Urban Reef in Bournemouth

We enjoyed a late dinner here five years ago so we decided to return this year. The service was attentive but the wait for food was long. Apart from the BBQ chicken wings, the food was not very good. Three of our party opted for the lobster bisque. Two of them didn't eat it. It wasn't very nice. With soggy batter and slimy insides, the salt and pepper squid was so bad that we had it removed from the bill. Although, I'd have preferred to have seen it completely eradicated from the planet. Great views of the beach. Ideal location for drinks and chicken wings. The main menu best avoided.

Always love visiting. Great spot for a beer and a bite.

Very yummy salmon, eggs royale and American pancakes .. good coffee .. the service is always quite slow

Brilliant place for a cup of tea or something more substantial. Courteous staff, reasonable prices. Lovely outlook

Always love Urban Reef when we visit Boscombe Beach… I love their nachos and they also do wood oven pizzas. Lovely staff. I prefer it when The Overstrand upstairs is open - hopefully this weekend… thank you as always :)

Great breakfast and later also great pizza and loaded fries. We visited this Sunday for breakfast, the menu had something to offer everyone. My husband had the vegan breakfast which totally defeated him and i had eggs benedict, the perfect amount. The staff were all super friendly and although the massive storm had filled half the restaurant with water they sat us at a lovely sea view table and were super kind to Harry the fat pug and gave him a bonio the size of his head. Highly recommend, the pizza in the evening was also perfect, stone baked and super yummy. Reasonably priced considering the location....

Great vibes, fantastic vista, service Ok, food mostly good. Will come again

Sadly the service has changed, no longer are drinks being brought to the tables outside. Food/drinks still good but a reduction in service but no change in prices.

Update - huge improvement, cleanliness is still a bit of a pro due to proximity to the beach I think but the food ! What a dramatic improvement!! Kudus to the managers Nice to sit outside, not amazingly clean but hey it's on the beach and people get their own drinks so at the end of the night you can only imagine the floor ,it's not a 5 Micheline star place but I always enjoy going there

Hi can I thank staff fore outstanding kindness shown towards me on Saturday evening restaurant was quite busy I ordered some takeaway food staff were amazing towards helping me I use a large powered wheelchair staff could help me enough and the food was really nice thank you all andy

This is a lovely restaurant near to Boscimbe pier and beach . It’s got a laid back happy vibe to it and was busy when we went in . Would recommend you to book a table . I had a vegan breakfast which I would say was quite a small portion and my friend had a full English breakfast . It was in a great location..

Consistently yummy, dog friendly and great for brunch, lunch or dinner. Wood fired pizza (including GF) is particularly excellent - best pizza we’ve had in a very long time.

Used to visit a fair few years ago and seems that the food and warm atmosphere has disappeared

Still a lovely setting however food and service not as good as it once was.

Popped in for a takeaway espresso coffee. Good to see locally roasted bad hand coffee beans in use..was busy inside the restaurant so I enjoyed a coffee overlooking the stormy seas ..

Nice place, but I think maybe understaffed. Long wait to be seated and then to be served. Lovely cakes , which were not on the menus, luckily we asked.

Good bear, amazing squid and really nice chips

Standards have really gone down hill!!! Awful food and the service wasn’t great! Arrived, there we're 12 staff working… Was handed menus on 12 separate pieces of paper which was overwhelming. These were taken off clipboards to take to the table. We ordered within 5 minutes food and drinks No drinks arrived within 20 minutes at which point we were apologies to as there was a new person learning cocktails. Food arrived and drinks followed 10 minutes later. Pizza was tasteless and anaemic and the chips tasted like they were yesterday’s left overs popped in a microwave with some cheese. You know your food isn’t great when you use half a bottle of ketchup and mayo to create a taste. 10 mins after our server returned to take plates at this point we were asked, how was everything? I said would you like me to be honest? She said yes “if you want to?” I calmly explained the above and she rolled her eyes said sorry and walked off. Told her manager in the distance in full ear shot, he said “I don’t know what I can say to that” We were swiftly delivered the bill and asked to pay, I said “I didn’t ask for the bill?” She again said sorry… This place used to have high standards and great food now it’s a quick turn around tourist trap pumping out crap.

Fantastic location, and considering the location, it was fairly priced. Service was very friendly and attentive. The food was really tasty. We will definitely eat here again.

We've been visiting for years because of great location. Unfortunately we had really bad experience today. In short, ordered 2 drinks. Waitress accidentally spilled a pint of beer all over me. Thought the person in charge said we wouldn't have to pay for the 2 drinks we ordered. At the end, transpired we still had to pay for one drink. We weren't happy to pay after the inconvenience they had caused us. She then said, "ok you can leave but please do me a favour, don't ever come back here." Wow, really?!! Obviously we won't go back there! 'Terrific' way to deal with incident with customers, caused by one of their own staff's clumsiness.

Dog friendly outside, great service from staff attentive and understanding. Food great quality and quick to table. Little wait for table, but we'll organised. Overall a lovely experience with good quality cocktails.

Being beachside and quite busy I wasn’t expecting great things but the pizzas were great and they really tried hard to do everything they could in the way of service for us. We were a bit worried because of a nut allergy of one of our party but they were appropriately cautious and spoke to the chef so they could sure everything was fine. Great location, great food, great service.

What can I say? Incredible experience! Great atmosphere with views of the sea and the beach with MK2 planes flying in the skies. Great food with awesome service from the staff. My wife stated "It was the best gluten-free burger she has ever eaten" All staff ensured our kids were properly looked after and made us all feel special. A magical dining experience ✨️

I have eaten here many times and enjoyed it but the table booking system is very very poor. I completed. booking request on line having failed to get through on the phone, received an email response saying they would contact me, and two days later phoned only to be told my request was not available. Most booking systems give an immediate answer - maybe you need to find a better system.

Outstanding food - sea bass super -fresh and enormous, fish platter wonderful. Excellent friendly and efficient service from Abby and Sophie - kinda felt like being home but with bigger portions. On the beach so lively and great views. Overall about as good as it gets.

Service is excellent but food is not since takeover by Shepherd Neame, located on the best areas of Boscombe pier

Took a long time to serve just two drinks. First it was incomplete and then didn’t have the whisky I ordered.

Only positive is the view the service is way to bad you sit there waiting and nobody will come meaning you have to get up and get someone to order. The fish was weird but the fries were good and the sauce. Not worth the 20 each if I can go to a chippy 5 minutes away for half the price for actual fish and chips. What I ate here didn't taste like fish inside

Really nice food, the oysters were excellent and the staff were really nice. Amazing location

Lovely setting for breakfast. Speedy and friendly service. Average prices for a couple of breakfasts and good coffee.

Had a family breakfast here. Lovely food in a great location. Staff were friendly and helpful. Good portions sizes and reasonable bill to finish. We will return.

I don't usually leave reviews but the service and food was excellent. We reserved a table online for the restaurant. Had a lovely time, great service - checking in regularly before, during and after food. Great food with an updated menu. I would highly recommend, just from the service alone let alone the great food. We will be booking again. Thank you Urban Reef!

The location is excellent and the view from the upstairs balcony is far reaching. Our meals were standard straight from the freezer with no thought about presentation. The portion sizes were generous but the food lacked flair or imagination. A 12.5% service charge on top of high prices for average food is a step too far. We had high hopes of this place but our experience today, whilst there was nothin to complain about, was not good enough to make us wish to return.

Excellent customer service, good food and good ambience

Good quality food. But sadly sausage was cooked barely above raw and the eggs were still snotty and muffins must of been toasted for 5 seconds. Basically everything woukd of been great. If the chef cooked everything for another few mins

We came here for a 60th birthday breakfast which we had pre-booked - wow. Delicious food with an outstanding view and even more outstanding service - nothing was too much trouble.

Used to be a nice little watering hole, with ok food. It faces south and used to have big umbrellas up when it’s hot and sunny. They’ve not had them up for ages - they say they’re broken. We won’t go in the sun until they’re fixed

I've eaten here many times when it was independentally owned, but more recently, I've visited twice. Unfortunately, the standard of the food has really deteriorated. Most recently, one friend and had the seafood platter. We both agreed that we should have sent returned it. Most of the deep fried pieces were really tasteless with the exception of the whitebait. This tasted like it had seen better days, In contrast, one of our party of three had a burger in a Brioche bun, which they really enjoyed. We all agree that for the quality of the food, it was grossly over priced.

Really great cafe / restaurant. Good service and great food. A lovely place to sit and chill, take in the view and eat and drink to your hearts content. Food is typically priced, buy very tasty.

A little bit touristy, but the food is good. The staff is very kind and attentive. You're right in front of the beach.

Nice place with beach view, tasty coffee, ice cream and food, friendly and smiling staff. Thank you Praise for serving our table 💛💙. Your smile makes world and people's mood better 🙂🤗. Simply the best ❤ Highly recommend!

Been twice. Service was way too slow both times.

Nice restaurant and great vibe all around. My friend and I ordered Eggs Royale and it tasted amazing!

About 20 staff doing 00000000 sat for 10 mins. Walked out order not taken staff oblivious.

This is perfectly situated, right by the beach.

Nice place to set and very delicious food. We had whole fish of the day and tuna salad. Must try

Nice and lots of vegetarian food available

Great place to watch the world go by and eat delicious wood fire pizza

The lower deck is very good for dogs. We found the food to be quite good with a little kick. The service was good. The view to the sea is lovely!

Visited for lunch. Food was OK but nothing special, pizza was a bit lacking toppings. Other food delivered to other tables looked good, maybe I made a bad menu choice. Nice location and great views but overall the food was bit average. 12.5% service charge is a bit steep.

Lovely drinks, nice staff. Great choice of seating indoor and outside. Beautiful views. Could do with better opening hours during busy months.

First time at Urban Reef and had a lovely time here. Food is great but staff and service is even better. Definitely recommend everyone for a visit.

Was my first time going to Bournemouth and i find this nice place for having a good lunch with an amazing sea view . Good food, good service Roberta was amazing.

Beachfront diner offering pizza, burgers and salad. The side order of chips were great, crunchy outside with fluffy in, and seasoned well. Pizza base fine but toppings a bit average. Chicken burger was good and meaty

Just stopped here for a shared pizza and a lager.Friendly staff.

I spent 3 hours really well, the staff were polite and friendly, fair prices, good food

Terrible experience. We won't be back.

Eaten here a couple of times and I must say, the food and service are all above expectations, and for a more than reasonable price. Great location, very accommodating; hard to fault these days! :)

A very nice venue with ample room and good service ! Staff very well trained and all very nice

Lovely place been there for a social dancing

Delicious pizza from the wood oven.

I work in hospitality myself and I never leave reviews because I am extremely tolerant of bad service since I know what it’s like to have a bad day and annoying customers. But wowwwww. The girl that night serving outside with a pink sweater and a butterfly clip was absolutely miserableeee, it was shocking behaviour, just stomping around the front and giving everyone death stares. She made us very uncomfortable when everyone else was absolutely lovely (The man also serving outside was great.) We went to get the bill inside with the help of 2 LOVELY ladies since we were too scared to interact with pink sweater girl any more than we already had 😂

Second time at Urban Reef, chilled easy vibes, music and helpful staff. Loved the drinks menu contained authentic ingredients and El Dorado rum! My chicken burger was a little salty this time around but everything else was great.

Staff are incredibly polite and supportive of any needs or adaptations needed to meals. The food is fresh, well presented and delicious. We love coming here for an early, beach day breakfast.

Fab location good food and service.

We went for lunch on my son's birthday. Staff are super friendly and efficient. The food is very tasty and well presented. I even got to try Oysters for the first time! I announced that it was my son's birthday and they surprised us with an impromptu birthday cake slice for him! It is a definite yes for anyone!

Lovely balcony area right on the sea front.

Tried fish platter.Not worth the price, felt too overpriced.

The location is the main attraction, right along the beach with good views and comfortable seating. As expected busy on special occasions and sunny weekends. Limited but good choice of food downstairs with fair pricing for the location. The food is of good quality with excellent bread. The service differs in speed, manner and accuracy; dishes for a group are not necessarily brought out at the same time, with some hot drinks not being hot anymore. A little disturbing for this type of place to get pepper and salt in sachets, with the wind many times sweeping away the empty packs. Dogs are allowed, toilets clean and nice. Overall a pleasant experience. Update Jun24: they have done away with the sachets thankfully. The food is still very tasty; prices of course have increased but still just about ok given the location. A service charge of 12.5% will now be added to the bill.

When it's busy, it is quite slow

I booked a table for my friends birthday as were were down visiting for the weekend. We were welcomed with open arms (which is a nice change from the service you can sometimes receive in London!) and were given great seats upstairs. The food was delicious and the service we received was perfect - we weren't pestered but also didn't have an empty glass for very long! The evening was topped off with a thoughtful and lovely birthday treat for my friend. We would definitely come back again.

Sensational food and service. The best Nachos I've ever had

Lovely staff, great location and decent food. Would definitely return !!!!

Date night with the hubby. Oysters were amazing, lobster bisque was delicious. Service was on point. Fish and chips were delish and a massive portion! Definitely recommend!

Being located on the beach front, it is a really beautiful location to have breakfast in the morning sun!!! The food was really nice, and I'd say average value for money. We pre-booked, which I'd highly recommended doing, especially if it's going to be a warm day as it can get very busy very easily. The service was fairly quick, but nearer the end it was difficult to get hold of someone for the bill, we just enjoyed the sunshine in the meantime. I couldn't see any soft drink options on the menu, but plenty of hot beverages, ice coffee and cocktails available, they also have water stations for you to help yourself. Overall, I would definitely recommend trying this restaurant.

Been using it since it opened. Chicken burger was tough and tasteless. Chips sad. Bread n butter pudding is being missold. Was informed afterwards it is made from quassants. Awful and not what it says in the menu.

Starting to look very tired inside and there's a smell of damp upstairs. Food was bang average, with just one vegan burger on offer at the time, none for starters.

Walking distance, right on the beach, and good fresh food at good value. I've been here for lunch, dinner and afternoon coffee and each time I've been impressed by the friendly service, the choice of gluten free food (and cakes! A choice of cakes that isn't pre packed flapjacks!). I'm becoming a big fan. Fish & chips update : dined on Friday 3 May. Excellent oysters (I ordered twice, they were so good) and superb fish & chips. Perfect. So pleased to have such excellent food on my doorstep.

A really Great restaurant with a fantastic sea view. We had the seafood special to share and it was all cooked to perfection. Service was very polite and attentive can't wait to come back again. Superb!

Food & coffee drinks were cold and portions very small. We’ve been waiting drinks and food for 40 mins, awful service however service charge is asked. Very disappointing

Love this place - such a great location & atmosphere. Service can be a little slow but mainly because they are so busy, however all staff are charming, friendly and all over it once you're being served. Do ask if your menu choice is as stated as occasionally items are swapped out due to the freshness of their ingredients - I got olives instead of pea shoots on my Greek salad - only an issue if you're not a fan of the alternative - so do ask the question. A little gem 💎

Food was terrible. Ordered the full English breakfast. The bacon was dried out, as were the mushroom and tomato. They looked old and wrinkly. The food was cold. The worst were the eggs, which were poached. They were so lightly poached that when touched with my fork, the raw yolk spurted all over my plate. The best items in the meal were the baked beans and the hash brown, neither of which had been created in their kitchen.

"Urban Reef is a seafront restaurant and beach bar in Bournemouth. We pride ourselves on serving delicious food paired with fantastic cocktails, local ales and fine wines, all while keeping a relaxed and informal atmosphere. Whether you’re stopping by for a hearty breakfast and fresh coffee, a delicious lunch or romantic dinner for two, book your table at Urban Reef seafront restaurant today. Located next to the beach in Boscombe promenade, what better way is there to relax and unwind than great local cuisine, award-winning cocktails and stunning picturesque views of the Purbecks at sunset. Fancy popping in to visit one of Bournemouth’s best cocktail bars? Check out our great food and drink menus on our website or contact us."

Urban Reef never disappoints. The food is lovely and you can take your pooch with you 🥰 Loved the cocktail selection.

Very good breakfast with a lovely sea view. I had eggs royale and my wife had poached egg and avocado. The poached eggs were done perfectly and both meals were very good. We also enjoyed cocktails from their Breakfast Cocktail menu. A very pleasant experience.

Great beach front location. Popped in on a bright but cold windy day. Just had a drink and cake which was lovely to enjoy the view. Very dog friendly with dog treat and water bowl provided by very friendly staff.

Great value Mothers Day menu - booked in advance and we're not rushed. Courses were perfectly tine to give us space to enjoy conversation with family over food. Service was professional and polite. View was of course amazing. Will recommend booking to get the best tables upstairs. Lovely Mothers day with plenty of good quality food - thank you.

Thanks for the free coffee today for the NHS volunteers

It has a great location, it is very busy but good food and nice stuff but they may need more stuff

Lovely service and food was really nice we definitely be returning!

All 5☆ great restaurant with a very helpful service. Lovely fish and chips for all of us.

I had the chicken wings for starters and the beef for mains, and it was the best restaurant food I've had in a long time.

We sat outside on a bright Sunday morning. Grat location for good coffe and cake.

Unfortunately, we couldn't fully appreciate the food or atmosphere as our experience was abruptly halted at the door. Despite waiting to be seated, a staff member informed us that only drinks were being served, citing the closure of the main kitchen for new orders while they catch up. As an ex-chef, I find it surprising to see a restaurant close to new orders during a lunchtime, especially in February when it's not peak season. This clearly highlights a weak area, addressing these issues before peak season is crucial for the restaurant's success. Diabolical

Great place for breakfast and the team are good

Fantastic evening here, for the end of January, It was organised by a friend, very good food, and plenty of it. Worth remembering it is open all year round. Thankyou.

It's a wonderful place to spend an hour or so, the day we visited it was quite busy and they were obviously struggling to keep up. Food which has been decent in the past was decidedly average this time...will still go back though.

Great soup, lovely staff, perfect beachfront location.

Fab location, friendly staff, tasty varied food

Was shocked by the service charge. Nice food but expensive. Visited just before new year and was cold inside.