The Reef

Seafood restaurant · Villano Beach

The Reef

Seafood restaurant · Villano Beach

2

4100 Coastal Hwy, St. Augustine, FL 32084

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Highlights

Nestled on the waterfront in St. Augustine, The Reef offers a nostalgic white-tablecloth dining experience with delectable seafood and stunning ocean views.  

Featured in Eater
Featured in Conde Nast Traveler

4100 Coastal Hwy, St. Augustine, FL 32084 Get directions

thereefstaugustine.com
@thereef904

$$ · Menu

Reserve

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4100 Coastal Hwy, St. Augustine, FL 32084 Get directions

+1 904 824 8008
thereefstaugustine.com
@thereef904

$$ · Menu

Reserve

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Last updated

Jul 11, 2025

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@cntraveler

The 21 Best Weekend Getaways in Florida

"If you’re a surfer, catch some waves at Vilano Beach before sunset cocktails just back from the breakers at The Reef."

https://www.cntraveler.com/story/best-weekend-getaways-in-florida
View Postcard for The Reef
@eater

8 Great Waterfront Dining Spots in Jacksonville

"Located in St. Augustine, the nation’s oldest city just south of Jacksonville, the Reef Restaurant serves seafood dishes with impressive ocean views. Notable menu items include the house-cured salmon gravlax and a range of customizable fish dishes with various sauce options. Among these, the datil pepper barbecue sauce, made from local St. Augustine produce, is a standout choice, especially for those with a penchant for spice. The fresh catch of the day is another popular option." - Megan duBois

https://miami.eater.com/maps/best-waterfront-dining-jacksonville-florida
View Postcard for The Reef

Stephanie Holbrook

Google
Nice spot on A1A with a free parking lot and terrific ocean views. Reservations are encouraged. Deck and interior seating gives you great views of the Atlantic Ocean. The menu is good for somethings and not worth it for others. The fish sandwich was a bit small with it not filling the bun. Had a few bits with no fish. It was tasty though and the grits were excellent as well as the spinach artichoke dip.

Tiffany Lindsey

Google
The Reef is a beautiful quiet place outside of the hustle of St. Augustine while still being close, it may feel like it would be a bit of a drive but it’s not bad at all. They offer indoor or outdoor dining making any seat a great view of the ocean. We chose to sit outdoors on the patio and didn’t regret it one bit. It was gorgeous. The sea breeze really added to the whole dinner. The food was delicious and service was excellent. This restaurant would be perfect for a couple or a family, it’s kinda upscale I feel while still retaining that nice casual atmosphere. Can’t go wrong with taking time to eat dinner at The Reef.

Gayla L.

Google
Very nice and friendly atmosphere. We were seated within 15 minutes after arriving. The waitress was informative and made excellent recommendations. Food quality for the price was very good. The parking lot was limited but there was overflow parking across the street. I would definitely go back. Highly recommend!!

David Hawley

Google
I was in Jacksonville for work. Decided to drive along the coast, finding an authentic restaurant to try on my way to St Augestine. I stumbled on this place. I pulled over at lil gas station read up on some reviews. Im not sure how this place has any negative reviews..... they gotta be Karen's. This place was excellent. Food presentation was beyond beautiful and quick and hot... love. There is nothing worse than getting a fresh meal and it being cold. The flavor was excellent. My waitress, a lovely young lady named Isabella,( very friendly and super delightful to have met her.) She had recommended the Covina...I must say I'm lil obsessed with this fish now. Love it! Great flavor pan fried .....yum. It also came with a key lime sauce, for it was excellent also. I got side of the sautéed squash and zucchini and crispy Brussel sprouts. I'm very pleased. For appetizers, had tried the fried green tomatoes. They were also very good. They had some heat to the sauce they had, which was excellent. Great job, the Reef team! This, by far, is my new favorite spot. I will definitely visit again before I go home. A plus 5 stars! 10 outta 10!

J. Emlano

Google
The Reef is fantastic with generous portions. At the time we walked in, we were seated, immediately with a view of the ocean. The food is great as well. They serve both brunch and dinner items. We ordered the tacos, the biscuits and eggs, salmon and the fish and chips and they were really large portions. In my opinion, there seems to be nothing bad to order at this place.

Krystal Haney

Google
My husband and I just had a lunch date there today, and we loved it! Jessica was our server and she was wonderful, our food was flavorful, and the view was amazing! We will definitely be back again, but next time we will try for dinner.

Joo-Sub Lee

Google
Came here right after we left Caps on the River after being sat and no one coming to serve us after 15 minutes with them serving parties that arrived after us. I cannot praise Jenn G enough. She provided prompt service and came to constantly check up on us. The food was fresh and delicious as well. The cocktails paired well with our food.

Mimi Snook

Google
Delicious fresh made food, serene seaside surroundings day or night, friendly service, and dog lovers on the patio. Generous happy hour. This has fast become a standard for us in St Aug!
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Jeff A.

Yelp
We have been coming to the Reef now for about 11 years, since we relocated here from The Annapolis MD area. It's always been a favorite and it is also convenient, as we live nearby. The atmosphere is a friendly blend of old oceanfront pub and fine dining. The menu has been updated and the food we've had in this past month, both for lunch and dinner has been exceptional! They have outstanding service and the General Manager; Jeremy Ticehurst has really brought this local favorite to a new level. It is beginning to be our "GO TO" for Date Night, again! The bar is extremely well stocked and again, excellent service, from a very talented & friendly group of mixologists. Finally, my wife is a fine wine connoisseur, and the wine selection is the best!
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Alexander A.

Yelp
We visited The Reef for a family dinner and had a great experience. We started with the Mussels La Abuelita, which were packed with flavor, featuring chorizo, white wine, garlic, and a touch of chimichurri--absolutely delicious! For the main course, I had the jambalaya, which was hearty and filled with tender shrimp and sausage, and my wife ordered the Surf & Turf. The lobster tail was perfectly cooked, and the filet mignon was juicy and flavorful. We enjoyed two refreshing sangrias while our daughter had the classic mac and cheese paired with a lemonade. The ambiance was casual yet refined, and the service was friendly and amazing. A great spot for fresh seafood with a view!
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Susan H.

Yelp
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!
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Robert M.

Yelp
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
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Taylor W.

Yelp
I will be honest I was a little nervous coming to the reef with some of the recent reviews, but others rest assured we had an awesome dinner here!! I have been here quite a few times for happy hour (3-7PM) but it's been a couple years. I came this time for dinner with family and it was great!! They still have happy hour which is really just a couple dollars off wine, beer, and apps if you sit in the bar area. We had drinks and apps then we went to dinner in the dining room. We did have a reservation in the dining room. Our server (Jacob) was super sweet and attentive. All of our food was delicious. The fresh catch was redfish and it was sooooo yummy. My father got the lobster risotto and my father in law got the jambalaya and they both loved what they got. Everyone else got fish dishes and enjoyed every bite. My mom even liked the fried spinach which she was nervous about but it was kind of between kale chips ish and sautéed spinach. I had bites of both the jambalaya and risotto and it's hard to pick which was better, both were super amazing. We will absolutely come back. Food was truly great and you couldn't beat the picture perfect ocean view.
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Newton B.

Yelp
Made my second visit to the Reef today for their Sunday Brunch. Just another beautiful day at the beach. The views are outstanding from inside the restaurant as I tried a new entree ... a fresh fruit cup with a warm muffin preceded the perfectly spicy Shrimp and Grits! Live music could be heard throughout the restaurant where every table enjoyed a breathtaking ocean view!
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Don C.

Yelp
I'll do a review from the last time. Food a tad off both had flounder. A bit "mushy" my partner mentioned it when I thought of it. But not a bad taste so everyone gets a pass now and then. Service is great and can't beat the ambiance of the Atlantic outside then glass
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Laurie V.

Yelp
We had reservations for 430 meeting friends. We are staying at the North Beach Camp Resort and got there early. We got a drink at the bar. This place is amazing it's right on the ocean. After friends arrived we went to our table which had a wonderful view of the ocean. We had the fried green tomatoes which were ok a little soggy but tasty. I had lamp chops ,hubby had mahi with clams and scallops , one had jambalaya and the other had short rib. Food was excellent. Everyone enjoyed. Our waiter was great and made sure we had all we needed. We will definitely return. Place gets super busy so reservations are suggested.
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wendy c.

Yelp
Great ambiance. Good food and good service. Our waitress was fabulous, funny and super friendly. The other young ladies bringing the food to the table or hosting up front had more of a sour face. Barely replies when we asked questions, neither do they smile at all. Decent selections for Happy hour. Food portions are perfect amounts and plated beautifully. If you do not mind spending good amount of money for definitely yumm fresh sea food or just quality food- this is the spot for you. Do not have a picture of the crab cake, it was too delish that we finished it before remembering to take pic. Their bread pudding is one of the best in town.
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S J.

Yelp
Server Ben wasn't good. Not attentive at all. We were apart of six and we had to ask him every time we needed our glasses filled with water. Which was a lot. At one point we needed something and we had to ask another server to get it for us. He never came to ask how our food like most places do within like five or so minutes of when you start eating your food. We had to get up from the table to go find him because one of our salmons was way undercooked. The view is always amazing. I'm sorry to say but they need to step it up on their food as well. It was so disappointing.
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Raynelle S.

Yelp
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!
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Levi L.

Yelp
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.
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Robert C.

Yelp
A lovely spot for lunch on the patio on a beautiful day with a nice breeze - literally on the beach. It's our first visit with friends who live nearby. They visit regularly and love it for happy our and lunch/brunch. Our server was great and food was good, except for my burger which was overcooked. Not worth sending back and then waiting while everyone else ate. Fries were delicious and the new yo us Datil sauce, made from a local pepper provided some heat. Enough that if you don't LOVE heat, you should get on the side. The warm muffins served as a prelude were terrific as was the little cup of fruit. We had a great time catching up and relishing the view.
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Ande W.

Yelp
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.
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Melissa T.

Yelp
The Reef is without a doubt one of the best places between St Augustine & Jax Beach for a true outdoor experience ocean view. I had a lunch date with a friend who lives in Palm Coast so The Reef was a 1/2 way point for us to meet. When we made the reservation, we asked for outdoor seating. When I arrived on this beautiful day the hostess took about 7 minutes to appear & there was a line starting to form behind me. The reef has a very long skinny upper deck with I'd say 15 tables able to accommodate 4 persons each. Some are actually overlooking a railing with umbrella & some are tucked under the deck on the opposite side out of the sun. My friend & I chose to wait for a table on the railing rather than to sit squeezed into a corner table where you couldn't really get a view. The hostess was almost argumentative saying that an outdoor reservation doesn't necessarily procure you an outdoor table & basically if we didn't take this one who knows when another would be available. We decided to take our chances & wait at the bar while having a glass of wine. She had red. I had white. Both glasses were good. After about 15 minutes we were seated at one of their great tables overlooking the ocean. We started with the fried manchego cheese with raspberry sauce. 4 large squares of fried cheese enough to share. I know my cheeses and I can bet it wasn't manchego but it was very tasty. The sauce I could have done without as it was more like a syrup. Ask for it on the side. We then shared a spinach artichoke dip which was delicious. More wine & a tuna appetizer. The tuna was presented nicely however it didn't have much flavor itself. Our server was attentive & friendly. The views and company were great. I definitely would return for lunch again to take in the lovely view, have some appetizers & relax over a glass of wine.
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William F.

Yelp
Overall, this is a 4.0 restaurant. For me, the server (Banyon) made the overall experience very good. We ate at one of the high tops in the bar area. The wife ordered a prime rib and I ordered the jambalaya. For drinks. she had Specialty cocktail and it was really good. I had one of the local taps on beer and draft and it was OK. The mashed potatoes were superb. Prime rib is cooked very to a MR and was good, but the Ajou is definitely not homemade. It probably came from a can or bottle. I still definitely would recommend this place.
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David F.

Yelp
It may be unfortunate but the best thing about the reef was the view. Service was good flavors were on par but just seemed to be missing something overall. Don't know what it is but we'll give it another shot in the future.
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Spencer C.

Yelp
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.
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Alana K.

Yelp
My family and I came here for a special occasion dinner. We made reservations for a Saturday night at 6pm. I ordered the grilled Mahi, which came with rice and vegetables. The Mahi itself was plain, but not bad. I didn't touch the rice, but the vegetables were fine. About half of the people in my party were not satisfied with their meals for various reasons (meat being too tough, food not arriving hot, etc.). Our waitress was nice, but the restaurant must have been understaffed, because we rarely saw her and service was slow. Overall, not an amazing experience.
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Monica C.

Yelp
This is the kind of place you look for dinner while near a beach. Unfortunately sunset is not on this side. That is why service and coziness have to shine, and they do. Our waitress Jennifer was so professional that we think she have an old soul, or tremendous training or both, it really was above and beyond attentive. We have a local really good craft beer, me a cocktail, delicious sweet but don't remember the name , kind of a cranberry appletini?... I asked for not too strong one and they nailed it. Tons of extra bread is what will make me comeback beside the non sunset that put pink and baby blue on the sky, take a look on my pictures, just for that is the place for happy hour on Sundays.

Tin M.

Yelp
This is a copy of the email I sent to The Reef management on May 10, 2024 regarding our visit on May 2nd. As of September 2nd, I have received no response. This indicates the restaurant clearly does not care about guest experience, let alone guest feedback. The owner, or management, could at least respond to this review, along with the many other poor reviews, to offer guests reassurance of their commitment to an enjoyable experience, instead of simply ignoring them and relying on their ocean view to draw in more unsuspecting people. After a couple of friends recommended your restaurant, we decided to stop by on our way up the coast for dinner. Our visit took place May 2, 2024, arriving at 6:10pm and finally leaving at 8:15pm. The following is a brief list of our experience. 1. Wait time: 10 minutes 2. Waiting to be greeted by our server: 10 minutes 3. Waiting for food: 1 hour and 10 minutes. Our server, Cristal, took our order at 6:45pm. We ordered the fried shrimp platter, which was delivered at room temperature, not hot by any means. The other entree ordered was the lobster and shrimp risotto. It was also barely warm. The lobster tail meat and shrimp were dry and very firm. The risotto was also very overcooked. Very little of either meal was eaten. 4. During the entire time of waiting for our food, we could not get a server, let alone our own, to get drink refills. 5. We had to go search for our server to get the check so we could leave. After finding her and giving her my credit card, she decided to stop at a table to take an order from four people before bringing back the payment book, which was in her hand. While leaving, I asked the bartender if a manager was available. She seamed confused about who to get for me. As we had already spent almost two hours in the restaurant, we decided to continue with our trip. We stopped at another restaurant later to get another meal. Despite the wonderful view of the ocean, the service and food quality were surprisingly awful. The restaurant was clearly not very busy when we arrived, nor when we left. We understand every place can have a bad day and just wanted to inform you of our experience to assist with improving your service and food quality.
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Patricia C.

Yelp
I've been looking for a low key oceanfront restaurant to enjoy and I found it. I made reservations on open table about a month ago for brunch at 12:00. We got there, was windy outside so we opted to do a window seat. It was still a perfect view as you can tell my picture. We got sausage gravy and biscuits (biscuits was soft and fluffy and so much sausage to enjoy), this came with a mimosa. I got chirizo empanadas and a mimosa, was perfect! Appetizer was spinach artichoke with garlic bread pieces.... So good and full of flavor. Our waiter was on time with everything and just made the whole experience even better. They had a live musician that just added to the whole experience. We spent the weekend in St Augustine and this was the last of our trip and like they say... saved the best for last.... It definitely sealed in one of best weekend trips.
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Jim L.

Yelp
Great food and great service! Sat on the patio overlooking the ocean. Cocktails were wonderful. Fish and chips 4 out of 5 stars and the beet salad hit a home run! Keylime pie is to die for. Try it!

Candice T.

Yelp
We drove 40 minutes to try this place. I think it should be re-named "The Reeks!!" The deeper you get into the building the stronger the smell, both my Fiance and I agreed on dirty kitty litter and mildew. I think it's from the CARPET!! No resteraunt should have carpet. Should be a health code violation. Service was slow even though they weren't busy. Food was not good.​ Such a shame that its such a beautiful prime location and not updated and cared for properly.
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Karyn T.

Yelp
My husband took me for a drive to Vilano Beach to try and find shark teeth, but we couldn't find a spot to park so we opted to eat at The Reef and then explore the beach right after. We got sat by the bar and man was she so busy, there was only one bartender and so many guests throughout the restaurant so I felt for her. I ordered the North Beach Mule, but swapped the vodka for tequila, it was nice and refreshing. Bryan and I decided to have starters instead of a big meal since we had a family bbq later that day. We ordered calamari and the saffron mussels, these came out in such a quick manner and it was so good. That saffron mussels were my favorite, so many mussels and that sauce is delicious! The calamari was perfectly fried, light and crispy. Next time we're in St. Augustine I definitely want to come back, food was great and the location is just so picturesque and for it being so busy everything came out deliciously.
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Kila J.

Yelp
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!
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Lynn R.

Yelp
Very good appetizer's and dining atmosphere outside by the ocean or inside . Not huge , just right for small gathering of family or friends.
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Deborah K.

Yelp
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!
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Miriam C.

Yelp
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!!!
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Bonalyn B.

Yelp
"You've had two courses already, Momma! It's coming!" Said the waiter to me after we sat for 45 minutes after we had finished our salads. The table behind us had waited for over an hour, then their food was served cold and had to be sent back. At least ours was warm. Second time recently the service was awful. We are done with The Reef! Tooooo many better choices!! (And I'm not your MOMMA!!)
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Mori M.

Yelp
The food was very good as the service Lamb lollipops were delicious as the seafood mix grill lots of food very relaxing with a water view not pricey for the quality of food and service
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Jesika K.

Yelp
The reviews here are definitely all over the place but we stopped in to check it out as we are exploring using this spot for our rehearsal dinner. We had a great experience. We got service and drinks right away. Our food took a reasonable amount of time and I had a drink the whole time we waited. The brunch menu is a great deal with the inclusion of a pastry, fruit and glass of champagne. I went with the shrimp and grits and it was delicious and the price was very good. We started with the fried manchego and it was awesome. Drinks wise I went with the tropic like it's hot which was fantastic and mg brunch champagne and the pineapple whip drink and it was a great time. It's a very mellow vibe and the views are on point. My experience says it's worth going again.
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Laurie C.

Yelp
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!

Mike L.

Yelp
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.
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Sam S.

Yelp
My wife and I have been going to this restaurant for years, and have always had a positive experience. But something has changed (and it's not just this restaurant's prices). How do you have a successful dish (Grouper Vilano) and change the presentation of the dish (not in a positive way), and still call the dish by the same name? Definitely not a $40 dish anymore. Our dinner included one appetizer, one small Cesar salad (which was overloaded with dressing), one soup (which was served tepid and had to be returned to be heated up), two main courses (one served hot, the other served tepid), and water only. After about an hour and a half, our bill came which totaled $111 (w/o tax and tip). I guess you're paying for the view (which was awesome). Unfortunately, we will not be back anytime soon, if at all.

Adam M.

Yelp
This review is solely based on our wedding experience. The wedding ceremony itself was perfect because of the ocean backdrop and the reference from Danielle, the event coordinator from The Reef, for our officiant. Upon my arrival (I'm the groom) to the restaurant for the wedding, which was set up on the beach, there was a sprinkler going all over the sidewalk that all the guests for the ceremony were to walk down to the beach. I immediately went to the host stand to ask them to have a manager turn it off or get it off and they got Jeremy, who I believe was the GM, to attempt to turn it off. Meanwhile the host have sent the bride to the restroom to hide from me because they had no idea where she was supposed to go to await the ceremony. While this is going on I asked Jeremy for Danielle and he had no idea where she was and informed me he didn't know how to turn the sprinkler off and his solution was for us to walk through the bar area instead of the planned walkway out front. Fast forward after the ceremony when we walked upstairs for our DJ to introduce us, the set up for the room had no chairs at the his and her table and our guest had to retrieve them for us once we were and introduced. Again, no sign of Danielle who assured me she would be there. Even though there were only 28 of us I would have assumed we would have had two servers but we only had one. He was working his ass off though. Once food delivery came he got all the salads out very quickly with no help from anyone else in the restaurant. The entrees on the other hand took some time as again he was the ONLY one running food to our party and by the time he finished running steaks and salmon from downstairs up to our private space the last few tables had overcooked steaks and cold food from being held downstairs with no assistance from his team. Again, no Danielle. I repeat the no Danielle part because we had communicated via email that she would be there because our DJ had warned us of a prior wedding he worked there where The Reef fell short and when I communicated this to Danielle she said that it wouldn't be the case. We both work in the industry and have worked countless weddings ourselves and typically the event coordinator/sales manager is there to make sure setup is correct and that there is some sort of direction for the event. This was not the case. By the end of the night we never had a manager ask how things went which for the money we spent we would have expected. The views, and the reference for the officiant are the only things that assisted in salvaging the day. Reverend Deborah Montana assisted us in making sure everything was as perfect as it could be and helped us find an amazing photographer and an amazing DJ. The Reef fell short on their part.
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Jessica G.

Yelp
Beautiful location and ambience. We waited an hour after our apps for our dinner to arrive. The food was okay nothing special nor worth the price. My mahi was cool after waiting an hour for it. I wouldn't go back.
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Eric R.

Yelp
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.
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Charlene F.

Yelp
Just a lovely location right on the beach with outstanding service and delicious food! Highly recommended!

Dee J.

Yelp
It was my birthday and I wanted to dine by the water. Everyone said I must go to The Reef. Boy did it deliver. Right on the ocean with an amazing menu. My husband had the seafood pasta and I had the seafood salad. My husband's was extraordinary, mine was so so. But then they brought me a complimentary chocolate cake that was out of this world. Jessica our server was adorable and very efficient. We'll be back
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Robin B.

Yelp
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.
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Jerry H.

Yelp
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!
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Matt M.

Yelp
I seen many reviews about the bad service here and was expecting the same . I did NOT have any issues with service or food . Everything was great , so much we were planning our next trip down from SC with the help of our waiter Little pricey , nice decor and good food We sat in the bar area by the windows , had a great view of the beach Our waiter was very knowledgeable about the menu and I let him pick my meal . He did a great job picking my food , was very tentative with keeping glasses full . Over all a very nice place for any occasion (was for my birthday) Wish I remembered our waiters name ( young and had a lisp ) Thank you for the great experience , can't wait for the next time here

Michele Z.

Yelp
Great meal and great experience! The view overlooking the ocean cannot be beat! Will definitely be returning!
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Evi F.

Yelp
I love the view is definitely beautiful. The food was ok. Didn't have much flavor . I may give it one more chance . The waitresses were dolls xoxo

Sara R.

Yelp
Food was very average. Calamari was bland. Mussels were fairly good but the bread served with them was stale and I sent it back. Was inedible. Seafood pasta - meh. Blackened mahi was underwhelming. For the prices, it is a hard pass. Should have gone to Caps which is always spectacular.
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Kelly T.

Yelp
We dined at this restaurant after receiving a recommendation from a server at another restaurant. I'm glad we did. The ambiance is great because it overlooks the beach and ocean. Service was quick, friendly, and helpful. We had the spinach artichoke dip, scallops, jambalaya, and short rib. Everything was great.
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Kerry H.

Yelp
Well to start it has great views of the beach. That being said I wanted to love it but just liked it. Started with Gravlax and Fried Green tomatoes..both were very good. Had shrimp cocktail for main and husband had a fish(?) entree, both were good. Service was well done too
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AL K.

Yelp
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.