Reef Restaurant
“We got friend calamari (a must for me anytime is see them on the menu) and grilled octopus, which were perfectly cooked and not gummy.”
“We'd love to return but maybe on a weekday as opposed to the weekend when everyone is out and about on Austin Street.”
“I had the Falafel Plate with lemon potatoes and it was delicious.”
Reef Restaurant
Takes Reservations: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Has TV: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Caters: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
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Good food but slow service on a Friday night…
The salmon was delish.
The ceviche was low on the seafood ratio.
Ice cream dessert was delish but it was brought out still completely frozen.
I would come back but definitely not rushing over there.
Came here for Sunday brunch with my friend and her boyfriend. We were seated relatively quickly and got our drinks equally as fast. Only complaint was that we waited over 30 minutes for our food while tables that came after us got their food way before my friends and I did. When we finally got our food, it was cold. It still tasted good, but I'm sure it would've been 10x better had it been warm.
Came here for a friend's bridal shower and I must admit that the space is quaint and nice. It's probably one of the newer establishments in Forest Hills. We had the downstairs space all to ourselves–not too big and not too small, it was the perfect size for 20-30 guests. I appreciated the subtle sea theme throughout their decorations. One downside is that the only bathrooms are downstairs so we constantly had diners enter through our party. Also, they placed our table directly in front the bathroom which turned me off for brunch.
Their BRUNCH MENU seemed pretty STANDARD (eggs benedict, crab cakes, pancakes, etc) but the FOOD WAS SUBPAR. I got the EGGS BENEDICT and it came out LUKE WARM, close to cold. The Hollandaise SAUCE was PEE-YELLOW and THICK and GLOOPY. There was nothing about my plate that was enticing.
The waiter messed up some orders and did not fulfill requests because of his mess ups which seemed unprofessional and lazy.
**Overall, would not come back because of low quality of food and subpar service.
Really 3.5 stars. Came here last week for dinner. Very cute place. It was early dinner for a Tuesday, so we were seated immediately. The waitress came back to get drink orders a little too quick so we ordered raw oysters first. I ordered the mango mojito and my cousin ordered coral reef I believe. Mine tasted like Halls cough drop. Not nearly enough mango, so I asked for some lime wedges to give it at least a citrus taste. Cousin's drink tasted like Robitussin. Needless to say we were both unhappy with our drinks cuz cough medicine is not what we wanted to drink. So I guess they might wanna look into their cocktails.
For entrees we ordered the seafood pasta. Mine in pink sauce and hers in white wine sauce. Both were great. We were happy with that. I tried my cousin's white wine sauce and was happy to taste that they made it the right way which is with good flavor.
As for the oysters, nice and fresh. Just a bit on the small side. It is what it is. Will return to if I want seafood.
Before a show at Forrest Hills Stadium, all of the bars and restaurants on Austin St are jam packed. Luckily, we came across Reef and were able to snag a few spots at the bar.
Reef had an effortlessly cool vibe and upon entering I was transported into a quaint little beach town. They nailed the nautical and rustic decor. Seagull statues? Check. Glass buckets of sangria and various other punches? Nailed it. Large open windows that gave the room a bright and airy feel? You bet. Reef- you really know the way into my heart.
This is the type of bar that you can't order a beer at. You've got to get a light and refreshing cocktail. Of course, the one time I opt out of a mojito they end up looking delicious…errrr. Maybe next time. I was still very satisfied with my Hendriks and pomegranate drink. The 12 dollar price point felt a bit steep, but the drink felt strong and I was okay with it.
We split a plate of calamari as a light bite and it was some of the best calamari that I've ever had. Perfectly crispy and not too chewy, exactly as it should be.
All in all, Reef is a unique pick amongst the area's many sports bars. If you are looking for a drink or a bite in Forrest Hills be sure not to overlook.
TIP: My waitress informed me this place doesn't serve lobster anymore and they yet to update their menus!
On a whim, I decided to treat myself to a nice dinner and chose something closeby. Not gonna lie, also to escape the muggy hot weather overall. I don't have any AC in my apartment, so you can imagine what heaven it is to escape to any place that does!
The place isn't huge nor small, but has a bar right as you enter and the place feels intimate without feeling crammed either. The decor on the walls is pleasant with little plants that adorn the walls and framed pictures as well. When I arrived for my reservation, it was a bit odd because they gave me a look as if they either don't take reservations nor knew about mine. It wasn't a problem because I was accommodated for very quickly as they setup a fresh table, but must note here for others that this restaurant does not check their Yelp reservation system (remove it please!)
As for the food, I initially ordered their lobster based pasta, however I was informed they no longer serve lobster at all. I was a bit bummed because, again, the reviews raved about this dish! However, the waitress quickly recommended alternatives and I chose the crab meat linguine instead. On top of that, I started with their delicious fish, avocado, ceviche which came in a beautiful martini glass and two crackers to complement it. Very tasty and refreshing, just what you want on a summer night. Always been a sucker for cold stuff in general, so this really hit the spot for me.
To follow, I had 6 Blue Point oysters on the half shell and their grilled octopus. It was only a matter of minutes before both were gone! Yum. My only criticism of the octopus was that it was slightly overcooked and burnt at the thinner section of the leg. I ate it all regardless because I do not waste, but definitely a hiccup cooking wise.
Once those were cleared, I indulged in the main course crab linguine which was created with a white wine sauce as well as olive oil and garlic. Honestly, it was good, but nothing outstanding. I was glad actually it wasn't to die for, because that is the point at which I hit a wall halfway and decided to box up the rest.
Don't get me wrong here, because we all know there's that second stomach called the dessert stomach. I looked over the menu (there were about 5-6 options in addition to special dessert drinks which looked super tempting) and before choosing, my waitress peaked my curiosity about some coconut ice cream alternative that wasn't listed.
Was that a good choice or what? The ice cream arrived and it was gorgeous. Great presentation for real. The ice cream was infused with mango, covered in drizzled chocolate and a chocolate shell too. Each scooped was paired with raspberry sorbet and together it made my palate sing! Did I end up finishing it you ask? You bet I did!
From a personal standpoint, I scored a 4/5 for being unable to completely clear my main course, but not too shabby because every bite was so good from start to finish. Overall, the service was attentive and friendly.
Now I know a good local place for when my buddies wish to dine on some seafood in a relatively quiet and well-kept establishment. Highly recommend you check this place out, but bring some extra cash because it's in the $$ – $$$ range (my meal was $88 + beer before tip)!
A tasty, more upscale restaurant in Forest Hills specializing in Mediterranean themed seafood dishes and featuring a good wine selection. Last night was our second visit to Reef with our in-laws. We started with the pan seared tuna and cheese plate – both tasty. Of course cheese plates almost never come with enough bread, but luckily we still had some in our complimentary bread basket to use. I ordered the lobster tail linguini with pink sauce and my mother-in-law ordered the swordfish with asparagus. Both were delicious, but not spectacular. We also shared a bottle of the Frontera Sauvignon blanc, which was fruity and sweet, but dry. A nice bottle overall. We decided to share the chocolate sea salt caramel lava cake which was very warm and tasty but a tad on the salty side. Overall, it's a nice restaurant but I feel the prices are on the higher side for what you get.
I've come here multiple times and it's because I really enjoy the food. I like the appetizer with the different dips. I always get the linguini with salmon because the salmon is cooked well (not dry) and doesn't have that fishy flavor which I don't like. My friends have ordered the fish, steak, pastas and all enjoyed their dishes. The reason why I gave this place 3 stars because the service sucks. The waitresses are nice but they are very understaffed and rarely check in with us.