This Michigan Restaurant Is The Hottest Reservation To Get In March 2026 (But It’s Well Worth It)
I’ve always maintained that the best dinner parties are the ones where I don’t have to do the dishes, and this cozy sanctuary on East Liberty Street has perfected that exact vibe.
The menu is a restless, beautiful thing, a rotating prix-fixe that shapeshifts every month to mirror whatever the Michigan soil is currently whispering.
Because the chefs are obsessed with seasonal, local ingredients, you’re never eating the same meal twice, which is precisely why locals treat reservation drops like Olympic trials. It’s unpretentious yet razor-sharp, a place where the wine flows as easily as the conversation and every plate feels like a personal gift from the kitchen.
Secure your spot at this top-rated Michigan restaurant with our insider guide to the monthly rotating prix-fixe menu and tips for snagging a reservation.
I’ve put together eleven essential tips to ensure your March 2026 dining experience is nothing short of flawless.
Book The Moment Reservations Open
Reservations here do not linger. They open at the start of each month for that same month’s dining, and they are gone within hours.
March 2026 will be no different, so mark your calendar and set a reminder the night before.
The restaurant is small by design, with limited tables and a counter-service setup that keeps the headcount tight. That intimacy is part of what makes dinner here feel special, but it also means competition for seats is real.
Check the website at spencerannarbor.com for exact release dates and times. Being even a few hours late can mean waiting another full month to try again.
Understand The Fixed Menu Format
Spencer runs on a prix-fixe model, meaning everyone at the table eats the same curated menu for that month. There is no ordering from a list of options, and substitutions are generally not available.
Knowing this ahead of time saves a lot of surprise at the table.
The upside is that the chef, Abby, designs each course to work together as a complete experience. Every dish is built around what is fresh and available that season, which means March might bring root vegetables, citrus, or early spring greens depending on what is sourcing well.
Pricing has historically sat around $75 per person for the full dinner menu, which, given the portion size and quality, feels genuinely fair.
Arrive Knowing Your Dietary Needs
Spencer has offered both omnivore and vegetarian menu tracks in the past, and the vegetarian options have drawn serious praise. The gnocchi and pierogi nights are the stuff of local legend.
That said, the kitchen works with a fixed format, so if you have severe allergies or very specific restrictions, call ahead before booking.
The phone number is +1 734-369-3979, and the staff are known for being helpful and upfront about what each month’s menu contains. A quick conversation before your visit is far better than an awkward moment at the table.
Flexibility is limited by design, not indifference. The more you know going in, the more you can simply enjoy the meal.
Expect Communal Seating And Embrace It
Communal seating is the norm at Spencer, and first-timers sometimes find it unexpected. You may be seated directly next to strangers, close enough to share a conversation if the mood is right.
Some of the most memorable evenings here have started with a friendly exchange about the food.
The room is small and the energy is relaxed, so even if you came for a quiet anniversary dinner, the setting has a way of feeling cozy rather than cramped. October and winter months move dining indoors, adding a particularly snug atmosphere.
Treat the communal table like a bonus, not a drawback. The people who end up next to you are usually just as excited about the meal as you are.
The Rotating Monthly Menu Is The Whole Point
Chef Abby changes the entire menu every month, and that is not a marketing gimmick. It is the philosophical backbone of how Spencer operates.
Each menu reflects what is actually growing, harvesting, or available locally at that moment, which means March brings something entirely different from what February offered.
Regulars have described going back month after month for years and never hitting a repeat. Dishes like butternut squash ravioli with kimchi and sausage with white beans have made lasting impressions, but those exact plates may never return.
That sense of discovery is what keeps the reservation list so competitive. You are not just booking a dinner.
You are booking a specific, unrepeatable version of Spencer.
Plan For A 90-Minute Dining Window
Spencer runs a tight ship when it comes to table turns. Dinner seatings are typically structured around a 90-minute window, so this is not the place to linger indefinitely over the table.
It is, however, more than enough time to work through a multi-course meal at a relaxed pace.
Some guests have noted they wished the window were longer, and that is fair feedback for a meal this considered. The practical takeaway is to arrive on time, skip the lengthy pre-dinner deliberation, and settle in quickly so you can enjoy every course without feeling rushed.
Think of the 90 minutes as a focused experience rather than a limitation. Spencer is designed to be immersive from the first plate to the last.
Counter Service Does Not Mean Casual Quality
Spencer describes itself as a counter-serve wine bar and eatery, which might conjure images of paper bags and plastic trays. Forget that entirely.
The counter-service format here simply means you place your order and pay at the front, then the food is brought to you with genuine care and attention.
The service has been called remarkable by people who have eaten at fine dining rooms across major cities. Staff explain dishes, talk through the sourcing, and engage with the table in a way that feels personal rather than scripted.
It is the rare spot where the format strips away pretension without sacrificing any of the substance. The food arrives with real intention, regardless of how the order was placed.
The Cheese And Curated Selections Are Worth Exploring
Before Spencer became known for its monthly tasting menus, it built a strong reputation as a wine bar with a thoughtful cheese program. The cheese board, in particular, has earned consistent praise, with staff offering detailed explanations of each selection, its origin, and how it pairs with what is on the plate.
The retail side of Spencer also lets you take bottles home, and the staff are genuinely knowledgeable without being intimidating about it. Guests who came in just for a cheese board have walked out planning their first dinner reservation.
If March dinner slots are fully booked, stopping in during lunch hours (Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 8 or 9 PM) is still a worthwhile visit.
Go In With An Open Mind About Ingredients
One of the more honest things about Spencer is that the menu does not always play it safe. Dishes have featured hard beets, unusual root vegetables, and ingredient combinations that might raise an eyebrow on paper but work beautifully on the plate.
Not every dish will be your personal favorite, and that is okay.
The kitchen trusts its ingredients and its techniques, and that confidence comes through in the food. March menus have historically leaned into late-winter produce, which can mean earthier, more savory flavor profiles before spring fully arrives.
Going in with curiosity rather than a checklist of preferred ingredients is the best way to experience what makes Spencer genuinely different from everywhere else in Ann Arbor.
Dessert Is Not An Afterthought
The pistachio dark chocolate cake has been described, without any irony, as the best thing some guests have ever tasted. Dessert at Spencer carries the same seasonal intention as every other course, so what lands on the table in March will reflect whatever the kitchen has found to work with creatively that month.
Portions throughout the meal tend to be generous, which makes it easy to arrive at dessert feeling satisfied but not stuffed. The pacing of the meal helps with this too, since courses arrive with enough rhythm that you never feel overwhelmed.
Save room. Whatever the dessert turns out to be in March 2026, the track record here suggests it will be the note you talk about on the drive home.
Getting There And Knowing The Hours
Spencer sits at 113 E Liberty St in downtown Ann Arbor, which puts it right in the middle of a walkable, lively neighborhood. Parking nearby is manageable, especially if you arrive a few minutes before your reservation rather than scrambling at the last moment.
Hours run Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 8 PM on Wednesdays and noon to 9 PM Thursday through Sunday. Monday and Tuesday the restaurant is closed.
One honest note from firsthand experience: opening times can occasionally run a few minutes behind posted hours, so patience at the door is a small courtesy worth extending.
The phone is +1 734-369-3979, and the website at spencerannarbor.com is the most reliable place to check for updates on March 2026 menus and reservation availability.