This is a stop every foodie must make while in Atlanta. The Spence has a big-time chef name behind it. Food Network’s Top Chef contestant, Chef Richard Blais, has a menu concept that can be felt throughout every dish.
The restaurant was a joint venture between Blais and the Concentrics Restaurant Group. It’s a blend of Americana thats menu speaks for itself.
When you walk in, the atmosphere is open and inviting. Oversized booths and tables surround the open windows, letting in the natural light. It’s a great place for lunch or dinner.
The ambient music is very soothing. Classic songs you can hum along to play overhead. The light and jazzy selection compliments the airy and open feel of the restaurant.
You better come hungry!
Start off with a Cucumber Ginger Beer. It’s a house speciality and the perfect drink for summer. For lunch or dinner, the appetizers are the real show stoppers.
The roasted bone marrow with tuna tare tare and fried quail eggs are something you’ll definitely want to try. It’s surprisingly light and the texture pairs well with the flaky, firm bread. Pair it with a glass of 2012 Jean-Paul & Benoit Drion and you can’t go wrong.
The Oysters and Pearls are something you must have! The “pearls” are liquid nitrogen balls of horseradish cream. The Beau Soleil oysters are shipped fromm New Brunswick and you can taste the freshness. The combination fuses together perfectly. These will turn any oyster skeptic into an oyster lover.
If you’re looking for lighter fare, try the kale “Caesar” salad. This is reason #456 to love kale. You get all the flavor of a Caesar salad, but modified with kale.The shaved parmesan cheese is layered throughout the salad and topped with house made croutons.
Together, you get the perfect crunch in this salad. This is definitely an entire meal in itself or a great appetizer to split.
If you’re stopping in for lunch, the menu won’t disappoint. You can get a trio of a house salad, soup and sandwich for under $12.
The Monte Cristo with red pepper jelly and mixed greens topped with Green Goddess dressing are enough to fill you up. But then, the tomato soup, that’s served in a tin can, with house croutons, fennel, chive and cherry tomatoes puts you in that “happily full” catagory.
You might also want to try “Juicy Lucy” burger. This is a hidden gem on the menu. You wouldn’t think to find a serious burger contender here, but you will!
It comes with thick-cut fries, white American cheese that’s blended into the center of the patty and cooked with caramelized onions. It’s then piled high with the works and is more than enough to split between two people.
A meal just isn’t complete without dessert. Surprise yourself with a slice of the cake of the day and make it a la mode. The day we stopped in, the chocolate cake was on the menu.
It’s a generous portion of chocolate cake filled with peanut butter, chocolate gnache and roasted marshmallow on the outside. It’s a rich cake that lets you taste every layer as you bite in. Yes, it’s as delicious as it looks!
For More Information:
The Spence
75 Fifth St. NW
Atltanta, GA 30308
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