Photo Credit: Ed Anderson
Spruce in San Francisco was the haute spot on Feb. 13 when President Barack Obama was the surprise guest of Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff at a dinner held in a private dining room and which also drew Tesla Motors’ Elon Musk.  As a result, the posh, neighborhood restaurant in tony Presidio Heights is receiving lots of media attention this Valentine’s Day/President’s Day weekend.
“(It’s) very exciting,” Karey K. Walker, spokesperson for Bacchus Management Group, whose portfolio includes Spruce and the Michelin-starred Village Pub in Woodside, practically squealed in her email to us.
In all, she wrote that there were 14 guests at the 2 1/2-hour dinner.
“The Laurel room was reserved on behalf of Marc Benioff, who brought a surprise guest with him, Obama! Â We didn’t have a clue he was coming until he showed up, so we were definitely caught off-guard. As far as we know, everyone was happy.”
She also wrote that the guests were understanding, extremely gracious and thrilled.
“The dinner went off without a hitch. We called each guest that we weren’t able to speak to personally, to thank them for being so understanding and accommodating.”
No word on what executive chef/partner Mark Sullivan or chef de cuisine John Madriaga whipped up for the heavyweights. Walker says the restaurant was asked not to disclose, although one San Francisco television reported Obama dined on duck and showed Musk having to park his red Tesla Model S two blocks away due to streets near Spruce, which is on Sacramento Street, being closed due to Obama’s presence.
Earlier in the afternoon, Obama, who stayed at The Fairmont San Francisco Hotel, spoke to about 60 donors at a Democratic National Committee fundraiser at the Russian Hill home of tech investor Sandy Robertson.
Benioff and Obama have been pals for years. In 2011, the tech titan hosted a $35,800-a-plate fundraiser dinner for the president at his home. We’re sure Benioff didn’t pay that much a person for the 14 guests at Spruce.
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