Spencer’s at the Waterfront is Burlington’s flagship fine dining restaurant — a Chef-Inspired Steak and Seafood House located directly on Burlington’s waterfront at 1340 Lakeshore Road, with stunning panoramic views from a Lake Ontario-facing patio and a dining room centred around a hearth oven. Multiple OpenTable Diners’ Choice Award winner for Best Overall and Best Food in Halton.
The restaurant was created by Chef Matteo Paonessa, whose cooking philosophy combines a refreshing, modern take on classic dishes with fresh, local, and seasonal ingredients sourced from the surrounding region and the Niagara Peninsula. The menu’s dual pillars are its seafood program — including oysters, clam chowder with fresh clams and bacon, and whole fish preparations — and its steak program featuring 45-day-aged Canadian Prime Grade beef including a signature 16oz Rib Steak and 42oz Tomahawk Steak.
The patio is the most in-demand seating in Burlington on warm summer evenings — the view over Lake Ontario with the Brant Street Pier visible to the east, the light changing through dinner service, and the occasional sailboat crossing the frame makes outdoor dining at Spencer’s one of the more memorable restaurant experiences in the Golden Horseshoe. Heated patio seating extends the season through cooler fall evenings.
Weekend brunch on Sundays has developed a loyal following — the Steak and Eggs, the Quiche with roasted pear and bacon, and the Baby Kale Caesar are standout brunch dishes. For large parties and special occasions, the restaurant accommodates group bookings with attention that multiple reviewers describe as making them feel genuinely valued rather than processed.
Reservations strongly recommended for dinner Thursday through Sunday. Parking along Lakeshore Road is metered and can be limited near the waterfront on summer evenings — arriving by transit or earlier in the evening avoids the parking challenge.
Address: 1340 Lakeshore Road, Burlington, ON L7S 1A1
Phone: (905) 633-7494
Website: spencersatthewaterfront.com
Price: $$$$
Hours:
Lunch: Mon–Fri 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM · Sat 11:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Brunch: Sun 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Dinner: Mon–Thu 5:00 PM – 9:30 PM · Fri–Sat 5:00 PM – 10:30 PM · Sun 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
