribfest 2024.

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 21, 2024

Hannah, Chris and crew thank you for making our special evening extra special. Everything was stellar as usual.

★★★
Local Guide
September 21, 2024

This is an honest and humble review..... The food is great , the restaurant is nice and clean, and the staff are friendly... The only issue I had was when we were seated we waited 15 mins for a server to come to us and very least offer something to drink. And I was dying of water. We just felt like the service took a little to long. I understand if they were busy, but it didnt seem busy during the time we were there . I also put in the reservation notes that it was our first year wedding anniversary . And we werent offered anything. In conclusion, the food was great, the staff were friendly and I just felt our service was slow and no acknowledgment of our anniversary. We purposely chose this place because we never have been and were excited to treat ourselves.

★★★★
Local Guide
September 21, 2024

Patio with lake-view, attentive service, lunch-time reservation had no delay. My Ricotta Gnocchi with mushrooms and pecorino/chive cream sauce was divine. Wow. My friend s lobster roll was good. I ordered Tiramisu for dessert. It was seemingly Smores Tiramisu with chocolate sauce, a graham cracker on the bottom and a toasted marshmallow cream too with no zabaglione or marscapone anywhere to be found. Loved my Gnocchi but the Tiramisu was a let down. Wished the server had given a description of the Tiramisu before confirming order.

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 21, 2024

Celebrated my mom s 49th birthday here. Our server, Frank was absolutely incredible and we couldn t have asked for a better server !!!! . He made amazingly incredible drinks, let me tell you!!! You couldn t even taste the alcohol and they were beautifully presented. They did a great job with preparing food. It was all fresh and delicious!!! We ll be back !! Thanks Frank

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 21, 2024

Amazing views, great food and excellent customer service!

★★
September 21, 2024

We were looking forward to an enjoyable seafood dinner but this is not the place for it. The seafood was tasteless and overpriced given the poor quality. Honestly I could have gone to a discount grocer and cooked a meal 100 times better myself

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 21, 2024

Fantastic Dinner and Celebration of a birthday. Service was top notch and food was flavourful.

★★★★
Local Guide
September 21, 2024

Excellent menu selection Parking: Parking is part of Spencer smith park Wheelchair accessibility: Main floor accessible

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 21, 2024

Great place to bring your family, friends, or guests. You will not be disappointed. The ambiance and food are wholesome that I I forgot to take photos of our main courses. Just take my word. You love this place.

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 21, 2024

Absolutely love it! My wait attendants were so sweet. The gave me my drink on the house to celebrate my 50th birthday. Will absolutely come again. Food was perfect...chefs kiss

★★★
Local Guide
August 21, 2024

Good spot for patio brunch. Food was not supremely good. Red pepper soup was nice. Florentine Benedict was ok. Burrata was pretty good. They have very limited options. Service was ok. They were a bit rude for my liking when we asked to be seated.

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 21, 2024

Fine dining setting when I attended the debut party. Would have given 5 stars for the delicious food, but the portion size was small. Staff are so efficient, polite, friendly, and professional. Always have the initiative to assist the guests. The panoramic view is a plus.

★★★★★
August 21, 2024

What more can you ask for? Beautiful ambiance with great friends on the deck, great weather and fantastic food served by friendly staff We had the chock full Lobster Roll with nice salad and shared a large plate of crispy, tasty truffle fries. Drafts and margarita went well with the lunch. Definitely be back! ***Tried to add pics, but no place in my review***

★★★
Local Guide
August 21, 2024

Fancy restaurant with a beautiful view of the lake, a liiiiiiiittle bougie for my taste. The food was nothing to rave about, flatbread was ok, brussel sprouts were great, and I ve definitely had better steaks at other restaurants. I guess you re paying for the whole experience .

★★★★★
August 21, 2024

Great food, great atmosphere, superb location and food presentations are great!!!! Parking: there is enough parking

★★★
August 21, 2024

We did dine-in for my toddlers 2 year old birthday. We sat on the patio and were seated on the inside row at an early seating, when there were lots of outside rows available. We brushed it off and remained intent on a good evening. We didnt have any drinks and the waiter seemed disappointed. We ordered quickly and shared an app that arrived fast. The salmon tataki was great. Then our mains arrived after about 35+ min. Our toddler is an angel and handled the delay like a champ, but in the end we had to turn on YouTube before food arrived. We had the burger, short ribs and branzino. The short Ribs were fatty, the fries a bit over cooked and the branzino was okay. We didnt get any birthday treats outside of the waiter saying happy bday to my son. Then I went to get his step3 car from the coat closet and it was buried under two oyster transport boxes. Not a good end to a medicore meal. With so much competition in the area I feel its important to keep sharp even when your busy. We left with a bad taste and wont rush back anytime soon.

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 21, 2024

Loved the delicious food and sweets at Spencer s restaurant. Thanks for great services. Will back again and again.

August 21, 2024

Where to start.... the front desk was very accommodating as my reservation was the wrong date in error (my fault) but they took us anyways. Seating- not what I thought this place would look like. Very dated. Tables very close together. Ambiance- the music was so loud (cottage music like John Mellencamp and Sam Cook) you couldnt even have a conversation. It was so bright in there from the lights. Service- by far the worst service Ive ever experienced. After being seated it took 15mins for someone to pour us some water - not take our drink order. Just water. Then another 5 mins someone else came and didnt introduce him self or ask if it was our first time here etc. Just said can I get you a drink. We ordered a stella and a summer sangria. I asked him what the Parker house rolls were.... woth the most driest enthusiasm ever he says its bread. Nothing fancy. We dont do bread service. Then went to put our drink order in. Came back as he forgot what I ordered. Another 8 mins later he brought the drinks. The stella was in a regular beer glass - not a stella glass like everyone else had. Looked like we were at a pub. He took our order I ordered the burger and fries as I didnt love the menu choices. My husband ordered NY striploin med.rare but more on the rare side. The waiter looked at him and said so which is it rare or med rare. He was so rude. Food- came about 20mins later. It was good. Fries were too salty though. Someone came and cleared our table and our waiter came back and asked if we wanted dessert. We declined. He brought the bill, we paid and left. I wouldnt recommend this place unfortunately. Its an over priced pub in my opinion woth other patrons wearing sweats and baseball hats.

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 21, 2024

Perfect spot for brunch, The lobster roll and the crab cakes are a beautiful.

★★
Local Guide
August 21, 2024

We celebrated my dad s 70th birthday here, having made a reservation for 8pm. Despite the booking, we waited about 30 minutes to be seated and then another 20 minutes before our appetizers were ordered. While the restaurant primarily caters to adults, they should also be attentive to children, especially when they have questions. Our party was large, so gratuity was included in the bill. Unfortunately, the Americanos we ordered were overly acidic, suggesting the espresso machine might not be properly calibrated. Given this experience, we will likely choose a different restaurant for our next outing.

★★
August 21, 2024

We visited Spencer s yesterday for lunch and it was not a great experience whatsoever. We sat at the bar awaiting for a table outside on the patio and for the 15 mins we waited we were not greeted nor acknowledged. After being sat at our table on the patio it took over an hour for our food to arrive. The server was very polite, however, she kept apologizing for how busy they were. I m sorry, but profusely apologizing for how busy you are does not sit well with me. What it tells me is, the management team does not know to properly staff to accommodate guests. Outside of our server, everyone working seemed to be disinterested in being there and we felt as we were the bother during our whole experience. Safe to say we won t be coming back!

★★★★
Local Guide
August 21, 2024

Very nice view. Food was good, lobster roll is very filling. Fries were excellent. Parking is an issue here when busy in the summer.

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 21, 2024

Five stars for Frank. E & Anna. F ! Talk about two extremely hard workers, amazing bartenders and top notch customer service. You two were awesome and made us feel like family. Thank you for the wonderful drinks, food recommendations and company. My first time dining out in Burlington, and I was very pleasantly surprised. We will be back :) Erica Henderson Atlas

★★
Local Guide
August 21, 2024

We were very excited to come here for our 5th anniversary. Unfortunately, it was very disappointing. We ordered the falafel as vegetarians however, it was the worst falafel I have ever had. In addition to awful taste and texture, it smelled like it was fried in fish oil. The drinks were ok and the staff was good enough to remove it from the bill however the place and view Vegetarian options: Dont go here if you are vegetarian.

August 21, 2024

We had a reservation at 4:30 and we were waiting over 15 minutes to get any service so we decided to leave. We didn t even get acknowledged by the server so we decided to leave.

★★★★
Local Guide
August 21, 2024

Coming to this restaurant for the view is absolutely worth it! The food is fine but not spectacular. The drinks were not the best on our visit. However, you wont be disappointed by the view. Ask for a table on the patio.

Local Guide
August 21, 2024

Such a bad experience. Came here for a friends birthday. The manager was so sarcastic and rude. the staff took over an hour to figure out the math on the bill. The manager had to step in and made a comment saying I have a couple university degrees I m pretty sure I can figure it out and this also made the group late for reservations we had afterwards too. Would not recommend celebrating your special day here.

August 21, 2024

The manager was extremely rude and ruined my friend s birthday. He refused to apologize for his mistake. They added an extra charge to our bill, and when we asked them to correct it, it took an hour. Throughout this, the manager kept yelling at the birthday girl. We re incredibly disappointed

August 21, 2024

We were here for my friends birthday and unfortunately the service was shockingly below expectations. It took over 50 minutes for the server to get us our bills. We had reservations at another place afterwards which we missed. The manager came after 50 minutes and didn t apologize or offer any explanation for the delay, instead spoke to us in a condescending manner and did nothing to solve the issue. He also spoke to his staff in a condescending manner, and randomly called the birthday girl beautiful, in a condescending tone, when the conversation didn t warrant it. Completely unprofessional and bizarre behaviour from the supposed leadership. If you are expecting a high end restaurant with good food and great service - look elsewhere. The service is terrible and slow, and your local jack astors has better food.

★★★★★
August 21, 2024

I had the Spencer s venue booked for a proposal and there were very professional about it all. Once arriving the waiter was in on the proposal and they took us in and gave us a table and some drinks until the decor was all set to do my surprise proposal to my gf. After finishing up they also allowed us to use the restaurants patio to take some pictures outside with no hesitation as well.

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 21, 2024

Well when your at Spencers At The Waterfront you might as well go all out. We had a seafood tower to start, their out of this world parm fries and steak tartar. All was amazing! I have never had the steak tartar before, I was always a little leary about the while idea. But I tried it and was blown away! They do have kid options you just have to ask the server. Kids menu was beyond my expectations forsure. The group of us all had different entrées all were beautifully executed. I had the Salomon personally and it was perfect. I will be going back there again. No questions asked

August 21, 2024

There s nothing less than one stars unfortunately. The worst decision I made this year was having birthday dinner here. It took the the staff took 50 minutes to settle our bill. Additionally, the manager was extremely condescending and demeaning. I think Jon needs more training. Horrible, thank you for ruining my birthday dinner.

★★★★
Local Guide
August 21, 2024

LOVED the food, the environment and the service. The « Barbecue chicken corn hen » dish is one of a kind. The shrimp tempura was made very deliciously too! Just wished the dinner menue had more variety. Food

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 21, 2024

Beautiful wedding venue. Would love to come back and try the restaurant at some point.

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 21, 2024

My wife and I celebrated our wedding anniversary at Spencers today. We came all the way from Toronto and it was all worth it. Wonderful, highly professional and very nice staff and management. Integrity was upheld at all instance and we enjoyed our stay very much. The cherry on the cake was their very nice complimentary desert in honour of our anniversary. Much appreciated.

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 21, 2024

Great restaurant with a very nice location and view. Food is delicious as well.

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 21, 2024

Great environment, location, food and service.

★★★★★
July 21, 2024

We enjoyed an incredible meal and OUTSTANDING service from the staff at Spencers! Our waiter, Scott was so kind and friendly! He truly went above and beyond! We hope to return soon and enjoy another round of their delicious braised beef and oysters! We ended the night with their incredible cheesecake!

★★★★★
July 21, 2024

Excellent food, service from our server CJ was first rate and very professional. It was an extremely busy evening with the dinner patrons and a wedding party to contend with and through my eyes everyone seemed to make things look easy, which I am sure was not the case. Thank you for making our 50th wedding anniversary a most enjoyable evening and a very pleasant experience. Parking: I don t know the number but it was well managed by the young attendant.

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 21, 2024

Amaaaazing food and atmosphere! It is absolutely beautiful indoor and out. I highly recommend :) Parking: There is a small parking lot available but can get full fast as people will park there to go to the park as well. Its paid parking but very cheap. Kid-friendliness: I brought my toddler and they were very accommodating

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 21, 2024

Great atmosphere, service was excellent, I was serviced by dustin and katie they took care of me and my table as we were large group, they treated us with respect and they were very kind and sociable. Overall I can see myself coming back to Spencers At The Waterfront regularly as the food is spectacular , the atmosphere is very positive and the whole service crew is amazing.

★★★★
July 21, 2024

We went to Spencer s for a 30th birthday. The service was 10/10 and we got a lovely spot on the patio. The appetizers and oysters were great. We found our mains (the pasta below) to be quite average in taste (and lacking shrimp) for the price.

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 21, 2024

First time last night at this restaurant. Took some very dear friends for a milestone birthday. Atmosphere, food and service was exceptional. Our server, CJ, was the absolute best. Attentive, knowledgeable, professional and a fantastic sense of humor. We were all treated with great care and were welcomed with a celebratory drink for my friends birthday. Just a wonderful start to the evening. If youre looking to celebrate something special, this place is a must try. Thank you CJ for making the evening more special.

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 21, 2024

Decided to go for a late dinner and made reservations via Open Table. The atmosphere on the patio is wonderful, the only thing that could be improved would be the removal of spiders from around the railing(my girlfriend is scared of them and a couple quite large ones were crawling on the edge of the table). The food we had was excellent, we ordered the Braised Short Ribs and New York Strip loin, both were cooked to perfection. We will definitely be returning in the future for a nice night or special occasion.

July 21, 2024

Rude staff and Bad quality of food. My fries were burnt but covered with lots of sauce and cheese to avoid being seen!!!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 21, 2024

Great place to dine - love the views of the lake and the ambience. Food is good too, my favorite were the fish tacos and the salad. Recommend this :)

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 21, 2024

My favorite restaurant. Upscale and expertly run. Wonderful location.

★★★★★
July 21, 2024

Fish was extremely good and cooked thoroughly. A bit dated but overall was a very nice place.

July 21, 2024

What a horrible experience. I am visiting my daughter and son in law from the States. They suggested this place as an awesome choice to celebrate my birthday. My daughter has allergies to garlic and we advised that to our server when we ordered food. After my son in law and I got our food, our server came and told us that my daughters choice has garlic in it so she changed her order from prime rib melt sandwich to fish and chips. Fries she got was old and there was a piece of baked potato in the middle of the fries! We felt that the fries we got was a combination of left overs from other peoples plates. When we wanted to pay, our server changed roles to bartender and we didnt get any attention for about 15 minutes. We asked other servers in the restaurant and after few of them saying our server should come, finally, a gentleman was kind enough to bring us the bill. I usually do not check the bill and just pay. But fortunately my daughter checked it this time and we saw that the we were charged for both the canceled meal and the replacement. My pregnant daughter is now experiencing stomach pain which we suspect is from the old fries. Very disappointing experience for a place with so much potential.

Local Guide
July 21, 2024

Update: I went there a few times and my recent experience was a disaster! I suggested this place as a nice option with great views to celebrate my mom s birthday while she is visiting. I ordered prime rib melt sandwich and asked no garlic or nuts because of allergies. Server said ok but waited till others in our party got their food and then came to tell me that food has garlic so I changed to fish an chips and had to wait a couple more minutes for my food while others enjoyed theirs. But to our astonishment, in the bill we were charged the meal that was cancelled!!!! So bill showed both the prime rib melt ( no garlic) sandwich (which I didn t get) and fish and chips which I asked to be corrected. Also fries were only small and broken pieces, tasted old and there was a piece of baked potato in the middle of my fries basket! This made me feel that they gave me left over fries from other people s plates. Just wanted to throw up! We also waited for 15 minutes and our server didn t pay attention to bring us the bill we asked two other staff and finally another gentleman brought us the bill. Nice atmosphere, great views , delicious oysters Not impressed with the tenderloin steak. Was very tasteless !

July 21, 2024

Terrible. I made a reservation for 8pm to celebrate my partner birthday. I made a reservation for the patio however, they told me when I got there, I would need to wait for 20 mins for patio as they are busy keep in mind I made a reservation, if I can t wait then they have a spot available inside. Sat there took them 10 mins for a waitress to come. Gave her our drinks options and told her we knew what we needed. She went and got the drinks came back for the order. 20 mins later she came back with salad. 8;35, then we had to wait till 9;42 to get our main dish. Which is just a salmon for my partner and a spaghetti for me. From 8;35 to 9:42. Keep in mind I made the reservation over a month ago and told them it s was a Birthday dinner and that it needed to be special but nope. By the time the food came I was too full with water and salad couldn t even the main. Bad experiences.

July 21, 2024

15 minutes after being seated with no water and no one coming to even ask if we are ready to order or not, the restaurant is quite empty and it s 4pm, worst coordination and service, this place is not worth the hype. Avoid.

★★★★★
July 21, 2024

I m always impressed with Spencer s. Went for lunch with a friend the other day. We sat on the patio, which was beautiful. I had a wedge salad with salmon. The salad was fantastic and the salmon was cooked to perfection. Service was impeccable. My experience at this restaurant has always been top notch.

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 21, 2024

Spencers is honestly one of the core reasons I decided to move to Burlington from Toronto. The staff are always so obliging, kind, and honest souls. A good friend of mine was visiting from Washington DC, and I knew he would enjoy this spot. I was beyond ecstatic to have Sasha be our server. She on countless occasions has elated so many of my experiences at the restaurant. I adore her, and always go with her recommendations. I would give her 10 out of 5 stars if that was feasible. Many of the staff have been with the company since I moved here 4 years ago, and I think speaks for itself. I truly admire the work ethic of this spot. I am the type of human to chat too much with guests at my table, but Sasha is always attentive checks on myself regularly. I truly appreciate the experience. The short rib was as tender as possible, and the salmon was divine. Both my colleague and I are food snobs that splurge at Michelin Star spots, and I am so happy at his reaction to the experience. Thank you Sasha, and thank you to the entire team for another great time xo

★★★
July 21, 2024

My friend and I had dinner tonight at Spencers and I would like to say that service was perfect. We were running late and called to double-check that we could still get a spot and they were more than happy to accommodate us, and as soon as we got there, we were seated. Our server was amazing, and he came to check in often, to see if we needed something or to refill our water; however, the food was a big disappointment for us. I had high hopes, but it just didnt do it for us. We felt like the food lacked seasoning, wasnt hot but rather warm, and we couldnt finish our plates. We left with lots of food in to-go boxes because we felt bad just leaving it there. Great cocktails, great location, and amazing staff, unfortunately, the food did not do it for us.

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 21, 2024

Amazing experience. We sat outside and the heaters kept us warm. I would say the only negative thing would be how loud it is inside.

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 21, 2024

Spencer on the Water is undoubtedly one of Burlingtons finest dining experiences, and it has become a cherished tradition for my family and me. Every year when we visit town, we make a beeline for Spencer on the Water, knowing that were in for a culinary treat coupled with a delightful ambiance. On our most recent visit, we had the pleasure of trying their roast beef on rye bread, and it was nothing short of spectacular. The roast beef was cooked to perfection, tender, and bursting with flavor, complemented exquisitely by the rich and hearty rye bread. Each bite was a delightful journey of savory goodness that left us craving for more. What truly sets Spencer on the Water apart is not just the exceptional food but also the serene setting by the water. The picturesque views add a magical touch to the dining experience, making it a feast for the eyes as well as the taste buds. Whether youre seated indoors or outdoors, the ambiance never fails to impress. Moreover, the staff at Spencer on the Water are exemplary in their service. They are warm, welcoming, and incredibly attentive, ensuring that every aspect of your dining experience is nothing short of perfection. From recommendations on the menu to ensuring your comfort throughout the meal, their hospitality is truly commendable. If you find yourself in Burlington, I highly recommend making a reservation at Spencer on the Water. Its a culinary haven where every dish is a masterpiece, every view is a postcard-worthy scene, and every moment is filled with warmth and hospitality. Its not just a restaurant; its an experience youll cherish and eagerly look forward to revisiting.

★★
Local Guide
June 21, 2024

Visited this restaurant for the first time for my friends birthday. The atmosphere of course was great right by the lake. However, the service was slow, and the food was honestly 2/10. Myself and many of my friends and I had to send our food back for eggs well done. The salad / leafy greens that came with almost all the meals tasted terrible, it wad prepared with awful dressing. I had the crab cakes with eggs well done, and French fries. This order overall was 5/10. I would try this restaurant again but not for brunch

★★★
June 21, 2024

We took my Dad for lunch at Spencer s to celebrate Father s Day. The location is lovely and staff were friendly. My Dad enjoyed his lobster roll and my sister enjoyed her fish tacos. Given the caliber and prices of this restaurant I had anticipated a vegan/plant based option could be accommodated. The dry veggie burger I received (no bun!) was probably the worst I have had. This restaurant needs to do better to have at least one plant based option on the menu. Dietary restrictions: Need to do better

★★★★★
June 21, 2024

Everything tastes amazing, it s beyond description and the waiter/waitress are kind and funny. Overall, I rate this restraint of bliss 5/5!

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 21, 2024

Came here to celebrate our wedding anniversary and it was such a treat for us! Staff were attentive, nice view of the waterfront and food that was AMAZING. I was surprised how quickly everything came while maintaining great taste and presentation. I recommend their bbq hen!

★★★★★
June 21, 2024

Elsa M - amazing service - couldn t have asked for better. No need for loud music when the restaurant is packed ! Food

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 21, 2024

Perfect spot overlooking Lake Ontario. Braised short ribs were delightful

★★★
June 21, 2024

I took my husband for fathers day with the kids. This was our first time there and we were looking forward to it. We made reservations for 430pm as we usually do with kids so that we can eat around 5pm. The server was not very welcoming. The menu seemed small, so I asked if there were any specials. As he was walking away from the table he said there are but the kitchen isnt anywhere close to being ready for dinner. We were never told on the phone or when seated that dinner menu didnt start yet. We also didnt appreciate the way we were told when asking for specials. A simple answer of when dinner menu starts would have been nice. Our appetizers were good. Our main meals, my husband ordered the burger and I had the gnocchi were not good at all. The kids menus were ok. We were fairly disappointed on the service and food.

★★★★★
May 21, 2024

I dined at Spencer s with my family April 21 , 2024 to celebrate our anniversary. Spencer s never fails to please. The food is delicious, the service is always above expectations and the atmosphere is breath taking. I live near Toronto so it is a bit of a hike for me. On this visit I had an issue with my bill which I didn t notice until I arrived home. I contacted the GM who gave me no hassle. He corrected the error asap. I have no hesitation recommending Spencer s! Thank you!

★★
Local Guide
May 21, 2024

We are so disappointed after coming home from our Anniversary dinner at Spencers. Our server was so very pretentious (so sorry we troubled you by showing up!) and the food was adequate, but very overpriced. We got married at Spencers 7 years ago and have gone back for several anniversaries, (so it has been a special place for us) and this year really left us feeling like it would be our last visit. As others have mentioned - it is also disappointing to list a special event/occasion in your reservation and then not have it acknowledged.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 21, 2024

Food was delicious! Service was amazing and a beautiful spot to dine. Dietary restrictions: Im gluten free and ate family style so they made sure everything on the table was GF, even the fish tacos which are usually not. So sweet and accommodating!

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 21, 2024

Eclipse @ spencers at the waterfront

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 21, 2024

Best ambience was the restaurant. We had good seating with best view and with rich high quality and quantity satisfying food that we experienced would surely recommend this place..

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 21, 2024

Great Service, nice view of the lake.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 21, 2024

Great atmosphere, good options. Brussel sprout and entres are good. Parking: After 4pm for spencers is free on the west side Food : 4/5 |

★★★★
Local Guide
May 21, 2024

Fab location with lake views. Different menu.went for brunch this time.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 21, 2024

My fiancé and I dined for dinner here last weekend. Our host was Chris B. We ordered the aubergine flatbread, gnocchi, and braised rib. I paired the gnocchi with a glass of the Piccini pinot grigio. Overall, the service was attentive, ambiance was beautiful, and I couldnt believe how fresh and delectable the food was for the price point! (Not that Im complaining:)) We are looking forward to our next dinner there. Im planning to try the cornish hen with jalapeño corn bread. Thank you for a wonderful evening, Spencers at the Waterfront!

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 21, 2024

Lunch on the patio is always nice.

★★★★★
May 21, 2024

Had and awesome Sunday brunch!!! Bottomless mimosas was a treat too!! Parking: On either side of the restaurant is paid parking. Not expensive but I recommend using Honk app Food : 5/5 |

★★★★
May 21, 2024

Always enjoy a meal w family at Spencers. I must say that service was very slow this visit, but it appeared as if they had some new staff in the kitchen. Hopefully they iron this out.

May 21, 2024

I have been to Spencers at the waterfront numerous times. Ive done 3 buffet experiences & dine in off the regular menu. I have enjoyed the food & service but this Mothers day was not so good and the decline definitely shows. We had a 3pm reservation for the special mothers day brunch and were seated in a booth literally past the kitchen in the back and the booth was filthy. I wont even describe the stepped on food beside the booth which staff were just walking by without picking up. I asked for another table which then we were given one right above the step & walk way where my dad kept having to get up or move his chair when someone wanted to get by. It was such a tight squeeze someone knocked over the vase and it broke all over the floor. Im not sure why there was a table there to begin with? However we saw someone clean off the table behind us and asked to move again and she was kind enough to assist. The food wouldve been better if, like in the past, there was staff checking and replenishing sauces, tongs, etc. Its not very appetizing to see dirty utensils and condiments. Food was also not hot and alot of the items were really cold specifically the mash potatos & waffles. However there was alot of good variety and they did change out the omelet station to a taco bar & brought out sliders too which was very good. We paid $80 + taxes per head which was advertised to include the brunch buffet & bottomless mimosas, ceasars, beer, & wine. However our server when we were ordering another round said its a 3 drink per person limit and he was letting it slide but the bartender noticed its gone over the limit and this would be the last one. I was surprised because nowhere did it mention a 3 drink per person limit? Ive also been here multiple times for their special brunches including the one in March for Easter & there was no issues. I spoke to a manager by the name of Ben who confirmed it was to be bottomless and he was unsure why our server wasnt aware of this. He apologized but that was it. We did mention we paid our bill because we didnt want any freebies for the brunch as it was for mothers day but he never asked for the servers name, nor ours, and said he would put a note on our reservation but never asked for our phone number. So we doubt anything was done. This may be our last time at Spencers which makes me sad as it was always a great spot to celebrate a happy occasion.

★★★★
Local Guide
May 21, 2024

The crab cake benny was delicious and my mocktail with lemon foam was delicious. I loved that they served ketchup and mayo as dips for the fries

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 21, 2024

Service and food are at its best! Fresh and beautifully presented meals all the time. Definitely 5 star rating.

★★★★★
May 21, 2024

Hands down my favourite restaurant. Sitting outside with a blanket on the patio by the lake is no peaceful. The food and service is always perfect.

★★
Local Guide
May 21, 2024

3rd time visiting this location from the Toronto area. Ambience, view, music and service were great however my food was not good. I got the burger and the meat was chewy and undercooked, I had a new one made but unfortunately the center of the patty was the same so I couldn t eat it so took it to go and tossed it out. Got home and started experiencing some stomach issues. Great experience overall unfortunately the food affected my overall experience.

★★
May 21, 2024

We visited for dinner tonight. The food was just okay. I ordered the braised beef short rib and received two pieces, one of which was 80% fat The table service was disappointing. We requested two takeout boxes after our meal, but no bags were provided. It seemed as though customers were expected to carry their boxes in their arms. When we asked another waiter for a bag because we couldn t find our assigned waiter, we were ignored. Even after 10 minutes passed, no one offered us a bag. Eventually, we found our waiter and asked again. She simply replied with emm and walked away, attending to other customers requests before finally giving us a bag. Overall, the service was very unprofessional, and I don t plan to return.

May 21, 2024

Very disappointing anniversary! We had this place recommended to us from a friend who had a good experience, but ours was the complete opposite. From the start we asked for a reservation for 6:30 PM and only got seated at 7 PM once seated our waiter seemed a bit disinterested didn t ask questions And was very brief with his service. I ordered the shrimp and scallop pasta, which I was very excited for because the photos looked great, but I was very disappointed once I received it. The shrimp was cold, watery, felt uncooked and tasted fishy. I called the waiter over after a few bites and told him about what was wrong with the meal as I couldn t eat it and he took the plate away and apologize briefly but honestly, his apology was not enough for what I experience. Afterwards, he offered me another meal which I did except but no compensation was given for the meal that we received and that fishy taste never went away. The waiter was not very receptive for the rest of the evening. All around very disappointed as it was our anniversary we were looking for a great night. My husband s burger was good. No recognition for our anniversary was given despite us mentioning it to the waiter. We also waited an entire hour for a meal that fell short. What a waste of 150 dollars!

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 21, 2024

Great service thank you very much and thank you to josh for your kindness your awesome ! Came here again the service was awesome and Scott did a wonderful job thank you ! My friend and I love the food and service thank you

★★★★★
April 21, 2024

Best

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 21, 2024

I remembered this place from my youth and was a great spot for drinks. As an adult, I attended a wedding reception here. The location is convenient and close to a neighbouring hotel. The venue was spotless and easy to get around. The staff was friendly and efficient. The wait staff were there but stayed in the background, all while providing a delicious meal. My beef was perfectly med rare and tender. The Vista was that of the lake in a solarium type room. The perfect backdrop for the bride and grooms first dance. I would highly recommend Spencers for a meal or an event.

★★★★★
April 21, 2024

Easter special brunch buffet was amazing and value for money. The spread itself was great and icing on the cake was house wines.

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 21, 2024

amazing buffet for easters

★★★★
Local Guide
April 21, 2024

Nice to have Spencers Brunch back (Mar 31, 2024)! Fun ambience, great staff. A few of the options appeared a bit more basic than I recall but the food was solid. Salmon (glazed and smoked - both delish). Meat / tray too a disproportionate amount of space. Oysters Tiger / Jumbo Shrimp was great. Really enjoyed the ribs The lamb was a bit dry Dont bother on the crepes, consistency and topping spread was weak Eggs benedict - highlight Dessert spread - delightful

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 21, 2024

Went for a birthday meal with my fiancé. Food was exceptional, tasted super fresh, light but satisfying. We had the salmon tataki to share as an appetizer and thought the accompanying sauce took it to the next level. My entree was the scallop & shrimp pasta, which I loved. Pasta was fresh. Shrimp and scallop were huge and cooked to perfection. Fiancé had the butterflied branzino. The fish just melted in my mouth when I took a bite. Finished off he night with the spiced carrot cake. They surprised us with a happy birthday message perfectly piped with dark chocolate on the plate. While I wasnt a huge fan of the cake itself personally, as it was a little on the dry side, the toppings on the cake were pretty tasty. Service was great. Our waiter was very attentive and our waters were always filled. It was a Saturday night at dinner service and the restaurant was packed, but we never felt like we werent serviced well. Overall, Spencers was a top notch experience.

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 21, 2024

What a great experience we had at Spencers tonight. The service was beyond excellent.... Scott was great, Jon the GM spoke to us to ensure we were enjoying our stay, and Chef Matteo stopped by our table and brought out a Tiramisu for a birthday desert. On top of this, the food was delicious! Top marks.

★★★★
April 21, 2024

nice food and good service

★★★★
Local Guide
April 21, 2024

Food and drinks are good but service sucks.

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 21, 2024

I had a good experience overall. I opted for the lobster roll, which was tasty but a bit herby for my liking. The in house fries were good The view was fantastic, the atmosphere was pleasant, and I would recommend visiting this place. I look forward to returning another time to try out different dishes. The drinks were great as well.

★★★
April 21, 2024

I went there with my dad for my birthday and although the food was delicious the service was bad. Our waiter was very inattentive to our table it felt like we were ignored and he go to his other tables at least 5 times. There was a bit of a wait on our food but we didn t mind as it was a busy Friday night. Although we later found out that our food was taking so long because they started a new menu. Why would you start a new menu on a Friday night? It s ridiculous. And our waiter only came to our table twice to take our order and to pay the bill. It was the first time I did not tip the waiter. Luckily the food was delicious and I will come back for the food but need to work on the service.

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 21, 2024

Great place food is great

★★★★★
April 21, 2024

Great food. You can never have it enough.

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 21, 2024

Spencers at the Waterfront is one of Burlingtons finest restaurants. Everything about Spencers is first class!

★★
April 21, 2024

Went to Spencer s to celebrate my parents 30th anniversary. It was not the experience we were all expecting for a high end restaurant. Waited over an hour and a half for our meals and when they arrive the portions were small and didn t come with a side. The server was great but we should have been offered a discount when we waited forever to eat and pay for our meals. Not worth the cost of what you get. Will not be back.

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 21, 2024

We have seen the reviews about this spot being a little pricey, but we felt the value was there for the excellent atmosphere and wonderful service. Food was delicious and we will definitely be back! Kid-friendliness: Our server recommended our young kids share one order of chicken fingers and fries - portion size was huge and very easily shared between 2 young kids.

★★★★
Local Guide
March 21, 2024

Great scenery. Theres a great view of the lake from the dining room anywhere you are. Fantastic food. Prices are not the best per portion. Great staff and service. The fast kitchen. Clean facility and clean washrooms. Very nice interior design. The bar is very nice too. Patio available and warmers for chilly nights. Parking is an absolute disaster here. Paid lot and limited spaces. Parking: Paid outdoor lot. Limited spaces.