Spenger's Fresh Fish Grotto in Berkeley Celebrates Millie Spenger’s 92nd Birthday Spenger's Fresh Fish Grotto Showcases Premier Wines at July 23 Dinner

July 9 is the 92nd birthday of Millie Spenger, the oldest living member of the family that founded Spenger’s Fresh Fish Grotto in Berkeley in 1890. Spenger’s subsequently became the longest operating family owned restaurant west of the Mississippi. In the spirit of the occasion, all Spenger’s guests visiting the restaurant on July 9 will receive a complimentary piece of birthday cake.

“We are pleased to be able share such an extraordinary milestone with Millie Spenger and with the dining community that has help make the restaurant the culinary landmark that it has become,” comments Spenger’s General Manager Richard Villarreal. “Millie is an amazing lady and it’s a privilege to know her.”

When the Spenger family decided to retire from the restaurant business about eight years ago, they forged a partnership with Bill McCormick and Doug Schmick of McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants who have a love for historic dining spots and who spent five million dollars to painstakingly refurbish Spenger’s in honor of Millie and her husband Frank.

The Spenger family’s involvement with the seafood restaurant business began in 1865 when Johan (John) Spenger, a fisherman from Bavaria, emigrated from Germany to the Bay Area and began fishing out of San Francisco. In the 1880’s he moved his family to Berkeley, ending up in the current location of Spenger’s on what was then the Fourth Street mud flats.

In addition to the wide variety of the freshest seafood, extraordinary libations are a hallmark of Spenger’s, which pours classic, contemporary and signature cocktails and offers an extensive wine list with 20 selections available by the glass. The restaurant’s unique showcase bars seat walk-in guests without reservations who can order from a bar menu, as well as from the full menu.

Unique to Spenger’s is an extensive collection of nautical memorabilia found throughout the restaurant. The museum-quality artifacts include wood walls and floors from the famous vessels Lurline and Encinal and various ships’ wheels, anchors, rigging, paintings and photographs. In addition there is a sizeable antique gun collection on display, along the “Star of Denmark”, a 34-carat diamond ring given to Hawaii’s Queen Kapiolani in 1887.

Spenger’s Fresh Fish Grotto is located at 1919 Fourth Street in Berkeley, California. The restaurant is open nightly for dinner from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Lunch is served daily from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Validated parking is available just across from the front door in a private lot. Visit Spenger’s on the web at www.spengers.com. For more information and reservations, also available through www.opentable.com, call (510) 845-7771.

Spenger's Fresh Fish Grotto has announced a “One Fermented Evening” special dinner to be held on Thursday, July 23, 2009, beginning at 6:30 PM.

The evening’s prix fixe menu, prepared by Spenger's Executive Chef Devon Boisen, will consist of four courses, plus an amuse bouche, showcasing seasonally fresh wild salmon paired with a selection of California wines. The cost of the dinner is $69.95 per guest, excluding tax and gratuity. Call (510) 845-7771 to reserve seats for the dinner. Advance reservations are required.

Spenger’s Fresh Fish Grotto has been one of the Bay Area’s best-known culinary destination points for over 110 years. Adding to the Spenger’s experience are the unique nautical paraphernalia and historic collectibles that are on display throughout the restaurant. Visit Spenger’s on the Web at www.spengers.com. The restaurant is located at 1919 Fourth Street in Berkeley, California, and the telephone number is (510) 845-7771.