I have had the pleasure of dining at Reef Road on Clematis Street on two occasions, the most recent being just last week.  I really enjoyed myself both times.

In preparing to write this review, I checked out other reviews of Reef Road, and found that, on one review site, the restaurant had received only one measly star out of a possible five.

The complaints included poor service, pricey food and small portions.  I asked my dining partner if he thought there was any merit to these complaints, and he agreed with me that, in our experience, there was not.  We thought Reef Road provided a lovely evening out, and we both look forward to returning.

Reef Road offers musical entertainment on some nights – the night we were there, they played recorded reggae.  That got me off to a great start.

The décor is terrific, very appropriate for a rum bar in South Florida.  they offered a special on a dark spiced rum called “Sailor Jerry.”  Sailor Jerry is ninety-two proof and delicious with pineapple juice.

For many years, I had been on the search for the perfect spinach and artichoke dip.  I always ordered it as an appetizer in every restaurant I visited.  I fantasized about writing a book solely about the many different spinach and artichoke dips I had encountered throughout the United States, and the journey that brought me to them.

What really happened was I gained enough weight to decide that wasn’t a particularly smart Holy Grail for me.

Had I continued my search, it would have ended last week at Reef Road.  I really believe their spinach and artichoke dip to be definitive, quintessential, the best ever. 

For a main course, my friend had blackened chicken, while I had linguini with white clam sauce.  Both of us were very pleased with the portions and presentation.  The blackened chicken came with plantains and coconut rice.  The linguini came with clams still in the shell.

While I am leery of the poor reviews on-line, I would still recommend Reef Road as a great place for a casual-but-special meal with real South Florida flavor.

But who am I to say?  They had me at five-dollar rum and reggae.