Spenger's on a Sunday Night. Two-hour wait. Great restaurant. Great food. The freshest seafood. The most tasty sourdough bread. Good people. Reasonable prices. Wait, did I leave anything out?Spenger's is still around today but they changed ownership, freshened it up a bit, and the prices went way up. And guess what? The food is lousy--mediocre at best. I haven't been there in years and have no plans to visit.
Spenger's on the Berkeley waterfront, right across the street from Brennen's, another old place (hoffbrau-style) that they tidied up and proceeded to wreck the food and atmosphere too.
Spenger's and Brennen's were big media people hangouts in the Eastbay. Dave Newhouse, formerly of the Oakland Trib and old KNBR was a regular at Spenger's. Many times I saw Gary Park and Ron Bergman at both places.
Ah yes...Spenger's & Steamworks...the two go together! Bon Appetit, Goddamit!!
ReplyDeleteJoel, you owe me $5 dollars; pay up, bitch!!
DeleteCory, I ain't payin' you shit, you no-lunch-buying freeloading bastard!!
DeleteFigures your fat ass would remember a free lunch!!
DeleteWhile you two are playin fucken slap-ass with the hot mops, I'm fucken workin here! Cut the crap, let's goe!!
DeleteHey bartender at spangles recommended my dad to join the Navy in the early forties not sure why dad knew a bartender at 17 but we'll move on I still like the place prices are a bit out of shape.
ReplyDeleteSpengers hasn't been the same in years. The food is not worth the wait...or even if there was No wait. It pretty much sucks.
ReplyDeleteWow, Gary Park used to eat there. Maybe it should be preserved as a historic national monument.
ReplyDeleteWoz of Apple fame always eats at the Hickory Pit in Campbell across from the Pruneyard should we preserve that as well?
DeleteSurprised the Hickory Pit has any food left for their other customers. Have you seen Woz lately?
DeleteWoz is the only "celebrity" I know that posts where he's eating up to the minute online. Or at least he used to. I saw him eating in Saratoga with Kathy Griffin once and sure enough people showed up because he posted it.
Delete"Woz of Apple fame always eats at the Hickory Pit in Campbell across from the Pruneyard should we preserve that as well?"
DeleteFrom the looks of things he's eaten there quite a few times.
The Dickeys took over the place. That explains it. They're trying to diversify their portfolio. The assholes.
ReplyDeleteThanks for my best laugh of the day!
DeleteBy the time the Dickeys are done with even the finest seafood restaurant in the Bay Area, you wouldn't be able to GIVE AWAY seafood. Unless, of course you couple the giveaway dinner with free passes for a stomach pumping at the nearest hospital emergency room!
Cumuluseafood,for that 'Bay Area' flavor, fresh from Dallas..or Atlanta..or Springfield...
DeleteI used to have lunch every Friday there when I had my business in Walnut Creek. On the owner change, I never went back. It was not the same and never will be. What a waste of a bay area landmark.
ReplyDeleteStarted going to Spenger's in the 1950's -- we even "dressed up" to go there - it was a night out -- and it was the best -- loved hearing the hostess call you when it was your turn - because the wait was usually long but would never think of not waiting - had my first "Shirley Temple" there -- the last time I ate there was about 15 years ago when it had changed hands -- so disappointing what had happened. It's an insult to Berkeley and to whomever from the Spenger family is still around.
ReplyDeleteUhhhh...to claim Spengers is on the waterfront is a bit of a 3/4 mile stretch. Railroad-track-front, ok. And yes, it's taken a nosedive over the last 20 years
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of Berkeley restaurants, the Pyramind Brewery closed down last week. Some of the worst brewed beer in the area. Beautiful space and good location but just terrible beer. Wonder what will move in there.
ReplyDeleteThe last time I ate there, years ago, I had to use that old restaurant chesnut - "Excuse me, waiter, there's a fly in my martini". And there was...
ReplyDeleteI agree...we meet a couple from Marin here (because it is in the middle of where we live) for lunch. The food is really not tasteful and is bland. I had to ask for tartar sauce for my trout almondine...and my friend said the salmon burger was way too dry (and needed tartar sauce also). I will have to convince my wife to find a different restaurant for this friendly lunch. Oh...and the service was terrible (as well as slow). Funny you blogged about this also.
ReplyDeleteGreat media story! One would think that all else is just perfect in media-land!
ReplyDeleteI went there when I was new to the Bay Area, about fifteen years ago. Couldn't understand what the fuss was about. Bland, run-of-the-mill seafood and bad service. Have never contemplating returning.
ReplyDeleteI do wonder if Rich knows a good restaurant. Tried Tommy's once too. Spit out my sandwich and never returned.
My grandparents would take us there on Sunday mornings for breakfast in the 1970s. He would always tip the maître d' an extra $20 to get a seated earlier. It was a great place to go for breakfast on Sundays or dinner anytime. I had lunch there about a year ago, it wasn't bad.
ReplyDeleteAny restaurants still around that are better than they were 20 years ago? Or is it human nature to feel the old days (and prices) were better?
ReplyDeleteJerry Brown showed up at Brennan's once in a while in the 70's. The new Brennan's is in a different building and has no soul.
ReplyDeleteA once great restaurant that went to shit under the new ownership, I'll never go back to eat that crap.
ReplyDeleteDungeness crab legs Oscar.
ReplyDeleteThat is all.