Reef N Beef Restaurant and Lounge — Restaurant in Florida

Family Birthday Dinner – Afternoon Visit⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

@ 1st, quiet + unpretentious exterior made me leery! & almost thought we should try somewhere else...But after seeing great stars/Positive Google Maps reviews, we decided to give The Reef a chance. This restaurant truly lives up to the old saying + other reviews: “Do Not judge a restaurant by its cover!”

When we walked in, it was a warm, rustic, laid-back country vibe w/ art work showcasing Arcadia’s culture of farms, fields, + horses. Very welcoming + Def family-friendly —(i saw highchairs next to our table, for families w/ toddlers)

Wonderful time! Our server, Hope, incredibly considerate, attentive, patiently catering to whims of our older family member w/ info + smiles. Hope made us truly welcome, answering all questions since it was 1st visit. There was no wait either.

The meals were hearty, full of southern flavors. The menu was a great variety, including steaks, seafood + southern dishes like catfish. The family ordered fish + chips: HUGE portions!!!! the restaurant started filling up w/ mix of people — farm workers, a mother w/ 2 children, families — some dined in.... others there for takeout.

I enjoyed the salad bar: fresh +tasty, nice selection of vegetables + white cheese, (tho~ please do not expect meats), was so good I went back for seconds!

gentle reminder: the salad bar does come w/ the dinners, but it’s a *1-trip-Only deal.

we even asked them to let the cook know how much we enjoyed our meal!

Parking was super-EZ, & location: convenient just off SE Hwy 70 (aka: 2079 SE Carlstrom Field Rd, just east of Airport Rd). Bathrooms: clean. (door lock was a bit difficult + automated paper towels dispenser had small issue)

This is Truly an awesome, underhyped, gem-of-a-restaurant w/ good food / reasonable prices.

P.S. We didn’t see/experience the lounge. Thank you so much for a fantastic experience.

Look forward to going...

This is a hidden gem, not what you'd expect to get. This is why I have driven past time after time depriving myself of Southern (MexAmerican) staple dishes. I mean I can't try anything else on the menu, the 10 plus times I've came from being overtaken by the buffet. Each time I look at the buffet and I'm like I'llllll just try the buffet and then boom 💥 I'm glad I did💃🏾 they can have anything from pork tenderloin meatloaf to fried chicken. It's like going to your favorite older Aunts house who lives in the kitchen, Lima beans were fresh and evenly seasoned. I had sort of goulash not quite chili or soup but had vegetables and ground beef it was well prepared and seasoned. 😁🫢🙌🏾🥰💯 No belly aches or bathroom runs, O boy you must go to the Friday Fish fry buffet best tartar sauce I have EVER HAD and it's always consistently good. I've been allot of times after I met a local who encouraged me to go and try it. I went today I usually get sweet tea but today I asked for sprite with cherry in it like a virgin Shirley Temple and owwwe it was so clean and fresh perfect combinations of goodness, you can tell they keep the machines cleaned.💫 Be careful now if you have to be busy after leaving because I'm always ready to nap afterwards. Anyhow native of Fort Myers but I have fell in love with the city of Arcadia it's not perfect but it's a blessing to my family it has the right amount of everything here and it isn't lacking anything. Centrally located to major cities for easy travel alot of wonderful places like this one here. Great...

Thought I'd check this place out with the family since we were driving through... bad move Food: 3/5 Service: 1/5 Establishment: Bugs

Picture this place as a 90s windowless, airless cafeteria. Has a small buffet and a seating for a few chairs/booths.

The food was pretty damn good. Had about 70$ USD of food ordered for 2 adults and a kid so we tried everything we could fit in our stomachs. Gravy, fried, whatever, it was great, we even had the snails.

The waitress was completely rude, arrogant, and perhaps racist (we were masked up and wife was asian, so not sure which one was more offensive). The other waitress were happy, laughing, jolly, but this one didnt give us plates, utensils for the kids and didn't tell us there is breads or specials... we had to eavsdrop on other tables to hear what was going on..

Only after expressing how poorly she was doing her job did she put in the basic amount of effort to help us. Enjoy your $1.50 tip on a 70$ bill, we would have tipped 20% as we do at all establishments...

The worst part of it there were these red-bottom beatles (not cockroaches) climbing into the holes on the walls. It gave the kid a cry when she saw it but we said it's just part of the decoration :(

If it wasn't for the decent american-style comfort food this place would be a wreck. I can only gather that this place has high ratings as there are very few other options in the area (mexican, chinese, etc) so it's the best of a small selection...