I'd been going to Spenger's for 35 yrs + when McCormick and Shmick took ownership. Spenger's was never GREAT; it was what it was -- fried seafood platters, seafood gratins, cioppino, lobster. Though they kept some of the old faves, M&S upscaled, and failed miserably. Mediocre old-school seafood is tolerable and sometimes just what you want; wannabe frou-frou dishes that entirely miss the mark in preparation, freshness and presentation, and high prices just take all the fun out of putting on a lobster bib. The provencal salad doesn't even pretend to have a good piece of tuna in it; it's the stringy end piece you'll find yourself masticating. Spinach salad with bacon dressing is a miracle of heart stopping pig grease. Scooping the spinach aside, desparate to salvage the spinach, the waiter took it away in horror when he saw the grease puddle. Oyster Po' Boys come with cold, overly-crunchy oysters. Raw oysters come out shrivelled, obviously preshucked and in the walk-in. The fisherman's platter and the cioppino are worth sticking around for if you're truly determined. Happy hour specials are a bargain at $1.99, and the drinks are made with fresh juices, and no stinginess in alcohol. Decor is as it always was; a veritable museum of nautical treasures, old weapons and fishing nets. Overall, a good place for drinks and a happy hour app or two, otherwise, the food is realiably poor in preparation and quality. What you're really paying for is the old school ambiance, and even that's missing something, even with the old decor and some (a very few) of the waiters from back in the day. Old man Spenger would be so dissappointed and so am I.
Pros: Old-school, eclectic ambiance and decor, easy parking
Cons: Poorly prepared seafood, long wait for seating in peak hours, service can be dismissive
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