Urban Reef Bar and Restaurant

on the Promenade, by Boscombe Pier. BH5 1BN. Tel: 01202 443 960

I'm liking this place and the whole vibe. The area is not complete by any shape but it is getting there and seeing as I live in the Southbourne area, it is refreshing to have somewhere else to try locally.

A couple of months back I had rode down on a bike to have a quick drink at the new bar that is right on the promenade. That night it was pretty cold. We tried to brave through to a second pint but had to go inside the bar. Once in the doors there is not much space. This is definitely a fairweather bar.

We went down the other Saturday with some froms from London and the local area. The sun had been out and the evening was nice. We could only get a table for 9pm for 6 people. It was very busy. Recession, what recession?

We had a quick drink outside the bar whilst waiting for everyone to turn up. Glad I was able to get my drinks pretty quickly as that bar area, which is by the kitchen, was so hot.

Sitting outside on the large wooden benches that I bash my legs into 'every' time, it was nice to finally look around and see people enjoying themselves with a drink in hand and l;istening to the live act that was playing chilled out tunes. People were on the beach also chilling and having BBQs.

The actual surf reef is not finished, as of writiing (July 2009). Still a running joke really. However, the area does deserve a lift. There was a huge sand pyramid that I assume is part of the materials for building the reef, but it was basically a big magnet for people to scale up and down. Well at least until the Coastguard gets there to dish out the warnings.

After our drink we headed up the stairs to the restaurant. We sat down and were told that there would be a long wait and they wouldn't take our order just yet. Fair enough, I can understand if they took the order in our minds the clock would have started ticking. However, I don't know what the big decision point was over at least giving us some bread to fill the time in. Surely that is a no brainer.

I had the scallops. Four fairly small things on a piece of slate with the usually cheffy smears and dollops of sauce. It was OK. The mussels that someone else had looked a slightly better choice.

For my main I had the lemon sole with samphire and veg. The fish had been overly salted. I got through it but the salt was a bit too much. The size of the fish was OK. Someone had the pork belly and that was a good choice.

We had the New Zealand Riesling as a treat and that went down well, then it was just the house white to finish the evening off.

After the heat of the downstairs bar, the cold air-con of the restaurant got a bit much towards the end. We asked them if they could change the level a tad and they obliged. Thank you. But it stil chopped and change.

Anyway, we all had a really good evening and that fussy London lot (only kidding Emma and Stu) enjoyed it so it really does get the thumbs up.

One big downside for me, well us all, was that the toilets facilities and availability is totally naff. I felt happier eating at the Bistro on the Beach and walking next door to the public loos. Hope they can improve in that area.

Web site: Urban Reef - Restaurant, Bar, Cafe, Deli