THE REEF · YELP ASSISTANT
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Whatever you do, don't get the chowder !! One bowl won't be enough. It's amazing. Now that the chowder is out the way. The view from the location is amazing. Staff was friendly and the Rum Runner was worth it. Had the burger as well, it's a burger. Overall a great place to eat and relax.
The Reef is all about the location. Almost every seat has a view and you can't beat that! 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.
The food and atmosphere were excellent. Our service was outstanding. Definitely would visit again if in town.
Our first visit, we were expecting a great meal, they came up short, and this will be our last visit. The Lamb Chops were overcooked and dry, the waitress acknowledged how bad they looked, and mentioned that she would address the issue with the Manager. A member of the onsite staff, walked up the aisle, asking the customers in the restaurant about their meal and experience, by coincidence, he unfortunately stopped just before our table, turned around and walked away. The issue was never addressed by onsite management.
Ocean front dining. 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. We enjoyed ourselves. Great spot for birthdays or romantic date night. They have indoor seating that is stadium style so more tables have a view. They also have an outdoor patio. Large size full bar.
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.
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. This place is great, everyone is friendly and helpful, you can sit inside or outside and watch the Atlantic as you eat. 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.
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.
Great ocean views and good food! 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. The place is a perfect Florida ocean front spot and the bar is perfect!!!! Kaydee gets 7 stars!!!! Food 4's and 5's Place 4 View 6 stars
The ambiance of this restaurant is beautiful. It is right on the beach with both inside and outside seating options. 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.
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.
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.
We've been here a couple times and it has been the nicest ocean front restaurant we have experienced in Saint Augustine thus far. Tonight was a little chilly, so we opted to dine inside, but had a magnificent view of the beach. The service was terrific. Our server was kind and very attentive to our needs. The food overall was good. I had the Grilled Seafood Trio with rock lobster, shrimps, and scallops. The shrimps and scallops were very good, but the lobster was a tad tough for my taste. Flavor was still good, but definitely required a little bit of work. Rest of the family had the Seafood Pasta and kid's cheese pizza, and both enjoyed their meals. We concluded our dining experience with their creme brûlée, which was very good. All in all, we had a very good experience and will be back again. read more
3.5 stars. Great service from the wait staffs. Food is ok not mind blowing. My prime rib wasn't tender at all and wad disappointing. I like the creme Brulee for $8 and the portion was reasonable. Overall, the Reef could be better. The interiors are dated and dusty. Needs sprucing. read more
What a wonderful meal! Rich was a fantastic server; he was consistently available, filling water glasses constantly, and had so many great suggestions! We started with drinks and mussels. The mussel sauce reminded me of a curry. I was literally drinking it. My husband got the seafood pasta and I ended up loving his so much more than mine! I got the prime rib sandwich. It was good but I was still eating the mussels and picking off of my husbands pasta so I got too full. We got a table with an ocean view with an amazing server and amazing food! I cannot wait to come back!!! read more
9 months ago
3 years ago
What a great first stop when you arrive in St. Augustine and need lunch. The restaurant was very pretty but the best part was our fantastic ocean view! Our appetizers of fried green tomatoes and manchego cheese were yummy. (I'd pick a different sauce for the tomatoes though). The balsamic reduction on my scallops was delicious! The green beans were perfectly cooked. Our waitress was very attentive and even went the extra mile to get me something not on the lunch menu. What great service! read more
1 year ago
Came here yesterday with some friends for the first time while visiting St. Augustine. The restaurant ambience overall was nice we sat indoors and it was nice and cool while still having a view of the ocean. Our server was attentive and checked on us just enough. Our appetizers took a bit to come out and were served maybe 2-3 minutes before our meals came. We had the green tomatoes and spicy chowder - tomatoes were cooked well but the chowder could have been hotter it was lukewarm but the flavor wasn't bad. We ordered 2 crab Benedict's, strawberry and crème waffles and a chicken and waffle. The waffles were like funnel cake and were delicious and my chicken was well cooked and breaded nicely. The Benedict's were enjoyed especially since it was lump crab vs a crab cake. The entrees stated they all came with potatoes, fruit, pastry and champagne. That proved not to be true for the waffles after we asked when they had not brought any of the things advertised. They manager came and apologized and stated there was a new menu so maybe they will be updated soon. She did bring the person who wanted the potatoes a side for the inconvenience. Overall a nice brunch but not sure if I would go out of my way to visit but if in the area I would stop by again. read more
1 year ago
We came for our daughter's rehearsal dinner, so I"m sure it is much different than coming with a small group for dinner. We had around 75 people. Service was slow, but food was okay. Groom's parents didn't include drinks, so made our way downstairs to the bar. Great bartender and service. Dessert options were decent. The key lime pie was probably the best, but we had to go get our own coffee. I'd come back on my own to give it a shot. read more
Visited as part of a group so I did not have the usual experience - the food choices were pre- selected and limited to 3. As a group visit I can say they were very well organized, the server was outstanding, the view amazing, and the parking easy and available, a pleasant surprise at a beach front restaurant. We had the "black and blue" steak salad and it was excellent. The whole experience was very nice and I look forward to visiting again in the future. Bonus: dogs seem to be allowed on the beach and watching them frolic in the surf was very enjoyable. Five stars. read more
Great spot for lunch in Vilano Beach. We walked in at opening with no reservations and we got a table. It was getting busy as we left. The bloody Mary and Mai Tai were great. We started with the mussels and seared ahi. Both were very good. Then we had side salads and the chowder. All the food was great and so was our server. The hostesses were young and a little rude but I guess that's what you can expect from high schoolers LOL If you're in the area it's worth eating here but I wouldn't go out of my way. Reservations recommended and parking can be tricky. read more
Ambiance and a nice scenery of the beach is all this restaurant is known for but we will be back. We came here on my wife's birthday 2 years ago and was captivated by the beach restaurant fill. Today I was a little disappointed. We went tohe bar and the bartender looked to be in a rush. Do not come to a restaurant when it changes from lunch to dinner. Not the best time to come. I order a jambalaya omelet very disappointing. All of the other ingredients were right on the top of the omelet instead of in the middle. The brunch omelet was supposed to come with fruit and all pastry which I never received or asked for. We were asked for dessert but our whole time here at the bar and at our table was under 30 minutes. I'm not impressed but like I said I want to bring the family back for dinner. nice view, nice atmosphere but the food is off and on. Today, it was off! read more
2 years ago
What a relaxing oceanside dinner! Thankfully we had a reservation so we were able to sit outside and enjoy the view and sound of the waves. The fried calamari was tender and the warm bread with butter were a great way to start off our meal. My entree was the fresh catch fried grouper and I chose the blood orange beurre blanc sauce ( there was a choice of 3 sauces). The fish had a light coating and was very tender and the sauce was a good match. It was very filling as it also came with a side of rice and vegetables. We ended our dinner with warm bread pudding and vanilla ice cream. Needless to say, we will definitely be back! read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
Always good food and if you are lucky enough to get Taylor as your waitress you are in for a treat! The French dip, the "award winning" chowder and tuna appetizer never disappoint. Tried the Caesar salad this time around and the dressing is superb. G Now that we live here, it is our weekly date lunch place. read more
4 years ago
Lunch with a view is hard to find these days. We took a scenic drive down. A1A to Vilano Beach for lunch with a view of the ocean. We sat outside and enjoyed the breeze. We shared fried green tomatoes since my companion is allergic to shellfish. Then had grouper (small piece) with parmesan crust. And opted for a side of cheese grits instead of rice. Little bit of veggies were also served with the meal. read more
Absolutely an amazing establishment on the oceanfront of North Beach in St. Augustine. They have a nice deck and also a step down to the beach. It looks like they are also under construction to extend or maybe repair the lower deck level. My friends and I came here for Sunday Brunch and the view was nice where you are very close to the beach and see the ocean waves. We were welcomed and seated across from the bar and our waiter, Rich, was absolutely amazing! He was friendly, kind and very attentive. He was easy to have conversations with and always on point on refills and checking on us. For Sunday Brunches, all dishes were served with a glass champagne, a fresh pastry (cornbread muffin) and fresh fruits. The muffin was very good! I had the Prime Rib Benedict and my friends had the Classic Eggs Benedict and Strawberry Cream Cheese Waffle Stack. The Benedicts were served on biscuits and hollandaise with seasoned home fries shaped like a waffle. My friends really liked their meal as well. My Prime Rib Benedict was very delicious, seasoned well and the home fries were phenomenal. I really enjoyed the food as it all came together so well. I would most definitely recommend this restaurant to everyone and would definitely would like to try our their lunch and dinner menus in the future. read more
We've been for so many meals, it's hard to count. We've always had decent service and you cannot beat the view. We have usually gone for holiday lunches or dinners and I highly suggest to call a month and a half or two months in advance to snag a good time. Great for brunch. Nice mixed menu selection. read more
2 years ago
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4 years ago
Careful with taking pictures of the inside , YOU WILL GET YELLED AT! They need to handle their Karen Was a 4:30 reservation for moms bday, wanted to capture the lovely views as she walked inside , when suddenly from behind the bar, M'AM DONT TAKE PICTURES FOR THE PRIVACY OF OUR GUESTS!" I felt embarrassed as I'd done something wrong the woman behind the bar was loud and her tone was so aggressive. I quickly put my phone away. Wouldn't have minded but place was empty as hell at 4 o'clock. Was unnecessary and not a warm welcome for a party with kids and an elderly person, we thought about leaving but decided to let it go and enjoy the evening. Our server was very nice and the food was quite tasty. Felt uneasy about taking more pictures , but we still enjoyed our night. Spent over $500 so for 5 people, 2 kids.. did seem pricey considering the portions. Can't say I'd be back, St Augustine has lots of wonderful restaurants and don't appreciate the embarrassment experienced. read more
Love The Reef. I have been here a couple of times. Location: right on the beach with awesome views. Dining: there both indoor and out with ample seating. They take reservations but no guarantees for outdoor seating ( FCFS) Customer service: The server was awesome. I believe she was the bar tender or manager because maybe understaffed?? Nevertheless took care of our drinks and meal, gave us some suggestions. It was my friend's birthday and they gave us a complimentary dessert . The hostess on the other hand was a bit snippy as we asked for outdoor seating( it was 2 pm, not busy). She showed us our table and asked us to wait and then another couple was seated there! So we asked to sit on the outdoor seating across from the bar area and she didnt want to seat is there for whatever reason; then sat us and face an attitude. But dont let that deter you from eating here.. its a must go! read more
4 years ago
This place is for you if you want mediocre service and food you can make better at home. I just got done eating brunch here and I see why the brunch meals come with a glass of free champagne. Make it two and I wouldn't be writing this review. I ordered the prime rib Benedict and as you can see from the photo, they must have run out of hollandaise sauce. The prime rib was overcooked. Overall, brunch at The Reef was underwhelming and I won't be recommending or returning to this place. The one positive was the ocean view. read more
During covid it's always worrisome to go to a restaurant and eat. But I can tell you that they do an excellent job with social distancing, wearing face masks, as well as separating the tables. The staff is very artentive and stops by the table a couple times to make sure you're okay. The brunch tasted amazing! The service was top notch! The viewis gorgeous!. I would come again. Thank you for making it an enjoyable day out. read more
3 years ago
Great lunch spot. The restaurant was white table cloth nice. Our server was on point. Had great recommendations and asked questions before making them. The empanadas were great. The fried green tomatoes were also good. I had the jambalaya which was unique but full of flavor. I would definitely do that dish again. The fish tacos were tender and full of flavor as well. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
Everything was good! I got the chicken and waffles and the chicken was so juicy and crispy. Kate, our server was so sweet and made great recommendations. We ate out on the patio and we were right on the beach. So beautiful and peaceful! Will be making The Reef a regular spot! read more
2 years ago
YUMMY! Everything was delicious!! We had a party of 7 and were sat with in 25 minutes on a busy Friday night. Great service, great ambiance! read more
2 years ago
I just had the most amazing dinner at this location on the ocean. They have the cutest bar. Great bartender and I ordered the prime rib. It was the best I have ever had. Plus the mashed potatoes were out of this world. The were mashed with the skins on and so flavorful. Served with some perfectly cooked buttered green beans. AMAZINGLY delicious and LOVED the ambiance. New favorite place!! read more
3 years ago
Delicious spicy seafood chowder. It's worthy of its awards! Seasoned, toasted bread slices served with chowder were fantastic too. Crab cake was very meaty but I could go without the key lime mustard sauce. Just my preference. Key Lime pie was DELICIOUS! So creamy and tart! Service was great. Super friendly for this solo diner. Views of beach are amazing. Well worth the drive from Amelia Island. read more
1 year ago
4 years ago
I can not say enough about this place. Our daughter did a vow renewal at the Otis Castle (I do NOT recommend). A no month prior we called Kates on the river if we could reserve a place for 32 (17 being 17 down to newborn). The manager called back and said no. We emailed and called for the manager of the Reef several times and no return calls. A week prior my son in law called and asked for reservations for the 32 of us. No issues whatsoever. We even showed up 30 min early and they seated us and did a fantastic job tending to us and with 5 checks. We are forever Reef customers and thank you for allowing us to share this time and break bread together. God Bless Y'all and May your business prosper! read more
2 years ago
Food was delicious and the service was wonderful. We had reservations and got in a few mins early. They were very accommodating. We will return. read more
More info about The Reef
4100 Coastal Hwy
Saint Augustine, FL 32084
Directions
(904) 824-8008
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Visit Website
http://www.thereefstaugustine.com
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Did this place used to have a different name? I'm talking 25 years ago?
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