10/26/09

Fresh Seafood

by htown01

I had been wanting to try Reef since hearing it had opened two years ago. It sparked my memory seeing it listed on MSN as one of the Top 10 Seafood Restaurants in the US and on the Food in Houston Blog. Thankfully we managed to get a table early as the restaurant has quickly booked up after such rave reviews. The menu changes daily based upon the selection of fresh fish that is available in the Gulf. Chef Bryan Caswell has established a very creative and flavorful menu with some fish I have never even heard of! I tried the amberjack with plantains and green beans and my husband tried the grouper over collard greens. The plantains paired with the green beans was such an unusual combination and yet somehow it worked. The two juxtaposing textures and flavors actually complimented each other and brought out so much more flavor in the fish! The grouper and collard greens were also just as delicious. The collard greens were actually light, not too saturated and full of delicious bacon flavor! The wait staff, valet staff, and managers were funny, helpful and truly enhanced our evening. Overall I was incredibly impressed with Reef. The food is impeccable and I am excited to go back to another unique dinner!

• Pros: Seafood, Atmosphere
• Cons: Parking

09/12/09

Best Restaurant in Houston!

by The Dining Duo

We've dined at the Reef many times and finally got around to a review. I guess writing reviews about places that you see room for improvement on, or negative experiences comes naturally. Conversely when you can't find anything that isn't best in class you don't think to write anything. Obviously an error to correct on our part!

The food is always fresh and fantastic. We love the ecological slant that the Chef, Bryan Caswell has in using only ingredients that are sustainable and on target for the theme. This is one restaurant I find it hard to name a favorite as everything is great, but if I had to it would probably be the Red Fish on the half shell.

I have to do some bragging for the Reef as they would not do so themselves...the wine selection and prices are in my opinion the best in Houston, not to mention that Bill Floyd is one heck of a sommelier!

Service is top notch, and has a special twist where they keep track of who has waited on you so that you have the same waiter every time you make a reservation. Which is great as they get to know your tastes and recommend things that you might not normally try. David is top notch!

Overall this is the best high end seafood restaurant in Houston if not the best restaurant period.

Follow our dining escapades on Twitter! thediningduo!

• Pros: Food, Service, Wine List and prices!
• Cons: None

07/28/09

Never been treated so badly in a Houston Resturant

by mahebrank

We have dined at this resturant once before and wanted to try it again. We made a reservatrion for 5 @ 6:30 on a Saturday night. We arrived on time and was seated at the worst table in the resturant and was told it was the most requested table. Hard to beleive considering we sat right at the service station, bathroom and kitchen doors. We had a friend from out of town and wanted to show her a cool hip place. Instead we were told that that was the best they could do and for lack of better terms we could just leave.

The owner was so pompas and rude that we were speechless. There are many great resturants in Houston that we will never go back or recommend.

• Pros: none
• Cons: A very young hostess and Owner of resturant rude