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.

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• 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

06/11/09

loved it

by sushifrequenter

Had the grilled redfish and seared tripletail and it was very good. My guests and I sampled almost every appetizer in their Rare section and each were unique in flavors and delicious. We needed some meat though and ordered the pork chop with the cherry mustard dipping sauce. It was amazing. And the molten chocolate cake we had for dessert really was to die for.

I'd avoid weekends and come in on a weeknight as we did. Since the restaurant wasn't completely packed, our servers were able to pamper us more and they certainly did. Everything was wonderful. As for prices- for all the things we orderd... lets just say that whoever thinks they're expensive obviously hasn't dined in Midtown very often. Or anywhere for that matter.

• Pros: everything
• Cons: none!

05/21/09

Exceptional

by mr_h

We were visiting from Dallas and a friend recommended that we try Reef. After our dinner I called my friend to say 'thank you' because we had a wonderful time. It wasn't possible to book a reservation so we decided to go and sit at 3rd Bar where the full menu is still offered. Looking into the main dining room, it was beautiful with it's high ceilings, ocean hues, show kitchen and its glass wine cellar. The dinning room was also packed like a great cocktail party and everyone is having a good time. The dining tables in 3rd Bar are separated by a high drink rail which helps separate those mingling from those dinning. We were greated promptly by our waitress. We started with shrimp shooters which had a perfect balance of spice and sweetness in the "shot", and the calamari was excellent. The three of us had the roasted grouper with a sweet corn puree (a fantastic compliment to each), grilled shrimp and oysters. All three were excellent. The service was friendly and prompt, which is never that easy to get when sitting in the bar area of any restaurant. The food was excellent from beginning to end, and the restaurants ambiance was comfortable. It's obiviou that Reef is driven by fresh, seasonal ingredients showing off what the local area has to offer. All together Reef gives a wonderful dining experience and great value!

• Pros: Food, Valet

05/19/09

Went for a work dinner - incredible

by aggiechance

Had an incredible crispy red snapper, the sea scallops were even better, and the desserts were really good. For someone looking for a really nice seafood restaurant with a celebrity chef (at least locally), then look no further. Its really good.

• Pros: Food is to die for, wonderful service
• Cons: No parking, but they have valet

05/14/09

Very good, not that expensive, pretty loud.

by CaptainBuzzkill

It's always hard to call a particular establishment "The Best" but Reef certainly qualifies as "Very Good" The creative menu offers tasty items from a delicate steamed shrimp salad to the over-the-top beefy deliciousness of the sliders. There is a note of saltiness in the well seasoned dishes, bold flavors predominate, proteins are served perfectly prepared at the requested temperature.

The restaurant is an open plan, in a concrete structure, tables are close together, and there is certainly a "buzz" on a busy night. Staff is professional and attentive, hostess are chicly dressed, attractive, and welcoming.

This restaurant is a hip midtown eatery with flash to match the bold menu. If you prefer something more sedate, yet still delicious and creative, Damian's is a few blocks away on Smith.

Reef is an excellent choice for a special occasion, or just an upscale treat.

• Pros: Creative menu, midtown location, atttentive service.
• Cons: It can get pretty loud in there at 8:30 on a Saturday night.

05/04/09

Best seafood?

by colt45

Great place to stop off before a Rockets game or a show, but I wouldn't make it my final destination. This place has a good wine list and a few of their selections are only a few bucks more than in the liquor store. I really dig the appetizers here. They've got this shrimp wrapped up in a won ton paper that is really good and a great crabcake. The sliders are really good too. However I've ALWAYS had bad luck with my entrees. My first time I had a boring Salmon and my second time I think I had a Sea Bass with bacon sauce. Oh my god that was gross. I was burping fish and bacon all night. Go there and order a bunch of appetizers and salads and get all tanked up on wine. You'll have fun. One more thing. The valets don't have uniforms. Don't be afraid to give them your keys. They're very nice. Go there now!

• Pros: Awesome sliders
• Cons: Seafood.

04/19/09

Really good food and service

by lambowner

After all the hype and awards, I insisted that we go to the restaurant on a Saturday night, with friends. So we did. It was a great evening, except for the noise level, complained about in previous posts. It's really loud for us 40 somethings. But the food was fabulous. Soft shell crab, tempura style, was fresh from the gulf. The Gumbo is the old style NOLA, where they bring the close to boiling broth to the table, and throw the shrimp and crawfish in on the way. Perfectly cooked, but not overly cooked and rubbery, like you usually find. Redfish on the half shell was a fav, but the show stopper was the $4 french fries. Go figure. They were the best. ever. Double fried, and frozen in between frying, according to Bill Floyd, an owner , who visited our table and explained it to us. I love you, Bill! For your fries, that is.

• Pros: Service was optimal
• Cons: loud dining

03/15/09

It was okay..

by ShayMezoni

I dined at reef with my husband recently. It was our 30th anniversary. I enjoyed the food, not the best but okay. I just wish I could have heard my husband speak!

• Pros: location, food, atmosphere
• Cons: Noise level,