Spruce
(415) 931-5100
3640 Sacramento St
San Francisco,
CA
94118
37.7876
-122.4526
Neighborhoods: North, Presidio Heights

What People Are Saying About Spruce
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
The Scene
Housed in a 1930s-era car barn (the entrance arch was built to allow for the passage of Model Ts), the well-thought-out space hits the mark on dark, contemporary sophistication. The entrance is flanked by a take-out cafe and a sitting room/library, while the 70-seat dining room is separated from the hopping bar area by a wall of glass panes. A ceiling highlighted by exposed steel supports and a black-and-chocolate color scheme set the tone for the hip, well-to-do clientele, who, lounging in faux-ostrich chairs and on mohair couches, are seemingly imported from all corners of the city and beyond to lend a dose of in-crowd to a neighborhood that's mostly changed into 'jammies in time for the 11pm news.
The Food
Heirloom-tomato gazpacho showcases Chef Mark Sullivan's commitment to serving organic, locally sourced produce; each dip is a veritable garden on a spoon. Buttered Maine lobster is served out of the shell, while a perfectly grilled bavette steak comes with duck-fat potatoes, a companion piece so hearty that anything more than the modest portion would be overwhelming. For dessert, chocolate-and-caramel fondant with chocolate sorbet and chocolate paper is, as one might guess, a love song to the cocoa bean; a stone fruit "bruschetta" lemon verbena ice cream provides a sweet finish with a lighter touch.
Hits: The service is personable and efficient, even when put through their paces by the dinner rush hitting this popular spot--and the host or hostess will give an honest wait-time appraisal on packed nights.
Misses: A very small quibble: The gnocchi in the lobster dish is a competent effort, but leaves some room for improvement, given the high bar set by SF's numerous Italian specialists.
User Reviews
oliviaw
May 19, 2009
love eating at the bar! had great seafood. drinks are inventive, but a little on the sweet side. great for girls night, or a romantic evening with your beau.
read full reviewnightfever
January 03, 2009
I am currently visiting San Francisco from New York. I must admit, I am a food snob and believe food, service and price come hand in hand when rating a restaurant. Service was great, atmoshphere was mature and chic. The food was just over priced for what it was. I thought the shortbreads were the best appetizer among the six that were ordered. The lobster was WAY over priced for the $40 they tagged it at and the sea bass was good. Dishing out $120 (with tip) for each person that included a few cocktails and 1 bottle of red wine was just not worth it. I don't mind dishing out $120, just give me something to sing about! In all honestly, if the dinner were to come out a bit cheaper, I think the whole experience would have been different.
read full reviewPaddyb62
March 07, 2008
We also got to the restaurant 20 minutes early as recommended and were seated at our reservation time. It took about 15 minutes before a server came to our table to ask if we wanted drinks - by this time, we had already read the entire menu and were ready to order. Our waiter, Charles, and sommelier, Andrew, were both great. Very knowledgeable and fun. The food on the other hand, was mediocre at best. The handmade cold cuts appetizer was really good but the scallops appetizer was just ok. I had the venison with red cabbage and spaetzel. The venison was cooked to perfection, but the red cabbage was overseasoned with cloves or something that was very overpowering. The spaetzel was panfried and had the consistency of styrofoam with absolutely no flavor. The cheese plate had large portions, but they were out of several cheeses so they substituted with larger portions of one of the other selections. The bill was a whopping $300 for dinner for 2 with appetizer, entre, bottle of inexpensive wine, and cheese plate. All in all, I was disappointed after reading all the great things, especially in Wine Spectator. With all the great places in San Francisco, I would go elsewhere for a better value.
read full reviewThe Details on Spruce
Know Before You Go:
In the mood for sophisticated fare, but not a full-out sit-down? A pared-down menu is available from the restaurant's carry-out-only cafe.
Fun Fact:
Know that your dinner fuels more than just you: Spruce's recycled vegetable oil helps the bio-diesel vehicles for SMIP Ranch, a sister operation, keep on truckin'.
What to Drink:
It's worth ordering a bottle from the extensive wine list just to see the rolling librarian's ladder put to use when your choice is fetched from the multi-level, custom-built cabinet. However, 70 vinos are available by the glass, and specialty cocktails such as the refreshing clover club (gin, lemon, aqua perfecta) are solid options as well.
Category:
Payment Methods:
American Express, Visa, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
Special Occasion Dining, Notable Chef, Lunch Spot, Group Dining, Fireplace, Dine At The Bar, Notable Wine List, Bar Scene
General Info:
Cuisine:
Notable Chef:
Mark Sullivan







