The service was top notch. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Beautiful views of the ocean.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]We dined inside due to the high winds but our table was beside a window.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]It was the dining on the beach without weather conditions!![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We had the spinach artichoke dip. My husband had the filet with lobster tail. I had the Wagyu ribeye. I suggest the mashed potatoes! So delicious. Steaks were cooked perfectly and the lobster was so sweet. I suggest getting the chocolate cake for dessert! read more

The Reef - Spinach artichoke dip - Seafood Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]The Reef is all about the location. Almost every seat has a view and you can't beat that![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] As other reviewers stated, the service is very slow. If you go in with that mindset, don't arrive starving and take in the beauty of the Ocean, you'll have a nice night. The complimentary bread is delicious! We both ordered dinner salads, Roasted Beet and Tuna Poke. The salads were fine, nothing special. For the price, I expected a larger salad portion. As I stated, this restaurant is all about the location. There is a large free parking lot and another overflow lot across the street for each access to the restaurant. read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Great ocean views and good food![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Brunch was well thought out and although I ate from the lunch menu - beet salad, lamb meatball soup and fried manchego cheese, it was all on point!!!! But the REAL star is Kaydee "Kaydy" maybe and wow wow wow!!!! Attentive not intrusive - read the table amazingly well, anticipated 2 year old's needs to keep her calm, and engaged appropriately!!! "Unreasonable Hospitality"? She has a natural talent for this industry. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The place is a perfect Florida ocean front spot and the bar is perfect!!!![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Kaydee gets 7 stars!!!! Food 4's and 5's [[HIGHLIGHT]]Place 4[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]View 6 stars[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

The Reef - Gaga and Happy (Pappy) and Rhodes Avery - Seafood Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Food was absolutely delicious, and the beach views made the experience even better.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]One of the best perks is that the restaurant has direct beach access, so you can take a stroll along the shore after your meal.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The standout for me was the jambalaya, easily the best I've had so far. It was served in a rich tomato-based sauce with melted cheese, which was a unique twist I hadn't experienced before. The shrimp and grits had a nice little kick that added great flavor without being overpowering. The fried chicken was perfectly crispy on the outside while staying juicy and tender inside, same with the calamari. And don't skip the Brussels sprouts. They were tossed in a sweet glaze and finished with crumbled feta cheese, creating the perfect balance of sweet and savory. Definitely a spot worth visiting for both the food and the views but a bit expensive. read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Ocean front dining.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The food was cooked perfectly. The clam chowder is a cross between New England style and minorcan it is definitely a must try as it is Delectable! The service was nice and at a relaxed pace. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We enjoyed ourselves.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Great spot for birthdays or romantic date night.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]They have indoor seating that is stadium style so more tables have a view.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]They also have an outdoor patio.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Large size full bar. read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambiance and food are amazing.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The music on Fridays is always great.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The servers & bartender's are very attentive. read more

I first came to this place 2013, I was so in awe.. I got to see the Atlantic, but best of all I was back at one of my favorite places to eat. [[HIGHLIGHT]]This place is great, everyone is friendly and helpful, you can sit inside or outside and watch the Atlantic as you eat.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Ok now for the food. My husband had the Mussels which were a very good appetizer, I had decided to get the Fried Manchego cheese with the raspberry sauce, I had had this before, but it's changed and now it's done breaded and it was dry I wasn't happy this time. Now for the dinner. We had prime rib, mashed potatoes and green beans, it was pretty good. Ok on to dessert the key lime pie my husband got was very good and I had a delicious cream brûlée.. only bad thing my husband wanted coffee and sadly it came out cold, our waiter Eric who btw was very good quickly brought out a fresh one. As you can see from the pics this is a great place. I just hope next time I come a couple of my favorite dishes improve. They do have a great menu. Check them out. read more

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The best restaurant ever the service is awesome the food always made fresh [[HIGHLIGHT]]absolutely amazing atmosphere relaxing and calming[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]bring family and friends enjoy seeing the ocean and so beautiful[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] everything is fresh and delicious [[HIGHLIGHT]]beautiful place unbelievable place I love it so much so incredible fun remarkable beautiful amazing wonderful amazing beautiful wonderful place and I love it so much[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] From Lauren read more

The Reef is a must visit when visiting St. Augustine / Vilano Beach. I'm a huge fan of cucumber cocktails and the cucumbertini was very refreshing and the perfect treat to end a long work week. The calamari was very seasoned and crispy and crunchy, but it almost tasted like it was fried in week old oil. The sauce that came with it was a great pairing. The lobster and shrimp risotto was very filling and very flavorful. I loved that it had mushrooms and peas mixed in. The service was very quick and our sever was very attentive and got us drink refills as soon as we needed. The ambiance speaks for itself with the ocean view from the windows. read more

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We went early to hopefully get a good seat ,we dined inside ,requested to have a window seat which we got had an excellent view .We ordered salads, they never came, nor did the bread,after the initial order we never saw the server until after the meal was brought out. When the server finally came around I asked if we were forgotten about because we did not get our salads or bread and she said the boy should have brought that out. The meal was excellent though. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambiance of this restaurant is beautiful.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]It is right on the beach with both inside and outside seating options.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The service was great. Our waitress was very attentive. The food was very tasty although the portion size could have been larger. We ordered the steak and eggs and the shrimp and grits. I would return. read more

The Reef - Steak and eggs Shrimp and grits Mimosas - Seafood Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]First, of course, the view of the beach is unbeatable! One of the few good restaurants in the area with truly unobstructed views.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] (We ate inside for the AC.) I do recommend this restaurant! Our server was knowledgeable and accommodating, though sometimes hard to get his attention. The crab cakes starter was delicious and a perfect start for two people. Scoop up all the condiments that are plated with it! Scrumptious! One of us got the brunch meal of biscuits and gravy with eggs. It was great, biscuits felt like home, and you get a huge portion, could easily be a shareable meal. The sausage was somewhat spicy. The eggs were fluffy and perfect. Another got a lunch type food. The fish tacos were great! PERFECTLY fried fish, loved the sauce with them, but it was at the bottom of the taco and had to bring it up from the bottom to make the taco "whole" otherwise they would have left everything to the last few bites. The Crème Brûlée was sooo good; even after we thought we were done, the one who stopped earliest couldn't resist more of it. Our meals were very satisfying. The crème brûlée was decadent. It was a great experience. Changes might be: If you serve large bottled water, have a chiller to keep it cool, especially by the window. Our ice wasn't refilled and the water was by the window where it got warm. Most restaurants I've been to have a chiller (like with champagne) for large bottled waters.) Don't layer the fish tacos this way. I should get the full experience throughout the taco. Having all the extras on the bottom put it on the guest to get the full experience of how good they CAN be and we didn't realize until several bites in that everything was at the bottom. Or maybe at least warn them, if this is intentional. read more

So good! Our friend in Saint Augustine knew about this place and took us there after our arrival in town. In short, the shrimp and grits are to die for! That sauce is unmatched, and the shrimp is nice. Sadly, the grouper and salmon were sold out so we opted for the Caribbean Grill. Great choice as the fish was flaky, nicely prepared and very fresh. Mussels as a starter, very nice as well. Nice attentive service (thanks Baylie) and the fact that this restaurant is coastal is a great plus.... unfortunately, we were over for a rather late dinner but anyone visiting during the summer should have great ocean views. Highly recommended. read more

The Reef - Seafood Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

Ate 7/8/26, dinner for 2. As a semi foodie, I rate The Reef as a mediocre over priced seafood restaurant at best with an ocean view. I had grouper, over cooked on a bed of orzo with 3 bland cooked cherry tomatoes and about a tbs of sauté spinach. Wife had lobster and shrimp risotto. Good shrimp, over cooked bland FL lobster tail with gummy risotto. Spend you money wisely read more

Came on a Sunday around 11:00 sat at the bar. CJ was our server and he was great. No hard liquor until 1:00 on sundays until 1:00 but beer and wine is ok. We started with fried green tomatoes that were very tasty with a light breading. I had spring and grits with a datil like sauce that was outstanding. The hubs had a burger that he said was very good. Fries were excellent and he really liked the coleslaw. Our friend had an omelette that he really liked. The place is gorgeous and seats around 200. Outside seating is available and the views right on the ocean can't be beat. There is an upstairs available for private parties. We really enjoyed our brunch. read more

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Super rude hostess. She was very rude to my mom. This was my mom's favorite place. My mom has a huge social circle and has brought a ton of business here. We drove an hour to get spoken down to on 3:00 pm on a Friday on 8/8/2025. Management, please review the footage. Everyone else here is usually super friendly and my mom has always tipped way above average. But honestly, the food here is mid at best. The mixed drinks taste mostly of mix and are in my experience weaker than other local restaurants. I only visited for my mom. I'll never come back here. Thanks for being rude. You just saved me from a long future drive. read more

Food was fair, service was good, [[HIGHLIGHT]]ambiance was good.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Place is old and needs some deep cleaning.

Drove down and had lunch at The Reef. It was an extremely hot day so we sat inside but there is outdoor resting as well. There is a full bar in the restaurant. Our server was attentive and took care of us. We had the Caribbean Grill and the short rib grilled cheese. Both were delicious. The Caribbean Grill was so fresh. The short rib was tender and the grilled cheese portion added so much flavor. We had a great view of the beach and ocean. Overall it was a great lunch. read more

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Brunch today was incredible. There were 6 of us for "the oldest bachelorette party" ever. The bride is 48. First marriage. Jennifer was amazing. Megan from Tampa. read more

Go give this place a try!! The food was amazing, our server was even better, and the drinks were good! AND THE VIEW!!!!! Our server walked us through the menu and what items she recommended and steered us away from meh items. The food took a little long but the calamari as an appetizer was great and that and some drinks (they also have mocktails!!!!!) created a nice relaxing atmosphere, and the wait for food didn't feel too long. read more

The Reef - Progress Not Perfection Mocktail - Seafood Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

The seafood trio was fresh and delicious. We upgraded to brussel sprouts with mashed potatoes which was recommended. The sea salt Carmel cheesecake was melt in your mouth good. Save room! read more

The Reef - Cauliflower steak - Seafood Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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Food was amazing. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Nice view and sounds from the beach.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Service was friendly and prompt.

Indoor and outdoor seating with a nice bar area and a spectacular view of the ocean. This place feels elegant, yet casual. There's carpet throughout and on this very humid day of two weeks of rain left a slightly musty scent. Still a very clean and elegant setting. Staff is friendly and professional. I ordered a spicy Bloody Mary that was so satisfying. Nicely done! The Datil spiced Award Winning Seafood Chowder was creamy decadence with chunks of seafood and potatoes. My fried shrimp was light and crispy with succulent shrimp accompanied by a side of Datil pepper cocktail sauce. Perfect! My husband's order of Mahi Club was grilled and blackened and topped with smoky bacon and lettuce, tomato, onion and Swiss cheese with a dreamy avocado cream sauce. Amazing! Both our meals came with super crunchy well seasoned fries and Caribbean slaw. This is our first of many dining experiences as we intend to visit again often. Highly recommend! read more

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Wow Although many were not dressed to be in anice restaurant it was a great experience EXCEPT I had to ask for water 3x on a hot day on the deck. Bartender served up unique cocktails with perfect presentation Thank you read more

Food was soooo mediocre. Bread was stale. Food bland. Risotto was mush. Yikes!! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Beautiful seaside view but the windows were too dirty to see the view.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Way over priced. You are paying for the view, but the view is not work the price. $18 crab cake was cold and no taste. $8.00 salad was just mesclun mix. Fish tacos had tiny piece of fish and the rest cabbage and salsa. Wife and I had 2 draft beers each, paid $40 for alcohol. Total bill was $120 for a bad lunch. Service was good. Not his fault we won't be back. Plenty of great places without the view, but great food in the area. read more

Beautiful view. Great patio. Lovely dining area. Very helpful staff. Clean washrooms. Easy parking . read more

The view from as amazing watching the waves of the ocean. Our first waiter was super friendly even though he was busy. The good was very good. My husband had fish and chips it looked so Crispy. I had scallops with a purée that was very tasty read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Nice location with beach/water views.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Prices were high relative to other options for seafood restaurants with better fare. Service was "ok". read more

Their award winning seafood chowder was very good with just the right amount of heat in the spicyness. My wife does not like things too spicy, and she liked the soup a lot. Although my wife liked the coconut shrimp, I thought it was overly breaded and not enough coconut flavor. My wife really enjoyed her seafood pasta, although I thought it could have had a bit more flavor. I had the lobster and shrimp risotto, which came with a whole Lobster tail and three large shrimp. Although maybe a little different tasting than some I have had (maybe because it was a vegetable risotto), it was excellent and very creamy. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Even though it was a gloomy night, the location and view right on the ocean is not to be missed.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We will definitely be back! read more

They were very busy which I understand, and our server Major was great, but after paying over $100 and waiting 40 minutes for incredibly overcooked, mushy steak and a lobster tail which was hard as a rock, I can't in good conscience rate this any higher. For brunch in St Augustine , I strongly recommend avoiding this restaurant. read more

Went for brunch for the first time and it was outstanding! Steak & eggs had so much flavor and cooked perfectly. And the shrimp and grits was delicious. We will definitely be going back. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Outside seating at the reef is exceptional.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

The Reef - Steak and eggs - Seafood Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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JC took AMAZING care of us in the bar area overlooking the beach! The food here is mediocre overall. You are paying for the ambience and the location. The service as I mentioned above is outstanding, but there's nothing that the servers can do to improve the quality and/or preparation of the food. My wife had the steak bowl, I had the crab Benedict. The presentation looks fantastic however that's where the fantastic ends. The flavors in the steak bowl were good, but the steak was tough and overcooked. The crab Benedict was good, the crab was a little little gamy, which can be expected with live animals. I think The Reef is a place to go one time just to experience it read more

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Arrived, Wednesday evening 4:30 p.m. Service very slow,server not attentive, Jacqliyn,I ordered a simple pasta house red sauce, no seafood no chicken, just basic I was told no problem food Arrived 50 minutes later,Cold smothered with chunks of cheese, a flower, dried tomatoes, not what I ordered,asked server about it she said,Sorry about that,I paid bill ,I asked why I was paying full price$30 for a tiny bit of Cold Spaghetti ? She said she would check with manager,came back and said I was to pay full price,I thanked her for her mis guidance, paid and left...WILL NOT BE BACK terrible experience, cold food misled on price, What a joke,Stay Away ,the web site is very misleading, much,much better resturants in St Augustine then this place, 2 people in party over$80 read more

Met family from Jacksonville here while we are camping here at North Beach Camp resort. We were seated right away. Our server Brandon was very friendly, helpful and attentive. We have been before and glad the food was consistent. We ordered a spinach and artichoke dip appetizer. Then ordered meals shrimp and grits , jambalaya, salmon and prime rib. Everything was good everyone enjoyed. We will definitely be back. read more

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My wife and I were very excited to go for brunch; we love Eggs Benedict. My wife had the Salmon and I had the crab Benedict's, we both agreed, worst we've ever had. The eggs were hard boiled and nearly no Hollandaise sauce, the muffins, potatoes, and fruit were very good read more

The Reef - Over cooked eggs Benny - Seafood Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

I'm really disappointed to be writing this because The Reef used to be phenomenal. Unfortunately, our experience last night -- which was supposed to be my mom's birthday dinner -- was incredibly disappointing. My mom ordered the prime rib, requesting it medium. It arrived completely raw in the middle and was about 75% inedible fat. It was extremely difficult to even cut into, let alone enjoy. I ordered the braised short rib, and it was served so cold that the fat had congealed. It honestly made my stomach turn. My dad ordered the seafood chowder, which was also cold, and later the jambalaya, which tasted pre-batched and unappetizing. For a restaurant we once loved -- and for the amount of money we spent -- this experience was unacceptable. It was especially upsetting given that it was meant to celebrate my mom's birthday. Sadly, we won't be returning. read more

We got to 3 stars by averaging the good with the bad. Let's start with the good; it's hard to beat the beach vide as you are literally on the beach. Great spot, they get 4 stars for the patio, it missed the 5 star mark because it could have been cleaner, lots of crumbs and last nights lime wedge still hanging around. The fish tank when entering could use some servicing. Our waitress was excellent more on that later, but she gets 5 stars. Let's talk about what was awful, the food. Simply put it was like Sysco foods came in and wrote the menu for them. My wife ordered the waffles, they came out cold. We asked our waitress if they prepare them, she said no unfortunately we buy them, really?? Making waffles is amongst the easiest things you could do. So easy in fact that many hotels allow guests to make them a la cart at the breakfast buffet. 3 thin slices of strawberries, horrid presentation. It should come off the menu or be completely rethought. I ordered the shrimp and grits. The flavors were good but there was a straight up deal breaker, the shrimp were not cleaned. This is something that is also really easy to do and totally fixable, frankly I would be embarrassed to send that out to customers. Also the thought of eating the digestive tract of a shrimp really kind of kills the appetite, I'm glad I saw it and didn't put it in my mouth. We sent back the waffles and got the fish and chips in its place. I spent years in kitchens and have always run fish and chips, the smell of old fry oil is one that once you smell you don't forget. They need to change their fry oil. More of the same; Sysco fries, Sysco slaw with a little added diced pineapple to the ready mix; at least it came out hot. Our wonderful waitress did the right thing and didn't charge us for the shrimp and grits or the waffles, she was sympathetic and didn't try to make excuses. She was well tipped and praised for doing her job well. Here's a few ideas from someone who has been in the industry for nearly 20 years. Shorten your menu to the items you do really well, there are to many choices. increase your pricing by 10% so that you can increase your food quality. Instead of buying ready made options from Sysco hire an experienced prep cook and have your food ready for your kitchen staff when they walk in, that's an easy person to find because they don't work service and have good hours.if you do it right you will see it's the same price as what you are paying for the ready made items. If you must; have someone local prepare your baked goods and tell your customers a little about them on the menu so that it increases your perceived value and local footprint in the community. I would go back for drinks but not to eat until I knew things had changed in the kitchen. All of these issues are fixable with a little coaching. read more

The Reef - Seafood Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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Food was mediocre at best and the service was horrific. I got the impression that the waiter did not want to wait on my husband and me. A table of three, seated ten minutes after us, received drinks, appetizers and bread before us. He frequently checked on them, but never came back to check on us after he took our drink and food order. We had to waive another server down for more drinks and additional sauce for our awful fried green tomatoes. I ordered a bottle of wine form another waiter. After she poured my first glass, I asked for a wine bucket to keep it cold. She took the bottle and never returned with it. My husband had to go to the bar to ask for another glass of wine. The shrimp and grits I ordered were terrible. Lime sauce with onions and red & green peppers. I left most of it on my plate. I took home the rest, but threw it away when I got home. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The best thing about the Reef is the view of the beach.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We will not be back. read more

For a dining experience that combines stunning views, impeccable service, and incredible food, The Reef is a must-visit. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or simply indulging in a romantic meal, it promises to leave you delighted and craving more. Timeless elegance meets breathtaking ocean views at The Reef in Vilano Beach! From the tender blackened Mahi & Shrimp to the melt-in-your-mouth Sesame-Crusted Seared Tuna, every dish was a delight. Chef Denzel truly outdid himself with his culinary creations, including the flavorful House-Made Pâté and the perfectly balanced chefs special Pan-Seared Mahi Mahi with asparagus, basil, tomatoes, and orzo. All of our fishes were so fresh with just the right amount of spice, delivering a burst of flavor in every bite. And don't miss the Crème Brûlée or warm Bread Pudding to finish your meal on a sweet note. Big thanks to our amazing server Joey for making it extra special with his top-notch recommendations and charming descriptions (shoutout to orzo as "the love child of pasta and rice" ). Under the skilled hands of Chef Denzel Aponte, The Reef delivers seafood dishes that are both creative and delicious. My wife and I were in food nirvana, savoring every course from start to finish. Make your reservation today and savor a dining experience like no other. 4100 Coastal Hwy, Vilano Beach, FL read more

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