Spencer’s For Steaks and Chops

Don’t sit at the bar. Service slow. Took 25 min for first drink. Food ok. But for the price I expect better service. Food delivered separately so I fault the kitchen for the not hot enough onion soup. The bartender seemed too busy to pay attention to patrons. Sounds like a management issue.

Steak was cooked well but the flavor just was not there. Service was busy doing other things. Wine list was a little weak. What can you expect it’s a steak house in a Hilton. For the price never again.

A great meal and a casual but efficient service. The filet mignon was excellent, accompanied by a well portioned caesar salad and their signature «hash browns» (really more like scalloped potatoes with bacon).
Nice wine list with a great variety.

To be honest, I’m not a huge fan of steakhouses. I don’t eat beef and I find their offerings both bland and expensive. The fare at Spencer’s is better than average for the genre, more flavorful, but the price was what I expected. There was a veritable hoard of us there for a book launch party and they did a really good job of getting all the orders correct and delivered promptly. The appetizers were good and I appreciated their making me a gluten-​free version of the brussel sprouts; the mushrooms could have used some garlic and salt. The didn’t have my first choice of Pinot noir, but they did have the Meiomi which I’d had before and we enjoyed it very much. I appreciated the availability of information about gluten free options. The chicken was juicy. My risotto was actually cooked properly! I was beginning to think that undercooked risotto was becoming a thing. It just didn’t get 5 stars because, true to the genre, the menu was a little narrow in scope and the food could have used more herbs.

Obviously a very nice steak house in the Doubletree judging from reviews, but being none of us ordered steaks we couldn’t prove that. Not kid friendly, but the server did make so by asking the kitchen what options were for the little one. The appetizers were good, and then we waited a lifetime for our meal and there were maybe 4 tables in the place. The goat cheese tortellini was all of 5 pieces and had obviously been sitting under the heat lamp a good 20 minutes as the edges were hardened and the underside was cold. Then the lobster salad could be smelled as it was set down. Fishy, murky and very tough. Could have been sitting a while too. We were both disappointed and felt embarrassed to both comment on it. So we moved it around, ate a few bites and called it a night. Guess we shouldn’t expect much from a hotel joint.

Got a nice response from the manager in regards to the loud music. I actually meant to give 4 star review in the first place but must have hit the 3 on accident. We went back Saturday night and had a really good meal (this was before even being contacted — we do really like this place).

Andrea was amazing. From start to finish, she was completely patient with us while we couldn’t choose what we wanted from their mouth-​watering menu. She made some really great suggestions (that we went with) and were pleasantly satisfied, we went with the crispy calamari, beet salad, an amazing filet mignon, topped with shrimp scampi, and finished off with a tiramisu. :) she’s awesome, definitely sit in her section ;)

They serve the best filet mignon this side of Basel. I’m always surprised by this since they’re a «hotel restaurant.» It’s a great lesson in not judging a book by its cover. Anyway, this steak still tasted great the next morning, after being stored in a marginally cool ice chest in my hotel room. The meat was very tender, there was no grease or extra fat, and I didn’t even need to heat it up. Filet mignon. Medium rare. Go!

Stopped in for a quick appetizer and drink before a jazz game and came back after the game for dinner! It seemed Spencer’s was headed downhill a few years ago but I would say the awesome steakhouse of old is back! Service was friendly and prompt. We loved the steak and wedge salad as well as the giant prawns. Hamburger was quality and cooked to perfection. Drinks were yummy! Glad you are back!!!

I have been to Spencer’s for both lunch and dinner. I think what I like most about this restaurant is their bread and butter. It is so fresh tasting and they top the butter with this really good black salt. Makes your mouth water. For lunch I ordered the prime rib sandwich. The cheese and meat balance was really good. For dinner I ordered the filet mignon which had a real nice crisp outside and very good medium rare inside.

Still the best steak house in San Jose.

This was my first time to Spencer’s, and there’s about a zero percent chance I’ll be going back.
I went there on Feb 13^th to celebrate a friend’s birthday. We specifically picked the 13^th to avoid Valentine’s day, but were disappointed to be forced into their «special» menu for the holiday. By menu, they mean a list of the things you’ll be getting, since the only options are one of 3 choices for the main course.
At 7:30pm on a Saturday night, the place was empty. As we were seated, we found out part of why that might be. The bar is separated from the main dining area by a curtain, and there was a DJ playing very loud music to the not very large, and completely empty, bar. He also decided that singing along through his microphone was a good idea. It wasn’t. I won’t comment on the music, since my taste is going to be different than other people’s. As for the volume, we had a really hard time hearing each other at our table.
We ordered drinks, which were the highlight of the meal. They made a very nice mojito.
The first course was a fish/​shrimp ceviche, which was just odd. It was very light on the fish/​shrimp, and heavy on the vegetables. Tasted OK.
The second course was *supposed* to be a salad. I can’t say how that was since it was never brought to the table. When we pointed this out to our server, he offered to bring it with the main course. We passed.
Of the 4 of us, 3 ordered the NY Strip steak as our main course, and one picked theSurf & Turf. The NY Strips were fine. Done correctly, very nice sauce. Nothing terribly special. The Surf & Turf was just simply terrible. The steak was low quality, and a pretty awful cut of meat. The lobster tail was awful. It was obviously frozen, then grilled. It arrived at the table burnt. Overcooked to the point of inedible. When the plates were collected, it was pretty much intact. Never did our server ask how things were, even though we were discussing how disappointed we were with everything, and the lobster tail was being taken away without being eaten.
Dessert was OK. There was a coconut/​passion fruit thing, and a chocolate mousse thing in the shape of a heart. I’m something of a chocolate fanatic, and I preferred the coconut/​passion fruit thing.
During the entire meal, we didn’t see very much of our server. He occasionally showed up to pour water, but otherwise ignored us. We made it very clear we were unhappy, but we also never were able to prove there was a manager present.
In short, the atmosphere was absolutely terrible, the service sucked, and the food ranged from OK to downright horrible. On top of this, it was quite expensive. I wish I could give it less than 1 star.

We’ve been going to Spencer’s for years. It’s always been top notch, which initially surprised us as it’s a hotel restaurant. Have noticed a decline in the food quality, quantity, and a huge increase in prices. The service is good, but not at the level of a Ruth’s Chris, etc. We had the French onion soup, pork chop (not the butterflied chops), with the 3 sides for $ 24 (creamed spinach, lobster mac ‘n cheese, hash browns). The chop was a thick cut and cooked as ordered but had notable fat which I had to cut off and put to the side of the plate. Diminished the size of this $ 34 chop. The blueberry compote was great. The chop — — ehhhh. Re: the sides. I’m a creamed spinach fiend. This was mostly cream, and stringy spinach. Would pass on this. The hash browns used to come in a hot cast iron skillet. This kept the spuds/​cheese hot ‘n melted. They are now served on a plate. The potatoes cool, the cheese congeals… Good but not great (as they truly were — -). The corkage fee is $ 25 (really steep). For the quality/​quantity, we’re starting to look for another steakhouse. Spencer’s is quiet — — a big plus.

Good food. French onion soup is a hit. Lots of gooey, molten cheese over the top. The center cut ribeye is their specialty. Usually well seasoned from the kitchen and cooked to temperature. Can’t say the same for my seared ahi at this last visit, which was cooked nearly through. :-(Service is good. Try once if you’ve never been. They accept the Passport card, so get one entrée knocked off you tab.

I used to have an office near Spencer’s and visited pretty often for lunch, with their reasonable prices for a grillhouse menu. However, my business partners and I noticed the shrinking menu options, increasing prices and spotty service over the last couple of years and cut back on our visits. I went again for dinner last night and was shocked at the prices for dinner there. I ordered the filet mignon and they brought out a nice cut of beef cooked properly to medium rare but without a lot of flavor. It was accompanied by a single, small cooked carrot and half of a broiled onion. It looked quite lonely on the plate, especially for $ 44.75! With my 2 business associates, the tab for 3 entrees, 1 side each of hash browns and asparagus shared between us, 1 cocktail and an average bottle of Jordan cab came to $ 345! Really, Spencer’s?
I wonder if Jed York has taken ownership of this marginal, dark steakhouse? Go to Birk’s– a much better meal, with an excellent filet mignon which comes with 2 sides for $ 36.00. Much better and bigger menu offering, lively atmosphere and great cocktails to boot. See ya, Spencer’s!

The food and ambiance is good. Service is not. We sat for 40 minutes waiting for our server to take our order. Something wrong. Not the normal for this restaurant.

Quality food and upscale atmosphere at a reasonable price. I highly recommend Spencer’s for a quiet adult or business dinner in the Bay Area.

I had lunch there last week. The food is great. The portions are large and tasty. The service was excellent. The waiter knew what to bring so I never had to ask. The wait for a table was short. I recommend this place for business and weekend lunches.

Fantastic staff, very impressive wine list and quality food. I like the ambiance as well. Great for company lunches/​dinners or a date! Chilean Sea Bass is one of the best I’ve had, perfectly prepared.

The food here is great, I have been coming here for years. One of the best steak and chop places in San Jose, you won’t be disappointed.

First time to visit Spencer with my colleagues.
Server was friendly.
Awe ordered Ahi and calamari for appetizer which was good taste.
I ordered medium rare NY steak. The meat was unfortunately not tender and I had to add a lot of salt and pepper. Maybe I should have ordered other steaks.

we had a great visit to this hidden gem previously.
coming in to celebrate my partner’s birthday.
and greeted by a rude and unprofessional water lady who rudely clanked the still & fritzy water bottles when we asked for regular plain water.
has the server not required to be professional anymore in an upscale steakhouse?
seems she does not need a job and should be removed from the team asap.
i had been in the hospitality industry for over 20 years and had professional training on service in casual & fine dining.
so far her presence has ruined my evening.
for this alone, this review is getting 1 star.
will update with more review after our meal is served.
we were seated at 8.02 pm august 15, 2015.

Hotel restaurants can be a little off on fine dining. I really enjoyed popping into Spencers… ate at the bar and enjoyed the ambience and Sinatra playing in the background… Staff was very professional and courteous. I the wedge and a revolver. will be back for more food, and uh. drinks

The quality of steak is just pure and delicious. The quality of service is outstanding. They pay attention to your needs from the moment you check in. You are highly treated with respect and enthusiasm. Quiet ambience in a fine dining restaurant.
Ordered the following:
New York steak — huge portion n yummy
Spencer’s steak — cuts so easily, tasty and grilled to perfection
Mushrooms — sautéed different kinds of mushrooms — good portion
Mash potato — just done perfectly soothing
spinach side — eh… not interested at all

Came here for lunch and I must say the experience was very pleasant. From the hostess to the servers, the service was very friendly and welcoming.
I ordered the Lobster Roll, which was incredibly delicious, so delicious I crave it often! The rest of my companions ordered the Steakhouse Burger, which by the looks of their satisfied faces, the steak looked like it was cooked to a juicy perfection. The quality of the food reflects the price of it, which in my opinion is worth it!
They are only open for lunch Monday through Friday and the feel of it seemed like its a great place where business/​tech people join for both lunch and business meetings but I highly recommend it for a romantic dinner in the evening since they have an entirely different menu for it!
Highly recommend making reservations to secure a good table, due to it gets pretty busy during the lunch hour after 11:45am.
They validate parking up to 3 hours or have $ 5 Valet parking if you dine there, so dont forget to ask your server at the end of your meal to validate your ticket!
P. S. You MUST try their Crème Brûlée… to die for!

This place is in the hotel building.
Nice customer service and the food is pretty good.
The price is bit higher than what I expected.
The location is very closed to the airport so it is very convenient for taking customers this place after we pick up or drop off.

This isn’t really the vibe I typically go for, when eating out with friends, but it was appropriate for a business dinner and I was pleasantly impressed with the experience.
I didn’t partake in any alcohol that night, but everyone else in my party did and seemed pleased with the bar service as well as the wine during dinner. It was a very long, leisurely meal, so we all ordered and ate a ton. I had the wedge salad (excellent), calamari (excellent), lobster ravioli (very rich, but good) and crème brûlée (very good). The rest of my party all ordered steak and raved about the quality, so I wouldn’t hesitate to order red meat upon a return visit.
The waitress overheard a conversation where someone mentioned my birthday was the week prior, and so my dessert was comped and came out with a cute birthday message in chocolate. Very nice. Actually the service was excellent throughout the meal. We also enjoyed being seated near the large fireplace, which made the atmosphere much cozier than expected for a hotel restaurant.
I would not call the prices cheap, but the quality warrants what they charge. It is a good place for a meal, particularly if you or your guests are staying near the SJ Airport. If you are not a guest of the hotel, be sure to ask your waitress to validate your parking at some point. I believe the hotel charges something crazy like $ 15/​hr to park, without it.

I love this restaurant, food is delicious, parking validation, inexpensive, adequate space to others, nice decoration and warm atmosphere. I have Tuna Tartare, Spinach and Jasmine Rice and House Salad plus Crème Brûlée. All of them are fantastic, I like all the staffs there too, fabulous.

I had a good experience at a Spencer’s Steakhouse years back in Salt Lake City and decided to go the one in San Jose. It is located in the Doubletree Hotel near the San Jose Airport. Nice open high ceiling circular room. The table were nicely spced, not to close. The service was old school with all of the waiters wearing white jackets.
22 oz. Spencer’s medium rare was excellent.
Mushroom risotto with arugela was rich and creamy.
Wedge salad had huge pieces of bacon.
Dinner was excellent. Service was excellent. Plenty of Validated parking.

For such a small expensive menu, this place gets everything wrong. I really wanted to enjoy a great steak, and I massively let down.
The onion soup was gross. The bread had been sitting in the soup far too long and was mush. The cheese congealed and became super stringy, like rubber. I choked on it and spat it out. Also massively lacking in seasoning.
The caesar comes with only five croutons vs. a lot of salad and what looks like pre-​grated parmesan cheese from a bag. The parmesan frico in the center of the salad was stale and old. The salad itself was way overdressed. How are so many places messing up a salad?
My friends steak was ordered medium, served medium well. Strange after they tell you that they tend to be more towards the rare side when served.
On the other hand… my steak was served to me raw. Not rare, raw. I cut open the center and it was still breathing. They reheated it for me, and reserved it raw on one side and medium on the other. How they managed that, I don’t know. Someone buy these guys a thermometer. It had a crab béarnaise on it, but the crab tasted like it came from a can. It was really underwhelming for $ 70.
Also, what kind of chef garnishes a steak with a carrot, a burnt shallot, and a cherry tomato? It’s just maddening. The 70s are over man.
The french fries were okay for a change, the asparagus was WAY overcooked to the point that it was mush, and the creamed spinach was brown and absolutely disgusting. Again, more of that pre-​grated parmesan cheese.
A total waste of money. Do not bother coming here.

I recently came here for a work function and had never heard of Spencer’s before that. It’s hidden within the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel near the San Jose Airport and has a nice a fancy ambiance. Seems like a great date night place if you catch my drift! (especially if you follow it up with a night in the hotel, lol!)
Apparently they are known for their steaks however I just wasn’t in the mood for a steak during lunch, so I opted to order a non-​steak entrée during my visit. I did get to taste some from my co-​workers plates, so I feel like I got to try the «steak» to know whether I’d want to come back for it or not.
Anyhow, our group started off with some appetizers:
First the Scampi Skillet, prawns, red pepper flakes, garlic butter ($ 12.50). It came with 5 prawns, nicely cooked with plenty of garlic butter. It’s a nice little appetizer to share between 2 people where you can dip your sourdough bread into afterwards!
Than we also had the Crisp Calamari, crumbled feta, cucumber, olives, scallion
vinaigrette ($ 13.50). I wasn’t impressed with this dish, however it was an interesting take on how to serve calamari. I live on the coast though and I’m a bit spoiled with great restaurants that serve excellently cooked calamari, this dish just didn’t do anything for me.
I also got a Cesar Salad ($ ?) with my meal, being honest, it was nothing to rave about, it was your typical Cesar salad, I could have done without. If you want an amazing Cesar Salad, go to Savor in San Francisco, they have an amazing Cesar Salad!
For my main dish (not like I haven’t had enough already, lol) I ordered the Peppered Seared Ahi with sesame spinach, ginger, and lime siracha ($ 19.00). The Ahi came out perfectly cooked and rare, It seemed fresh however just tough to cut through. I don’t know, maybe it was just me, or again, maybe I’m just too spoiled eating raw Ahi Tuna at great places! Don’t get me wrong, I would definitely not throw it back, but I just noticed its toughness which I’m not use to! The sesame, ginger, lime siracha spinach was amazing! and when you eat it with the Ahi Tuna, it was like eating wasabi with Ahi Sushi, it went down nicely! All in all, regardless of the toughness of the tuna, I would definitely order the dish again!
I was able to try the Short Rib Steak which was an 8oz 72 hour Short Rib with Chimichurri Sauce and Frites ($ 21.00), that was pretty amazing. The short rib melted in your mouth, you barely had to chew it, and the chimichurri sauce, yup, perfect! My co-​worker even asked for extra of it, it was so good!
Unfortunately, I did not partake in any of the desserts, but they looked good as they came out to the table and everyone else devoured them. It was an enjoyable experience and a place I would consider going back to with my wife for a nice dinner, I think she would like it very much.

Why in a hotel, a relatively LARGE and prominent hotel like Hilton-​owned Doubletree, is there only one restaurant open at 1pm?! It’s still a prime time for lunch, I’d say, especially if you’re in a hotel. There were other eateries/​restaurants in the hotel that were unfortunately not available. That’s just weird to me since you’re now pretty much forced to eat at a Steak house even if you weren’t planning on it.
With that said, my dad and I strolled in with just an hour to spare as we had other commitments for that afternoon. We were seated right away by the friendly host and greeted shortly after by our just as friendly server. They had an awesome shrimp roll special but my Father and I veered towards their fried options. LOL.
Had their calamari, which looked like a calamari salad as it had olives, feta and other veggies adorned with the dish, fish and chips — the fries were crispy thin, yum! — and onion soup. Totally not typical of what you’d order from a steak house. Maybe our next stop in? If ever…
Our selections were good, really tasty and filling. Our server was on the ball on service and really respectful of our time constraint. I appreciate her for being both on point and pleasant.