Spencer's at the Waterfront

Spencer's at the Waterfront reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Review summary

1. w

   wisam

   Toronto1 review

   3.0

   Dined today

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 2

   Waited 15 mins to be seated for a reservation already made and the seating given a bad location near entrance. Noticed others reservations were taken before us.
   

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2. N

   Navdeep

   Toronto2 reviews

   1.0

   Dined today

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 1
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 2

   We recently made a reservation at Spencer to celebrate our wedding anniversary, based on a friend’s recommendation. Unfortunately, our experience was deeply disappointing from the very beginning. First, the restaurant does not offer private parking, which meant we spent nearly 20 minutes circling the area in search of a spot. This stressful start set the tone for the date. Upon arrival, we were greeted by front-of-house staff who seemed to lack even basic hospitality training. We were offered two highchairs at a cramped table, which felt unsuitable for a special occasion. When I politely requested a better table, I was told, “We’ll see what we can do.” After waiting for eight minutes without any update, I followed up, only to be informed that not only would we have to wait for another table to become available, but we’d also have to join the end of the existing waiting list-despite having a reservation. The restaurant itself was noisy, making it difficult to have a quiet conversation. Apart from the admittedly nice view, there was nothing about the ambiance or service that made the place feel special or inviting. Disheartened by the lack of attention and care, my wife and I decided to leave and celebrate at a nearby restaurant, where we were warmly welcomed and our special day was truly appreciated. We have booked many restaurants through OpenTable for special occasions, and all have gone above and beyond to make our anniversaries memorable, except for Spencer. Sadly, we never even had the chance to try the food, as the poor service overshadowed everything else. I would not recommend Spencer for any special occasion. If you value attentive service and a welcoming atmosphere, I suggest looking elsewhere.
   

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3. S

   Samantha

   Ottawa4 reviews

   4.0

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 5

   We recently visited Spencer’s to celebrate a birthday and had a lovely overall experience, with a few caveats worth mentioning. I had called ahead to request a nice table, and they thoughtfully seated us by the windows overlooking the water—a beautiful touch that set the tone for the evening. Our server was friendly and attentive, checking in on us multiple times throughout the night. There was a minor hiccup with a drink order, but it was no big deal and handled gracefully. One issue we didn’t catch until later was being charged for the wrong bottle of wine—unfortunate, but admittedly we noticed after the bill had been settled. The food was generally very good. The standout dish was definitely the short ribs—tender, beautifully presented, and generously portioned with well-paired sides. Two guests ordered steaks, both of which were cooked to perfection and well seasoned. However, the sides left something to be desired. For an upscale restaurant, a single halved fingerling potato and some sparse vegetables felt a bit underwhelming given the price point. Two others in our party had the salmon, which again was executed very well—nicely seasoned and cooked just right. Yet the same issue cropped up with the sides: one carrot and a few greens felt a little too minimal for what we were paying. While we didn’t expect a complimentary dessert, it was a bit surprising that nothing was offered considering it was a birthday celebration with a larger group. It’s a small gesture that would’ve gone a long way. All in all, Spencer’s is a beautiful spot with solid food and a great ambiance. However, for the price, it would be nice to see more attention to detail—especially when it comes to portioning and the overall guest experience.
   

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4. C

   Chris VIP

   Toronto6 reviews

   5.0

   Dined 2 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Amazing food and service as always. Love coming to Spencer's!
   

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5. D

   Daniela

   Toronto2 reviews

   4.0

   Dined 7 days ago

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   We reserved a table for my Mom's birthday, table wasn't ready when we arrived. Had asked for a quieter table, but were finally put in a booth under a speaker, as would have had to wait even longer for another table to free up. Staff were friendly but seemingly overwhelmed. Food was excellent, wait staff as well.
   

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6. T

   Thomas J VIP

   Toronto39 reviews

   4.0

   Dined 7 days ago

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   We enjoyed our meals. My wife's Prime rib was very good as was my grilled fish but the best best was our waiter Robert. He was attentive yet not intrusive, It was a lovely night and we shall return.
   

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7. T

   T

   Toronto12 reviews

   5.0

   Dined 7 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 5

   Beautiful place to enjoy a Sunday brunch. View of the lake a little too chilly to sit outside. Friendly wait staff. Food was fantastic.
   

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8. N

   Nanci

   Toronto5 reviews

   4.0

   Dined on April 25, 2025

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   We had delicious burgers for lunch. They were really juicy and good. Our service was also terrific. We found the prices and the noise level to be high. We were disappointed the restaurant does not acknowledge birthdays; a cupcake with a candle would have been nice. Otherwise, an enjoyable lunch.
   

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9. M

   Megan

   Toronto1 review

   3.0

   Dined on April 24, 2025

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 5

   Our food came out before our drinks arrived. Other than that the food was delicious and the vibe was on check.
   

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10. F

    Fred

    Ottawa3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 23, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5

    We had a great meal, the kitchen was a little slow with our meal, but our server was great at looking after us while we waited. Meal was fantastic.
    

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