This is a negative. The service was horrible. The seating is very constrictive. The waitress didn't even come back to inquire about the entrees after she got the drinks and appetizer. This place is the dregs. The food isn't great either and I'm not even writing a review of that. read more

Good Jamaican food and food is fresh and tasty season right and makes the appetite fulfilled

A friend and I came here for the dancing event upstairs but stopped at the bar to order food and drinks. Pros-- bartender made great drinks and they were reasonably priced. Cons- bartender's service was very nonchalant. We were told there wasn't any mac and cheese available to order but when the waitress came out with my friends fried calamari she confirmed there was mac and cheese. I then placed an order of mac and cheese and decided shortly after I wanted plain french fries. The fries were ordered at 10:56pm Paid for at 11:07pm After reminding the bartender and then a server that I still had not received my order, a manager(i believe she had the demeanor of one but never introduced herself) said "your fries were given away. Now do u still want us to make you more or do you no longer want them?" I very sternly reminded her that they had been paid for and I wanted them. She was very rude never apologizing for the inconvenience or offering anything complimentary while I waited. Fries came out at 11:38pm The wait caused us to be late for the event and we were almost charged until I explained the hold up on the restaurant's end. Auto gratuity is added (18%) to every check and there are a few other taxes on the bill as well. I will NOT return. I will never return. read more

Reef Restaurant & Lounge - Fries - American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The food was delicious. No wait for a table, I went on a Wednesday night. The staff was very friendly and attentive. Parking was an issue but I ended up getting a spot on the street. A mix of r and b and reggae music was on. I enjoyed it. It wasn't too noisy, I was able to have a conversation without yelling. The bathroom was clean. The only issue I had is that there were tiny gnats flying around while trying to eat. I had to keep swatting them away. read more

Reef Restaurant & Lounge - American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

The atmosphere is very nice. However, the food was not that good. If you're looking for authentic Jamaican food, look elsewhere.

The Reef is a decent restaurant to eat Carribean cuisines when in the area. The staff are always friendly and the food is good. I haven't been to the Reef in several years. Been to this restaurant on many different occasions. Most recently, the hostess asked for proof of vaccination before being seated. We ate at the bar since it was in the afternoon and not a lot of people at the restaurant. We ate the jerk bbq wings which was fried well with a little kick of spice, mac & cheese (it was not that good; would pass on this), sweet plantains; no complaints, mini crab cake bites; it was okay w/ the dipping sauce that was sweet, and the best part of the meal was the flavorful Rasta pasta. We also had the STRONG & tasty rum punch! Very authentic. It's clean inside; including the bathroom. The Reef now looks like it's time for the beloved restaurant to do some updates. I remember going to the restaurant for the first time years ago and thought the reef decor was cool. read more

See all

To start our hostess greeted us immediately with a smile. He pleasantly agreed to allow us to change tables. The dining area was neat and clean. The bar was pleasantly stocked. Our server, Camille, was a delight. She too, greeted us promptly and took our drink orders. Her recommendation of the "Pain Killa" cocktail was on point! It made me feel as if I were on a tropical island! We placed our food order and the food was promptly served. Freshly prepared and hot! I ordered the ox-tails with rice and peas and my husband ordered the bbq jerk chicken with plantains! The presentation of the food was nice and our entrees were super delicious! My oxtails were fall off the bone tender!!! After settling our check, the owner, Marlene, came over to introduce herself and inquired about our experience and service! We couldn't speak highly enough of the establishment. She was kind and very hospitable. This may have been our first time dining there but certainly won't be our last!!!! read more

Reef Restaurant & Lounge - Ox tails with rice and peas. - American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

We went to Rat reef on 8/5/25. The server was nice, but the food was terrible. We ordered the Jerk Chicken and Curry chicken. Our intier bill was over a hundred dollars. That was a waste of hard earned money. To Horrible top off our horrible expense we saw a rat running back and forth. Omg NASTY!!! Will nerve return here. read more

I use to live this restaurant/lounge! The good use to be so good. It's been years but after my last visit, I likely won't return. The food is just not the same, the oxtail nothing but grease, did not taste fresh was barely able to finish it. Service was good nonetheless and my company played it safe with the salmon and jerk chicken. read more

Reef Restaurant & Lounge - Oxtail w rice and peas - American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

My new favorite soul food restaurant. The food and service was phenomenal! I had the candied yams, rice & peas and cabbage. My friends ordered the salmon, mac & cheese, and broccoli. The serving size was enough for us to enjoy the food the following day. I will be returning with a few friends. Also, the bathroom was clean. read more

The only complaint I had was the mandatory coat check that wasn't mentioned online and the ridiculous fees for using your debit/credit card. If using a card at the bar, you MUST spend at least 20 dollars so my advice is that you use cash here. read more

I made reservation this evening for 8:45pm. Upon being seated, the server proceeded to tell us there was a limited menu available. If the kitchen closes at a specific time, reservations should not be allowed. My wife & I ordered the jerk chicken (we wanted oxtails and curry chicken, neither were available). We asked for extra gravy...what we received was barbecue sauce. Bottled barbecue sauce at that. The chicken was dry and so were the rice & beans. The baked Mac & cheese was basically noodles with cheese on top that was broiled. The only thing that was good was the cabbage. Our meal was overpriced at $100 which included a service charge of roughly $16. The website states the restaurant is 'Tried & True Caribbean Meals - No matter what you choose, you can't go wrong!'. We disagree. My wife is West Indian and for her, this was a terrible experience. We'd heard so many great things about restaurant and we were excited to check it out. After tonight, we just want our money back. read more

The food was really good. We went on a Sunday they sold out of curry chicken which was a shocker to me because it was the weekend. If you're a Caribbean restaurant, you should be fully stocked with food at least on the weekends but the food that we did order was pretty good and they give you a good portion as well so next time I go hopefully they'll have the curry chicken available. read more

See all

Came here for a birthday celebration for my mother the staff was very nice and welcoming. Our weeder was amazing and very attentive to my mother and her dietary needs. We had the plantain and the golf shrimp for appetizers along with the sweet chili crispy wings. Everything was amazing. for entrées I had the Rasta pasta with chicken and broccoli. My mother had the oxtails with mashed potatoes and cabbage, and my sister had the salmon jerk cheesesteak without cheese because she's vegan also very good. The bread was so soft. The salmon was so seasoned I barely missed the cheese. read more

See all

The music made me want to dance !! I went with my cousin on a Sunday, and the 90's reggae as jumping ! I loved it. The food was great, I got jerk wings as an appetizer, Yum! And Salmon, rice and plantains for my entree. So good !!! We sat at the bar and Calvin (I believe) was very attentive and had a great Jamaican accent We ended our meal with a beautiful piece of cake for my cousin's birthday I will definitely return Oh btw Prices were very reasonable Food delicious Drinks were good Trust me, go there! read more

Good food & karaoke. Sushi & more. Weird that glasses were not allowed. Our host was great. Song selection could've been better. read more

Jerk chicken cheesesteak was really good as well as the wings. Ride and beans and cabbage were good. Jerk chicken was ok. Server was great !

Upon entering the restaurant we were seated right away. We requested to be seated outdoors because of the ambiance and the cool evening temperature. Eventually or waitress came to us and asked if we we're ready to order, we were not. We did express we would like to have two glasses of water with lemon as we reviewed the menu for the first time. Unfortunately that was the last time we saw our waitress at our table. She helped several other tables before she returned to us as she saw that we were exiting. Prior to that I even reminded her like "excuse are you able to take our order?" She responded "yes" and still never returned. I don't see myself returning either! Simply rude. read more

Reef Restaurant & Lounge - Menu - American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I very surprised that this restaurant has very low rating reviews went the food is so amazing maybe it is because it is a bit price. The decoration is seen like you are in the vibe of the Caribbean. Crab and Curry Fried Rice a REEF original long grain rice, lump crab meat, stir-fried with brunoise vegetables and steeped in crab stock infused with curry and coconut essence. The rice has a bit spicy taste which gives it an authentic flavor and super tasty, the amount of food is pretty big enough to feed two people but the price is a bit too much for only rice which seafood. The staff is pretty good, and they have a full bar and a few tvs, the place is pretty big. Another plus is located in a good area of Philly. A bad is that a bit to the price but maybe is the price to be in that location. read more

I guess the overall Yelp rating rating for Reef wasn't a lie...maybe even a bit generous at 3 stars. Let me get to it, the service was ok but the food/drinks were so disappointing! STRAWBERRY & CHAMPAGNE: You would think it's what the name says, right? It was actually champagne mixed with strawberry puree garnished with a strawberry. Seems like they added strawberry puree to reduce the amount of champagne for the drink. When I brought this to their attention, they remade the drink without the strawberry puree but put 4 strawberries in it to yet again, reduce the amount of champagne. How sneaky! JERK SALMON CHEESESTEAK: The roll wasn't even toasted. It was just taken out the bag. RASTA PASTA: I opted for just veggies which was cool, but I had I known it was going to be an OVERLOAD of onions with just a few slices of red & green peppers I would've passed. They nickel & dime you for everything too - an extra $3 for broccoli (never knew broccoli to be special enough to require an upcharge) and a lump crab addition is basically like adding a whole new meal for a $20 upcharge. The cream sauce could've been seasoned more as well. I haven't been to Reef in years and I recall it being a great spot back in the day, but even my friend said that it has lost its zest since the pandemic hit. I really want to see the establishment thrive since it's black-owned and a lot of businesses on South Street have not survived the pandemic, sadly. However, menu improvements are going to have to be made (especially considering they tack on a host of fees - 18% gratuity regardless of party size, food tax & liquor tax). read more

See all

I Love the drinks definitely different and the food is delicious. I give it 4/5 it's a very pleasant place

Came for a chill night with a friend to catch up. There was a live band playing upstairs which was nice. It gave very cool vibes. I didn't get to check it out but upstairs seemed like more of a lounge/dance area. I got the oxtails while my friend got jerk chicken. We shared the mac and cheese on the side. The oxtails were pretty good, tasty and tender. I could have done with a bit more gravy (as always lol). The mac and cheese was lackluster, it was basically mini pasta shells with a light cheese coating, cheesy pasta if you will. Not creamy, no cheese pull. I'd say that one can be skipped, especially for $8. I had one of their cocktails, the storm cloud, which I really enjoyed! Service was okay. There were a lot of random taxes and fees on the final bill including a "non cash adjustment fee" and a "service charge" of 18% though we were never informed there would be an up charge for use of card nor that gratuity was automatically included. We decided to leave it alone. It would be nice to have this on the menu or verbally stated. I would definitely come back for the vibes and to enjoy other Jamaican delicacies! read more

I agree with the majority of the reviews. The food was fine. Not amazing, but fine. We had oxtail sliders, crab cake sliders, and wings. Our server was nice. The hostess, as mentioned in other reviews, was ok at best. she wasnt rude by any means, just flat. Not really what you want as the first impression of the place, but again, no big deal. My issue and the reason we will NEVER go back is due to the ridiculous fees that are added to the check that were not expected and couldn't be explained. It gives off a shadiness and a nickel and dime feel that i do not like at all. There was a "service fee" of 18% that when I asked about was told that it wasnt the gratuity for the server but went to "the house". What the hell does that mean? I didnt want the server to go without gratuity so we added another 18%. Then there was also another fee for using a credit card. That was bs as well. Look, a business can charge what they like, but i do feel that it needs to be made clear beforehand or just add it into the pricing on the menu. Whatever, do it your way REEF, but you wont do it to us ever again. read more

The crab cakes were not worth $20! They tasted like tuna fish! Definitely not a lump crab cake! The curry chicken was delicious! The ribs were not falling off the bone...a bit on the rubbery side! read more

Reef Restaurant & Lounge - The crab cakes were not worth $20! They tasted like tuna and bread crumbs. They were not good - American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Customer service was good and the bartender accommodated my friends special requests for drinks. The wings are very good and one of the best things on the menu. Don't waste your money on the oxtail here. It's over priced and not that good and such small servings! It's better and cheaper to get it at an authentic Jamaican spot. read more

See all

My daughter celebrated her 35th birthday with a karaoke party at Reef a couple of weeks ago and I ordered the lamb chops with mash potatoes. They were so delicious, tender and very flavorful, and a special recipe of the owner's son Rod, I was told. My nephew watched me devour mine and then decided to order some for himself. He enjoyed them just as much. It was an amazing Karaoke birthday celebration and I would highly recommend this space for the ambiance, service, food and drinks! I've been there several times in the past and the owner Marlene is awesome and just a beautiful & good person to be around! We always have a good time! read more

As always, Reef delivered great food and service. I got the chicken wings and the ox tails. It was amazing!! Thank you reef for being in the community. We love you! read more

hostess was rude... I'm pregnant can not sit in a high seat let alone a hard back but that's where she suggested we sit and then had a attitude that I asked for a booth instead. mind you the booths were completely empty and no one was sitting there. she said ugghhh it's a reservation and then proceeded to walk me there however she had a nasty attitude. My server was great the food was delicious but a service charge for 2 ppl was ridiculou. I'm a Jamaican I can cook my own food at home. upon leaving the establishment the same rude hostess didn't even say bye or goodnight or anything just stood there eating her food. I don't know why us as Jamaicans would even hire American young girls to be the first point of contact at a Jamaican restaurant when they have poorest attitudes. read more

Can't wait to come back! Reef Restaurant and lounge was soo fun and a great time was had! Reef restaurant and lounge offers seating areas at the bar or tables where you can experience some good carribean food. Our waiter Nasir was charming, attentive and humorous. He informed us on their signature dishes and food. I ended up getting the salmon Montego Bay. My dish came with rice and beans and cabbage. Everything was flavorful and in abundance. My friend and I both ended up taking the rest of our food to go. Their drinks are also bomb but pricey. Their rum shot was like 7.00 for a smidget of alcohol smh. On the other hand I like that all their drinks have a carribean twist to them. Besides the shot, I got the Jamaican sunshine and a frozen pina colada and all was delicious! The vibe was good they have a lounge upstairs for dancing the night away. Overall bring ya bae or ya dutty gyals and have a wonderful time at the Reef Restaurant and lounge! read more

See all

One of my favorites in Philly. Great food! Great music! Even better drinks! Would recommend to all.

We came here for a pit stop as part of a bar crawl / bike peddling tour (one of those big red bikes) so we only had a few minutes. We ordered some signature cocktails - the "pain killa" was pretty good (what I got) and I heard the "guava cosmo" and "Jamaican sunshine" were good, as well. We ordered an oxtail poutine fries to split, which was tasty but really greasy. The service was ok, but we hoped for better given the restaurant wasn't busy at all when we came. read more

See all

I stopped by after work for happy hour. Every drink I had was strong and delicious! I also ordered the calamari and it came with fried jalapeños, THE BEST! So flavorful and perfectly battered. Customer service was A1. I was greeted and seated right away and my drinks kept coming. The bartender was attentive and personable. Also the Owner came by to check on how was everything. Perfect service. For happy hour the cocktails are $9. Small plates $6. Also beer specials!! Again everything and everyone was awesome. I will be coming back read more

See all

I share the sentiments of the majority...will never be back. Was in town visiting from out of state and was in the mood for Caribbean food. We (just 2 of us) were seated and no one ever returned to take our order or even bring water. Yet a table with 3 people were seated and had their order taken while we waited. We left after 15 minutes, walked down the block and had an amazing experience from start to end, even met the owner and got a free dessert. I so desire to support black owned establishments but situations like this seem to be too common. Do Better! read more

Only been here once, it was a random spot that we walked into on a Saturday night. The wait was a bit long but that was expected, they had a live DJ, good music and nice Caribbean environment. Service was friendly and food was good as well. Definitely want to go back for another experience and really see every single thing it has to offer. read more

I loved my entire experience here. The music was good, the food was delicious, and we didn't even get a chance to head over to the lounge. I ordered salmon with rice & beans and cabbage. I didn't even eat the rice & beans, but the salmon and cabbage was delicious. I was with a group who was ready to go, but I would absolutely go back when I have more time to try that bread pudding I saw on the menu. read more

Reef Restaurant & Lounge - American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Gvreat food, great service, and definitely a come back to spot when in Philly. Lots of menu choices you would expect to find at a Caribbean spot. The food was done well. Good portions. Great flavors. You looking for respectable Jamaican food come check this spot out. It will satisfy your flavor needs. read more

See all

My favorite place to eat in the city ... they food never disappoints me at all .. great service overall read more

Reef Restaurant & Lounge - Jerk salmon Seasoned Steamed Cabbage Roasted Garlic Mashed Potates - American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The food was spectacular and the drinks was so on point. I will definitely be back. The wings are so good an fresh.

I'm sad this restaurant has such low reviews because the food was really good. We were in Philly for a conference and felt like Jamaican. Thanks to Yelp, we found this joint. This restaurant definitely gives off hole in the wall vibes. It's actually quite spacious when you walk in and the decor is right in sync with the "Reef" name. It's very aquatic and gives major "under di sea" vibes. I was happy to see that they there was a diverse group of patrons in the restaurant. Young, old, black, white. It's always good to see that, especially in ethnic restaurants because I feel like it's always a good indication that the food is good. Plus, we were hungry. The menu is kind of all over the place. It has your expected Jamaican classics from jerk chicken to red snapper to curry shrimp then it has the unexpected like jerk seasoned Philly cheese steaks and Rasta Pasta. They also have crab cakes (which I can't speak on because I didn't try them), chicken nachos, and turkey burgers. We decided to order the jerk chicken with rice and peas and plantain. We got one order and decided to split it and I honestly thing it was one of the best ideas I had that week because we still had leftover food. The servings are hefty. The jerk sauce was good. I hate when the sauce is thick and gritty, but Reef had the recipe on lock. Also, they cooked my plantain just the way I like it, not too soggy, not too crispy. Juuuuuust right. Kudos to the chef! The staff were friendly, they were not overbearing, very laid back. Overall, we had a great experience here! read more

From the front door security to the kitchen... LOVE WAS IN EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING! I recommend the oxtail!