Spruce

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It's been a while since I've been out to restaurant where I have to dress up.  Spruce is tucked in a sleepy part of the city, but even on a weekday night this restaurant is bustling.  I hoped to just slip into the bar, where they serve full service, but even at 9p on a weekday there was a wait!  Definitely come a little dressed up here, you will stick out if you are in jeans and t-shirt.  

I love places with bread service!  The last time before this was Joel Robuchon (see post HERE ), where I was in bread heaven.  Two choices of butter at Spruce: maple cinnamon (above) and Regular (below).  Maple cinnamon was my favorite.  A sweet start to the night. 

 Likewise with the bread, there were two bread options:  cranberry sourdough (above) and dinner roll (below).  Both went quite well with both types of butters.  The dinner roll was soft and fluffy.

Hudson Valley Foie Gras with Vadouvan wafffle, strawberry, and pistachio.  A playful twist on a waffle dish.  Also, I had to get my last tidbits of foie in before the ban (insert sad face here).  The foie is served two ways:  as a torchon and the standard seared presentation.  I was pleasantly surprised that the sweetness of the foie went well with the seasonal strawberries and the waffle.  Overall, very impressed with this dish and loved how it wasn't the same ol' foie dish.  Just the perfect balance of sweet and savory without feeling like you are overdoing the richness of the foie.

Burger and Fries at Spruce - #37 on 2012 7x7 SF's Top 100 Eats

The burger and fries are probably the most popular and well known dish at Spruce.  Its actually served on the dinner menu as well as the bar menu.  Rich and flavorful Nieman Ranch beef served between a buttered English muffin.  Not a juicy burger, but the meat is well flavored.  You have the option of 3 cheese:  blue cheese, gruyere, and cheddar.  Served with a side of zucchini pickles, which I loved, and crispy duck fat fries.  Not exactly #1 in my book ( Nopa's burger is still the standard for me see it HERE), but overall an excellent burger and well worth the $16 price tag.

Spruce burger (medium rare) with cheddar cheese.

Frozen Key Lime Pie with Macadamia nuts, strawberry guava puree.  Light and refreshing dessert that wowed me.  Just the perfect touch of tartness in the key lime with a frozen, slushy center. 

 Dark chocolate cake with mint chip ice cream and toasted marshmallow.  Rich and chocolately.

A sweet goodbye treat.  Not sure exactly what it was, but tasted like a bite of almond cookie.  I'd be avoiding upscale American restaurants for a while because the menus were starting to bore me, but I was surpringly impressed by Spruce and a little upset that I hadn't made it out here before, but I will definitely be back. Absolutely deserving of its Michelin star.

updated - Working my way through the 2012 7x7's SF big eat 100 things

updated - Working my way through the 2012 Michelin list (Bay Area)

Address:                       Spruce

                                             3640 Sacramento St.

                                             San Francisco, CA

Type:                               American

Popular chomps:  burger and fries

Chomp worthy:       burger and fries
                                              foie gras and waffles