4. Restaurants

Nantucket’s Reef

9755 Traville Gateway Dr, Rockville, MD, 20850
  • (301) 279-7333
  • Store is closed

Nantucket’s Reef Menu

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Visit below restaurant in Rockville for healthy meals suggestion.

Chili’s ( 11428 Rockville Pike )

Visit below restaurant in Rockville for healthy meals suggestion.

Chili’s ( 11428 Rockville Pike )

  • David G.

    Food was delicious. Service was great. We sat at the bar for brunch and was served by Carlos. He did a great job telling us about the menu, specials, and drinks. We started with oysters Rockefeller. They were great! For entrees we got the lobster salad, crabby Benedict, and split the Connecticut style lobster roll. Everything was great. We will definitely be back and will order the lobster roll again!

    (5)

  • Duyen T.

    We decided to venture out and were glad we did. Nantucket Reef has fabulous happy hour specials - $1 oysters (good size, tasty), sliders, beer, wine, desserts. The Parmesan crusted trout with fried eggplant and garlic spinach was delish and so big I had to bring home half. The lobster and angel hair, fried fish (thick, fresh and perfectly seasoned) and popcorn shrimp was also really good and a big hit with the kids. Nice decor, prompt and friendly staff. We'll definitely be coming back, especially for the oysters!

    (4)

  • Tim S.

    Two of us had dinner here and loved everything we ordered...from soup to seafood. The salmon was wonderful.

    (5)

  • Jonathan K.

    Very good. Fast and fresh. Not a ton of fish choices but what they have is worth trying. If you can't find something, you aren't trying hard enough. Lobster choices were very good. Tuna tartare app with their guacamole was a stumble upon that turned out to be a real treat when combined. They accommodated our party of 8 very well. I would have given 5 stars if their menu was just a bit larger.

    (4)

  • Janelle K.

    Food and service were excellent. It was a birthday celebration. Told the staff and they provided a special treat.

    (5)

  • The S.

    Unfortunately, we chose a night when the heat was not working. So cold!! Overheard nearby table stating that this was not the first time they had been at Nantucket's Reef and the heat was OUT. Despite circumstances, we stuck it out. Nice on tap selection for Happy Hour. Creamy crab dip appetizer was too creamy and not enough crab, should have trusted bartender and ordered the mussels. Lobster roll was good as were the fish and chips.. Friendly service. But Lobster Roll at Jackson's is better. Nantucket's Reef is worth a visit but not a show stopper.

    (3)

  • Alison W.

    Finally some good food at this location! So many restaurants have tried and failed in this spot, but I'm hoping Nantucket's Reef will stay. The food is very good - love the mussels, fish tacos, and the fried cod filets are perfectly done!! The bread pudding isn't your typical version, but very good - the owner's family recipe. My kids love the brownie a la mode. Very easy to get seating and the service is good. We've eaten here several times for lunch and dinner and it's been great each time!

    (4)

  • Henrique S.

    Held my birthday dinner here and they accommodated a large table with ease and split the check. All this and everyone enjoyed the food a lot! Would definitely do it again.

    (5)

  • Jenna L.

    I was very pleased to have visited Nantucket's Reef to satisfy a random urge for crab cakes. On a late Sunday afternoon Nantucket's Reef was fairly empty and my boyfriend and I were promptly seated in a restaurant that does a great job of recalling Nantucket. Our waitress was friendly and attentive. She even indulged us in settling an obnoxious bet (what is the TRUE definition of brunch) while trying her best to insult neither of us. Her best call was suggesting the Crab Cakes Benedict and the Diablo mussels. The mussels were out of this world. My only complaint is that I wish they came with more bread so I could soak up some of that delicious sauce! The crab cakes here are small, but because they are actually made of crab (and not filling) it seems justified. The eggs, potatoes and everything else on my plate was equally delicious. Apparently they have $7 unlimited mimosas/bloody mary's at brunch. As I was driving I wasn't able to indulge, but it would provide me some motivation to return!

    (5)

  • Rick B.

    Awesome Happy Hour specials from 3-close every day. Great bar food at $6.00 a plate is very reasonable. Mussel Mondays was incredible. $6.00 for a full order of mussels, which are as good as any Belgian restaurant. The Beer specials are fantastic as well. $2.50 bottles and $3.50 draft! Highly recommend. Also the place is just unknown enough that it doesn't get loud.

    (5)

  • Kimberly T.

    First off the decor is super cute, I felt like I was at a beach house. But that is only the case if it is like sunny outside; when it is dark or cloudy it looks super different inside. All the reviews talk about the wicked mussels.... And just to let you know... They are right. Those mussels are banging. BANGING. It comes with chorizo and this creamy sauce. There is even bread to dip with the sauce. If I could just put that sauce over like rice or everything I would be super happy. I have been here twice and the service has been meh. My friends told me about how their first time their the owner came up to them and talked to them and how their waiter was so attentive and helpful. I believe it is because they are getting more popular but I haven't experienced that yet. My first visit no one came to our table initially for 10 minutes. But they turned it around by the end of the meal. The volcano steak I believe it is called, is massive. It is a mountain of mashed potatoes with steak circling the mashed potatoes and with a crab cake on top. It is super yummy, but really heavy and huge. My friend got the lobster salad, but got her lobster I believe Connecticut style meaning with butter. I got the wicked chicken pasta because I didn't want any seafood that day it was pretty amazing. The chorizo is never a bad thing in any dish. The time before that I got the stuffed cod because of the reviews. It was pretty amazing the crab is super yummy, and the cod was cooked perfectly. I crushed the whole plate.

    (4)

  • allie y.

    Everything was great here. We had HH $1 oysters, crab cake salad, lobster and drinks. They were the best $1 oysters we've had. We ended up ordering 3 orders since they were so fresh! Lobster was cooked perfect and very juicy. Crab cake had lumps of crab meat which was yummy. Service was great and attentive. Highly recommend this place!

    (5)

  • Debora D.

    My boyfriend was hesitant to try it again since he wasn't impressed the first time he went, which was soon after opening - but boy was he happy afterward! We absolutely LOVED the wicked muscles we had as an appetizer, which is a special price every Monday. We could have 3-4 orders of those and been happy. His stuffed salmon was pretty good, but lacked some flavor - but we both loved the coconut pecan crusted tilapia, which I had. Full of flavor and a great portion size. I was also happy the side of veggies wasn't the average frozen broccoli - it was peppers and squash, which I like a lot! We will definitely go back soon!

    (5)

  • Kevin F.

    My beautiful daughter and I went out for dinner, but I didn't want to go far from Gaithersburg, so I went to Yelp (duh) to find somewhere nice. sound of basketball buzzer. The ratings werent stellar, but a lot of stars should never be the sole (pardon the pun) criterion for making your choice. I should have READ the review. Our portions were good, but the batter used to deep fry stuff was lacking in "punch". I had fried oysters which was quite lackluster. Thank goodness for the sauces. Maybe if I had more alcohol, it would have been better, but I didn't like their selections in those areas, as well. If you MUST eat somewhere, and it's close, it is an ok place, with good service, average prices in a mall--type restaurant setting. Synopsis: no big whoop

    (3)

  • M E.

    What a great place for Sunday brunch!! The crab Benedict was fantastic and the French baguette banana French toast were also quite nice. They also make a mean Bloody Mary!!

    (5)

  • Dan F.

    Fresh seafood and great service! We got: 1. Mussels as appetizer - not over cooked. Great sauce 2. Salmon salad - perfectly cooked salmon. They asked how I'd like it cooked. I asked for well and it was still juicy but cooked all the way through. 3. Lobster salad - large pieces of lobster 4. Lobster roll - came with corn and fries. Two sauces options, light mayonnaise or light butter. Bun was nicely toasted 5. Came with corn muffins - pretty good and just the right size, mini sized 6. Crab tortilla soup - like MD crab soup but a little thicker and a tiny bit spicy. Can't taste the crab, more like tortilla soup. Waitress had great recommendations and told us what she wouldn't recommend without pushing us against it if that's what we wanted. She was attentive but let us be. The host saw we had a toddler and knew immediately that a booth would be better. And the waiter who brought the mussels made sure we kept the hot dish way away from the toddler.

    (5)

  • Carletta M.

    All I can say is "Happy Dance" The stuffed Cod was so moist, flakey and delicious. Nantucket Reef is bookmarked for life. This place is a must try for all who like fresh and flavorful food

    (4)

  • R j N.

    Great place for casual seafood dinner. Service is professional and prices are fair. Only wish they would offer more typical Nantucket fare such as lobster rolls and scallops. Mussels are excellent and a must have. Very limited but adequate menu and wine list. Owner is present and attentive.

    (4)

  • Al D.

    As far as a finding a decent lobster roll goes, this is about as good as it gets. Located in a shopping area near the Shady Grove campus, Nantucket's Reef doesn't look like much from the outside. Kind of like a standard brick style commercial buildings located throughout Montgomery County. There is a outside dining area consisting of picnic tables which fill a small enclosed patio area. The interior decor resembles that of a seaside New England style restaurants. Nevertheless, the proof is in the food, and Nantucket's does not disappoint. Famous for its Lobster rolls, Nantucket's doesn't do fancy - just good portions of fresh seafood served the way you like it.

    (4)

  • Sa N.

    Yum! The freshest seafood... Best crab cakes and fish n chips I've ever had... And crab cakes are all I eat;) barely any filler or coating-- just fresh food. Everything was spot on... Great food, service... The kids meals were real food, fresh... Amazing kids burger... Will definitely be coming here many more times... We went for a Friday lunch.

    (5)

  • Cat P.

    My verdict: Excellent service, good but not great food I would highly recommend the wicked mussels for your starter or a light main. I was less impressed by the coconut and pecan-crusted tilapia, which I thought needed a little something else to give it more pop. My hubby's fish and chips was good, but again, not too memorable. They perhaps need something in the batter to make it more unique? For instance, Eamonn's fish and chips is quite distinct, from the flavor to the consistency of the fried fish. I will most likely return more for the alfresco dining option and the commendable service that we received. The manager checked in on us to make sure everything was going okay, and our server was very friendly and helpful.

    (4)

  • Suzanne R.

    NOTE: Living Social can only be used Sun-Thurs I'd give it 6 stars if I could -- it's that good! Super open. Perfect for a wheelchair or walker. Service is very good & staff is super friendly!! Fried calamari is excellent! It is PERFECTLY cooked. It's large tubes & no tentacles. Breading is light & Lobsta Sauce delicious! Coconut/Pecan crusted tilapia is very good! Mashed poatoes are what you want yours to taste like. Riptide tacos are A+. The only downside was cod....but that's the fish, not the cook. Get the bread pudding!! Go here! It's worth it! Prices are higher then say Friday's but it's Seafood and therefore priced exactly right.

    (5)

  • Marshall G.

    Good quality food at reasonable prices. Service was a little slow at times but was VERY friendly.

    (4)

  • Jason W.

    Stop thinking about where to eat. Drive here. This place aims for authentic explosive taste consistency.

    (5)

  • Hannah S.

    We came here on a Saturday during peak lunch hour and there were only 2-3 other tables seated. Pretty deserted looking. The food was OK. Not great, not terrible either. The service was very friendly though. I had the shrimp scampi - too much butter and used those little frozen shrimps... not that great. My mom had the fish and chips with an extra crab "no" cake - the fish was clearly fresh and flaky, but lacked flavor; the crab "no" cake also delivered as promised tons of lump crab meat, but maybe relied too heavily on the natural crab flavor and did not add their own twist to it... Bland in my opinion. Would I come back? Probably not if I had other choices but I wouldn't avoid it vehemently either.

    (3)

  • Pierre D.

    The pleasures of the northeast, without the winter weather. Went to brunch today with three children and three adults. Despite this seemingly fragile combination the host welcomed us with open arms. This would continue to serve as a common theme throughout as he accommodated the group with service which was beyond professional. For starters we each had a six top of oysters. The oysters were large, fresh, and delicious. Pleasantly shocked at the quality I was wishing I had another to look forward to instead of my ordered meal. However, I had the lox egg and onion scramble, and didn't look back until the fork hit the now empty skillet. Other members in my group were equally pleased with the shrimp and grits (a la polenta-styled grits!), crab Benedict, and children's cheeseburgers. Coffee was decent enough, and the $7 bottomless mimosas / Bloody Mary's certainly didn't hurt... All in all an excellent time, meal, and experience. Would highly recommend.

    (5)

  • Lisa G.

    Sunday at noon was met with a nice brunch menu... Not what was shown on website. And a squealing toddler. Unfinished ceiling means no noise absorption. LOUD! Decor pretty. Food was slow to arrive even though very few patrons. Everything was overpowered with onions. Even my husband who loves onions commented. Lobster Roll was good for Maryland.

    (3)

  • Neri A.

    Went here a few days ago with my mum...let me tell you first that she never says anything is good, it is always "okay". She actually said this place was good. From the service, to the open space decor and seating, to the food and drinks. Wee joyed it all. Servings are generous so we ended up taking home most of our yummy entrees because our eyes were bigger than our tummies. Overall great experience.

    (5)

  • James C.

    When my wife and I stopped for lunch, she had read all of the glowing reviews and we thought we were in for a treat. Unfortunately, the food didn't measure up to the service. My crab tortilla soup was lukewarm and kind of bland. We were so hungry that we just kept eating anyway. My wife had the fish tacos. After having fish tacos in Santa Monica, all others are just okay. She didn't complain but didn't have much to rave about either. I finished off with a Mussels appetizer that was nicely cooked but not spectacular. When one charges as much as this restaurant does for food, we'd both like it to be a good value. Sorry, it just didn't make the cut.

    (3)

  • Thomas B.

    This place is a little gem...like finding a pearl in your oyster...a good size pearl, not a piece of dirt size pearl! I went here with friends on a grouponlivingsocialamazonlocal thing and was PLEASANTLY surprised at how good it was....The oyster happy hour is an amazing deal. It is available at times even in the dining room and not just the bar. That is a plus. They have great oysters, too! I had the crabcake and am a touch picky about them...It was VERY GOOD. Other items of note are the fish tacos...delicious. The fish and chips were a nice entree and the Wicked Mussels were a hit at our table. Service was efficient, nothing to write home about, HOWEVER, I said something to the waiter we had and he responded flippantly, "I do not care what goes on, it's my last night here!" Trust me, this is not the norm here as I have been back and had very good service! He was a piece of dirt in the oyster that night! Here's a plus, we returned the next night just for happy hour and the selection of oysters was different...trust me, as an oyster lover, this is important as you can assume they are serving up the oysters fresh! Give it a try and you will be pleased....have I steered you wrong, YET?!

    (4)

  • Esq. H.

    Food: I ordered the Fried Shrimp Basket ($19 after taxes). I'm from Florida so I know seafood and the shrimp was surprisingly fresh....and they were large! By large I'm not talking Prawns but large enough were you could get at least two decent bites out of each shrimp, that being said they only give you 7. They aren't fried so hard that they tear up your esophagus on the way down but they aren't soft and mushy either, they are fried to perfection, just enough crunch to please. For a moment you think you are winning.....however, once you begin to chew.......game over. The shrimp were bland and had NO FLAVOR what so ever, like not even salt and pepper. Hence the 4 stars. The basket comes with fries and coleslaw but I traded the coleslaw for corn on a cob instead. Inside: I ordered take out which was easy and my food was ready in no time. The bar is completely separated from the main dining area so you don't have to worry about bar noise interfering with your important or romantic lunch/dinner - it's a full bar and has flat screen TVs. The bar area isn't that large about 7 bar stools are so which is fine because your main purpose for coming here is supposed to be for seafood not drinks. The décor is nautical, Martha's Vineyard Nantucket like and the customer service was great someone even walked me from the bar to the door. There's also outdoor seating with shade! Stop by but bring seasoning if you plan to have the fried shrimp.

    (4)

  • Diaz M.

    I really want to give 3.5 stars but I'm going to round up for the holidays. There was no wait and I was greeted kindly at the door. I sat at the bar and the bartender was great. I ordered the fried oysters. Ehhhh they were a 3. Batter was bland and too thick and they served it with tartar sauce. I prefer cocktail and lemon. Lemon should be automatic at a seafood restaurant. I gor the lobster roll Connecticut style - warm with butter. It wasn't warm but room temp. It also had lettuce. Never had lettuce on my lobster roll... But it was decent. I give it a 4. Fries were lacking but the grilled corn made up for it. I'll come back because its less than a mile from my house.

    (4)

  • Annie S.

    This new restaurant was just awesome! The food and customer service was great. I wasn't truly hungry when I stopped by for brunch but with a few people, we ordered the crab dip and mussels appetizer and they were both great! I also ordered the lobsta salad and it had huge chucks of lobster, perfectly cooked. The dressing was amazing along with the other fresh ingredients. Everything is made from scratch at this place and the food definitely reflects that. Not too expensive either. I have recommended this place to a few friends already and will definitely be returning soon!

    (5)

  • Jose C.

    The only reason this place gets 4 stars is because I don't eat seafood. My wife does. I enjoyed the Chicken tenders I ate :) The staff is friendly, and the place is clean. We got there before the evening rush, plus we had reservations so the amount of wait time was 0 seconds. My wife and I will mostl likely come back.

    (4)

  • Libby F.

    We came for Easter brunch as a change from our annual Clyde's foray. What a great decision! Oh my, their Crab Benny ($14 - cheaper than Clyde's) is delicious! It's plated with plenty of crabmeat, and very little filler. The crispy home fries are delicious too. Don't be shy about sending back your eggs back if they are overdone. My friend's were, and they had a new plate out for her promptly. We went at 10:30, and it wasn't crowded, but as the crowds came, the noise level did not increase. We had a very pleasant meal in a bright and cheery atmosphere. We were stuffed! However, how can you resist bread pudding? Jody L.'s picture doesn't do it justice. It was very moist, and it's a lot bigger than it looks; definitely more than enough to share! The vanilla bean ice cream that accompanies it is delicious too! If you are a bread pudding fan, it will be the best $6 investment you'll ever make.

    (4)

  • Jen D.

    Love this place. Unlike many restaurants in this area, because it's not in a major food-centric shopping center, it's usually very easy to get a table. The food is great, I particularly enjoy the fried oysters. Somehow they are always crispy on the outside yet still raw on the inside, just the way I liked my fried oysters. It's not a huge selection, but what they do offer are done really well. Hubby usually gets the fish and chips, which are super tender and contains just the right amount of batter.

    (5)

  • Bob R.

    Great food, great ambiance, great service! The lobster roll was amazing and the waitress volunteered homemade cornbread to start. What could be better?

    (5)

  • Gwen B.

    We went to Nantucket's Reef for Sunday brunch and had a lovely time. The service was excellent, the food was delicious and we enjoyed the bottemless mimosa's once they were served in champagne flutes rather than tall glasses on ice. The Crab Benny was really good and so was the wicked shrimp pasta. We are planning to come back for Happy Hour.

    (5)

  • Drethi C.

    We went there for a family dinner. The food was decent. I had the wild pasta with chicken. It was ok. The best part was really our service. The server was really great, attentive and friendly. Our glasses were never empty. Good place to come check out.

    (3)

  • Erica Y.

    Tried it for lunch, and really wanted to love the place as we have seen so many restaurants tried to succeed in this location and failed. Really wish Nantucket's Reef best of luck and hope they will break the curse! Instead, I think I can only say it's fine. Don't think I love the food, but I need to come back and try some other things before I can have a final say. We got the lobster roll and the salmon for lunch, along with the calamari as the appetizer. Calamari tasted great, my fav out of the three things, but presentation definitely needs some work. Maybe they are going for the Nantucket casual seafood style, which is fine, but it's just kind of weird in the restaurant setting they are in. Salmon was way too salty, but I am beginning to think when it's short smoked, it is supposed to be salty? Because I've had it at somewhere else recently that was very salty too. Lobster roll was a good size and tasted as expected. I need to go back and try a few more things. But I guess it's a good sign when at least I am willing to go back to try more things. The inside looks very different from Stella days, which is good. Service was ok, the wait between food was slightly longer than I like for workday lunch but it was not too bad. Overall I would recommend everyone to give it a try!

    (3)

  • Laura W.

    Meh. Went for lunch, I don't think the 5 grilled shrimp on my shrimp roll was worth the $14 price. Shrimp was basically tasteless and sad looking lettuce (?) on the roll. The fries were good but that's not why I go to a seafood restaurant. Doesn't inspire me to return.

    (3)

  • Eddie K.

    Located in a spot which has seen many restaurants fail, I am hoping this place breaks the curse. Came here during lunch and liked what they did to the place. They do have a bar area with good happy hour deals. Had the lobster roll- CT style. Was pretty good for $16- used tail and claw meat. They put the butter on the side. Wife had the fried reef basket. Was happy to see whole clam belly and large oysters. Had great flavor. Will come back for dinner service.

    (4)

  • Manny G.

    Hidden gem! Great atmosphere, personal service, Matt (bartender) is awesome. We had the pleasure of meeting the owner and he clearly shows his commitment to exceptional customer service. I'll definitely be back. I heard that they will have a tiki bar open pretty soon and live music.

    (5)

  • Kelly Z.

    Just had dinner there couple hours ago. Food was ok, but service was really bad! The waiter never came to check on us and never came over to refill the water either, not even once! The worst service we have gotten in the area restaurants! Will never ever go back there again!

    (2)

  • Cynthia L.

    Short menu Solid seafood in a safe neighborhood. Now repeat that 3 times. We missed their Happy Hour (3-6 pm fyi) and were told it was awesome. Wednesday was half price wine bottles, which wasn't a lose-lose after all. Fish and Chips - Nicely battered fish with a moist interior - usually you get a hard and dry interior, so that was a super plus that set the mood for this place right. Nice and crispy chips with a side of very decent cole slaw and tartar sauce. Crabcake Salad - Our waiter did tell us there were no fillers, and there weren't, but there weren't a ton of flavors in the crabcake itself. Lobster Sandwich- they make both Maine (with mayo) AND Connecticut (with butter) style! Of course we had to get the latter because there are very few places that do this. Hearty chunks of lobster stuffed inside a toasted bun! Key Lime Cheesecake - A little too stiff, a little tasteless minus the raspberry jam decor. Will be back during their happy hour! ------------------------------------------ So I liked this place so much, I came back for Happy Hour on a Thursday (at the bar) (they changed their Happy Hour to M-Th now 3pm to close). New England Clam Chowder soup came out hot, hearty and had nice solid chunks of clam, potato, etc., not itty bitty pieces most places serve up. Fish Tacos? These two bad boys are probably one of their best eats. Its nicely battered tender fish with pickled beets(?) and some other items. Put together, it barely stayed in my hands for longer than 30 seconds. Mussels - And this is seriously their best eat. I'm going to say this is pretty up there as some of the most tasty mussels I've ever had. The sauce was so nice (not overly salty) and hearty (actually had a meaty taste) and the buttery bread they gave you made you want to dip and keep dipping in that sauce. Love their complimentary cornbread and maple butter. And as if I had anymore room for more food, we (I mean I) ordered their seasonal dessert: Pumpkin Cheesecake was the softest cheesecake I've had. It was a tad supersweet with the caramel layer on top, but there was just the perfect mix of pumpkin incorporated into the cheesecake. 4.5 Stars - I don't love that they keep changing the HH, but the food is so good I'll be back.

    (5)

  • Wendy C.

    My friend recommended this place to me, so naturally, the foodie in me was drawn to this place. The dishes we tried included the mussels, west/east oysters, fish n chips, crab dip, and lobster roll. I personally liked all of the dishes except for the oysters. The oysters were alright... I'll still give this restaurant 4 stars though, because their service is on-point, and the majority of the dishes were memorable. I will stop by again sometime to try the rest of their menu.

    (4)

  • Stuart W.

    Our 2nd time here, the place was not very busy for a Friday night and we noticed that they got rid of the free cornbread and the lobster mac and cheese appetizer, both of which were great when we first came here, albeit almost a year ago. I had the stuffed cod which was good but they put far too much zucchini and rice on the plate with it, I would prefer fries. Our server was also pretty slow and clueless, I was exasperated to even give him a 15% tip! Overall for the money you do not get a good deal, try elsewhere. They are cutting costs and it is obviously costing them customers judging by how quiet it was for a Friday night, and unfortunately we will be among them after this visit.

    (2)

  • David L.

    This is one of those times when half star system is really necessary, because when I'm giving this a one star, I'm being extremely generous. My first experience, I did a take out order, and I had checked to make sure there was enough containers of food to match my order. When I arrived home to start my meal, my main dish was missing half of the plate. Which I just chocked it up to a busy Friday night and it's in a to-go box and it was a simple oversight. No big deal. However when I started eating, I noticed that the bell peppers in my veggies still had its sticker label on it... It was sliced with the pepper during preparations, it's white label with black and blue text that we see on all the produce that we find in the stores. This tells me that they did not bother to wash and clean the veggies before prepping them for cooking, I know this because my family had a restaurant when I was growing up, and this was one of my jobs as a teen... So if they didn't do this, what else did they not bother to do? So I decided to skip on the veggies altogether, and just eat the main part of my dish. Which turned out to be extremely bland and tasteless. I then decided to try the rest of my order to see if it was any better...and not surprised, the other dishes were either under cooked or over salted, and sitting in a pool of oil. A meal for 2 and a bill of $58 spent, and not a single thing was edible. However the saltine crackers that came with the soup was perfect. But I expect that they had no hand in making these prepackaged crackers. In short, this place is extremely overpriced for the quality of food if we can call it that, and I'm being polite and generous in this review.

    (1)

  • Samantha L.

    My parents and I dined here for dinner. The bite size cornbread muffins was bigger than last time. The side caesar salad smaller portion than last time, but delicious. Tonight's starter was scallop bruschetta - pan seared scallops, fresh mozzarella, and tomato stack drizzled with balsamic vinegar and topped with shredded basil, was sweet and savory. Both of my parents ordered the daily 'top of the hook' selection - grilled swordfish with olives, capers, and potatoes in puttanesca sauce and served with grilled yellow squash and zucchini, was ambrosia! I ordered the New England Stuffed Cod - Cod topped with jumbo lumb crab and seasoned cracker crumbs in lemon butter sauce and served with mixed vegetables (carrots, snap peas, sweet peppers) and seasoned rice. The restaurant should consider (a) dining rewards program, (b) online reservations via OpenTable, (c) daily and weekly specials menu, and (d) dessert sampler.

    (4)

  • Eileen S.

    My manager and a few of my coworkers were trying to figure out where to eat for dinner the other night. This particular night seafood was going to be it. This was close to the area and the other reviews helped to decided. The waiter who served us was excellent. He had only been there for about three days and knew the menu quite well. I had the crab cakes with sweet potato fries. The bread pudding for dessert was excellent as well. This will be our go to sea food place going forward. I highly recommend it.

    (5)

  • Bokyong E.

    I went for happy hour on Friday but they changed their happy hour to M-Thursdays from 3 to close. So without hh, my friends and I ordered a bottle of wine for $25. The food was really good.. I got their only pasta, friends got tacos and sweet potato fries. We ended up ordered another basket of sweet potato fries and brownie for dessert.

    (4)

  • Eric V.

    Went to dinner here on a Wednesday night and it was very good. The lighting is bright and layout is very open and clean. Ordered two sodas and they were at our table almost immediately, as though they were already waiting for us. The menu choices are simple and reasonably priced for a seafood restaurant. Average entree looked to be about $18. We started off with the calamari with lobster ginger sauce. Unfortunately, this was about the only thing we didn't like about our experience. My wife and I are used to small calamari cuts with the little tentacles, but these were huge like onion rings with no tentacles. Wife thought they were a bit soggy, but I didn't mind them at all. I'd give them a 3/5 rating. I ordered the stuffed cod with lump crab, rice, and mixed vegetables. My wife ordered the shrimp scampi. The cod dish was fantastic; a light and flaky perfectly cooked cod covered with seasoned lump crab. The rice was also well cooked, not sticky or crunchy like I've had in restaurants before. Vegetables consisted of squash, zucchini, and peppers. My wife's shrimp scampi was a large dish with plenty of shrimp and creamy white sauce and diced tomatoes. I had a taste and it was very good. Finally, the service was excellent. Our waiter Ryan dropped off the check and didn't disappear for 20 minutes like just about every other restaurant I've ever been to. Gave him my credit card and he was back with the final check to sign in less than a minute. Great job. I hope this place doesn't go the way of O'Donnells: high priced with poor quality.

    (4)

  • Kim A.

    I came here for the first time my date looked it up on yelp . And I didn't know about the place . There food was good . Cornbread came out before the meal . We had oysters it was good! We also had steak scampi it was delicious ..I will def return . Waitress was nice . The environment was clean !

    (4)

  • Guillermo C.

    My wife and had a huge craving for seafood and turned to our trusty Yelp app. After looking around and reading some reviews we decided to check this place out. The food was 4 stars and the service was 3 stars. I would give our entire experience 3.5. The place was kind of empty so I did not know why our food took so long. We got our appetizers and then literally 1 minute later got our entrees. I ordered raw oysters for appetizers so I don't think they had to cook anything. The food was not bad. My wife ordered the lobster salad and ordered the lobster role. I don't think we would go back. I would hate to see how long our food would take if the place was busy.

    (3)

  • Vicki T.

    THE BEST FRENCH TOAST EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Everywhere I go, if french toast is on the menu, I will order it. Now that I've had banana french toast at Nantucket's, I can't order it anywhere else ever again. You've ruined it for me Nantuckets! My only complaint would be that its only available on the weekends despite the fact that I crave it all the time, including right now.

    (5)

  • Eric M.

    My second and last time here. First things first, they are incapable of keeping a reservation. I made a reservation for mothers day about a month ago for 5 people at 6:00pm. Walked in a 5 till six and was shown to a table for 4. I pointed out to the hostess that there were 5 of us. She explained that 3 of our party could fit on one side on the bench seat and that it's the only table that was available as they were busy. When I reiterated, that i in fact had a reservation, she replied that they do their best to honor reservations. (clearly their best isn't good enough). Having few other options, we decided to muddle through... I wish we hadn't. The food and service hasn't improved since the last time we were in. for instance as it was a table for 4, and it was set for 4, so we asked for another set of silverware.. again, and again. They took our drink order and forgot my daughters milk. I ordered a margarita and it tasted like it was made with sprite. Then the entree's: Oy... My son ordered the reef burger without tartar sauce. You guessed it, it came out dripping with Tartar Sauce. I ordered the blackened Mahi Mahi. Not only was it cooked to within an inch of it's life (i could have retread my tires with it) it wasn't even remotely blackened.(which is supposed to be the seasoning, not the level of doneness). The fish came with mashed potatoes and "vegetables" the mashed potatoes tasted fresh out of the box and rehydrated whereas the squash was cooked to a perfect al dente and as bland as nursing home food. Given the prices, the poor service, the mediocre food and beverage and given the abundance of better options down the street at the new "Downtown Crown" area, there's really no reason to ever return to this place. I'd suggest you stay away.. I'd be surprised if they were still around in 6 months.

    (1)

  • Juan Z.

    Ordered Calamari, wicked mussels, grilled shrimp, corn on the cob, and raw oysters. All of food was awesome and service was great. Awesome place, definitely recommend.

    (5)

  • Patricia D.

    Food is awesome only reason I didn't give them 5 stars is because when I went it was really pricy and the menu was very limited, but then again it was valentine's day. Also the portions were somewhat small.

    (4)

  • R Q.

    OK, after trying this place a few more times at the insistence of friends, I have to say, the cod is just a no-go dish here. Avoid the cod in all its forms and you will be fine. The crab cakes are amazing (though a bit small) and the salmon is also excellent.

    (4)

  • Tina G.

    Having been surprised by a major line at our first dinner choice, my friend recommended this place for its seafood. The weather was nicer and the wait was long inside, so we decided to sit outside with no wait at all. We both ordered a beer and then a fish dish. I had the mahi mahi with mashed potatoes and veggies and my friend has the pecan coconut encrusted tilapia with rice and veggies. Her pecan encrusted tilapia was good, but my mahi mahi with a ginger lobster sauce had no competition in my books. The fish was flavorful and fresh and both the sides were also full of flavor. I finished the whole plate in under ten minutes. I'm sure being hungry helped, but I would happily eat that dish again and again.

    (4)

  • Philippe B.

    Crabcakes!!!! CRABCAKES!!!!!! Food: 5 Stars The food here is exquisite, excellent, delicious, unbelievable, and any synonym you wish to add here. If what I said there was enough to go there by all means go there NOW, if not continue reading my thoughts on the terrific food. Starters: Wicked Mussels: I normally have a major dislike for mussels, clams, or any other food related to these types of shellfish, but with the light spiciness of the chorizo and the added flavor of the pico de gallo, it was rather appetizing. The blends worked well together. Lobster & Spinach Queso: The chips were paper thin and crisp, too thin to pick up the dip but strong enough to hold a mound of the gooey treasure. Healthy chunks of lobster were included in the dip which gives the price point tons of merit, not to mention finely chopped up spinach to not overbear you with its flavor in each bite. If I can find something even remotely close to the greatness of this dish, I will be in heaven. Main Course: Crab "No" Cake Sandwich: Crab cake in all its glory. No excess sauces, mayo and whatever else most places put in a crab cake. Plain and simple with some diced lettuce and a side cup of tartar sauce on a fresh bun. Everything blended together to perfection and for $18 the quantity of crab was pretty good. The fries were crisp and delicious as well. Special of the Evening "Volcano": Skirt steak and a crab cake over a mound of mash. While I wasn't a fan of the crab cake mixture (it was different from the crab cake sandwich), I must say the skirt steak was cooked to medium-rare perfection and the mash was well above average. Drinks: 4.5 Stars Good strong margaritas, good beer. Can't go wrong there. Service: 5 Stars The server was authentic and very helpful. Excellent memory in giving us the specials list and our orders. Ambiance: 4.5 Stars Nice setup that reminds me of what I would expect to see in a restaurant in New England. Very spacious compared to 95% of other restaurants I've been to that try and utilize the space as much as possible. As soon as I entered Nantucket's reef I felt comfortable. Overall: 5 Stars It doesn't get much better than this. If you are a local or are visiting, come to this place. The food was delicious beyond words, the service was exceptional, and the environment was very welcoming. This is one of the few times that all my dishes were completely bare (except for a few crumbs) by the end of the meal! If you are undecided where to go for lunch/dinner and are reading my review get off your computer or cellphone and go here immediately, you won't regret it.

    (5)

  • Alexandre E.

    Incredible food for a seafood lover. If their "off-the-hook" menu includes swordfish, you are in luck. Amazing sauce, expertly cut fish filet, plus mashed potatoes made just right with freshly ground black pepper mashed right in bringing extra flavor. Pair it with a glass of sauvignon blanc - it goes great with the sauce - and savor the experience.

    (5)

  • Katie A.

    This location has seen its fair share of restaurants...Nantucket's Reef is by far the best! The designers did a fantastic job making it feel like an open, bright space that could easily be on the water. The food was great -- calamari appetizer was delish; nice and crispy with a great "lobsta" sauce. Almost everyone at our table went for seafood, and we all agreed that it tasted fresh and flavorful. (The Mahi-Mahi, Tilapia and Lobster Roll were amongst some of the dishes we enjoyed.) The seating was definitely comfortable for a large party -- making reservations was a cinch and they were responsive to our specific requests. We're very much looking forward to going back!

    (5)

  • Kim T.

    Disappointment! All the rave reviews had me excited, and wanting to love this place. We went for brunch on a beautiful day, so we sat outside. It was slightly breezy, which made for particles flying into your drink/food. But that's not why I'm giving the 2 stars, it was our choice to sit outside and we enjoyed the atmosphere! The service was ok, not quick enough on refills of drinks/ unlimited bloody marys. Food was a bit of a wait also. The food: We ordered crab benny, hotcakes, lobster roll, and shrimp and gritcakes. Even though we all were mighty hungry, no one raved about their meal (which seemed to be overpriced for the quality of food/meal). The lobster on the roll was chewy/rubbery, not worth the $23, and the corn on the side came grilled with the husk pulled back( but not pulled back very cleanly, the silk was still all over the kernels). The shrimp and grits came without shrimp initially (they forgot it). The home fries were unevenly cooked, some didn't have a crispy edge, the poached eggs were under -seasoned, ham was overcooked and dry, but the shrimp was good, nice and grilled, but a tad on the overcooked side. We will probably not go out of our way to come back to this establishment again. Aside from the atmosphere on the patio, it was quite underwhelming.

    (2)

  • Clint R.

    Went here for happy hour and was not disappointed. All drafts for $3.50 and $1 oysters and $6 fish tacos. Yes please. And by all drafts I mean ALL (Guinness, dogfish IPA, Kona IPA) not just domestic pints of pee. Service was a tad slow but it was busy and had only one guy running the bar. He also was very friendly and gave people the attention they deserved instead of the "I am too busy to care" attitude which gives him bonus points. They also ran out of Oysters. Oops. I did get 6 before that happened and they were really good. Parking is very easy which tends to be a big deal around here and it is free. The couple in front of me got two meals that had nice plating and they seemed to really enjoy it. Ambiance is nice and not intimidating. I will be back. Good stuff. Nitpicky stuff.... They should serve a small amount of fries with the tacos and sliders.

    (4)

  • Rita W.

    This restaurant can be good or not so good, depending on the day you go. I would say inconsistent is the best way to describe it. Decent seafood and good portion sizes for dinner. They're happy hour is really affordable, but pretty limited. Their fish tacos on the happy hour menu for $5 is my recommendation, but I really had nothing else that jumped out to me.

    (3)

  • Val H.

    Check-in: So i have been here multiple times since my last review. All good times. No complaints. Food=Fresh scratch made. Service=Awesome New thing i found out is they have happy hours from 3-7 during the week which is really good!! Good deals on oysters (if ur into that sort of thing..lol), good food and drink deals too! I last came here over the weekend before a trip to a not so good seafood restaurant the next day. Me and my Bf came here for a late lunch. We sat down and the words bottomless mimosa rang in my ears as the server introduced himself and the menu. I ordered one of those and my bf got a beer and an order of calamari with the ginger lobster sauce. we then ordered our entrees: He got the Pecan crusted tilapia with some mango salsa and I got the shrimp tacos with broccolini instead of the usual fries. Our entrees ended up coming out first so we inquired about the calamari. The server had forgot about them. He was very apologetic and offered to cook them really quick and bring out to us. My bf decided against it just since we had already gotten our entrees. We had forgotten about it as stuff happens and the server was very apologetic. The server cam by and kept my glass full and without me even asking. He also bought my bf a beer as he was the one who ordered the calamari. All was well the sever was nice our entrees were amazing!!! Super fresh and delish!! We got to talking with the server a few times about the amazing fresh food. He then as another plus brought us free bread pudding to again so sorry for forgetting our appetizers. He totally did not need to do this but it was delish again! We had forgotten all about the calamari once we had eaten our food. This was my bf's first time eating bread pudding and now he is sold lol!! Long story short: Fresh fish/ food, great service (not just this time), locally owned. The only thing i wished that they had were some specials here and there maybe they do but i have missed them and or a few differing selections on the menu. But i get the whole don't over complicate things and make too big of a menu. What they make is amazing and soo good. Fish is always cooked to perfection, service is always good! Why do i even think of going somewhere else?? Never again! Nantucket's for life!!

    (4)

  • Elizabeth W.

    Mussels, oysters, crab cakes, tilapia, I'm in heaven! Oh my gosh, I'm so full to bursting that they may have to ROLL me out of here! Yup, I love this place so much that I'm reviewing it while I'm still here!!!! Our waitress, Crystela is amazing. Knowledgeable about the menu, good at training new servers, friendly and attentive, she's an excellent waitress! She passed the water test! Food, food, on to the food! The oysters were blue point, did I mention delicious? The wicked mussels were to die for. I mean really, I was thinking about stabbing hands with my fork so my family wouldn't eat it all. The crabcakes were mostly lump crab, very little breading. You should try to guess the unusual, special ingredient that apparently very few people guess correctly! Of course they'll tell you what it is though. Overall, love this place!

    (5)

  • Lily Z.

    Pretty good! I have no say the appetizer may have been the best part of my meal. I got the mussels and they were absolutely delicious! The broth had churrios and tomatoes, a good change for the standard white wine sauce. Their crab "no cake" is suppose to be the best crab cakes in Maryland because there is virtually no filler or breading. I felt like this was something I had to try. You can add it on to any entree for an additional $14. However, the crab cakes had a strong fishy smell. We also tired 2 lobster rolls, one Maine and Connecticut style. Both lobster rolls seriously lacked flavor. The Maine style has a lemon mayo but was very very light and they forgot to add the butter on the other one so she brought it on the side. I will say the portions are quite large. Lobster rolls are larger than others in this area. Overall it was decent, I think I would go back for the appetizer. Definitely check out Livingsocial for deals! Currently they have a $20 for $35.

    (3)

  • Sam L.

    Outstanding service, above average seafood, reasonable price, with the only downfall of its location. On an early Sunday dinner, we came by to check out Nantucket due to a Groupon-like deal. Fortunately our experience went beyond our expectation. Our Wicked Mussels were really good, with a small hint of a cajun kick. Their steamed lobster (1.5lbs!) was fresh, though they slightly overcooked it by a few minutes - so it could have been an A+, but we'd consider it an A-. We also ordered the lobster roll (maine style), which is above average, but still a hair apart from what Coastal Flat's lobster roll's quality. Shout out to our waitress Kimmy, who did an excellent job introducing us to the restaurant, and had patience to explain some of her recommendations. The manager was also very nice and gave my fiance an order of bread pudding + candle on the house (it was her birthday). Even though it's located in the wicked side of Rockville (it just feels disjointed and run-down), we would still go out of our way and come back to Nantucket in a few months. ***They take reservation via OpenTable now**

    (4)

  • Bob B.

    I highly recommend you come here during happy hour and get their mussels for $8. They come with this butter sauce and has tomatoes, onions, and sausage bits and also a couple pieces of toasted bread. Also recommend the raw oysters and fish tacos, but you really can't go wrong with any of the seafood here. If you sit over at the bar area the service can be a bit slow, the service in the dining area is fantastic. Our waitress was very friendly and gave us great recommendations. Found my new go to spot for happy hour.

    (5)

  • Tony L.

    We were searching for a nice Seafood place in the north DC area after work, and this place in Rockville came up on the search. They are located in a shopping strip mall area just next to the Shady Grove U. The neighborhood was not shady at all. They have a nice modern beach style décor on the inside. We started with some Wicked Mussels, it had a nice flavor to it, and they also topped with toasted bread, which you can use them to soak onto the mussel juices for seafood flavored breads. I got the New England Stuffed Cod for main course. The cod had nice texture to it already, and the stuffing was just kinda there, not really enhancing the dish much, probably could do without it since the cod was pretty good already. Nantucket's Reef seems to be a quite legit seafood place in the area, especially when you are tired of those national chains. Service was excellent despite our large party.

    (4)

  • Arabella B.

    This place has become a fave. We come by at least once a month. The Wicked Mussels (don't forget to order extra bread) along with the Oysters are always superb. We love it!

    (5)

  • Bianca F.

    Fantastic happy hour in Rockville! Matt, the bartender is amazing! Here's the deal; happy hour doesn't end at the bar. However if you sit in the restaurant, happy hour ends at 7p. The specials are $3.50 draft beer and house wine; $1.00 raw oysters; $6.00 fish tacos, chicken tenders and burger sliders and many more! Go check out this place asap! You will not be disappointed.

    (5)

  • V F.

    Very nice staff, very nice setting. Food was OK...we had brunch, and the eggs Benedict were a tad too well done. The egg yolk was basically like a hard boiled egg. But the crab Benedict had great flavor...the crab portion had some unexpected crispy bits that enhanced the whole flavor for me. The wicked mussels were also pretty good.

    (3)

  • Sarah N.

    Overrated. Had happy hour on a monday night. Barely busy. Service was slow and even required excessive staring. Oysters were cheap. $1 each. But came floating in the melted ice. They felt warm and all had pieces of shells. Can get better at clydes. We also had fish tacos and sliders for $6 each. Not bad. We had clam chowder that came with food on our spoon. Disgusting. Bathrooms were out of tp, dirty, clogged toilets. The cod stuffed entree looked like a cafeteria dish. See pics. For $80 happy hour i could have even eaten much better at red lobster.

    (2)

  • Lorena B.

    Nantucket's Reef is a prime example of when Living Social goes right! We arrived pretty early for dinner so the dining room was practically empty while the bar was jumping. The managers appeared to be acting as hosts (I assume this based on their ages) and let us stand there awkwardly while they continued their conversation before finally greeting us. That was the only hiccup of the night, as the dining staff was excellent. Our server was really friendly and if the other server noticed we needed refills, he'd kindly take care of it. It's nice to see teamwork. The food was very good. I liked the crab dip, though as with many restaurants, it was greasier than it needed to be. There was also a complimentary basket of warm corn muffins that were perfect. There's nothing like freshly baked bread! I had to have the lobster roll and steeled myself for a huge tab since the menu lists it at market price. I don't how much that fluctuates but on that night, it was $19.95. To me that was downright cheap since that price gets you a tiny roll at Luke's Lobster. Here, I got an enormous roll with huge lobster chunks plus fries and corn on the cob. I couldn't even finish everything and I was 9 months pregnant at the time! I will say based on taste alone, Luke's is still my favorite roll in the area. The lobster here is more heavily seasoned and the roll doesn't nail that buttery-toasty combo I love but it was still pretty good. And the value absolutely can't be beat so I definitely recommend NR to the seafood lovers out there!

    (4)

  • Hannah H.

    I came to check out Nantucket's Reef for HH with a couple of my favorite Yelpers - this restaurant is tucked away in the Traville Gateway Shopping Center, offering a New England-style seafood fare. We sat at a pub table near the bar area and ordered some items to sample: Wicked Mussles (in a Cajun broth with chorizo sausage, pico de gallo, lemon butter, and sliced buttered ciabatta bread - these were forgettable, as the sauce was more of a broth, and I usually prefer something more creamy that will stick to the bread slices); Calamari (there were no crispy red peppers as stated, but these calamari were the largest I've seen - they were more on the soft end, and the batter could have been more crispy; the ginger lemon sauce, while watered down, was an interesting compliment to the calamari rings); Lobsta & Spinach Queso (queso dip with spinach and chunks of lobster, this was more on the salty side, and I actually thought this was tasty; a generous amount of tortilla chips came with); Guacamole & Chips (the guacamole was definitely chunky, which was great, but more cilantro-based); Shrimp Cargot (think of escargot, but rather with shrimp bbbbaked in garlic butter, topped with Havarti cheese, and served with sliced buttered ciabatta bread; these were also pretty yummy, as it kind of reminded me of shrimp scampi; it would have been great if there was more sauce and more melty cheese!); Ahi Blackened Tuna Salad (with napa, frisee, Romaine, fruit salsa, red peppers, cranberries, cucumbers, wontons, and a citrus vinaigrette; the slices of tuna were pretty generous; I wasn't a fan of this as there was cilantro in there; I didn't notice any cranberries, and rather than wontons, there were some large chunks of croutons); and, two kinds of Lobsta Rolls (the CT style and the Angry Style (with Old Bay); these lobster rolls were okay; the rolls themselves were more soggy and I wished it was more toasted and more buttery; it came with piping hot crispy fries with ketchup (yum)). With a Yelp check-in, you get a free glass of house wine (I opted for the Sauvignon Blanc); I also tried their Orange Crush, which was really delicious! I requested it to be more 'orangey,' and the bartender, Mat, hooked me up :D I think the best part of the experience was MAT, who while servicing the bar, also served the rest of the bar area, and he was just OH-SO-AWESOME!!! Very friendly, attentive, and made sure that everything was dandy :D The restaurant itself is very cute, with its nautical-themed decor and a nice relaxed vibe. We had a great time, just enjoying the food and chit-chatting away :D +Shrimp Cargot +Lobsta & Spinach Queso +crispy french fries +Orange Crush drink +free glass of house wine with Yelp check-in +ask for Mat :D

    (4)

  • Angela W.

    Love this place! I'm a big fan of seafood so this place is perfect. I came here a while back in the winter and ordered the seared salmon. The portion size was great and I struggled to finish it. Definitely try the calamari as well! I will most likely come back in the future.

    (5)

  • Samantha Y.

    Delicious! We came here for mother's day and the food was great! I loved the wicked mussels, literally they were done perfectly. The sauce and garlic bread was mouthwatery, we ordered extra garlic bread. My dad had the scallops and they are also something Id definitely recommend. I had the cod stuffed crab, which was a little bland for my liking, however the mash potatoes were very filling.

    (4)

  • Connie M.

    This needs to go under best happy hour in the area! Monday night and HH started at 3pm and lasted until 9pm at the bar. Beer and wine specials. Rail drinks for $5! Food? Oh my, yes! How about starting with some raw oysters...for $1 each! Yes, you read that correctly! East coast oysters. You don't get to choose which oysters like at Clyde's but for $1, these were some plump, yummy and clean oysters! Also on the HH menu are $6 sliders, fish tacos and chicken tenders. Two beef sliders atop of mound of sweet, caramelized onions. Fish tacos with napa, pico de gallo and shredded radishes. Next time I have to try the tenders because it was a big pile of chicken. The crab dip looked so good that I had to order it. Creamy, cheesy, crabby...yum! Not on the HH menu, but no regrets here. Finished out my happy hour adventure with one of the best bread puddings I have ever had! Crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. Some of the craisins were plump and juicy. The tres lesches sauce and the little drizzle of caramel on the ice cream were just divine. The perfect ending to a perfect meal of appetizers. Will definitely be back because there are lots of seafood choices that I have to come back to try...lobsta roll, oysta roll and coconut/pecan crusted tilapia!

    (5)

  • Jonathan L.

    Went for dinner on Friday night at 7pm. The restaurant was crowded, and service was friendly, but slow. We ordered mussels to start and they arrived quickly, however our entrees took nearly 30 minutes to arrive. I heard the waiter tell another table that they were slammed, so hopefully not the norm. The main courses were tasty, and cooked fine. Portion size leaves a lot be desired. My mom had crab (not) cakes and received two well sized balls of crab meat, along with fries and slaw. Very nice. My son had the kids menu fried shrimp, which included 8 good sized shrimp, plus fries and a drink for $7. I had the fried platter, "pick 3" for $26, that came with 4 shrimp, 4 avg sized scallops and 2 small pieces of fish. A bit confused how the adult platter comes with 4 shrimp and the kids meal at a quarter of the cost comes with 8. Overall a pretty sad looking plate. Maybe the best bet is to just order off the kids menu.

    (3)

  • Lia M.

    Nantucket's Reef is a great choice for happy hour drinks. The drinks are strong and cheap, and it's from 3:00 p.m.-close at the bar. Not the best Dark & Stormy's, but strong and drinkable. I learned to like oysters here ($1 each during happy hour). But other than that, food was blah, and I'd only order off the happy hour menu to soak up alcohol. Calamari was too chewy and had no flavor. Guacamole was also bland and served with the thin tortilla chips. You can get a better lobster roll in the area with more meat for less money, but I was happy to see that they offered Connecticut style, even if there was way too much butter. Mac and cheese was my side and it's not worth the calories. Service was slow and inattentive, and my check was wrong when it came. I do think they were understaffed on the night we went, but still--it was a packed bar and patio, with one bartender/server, which is unacceptable. Go for cheap booze; eat a full meal somewhere else.

    (3)

  • John G.

    Discounted drinks, discounted food, great service and friendly crowd. What more do you need for a Monday happy hour? Drinks: The signature drinks were not part of the happy hour specials, but we tried the Orange Crush and the Starboard Margarita. Both drinks were tasty, made with fresh juices. Appetizers: Fish tacos were good - also very fresh tasting. The $1 oysters were also a great deal! Entree: The Maine Style lobster roll was very good. We shared it like an appetizer. Dessert: Bread pudding ala mode with caramel drizzle. Very good dessert - and I am not usually a bread pudding person. Tip: We had a LivingSocial coupon - the value of the coupon applies only to non-discounted items... so the signature drinks and the lobster roll took care of that. Lots of discounted items for happy hours. You can have good food and drinks without breaking the bank!

    (4)

  • Ruth C.

    Nautical theme's prominent. Solid happy hour, though the bartender was struggling to cover the lounge area on his own. I got less grit in my oysters than my dining companions, but at HH prices I managed to shrug off the small sizes too. Manhattan was potent and sweeter than average. Wicked pasta was probably my favorite food item-- creamy Cajun sauce with robust flavors, just enough protein, al dente bowties. Coleslaw and mac & cheese were pretty forgettable, but at least the thin-cut fries were crispy. Lobsta roll wasn't worth the $23 market price: split-top roll was plush under overcooked lobster, and I wouldn't recommend the unimpressive angry flavor. May try them one more time: lobsta & spinach queso, basket of sea scallops or ipswich clams, fish tacos, or an oysta roll if that's their play on a po'boy.

    (3)

  • Larry W.

    My family wanted to take me out for a belated birthday dinner. We were supposed to eat out last week, but life got in the way. I had selected a different place previously, but this week I had a craving for seafood. I searched Yelp for seafood places. The rating for Nantucket was good, and it had a lot of reviews. Therefore, with a little feedback from my oldest daughter Connie, I selected this restaurant. I was not disappointed, nor was my family. Usually, my restaurant selections are terrible. This time I think I redeemed myself. The seafood was awesome. I had crab cakes for the main course. It was excellent in every way. The service was outstanding by our wait staff and our needs were completely taken care of. This place is tucked away and can be a little hard to find, however, it is worth the search.

    (5)

  • Mayssam J.

    love the layout of the place. the service is above average. For a seafood place is not bad as well. I had the the crab cake and it had good amount of crab and not a lot of filler which is always good. I would recommend this place for people that like classic type sea food!

    (4)

  • Jeong L.

    4.5 for the price and value! We first came to Nantucket's Reef because of livingsocial deal, but it was one of those few places that we actually began to like. Nantucket's reef is located inside the shopping center where the original Cava restaurant is located on Traville Commons Drive. From Cava, you have to go further into the mall to the left and you will find Nantucket's reef hiding in the corner. There are many reasons why I like this place a lot: Very spacious, always super friendly staff, consistent food, and reasonable prices! By reasonable prices, you can stuff yourself with lobster at Nantucket, and you will not break your wallet. Plus, they have happy hour until 7pm, so always look for daily hh specials! WARNING: I LOVE Nantucket, but is not a healthy food place. Be prepared to get attacked by butter and cream, but hey what's bad can be also good, right? :p They do have delicious salad options here, so don't be too concerned. Surprisingly, allmost everything I have tried at Nantucket has been consistently good. Below are some of my recommended dishes: 1. Wicked Mussels ($10): Mussels were always cooked perfectly. It is cooked with spicy chorizo pieces in slightly buttery broth. They offer hh specials for $6 (not sure which day) 2. Ahi Tuna salad ($17): My absolute favorite. I wouldn't say that this is the best Ahi Tuna I have had in dmv, however, for $17 this salad is amazing. It has a bit of Asian flair with pickled ginger pieces on top and I tasted a hint of sesame oil in the dressing. Tiny crunch pieces mixed with peppers and craisins taste wonderful 3. HH $1 oyster :My only complaint about this $1 oyster is that sometimes it is not shucked well 4. Thursday special: Thermador Lobster (Thursday special for $16!!!) As you can see in Jason C's photo, this dish is NOT a healthy one. However, if you love heavy creamy cheesy food, then I recommend this. Lobster meat is chopped up and cooked in cheese, cream, and herbs and served with angel hair pasta tossed in butter and herbs. Pasta is not seasoned as much to balance out the slightly salty heavier tasting lobster 5. Lobster roll: (MP- we paid $20) I had mine connecticut style, and it was better than the one I had at Capital Grille $18 lunch special. Lobster meat was lightly tossed in mayo (not so heavy) and served slightly warm on rolls. EXCELLENT! It is also served with grilled corn smothered in butter .... can't get away from butter here... lol 6. Fried Calamari with ginger lobster sauce appetizer ($10): These are big calamri rings! Fried to golden crispy perfection Fish taco was the only dish that I didn't enjoy too much because the fish lacked seasoning, but it was still not that bad. In conclusion, Nantucket is a wonderful place for a friend/family gathering. You don't have to be stressed about the bill too much, and the food will be solid! They also serve brunch here.

    (4)

  • Cat L.

    I've been here for happy hour several times and have always had a good time. The happy hour menu has recently changed, now with conveniently extended hours Monday - Thursday but no longer with the awesome special on Wicked Mussels. Also, unlike before, Nantucket's no longer allows LivingSocial deals to be used on any happy hour specials. Despite these changes, Nantucket's still offers up great deals on drinks for those looking for a nice suburban bar to hang out at. The bar area is small with limited seating but rarely gets overcrowded. As for the happy hour food currently available, the raw oysters and fish tacos are decent, but the sliders are small and forgettable. The dinner menu looks pricey but standard for seafood places. I will definitely be back to try out some of the dinner dishes for myself.

    (4)

  • Fred K.

    Love their happy hour. They recently expanded their happy hour menu, Monday - Thursday (Bar Only), from 3PM - 9:45PM! Includes: $3 Beers $3 House Wines $5 Rail Mixed Drinks $5 Shipwrecks $5 Dark & Stormys $1 Raw East Coast Oysters $5 Fish Tacos $6 Crab Dip $6 Lobster and Spinach Queso They used to have their wicked mussels in their happy hour. Boo. Their wicked mussels is my favorite appetizer. Lots of flavor, sometimes plump, sometimes small mussels. I have always liked their lobster roll, shrimp roll, and their fish chips. Check out Living Social, as they do on occasion have coupon deals ($20 for $35), Its a nicely decorated restaurant, like you are in a beach town seafood restaurant and it is a relatively quiet place, so you can easily hear your table companions and have a very small outdoor seating (make sure to wear mosquito repellent!), which is nice. Glad it opened in Rockville, a perhaps better alternative to Bonefish Grill, in the Kentlands.

    (4)

  • Melanie K.

    I wish Yelp allowed 1/2 stars. I think this place is probably a 4.5, but I'm rounding up because I don't think 4-stars do it justice. AMBIANCE: Nantucket's Reef feels very much like New England, except the employees are a whole lot friendlier than New Englanders. The restaurant is bright, nautical and overall pretty casual in terms of atmosphere. I wore a semi-casual dress and hubby wore a sweater and jeans. I think we both felt like we were dressed appropriately. WAIT SERVICE: We had the entire dining room to ourselves when we got here on Monday evening. Our waiter was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu and the draught list. I asked him what his favorite menu item was and I have to give him major props for being honest (he said his favorite were the fish tacos!) rather than just telling me the most expensive item on the menu. DRINKS: I tried the house Chardonnay and an Orange Crush. The Chardonnay was surprisingly tasty and the Orange Crush tastes just like they do at the beach. Hubby got a couple beers and enjoyed both. FOOD: Fish tasted fresh and delicious. We got the crab dip as an appetizer and it was really tasty. I got the stuffed cod for my entree and it was phenomenal. I wish I hadn't filled up on crab dip because it was flaky and delicious and literally tasted like butter. It was absolute perfection and I just wish I had room to fit the last 3 or so bites. My husband got the coconut and pecan tilapia, which was also good. It was pretty sweet and the habenero mango salsa wasn't too spicy. We split the bread pudding for dessert and it was supremely good. BOTTOM LINE: I really couldn't be happier with this place. I think prices and portions were beyond fair. I would absolutely come back.

    (5)

  • Anne Z.

    Delish!! Came here for brunch a while back. I had the crab benny which was awesome, mostly crab meat-not much fillers and pretty flavorful. My friend had the wicket shrimp which was also awesome, I kept picking at her dish. The shrimp and chorizo never ends! Now, for the main reason why I wanted to come here, bottomless mimosas and bloody mary's! The Blood Mary was awesome, they come in both regular and spicy I believe, the spicy has got a bite to it so if you can't handle your spice, I suggest you opt for the regular but I loved it! Went very well with the food. They certainly do not skimp out on the alcohol. And you can interchange mimosas and bloody marys! Beyond awesome. Highly recommend. I plan on coming back to try their happy hour soon!

    (5)

  • Ash S.

    Brought my friends here for a celebration dinner. I am really gratified to say that they improved on all the little things that I mentioned previously and now genuinely deserve 5 stars. The complimentary mini-corn muffins were fantastic, and something I'd actually order for breakfast. My friend's tilapia dinner featured a massive, well cooked piece of fish, and some great looking sides. The raw oysters were also deliciously creamy tonight. My basket of beer-battered cod and lightly fried scallops felt like a steal at $19. The cod was better than most fine dining restaurant's fish and chips entree, and scallops were like treasures of the sea. Huge, perfectly cooked with flaky fried exteriors and tender, ever so slightly sweet interiors. And of course, perfectly fried and crispy french fries and sweet potato fries. It's like a Chippie (British reference) on steroids! And to top off a great night, my friend insisted on picking up the tab, since he'd just gotten word of a big promotion ;)

    (5)

  • Ching C.

    I live so close to this place, but finally tried it once back in the summer. The mussels for the appetizer are AMAZING. The sauce is so goodddd, and you get yummy garlic bread. Boyfriend and I happened to go when there was still happy hour and so he got the happy hour mahi mahi tacos. We both LOVED these tacos. Great flavor. At first, I've had bad experiences with really bland fish tacos, but now I am converting to loving fish tacos. This one had great salsa and flavor. I got the salmon, which was REALLY disappointing. It needed seasoning. The fish was cooked alright, it wasn't overly dry or anything, but it was SO BLAND. It seriously needed even the simplest salt and pepper (of which, they didn't even have at the tables.) I would go to try the hh menu and the mussels. Maybe the other entrees are better too. I would go back and try it, just not get the salmon.

    (3)

  • Raj L.

    Excellent food and great service. I ordered the Fish and Chips which was 5 sizable pieces of deliciously cooked cod deep fried in an extremely light batter. My wife went with the popular mussels which she suggested is the best she has had in years! There are so many other popular dishes which we plan on coming back for. Our daughter has a tree nut allergy and the manager made a special appearance to let us know he would be extra careful. Great place!

    (5)

  • Brian L.

    Really it's 3.5, but I'lll round up. I came here with a friend for a Saturday linner/early dinner around 430. Not surprisingly it wasn't packed. We got seated right away. Food was excellent - I had a crab cake sandwich, and she had the angry lobster roll - both great choices at around $20 each. Service was a bit slow and inattentive - we had to call the waiter over for condiments/water. I'd come back again at a busier time, maybe service would be a bit more attentive.

    (4)

  • Richard W.

    One of my favorite seafood restaurants. Feels like a boat house. Great deals at the bar with an outstanding Happy Hour. I usually get the crab cakes. Which have no fillers in them and are just lump crab piled high. The clam chowder is excellent and so is the lobster, which is huge. Make sure to bring your appetite. The shopping center might detract from the curb appeal a bit, but you quickly forget once you're in there. Outstanding service with a very friendly hostess. Looking for great New England style seafood, this is your place.

    (4)

  • Jason C.

    Those who have lived around the food scene in the Montgomery County area long enough would have heard about Stella's. No. This is not the bakery between Bethesda/Rockville but the restaurant that was tip-toeing on a yelp rating between 2-2.5 stars. Well, Stella's is no more and Nantucket's Reef has taken its place. I wouldn't be surprised if those who have eaten at Stella's would shy away from going to Nantucket's because of how bad Stella's was. That being said, I was pleasantly surprised at Nantucket's and it's been my budget eating spot in the Northern Rockville/Gaithersburg area. For those who don't know, the restaurant is located in the Traville Village Center behind the Univ. of Shady Grove. It's a relatively small complex but has 2 restaurants that have been on a lot of peoples' radars (for different reasons): Cava and Quench. The competition here is fierce. Cava dominates the high-end restaurant scene in Northern Rockville and Quench has gone the route of being the budget restaurant (offering Groupons almost every month) and cheap specials. Nantucket offers an extremely reasonable low priced dishes at food qualities somewhere in-between Cava and Quench. Their mussel dishes which I think is arguably within the top 5 mussel dishes in the DMV area (definitely better than Mannequin Pis in Olney) is a generous amount of plump mussels in a heavy creamy sauce that only costs $10 ($6 if you get it on special on some days). Oysters are $1 a piece (don't expect Hank's Oyster Bar quality or even Clyde's) on HH. Beer/wine can easily be had for $3 (late nights/bar/specials on certain days). If the find the food halfway decent (it's actually good though) at these price levels, you'll have a hard time complaining considering how expensive food gets in MoCo. That being said, my favorite dishes here are: MUSSELS - Top 5 in DMV area and I haven't found a place in MoCo that serves better mussel dishes. It has bits of bacon in a buttery and creamy sauce and comes with two large slices of garlic bread. This is a must have. CALAMARI - has a very crispy outer layer and the calamari is very fresh and chewy AHI TUNA SALAD - a very very generous portion of salad with 6 slices of thick ahi tuna. For the portion size, I'd say this is great for $17. The server recommended the salad over the appetizer b/c you get salad for $3 extra. If you work in Gaithersburg/northern Rockville area, this place is a great place to visit. They have long HH at the bar (something like 4-8:45) with appetizers less than $6 and drink specials for $3-$5. In my opinion, Nantucket's offers one of the best values for the $ of restaurants in Rockville and it has been one of my go-to places when I'm conscientious about how much I want to spend at a restaurant.

    (4)

  • Adie S.

    Really good food in the suburbs. Went for lunch and ended up getting the Crab No Cake Sandwich. It's called that because there is basically no filler, just pure crab meat. Paid a buck extra for the sweet potato fries, worth it. My mother ordered the Sea Scallops and they came out perfectly seasoned and cooked. But by far the best item we had was the Mac and Cheese. Perfection.

    (4)

  • Julie H.

    Cute & cozy restaurant. I enjoy the ambience and food here - great seafood restaurant. There are so many things I want to try out here. Everything at this restaurant is made in house. If there are any dietary restrictions, you can let them know and they will make a dish that works for you. The mini corn muffins that you get when you come in are great and super addicting. I really enjoy the clam chowder, is creamy and has lots of clams in it. The oyster rolls is delicious, but I wish there were more oysters in the roll. You can really taste the freshness of the oysters. The bun itself was very soft and buttery. The table next to us got lobster rolls, and it looked delicious. Its definitely on my list of things to try at this restaurant (a lot with probably everything else). The bread pudding here is a must have. The bread pudding had the most perfect texture, and it was the perfect temperature when we received it. Apparently its the owner's grandma's recipe. The ice cream and bread pudding go so well together, stopping by this restaurant just to get the bread pudding is so worth it.

    (4)

  • James G.

    I loved this place before, now they carry blue crabs! They were delicious. Paired them with Leinenkugel Summer Shandy. My dog came along and hung out on the patio.

    (5)

  • Nikolas K.

    Crab cakes and lobster rolls are both stellar. However, it's all about the atmosphere for me and at the reef, it was lacking. The service was also lacking. However, restaurants are all about the food in the end and the seafood her was delicious. I would definitely make a second trip, maybe if I wasn't paying (:

    (4)

  • Megan H.

    I've been here for both brunch and dinner and it's been wonderful both times! Service is always friendly and food is great. Favorites so far are the lobster roll during dinner and the crab Benedict for brunch. They also have a pretty sweet $7 unlimited mimosa or Bloody Mary drink option during brunch. As expected, outdoor seating comes with a few extra unexpected dining companions (of the bug variety), but nothing major to worry about.

    (4)

  • Natasha S.

    We came back here one day for a late lunch with our cousins and it was nice and dead. There was plenty of seating, privacy and it wasn't too loud. Lunch is a great time to come! Our server was nice. Had a good sense of humor and understood our sarcastic and odd humor. That was fortunate. We ordered the wicked mussels as an appetizer and they were SOOOOOOO good! I wouldn't have thought to order them if our cousins weren't with us, but so glad we did. Definitely ordering them next time. The mussels are well prepared, flavorful and it had a smoky Cajun twist to it. My partner and I ordered the fried seafood reef basket to share, which had fried oysters, fried scallops, fried shrimp, fried clams and fried cod. It was served with coleslaw and shoestring fries. I really liked the clams, cod and shrimp but wasn't crazy for the scallops and oysters. I imagine the scallops would have been tastier grilled. The coleslaw is very good and not all mayo which is great. I also had a house side salad that came with in house made ranch - so good and light! Not too creamy. Our cousins had the lobster roll and stuffed cod which they liked a lot. Everything was good. And better then the last time we were here. Definitely foresee us coming again soon - especially for lunch!

    (4)

  • Dave G.

    Wow - what a disappointing evening! We called during the day to tell them that we were bringing a group of 10 to celebrate my mother-in-law's 82nd birthday - even pre-ordered dessert so she wouldn't see us do it. The evening started when we sat down and told the waitress we had an eleventh person coming, but we could easily fit along the booth side, we just needed another place setting. Here's what we dealt with: - We had to ask three more times for 2 missing place settings (table was only set for 9) - We had to ask at least three times for 2 missing waters - One of us asked the waitress about the Rose wine - she said "I don't know, I've never tasted it" - We had to ask the waitress if there were specials - she didn't volunteer them - The waitress had clearly never been taught how to properly serve wine (i.e., pour a small amount to taste before filling glasses) - We asked for more cornbread - never got that - We asked her if there was dairy in the mashed potatoes - she didn't know and had to go ask - We told her that two people were going to share a meal - had to ask her twice for an extra plate - The food in general was very good (appetizers and entrees - we had quite a variety), except that the steak on the special was way overcooked (and of course, no one came to check on it when it was served) or to take notice that we left at least half of the steak - When we finished dinner we had to re-order the "surprise" dessert - The waitress then came out to say, "sorry, we ran out of candles" - no attempt to help at all - SO WE HAD TO GET UP AND WALK OVER THE GIANT - A BLOCK AWAY!!! - When they brought out the dessert, they put a glass over the candle to keep it from going out, except that they actually put the candle out (and no attempt to re-light it) - My brother-in-law walked over to talk to the owner (who had been walking around all evening, but hadn't once stopped by our table) - he tried to tell the owner what the issues were and that accomplished two things - he said I want another chance and he took the waitress aside (who he clearly had NOT trained nearly well enough) and talked to her at a table, in front of all of us - AND, TO TOP EVERYTHING OFF, another waiter (maybe a manager), brings the check over and tells us that he had to add a tip into the check to make sure that his waitress was paid fairly. NOTE TO MANAGEMENT: If you hire a waitress (who seemed like a nice, hard-working young lady) who you haven't trained properly (so that our experience suffers), you should pay her, not expect us to - she is your employee and it is YOUR responsibility to train her and pay her while she's being trained so that then she can earn tips. It was a terrible excuse to tell me that you do tastings for your employees but she hasn't had a chance to taste the rose wine yet - at least make her learn the tasting notes! Do like better restaurants do and make sure your employees know your menu before you have them serve on their own. We have eaten at the restaurant many times in the past and had very good food, but I'm not sure I'll ever go back after this dinner and the poor experience. The rating is an average - all of the courses except the steak were 5 stars, but the service and response from management was a ZERO.

    (2)

  • LuisOmar L.

    Their guac is awesome. Loved the fact that with my check in I got a free glass of their wine. Pretty chill, nice environment. Service is good, portions are pretty big. Overall, I recommend it.

    (4)

  • Neal L.

    Worst service and management I have seen in a long time. The crab sizes are greatly mis-represented. Large wouldn't pass for sm/med in most crab houses. I do not expect this place to be open very long.

    (1)

  • Justine K.

    Took a friend who was visting from out of town for lunch and she said her seafood cravings were completely satisfied. Our eyes were definitely bigger than our stomaches. We started off with the wicked mussels. The flavors are so good but the size of the mussels are hit or miss. This time the mussels were not as plump as I remembered. Next we had the shrimp roll and lobster roll (CT style - cooked with a side of butter verses with mayo). We decided to split each of the rolls. I was so stuffed from the mussels I just picked on the shrimp and lobster and didn't bother with the rolls. Shrimp and lobster were cooked perfectly. I definitely want to come back for happy hour.

    (4)

  • Susanna P.

    My husband and I came here for brunch a few Saturdays back. While the restaurant was busy, we were able to get a seat right away. Service was prompt and friendly, and the owner (I assume) came by several times to check on us. We each got some version of Eggs Benedict - I got the Shrimp & Grits, and he got the Crab Benny. Both were freakin' delicious, and just the right amount of food. Definitely looking forward to eating here again - especially since they have a dog-friendly patio!

    (5)

  • Nate B.

    Very medicore meal. The fish and shrimp were not very fresh (though certainly not rotten), and, with a seafood restaurant, that's really all that matters.

    (2)

  • Bernadette S.

    We were craving seafood so we finally decided to check this place out on the recommendation of some coworkers. Started off with the wicked mussels. Highly recommend ordering this! Portion is good for 4 people. The sauce is real savory with bits of chorizo. I only wish they came with more bread to accompany the yummy sauce! Shared the lobster roll (Maine style) and the stuff cod. While both dishes were prepared just well, somehow we felt like there was something lacking. We couldn't pinpoint what it was though. Our overall first visit was good. Service and staff were very attentive and nice. We will probably visit again in the future to try other things.

    (3)

  • Ethel B.

    I've been to Nantucket's Reef twice to celebrate special occasions with family members. Both times, I was impressed with the quality of the food as well as the service. Of course the seafood is excellent. The surprise? Try the bread pudding. Exquisite!!!

    (5)

  • Sharon W.

    Thank you Yelpers! Was looking for a restaurant in the Rockville area and I did a Yelp search and found Nantucket's Reef with a lot of good reviews. First happy note was there is plenty of parking. The restaurant sits at the end of a road filled with shops and other restaurants and is slightly hidden around a corner. Next happy note was the staff was so friendly and enthusiastic! Not forced just genuinely nice. We were there for Sunday lunch and I was surprised it wasn't busier. Many of the patrons there seemed to be regulars who were greeted by name by the manager. My first decision was an easy one--unlimited Bloody Marys (or Mimosas) for $7.00--I'll take unlimited Bloody Marys thank you! Husband ordered a beer. Now for the dilemma, everything sounded good. We finally decided to try two entirely different dishes. Husband ordered an oyster basket and I had the stuffed cod. The cod was the best fish dish I have had in a long time. The fish was moist and flaky and the crab stuffing was buttery and creamy and was the perfect sauce to complement the fish, without overwhelming it. My mashed potatoes were good and the squash was cooked nicely. One minor note is that I did add salt to my plate, but I'd rather add some myself than be served a dish with too much salt. Also, as husband pointed out, I tend to like things slightly saltier than some others. Husband loved his oyster basket. He even said the Cole slaw was good and he doesn't usually eat it at all. This version he polished off and didn't hand over to me. The oysters were plump and fried so that they were crisp but not greasy. Both of our dishes were generous servings so I did have to share with husband. We were pleasantly surprised when the bill arrived. It was very reasonable (no coupon), mainly because the drinks were so inexpensive. For my review, I debated between 4 stars and 5 stars, but decided on 5 because the restaurant staff is so friendly, the service was good, and that cod dish is going to be calling me back. Which is a problem because there are so many other things I want to try!

    (5)

  • Joe C.

    We've been here a few times for dinner, but we mostly do brunch here. Nantucket's bills themselves as a New England style seafood restaurant, with lobsters seemingly being their focused specialty, but they also serve other shellfish (mussels, oysters, crabs), some standard fish options (salmon, crab), and those old standby chicken and burgers for those who don't like seafood but got dragged against their will. The full lobsters and crab rolls we've had have been excellent. Most of our visits have been for brunch, though. The menu is fairly standard for brunch - eggs, french toast, pancakes. They do eggs benedict really well, but I particularly love their french toast which is done with baguettes. More than that, we love their $7 unlimited bloody mary/mimosa specials during brunch. As is normal, some bartenders make better bloody mary's than others, but in the few occasions that we weren't totally satisfied, the drink was either easily correctable with some additional seasoning, or the bartender was willing to remake the drink differently. The restaurant feels strangely bright and airy for a typical seafood place, which tend to have darker color schemes, but it's a nice restaurant and the service is friendly and helpful. Even when we spend a few hours enjoying their brunch and drinks, we've never once felt like they were getting tired of us. Definitely a good choice for dinner in Rockville, but one of the best choices for brunch.

    (5)

  • Nikkia G.

    Nantucket's Reef is the answer to my seafood prayers. Growing up on the shore in Ct, I can easily get good quality seafood with no headaches. Living in the DC area, getting real seafood, thick, tasty white fish like cod or lobsters warm with butter not mayo like the Maine style has became a real thorn in my side. BUT I've been delivered to a place that gets it right. Oddly located on a roundabout, this place has a seaside feel as soon as you walk in. Nautical decorations, high ceilings, wood furnishings and lots of natural light really makes you feel like you're in a boat house. The menu had everything I was looking for cod, Connecticut' style lobster tail (warm with butter), crab cakes with no filler, scallops, mussels AND its affordably priced! I got the lobster roll Ct style and my friend got the Reef basket fried at the suggestion of Sophia, the waitress. I really loved her. I told her it was my first time there and she gave me plenty of time to review the menu and lots of suggestions. She was also very honest about what wasn't her fav or what she would chose out of two dishes. I certainly appreciate that kind of honesty. Back to the food--DELICIOUS! The lobster tail was perfectly cooked and accompanied by the best asparagus I've ever had (see pic). Although it was the biggest asparagus I've even seen the flavor was undeniable, peppery with lemon but not over the top. The scallops on the Reef basket literally, lit-er-al-ly melted in my mouth. Good service, good food, good ambiance and my main man Bob Marley playing softly in the background makes this place the best seafood restaurant in the area for me. So glad I've been delivered from my seafood deprivation.

    (5)

  • Geydy D.

    My 5th time coming here and I just love it! Their Wicked Mussels are to die for! Great prices, great to hang out with friends and family... Their brunch $7 bottomless AMAZING deal!

    (5)

  • Tierra H.

    Sometimes, it's hard to find good seafood. Even in Maryland. I really would expect this place to be in Annapolis, but I'm glad it's in Rockville. My husband and I have been here twice, thanks to Living Social. For some reason, when we go, it's kind of empty. I want it to not be empty so it can do well and be here forever. The first time here, my husband and I went or the lobster roll. I'm NOT a fan of the regular NE style lobster roll. So I went for the Connecticut style, which is hot and buttery. It didn't disappoint! Served with fries, it's just enough food to be full, but not overly so. The next time, I thought I'd venture out and try something else. Meh. I had the much ballyhooed Wicked Mussels. I make better mussels than this, for real. So I wasn't impressed. I did, however, get the crab tortilla soup and wanted to do cartwheels and recommit my life to Jesus right then and there because soup was SINFULLY good! So that was a win, even if the mussels weren't. Husband had the "crab, no cake" sandwich, which he enjoyed. All crab. All good. Service is always decent. Not super friendly, but it works. A pet peeve? The ketchup situation. I don't even like ketchup all that much, but if you serve me fries, give me ketchup. HOWEVER, here, they give you a teaspoon full. They put it in ramekins that are about 1/3 full. Nah. I'm gonna need more than that, thanks. All in all, a good spot though. Definitely going back for the soup and lobster roll.

    (4)

  • Irene F.

    Came here for the first time last night for an early Mother's Day celebration. We had a fabulous time. The decor is adorable- I loved the nautical feel, and the brightness of the space. You feel transported to the beach in the heart of Rockville suburbia. The oysters were delicious- sweet and perfectly briny. I could have eaten 2 dozen more. The Wicked Mussels were so good that my dad ordered it again as his entree because he didn't get enough of the appetizer! But the quantity was huge. The 1/2 lb of shrimp tasted great, I wish they were slightly bigger, but for the price I'm just being greedy. The lobster spinach dip tasted great but needed a lot more spinach and more lobster. The free cornbread muffins were cute, but hard and crumbly. They should go scope out O'Donnells cornbread - it's much better. For the entrees we all got the 2 lobster tails dish. I recommend you switch out the fries for the sweet potato fries- they are awesome. The lobster tail was sweet and tender. I don't think they are main lobsters though. I could have eaten 4 more of those too. I liked how they removed them from the shell so we could eat them more easily. The blueberry soda is super sweet. If I was ever to order it again, I would get it 1/2 soda and 1/2 seltzer water. The dessert was the bread pudding. We asked for the syrups on the side because we don't want things too sweet. It was seriously the best bread pudding I have ever eaten. And I don't like bread pudding. I was sad that we were all sharing one dessert. I had to step away from the BP so others could manage a bite. :p The Angry Orchard beer was only $5- which is my favorite hard cider. Overall I would say their prices are perfectly aligned with the wallets of the area. You don't leave feeling ripped off. It's terrific food and the waitstaff and manager seem genuinely to care about your experience. I even received a visit from the executive chef- and he spoke Chinese to my family. (He was previously married to a Chinese woman). It was hilarious. I will definitely be back, I'm a little sad I waited so long to try it out. I guess after so many failed restaurants in this location I was a little paranoid.

    (5)

  • Sonni W.

    Very much a great place for local seafood - a bit commercial for my taste (I prefer local-yocal, niche-type places) - but I really liked the little ham bits in the steamed mussels appetizer! Great customer service (ask for Selena), and about 2 steps away from Red Lobster (in the positive direction)! Recommend.

    (4)

  • Brittany B.

    My boyfriend and I were having a seafood craving one weekend and stumbled upon Nantucket Reef on Yelp. It was pleasant surprise to see how reasonable it was in terms of the pricing, the portions and the wait time (they sat us immediately on a Sunday afternoon). They start you off with mini corn bread muffins with a side maple butter (my boyfriend orders another basket each time we've come). We ordered the oysters which were fresh and flavorful, and the mussels which were sautéed in a lovely butter blend of onions, tomato and sausage. He ordered the crab dip which was rich and delicious and I had a warm lobster roll, which had so much lobster (I ended up eating most of it without the bread because I was getting full). We came back within two weeks and ordered a dozen oysters each, with a hearty side of mashed potatoes and corn on the cob. We returned for a celebration with his family and had the calamari, (oysters and mussels...again) and everyone ordered lobster rolls. I had the fish and chips and wasn't a fan. The batter had detached from the fish and was a little soggy. Otherwise, everything was wonderful!

    (4)

  • Alicia G.

    The roommate and I have been twice. Which is partly because we came to use a LivingSocial deal and failed to notice the fine print which basically says it's only good Sun-Thurs. But honestly, even if that hadn't been the case that first Friday night we came, the food was good enough that we'd have totally come back on our own anyway. The first visit, I had the half clam/half shrimp basket and a side caesar salad. The salad was fine. Nothing terribly exciting there. The clams and shrimp were great. The "ranch" dressing I had asked for on the side to dip my fries in, however, was questionable. I have no idea what it was that I was served, but if that is ranch dressing...then you should not get it. On the second visit, I had the clam chowder to start since it was so dang cold out. It was really good and definitely warmed me up. After seeing all of the yelp photos of the clam roll, I knew that's what I had to get this time. And boy, did it not disappoint! A plentiful portion of fried crisp clams on top of a split roll with lettuce. My only complaint would be that without slathering everything in tartar sauce, the bun is pretty dry and there's not a ton of flavor. Perhaps they could have buttered the roll a little better? Service both times was interesting. The first time it was overkill. The moment I finished something, it was taken away. Which I mean, great that you're paying attention to our needs but whoa, nelly... I felt like my every move was watched. Whereas on the second visit, our server was noticeably absent for parts of the evening. So that's curious. But yeah. It's safe to say despite two very different service experiences, we'll totally be back. The food is good and reasonably priced so that's all that matters. The HH deals look legit so hopefully we'll be back to try those out too.

    (4)

  • Kristin S.

    I would give Nantucket's Reef 5 stars if it wasn't for how pricey it is. Being from the South, maybe that's why I was shock that a crab cake sandwich is $19 but I have to say, it was a pretty delicious crab cake! Oysters were great and the calamari was perfectly cooked. I do wish it had more of a spicy marina sauce vs the spaghetti like marina sauce. But overall, had a great first experience and will more than likely be back!

    (4)

  • Michael Y.

    We had a great dining experience there. We have continued to return to your restaurant for great food. Thank you!

    (5)

  • Jennifer Y.

    Oysters were fresh. Ahi Tuna salad was very good, well dressed.

    (4)

  • Alicia R.

    Service was good. Decor and ambience was good. Maybe I set too high expectations because I felt the food could have been so much better than it was. The corn muffins could have been a little more moist. The lobster roll should have had twice the amount of lobster it came with, considering the price. My husband's coconut tilapia was lackluster. I don't know if it was because it was in between lunch and dinner times, but the entrees just could have been so much better than they were.

    (3)

  • Steven M.

    Decided to pick this restaurant for our Mother's Day brunch. Was able to get spot for three with a reservation about a week ahead of time. The only negative with the reservation was that while I indicated it would be 2 adults and one toddler who needs a high chair, we almost didn't get the high chair. Would have been a problem. We ordered the Oysters and Wicked Mussels for appetizers. Absolutely delicious! The Wicked Mussels especially had a great sauce. We ordered extra bread to soak up the sauce, definitely suggest you do the same. We order the Crab Eggs Benedict and the Banana French Toast. Both were delicious as well. The eggs were cooked perfectly with just the right amount of runny yolk, crab cakes were fluffy and full of meat, and served with a side of fried potato wedges. The banana toast was definitely full of banana flavor! My son loved it! Portions were large and definitely welcome for the price. Presentation was great. Our waitress, I believe it was Gabriella, was very attentive and pleasant. We were in a booth spot and the tables/floors were very clean. Again very nice, clean restaurant. It's next to a upscale strip mall so parking is a non-issue. It was Mother's Day so the place was a expectedly busy but noise levels were still decent enough that we could talk without yelling. Menu has a decent selection of seafood dishes and we are eyeing a return for a dinner sometime in the future.

    (4)

  • John L.

    Succulent food. Had the reef burger and now want no other burger but this one. Have not gone to or seen another place like this. The food was amazing and the environment equally so (5stars to both). The only aspect I will rate lower is the service (4 stars) only because we were waiting for our waiter a few times. However, we were a complicated party seeing as we were arriving at different times and compared to other restaurants, the service was definitely above average. So many people I want to take to this restaurant so they can share in my love for Nantuckets. Can't wait!

    (5)

  • Suzanne C.

    Overall very good. Good place for family's. Excellent service. Love the crab no cakes!

    (4)

  • Claire L.

    Best crab cake ever! It is all crab no filling, in fact it is so much crab that it doesn't stay in the standard "cake" shape but rather a hill of well seasoned crab meat! Not oily at all. Love it. The $1 oyster is cool too. Service is a bit slow but maybe we came too early for dinner.

    (4)

  • Ed G.

    Cannot understand the positive reviews here. Everything was bland. Shrimp, scallops, clams, fries all bland. No seasoning. The waiter was horrific. It took over 15 minutes for a refill. It was a huge disappointment. It just wasn't good. It was a nice place, but man, this is the highest echelon of 'meh'

    (1)

  • Jeff O.

    Just finished eating there. Lobster roll was great. The corn bread was excellent too. Outdoor seating rocked!! Can't wait to go back for happy hour. Service was a little slow, but it was refreshing not feeling rushed. Our waiter, George, was very personable and attentive.

    (4)

  • Colin C.

    I rely on Yelp for new finds yet I don't give back to the Yelp community. Nantucket's Reef has triggered my action here. I had an open mind on this being a good experience - 100% based off of yelp reviews as none of my friends had been there yet. I gambled and lost. Food - very standard menu. Almost too boring and bland. Items ordered at our table included the wedge salad which should be renamed "Greed Goddess Dressing with a side of lettuce". I believe the bacon was from a bottle. The bleu cheese was nonexistent and all paled in comparison to the quart of dressing poured on it. The caesar salad had that phenomenal kraft bottled parmesan cheese on it. Classy. Fortunately the dressing was ordered on the side for this one and she was spared the soup consistency. Beers were ordered - decent selection and not some of the same 'ol ones you see every day now. DuClaw Neon Lights was a nice change - that's a plus. Menu $5. Bill $6. Kid had the standard choices of Cheeseburger, chicken fingers, whatever else and went with the tried and true Cheeseburger. Menu price $8 - Bill price $11. Sense the trend? Entrees - Stuffed Cod. I think it was stuffed with crab, but more crab essence and bread crumbs. Cod was also undercooked but still good. Pasta Del Mare. As she put it - nothing to write home about. Desserts - passed because... Atmosphere - it is louder than bombs in there. It's truly amazing that sitting at the same table 2' apart from each other we still had to practically yell to hear each other. We both liked the decor and the beach vibe they're attempting to recreate but they are in desperate need of some noise cancelling bumpers on their ceiling. Service - our server was Chris and he's the saving grace of this review. He was extremely attentive, knowledgeable on the menu and our questions. He anticipated our son's needs and treated him like an adult vs. the add on at the table like most servers do. Overall - the food is average, the decor and beer is good, the ambiance is too loud. You can do better my going elsewhere.

    (2)

  • Richard J.

    Had a coupon from the weekly mailer so we decided to try it. The food was very good, Denis our waiter was polite and knowledgable. We will definitely go back again! Thank you for a tasty dinner.

    (5)

  • Christine V.

    I took my mom here for Mother's Day and it was delicious! I had the crab benny and my mom had the lobster salad...both wonderful! We split the bread pudding for dessert and it was the best bread pudding either of us has ever had! The service was terrific and the restaurant is big and comfortable! We will definitely be going back for more yummy food!

    (5)

  • Fede C.

    We've been here for dinner on Thursday evening. It's a bit far from downtown Rockville but the area is nice and there's plenty of space for parking. The restaurant inside is quite stylish, with a mix of modern lines and navigation/fishing references (see photo). The service was very fast and kind, the food delicious! We ordered the Lobster Roll Connecticut Style, the Clam Roll and the Tuna Salad. The quality of the ingredients is high and you can easily recognize that they care about the hygiene. The fried clams were so soft and juicy that my mouth is watering just thinking about it :-) Good for a date, but also for a night with friends or family.

    (4)

  • Karen M.

    The fiance and I ventured out of the restaurant desert that is Ashburn, VA and met another couple at Nantucket's. Nantucket's is tucked away behind the University so when we first drove in I was a little worried I had the address wrong. But sure enough, there it was with plenty of parking nearby. The decor inside was clean and bright with a nautical theme. Everyone else at the table wanted to order calamari for an appetizer which I never order because usually it is rubbery and tasteless. When the order arrived, I was pleasantly surprised. It was cooked perfectly, and the breading on the outside was dry (not greasy) and crispy. This was probably the best calamari I've ever had! For dinner, 2 in the group ordered the shrimp scampi, 1 got the basket with fried clams, oysters and shrimp, and I ordered the stuffed cod. The stuffed cod normally comes with rice pilaf, but because it was cooked with chicken broth (Which I don't eat), I substituted mashed potatoes. The cod was perfectly cooked and stuffed with crab. The mashed potatoes included the red potato skins and were fantastic and not gummy at all. Everyone else at the table devoured their plates of food and had great things to say about all of it. I will absolutely be coming back to Nantucket's for great seafood and I'd love to try their fried basket next time as it looked delicious!

    (4)

  • Leigh M.

    Came here with a 6 person party including some elderly family members. Our server did a great job meeting some of my aunts' demands. The food was good, they had reasonable beer prices, and I'll definitely go back.

    (3)

  • Cristina D.

    I recently went to Nantucket's Reef to try their steamed crabs. I ordered the crabs as take out. The restaurant offers great customer service. I was greeted upon arrival, offered a drink while I waited for the crabs and they even threw a wooden mallet in my crab order which I thought was nice. The crabs were pretty good. Given that this is not a crab house and they only recently started offering hard shelled crabs it was a good effort. The flavor of the crab meat wasn't as good perfect as you would get at a crab house but the crabs were full and I am delighted to have a hard shell crab option so close to home.

    (4)

  • Corey S.

    Ran out of lobster on Sunday but they comped me with an appetizer whch was nice. I will go back for dinner again some other time.

    (4)

  • Steven W.

    3.5 Stars...I find the food to be satisfying, tasty and priced fairly. It's not exciting or inspiring. That's not bad by any means...it just has more of a seafood, comfort food vibe. This is one of those restaurants that if you live nearby, it's great to have in the rotation. I'm not going to list everything I've tried, because they have all been good. Servings are large as well!

    (3)

  • Benjamin M.

    Craving seafood, we decided to to check out this new place for my birthday. We parked in the nearby lot and wandered in without a reservation. Luckily, it didn't matter and we were promptly seated at one of the perimeter tables. Let me start by saying the interior layout is somewhat odd. There's a small bar to the right side of the entrance and tables (no booths) on the left side, all along the walls. The lighting was very bright, giving me the impression we were on display versus having a nice dinner. Fishing decor? Eh. But the food and service quickly made us forget all that. We started with the Wicked Mussels topped with chorizo and Pico de Gallo and a side of grilled garlic bread (for dipping, of course). The quantity was more than I expected and, even better, they were still within Happy Hour pricing of only $5.00 (normally $11.00). They were gone in a matter of minutes and we actually considered ordering another batch. I ordered one of the specials our waiter highlighted: a medium sirloin topped with a large crab cake with sides of fresh, green beans and red mashed potatoes. It was a lot of food and I had no issue putting a major dent in the delicious plate. We were also happy with our waiter, who was friendly and attentive. I've heard a lot of restaurants have come and gone in this specific location, so I'm hoping this place has more luck and success than its predecessors.

    (4)

  • Ray G.

    This place is great. Awesome Happy hour, great service, and good food.

    (5)

  • Sheena S.

    Got a reservation, and had to wait a little bit, which was fine, because there was plenty of room, and I wasn't starving. We ordered the "wicked" mussels which were fantastic-I am not a huge mussel fan, but there were quite tasty-spicy, salty and some lemon to freshen the dish up made it hard to resist. It was a good size for an appetizer for two people-it came with two pieces of garlic bread as well. We ordered the chicken tenders (I know) and the lobsta roll (conneticut style). The chicken tenders were not salty, light breading, and super moist. The corn was delicious, and I subsituted the mashed potatoes for veggies, and those were delicious as well. I did not try the lobsta roll since I am not a fan, but it looked great. I love the fact that they have nectars on their menu-I was feelin' the pineapple guava one. Overall, our server was awesome, and I would definetly visit again.

    (4)

  • Chris H.

    I really enjoy this place. Service is pretty nice and friendly, food is good, price is on point. Fish and chips are one of the better ones in the area. They have a decent selection of craft beer to choose from which is nice. I enjoyed the wicked mussels. Stuff Cod tasted light and fresh. The ONLY feedback is that I think the atmosphere could use some work. I really like this place but I don't enjoy being there. The tables outside have a weird feel to them too since they are just randomly placed in front of the restaurant... That could just be the location, only so much you can do... but inside feels very cold and desolate. Anyways, only reason why it lost a star. Regardless, I overall enjoy this place and would come back.

    (4)

  • EmiLy A.

    I first encountered Nantucket's Reef when they had a booth at Taste of Rockville. They were serving their "Crab No Cakes" and "Wicked Mussels". Initially I was skeptical of how good seafood could be at an outdoor food fair, but it was hands down the best food I had at the event. Fast forward to this weekend, when my family and I headed over to Nantucket's Reef near the Universities of Shady Grove in Rockville. I overheard that the space used to be a bank, but they've converted it nicely into an open and light colored restaurant. I especially liked the light blue walls and nautical wall decorations. There's benches and tables for outdoor seating. A cozy bar with small bar dining tables located separately from the indoor dining area is also a plus. I'd recommend making reservations in advance, especially for larger groups during summer weekends. It was pretty busy on a Saturday night. We didn't have reservations, but our tactful hostess was able to accommodate our party (6 people) in less than 10 minutes. Now to the grub.... for appetizers we had the Calamari and Wicked Mussels, which were great. Mussels are served in a tasty sauce with pico de gallo, chorizo, and topped with garlic bread. I contemplated on just getting another order of Wicket Mussels for my meal. I ended up ordering their Maine Lobster Salad and really enjoyed it. You can also substitute the lobster with their Crab No Cakes, which are tasty lumps of crab heaven. You can also get these as a dinner entree, a sandwich, or in their New England stuffed cod. Several diners in our party also enjoyed their Fried Seafood baskets. The Fish and Chips, and fried Oysters and Clams were crispy and not too greasy. Overall, I really enjoyed dinner at Nantucket Reef. I'd definitely come back again, especially for their Happy Hour and Late Happy Hour (after 8 or 9pm) for deals on drinks and small dishes.

    (4)

  • Angel H.

    Me and the husband have been here twice. Lobster roll is great and so is the wicked pasta. The next time we went we got the crab dib for an app. We didnt care for the tortilla chips with a crab dip. We both felt like it wasnt the best combination. My husband got the steak volcano which he said lacked flavor, but decent, and I got the coconut and pecan crusted tilapia which was ok. I did love the habenero sauce over the fish. Overall service is good and so were the sangria. We liked the white sangria over the red. We will return for the lobster roll and pasta!

    (4)

  • Daniel B.

    Great New England feel. Staff was very friendly and the chef was very accommodating to an off the menu request. The crab 'no' cake was excellent. Will definitely be coming back.

    (5)

  • Janis L.

    3 of us went for dinner on a weekday evening. We were welcomed easily and seated at one of the outdoor tables with an umbrella to protect us from the setting sun. Order taken promptly for drinks and food and the first round of everything arrived quickly. Our service problems arose with the second round of drinks. We had to ask 3 times. Each time the server apologized profusely, but the drink still didn't arrive. The food was ok - but nothing I would order again. We had the Wicked Mussels. The broth was pretty good, lots of butter and chorizo, but the mussels were itty bitty. If you put all of the mussel meat from this order into a measuring cup, I'm guessing there would be less than 1/2 cup The fried calamari was uninspiring. The batter was a bit heavy and the pieces quite large. The skirt steak special was cooked well, but the accomopanying salsa was forgotten. The chef came out to our table to check on the food and quickly returned with salsa in hand. The salad topped with lobster salad was pretty good. We all enjoyed the cilantro dressing. But it wasn't so phenomenal that I would make a special trip here to eat it.

    (2)

  • Roxy M.

    Went for my birthday. Food was very good. I can't say the same for service etiquette. Server stood at head of table and reached across every one to put plates and drinks down. Also staff Hokies floors while we were still eating. Both things bothered all at the table. These are basics of table service no nos .

    (3)

  • Teresa L.

    This is a great find and not too far from my house. Ever since the Legal Seafood (don't judge) at the mall closed I've been looking for a place that makes a good lobster roll. And Nantucket's Reef is it. I went with a pile of friends for their Sunday brunch, at which they offer a bottomless bloody mary or mimosa. The last few times I have been to places which offer this the drinks have either not been anywhere near a bottle of alcohol or the waitstaff is glacially slow in refilling your glass. Not here. The mimosas were middling strong and my glass was rarely empty. We aren't talking the best orange juice or the finest champagne here but they were decent. We started with an order of the classic crab dip, which was nice both because it was very good but also because the restaurant was freezing cold. Nantucket's Reef specializes in its various forms of eggs benedict, none of which I tried. I am not a huge fan of eggs. However, my friends got a few different ones (the crab one, one with shrimp and grits) and declared them delicious. They certainly looked good. I ordered a Maine style lobster roll and it was soooo yummy. Big chunks of lobster, a tender/chewy roll, crispy fresh lettuce, and a lemony mayonnaise. They serve the same thing hot with butter and lemon instead of the mayo. As an added bonus it was accompanied with exceptionally good french fries. I am so used to french fries sucking at some level that these surprised me. They were obviously freshly made, hot and crispy, and had a wonderful rich flavor. I tasted someone's home fries as well and can say that in general Nantucket's Reef does a good job with potato products. Other than the restaurant being cold when we first got there, the dining environment is pleasant. The staff were friendly and pretty quick on their feet, even though there was a large group in the room next to us that took up a lot of their time. For the price this was an excellent breakfast and I would certainly go back for some of that lobster.

    (4)

  • Eunice K.

    made reservations on opentable for 8 people at 8:15. got seated around 8:50 wish they had a back door or something because there is no parking in the front. you can either park on the side (limited parking) or in the back. the front door of the restaurant is where cars drive but i was hoping there would be a side door but there isnt :( i just wanted to park close cus it was so cold but otherwise there are plenty of parking spaces. this restaurant is close to giant and university of shady grove. before ordering i looked on yelp and thank you yelpers! the wicked mussels were really good! it was flavorful! the pico de gallo, chorizo and mussels went so well together! taste really good when you eat it altogether. separately it is good too but when you have it all in your mouth it really compliments each other. also comes with bread and half of it is in the sauce and so half the bread is really soggy. i didnt mind the soggyness because the sauce is really good but my sister and i think my cousin did not like the soggy bread. i think it might be better to bring the bread on the side or place it differently so the bread is not soggy. the bread reminded me of a garlic texas toast. before getting the mussels the waiter brought out a basket of corn bread with butter (butter seemed to have maple syrup infused in it but im not sure). wish the corn bread came out hot or even warm but unfortunately it was cold :( my sister and i also got the clam chowda. the soup doesn't look like it would be warm/hot but it was hot! :D thank you for bringing out hot soup! it was thick and had lots of clams! really good! wish it came with some bread. for our entree most of us ordered the crab stuffed cod. this dish lets you also get a taste of the crab cakes :) the vegetables were nicely buttered. the rice was also cooked well. the fish was really good. i dont really know if cod is suppose to taste this way but i think the fish is a most dry fish. the fish didnt taste dry; the meat just seemed to fall apart more unlike the mackerel which i think is more soft..? my cousin also ordered the crab stuffed cod and she decided to switch out the rice for grilled corn and the corn was really really good! i was able to taste the smokeyness and sweet corn. it was so good! my cousin ordered the blackened chicken pasta. he doesn't like seafood but seemed to enjoy his meal. i only tried a little and it seemed like white sauce with tabasco. it was interesting and good :) my other cousin ordered the crab cakes. said it was like the crab meat on the cod. i think the crab cake was really good. seemed like there was a lot of crab meat :) my other cousin got the fried lobster. we all got to try a little and the lobster was juicy! :D however it was a pretty salty. i think if it was a little less salty then it would have been so so good! still good. our waiter and other staff members were really friendly :) this place was packed and i can see why. just wish we were seated a little sooner. 35 mins after reservation time is not professional. they almost gave away our table to someone who had come later than us. i dont know if it's cus we didn't complain and just waited but it got ridiculous after waiting 20 mins so then my cousin spoke up. thank goodness. if not we mightve been seated later. overall i am impressed with the seafood here. i heard about the hh so i cannot wait to go back.

    (4)

  • Kristin S.

    Recently went here for dinner since i was going to be in MD. I really liked the decor, a very cute cape cod feel. We walked in right at the tail end of HH, so there wasn't anytime to order any of the food specials, but the table next to us looked like they did well on the oyster specials. I will definitely have to come back for that. The service was great, our waiter gave us the HH drinks and was very attentive. The food was really good: The calamari was not overcooked, and had a nice flaky batter on it. The coconut and pecan crusted tilapia tasted really good, the coating was just perfect with the right amount of sweetness to enhance the fish. The stuffed cod was also great, cooked just right and the crabmeat stuffing pulled it all together. Everything tasted very fresh. I would come back next time I'm in the area.

    (4)

  • R H.

    We enjoy Nantucket's Reef. A great place to take the whole family, the wait staff and management seem to really get customer service and the seafood is always fresh and delicious. It's nestled in Traville Gateway shopping center which isn't the most scenic area and isn't the biggest destination for anything else other than grabbing a meal. IE not much to do after eating but Reef makes up for it with good eats, good people and an inviting atmosphere. The mussels are ridiculous and the seafood is so fresh I had bits of sand on the bottom of my plate (a good thing).

    (4)

  • Maryann K.

    We went to this restaurant for Father's Day. It didn't have much of a wow factor. The food was ok, service was average. It was very loud. They have high ceiling and nothing to dampen the noise. I had a lobster salad. It was good, but not so good I'd go out of my way to come back to this place again.

    (3)

  • Steve R.

    This place is very good. Service is tops. Great drinks and happy hour us a good value

    (4)

  • Courtney S.

    So some friends invited my bf and I out to try this place. Pros: the stuffed cod was delicious. My bf had the Pecan and coconut crusted tilapia. This was probably the best dish out of everyone's. It wasn't too sweet and had a really good crust. Another friend substituted sweet potato fries. These were done perfectly. Not overly salty and they weren't mushy at all. Cons: the crab dip was overly creamy cheesy and you had to dig to find any signs of crab. This was disappointing because the flavor wasn't bad. We also arrived at our reservation time and had to wait another 15+ minutes to be seated. I know it's a Saturday night but what's the point of reservations if you have to wait after it? We also didn't have our water glasses filled a single time we were there (almost 2hours).

    (3)

  • John B.

    Just a fantastic experience, the freshest and most delicious seafood I've had in years. This is my new go to seafood joint. Everything including fantastic service and attentive wait staff to the head chef and co-owner coming over to make sure we had a good experience.

    (4)

  • Jenny N.

    This place is in the Traville shopping center. My boyfriend and I went there on the whim. We sat at the bar so I'm not sure exactly how big the dining room is but the area did seem nice. They of course had their sea decor but the restaurant was still some what polished. The bartender promptly greeted us after we were sat and went over some key items on their menu. Being an Oyster fanatic, my boyfriend and I decided we wanted to order them and the bartender provided us with good knowledge about each selection. We also ordered the mac & cheese to be shared. The food runners were prompt and friendly as well and quickly brought by sauces that we had asked for. The one thing that stood out the most was their margaritas. They use pure fresh squeezed lime juice with I believe agave nectar (?) My boyfriend wouldn't stop raving about it and even after a couple weeks still bugs me to go there again just for the margaritas. In review, the parking was easy, service as great, the restaurant looked nice and the food wasn't bad but it also wasn't anything that I thought about in my sleep and have to go back for. The margaritas are a must have and I totally suggest everyone stop by there for one - I believe they were a decent price for something all fresh squeezed.

    (4)

  • Shey C.

    The food was excellent. Customer service superb. Atmosphere festive. Spirits were on point! I would definitely revisit and recommend this establishment!!!

    (5)

  • Leslie W.

    The lobster salad was yummy and all of our group got it except one person who got the crab salad. It was my first time here but I will return.

    (4)

  • Dawn T.

    Really good crab "no" cakes...so much crab! My dad had the coconut and pecan crusted tilapia with rice pilaf and veggies. My niece had fried shrimp. The sweet potato fries are awesome! I had the Surf and turf special which at first was not cooked well enough for me, but they fixed it quickly for me (i prefer my steak medium well and it was way too rare for me). We liked it so much we are going back tonight before i got back to Missouri...where it is harder to get fresh seafood.

    (5)

  • Tyler W.

    After a long day of being tourists in DC, we decided on Nantuckets Reef for dinner based on awesome yelp reviews. Needless to say, it lives up to the hype! We entered the restaurant just past 9 pm-- they close at 10. The waitstaff mostly seemed to be doing their side work and closing duties when we arrived, but we were greeted kindly and seated promptly. Our waitress, Sophia, was awesome...we definitely expected a little sass since we were there so close to close (and we wouldn't even have blamed her!) Instead, she took her time going over some of the menus highlights and explaining the specials. Then she brought us some corn muffins and maple butter, which were tasty and complimentary. I ordered the wicked mussels at the recommendation of the waitress, and my family ordered the stuffed cod, 2 lobster tails (one fried, one seared, another recommendation from Sophia), and a Caesar salad. The only Caesar on the menu was a side, but they easily made an exception for my sister, who wanted it as a meal. My mussels were awesome. I love mussels anyways, and these were like none I'd ever had. The sauce was bright, buttery, and delicious, and the chorizo was smoky and perfectly spicy. The "pico de gallo" topping was mostly just tomatoes and onions, which was just fine. The bread was a little overly buttery for me, given the already buttery sauce, but I didn't not gobble it up anyways. The appetizer-sized portion was a perfect meal for me! The lobster was a hit too, particularly the fried tail. The studded cod was good, but I have a feeling if we were there a bit earlier it would have been a little better...the sauce was a little scant and the crab wasn't quite as fresh-tasting as expected. The veggies and pilaf were both tasty, though. My sister's salad was, well, a humongous plate of lettuce and croutons. She had to request more dressing, so that was the highlight of that dish. Bottom line: great experience and really tasty food in an unexpected place, made even better by really wonderful service. If I was a local, I would be back for sure!

    (4)

  • Joy B.

    Looking for a casual, but enjoyable new place to try? We settled on Nantucket 's Reef for a Sunday evening dining experience. The place was busy with other like minded patrons searching for some succulent seafood. Mike and I opted for the bar area that had a full service menu and wait service. Our waiter was bright and helpful giving us his honest insights to the menu. We decided to split the lobster salad and the Ahi tuna salad. The lobster salad was delicious with large chunks of lobster, avocado, and crispy wonton noodles with bread crumbs, as well. The dressing was light and delicious. It did not overwhelm the seafood. My only criticism is that the bread crumbs had a spice that was a little spicy for my taste. Mike really liked it. The ahi tuna was very good as well. There was lots of food and we declined dessert. Luckily, a friend told us about a coupon for a discount this month and we were able to access it online. So, it made a good meal a great deal. If you are looking for a local seafood I would recommend giving them a try.

    (4)

  • Amelia O.

    After getting tired of the same old restaurants, I decided to yelp seafood restaurants in MoCo and found this gem. This place is amazing. Nice casual atmosphere and great food. We ordered the mussels to start and we were not disappointed. They were in a lemon herb sauce with chorizo and pico de gallo. The smokiness of the chorizo made the dish very unique and tasty. Since I am gluten free, I had them modify my crab cake dinner. For an extra $3, they just added more crab to my dish and I ended up with two crabcakes that were crab meat only ($31 total). No fillers, nothing. I also switched up my side dish, which wasn't a problem. The red skin mashed potatoes were amazing. My friend ordered the crab stuffed cod and that was a winner too. I highly recommend this place if you want a laid back atmosphere and some good eats. Pricey for some, but you get what you pay for and this was worth it.

    (5)

  • Joey W.

    Fish Tacos are really good. Great outdoor patio seating for when it's nice out.

    (5)

  • Jason G.

    This was my first time at this establishment and I had heard some good things and decided to take the wife over to check it out. When I arrived at their I realized that the location had once been a Tapa's style restaurant that went out of business. The last place was okay. Very dark, but The Reef was very brightly lit and very relaxing inside. The decor is a little "fast foodish" but in the attempt in being "too" casual but overall it was nice. We were seated quickly and the wait staff was very pleasant. For the Appetizers we had the Wicked Mussels and the Calamari. The Mussels were good, but the calamari while cooked perfectly, was given to us in very large pieces. The wife had the Crab Cake sandwich and I had the Stuff Cod. My wife said the crab cake was great (she always orders Crab Cake - which is saying something) but my cod although well cooked didn't taste as fresh as I would have liked it to be. Overall, it was nice enough. Wait staff was great and my wife was happy which is all that really matters...

    (3)

  • Jason S.

    GREAT crabcakes. Get the double and don't look back. The baskets are nothing special so don't try to get too fancy. Definitely worth the trip if you get the crabcakes. Did I mention that the crabcakes are amazing?

    (4)

  • Robert C.

    Had the reef burger, and it was like eating one of the best burgers I've ever had, combined with one of the best crabcakes I've ever had. The cheese was different but really good (I think they used havarti?) $16 is not bad -- maybe I'll start eating here instead of timbuktu or G&M. Ordered popcorn shrimp for the kids, and the shrimp was really juicy. They're picky eaters, but they loved it. My only complaint is that I was sitting in the one chair where the AC was raining down, and it was freezing.

    (5)

  • Stephanie L.

    It's rare to come across a yummy and fresh seafood restaurant like this in Rockville. Service: server was really attentive and very knowledgeable about the menu Ambiance: loving the nautical theme, it feels like I'm visiting Maine Food: The tiny cornbread with maple butter is delicious. The cornbread was really tiny, which is nice or else i would have ate too many and have no space in my tummy left for my lobster roll. Also, I was very tempted to ask them how to make the maple butter because i think i could really live on that stuff. As a big fan of lobster rolls, of course I had to order it. The portions are very generous and most of all the lobster was really fresh. The bun isn't too buttery and they had the right amount of greens to even it out with the mayo. Although the fries are on the oily side but it paired nicely with the roll. My mom ordered the New England Stuffed Cod. The cod and the crabcake was really fresh, it's nothing like those frozen ones at other restaurants. However, the rice and brown butter spinach was a little bland. Will definitely return to try out other things on the menu and the happy hour seems like a pretty good deal. How can you say no to 1 dollar oysters?

    (4)

  • Bryan V.

    Our first time here last night for a birthday dinner. The lobster/spinach queso and mussels were excellent appetizers. The fried basket was excellent - not over fried. Stuffed cod, crab cake and lobster tail all top notch. Desserts were great - bread pudding and brownie. Will definitely be back!

    (4)

  • Tom P.

    Good food, especially since it's the only place in the area that serves fresh seafood. As a seafood snob, I suggest that they add more crab and less cream cheese to their crab dip. We definitely will visit them again.

    (4)

  • Sarah P.

    Awesome place. My Dad and I went on a Sunday for a late brunch, and it wasn't super busy, but still a good amount of people. Our server, Sophia, was great. She was very friendly, and explained the menu in great detail. We got the wicked mussels, the lobster roll, and the ahi tuna salad. The salad was huge! The dressing was light, yet flavorful, with a little spicy kick. The lobster roll (Connecticut style) was soooo good - lots of lobster, on a crispy, buttery roll. The fries were good too, and I loved how big the corn on the cob was. And lastly, the wicked mussels were to die for. So, so yummy. I just wish it came with more bread, to soak up the sauce! The place is pricey, but the portions are good, and the service is great. The decor is simple, but it definitely reminds me of my vacation in Cape Cod. Overall, we loved everything about this restaurant and we'll definitely be coming back!

    (4)

  • Bedelle M.

    I have nothing but nice things to say about this establishment! Quick great service food is nice and hot! Definitely a must visit!

    (5)

  • Mike P.

    We had our holiday party here yesterday, and it was a HUGE success thanks to the extraordinary efforts of Alberto, Paula and Kevin. Alberto could not have been more helpful in getting the room set up to meet our needs, and all of his food was outstanding from the appetizers to the desserts. Alberto is a first class chef, and everyone raved about the high quality and deeeelicious taste of everything. Paula and Kevin were outstanding as well, and they too were so helpful in getting the room set up. As servers they were very attentive to everyone's needs, and they get high marks for their outstanding service and their extremely pleasant personalities. Overall our party experience could not have been better. Thanks again to Alberto, Paula and Kevin for making it possible. I highly recommend Nantucket's Reef.

    (5)

  • Sam B.

    Took a lady here for a first date since it was highly recommended on Yelp. The service was very friendly and everyone was helpful and smiled at you. They recommended items and they had daily specials. I had the coconut pecan crusted tilapia with homemade mashed potatoes and steamed veggies. All of it was great. My date got the grilled trout with eggplant and she enjoyed it (took half home because it was too much for her). The servings were generous. My only complaint was that they charge $3 for a soda (refills are free of course). My waiter took the soda off the bill because he was late in bringing it to me (I didn't think it was that late, but I didn't argue about it). Very nice place with nautical theme.

    (4)

  • C J.

    We were excited to try this place since we're both from New England. It's so hard to get real clams in this area. We were seated outside on a nice day. First let me say, we were not disappointed. The clam basket was amazing. The cod and salmon were also good. And the fries were pretty good. Now the other side. The service seemed really overwhelmed. They were very nice, but just not really with it. It took a really long time to get just ketchup for my son's chicken tenders. The servers brought out the wrong food to the wrong people the whole time, so much so that we all on the porch started to bond over it. The servers tried to be attentive but they were very hard to get to help with anything. I think they just didn't expect the large crowd maybe - that's what I was thinking anyway. So it was worth it. But hopefully their service gets more training or more help.

    (4)

  • D'Lena D.

    Took a chance on Nantucket's Reef for my birthday dinner tonight and I'm glad I did. The dining room is very clean and bright--no residual crumbs to be found on booth cushions or hiding on the corner of the table tops here. It is a casual dining restaurant but feels more upscale--there is attention to detail in the decor and the attentiveness of the hostess and servers. On to the food: delicious. I had a fried reef basket, but got my scallops grilled instead and they were seared perfectly. They were moist, flavorful and fresh. I was a happy birthday girl. The fries they're served atop were good, too, well seasoned with salt & pepper. I even ate a bit of the coleslaw that came along with it, and I am not a coleslaw lover. It was slightly sweet and much tastier than other coleslaws I've had. I wasn't in love with the little cornbread muffins that are complimentary with your meal but I appreciated the idea of them. They were just a bit dry for my liking but overall, I was very happy with my meal and would definitely come again. Come during happy hour if you can; I was happy to have a $3.50 glass of wine with my meal!

    (4)

  • PJ L.

    I was looking for fish tacos in an area I would be shopping in later that day. I came across NR on yelp and the pictures of the brunch items were enticing! I ended up here the next Sunday and I was so glad I did. It was a pretty cold Sunday morning and I was starving so I wanted to warm up with some soup. Soup was not on the menu but I saw pics of it on YELP so I inquired within. To my delight they had soup today! I'm a cream based soup kinda gal, so when the waiter said Crab Tortilla, I was less than excited. But then he said "CRAB", "AVOCADO", and "CILANTRO" to which I replied "YES PLEASE!" The soup was pretty good and exactly as described and I'd get it again. I ordered the Crab Benedict for my entree and with that I was invited to bottomless mimosas for $7....YES PLEASE! The benny came with home fries/breakfast potatoes. Simplicity at it's best! Perfectly poached eggs ontop of perfect lump crab cakes topped with perfect hollandaise all on top of toast (nope not english muffins but still alright with me). When I say perfect hollandaise, this sauce alone could've won an award. Crab cakes were as they should be...all crab no cake. The server offered me old bay to which I was confused but went ahead and sprinkled some on....then a little more...then a little more....WOW, that kicked it up a notch! I'd never put old bay on my benny's but this was a great idea! I take one star away for the mimosas which were served in a tall soda glass with ice...yes ICE. I sat in the bar area and the restaurant seemed pretty empty for a Sunday. Fine by me. I'll be back Nantucket....you've made a fan of me!

    (4)

  • Olcay A.

    We went for another restaurant in the neighborhood but the wait was too long. We decided to give Nantucket a try. We had the lobster dip. It was really good but could have had some more lobster in it, it was mostly cream. I would order it again for taste though, it was yummy! My husband had the salmon which was excellent. I had the fish and chips and I was happily surprised that it was very light, it didn't have a thick blanket of oil soaked bread. Just fresh fish and a light bread crust around it. Service was good and the barmen was very kind and attentive. We will go back soon.

    (4)

  • Liza A.

    I am sooo sorry for this one review...but i have to tell you guys to change some things that are easy to do and that will save you reviewers like me.. 1. When there is a problem with my food, come to my table and have either the waiter or your chef or someone come to apologize...if no one comes after i told you there was a problem with my plate and you take it...i will be outraged and angry by the time someone shows up. 2. Be careful with your seafood always check for smells or spoiled items. 3. Plate like a professional ..... you guys are in Potomac, your customers are people that will demand the best....not mediocre plating like what i got. Sauce on top of my entree all spilled over my rice and veggies that look like they came from a frozen bag are not what i want to pay for at that price level. 4. If you know your dishes are having problems and there was a second complaint like mine...take them off the menu temporarily until you make sure there are not going to be anymore casualties. 5. getting a 91 dollars tab....after all this was harsh...not cus i dont have the money but because, even if you gave me one free dessert and you took off the dish from the bill, you know you should have done a lot more for this problem..... Please ... i know you are new....but for a while ill sit back and wait and see if you guys improve soon.....I am a fan of seafood...it is overall my fave food...i grew up in the coast in my country.....freshness is something you cant fool me with.... Good luck see you hopefully soon.

    (3)

  • Catherine K.

    3.5 stars. The wicked mussels are a must! The sauce they are cooked in is very flavorful and quite addicting. I ordered the grilled salmon salad which was good but the salmon was a little too dry.

    (3)

  • Jeffrey C.

    It is hard to find seafood specialty restaurants that strike the balance between affordability and freshness. Nantucket's Reef would be one of those rare places. The food here is excellent and always fresh. Everything from their $1 happy hour raw oysters to their cod to their shrimp and grits (their cod is highly recommended - the delicate texture is reminiscent of scallops!). A recommended dish? Start with their award winning Wicked Mussels that has been featured in local magazines. They taste great and is served in a piping hot cast iron. The owner is also a really nice guy, and even gave me some vouchers for free appetizers because I wanted to help pay for our neighbor's meal. It is admirable when people trade kindness with more kindness. One star is docked for amateur-ish wait staff, but nothing serious. I think some of them were new, so it is forgivable. Also, their cocktails are average, and not spectacular. They are still worth a try, especially during happy hour. In conclusion, Nantucket's Reef provides excellent seafood for a less than fair price - I say this because it is almost a steal for the diner. You will be hard pressed to find quality seafood at the price point that is offered at Nantucket. Tucked away in the shopping center in Traville Gateway, Nantucket unfortunately does not receive a lot of foot traffic, but they do getting buzzing on Friday and Saturday nights. My hope is that they will be here to stay in the local neighborhood, and I will continue to support them as a customer! An excellent and solid 4 out of 5 stars, hope to be back here soon.

    (4)

  • Erin B.

    If you're a seafood fan do yourself a favor and hit up Nantucket's Reef. My boyfriend and I visited for their grand opening, and we were both very impressed. The decor is done in a nautical theme: think white wainscoting, sailboats and wood floors. I was reminded of visits to the family cottage in summers past. We were seated at a nice table for two against a curved banquet. Our server Tim visited us promptly and was pleasant, friendly and knowledgeable. He let us know that all the seafood in the restaurant was fresh and bragged that 'the only thing that's frozen in the kitchen is the ice cream'. He suggested we order the Wicked Mussels as an appetizer and we're glad he did. They came out quickly and were perfectly cooked- not rubbery, not fishy, no grit from improperly cleaned mussels. The sauce is to die for. It's spicy and dotted with chorizo and pico de gallo. The smokiness of the chorizo lends a little something extra and we were both dredging our bread to sop up the sauce long after the mussels were eaten. We had a hard time picking our entrees since their menu is filled with delicious sounding options and we happen to be voracious seafood eaters. I settled on the New England Stuffed Cod. I can honestly tell you I've never had better cod in my entire life. It was beautifully flaky and mild in flavor, the perfect compliment for lump crab meat inside. The delicate butter sauce that was drizzled on top didn't overpower the fish. It came with a side of rice and veggies in ample proportions. The boy ordered the Short Smoked Salmon, which was also a beautiful piece of seafood, flaky and cooked to perfection. He was quite happy with it and ate every last bite despite protesting that he 'couldn't possibly eat a bite more' several times. The meals were served with homemade cornbread rolls and maple butter. Hats off for that butter, it is something else. If they sold it in jars to bring home I'd be eating some right now. Their drink menu is good and they have paid attention to stocking interesting and varied craft beers alongside some of your favorites. The wine list has something for every palette and price point. We never made it to desert, but there are a few interesting choices offered: whoopie pie, anyone? All in all, we left incredibly full, very happy and planning to return.

    (5)

  • Stephanie S.

    I went here last night- I LOVED IT. The oysters were huge and perfect, the mussels were amazing- great broth. We also had the calamari and soft shell crabs. Everything was really good, the service was great. When we went, it wasn't crowded and one of the chefs were was walking around asking everyone how everything was. It's really nice to see someone care about what they are serving. Oh and the drinks were strong, I will be coming back here a lot!

    (5)

  • C B.

    very good fresh seafood suprising for Maryland since I'm from New England. I had the stuffed haddock it was delicious. Others had the fried clams and scallops which were very tasty. Would highly recommend this restaurant it was clean and welcoming and in a nice location away from the hustle and bustle. Will return again!

    (4)

  • Andrew K.

    Made a reservation for 7:45pm and ended up waiting 20 more minutes. I ordered the wicked mussels for the appetizer and that was good but a couple mussels were undercooked. Then we ended up waiting 45 minutes for our entrees only to be told that one of our meals was dropped and it was taking a little longer. After waiting about an hour, I got my crab cakes and my wife got her alaskan cod which turned out to be undercooked so we had to send it back. After another 15 minutes, the cod came back out and it was decent. Prices are pretty high for the meal and the mistakes in the kitchen makes me not want to come back again. The manager did come out and apologize and took the cod off our tab which was a good gesture but I didn't think the meal overall was great for me to give it a second chance.

    (2)

  • Jessica J.

    This place has the best seafood in the area, and that's saying a lot because this is Maryland and we pride ourselves on seafood. Their crab no cake is delicious. It's basically a huge lump of crab that isn't mostly fillers like most crabcakes are. The "lobsta" is amazing! Moist and not spongy. The staff here is amazing as well - so nice and friendly. One time our food took a little longer than expected - our choice and we knew it was going to take extra time - the chef came out to greet us and thank us for our patience and even gave us free dessert! All the recipes are created by the chef and they are delicious. I highly recommend this restaurant!!

    (5)

  • Eric J.

    The oysters were good. The mussel sauce was a bit too cheesy or thick for my liking. The calamari could be breaded lighter and spiced a bit lighter and more lemony zest, it was a bit on the heavy side

    (3)

  • M's R.

    Been there for the first time. Overall, it was an excellent choice. We had crab cakes, shrimp pasta and mussels for our appetizer. Kind of had a mess hall type of feeling, but in a good way. This place is definitely recommended for people who are looking for some seafood. Food was awesome and the service was good. Must try.

    (5)

  • Phil C.

    Can't stay away from this place, on one of the finest days so far this year. My good friend wanted some grilled shrimp and I wanted some oysters -- and it was Happy Hour. Rock 'n roll my friends, the oysters were superb-big and juicy. The spicy grilled shrimp again were deeeLicious, and after a couple "Ship Wrecks", I was "coastin".

    (5)

  • Mel I.

    Had the sea bass. Asked for it unbreaded (why bread such a beautiful piece of fish?). Came out perfectly! :-) also skipped the potatoes, and they offered streamed veggies...again, perfect. Service was also very good. Will definitely go back.

    (4)

  • Irene P.

    We had our Mother's 70th birthday there one Sunday afternoon. The food was awesome. We had a smattering of appetizers, entrees and desserts - all of which were cooked to order and were scrumptious! The service was off the charts - thanks to our server Charis. We had a party of 12 with lots of requests. She was very accommodating, smiled the entire time and never forgot a thing. She is probably the best server we've had anywhere in a long time! My compliments to Nantuckets Reef and to Charis for making our Mom's birthday the best!

    (5)

  • Rebecca S.

    Instead of dining in, my dad and I ordered our late lunch for pick-up (1:30PM). We ordered fish and chips: - fish: The fish was cod, and it was delicious -- it was juicy; taste was clean; clearly fresh. The batter was thin and golden and crispy. I loved the tartar sauce. Not your average mayo and relish. It was fresh and rich. The taste was neither offensive nor obtrusive with the fish. It was so good, I finished it off with the sweet potato fries (it was oh em gee delicious). Coleslaw comes with it, too, and it's not your typical coleslaw. It has hidden flavors to it that I've never tasted in coleslaw. It was delicious. - chips: We substituted the regular fries for sweet potato fries for one of the orders. I prefer the sweet potato fries -- great taste and texture; it would have been amazeballs if they were hot, but they were still good. Had we eaten there, I am certain that it would have been simply magical, but we had picked up the food and ate it when it wasn't straight from the kitchen (it was still worth it). Go there.

    (4)

  • Brian B.

    Good food, a tad bit pricey, but delicious. The waitstaff was a mixed bag. We saw a trainee following an experienced server. Ours appeared to be just out of training. Wished that he had offered the specials we overheard others receiving. That will come with time. Worth a return visit.

    (4)

  • Shervin S.

    Been here twice, once in january 2014 and just recently a few days ago. First time was ok. This time was terrible. Oysters - Small and tasted old. Unusually slimy. Calamari - Questionably soft... too soft... Way too tender. Also the membrane was not cleaned, when you bit into the the calamari.. It was stringy and you could clearly see the membrane was not cleaned off (almost like a thin rubber band was around the calamari). Also it tasted unusually strong of eggs.. In fact everything tasted of eggs.... Instead of some acidic sauce, they gave you this bland butter sauce. Not good. Stuffed Cod- Never have I had a fish taste so strongly of eggs... Everything tastes of eggs here... The veggie sides were good and cooked the way i liked it. But the fish tasted odd and had a very gelatinous texture. My friend tested it and agreed. Friend ordered Fish and Chips- Batter was oily and soggy, fish bland, and also tasted of eggs again.... Fries ok. Coleslaw was the freshest tasting non egg thing we had... However it was odd for coleslaw. Strong tastes of diced onion and cinnamon. WTF is going on here. Not a pleasant experience. With 3 drinks our bill was 99 dollars. Not worth it. We felt sick going home.

    (2)

  • Saba S.

    My husband and I went here for brunch and were very impressed! What we got: Mimosa and Bloody Mary (both awesome) Mussel appetizer (pretty good!) Lobster Roll (AWESOME) Crab Omelette (very good) I will definitely be coming back here soon!

    (5)

  • Joe M.

    Fantastic fresh lobster. The atmosphere is similar to an upscale Joe's Crab Shack.

    (4)

  • Jung H.

    The Best happy hour for oysters!

    (5)

  • Pat F.

    My husband and I were looking for a new restaurant to try for our anniversary, and we decided to try Nantucket's based on the reviews. Although it didn't have the hoped-for romantic atmosphere, it seems like the kind of place we'd enjoy going to any time that we are looking for a casual and fun place with pretty good seafood. The restaurant has a bright, seaside-style décor and plenty of seating for large groups as well as tables for 2-4. We were there Thanksgiving weekend and it was not very busy, so there was no wait. The staff was friendly, but it seems like some servers are more knowledgeable and helpful than others. Our waiter provided only basic information, but the waitress for the table next to us provided descriptions of several dishes and told them which ones she recommended (seemed honest recommendations, not pushing the most expensive stuff). Service was pretty fast, maybe because it wasn't that busy--it was only 45 minutes from the time we arrived to finishing our food (but we didn't have dessert or coffee). The food ranged from good to very good. The complimentary mini-corn muffins were slightly warm and pretty good. For appetizer we shared the Wicked mussels with a buttery sauce that has chorizo and chopped tomato--a little spicy, but tasty. We used the toasted bread that came with it to soak up the sauce. For entrees, I had the hot lobster roll with melted butter, grilled corn, and fries; my husband had the daily fish, which was grilled Arctic char with asparagus and rice. Since having great lobster rolls in Maine a few years ago, I am always seeking a good one in other places. This one was decent--not as good as the Maine lobster roll but better than the one I had in California last month. I mostly just ate the lobster and ignored the toasted roll it is served on. The grilled corn and fries were nothing special. Next time I might try the crabcake instead. My husband said his fish was perfectly done, but he scraped off the tarragon sauce because it was too rich for him. The asparagus was also good, and the rice was...rice. One thing that I really liked about this restaurant was the bathroom, because it was nicely designed and CLEAN. It's a shame that this is unusual enough to mention, but lately I've been in too many other restaurants--even fairly expensive ones--where the bathroom was not kept clean and supplied, and it is a real turnoff. So I hope Nantucket's Reef keeps up the good work in this area.

    (4)

  • Kevin C.

    The Happy Hour special for this place is pretty good. $1 oysters between 3 - 6PM EST, can't beat that for decent quality oysters. The fish tacos and salmon sliders were pretty tasty as well. What put the icing on the cake for me was the $3 all draft beers, 7 different selections. They currently have a double take deal for $30 off, when you purchase the coupon for $15. Worthy addition to the rockville area indeed. Would come again!

    (4)

  • Georgio S.

    Came back to give them a try and wow what a change. I had the seafood soup and the fish tacos. Both were great! I will be coming back.

    (4)

  • Kara D.

    This place is tiny, quaint, and the nautical ambiance is simple and not stuffy at all. We went one Saturday at noon for brunch and we were sat right away. We had the crab omelet and the crab eggs benedict--both were outstanding. They had a good price for all-you-can drink mimosas or bloody marys. Excellent service. I wish their bar was bigger for happy hours, though. They have outdoor seating as well.

    (4)

  • Al T.

    What an unexpected discovery - to find a seafood gem in No. Potomac/Gaithersburg! While the choice of entrées was a bit limited, the quality was generally high. My friend had the fried shrimp box, really enjoyed the shrimp, but found the french fries rather ordinary. I had a special nicknamed the Volcano which consisted of a "wheel" of top sirloin surrounding a mound of mashed potatoes. This was topped by a no-breading crab cake with a housemade sauce. This was completely delicious and one of the best versions of surf 'n' turf that I've ever had. Top sirloin is not my first choice in steak cuts, but this (I requested it be cooked medium rare) was tender and very flavorful - an unexpected surprise. Sophia, our server, was very attentive and took excellent care of us. I think we'll be returning for brunch soon.

    (4)

  • Sheri Y.

    This is a hidden gem at Rockville area. I like their deals about Mimosa but I ordered something sweet that goes better with coffee. I ordered wicked mussels, crab benny, and banana french toast. My waiter is very helpful and recommended a few good dishes. We followed his suggestion and order our dishes. Great food. I enjoy it a lot!! will come back again with family!

    (4)

  • Linda B.

    Been here 3 times so far. Love it! First time, for dinner, we got the lobster dip as a starter. Really nice amount of dip and chips, and really tasty. You can find a few pieces of lobster in the dip. I got the stuffed cod. I guess I'm not a fan of cod, but the crab meat that came with it was delicious. The dish also comes with some vegetables like squash or something. I said to my bf that I didn't like the vegetables, and our waiter (Chris) overheard me and offered me a different side! So I got a basket of fries. I really like their fries. Second time, for lunch, I got the wicked mussels all for myself, since bf doesn't like them. He got the crab dip, which was as good as it gets. The mussels were awesome. It's a pan of 20 something and comes with 2 pieces of thin toasted garlic bread. I don't remember when was the last time I had mussels. Plenty of the reviews suggest the wicked mussels, so that's why I got it and it definitely lived up to the hype. I got the crab cake burger, which was huge (for me) so I had to take half of it home. The amount of beef and crab was good. Third time, for dinner, we got the fried calamari. They were really big pieces compared to what I've had before, and had this kind of cheese sauce at the bottom of the dish. Very happy with it. I got a lobster sandwich which came with fries, melted butter, and corn on a cob. The lobster chunks were huge but the bread was really oily so I kind of left the bread and just ate the lobster. I love their fries and the corn was really good too. We had Chris as our waiter again. I don't think he remembers me but we had some nice conversation and laughs over a game (League of Legends) since he noticed I was wearing a jacket with the logo on it and complimented it. He's great and I hope I can ask for him to be my waiter the next time I go.

    (5)

  • Kevin W.

    A pleasing atmosphere, and a trendy looking comfortable restaurant with all the Theme of what you'd expect for a Northeastern named restaurant of Nantucket. The menu of course has multiples of Lobster dishes along with other seafood and fried Ipswich clams (a favorite) among many others. On this night, 2/17/14 I opted for the simple,,things that are staples when it comes to the northeast, and should be ones they do well with their eyes closed. My starter did not disappoint. The New England Clam Chowder is loaded with Clams,, NOT just Potatoes! Is as flavorful as any Ive had in recent memory, and of course served with a crisp Cracker, as well a side of mini Corn muffins ( a little cold and kind of dry) a nice flavorful dipping accompaniment to the Chowder. My Entree was the old stand by,, Lobster Roll,, A crispy yet soft inside buttery toasted bun loaded with Large Juicy Chunks of Lobster Claw meat! Tender delicious, and as flavorful as any I'd remembered. Where any of this falls short is the sides,, Shoestring french fries,, clearly a frozen brand, of some type, and Corn on the cob, clearly out of season. The Corn was tough, and basically not terribly edible. I think they could pay better attention to the seasons here, this is an oversight that really goes back to the Chef and poor buying choices. Buy in Season, or do a creative play on Corn in another manner that lends itself to less scrutiny of "Seasonal". I do understand that Corn on the cob naturally goes with the choice of a Lobster sandwich,, and it was served in the husk,, this did not go unnoticed, actually a very smart presentation, but again, out of season. A Good cooking/presentation effort for a sub par product. The waiter was a young guy and I could not help but feel a little rushed throughout the barely hour that I was there. The place was clearly not hurting for seats, but my waiter seemed to constantly ask me questions ( I need very little attention accept for when I order, and pay my bill) and seemed to want to hurry me along.. I was asked how everything was for my soup and my entree separately. In my opinion this question really needs happen once if at all. Anymore tends to give one pause as to any possible underlying problems I might be missing here? I gave in towards the end and kind of wanted to leave,, a shame cause I wanted to try the Bread pudding. All that said, and it deserved to be said, I like this place and I truly imagine there is much more to like here. As stated my Entree and Soup were Top notch, and Id come back for these by themselves. Just a little better attention to details on the Seasonal Produce and Fresh Cut Fries would be a real winner here, and frankly not hard to do. Being a former restaurant Chef of many years, I understand the difficulties of pleasing everyone, however here, their hurdles are actually not difficult. This place has some great opportunities with very little effort needed to succeed even more than they clearly do. I like Nantucket's Reef,, I hope to try it again.

    (3)

  • Jinsoo L.

    This is a very refreshing addition to the Rockville area. First of all, how many actual seafood restaurants are there here? I'm not talking about restaurants that serve seafood but restaurants that specialize in it. Anyway, I came here for dinner with a reservation made through OpenTable. It did take about 10 minutes for them to find a table but its fine. No big deal. I do question how old the host was. He must have been like 14. The restaurant is decorated very "Nautical". Looks like a place you would dine on the shores of NanTucket, hence the name. DUH. They have random things hung up on the walls like ropes and boat thingies. I always wondered where restaurants acquire these things. Like do they just goto a junkyard and pick up a bunch of crap and hang it on the wall? Or is there actually a merchant that specializes in junk you can hang on walls at restaurants? Anyway, I digress. I ordered 2 jumbo jump crab cakes and my girlfriend ordered the Mahi Mahi. I tasted a bit of the Mahi Mahi and can definitely vouch for everyone else's review that it tasted FRESH. Like it was literally caught and cooked on the same day. The star of the show however, was the crab cakes. There is absolutely NO FILLER in these bad boys. All crab meat. The portions were also huge and although pricey, it's definitely worth the price you pay. Usually when I order crab cakes, I don't feel that full afterwards since it's not too big but these definitely filled me up. Since we were so full, we did not order any dessert so have to try that next time. Also, it looks like they have killer happy hours that occur on a DAILY basis with really cheap beer, cocktails and appetizers. Only improvement that is needed is the presentation. Food DOES taste better when its presented in a more appetizing fashion. My rice was spilling over into the crab cakes and just looked sloppy. I think improving this would def. make this restaurant a 5 star IMO. Next time I go, I'll definitely try the full menu, including appetizer and dessert. But seriously, if you are looking for fresh seafood and don't awnt to drive to DC or Baltimore, go here! Support your local restaurants and don't go to chains like McCormick (BLEHHHHHH).

    (4)

  • Aileen L.

    The manager stopped by all the tables and checked in on us. Happy hour runs 4-7pm with nice $1 oysters (sold by the half dozen) and $5 appetizers. The wicked mussels are truly wicked! Our manager recommended removing the meat and letting them soak in the sauce which was a nice trick to let that flavor soak in. Thier calamari is also $5 during happy hour and is nice and crispy. Very good eat. Their New england stuffed cod is a must if you like fish and crab. Its a delicious combination. Its my go to entree now. They current have the volcano steak chefs special which is worth it. Its pricey ($32) but its definitely enough to be split amongst 2 people. Its mashed potatoes surrounded by the most tender and juicy skirt (or flank ?) steak then topped with a 5 oz crab "no" cake. My friend who never stops talking was silent for the rest of the meal while we savored this dish. The prices are a bit high for my taste but the quanity and quality is worth it. One table left all their entrees behind without touching them because they were full. One guy asked the waiter where his fried clams were because he was expecting tiny strips not oyster sized clams. What a waste of seafood. If it hadn't been in front of a toddler, I might have considered eating the untouched lobster roll. This place does get a bit pricey but the happy hour specials alone can fill you up. Management and wait staff have been very friendly and accommodating. Definitely my new favorite place!

    (5)

  • Olga S.

    Our second time at NR was not very impressive. The food was good, at least what we got to try. Service was bad, and it started with the fact that we sat for at least 15 minutes looking at waitresses chatting among themselves and nobody came up to us! It's not like it was busy, we just seemed invisible. We caught a manager who sat another couple to ask if we were going to get served today. He apologized and even bought us an appetizer, muscles that he said were the best there (which were definitely great!). He came up again later to apologize and even said our drinks were on him as well, he definitely went above and beyond to make up for it! However, another issue with service was the fact that we were told that they were out of oysters, which is understandable, however imagine my husband's surprise when after we were done with our dinner he saw a table behind us get oysters! When we asked our waitresses if they were out of oysters and how come other table got some, her response was "I don't know why they got oysters", ummmm cause you have them! Needless to say oysters is one of the reasons we got there and were very disappointed that were told they didn't have any while in fact they did. I can understand that she may have been under impression they were out, but I don't buy it that even later on she didn't realize that they did in fact them. Wait staff needs to be trained a lot better.

    (3)

  • Barb L.

    Wow!!!! Fantastic place!!! The service is outstanding! Our server, Chris was top notch. The food- great! I had the Chicken Pecan Salad and my husband had the Stuffed Cod. Now he is from Maine and knows good seafood! He thinks the food is superb! The best part was Alberto the Chef, came to our table. What a nice gentleman! Our review- two thumbs up!!!! Run, don't walk! We can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Elaine D.

    I can't believe the other positive reviews. I had lunch there yesterday. Had the lobster roll Connecticut Style. The tiny muffins were dry and fell apart when I tried to put butter on them. The french fries were so undercooked they were white and inedible. The lobster roll itself had little or no taste. I did like the roasted corn on the cob. Then I made the mistake of ordering dessert, key lime cheesecake. It was like no cheesecake I've ever eaten. It had two layers of filling, neither of which had ever seen a key lime. There was an ice cream scoop of some kind of topping on it, but it wasn't whipped cream or anything else I could identify. The server was young and earnest but seemed inexperienced. He never asked if I wanted a refill on my iced tea even when he served the dessert. If I'm in the area again, I'll head straight for Cava instead!

    (2)

  • Lilee N.

    highly suggest ordering the mussels appetizer and the crab cake entree.

    (4)

  • Kevin S.

    Undercooked tilapia. No shrimp cocktail at a seafood restaurant I thought was quite odd. Crab dip was a little soupy for my taste but did have fresh chunks of crab meat. The cornbread muffins are great and our server Jen was very good at her job. Prices were good at $22 for a main course and $11 for the appetizer. Good on tap beer selection too.

    (3)

  • JJ R.

    This place is excellent. Just visit and you'll see how awesome it is. I promise that you'll have a great time and enjoy the food.

    (5)

  • Mary L.

    Seafood is one of those meals that I really need to be in the mood for. Luckily, I was having a hankering for some last weekend and my friend decided to check this place out with me. This restaurant gets a little bit out there in the burbs but finding it wasn't too bad. Now, the food. They started out by bringing us some of their cornbread mini muffins with maple butter. It was okay. The muffins were a bit dry and I could have used more maple butter but oh well. We ordered the Lobsta & Spinach Queso to start. It wasn't bad. There were chunks of lobster in it and a fair amount of cheese as well. Very rich flavor. I got the Connecticut Lobsta Roll (with butter instead of mayo) that came with a side of grilled corn and french fries. It was pretty good. They brought out melted butter that you poured over the lobster instead of tossing it in the butter. The roll had a nice flavor to it and there was a nice amount of lobster. The french fries were the thin kind and the grilled corn wasn't bad. My friend got the Coconut and Pecan Crusted Tilapia as well. She said her dish was really good. Our waiter was really friendly and didn't hover. We were too full for dessert but some of the options looked pretty good. Why the 3 stars you may ask? Everything "wasn't bad." I think the problem is that I wasn't "wowed" by anything and my lobster roll got a little too seafoody after a while. I know, strange since it's a seafood restaurant but I'm not a fan of "seafoody." Overall: "not bad" food + friendly service + a little too far out in the burbs = I would come here again if I'm hankering for some seafood and possibly explore the menu some more with another dish.

    (3)

  • Michael H.

    Went here on a Wednesday to catch up with old college buddies. The calamari and mussel appetizers were both good. The mussel sauce was tasty but a little salty. Got the steak volcanoes which is a play on surf and turf. You get a steak with a big heaping crab cake and pile of mashed potatoes. They definitely don't skimp on the crab like other places so that's a big plus. The food overall is ok with some nice beers they have on tap including regional ones. Great service so giving it 4 stars.

    (4)

  • Nik D.

    Went for dinner on a Sunday evening. The food was well prepared and plentiful. I had the crab 'no' cakes which are two very large crab cakes of lump crab meat with little to no filler. I only ate one and took one home. Everyone at our table liked their food. The server was attentive and responsive. I thought most of the dishes were too large and as a result the prices were also a bit high. They could offer some smaller dishes at lower prices. For example, I would have preferred to have a single crab cake instead of two. If we had known how large the dishes were we would have ordered less and shared. We tried two desserts. Both were delicious and also large. Each dessert can be shared by three or four people. The negatives? Very loud. It was difficult to talk to someone two seats away. And as mentioned above, the prices were a bit high.

    (4)

  • Steve J.

    As others have said, the crab cake is excellent. My wife thought she had found the best crab cake at Bethany Beach last week but when she tried Nantucket's Reef's version she said THAT was the best. The small container of cole slaw that came with it was also very tasty. The tartar sauce had a slightly off taste and needed salt, which I added. Next time I will ask for a substitute for the sweet potato fries. Nothing wrong with them but I like minimally-processed veggies (steamed, etc) over fries. Our server Sophie was very attentive.

    (4)

  • Meghann L.

    I came here for the first time for my birthday brunch with some friends. They were very accommodating when taking my reservation- started at 8 people and had to bump it up twice to a total of 12, then two more showed up the day of and they easily accommodated that so I was very thankful! The food was tasty, we all got the bottomless mimosa deal (which is GREAT deal! $7, can't do much better than that) and the server was really friendly and attentive, separated our checks without us even having to ask. They also gave me a complimentary dessert (key lime cheesecake) which I unfortunately couldn't finish because I was stuffed, but I had a few bites and it was awesome. I had the Crab Benny brunch entree, and it was really tasty but unfortunately one of the egg yolks was broken when I received it. The drinks were good, but the bloody mary I got was a little lack luster- I know I'm being really picky...a broken yolk and a lack luster bloody mary? But when it comes to brunch I can be kind of serious. I'm looking forward to an expanded menu, since I know this place is relatively new. Overall I was very pleased, and all of my friends were as well! I'm definitely coming back :-)

    (4)

  • Joseph B.

    Beware! Management has stop honoring DoubleTakeOffers during happy hours. This is deceptive advertising because they've taken redeemable offers for the past 2 years. Good service. Matt and Nicholas are excellent bartenders.

    (2)

  • Janice L.

    We came here for an early Father's Day dinner. My dad is a fan of seafood so after reading the reviews on yelp we decided to give it a try. First off, service was good. Our waiter, Arturo, was very attentive and patiently entertained my parents' numerous questions regarding the menu. Having been a waitress myself, I appreciate and value good service! Since it was happy hour (from 3 to 6pm) we ordered the fish tacos, along with the wicked mussels, to start. My mom ordered the double lobster tails, my dad ordered the crab "no" cakes, and I ordered the stuffed cod. The bread basket consisted of mini cornbread muffins with honey butter. They were so good, we asked for a refill! Our entrées came out before our appetizers. They were accidentally intercepted by another table. But our server was very apologetic about the error and we soon had ours as well. Wicked mussels: a must order! Absolutely delicious and you'll want to drink the broth after. In fact, we did! Fish tacos: very flavorful and a good amount of fish. Awesome deal for happy hour but I don't think I would order them outside of happy hour. Crab "no" cake: cute name which accurately reflects the mounds of crab meat that came out. The minimal bread crumbs were just enough to hold the shape and did not take away from the crab at all. Excellent value as you really do get a lot of crab. Stuffed cod: I'm not sure I'm actually a fan of cod so this dish was just average for me. I did enjoy the crab stuffing and broccolini though. Double lobster tail: this looked amazing but unfortunately, this dish disappointed us tonight. Something was "off" about the lobster tails and as much as I personally hate to send food back, this one had to go. Our server asked if he could make something else or have the dish remade, but I think we'll just have to give this dish a try again another time. Maybe a bad batch of tails or something. To the restaurant's credit though, they did take this off the final check. We spoke to the chef, Alberto, who was filling in for the manager this evening, and he expressed genuine interest in our feedback about our meals and showed concern over our comments about the lobster. In fact, as we left he was already looking into our reported issue. Needless to say, I feel reassured this was a one-off occasion and will give the tails a try again. Verdict: I'm happy to say I've found a seafood place nearby! The ambience really makes you feel like you're in New England. I'm looking forward to coming back to try the oysters and retry the lobster tails.

    (4)

  • Patty A.

    I should have looked at the menu before going back. I was here in Aug.2014 and the food was great...The Crab Cakes were as portrayed, not sure if they still are. Bread pudding exceptional. I think the bartender forgot to put the Kalua in my 2nd white Russian, but drank it anyway. Went a 2nd time and had the Lobster roll, did not care for it but think it was more me as I don't like the claw meat. This 3rd time was it. I ordered the crab dip and it came with tortillas vs. the bread I had it with previously. It had about 3 pieces of crab and no way I was paying 10.50 for that, so it went back. The shrimp roll was a stale roll with lettuce and fried shrimp on the top, no sauce unless you count the tartar sauce they served on the side. Too bad. I will stick with Red Lobster!

    (2)

  • Katelyn K.

    I am not sure where I had read about Nantucket's Reefs opening, but with a fiance from New England, we are always excited to try a new seafood place, particularly one that bills itself as authentic. We came in on a Sunday afternoon at 1pm. We were promptly greeted and given the option of inside or outside seat and were seated immediately in the dining room. The decor is cute and very reminiscence of many New England restaurants. Props on the authentic feel. After being seated, we were given lunch menus, as lunch is served everyday until 3pm (according to their website). Kevin was our server. He provided good service, regularly checked in with us and provided us his recommendations on his favorite dishes on the menu. We both have standards that we order at restaurants like this so we can judge them adequately against each other. We both started with the Clam Chowda. While it was creamy and rich, the bacon flavor overpowered the taste of any clams in it. My bowl had way more chucks of bacon than clams. I love bacon, but I wanted clam chowder, not bacon chowder. The fiance had similar complaints. As we say looking around the dining room after we finished our chowder, we noticed everyone else had rolls. We never got any of these. Before we could point it out our meal was already out. I had the Lobsta Roll (Maine Style or Original Style). Lots of huge pieces of TAIL meat. Serious props on this. You usually get claw mean exclusively in this, it was nice to see that it was tail meat. However, I am use to having celery in my lobster roll, so it was a little too bland for my tastes. I had to add pepper to it. He had the Pick 2 Fried Reef Basket with Scallops and Whole Belly Clams. It is hard to get whole belly clams outside of New England so these was a serious plus. Overall, his meal was good. For dessert, I had the bread pudding, which was incredible. The caramel sauce on top should be sold separately so that I could sit at home and just eat it over ice cream when I'm being moody. When the bill came, my fiance kept looking at it like something was wrong. However, he wouldn't tell me what was wrong nor would he say anything. I finally got out of him when we got home that we were overcharged for our meals. After checking on the website, we realized we were charged dinner prices for our lunches. Overall, sort of disappointed. But given that they opened only 2 weeks ago, we will try again when they work out some of the kinks.

    (3)

  • Lucy X.

    Great happy hour deals for yummy drinks (I recommend the Reef Breeze, so so so good!) and fresh raw oysters. The wicked mussels appetizer was delicious and practically entree-sized. Like the clean atmosphere and superb service.

    (4)

  • Philip W.

    An excellent restaurant . Have had dinner, lunch and brunch there. All were outstanding. Food was superb, service outstanding. Owner/chef comes around to check at every table. Prices very reasonable. Nice wine list.

    (5)

  • Michelle N.

    Awesome place! If you want great seafood and amazing service, this is the place to go in MoCo! We just went for the first time yesterday and was so pleasantly surprised! This place will definitely be added to our regular list of fav restaurants to go to! I called yesterday morning to make a reservation of 6 people plus a baby for their dinner service and they were absolutely accommodating and friendly on the phone. When we got there, the table was ready so we were quickly taken to our seats. Their dining area is very open and spacious. They also have outdoor seating for spring/summer time which the hubby and I will def check out in the summer. Our server, Dustin was awesome! Very friendly, provided great suggestions on the menu, and was very informative. For appetizers we ordered the tempura asparagus (a special for the night) and the wicked mussels. Both pretty good....the asparagus was very fresh and mussels had a lot of great flavor. Everyone except myself and my sister ordered the Volcano surf and turf special which was mashed potatoes, skirt steak, and crab cake with a Cajun cream sauce. Everyone who had it loved it! My sister had the lobster tail and I had the crab cakes which were AWESOME!! Absolutely no filler and no shells....seasoned great....amazing. The portions were very big and generous. And if there was anything to complain about it would be that! We had lots of to go boxes! We also had the brownie (ok) and the key lime cheesecake (really good)! Overall, the experience at Nantucket Reef was absolutely wonderful! Great food, awesome service, and a warm and friendly ambience made it a truly great dining experience. You must go and try this place ASAP!!!!

    (5)

  • Steve G.

    Pretty good. I had fried clams and they were as good as anything we have ever had in New England. Definitely will go back.

    (4)

  • Tammy K.

    It's funny to me that this place takes reservations. This is not fine dining though it kind of wants to be. Very kid friendly, which is a minus for me but may be a plus for you. It's hard to explain this place. It has a very nice entrance, but then the dining room does not have any ambiance at all. It is quite noisy. My hostess tired to seat my party of 2 in a seat right next to the entrance, but deigned to provide a seat in the main dining room instead. Kind of rude about it even though it wasn't too busy and there were ample tables. The waiter was clueless. Confused our dishes, and then had the gumption to say that we were wrong (a scramble was an omelet). Really? The biggest sin for me was that I ordered hot tea, and they didn't understand the "hot" part. My first mug of water was merely tepid. My second mug was steamy but still not hot enough to really brew the tea. I often order hot tea restaurants, and I've never seen this problem before. This should not be so hard! The food itself was reasonable, which is why it gets 3 stars. My dining companion really liked her dish and will probably return. I'm not sure if I'll give it another go. If I do, I will bring my own mug of hot tea!

    (3)

  • Michael C.

    Nantucket's Reef opened a few weeks ago as a New England-style seafood restaurant. I came here last week with a party of six and had a great experience all the way. Christian, the owner, showed us to our seats and chatted for awhile and our waiter was courteous. The restaurant has a nautical/sailing theme and well-executed decor. For appetizers we had the Wicked Mussels, which come with bacon and a savory sauce, and East Coast oysters, which had exactly the texture and consistency you want in a fresh oyster. The Fish and Chips that I ordered for an entree was deliciously flaky and light and beer-battered with a local brew. The fries were nice and crisp, and the Caesar salad I ordered on the side was a nice compliment. Overall, this place is decently priced and the food and staff are great. Would go again!

    (5)

  • holamiis E.

    Average. Our server was a nice, young kid who pretty much had no idea what he was doing. We had to wait 10-15 min to get our bar drinks. Our appetizer came out 1 minute before our meals. They only had one kind of oyster, which came with no description. The shrimp scampi was more like a shrimp alfredo with salad shrimp. The fried clams were mushy and the lobster roll was wet. The prices were fine but the food was so average that it seemed overpriced. It might deserve another chance based on the fact everyone else gave it good reviews, but I probably won't be convinced to give it one.

    (2)

  • B Z.

    Excellent service, excellent food. 5 stars to their Bolivian chef that makes sure you like the food. Friendly staff and great location.

    (5)

  • S. O.

    My last visit to Nantucket was definitely the worst. My fiancé and I went there on a Saturday afternoon for lunch. First off, we were greeted by the unfriendly looking hostess (short girl with glasses) and taken to our table. The restaurant was very empty at 2pm. There were plenty of open tables (literally only 3 tables were filled out of about a dozen) but tell me why the hostess led us right next to a table of Asian people (I'm Asian btw). Talk about segregation! So this hostess actually ended up being our waitress also which sucked because she was unpleasant probably because she was dying to leave work. Half way through meal and introduced us to Darrel who was taking over her shift. That was a mood changer! He was very friendly and provided us with great customer service. Onto the food... Everything we ordered this time was full of butter and grease. We got the crab dip appetizer which came with super buttery bread. I think this dish would have been better with plain bread. We also ordered the mussels which were delicious with the exception of more buttery bread. The crab cake was probably the highlight of our meal. We finished our meal with a key lime cheesecake. Unfortunately we couldn't enjoy it after filling our stomachs and arteries with all that butter and greasy food. Needless to say... This went from being one of my favorite restaurants to a place I probably won't go back to for a while.

    (3)

  • Ellen W.

    I loved the fried lobster! Our group also ordered the salmon, ribs, fried clams, macaroni and cheese, and fish tacos. Everything was delicious.

    (5)

  • Ngan T.

    Husband and I stopped by for dinner last night. We had a great experience at this restaurant! The food is delicious, the atmosphere is relaxing and intimate. Our server Darryl made our first time dinning at Nactucket's Reef a joy. We had wicked mussels for appetizer, lobsta roll, and fish tacos (3 tacos for $11!!!) as our entrees. All were very tasty and well cooked. We're looking forward to coming back again and again. They also have a great happy hour special and late night special. I can't wait!

    (5)

  • Vic C.

    It's 18 degrees tonight, so looking for a nice warm spot. Unfortunately, it was almost as cold inside as out. The server said the heat was broken. Did the manager come over and apologize? Did they bring in some space heaters? Did they offer some coffee to warm us up? No, no, and no! Can they possibly have less regard and respect for their diners? But what about the food? Not bad, not great. Definitely serviceable.

    (1)

  • Therese W.

    Nice find for seafood. We had the special, lobster Thermidor and lobster roll. Pleasant atmosphere and good service, especially Terrea our server.

    (4)

  • Zara K.

    Lobster roll yayyyyyy... bread and butter pudding nayyy !! Too bitter and not enough caramel sauce ! Pudding should be sweet! But if you like that kind if bitter pudding taste with cranberries go ahead ! The oysters were alright will def go for happy hour but they aren't worth the price asides from happy hour !! It's def overpriced for the food !

    (3)

  • Ashley F.

    Awesome crab cakes~ so yummy! The grilled seafood plate is delicious as well. Very cool spot and awesome cocktails.

    (4)

  • Britt D.

    My wife and I went on a Thursday evening arriving about 6:45. The place was busy but there was no waiting. The people who work here are very friendly and polite, service was fast and the place is very clean. The dinning room was a bit loud, but then it was quite full as well. Now for the bad part. The food, it was, well disappointing. We had read the reviews and were expecting great seafood. We order the Wicked Mussels as suggested by Katie, they were okay, but most of the shells were empty and the number of mussels in the sauce didn't seem to match the number of empty shells, it seemed there were far more empty shells than there were mussels without shells. It tasted okay but I wouldn't have said it was a MUST have. I ordered the Maui Maui grilled and it was okay, not great, a bit over cooked (dry) but edible, Again, nothing to write home about. My wife had the grilled lobster or lobsta as they call it was over cooked, flavorless and rubbery in texture, the grilled corn on the cob was the same, over cooked, mushy, and flavorless. The french fries were okay though. At $19 it was a high price for okay french fries. After all the 4 and 5 star reviews I don't know if we hit it on a bad night, they hired a new cook, a new supply chain, but the only thing that kept this place from getting a one star from me was the staff being so nice, friendly, prompt. If the food was up to "Filet-O-Fish" standards I would have given them four stars. But for the price paid the food was well poor. We traveled from Silver Spring to Rockville just to try this place out... not worth the trip. Again, I want to commend the staff at Nantucket Reef they were great. But if you want more than great staff and actually want some good seafood try somewhere else.

    (2)

  • Brian C.

    I'm not a big fan of mussels but looking at the reviews everybody recommended the wicked mussels and so I tried it and not were they spot on. Very welcoming staff nicely themed restaurant with reasonable prices. Did I mention that the food was good as well. If your on a diet the waiter ca even offer a healthier version of the entree...at least ours did. I'll be coming back again.

    (5)

  • Ryan W.

    Great service great food. I had the the clam chowder and the house Caesar Salad very good . And to top it off i had the fish tacos they had loads of flavor and had no fishy taste of smell. I will be back very soon .

    (4)

  • Cooper H.

    Really enjoyed this place. Nice ambiance, great beer selection, delicious food, and an insanely awesome happy hour. We were in the bar area and the service was very friendly and relaxed. Just a great experience all around. Definitely recommend.

    (5)

  • James B.

    We Went for a large table birthday party on a Friday night. The place was standing room only, things were clean, excellent servers and the manager checked in to say hi to us all. The food was fresh and well presented, and the several dishes I tasted were delicious. We are going back. Glad to see a successful restaurant finally in this space!

    (4)

  • Gina S.

    We went to Nantucket Reef Monday PM 2/17, and really wanted to like this place, we so very much need a good local eatery. I had read the reviews on Yelp, and had hoped the management had too and improvements were implemented. 1- We held the door open for an older couple just leaving, and asked "How was the food?" The gentleman stated- I ordered the steak and it was lousy. Ok after twisting my families arm to come, I wasn't backing down, besides who orders steak at a seafood joint 2- We asked to be seated at a combo booth/chair table, there was an entire row of such tables open by the window, but they squeezed us next to a young couple obviously on a date, when I say "us", me, my husband and 2 tweens- really sorry date couple- what was the hostess thinking? 3- We ordered, - having lived on both coasts, and owned my own clam boat- I know a few things about seafood. a. Beer line suddenly broke after we ordered drafts, and the bar maid was closing up the lines.... b. The calamari, arrived rapidly, but chewy and cold. We pointed this out to our waitress 'Sophia', who proceeded to tell us "What she tells ALL her customers, the calamari is very tender" and did nothing to fix the order. c. We requested water with lemon 3X, before I finally asked another staff to bring us lemons. Where was the corn bread everyone speaks of? d. Did I mention that when I asked what sides came with the lobster, I was instructed to read the other side of my menu, obviously our waitress had better things to do then serve us? e. We ordered fish and chips & the chicken tenders- fries were cold (as in kids did not eat them), crab cakes (very tasty) but served luke warm on a cold plate. I had the lobster boil special- Not steamy hot, but rather barely warm and over cooked- as in the tail was tough and chewy f. While still finishing our meal at about 8:45 PM, with other customers present, the staff began sweeping out under the tables- clearly time for us to go... we skipped dessert.... So it seems this place will come and go even faster than their predecessors, which is unfortunate- the food has potential; unfortunately the staff have still not been trained despite the numerous posts of complaints on Yelp, and there is non-existent management, one often begets the other. For a $100 + meal, I would have been happier almost anywhere else.

    (1)

  • I O.

    Bam! I cannot get enough of this place! New England seafood, lobster rolls, lobster bisque, mussels...doesn't matter. You cannot go wrong! The food is fresh! Service is very attentive! Décor is very New England. It's about time they put a quality restaurant in that spot.

    (5)

  • Merle T.

    Delicious food and wait staff was very attentive. Crab dip and calamari are to die for as well as the stuffed cod. And the steak was yummy and cooked to perfection. Can't wait to try brunch and the fantastic happy hour. Great place and will be back often--a must try--you will love it!

    (5)

  • Michelle W.

    Went on a Sunday for late after-brunch lunch (scrunch?). I ordered the crab no-cake platter and my bf ordered the fish and chips. It took a while to get our orders, the waiter said the chef wasn't satifisfied with the first batch of fish and re-did them. He said they also re-did the crab cakes for me... The crab cakes were huge. They weren't kidding that they are mostly just crab, and lots of it! I only ate one (would be great if they offered a slightly cheaper one cake platter with additional cake as an add on price). They had a good flavor, but were not broiled enough (very pale colored and room temperature, which made me wonder if they really did a second batch or just sat there while my bf's order was cooked). What I really really loved was the tartar sauce--not too tart and great flavors! I definitely had order envy--my bf's fried fish and chips were really good--it looked and tasted like it just came out of the fryer and the fish batter was really yummy, almost reminded me of funnel cake dough. The fish was very fresh and light. The coleslaw was creamy and had some sort of cinnamon/curry flavor, I like it a lot but it could use just a hint of lemon or vinegar to balance the cream. All in all, not bad and we plan to go again to try the other menu items. The ambiance is what you would expect for a place called Nantucket Reef (refined casual--you could feel comfortable in beach clothes or your Sunday clothes).

    (3)

  • Robin O.

    First time last night to Nantucket's Reef, I'd give it a C+. Too many technical/policy/cooking errors to rate any higher. It has a nice, pleasant, upscalish atmosphere that's highly reminiscent of the layout of the North East Kitchen in DE. For starters, hubby and I agreed on the Clam Chowder, should be renamed: ONION, Bacon Chowder, as onion was the primary flavor followed by bacon and zero clam flavor in this thick, creamy stew. There were bits of chopped (canned) clams at bottom, some so rubbery they had to be spit out. Lastly, soup was a bit too salty. I asked our server for bread, she said they don't serve bread (for free, like 95% of all restaurants) However, she then offered me a side order of grilled garlic bread, ($2.00) which is served with other apps. I said yes since I like bread WITH my soup. Unfortunately, it came about 80% through soup and had bitter, burnt black garlic chips on it. MANAGEMENT: I should NOT have to BEG FOR BREAD, when spending $100 on dinner. ($98.45 before tip) Hubby wanted raw oysters, but I wasn't in the mood. They only had Blue Points which he doesn't care for and from Alaska. Never had Alaska so he asked if he could order 3 so he could try them. Server said "No, we only serve 6 or 12." This is a stupid policy and a simple solution would be, just prorate! Never say NO to a customer when something is SO EASILY accomplished, like serving 3 raw oysters. Many restaurants serve by the oyster, they lost money by saying no. Hubby ordered a Crab Cake. ($17) It was nothing to write home about, a touch on the fishy side, but edible. He didn't want sweet potato fries so they brought him regular fries, which were good and served hot. He had a side of cole slaw and did not like. It had cumin and something sweet in it, apples? Allspice? It was weird and flavors did not meld with the other foods. A really good version of standard (what everyone expects) cole slaw would have been nice. Now for the coup de gras... I almost fainted when I found out from Yelp (which is how we found this place) that they serve IPSWICH CLAMS, (Soft Shelled Clams) which I love. So hard to find! They have these Fried Reef Seafood Baskets in which you can pick from 1-4 items... Oysters, Scallops, Shrimp and Ipswich Clams. I ordered a choice of 2: The Clams and Oysters. Overall: ANNOYING. The breading was exactly the same on both clams and oysters, so it was impossible to tell them apart from just looking at them and they were mixed together, so I never knew from bite to bite what I was eating. The Clams which are also called Fat Bellied Clams (tender and juicy) were killed and dry. Many of the clams little sac fell out of the batter which made direct contact with oil and they were shriveled and ruined. The oysters were dry as well. Not one juicy bite and WAY too much greasy, soggy breading. They were cooked too long in not hot enough oil. The breading is too heavy, thin it out or use a dry flour breading as opposed to a wet batter. (I ate about half, pick through the breading, then gave up.) Now, for the BEST thing I ate at Nantucket's Reef. It was the deep fried lobster tail which I added onto my Fried Basket for an additional cost (Total $30.00 for my dish). It was tender and cooked perfectly. Bonus, was that it was served with REAL drawn butter and I could see the milk solids, as opposed to butter flavored oil, that so many other places use. However, it had way too much seasoning. Their house seasoning has a pleasant flavor it's just too salty. It's like combo of Seasonal and Old Bay. I must have drank a gallon of water when I came home and even today, I can still taste the salt in my mouth and throat. My last gripe with this place is that even though the name is Nantucket's and they have lobster on the menu in various forms, they do not serve fresh steamed lobster. I asked the server "Do you have steamed Lobster?" she said they don't even have a steamer in the kitchen, but assured me that their lobster is served 'fresh'. So I'm left to wonder, how does one obtain 'fresh' lobster meat, if one is not steaming live lobsters, then ripping them apart for the meat? Hint: If it comes from a Sysco truck already processed -- then it's NOT 'fresh'. I would love an owner to respond to that question. Lastly, our server was good in the sense that she tried hard to please. I did not complain to her about the food, as I wasn't in the mood to lodge a complaint in the middle of dinner. (Sometimes I AM in the mood, haha.) I did see a gent glad handing customers at group tables but he did not come over to us. If he had come over to us and asked about the food, I would have told him. While there were other items on the menu that piqued my interest, time will tell if we're drawn to go back, but for now, I'm still gulping my water trying to recuperate from last night's salt fest.

    (3)

  • Jake A.

    So based upon the reviews on both yelp and open table we decided to make this our spot for Mother's Day dinner. Needless to say we were disappointed. The service was fine they were accommodating to the larger than anticipated party and the waiter was prompt and respectful. Appetizers came and the west coast oysters were tiny and actually looked like Chesapeake oysters. The mussels were quite good. So props for that. Once the entrees came I was looking forward to a swordfish dinner. I substituted rice for mashed potatoes my wife got salmon my brother got grilled scallops and my mother got ahi tuna. The only thing that was the right temp was the ahi tuna. My food over all was tepid. Same with my wife's dinner. However my brothers scollops were way over cooked. Overall this was not a pleasant experience. I had high hopes and was very disappointed. I don't see us returning.

    (2)

  • Alexander R.

    Great seafood, fair price, and solid ambiance. Was in the area for work and wish I'd eaten here every night.

    (5)

  • Caroline G.

    The service here was wonderful. Overall, the food was good, and worth a visit. The only issue we had which was quickly resolved were the mussels we ordered. Quite a few of them in our batch were closed even after they were cooked, and served to us like that. When I asked our server about it, he said it was fine. However, it was just so fishy that we mentioned it to him again, and after bringing it back to the kitchen, the chef came out and profusely apologized to us and insisted on giving us a new set of mussels. I appreciated that. My friend and I shared the crabcake entree and the fish tacos which ended up being quite a decent amount of food! Outside of the crabcakes being a little on the salty side, the food here was okay. Probably won't be one of the places I visit often, but a new addition to the Rockville area!

    (3)

  • Christopher K.

    Having eaten a LOT of seafood on Cape Cod in my life, we had to try Nantucket Reef, though we entered skeptical. All in all it was a solid 4 star experience. Service was good, place was clean, and the food overall was very good. The mussels were particularly nice, and the stuffed cod matched what we would expect on the Cape. The chowder is subpar relative to the better Cape chowders, but if one accepts its different, more towards a soup than chowder it isn't bad. Strong in the bacon, but also lighter than a typical chowder. Desserts were very good as well. I would say given Montgomery county has very, very few decent seafood restaurants, Nantucket reef is notably good. Certainly better than any of the chains. It'd be unfair to compare to places right on the water, but for here, it is extremely good.

    (4)

  • Sue G.

    I've heard so much about this place, so I decided to check it out for myself. I went there on a week day, so it wouldn't be crowded. But I also made a reservation, just in case. We were seated right away. They took our drink order, & I decided to try their White Wine Sangria because I recently had a Cocktail Party, & made one of my own & wanted to see how their's compared. By the way, mine was fantastic, it was Bobby Flay's recipe! The waiter said that it was new to their menu. When he brought it to me I already knew that it wasn't going to be good because the only fruit in it was tiny pieces of oranges & lemons. So I took a sip of it & it tasted bitter. If you know anything about Sangria, it is not supposed to taste bitter. I didn't like it at all, & just put it aside. Then it came to our order. I had already seen a lot of things online that I was hoping were going to be on the menu. But to my surprise they were not. I was expecting to see a bigger selection. Based on what they advertise online, with all the pictures, I was really a little underwhelmed by the menu. But, I ordered the stuffed cod, but instead of the rice, I asked the waiter if I could have the sweet potato fries. When the waiter brought me my order, it looked pretty good. It was a nice size portion. The first thing I tried was the sweet potato fries. They were delicious! Then I tried the cod, it too was delicious! It also came with some mixed veggies, which consisted of peppers, zucchini, & squash, not too bad. So all in all, the dinner was very tasty, but I guess I chose the wrong drink! I was too full for dessert, so I can't tell you about their desserts.

    (3)

  • Jason H.

    Today (4 days later) we received a personal letter from Steve, the owner of the restaurant apologizing for the level of service that we experienced previously. I am impressed that he would reach out to us like this, and we are certainly willing to try Nantucket's again. Everyone has a bad night once in a while. Will update again with our next visit.

    (3)

  • Sam W.

    First seafood place after moving down from Boston was this place...how ironic. I tried hard not to compare. The menu was simple, had alternatives to seafood and was kid-friendly. The stuffed cod, crab cakes, and fish and chips were all tasty, and the chocolate brownie sundae and bread pudding satisfying. Kids definitely had enough variety to get them fed. The service was the best part, which makes this a solid place for a relaxing evening out.

    (4)

  • Theresa T.

    Not a bad spot considering the lack of seafood places in the area. Decent food with pretty good prices. Great crab cake like other reviews had mentioned. Casual and laid back vibe with attentive service. Solid average 3 star neighborhood joint. I'd come back for the happy hour, which seems to be a good deal.

    (3)

  • Brittany K.

    I went here with my husband and mother-in-law for dinner. First off, the happy hour specials are great. We ordered $1 oysters and $5 calamari. The calamari is humongous and delicious. My husband ordered the crabcake and lobster tail, which he said was cooked amazing. The crab cake is literally all crab, no filler. They are not lying. I had the ahi tuna salad, which was phenomenal. The tuna was incredibly fresh and cooked perfectly. My mother-in-law had the lobster which she thought was great also. Great place for happy hour, great place for dinner. Service was also great.

    (5)

  • Robert L.

    I must say, it is refreshing to find a seafood restaurant in MoCo. I've been here twice with my wife, once for lunch and tonight for dinner, and both times the quality of the food and preparation made for an enjoyable meal at a very reasonable price. We've had the oysters, mussels, scallops, clams, and GULF shrimp. All have been excellent, despite the New England mentality that all seafood must be fried, but for Lobstah. The raw oyster preparation was cleanly executed with the essential accoutrements. The availability of fresh, never frozen GULF shrimp makes this Florida boy very happy; there's nothing like gulf shrimp. I hope this place sticks around and continues to provide quality seafood at a respectable price.

    (4)

  • Michael S.

    First time. Food well prepared. The "wicked mussels" are very good/nicely spiced. One of the best we've had. The cake less crab cake, :NO filler was quite good, the way a crab cake should be prepared. Also, the baked cod with crab was very good, and the veggies were prepared perfectly. We will be going back...

    (4)

  • Mike M.

    Second visit, dove a bit more deeply in to the menu, went for sandwiches and salads, very tasty. Great service. Not very crowded (the location continues to be a challenge). Give this place a try, you'll like it.

    (4)

  • Morgen C.

    My boyfriend and I went here on Saturday afternoon. The service was excellent. The waitress went over the menu and made suggestions, it's always nice to have someone that has tried everything on the menu! We go the calamari which was very good. My boyfriend got the fried lobster tail and steamed lobster tail. The fried lobster tail was very unique but was def something to try if you like lobster. He loved both. I got the salmon and it was cooked perfectly. I also got the key lime cheesecake and it was just heavenly!! I would def recommend this place if you want some good seafood and a relaxed atmosphere. The happy hour is 3-6 daily and they have wonderful specials. We will be bringing our family back very soon!!!!

    (5)

  • Mike K.

    So there I was in Tenleytown with some of my new best friends at Dancing Crab and like a romantic fool became misty eyed over my memory of the best crab cakes ever at Nantucket Reef and, lawd helpme, I ordered the cakes at Dancing Crab and at $28 for two four ounces of not jumbo lump, I fell into a contemplative state and vowed to crab for my crab cakes only at Nantucket Reef for ever and ever. So Traville Square be kind to Stevie and John Boy and keep the crowds coming to the baddest and crabbiness spot in DC proper. And ping me please when they add key lime pie to the menu. I told Bill from O'Donnells to stop by, by the way. Props though to Dancing Crab, it was a hoot. Two pound lobster $32, what a deal, and a troubadour that got us singing and acting goofy, see the Facebook posting. They will be closed for remodeling but it is a nice place with a great blond (I forget her name) server who has been there forever and would be a great addition to the Reef. Gimme da Reef Stevie!

    (5)

  • Anne S.

    We were traveling in the Rockville, MD area and I Yelped for delicious crabcakes. This location received many favorable comments so we decided to give it a try. We were not disappointed.......delicious crabcakes were enjoyed!

    (4)

  • Annie K.

    This place is super awesome. The food was DELICIOUS - we came here for brunch on a Sunday and everything about our experience was great. Service was excellent and everyone was very considerate as I was in a gigantic leg brace and crutches. I had the Crab Benny - I don't even like eggs Benedict but this meal freakin changed my life. The boyfriend had the Bay Sound omelette which he also loved, and was happy it wasn't overwhelming with the cream cheese. We also ordered sides of bacon and sweet potato fries which were phenomenal. Home fries came with both meals and were also good. Waiter offered me minute maid lemonade or make me a fresh one - you can guess which I had, also delicious. The chef - Alberto - was very hospitable and even set up a booster seat on the ground for my leg. And apparently, we even met the owner in the parking lot who was also a cool guy who didn't even brag the place was his. Boyfriend is from Boston and felt like he was back in the Cape. We will definitely be back and bring everyone we know.

    (5)

  • Joel S.

    Neomi, the kids and I ate here after Neomi returned home. I liked the place. Neomi not so much. I had lobsta roll and I shared 24 oysters with my kids, which were (the oysters) $1 each because it was happy hour. The oysters were small but with that price you cannot complain. The place is new and nice. I would go again. Neomi unfortunately not. I don't know why. But this is my review and I liked the place.

    (4)

  • Tiffany V.

    This food is excellent and different from a lot of what's in the area. I had the best crab cake I have had anywhere in the area by far. I never like mussels before but Nantucket's Reef quickly changed my mind about that. The restaurant is nice yet still has a very casual, friendly feel. We have brought our 3.5 year old with us and she loves the food and decorations. After two trips here I give it a 5 start rating and would love to go back and try other dishes. Highly recommend it, especially the crab cakes!

    (5)

  • Andrew G.

    I was extremely exited when I heard Nantucket's reef was coming to the neighborhood. I went opening night and shares a few appetizers (wicked mussels, lobster quest dip, and crab dip) all of which we excellent. I had cab no cake for dinner, which was amazing. It was almost entirely big hunks of crab. I was pretty full between the appetizers, crab cakes, and friends but forces myself to finish it because it was simply too good not to. A friend asked me to go Nantucket's Reef the next day as well. I said yes without hesitation, not mentioning I had been there the night before. I told her when we got to the restaurant I had been there for the open, but kept it to myself because I didn't want her to pick somewhere else! We had the crab dip and lobster Mac that night. The mac and cheese had the perfect amount of lobster in it, usually there's never enough. We split the lobster roll (Maine style) for out meal, which was packed and soooo good. For some reason we decided to order the pumpkin cheese cake for dessert, ended up being a great decision. It looked amazing when they put it on the table, and tasted just as good. As I've been there twice in its first two days I can say I will definitely be back.

    (5)

  • A G.

    I've been here twice with friends who love this place. I can't understand why. Granted, they eat shellfish and can't get enough of the mussels. I don't eat shellfish. On my first visit I tried the short smoked salmon and it had almost no flavor. Tonight I ordered the mahi mahi and it didn't look like any mahi mahi I've ever tried before. It looked more like a flat filet (like a flounder) than a steak type fish (like a mahi-mahi is). It had a bland, somewhat oily taste. Later in the evening, I realized they had brought me the tilapia instead. I find tilapia revolting because it eats feces so I have to say I'm pretty nauseated right now.

    (1)

  • Andy M.

    This is a great place. The food is all made in house, so you have to be willing to have some day-to-day variations in the food, but the food is always good. The happy hour fish tacos are a real deal, 2 for $5, and the happy hour oysters can't be beat.

    (5)

  • Randy d.

    Bad service and so-so food. Waiter told us that one of the things that set this restaurant apart from others is their "scratch kitchen" which he proceeded to explain what that meant "that everything is made from scratch." Well thanks for that clarification. I told him I'd like a Miller Lite beer and my wife wanted a glass of Pinot Grigio (he had to look at her menu to see the words to completely comprehend that request). He didn't write anything down. Before he left the table, he repeated to me at least 3 times that my order was for a Bud Lite! I corrected him each time. We ordered our meals. I got the shrimp tacos and my wife got the "pick two." When he brought my order, it was fish tacos, not shrimp. My wife was almost finished with her dinner by the time I finally received mine. The manager(?), who incidentally, reeks of cigarette smoke, came to the table and said my entree was on the house. I'm glad because it wasn't anywhere near worth the $12.50 price. I ate the 1/2 fried shrimp out of the tacos and about 1/3 of the fries and I was done. Not a good experience -- we won't be back.

    (1)

  • Mary B.

    What a surprise to find such an outstanding dining experience in an unexpected location! Nantucket's Reef is definitely worth the trip. I came for dinner with some girlfriends, and coincidentally I had just come back from the real Nantucket, Massachusetts that is. This place is as good or better than any of the seafood that I had in the best restaurants there, and the decor made me feel as if I was still on vacation!. First of all, from the moment that you walk in from the greeter to the host, and then to the server everyone is super friendly, courteous and professional. Most importantly, our orders were taken quickly and our food arrived in a timely manner. My friends and I shared the Oysters Rockefeller, and the Wicked Mussels to start, and let's just say they were both excellent. The mussels were truly wickedly good with just the right amount of fire. I had the Crab No-Cake which really was all crab, and left me wondering how it actually didn't just fall apart. I actually had to take some home the serving size was so generous. I have to also note that the sweet potato fries and coleslaw were both excellent. We also ordered a Lobsta Mac n' Cheese to share which was creamy and had plenty of lobster. One of my friends had the tilapia which she said was great, and another had the catch of the day, which I think was Cod, also a big hit! Altogether, a surprisingly good experience. I will be going back every chance I get when I visit my friends in the area! Next time I'd like to save some room for dessert, because they looked really good!

    (5)

  • Dara C.

    My husband and I had dinner here this past weekend and had a really great experience! The servers are very attentive and well informed, the decor is nautical and very inviting, and the food was delicious! We were looking for a new seafood restaurant since O'Donnells closed and we found it! If only they made the O'Donnells rum bums! My husband had the wicked mussels, I'm not a mussel eater and said they were fantastic. The waiter recommended using the mussels broth to eat some of his crab cake, which was a great idea. I had the crab stuffed cod, and it was flaky, buttery and delicious! Their prices are very fair for the quality of food. My husband had the crab cakes which are $25 and at first glance seemed like a lot for crab cakes. When they came out they were definitely worth the price. Two huge crab cakes, no filled with huge lumps of crab. We were too stuffed to try dessert, but I'm definitely going back and saving room for dessert! Check this place out!

    (5)

  • Ellen H.

    I'm not going to review the dishes we ate, because I want to get right to the point. FABULOUS! Finally a seafood restaurant that delivers the best....taste, creativity service and atmosphere. Bravo to the chef owner Alberto.

    (5)

  • G F.

    Came here because of the good reviews. Decor was nice and they had an inviting deck. The food was mediocre at best, and definitely over priced.

    (2)

  • Seth C.

    This is the first restaurant in traville gateway that I can say I have been to more than once. They start you out with 5 small complementary pieces of cornbread, which are good. I have had the caesar salad and the grilled salmon salad, and the latter is better. I do not eat shelfish, so I do not know how good the shrimp/crab is, but my grandfather had the stuffed cod and really liked it.

    (4)

  • Erica P.

    Ordered steak it was not bad. the mustard steak sauce taste great. The drinks are straight. there sweet potatoe fries are not good but the baby veggies are fine. wicked mussels are tiny and overated. I will return to taste the lobster roll. Service is good.

    (4)

  • Sean G.

    Was looking for a non-chain seafood place for dinner, and came across this place on OpenTable. Food was delicious. The server noted that they are a "from scratch" kitchen with fresh seafood (never frozen) and you can really tell that is the case when you eat the food. The calamari was excellent, and my wife's scallops melted in the mouth. I had the special - a "Steak and Cake", and it was perfect. The steak was a perfect medium rare, and the crab cake, well, let's just say that their Crab NO cake is an apt description - you'd be hard pressed to find filler - it's mostly very fresh crab. My raw oysters on the half shell appetizer was excellent as well... my wife, who is generally not a fan of oysters, tried one and loved it. Their drinks are good and somewhat unique as well. For dessert, we split the bread pudding and even though we'd both had full meals, it was too good to leave any on the plate. Prices are reasonable, with most entrees being in the mid to high teens. Service was excellent as well. This place is definitely on our list of restaurants to visit again and again.

    (5)

  • Rehman K.

    Great atmosphere and always very friendly service. Been there 3x. Food was good. Fish and chips are great.

    (3)

  • Thomas D.

    Excellent Service, very delicious meals, and great dining atmosphere. I had the stuffed COD with crabmeat and I recommend it. My daughter had the Lobster Roll and she enjoyed it very much. The dishes were presented very nicely.

    (5)

  • Douglas R.

    An outstanding experience. Highly recommend Arturo as your server. He was prompt and very friendly with us. Their Dark and Stormy drinks are delicious. For appetizers, my wife and I had the mussels with wine sauce and chorizo; you will want to sop your garlic bread in that sauce. Ummm. Finally, top it off with a lobstah roll with mashed potatoes and corn on the cob or surf n turf (steak, jumbo shrimp, green beans, and mashed potatoes); both are very filling. As a bonus, the decor is very crisp and nautical themed. You really think you are at a yacht club instead of Rockville.

    (4)

  • Asia H.

    I loved the atmosphere of the place it was really nice. The waitress was pleasant and the food was quick and pretty good. I'd definitely go again.

    (4)

  • Jen L.

    I've been here twice now, and the 4 stars are for their superb crabcakes! The crabcakes are very substantial, large pieces of crabmeat with no fillers, and large portion of 2 cakes (dinner)...One of the better crabcakes I've had in Maryland. Their fish, on the otherhand, is only average. I've had the stuffed cod and thought the fish was a bit bland (albeit very tender), and the smoked salmon was very tough and dry. It did not come with the sauce I've seen in many yelp photos. We got the bread pudding for dessert. The portion is huge, and while a bit too sweet, was very delicious. I will be coming back here when I have a craving for crabcake, but wouldn't be back here for their fish entrees.

    (4)

  • Allen G.

    My wife and I tried out this restaurant based solely on online reviews. It was a great experience! Wicked Mussels were delicious - especially the broth. And, the "Crabcakes No Cake" were spectacular. The hostess who seated us said the seafood was wonderful and that we would be back. It was and we will.

    (5)

  • Linh P.

    I came here with my boyfriend today for lunch. From what I heard the building was used for many different restaurants that didn't do to well. If that were the case then Nantucket Reef destroyed the buildings reputation. We came in and were promptly greeted and asked if we wanted to sit in or outside, we chose to stay inside. The inside was very cute, as explained by a prior person. Our servers' name was Tim, he was very kind. I've seen the menu online before, but when he told us his recommendations I had a huge urge to do what he said. So we went with the Wicked Muscles for starters, and they were phenomenal. If you can't handle a little heat then I suggest you don't get this. Apparently they use "wicked butter" to have the finishing kick in the broth along side pico de gaillo and some other stuff. These were the best muscles I've eaten, and apparently they're cheaper during Happy hour. It's a must try. I ordered the Crab No Cake, Tim said they were the best crab cakes he's ever had. The words No Cake confused me, but he explained that they used no fillers in the crab cake. They were amazing, even better than my dads and he was a sous chef back in the day. My boyfriend ordered the Fish and Chips, he said they were really good and was totally happy with it. I didn't get a chance to sneak a bite of his before he finished it. We are definitely coming back, but with due time since it took out a chunk of my wallet. It was more than worth it though.

    (5)

  • Jena L.

    Delish food and great service! Wicked mussels and fish tacos were amazing! Can't wait to come back.

    (5)

  • Bob B.

    Visited based on other Yelpers - not disappointed. Liked the clean appearance of the place. Ate outside, as it was still a nice evening as late falls approaches. Service was outstanding, menu appealing. Mussels app was solid, though not as rave-able as many have posted here, I've had better. Crab tortilla soup was sort of a miss...it was 98% tortilla soup, 2% crab...could not taste anything that made it 'crab' though the soup itself was fine. Ahi Tuna salad was really good. My entree? Well, I ordered a clam basket, as I love clams, though really wanting something a bit more 'fancy'. To my disappointment, I was brought a fish and chips basket instead. Didn't say anything as didn't want to wait for another meal or to disturb the evening - I just ate it. Not sure what to say about it, as I never would have ordered it - the fish itself was obviously very fresh, but the breading was soggy. Shoestring fries, as always, were cold in about 2 minutes, so hardly ate any. Cole slaw was fresh, crisp, excellent companion to the fish. I would come back, especially if the service is always that friendly - though the right dish being served would be nice!

    (4)

  • Tina W.

    We went for lunch. Server was very nice, but the food was only so-so. I had the crab dip and the clam po' boy. The kicker was that they wanted to charge me for more bread for the crab dip. What?!?! Not worth my time or money.

    (2)

  • Yor R.

    service is amazing. crab, clams, and shrimp fresh and well prepared. good beverage selection.

    (5)

  • Shelli G.

    we heard the dinner crowds can be massive, so we went at 5:00 and it was virtually empty. there are 2 separate dining rooms (from what I could tell) and the first one had filled up by the time we finished (about 6:00 or so) and you could see the waitstaff seemed a little overwhelmed already, but not horribly. our waiter was very nice and helpful; the only tiny thing he got wrong was forgetting to bring my salad so I wound up having it with the main course. No biggie. My husband had the cod, and I had the lobster roll. while there was indeed a ton of lobster, I would only give the sandwich 4 stars overall -- it wasn't bad, it just wasn't exceptional. my husband's cod, however, was flawless. the house salad included a nice blend of interesting stuff, like roasted corn and craisins (my addiction) but the ranch dressing it came with was only so-so (I didn't ask if they had other dressing choices, but next time I'd go with something else). I had one of their signature drinks (Shipwreck) which, if you like fruity/tropical/coconut type drinks is really good. it was still happy hour (till 6pm) so drink prices were really reasonable. We'll definitely go back, and definitely on the early side as we did tonight. usually there's more on the menu I'll never be interested in trying than there is stuff that appeals to me. Not the case with this menu. I can honestly see going back regularly to try everything out. But early. Very early.

    (4)

  • Whitney D.

    I went last week for lunch with my mother and three year old niece and we were all fans! We started with the crab dip, which was accompanied by the most delicious bread. For lunch I had the Maine style lobster roll, Mother had the fish sandwich and my niece had the chicken fingers. Everything was very fresh and presented nicely. Our waiter was Tim and he was wonderful! He checked on my niece several times and was very kind to her. We'll definitely be back!

    (4)

  • Jon L.

    Great New England style seafood joint hidden away in traville gateway, rockville, md. Looking for whole belly clams or a decent lobster roll? This is the place and its got a nice bar which is not crowded.

    (4)

  • Michael K.

    I thought this place was going to be a 5 star, but it really didn't wow me... Not saying it was bad, but not saying it was great either... We had the calamari as the starter, which had decent size lightly fried calamari's. They were pretty good, but I'm not sure why so many restaurants decide to drizzle the sauce on the top, and this one did just that.. The sauce wasn't bad, but calamari is really best left untouched with the sauce on the side for dipping (so the crunch doesn't disappear..). As for entrée's, my wife got the reef basket, while I got the crab cake. My wife's reef basket had broiled scallops, broiled shrimp, and fried oysters. All were good, but the scallops and shrimp were on the small side and they only give you four of each type. The crab cake was good, had practically no filler which is great, but sort of lacked taste... Maybe some more butter and/ or seasoning would do the trick... So all-in-all, this place is not bad, and has potential, but I can't give it a high rating today because they need to work on their entrées. Montgomery county definitely needs more seafood restaurants, so I hope this one stays around and gets better!

    (3)

  • s o.

    Service was excellent. Food was great and a good value. Brought over small corn bread muffins when we arrived which was a nice touch. Family had crab cake, Tilapia and fish and chips. Everyone loved their dish. Manager and owner both came over to check how the meals were which was a nice touch. Excellent addition to the area and we will return.

    (5)

  • Brenda L.

    We loved our dinner at Nantucket's Reef. Great service, easy to park, and most importantly, delicious food. Everything is very fresh. I had a lobster roll that was perfect in every way. Big chunks of lobster, tossed with a light sauce, in a delicious bun. The coleslaw is crunchy and fresh tasting. My husband loved the stuffed cod. Everything was a good value.

    (5)

  • Burt H.

    We went on a Friday evening. Glad we had reservations as there were lots of people waiting around. This is a very open, airy restaurant with high ceilings and lots of space around each table. Attractive and relaxing ambiance. We started with the Wicked Mussels which were delicious. Don't miss them. My wife had the fish tacos for $11 which were big, full of tasty blackend fish. She really liked them. I had the crab stuffed cod. It is stuffed with their signature crab cake and was well cooked and very satisfying. All in all this is a great addition to the selection of seafood restaurants in the Rockville area, of which there are few. Highly recommend this place.

    (5)

  • Julie R.

    Thank God for a new Seafood place in MOCO!! the crab no cakes were awesome and the sweet potato fries were fresh. the drinks were excellent along with the happy hours prices can't be beat! we had a waiter issue but the manager and another waiter stepped in and solved it ASAP. i will definitely be back and have bragged to all my friends!

    (5)

  • L. W.

    We really needed a casual seafood restaurant in Mo Co. I don't know why there were some bad reviews because we just ate here tonight and the service and food were excellent! I wanted the swordfish special but they only had 1 left at 6pm on a Saturday night for some reason. I let someone else in my party order it instead. We ordered the crab dip to start and it was really good but they need to add more crab and give more bread or even crackers. We ran out of the delicious grilled bread that came with the dip so we had to pay an extra $2.00 for three more pieces which was dumb. We also received the complimentary mini cornbread muffins with honey butter that rocked! I had the mahi mahi which came with a really tasty lobster sauce and fresh veggies and mash. My boyfriend had the fish and chips and said they came out crispy and tasted really fresh. The person who ordered the swordfish also really liked the dish. They should add it to the regular menu! Also I recommend making a Reservation or be prepared to wait a long time.

    (3)

  • Rob L.

    1st visit by this party of 4, each of whom had a different fish entree. Wicked mussels for appetizer. Food was excellent all around; reasonable prices; environment is as it has always been in this space's previous iterations: attractive, inoffensive, low budget, spartan. Service was fair - well-intentioned but not well-prepared to explain the specials or particular menu items. Slow to clear appetizer service items; had to be asked for water refills. Notwithstanding, will more than likely return as N's R actually exceeded expectations for this outpost of a location in a grocery store parking lot. Hoping it succeeds where it's 3 or 4 predecessors did not; it's nice having good food in the neighborhood, and in this restaurant's early days, that trumps it's flaws.

    (4)

  • Lisa W.

    Was excited to here there was a seafood place finally coming to the area. Went out to yelp to read the reviews. My mistake was not noticing that most of these were initial reviews from first time yelped. We had a person that needed gluten free. We were told no problem . Lobster queso comes out with crumbs. The waiter just stared and did not know how to handle. We requested he get a new order. This dip is in a small ramekin and is really not shareable. The chips are amazing. The wicked mussels i would never get again, the sauce overwhelms the mussels. The stuffed cod with lump crab meat had no 'lump" crab. I see in one of the pics there is a sauce, we had two orders at our table, neither had a sauce. I am a lightweight when it comes to mixed drinks. I sucked down several and could not taste alcohol. Crabs cakes are yummy. We did not bother with dessert. Total bill with tip for 4 -$226.

    (2)

  • Pete H.

    Went here for a late lunch. Service was a little slow at first, but then manager came out and made sure we were taken care of. After that, service was attentive and friendly. Ordered the short smoked salmon. If you've had this at Coastal Flats you know how good this can be. This version was good but not as great as the Coastal Flats version. My wife had the seared tuna. Again it was good, but had a strange apricot glaze. The sides for both dishes were very good. If it was possible I would give it 3.5 stars. We will try again, maybe for Happy Hour and maybe try some of the fried seafood platters.

    (3)

  • J K.

    I was prepared to be disappointed because I am skeptical that a Rockville restaurant is capable of preparing truly memorable seafood, especially to a group of adults who spend their summers on Cape Cod and the Jersey Shore. I was wrong! The food was perfectly prepared, very high quality, portions were generous, and prices were outstanding. Our waitress Sophia was exemplary. She steered us in the right direction with all of the food choices, she didn't hover and she didn't disappear. The menu was very broad and had lots of interesting choices. I almost hate to be so enthusiastic because I want to keep this restaurant my secret but they deserve a five star review. We also met the chef who was accommodating and friendly. We will be back!

    (5)

  • Cindy S.

    Love this new place! Had a great meal, with lots of happy hour apps. The mussels, calamari and oysters are amazing! The owner took great care of us, giving us wonderful service! The mahi mahi and tacos are outstanding....This is a great new addition to rockville!

    (5)

  • Renee S.

    I had the clam chowder and lobster salad. Both were wonderful and reasonably price. Can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Sylvia E.

    We went for lunch, it was great!! Could not ask for a better meal, server was really friendly and the owner came over to see how we liked everything. Really nice place. Will plan another visit soon!

    (5)

  • Sara W.

    Amazing! Good atmosphere, great service and amazing food. I wanted to try everything on the menu. I will definitely be back many times!

    (5)

  • Diane M.

    My family came in from out of town and we had a reservation for 6 on a busy Saturday night. All of us had delicious meals!!! The crab cakes were out of sight! Stuffed cod, mussels, salmon, everything was so good!! The waiter and staff were very friendly and very good! I hope they continue their success, we really need a great seafood restaurant around here especially now that O'Donnells is gone. Thank You

    (4)

  • N P.

    Having lived in New England, we were excited to read about this place. Most of what we got was pretty good. We had the blackened ahi tuna as an appetizer and it had lots of rich, delicious flavors - I'd definitely get it again. For entrees I had the lobster (I refuse to write lobsta) salad, which was excellent. Nice, big chunks of lobster and a delicious dressing. My fiancee got the grilled fish sandwich and wasn't a big fan - she said the fish was mediocre but the fixings that came with it were good (especially the toasted, buttered roll). There was nothing extraordinary about the fries but I didn't think they were stale or bad like what other reviewers wrote. The service was a little inconsistent - our waiter was a bit forgetful and slow - for example, he took a long time to bring us tea and we only got cornbread after asking, and then it came out at the same time as our entrees (as did the tea). In general, though, this place was great, the food was fresh, and we'll definitely be back to try other items on the menu.

    (4)

  • Erik B.

    Delicious lunch today with my 9-year old son at Nantucket's Reef. The remodel is very well done and the place is unrecognizable from its previous iterations. I like the nautical theme--it's classy and not cheesy like a Red Lobster. We had an excellent waiter named Ryan who was spot on and friendly without being over bearing. The food is delicious and the prices are very reasonable. I had a small Caesar salad which was very good with a generous helping of gourmet Parmesan and homemade croutons. The "small" salad was huge and as big as a large salad at most places. We also received a basket of warm cornbread muffins with maple butter. I dont love cornbread but these were fresh and tasty if a bit too crumbly for my taste. I then had the ahi tuna appetizer as my main course with a grilled corn on the cob on the side. The tuna was a generous serving of very fresh ahi with a sweet glaze, a delicious wasabi aioli and a side of wasabi cole slaw. It was all very good and easily enough food for a main course. The grilled corn on the cob was also very good with nice char and crunch. My son had the fish and chips off the kids menu (5 standard items, all with a drink for $6). The fries were homemade and delicious and the piece of cod was huge and tasty. His meal was big enough for both of us. All in all a great menu and delicious food at reasonable prices with friendly service in a nice decor. Special shout out for meshing family friendliness in a sophisticated setting that doesn't sacrifice quality. I think the owners have struck the right balance here and have figured out the formula for success in what heretofore has been a cursed location.

    (5)

  • Fredda S.

    Got there early on Saturday evening (not realizing that Stella Restaurant had closed) and was greeted very warmly. Given options of sitting in the bar area or the restaurant and chose the restaurant. Immediately observed the items on the happy hour menu and wanted the fish tacos. My son wanted the oysters. Glanced at the menu and it was apparent I had to have the Lobsta Roll. I grew up on Nathan's Lobster Rolls in Coney Island, so I had to check it out. We also ordered the calamari. The server, Ryan, was very attentive and knew all of the menu items and how they were prepared. My son's oysters were served with what tasted like freshly grated horseradish on top of the cocktail sauce. My fish tacos were divine. The calamari came with red peppers dipped in the same breading as the calamari and served on a wonderful lobster sauce. And not like the Mandarin Chinese restaurant lobster sauce. I'm not into the fried calamari that much but these were incredibly light. The Maine Style Lobsta Roll had huge chunks of cold lobster; definitely not a chintzy portion. Very pleased with the serving size which came with hot fresh French Fries and a nicely grilled corn on the cob. My son still had some room, so he ordered the bread pudding which had the surprise of Tres Leches in the center of the bread pudding. What a great experience. And since O'Donnell's has now closed in The Kentlands, I think Nantucket's Reef will definitely fill the void of a GOOD seafood restaurant for this neighborhood.

    (5)

  • Donna M.

    We went to Nantucket Reef on a Monday evening, and was surprised how crowed it was. The server was awful, paid no attention to anything. Our appetizer of Oysters Rockefeller, never got ordered, as our main entrees showed up first. We choose fried clams & fried oysters, we both got fried clams. The clams were very good, the New England vegetables excellent, and the cold slaw quite spicy but good. Trying to get our waiters attention, for refills of tea & water and cocktail sauce was a no go, I finally saw him in the front of the restaurant yawning, and half asleep. We were finally rescued by a senor staff member who saved the evening and made wonderful suggestions the desserts offered. My friend had the bread pudding, and stated it was the best he has ever had. I had the chocolate brownie which was also very good. Good food, untrained staff. We went on a Monday, what kind of experience would we have had on a weekend. I will rate the food a 3, and not rte the service, as it was less than one.

    (3)

  • Alex P.

    This is my second time dining here and each time has been horrible. Being that I only eat seafood, I typically love most seafood restaurants in the area. However, this is not the case. Slowest service ever, and I sat at the bar! After sitting down at the bar, with less than six people at the bar, 5 minutes go by and still nothing! No hello, no can I start you with a drink, nothing! After waiting another 20+ minutes for my entree, once again I was let down. I ordered the Mahi Mahi, with the veggies and fries for sides. The sautéed veggies were beyond soaked in butter and clearly tasted straight of the frozen food section of the grocery store. Only great part of my meal was the shoestring French fries. Sadly, I could not finish my French fries as they were a sponge for the buttered veggies. Upon completing my meal, it once again took another 10 minutes for a check. At this point I wanted to walk-out, and heck they probably wouldn't have noticed since the bartender service was so slow to begin with. To re-cap the likelihood of me returning is the same odds as the Washinton Redskins having a winning season

    (1)

  • Janet Y.

    Come during happy hour! oysters are a $1 each. A bowl of calamari or mussels is $5! We ordered the raw oysters, fried calamari, and the famous classic lobster roll. Oysters were small but it tasted fresh. I didn't really like the calamari, it was rather bland for my taste. I thoroughly enjoyed the lobster roll; every bite was a big chuck of lobster! Our server, Tim, was great. He made our meal that much more enjoyable. We'll definitely be back for more!

    (4)

  • Jan F.

    Great Happy Hour sliders, chicken tenders, and yummy fish tacos!! They also had beer and oyster specials. Lovely atmosphere and great food. We keep coming again and again!!

    (5)

  • Devon N.

    Never tried this place before. Unless you are handicapped, you need to park behind the restaurant and walk around, so I dropped off my handicapped passenger at the door. The ceilings are very high so the acoustics inside do not make for a quiet environment. Fortunately for us, we went on a Saturday. We arrived at 1:45 but the brunch was not offered to us - they said it was over at 2pm - and we were handed dinner menus. We did not want to eat dinner at 1:45pm. I was looking for restaurants that were open for lunch, not dinner. Nantucket's Reef can make more informative disclosures on its Facebook page, which I checked out before making the reservation as well as its website and yelp. I ordered the Volcano, which was not on the menu but I read about on yelp) cost $32. It is skirt steak with mashed potatoes and a lump/backfin crabcake on top and has a sauce over all. I found a some shell in the crabcake and think that it did not consist of all lump crabmeat. The steak was grilled & tasty. The portion was ample for two. My guest had salmon. The waiter was unaware whether the crabcake was lump or claw, or if the salmon was farm-raised or fresh caught. He ventured a guess and said, fresh and went to ask about the crab. When we asked for rolls, he didn't know what they were. We mentioned a bread basket and we were brought three 1/2 pieces of grilled bread slices. Hmm. I will not return.

    (3)

  • Katie S.

    The food here is amazing! I continuously recommend this place to seafood lover friends and no one has been disappointed. We ordered: Wicked mussels: a MUST at this place. Hands. Down. Best. Mussels. Ever. The garlic toast soaked in the sauce after all the delicious mussels are eaten just hits the right spot in your stomach. Love the smokey taste of the chorizo. The portion is plenty large. We split it amongst two people and had no problem finishing it. Fish and chips: incredibly moist fish. The portion size was huge. The fish was not overly battered. The batter was crispy and just perfect. The slaw, as someone else mentioned, had a cinnamon or curry hint to it but it added a nice, refreshing touch East coast oysters: very fresh and delicious! Current market price for the night was a very reasonable $10 for half a dozen Ahi tuna salad: as good as this was, $17 seemed a little high for the portion of this. Although the plate looks relatively large, most of it appeared to be lettuce. However the tuna was seared perfectly on the outside with the inside left raw. Cannot complain. Would've personally preferred avocado or something else to add a little more substance to the salad, but nonetheless still a good dish. The service was excellent and everyone was incredibly friendly. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone in the Rockville area. Heck, I would recommend this to anyone in the DMV area since it is certainly worth the drive. A side plus note is the late night special they offer. Tonight (Friday), after 9pm they offer the wicked mussels at only $6! The price cannot be beaten for the quality and quantity!

    (5)

  • Lexi Z.

    Service: Went to brunch and it wasn't too crowded, our server was very attentive. Food: the wicked mussel was great, crab benny had a lot of lump crab meat and the french toast was AMAZING! Cost: Reasonable Overall, a neighborhood gem considering how little choices for seafood restaurants the area has, haven't been to dinner for their regular menu but will return to try it out soon.

    (4)

  • Sergio P. T.

    HOLY WOWWWW! it's rare that you find a place where everything you touch , eat, and taste is amazing. This is how a restaurant should be run. The staff was a+ Heather was magnificent explaining the menu , options and quality of freshness. We ordered the crab dip and shrimp tacos as appetizers. Savor the favor ! I ordered the Volcano which is a combination of skirt steak on top of home made mash with a massive jumbo lump crab cake no filler topped with a special sauce and pico de gallo . My wife ordered the lobster roll . Holy f*****g Wow! Even the french fries were fresh and not oily . Thanks for such great food , quality, freshness and taste ! Were coming back and bringing more people ! I'm very picky with food and for the money you can't beat this food palace !

    (5)

  • Arabella B.

    This place has become a fave. We come by at least once a month. The Wicked Mussels (don't forget to order extra bread) along with the Oysters are always superb. We love it!

    (5)

  • Bianca F.

    Fantastic happy hour in Rockville! Matt, the bartender is amazing! Here's the deal; happy hour doesn't end at the bar. However if you sit in the restaurant, happy hour ends at 7p. The specials are $3.50 draft beer and house wine; $1.00 raw oysters; $6.00 fish tacos, chicken tenders and burger sliders and many more! Go check out this place asap! You will not be disappointed.

    (5)

  • V F.

    Very nice staff, very nice setting. Food was OK...we had brunch, and the eggs Benedict were a tad too well done. The egg yolk was basically like a hard boiled egg. But the crab Benedict had great flavor...the crab portion had some unexpected crispy bits that enhanced the whole flavor for me. The wicked mussels were also pretty good.

    (3)

  • Val H.

    Check-in: So i have been here multiple times since my last review. All good times. No complaints. Food=Fresh scratch made. Service=Awesome New thing i found out is they have happy hours from 3-7 during the week which is really good!! Good deals on oysters (if ur into that sort of thing..lol), good food and drink deals too! I last came here over the weekend before a trip to a not so good seafood restaurant the next day. Me and my Bf came here for a late lunch. We sat down and the words bottomless mimosa rang in my ears as the server introduced himself and the menu. I ordered one of those and my bf got a beer and an order of calamari with the ginger lobster sauce. we then ordered our entrees: He got the Pecan crusted tilapia with some mango salsa and I got the shrimp tacos with broccolini instead of the usual fries. Our entrees ended up coming out first so we inquired about the calamari. The server had forgot about them. He was very apologetic and offered to cook them really quick and bring out to us. My bf decided against it just since we had already gotten our entrees. We had forgotten about it as stuff happens and the server was very apologetic. The server cam by and kept my glass full and without me even asking. He also bought my bf a beer as he was the one who ordered the calamari. All was well the sever was nice our entrees were amazing!!! Super fresh and delish!! We got to talking with the server a few times about the amazing fresh food. He then as another plus brought us free bread pudding to again so sorry for forgetting our appetizers. He totally did not need to do this but it was delish again! We had forgotten all about the calamari once we had eaten our food. This was my bf's first time eating bread pudding and now he is sold lol!! Long story short: Fresh fish/ food, great service (not just this time), locally owned. The only thing i wished that they had were some specials here and there maybe they do but i have missed them and or a few differing selections on the menu. But i get the whole don't over complicate things and make too big of a menu. What they make is amazing and soo good. Fish is always cooked to perfection, service is always good! Why do i even think of going somewhere else?? Never again! Nantucket's for life!!

    (4)

  • Elizabeth W.

    Mussels, oysters, crab cakes, tilapia, I'm in heaven! Oh my gosh, I'm so full to bursting that they may have to ROLL me out of here! Yup, I love this place so much that I'm reviewing it while I'm still here!!!! Our waitress, Crystela is amazing. Knowledgeable about the menu, good at training new servers, friendly and attentive, she's an excellent waitress! She passed the water test! Food, food, on to the food! The oysters were blue point, did I mention delicious? The wicked mussels were to die for. I mean really, I was thinking about stabbing hands with my fork so my family wouldn't eat it all. The crabcakes were mostly lump crab, very little breading. You should try to guess the unusual, special ingredient that apparently very few people guess correctly! Of course they'll tell you what it is though. Overall, love this place!

    (5)

  • Lily Z.

    Pretty good! I have no say the appetizer may have been the best part of my meal. I got the mussels and they were absolutely delicious! The broth had churrios and tomatoes, a good change for the standard white wine sauce. Their crab "no cake" is suppose to be the best crab cakes in Maryland because there is virtually no filler or breading. I felt like this was something I had to try. You can add it on to any entree for an additional $14. However, the crab cakes had a strong fishy smell. We also tired 2 lobster rolls, one Maine and Connecticut style. Both lobster rolls seriously lacked flavor. The Maine style has a lemon mayo but was very very light and they forgot to add the butter on the other one so she brought it on the side. I will say the portions are quite large. Lobster rolls are larger than others in this area. Overall it was decent, I think I would go back for the appetizer. Definitely check out Livingsocial for deals! Currently they have a $20 for $35.

    (3)

  • Sam L.

    Outstanding service, above average seafood, reasonable price, with the only downfall of its location. On an early Sunday dinner, we came by to check out Nantucket due to a Groupon-like deal. Fortunately our experience went beyond our expectation. Our Wicked Mussels were really good, with a small hint of a cajun kick. Their steamed lobster (1.5lbs!) was fresh, though they slightly overcooked it by a few minutes - so it could have been an A+, but we'd consider it an A-. We also ordered the lobster roll (maine style), which is above average, but still a hair apart from what Coastal Flat's lobster roll's quality. Shout out to our waitress Kimmy, who did an excellent job introducing us to the restaurant, and had patience to explain some of her recommendations. The manager was also very nice and gave my fiance an order of bread pudding + candle on the house (it was her birthday). Even though it's located in the wicked side of Rockville (it just feels disjointed and run-down), we would still go out of our way and come back to Nantucket in a few months. ***They take reservation via OpenTable now**

    (4)

  • Bob B.

    I highly recommend you come here during happy hour and get their mussels for $8. They come with this butter sauce and has tomatoes, onions, and sausage bits and also a couple pieces of toasted bread. Also recommend the raw oysters and fish tacos, but you really can't go wrong with any of the seafood here. If you sit over at the bar area the service can be a bit slow, the service in the dining area is fantastic. Our waitress was very friendly and gave us great recommendations. Found my new go to spot for happy hour.

    (5)

  • Tony L.

    We were searching for a nice Seafood place in the north DC area after work, and this place in Rockville came up on the search. They are located in a shopping strip mall area just next to the Shady Grove U. The neighborhood was not shady at all. They have a nice modern beach style décor on the inside. We started with some Wicked Mussels, it had a nice flavor to it, and they also topped with toasted bread, which you can use them to soak onto the mussel juices for seafood flavored breads. I got the New England Stuffed Cod for main course. The cod had nice texture to it already, and the stuffing was just kinda there, not really enhancing the dish much, probably could do without it since the cod was pretty good already. Nantucket's Reef seems to be a quite legit seafood place in the area, especially when you are tired of those national chains. Service was excellent despite our large party.

    (4)

  • Sarah N.

    Overrated. Had happy hour on a monday night. Barely busy. Service was slow and even required excessive staring. Oysters were cheap. $1 each. But came floating in the melted ice. They felt warm and all had pieces of shells. Can get better at clydes. We also had fish tacos and sliders for $6 each. Not bad. We had clam chowder that came with food on our spoon. Disgusting. Bathrooms were out of tp, dirty, clogged toilets. The cod stuffed entree looked like a cafeteria dish. See pics. For $80 happy hour i could have even eaten much better at red lobster.

    (2)

  • Hannah H.

    I came to check out Nantucket's Reef for HH with a couple of my favorite Yelpers - this restaurant is tucked away in the Traville Gateway Shopping Center, offering a New England-style seafood fare. We sat at a pub table near the bar area and ordered some items to sample: Wicked Mussles (in a Cajun broth with chorizo sausage, pico de gallo, lemon butter, and sliced buttered ciabatta bread - these were forgettable, as the sauce was more of a broth, and I usually prefer something more creamy that will stick to the bread slices); Calamari (there were no crispy red peppers as stated, but these calamari were the largest I've seen - they were more on the soft end, and the batter could have been more crispy; the ginger lemon sauce, while watered down, was an interesting compliment to the calamari rings); Lobsta & Spinach Queso (queso dip with spinach and chunks of lobster, this was more on the salty side, and I actually thought this was tasty; a generous amount of tortilla chips came with); Guacamole & Chips (the guacamole was definitely chunky, which was great, but more cilantro-based); Shrimp Cargot (think of escargot, but rather with shrimp bbbbaked in garlic butter, topped with Havarti cheese, and served with sliced buttered ciabatta bread; these were also pretty yummy, as it kind of reminded me of shrimp scampi; it would have been great if there was more sauce and more melty cheese!); Ahi Blackened Tuna Salad (with napa, frisee, Romaine, fruit salsa, red peppers, cranberries, cucumbers, wontons, and a citrus vinaigrette; the slices of tuna were pretty generous; I wasn't a fan of this as there was cilantro in there; I didn't notice any cranberries, and rather than wontons, there were some large chunks of croutons); and, two kinds of Lobsta Rolls (the CT style and the Angry Style (with Old Bay); these lobster rolls were okay; the rolls themselves were more soggy and I wished it was more toasted and more buttery; it came with piping hot crispy fries with ketchup (yum)). With a Yelp check-in, you get a free glass of house wine (I opted for the Sauvignon Blanc); I also tried their Orange Crush, which was really delicious! I requested it to be more 'orangey,' and the bartender, Mat, hooked me up :D I think the best part of the experience was MAT, who while servicing the bar, also served the rest of the bar area, and he was just OH-SO-AWESOME!!! Very friendly, attentive, and made sure that everything was dandy :D The restaurant itself is very cute, with its nautical-themed decor and a nice relaxed vibe. We had a great time, just enjoying the food and chit-chatting away :D +Shrimp Cargot +Lobsta & Spinach Queso +crispy french fries +Orange Crush drink +free glass of house wine with Yelp check-in +ask for Mat :D

    (4)

  • Lorena B.

    Nantucket's Reef is a prime example of when Living Social goes right! We arrived pretty early for dinner so the dining room was practically empty while the bar was jumping. The managers appeared to be acting as hosts (I assume this based on their ages) and let us stand there awkwardly while they continued their conversation before finally greeting us. That was the only hiccup of the night, as the dining staff was excellent. Our server was really friendly and if the other server noticed we needed refills, he'd kindly take care of it. It's nice to see teamwork. The food was very good. I liked the crab dip, though as with many restaurants, it was greasier than it needed to be. There was also a complimentary basket of warm corn muffins that were perfect. There's nothing like freshly baked bread! I had to have the lobster roll and steeled myself for a huge tab since the menu lists it at market price. I don't how much that fluctuates but on that night, it was $19.95. To me that was downright cheap since that price gets you a tiny roll at Luke's Lobster. Here, I got an enormous roll with huge lobster chunks plus fries and corn on the cob. I couldn't even finish everything and I was 9 months pregnant at the time! I will say based on taste alone, Luke's is still my favorite roll in the area. The lobster here is more heavily seasoned and the roll doesn't nail that buttery-toasty combo I love but it was still pretty good. And the value absolutely can't be beat so I definitely recommend NR to the seafood lovers out there!

    (4)

  • Connie M.

    This needs to go under best happy hour in the area! Monday night and HH started at 3pm and lasted until 9pm at the bar. Beer and wine specials. Rail drinks for $5! Food? Oh my, yes! How about starting with some raw oysters...for $1 each! Yes, you read that correctly! East coast oysters. You don't get to choose which oysters like at Clyde's but for $1, these were some plump, yummy and clean oysters! Also on the HH menu are $6 sliders, fish tacos and chicken tenders. Two beef sliders atop of mound of sweet, caramelized onions. Fish tacos with napa, pico de gallo and shredded radishes. Next time I have to try the tenders because it was a big pile of chicken. The crab dip looked so good that I had to order it. Creamy, cheesy, crabby...yum! Not on the HH menu, but no regrets here. Finished out my happy hour adventure with one of the best bread puddings I have ever had! Crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. Some of the craisins were plump and juicy. The tres lesches sauce and the little drizzle of caramel on the ice cream were just divine. The perfect ending to a perfect meal of appetizers. Will definitely be back because there are lots of seafood choices that I have to come back to try...lobsta roll, oysta roll and coconut/pecan crusted tilapia!

    (5)

  • Ethel B.

    I've been to Nantucket's Reef twice to celebrate special occasions with family members. Both times, I was impressed with the quality of the food as well as the service. Of course the seafood is excellent. The surprise? Try the bread pudding. Exquisite!!!

    (5)

  • Jonathan L.

    Went for dinner on Friday night at 7pm. The restaurant was crowded, and service was friendly, but slow. We ordered mussels to start and they arrived quickly, however our entrees took nearly 30 minutes to arrive. I heard the waiter tell another table that they were slammed, so hopefully not the norm. The main courses were tasty, and cooked fine. Portion size leaves a lot be desired. My mom had crab (not) cakes and received two well sized balls of crab meat, along with fries and slaw. Very nice. My son had the kids menu fried shrimp, which included 8 good sized shrimp, plus fries and a drink for $7. I had the fried platter, "pick 3" for $26, that came with 4 shrimp, 4 avg sized scallops and 2 small pieces of fish. A bit confused how the adult platter comes with 4 shrimp and the kids meal at a quarter of the cost comes with 8. Overall a pretty sad looking plate. Maybe the best bet is to just order off the kids menu.

    (3)

  • Lia M.

    Nantucket's Reef is a great choice for happy hour drinks. The drinks are strong and cheap, and it's from 3:00 p.m.-close at the bar. Not the best Dark & Stormy's, but strong and drinkable. I learned to like oysters here ($1 each during happy hour). But other than that, food was blah, and I'd only order off the happy hour menu to soak up alcohol. Calamari was too chewy and had no flavor. Guacamole was also bland and served with the thin tortilla chips. You can get a better lobster roll in the area with more meat for less money, but I was happy to see that they offered Connecticut style, even if there was way too much butter. Mac and cheese was my side and it's not worth the calories. Service was slow and inattentive, and my check was wrong when it came. I do think they were understaffed on the night we went, but still--it was a packed bar and patio, with one bartender/server, which is unacceptable. Go for cheap booze; eat a full meal somewhere else.

    (3)

  • John G.

    Discounted drinks, discounted food, great service and friendly crowd. What more do you need for a Monday happy hour? Drinks: The signature drinks were not part of the happy hour specials, but we tried the Orange Crush and the Starboard Margarita. Both drinks were tasty, made with fresh juices. Appetizers: Fish tacos were good - also very fresh tasting. The $1 oysters were also a great deal! Entree: The Maine Style lobster roll was very good. We shared it like an appetizer. Dessert: Bread pudding ala mode with caramel drizzle. Very good dessert - and I am not usually a bread pudding person. Tip: We had a LivingSocial coupon - the value of the coupon applies only to non-discounted items... so the signature drinks and the lobster roll took care of that. Lots of discounted items for happy hours. You can have good food and drinks without breaking the bank!

    (4)

  • Debora D.

    My boyfriend was hesitant to try it again since he wasn't impressed the first time he went, which was soon after opening - but boy was he happy afterward! We absolutely LOVED the wicked muscles we had as an appetizer, which is a special price every Monday. We could have 3-4 orders of those and been happy. His stuffed salmon was pretty good, but lacked some flavor - but we both loved the coconut pecan crusted tilapia, which I had. Full of flavor and a great portion size. I was also happy the side of veggies wasn't the average frozen broccoli - it was peppers and squash, which I like a lot! We will definitely go back soon!

    (5)

  • Ruth C.

    Nautical theme's prominent. Solid happy hour, though the bartender was struggling to cover the lounge area on his own. I got less grit in my oysters than my dining companions, but at HH prices I managed to shrug off the small sizes too. Manhattan was potent and sweeter than average. Wicked pasta was probably my favorite food item-- creamy Cajun sauce with robust flavors, just enough protein, al dente bowties. Coleslaw and mac & cheese were pretty forgettable, but at least the thin-cut fries were crispy. Lobsta roll wasn't worth the $23 market price: split-top roll was plush under overcooked lobster, and I wouldn't recommend the unimpressive angry flavor. May try them one more time: lobsta & spinach queso, basket of sea scallops or ipswich clams, fish tacos, or an oysta roll if that's their play on a po'boy.

    (3)

  • Larry W.

    My family wanted to take me out for a belated birthday dinner. We were supposed to eat out last week, but life got in the way. I had selected a different place previously, but this week I had a craving for seafood. I searched Yelp for seafood places. The rating for Nantucket was good, and it had a lot of reviews. Therefore, with a little feedback from my oldest daughter Connie, I selected this restaurant. I was not disappointed, nor was my family. Usually, my restaurant selections are terrible. This time I think I redeemed myself. The seafood was awesome. I had crab cakes for the main course. It was excellent in every way. The service was outstanding by our wait staff and our needs were completely taken care of. This place is tucked away and can be a little hard to find, however, it is worth the search.

    (5)

  • Angela W.

    Love this place! I'm a big fan of seafood so this place is perfect. I came here a while back in the winter and ordered the seared salmon. The portion size was great and I struggled to finish it. Definitely try the calamari as well! I will most likely come back in the future.

    (5)

  • Samantha Y.

    Delicious! We came here for mother's day and the food was great! I loved the wicked mussels, literally they were done perfectly. The sauce and garlic bread was mouthwatery, we ordered extra garlic bread. My dad had the scallops and they are also something Id definitely recommend. I had the cod stuffed crab, which was a little bland for my liking, however the mash potatoes were very filling.

    (4)

  • Mayssam J.

    love the layout of the place. the service is above average. For a seafood place is not bad as well. I had the the crab cake and it had good amount of crab and not a lot of filler which is always good. I would recommend this place for people that like classic type sea food!

    (4)

  • Jeong L.

    4.5 for the price and value! We first came to Nantucket's Reef because of livingsocial deal, but it was one of those few places that we actually began to like. Nantucket's reef is located inside the shopping center where the original Cava restaurant is located on Traville Commons Drive. From Cava, you have to go further into the mall to the left and you will find Nantucket's reef hiding in the corner. There are many reasons why I like this place a lot: Very spacious, always super friendly staff, consistent food, and reasonable prices! By reasonable prices, you can stuff yourself with lobster at Nantucket, and you will not break your wallet. Plus, they have happy hour until 7pm, so always look for daily hh specials! WARNING: I LOVE Nantucket, but is not a healthy food place. Be prepared to get attacked by butter and cream, but hey what's bad can be also good, right? :p They do have delicious salad options here, so don't be too concerned. Surprisingly, allmost everything I have tried at Nantucket has been consistently good. Below are some of my recommended dishes: 1. Wicked Mussels ($10): Mussels were always cooked perfectly. It is cooked with spicy chorizo pieces in slightly buttery broth. They offer hh specials for $6 (not sure which day) 2. Ahi Tuna salad ($17): My absolute favorite. I wouldn't say that this is the best Ahi Tuna I have had in dmv, however, for $17 this salad is amazing. It has a bit of Asian flair with pickled ginger pieces on top and I tasted a hint of sesame oil in the dressing. Tiny crunch pieces mixed with peppers and craisins taste wonderful 3. HH $1 oyster :My only complaint about this $1 oyster is that sometimes it is not shucked well 4. Thursday special: Thermador Lobster (Thursday special for $16!!!) As you can see in Jason C's photo, this dish is NOT a healthy one. However, if you love heavy creamy cheesy food, then I recommend this. Lobster meat is chopped up and cooked in cheese, cream, and herbs and served with angel hair pasta tossed in butter and herbs. Pasta is not seasoned as much to balance out the slightly salty heavier tasting lobster 5. Lobster roll: (MP- we paid $20) I had mine connecticut style, and it was better than the one I had at Capital Grille $18 lunch special. Lobster meat was lightly tossed in mayo (not so heavy) and served slightly warm on rolls. EXCELLENT! It is also served with grilled corn smothered in butter .... can't get away from butter here... lol 6. Fried Calamari with ginger lobster sauce appetizer ($10): These are big calamri rings! Fried to golden crispy perfection Fish taco was the only dish that I didn't enjoy too much because the fish lacked seasoning, but it was still not that bad. In conclusion, Nantucket is a wonderful place for a friend/family gathering. You don't have to be stressed about the bill too much, and the food will be solid! They also serve brunch here.

    (4)

  • Cat L.

    I've been here for happy hour several times and have always had a good time. The happy hour menu has recently changed, now with conveniently extended hours Monday - Thursday but no longer with the awesome special on Wicked Mussels. Also, unlike before, Nantucket's no longer allows LivingSocial deals to be used on any happy hour specials. Despite these changes, Nantucket's still offers up great deals on drinks for those looking for a nice suburban bar to hang out at. The bar area is small with limited seating but rarely gets overcrowded. As for the happy hour food currently available, the raw oysters and fish tacos are decent, but the sliders are small and forgettable. The dinner menu looks pricey but standard for seafood places. I will definitely be back to try out some of the dinner dishes for myself.

    (4)

  • Pierre D.

    The pleasures of the northeast, without the winter weather. Went to brunch today with three children and three adults. Despite this seemingly fragile combination the host welcomed us with open arms. This would continue to serve as a common theme throughout as he accommodated the group with service which was beyond professional. For starters we each had a six top of oysters. The oysters were large, fresh, and delicious. Pleasantly shocked at the quality I was wishing I had another to look forward to instead of my ordered meal. However, I had the lox egg and onion scramble, and didn't look back until the fork hit the now empty skillet. Other members in my group were equally pleased with the shrimp and grits (a la polenta-styled grits!), crab Benedict, and children's cheeseburgers. Coffee was decent enough, and the $7 bottomless mimosas / Bloody Mary's certainly didn't hurt... All in all an excellent time, meal, and experience. Would highly recommend.

    (5)

  • Lisa G.

    Sunday at noon was met with a nice brunch menu... Not what was shown on website. And a squealing toddler. Unfinished ceiling means no noise absorption. LOUD! Decor pretty. Food was slow to arrive even though very few patrons. Everything was overpowered with onions. Even my husband who loves onions commented. Lobster Roll was good for Maryland.

    (3)

  • Neri A.

    Went here a few days ago with my mum...let me tell you first that she never says anything is good, it is always "okay". She actually said this place was good. From the service, to the open space decor and seating, to the food and drinks. Wee joyed it all. Servings are generous so we ended up taking home most of our yummy entrees because our eyes were bigger than our tummies. Overall great experience.

    (5)

  • James C.

    When my wife and I stopped for lunch, she had read all of the glowing reviews and we thought we were in for a treat. Unfortunately, the food didn't measure up to the service. My crab tortilla soup was lukewarm and kind of bland. We were so hungry that we just kept eating anyway. My wife had the fish tacos. After having fish tacos in Santa Monica, all others are just okay. She didn't complain but didn't have much to rave about either. I finished off with a Mussels appetizer that was nicely cooked but not spectacular. When one charges as much as this restaurant does for food, we'd both like it to be a good value. Sorry, it just didn't make the cut.

    (3)

  • Annie S.

    This new restaurant was just awesome! The food and customer service was great. I wasn't truly hungry when I stopped by for brunch but with a few people, we ordered the crab dip and mussels appetizer and they were both great! I also ordered the lobsta salad and it had huge chucks of lobster, perfectly cooked. The dressing was amazing along with the other fresh ingredients. Everything is made from scratch at this place and the food definitely reflects that. Not too expensive either. I have recommended this place to a few friends already and will definitely be returning soon!

    (5)

  • Thomas B.

    This place is a little gem...like finding a pearl in your oyster...a good size pearl, not a piece of dirt size pearl! I went here with friends on a grouponlivingsocialamazonlocal thing and was PLEASANTLY surprised at how good it was....The oyster happy hour is an amazing deal. It is available at times even in the dining room and not just the bar. That is a plus. They have great oysters, too! I had the crabcake and am a touch picky about them...It was VERY GOOD. Other items of note are the fish tacos...delicious. The fish and chips were a nice entree and the Wicked Mussels were a hit at our table. Service was efficient, nothing to write home about, HOWEVER, I said something to the waiter we had and he responded flippantly, "I do not care what goes on, it's my last night here!" Trust me, this is not the norm here as I have been back and had very good service! He was a piece of dirt in the oyster that night! Here's a plus, we returned the next night just for happy hour and the selection of oysters was different...trust me, as an oyster lover, this is important as you can assume they are serving up the oysters fresh! Give it a try and you will be pleased....have I steered you wrong, YET?!

    (4)

  • Esq. H.

    Food: I ordered the Fried Shrimp Basket ($19 after taxes). I'm from Florida so I know seafood and the shrimp was surprisingly fresh....and they were large! By large I'm not talking Prawns but large enough were you could get at least two decent bites out of each shrimp, that being said they only give you 7. They aren't fried so hard that they tear up your esophagus on the way down but they aren't soft and mushy either, they are fried to perfection, just enough crunch to please. For a moment you think you are winning.....however, once you begin to chew.......game over. The shrimp were bland and had NO FLAVOR what so ever, like not even salt and pepper. Hence the 4 stars. The basket comes with fries and coleslaw but I traded the coleslaw for corn on a cob instead. Inside: I ordered take out which was easy and my food was ready in no time. The bar is completely separated from the main dining area so you don't have to worry about bar noise interfering with your important or romantic lunch/dinner - it's a full bar and has flat screen TVs. The bar area isn't that large about 7 bar stools are so which is fine because your main purpose for coming here is supposed to be for seafood not drinks. The décor is nautical, Martha's Vineyard Nantucket like and the customer service was great someone even walked me from the bar to the door. There's also outdoor seating with shade! Stop by but bring seasoning if you plan to have the fried shrimp.

    (4)

  • Diaz M.

    I really want to give 3.5 stars but I'm going to round up for the holidays. There was no wait and I was greeted kindly at the door. I sat at the bar and the bartender was great. I ordered the fried oysters. Ehhhh they were a 3. Batter was bland and too thick and they served it with tartar sauce. I prefer cocktail and lemon. Lemon should be automatic at a seafood restaurant. I gor the lobster roll Connecticut style - warm with butter. It wasn't warm but room temp. It also had lettuce. Never had lettuce on my lobster roll... But it was decent. I give it a 4. Fries were lacking but the grilled corn made up for it. I'll come back because its less than a mile from my house.

    (4)

  • Jose C.

    The only reason this place gets 4 stars is because I don't eat seafood. My wife does. I enjoyed the Chicken tenders I ate :) The staff is friendly, and the place is clean. We got there before the evening rush, plus we had reservations so the amount of wait time was 0 seconds. My wife and I will mostl likely come back.

    (4)

  • Libby F.

    We came for Easter brunch as a change from our annual Clyde's foray. What a great decision! Oh my, their Crab Benny ($14 - cheaper than Clyde's) is delicious! It's plated with plenty of crabmeat, and very little filler. The crispy home fries are delicious too. Don't be shy about sending back your eggs back if they are overdone. My friend's were, and they had a new plate out for her promptly. We went at 10:30, and it wasn't crowded, but as the crowds came, the noise level did not increase. We had a very pleasant meal in a bright and cheery atmosphere. We were stuffed! However, how can you resist bread pudding? Jody L.'s picture doesn't do it justice. It was very moist, and it's a lot bigger than it looks; definitely more than enough to share! The vanilla bean ice cream that accompanies it is delicious too! If you are a bread pudding fan, it will be the best $6 investment you'll ever make.

    (4)

  • Jen D.

    Love this place. Unlike many restaurants in this area, because it's not in a major food-centric shopping center, it's usually very easy to get a table. The food is great, I particularly enjoy the fried oysters. Somehow they are always crispy on the outside yet still raw on the inside, just the way I liked my fried oysters. It's not a huge selection, but what they do offer are done really well. Hubby usually gets the fish and chips, which are super tender and contains just the right amount of batter.

    (5)

  • Bob R.

    Great food, great ambiance, great service! The lobster roll was amazing and the waitress volunteered homemade cornbread to start. What could be better?

    (5)

  • Erica Y.

    Tried it for lunch, and really wanted to love the place as we have seen so many restaurants tried to succeed in this location and failed. Really wish Nantucket's Reef best of luck and hope they will break the curse! Instead, I think I can only say it's fine. Don't think I love the food, but I need to come back and try some other things before I can have a final say. We got the lobster roll and the salmon for lunch, along with the calamari as the appetizer. Calamari tasted great, my fav out of the three things, but presentation definitely needs some work. Maybe they are going for the Nantucket casual seafood style, which is fine, but it's just kind of weird in the restaurant setting they are in. Salmon was way too salty, but I am beginning to think when it's short smoked, it is supposed to be salty? Because I've had it at somewhere else recently that was very salty too. Lobster roll was a good size and tasted as expected. I need to go back and try a few more things. But I guess it's a good sign when at least I am willing to go back to try more things. The inside looks very different from Stella days, which is good. Service was ok, the wait between food was slightly longer than I like for workday lunch but it was not too bad. Overall I would recommend everyone to give it a try!

    (3)

  • Laura W.

    Meh. Went for lunch, I don't think the 5 grilled shrimp on my shrimp roll was worth the $14 price. Shrimp was basically tasteless and sad looking lettuce (?) on the roll. The fries were good but that's not why I go to a seafood restaurant. Doesn't inspire me to return.

    (3)

  • Eddie K.

    Located in a spot which has seen many restaurants fail, I am hoping this place breaks the curse. Came here during lunch and liked what they did to the place. They do have a bar area with good happy hour deals. Had the lobster roll- CT style. Was pretty good for $16- used tail and claw meat. They put the butter on the side. Wife had the fried reef basket. Was happy to see whole clam belly and large oysters. Had great flavor. Will come back for dinner service.

    (4)

  • Cynthia L.

    Short menu Solid seafood in a safe neighborhood. Now repeat that 3 times. We missed their Happy Hour (3-6 pm fyi) and were told it was awesome. Wednesday was half price wine bottles, which wasn't a lose-lose after all. Fish and Chips - Nicely battered fish with a moist interior - usually you get a hard and dry interior, so that was a super plus that set the mood for this place right. Nice and crispy chips with a side of very decent cole slaw and tartar sauce. Crabcake Salad - Our waiter did tell us there were no fillers, and there weren't, but there weren't a ton of flavors in the crabcake itself. Lobster Sandwich- they make both Maine (with mayo) AND Connecticut (with butter) style! Of course we had to get the latter because there are very few places that do this. Hearty chunks of lobster stuffed inside a toasted bun! Key Lime Cheesecake - A little too stiff, a little tasteless minus the raspberry jam decor. Will be back during their happy hour! ------------------------------------------ So I liked this place so much, I came back for Happy Hour on a Thursday (at the bar) (they changed their Happy Hour to M-Th now 3pm to close). New England Clam Chowder soup came out hot, hearty and had nice solid chunks of clam, potato, etc., not itty bitty pieces most places serve up. Fish Tacos? These two bad boys are probably one of their best eats. Its nicely battered tender fish with pickled beets(?) and some other items. Put together, it barely stayed in my hands for longer than 30 seconds. Mussels - And this is seriously their best eat. I'm going to say this is pretty up there as some of the most tasty mussels I've ever had. The sauce was so nice (not overly salty) and hearty (actually had a meaty taste) and the buttery bread they gave you made you want to dip and keep dipping in that sauce. Love their complimentary cornbread and maple butter. And as if I had anymore room for more food, we (I mean I) ordered their seasonal dessert: Pumpkin Cheesecake was the softest cheesecake I've had. It was a tad supersweet with the caramel layer on top, but there was just the perfect mix of pumpkin incorporated into the cheesecake. 4.5 Stars - I don't love that they keep changing the HH, but the food is so good I'll be back.

    (5)

  • Wendy C.

    My friend recommended this place to me, so naturally, the foodie in me was drawn to this place. The dishes we tried included the mussels, west/east oysters, fish n chips, crab dip, and lobster roll. I personally liked all of the dishes except for the oysters. The oysters were alright... I'll still give this restaurant 4 stars though, because their service is on-point, and the majority of the dishes were memorable. I will stop by again sometime to try the rest of their menu.

    (4)

  • Stuart W.

    Our 2nd time here, the place was not very busy for a Friday night and we noticed that they got rid of the free cornbread and the lobster mac and cheese appetizer, both of which were great when we first came here, albeit almost a year ago. I had the stuffed cod which was good but they put far too much zucchini and rice on the plate with it, I would prefer fries. Our server was also pretty slow and clueless, I was exasperated to even give him a 15% tip! Overall for the money you do not get a good deal, try elsewhere. They are cutting costs and it is obviously costing them customers judging by how quiet it was for a Friday night, and unfortunately we will be among them after this visit.

    (2)

  • David L.

    This is one of those times when half star system is really necessary, because when I'm giving this a one star, I'm being extremely generous. My first experience, I did a take out order, and I had checked to make sure there was enough containers of food to match my order. When I arrived home to start my meal, my main dish was missing half of the plate. Which I just chocked it up to a busy Friday night and it's in a to-go box and it was a simple oversight. No big deal. However when I started eating, I noticed that the bell peppers in my veggies still had its sticker label on it... It was sliced with the pepper during preparations, it's white label with black and blue text that we see on all the produce that we find in the stores. This tells me that they did not bother to wash and clean the veggies before prepping them for cooking, I know this because my family had a restaurant when I was growing up, and this was one of my jobs as a teen... So if they didn't do this, what else did they not bother to do? So I decided to skip on the veggies altogether, and just eat the main part of my dish. Which turned out to be extremely bland and tasteless. I then decided to try the rest of my order to see if it was any better...and not surprised, the other dishes were either under cooked or over salted, and sitting in a pool of oil. A meal for 2 and a bill of $58 spent, and not a single thing was edible. However the saltine crackers that came with the soup was perfect. But I expect that they had no hand in making these prepackaged crackers. In short, this place is extremely overpriced for the quality of food if we can call it that, and I'm being polite and generous in this review.

    (1)

  • Samantha L.

    My parents and I dined here for dinner. The bite size cornbread muffins was bigger than last time. The side caesar salad smaller portion than last time, but delicious. Tonight's starter was scallop bruschetta - pan seared scallops, fresh mozzarella, and tomato stack drizzled with balsamic vinegar and topped with shredded basil, was sweet and savory. Both of my parents ordered the daily 'top of the hook' selection - grilled swordfish with olives, capers, and potatoes in puttanesca sauce and served with grilled yellow squash and zucchini, was ambrosia! I ordered the New England Stuffed Cod - Cod topped with jumbo lumb crab and seasoned cracker crumbs in lemon butter sauce and served with mixed vegetables (carrots, snap peas, sweet peppers) and seasoned rice. The restaurant should consider (a) dining rewards program, (b) online reservations via OpenTable, (c) daily and weekly specials menu, and (d) dessert sampler.

    (4)

  • Eric V.

    Went to dinner here on a Wednesday night and it was very good. The lighting is bright and layout is very open and clean. Ordered two sodas and they were at our table almost immediately, as though they were already waiting for us. The menu choices are simple and reasonably priced for a seafood restaurant. Average entree looked to be about $18. We started off with the calamari with lobster ginger sauce. Unfortunately, this was about the only thing we didn't like about our experience. My wife and I are used to small calamari cuts with the little tentacles, but these were huge like onion rings with no tentacles. Wife thought they were a bit soggy, but I didn't mind them at all. I'd give them a 3/5 rating. I ordered the stuffed cod with lump crab, rice, and mixed vegetables. My wife ordered the shrimp scampi. The cod dish was fantastic; a light and flaky perfectly cooked cod covered with seasoned lump crab. The rice was also well cooked, not sticky or crunchy like I've had in restaurants before. Vegetables consisted of squash, zucchini, and peppers. My wife's shrimp scampi was a large dish with plenty of shrimp and creamy white sauce and diced tomatoes. I had a taste and it was very good. Finally, the service was excellent. Our waiter Ryan dropped off the check and didn't disappear for 20 minutes like just about every other restaurant I've ever been to. Gave him my credit card and he was back with the final check to sign in less than a minute. Great job. I hope this place doesn't go the way of O'Donnells: high priced with poor quality.

    (4)

  • Kim A.

    I came here for the first time my date looked it up on yelp . And I didn't know about the place . There food was good . Cornbread came out before the meal . We had oysters it was good! We also had steak scampi it was delicious ..I will def return . Waitress was nice . The environment was clean !

    (4)

  • Manny G.

    Hidden gem! Great atmosphere, personal service, Matt (bartender) is awesome. We had the pleasure of meeting the owner and he clearly shows his commitment to exceptional customer service. I'll definitely be back. I heard that they will have a tiki bar open pretty soon and live music.

    (5)

  • Kelly Z.

    Just had dinner there couple hours ago. Food was ok, but service was really bad! The waiter never came to check on us and never came over to refill the water either, not even once! The worst service we have gotten in the area restaurants! Will never ever go back there again!

    (2)

  • Patricia D.

    Food is awesome only reason I didn't give them 5 stars is because when I went it was really pricy and the menu was very limited, but then again it was valentine's day. Also the portions were somewhat small.

    (4)

  • Eric M.

    My second and last time here. First things first, they are incapable of keeping a reservation. I made a reservation for mothers day about a month ago for 5 people at 6:00pm. Walked in a 5 till six and was shown to a table for 4. I pointed out to the hostess that there were 5 of us. She explained that 3 of our party could fit on one side on the bench seat and that it's the only table that was available as they were busy. When I reiterated, that i in fact had a reservation, she replied that they do their best to honor reservations. (clearly their best isn't good enough). Having few other options, we decided to muddle through... I wish we hadn't. The food and service hasn't improved since the last time we were in. for instance as it was a table for 4, and it was set for 4, so we asked for another set of silverware.. again, and again. They took our drink order and forgot my daughters milk. I ordered a margarita and it tasted like it was made with sprite. Then the entree's: Oy... My son ordered the reef burger without tartar sauce. You guessed it, it came out dripping with Tartar Sauce. I ordered the blackened Mahi Mahi. Not only was it cooked to within an inch of it's life (i could have retread my tires with it) it wasn't even remotely blackened.(which is supposed to be the seasoning, not the level of doneness). The fish came with mashed potatoes and "vegetables" the mashed potatoes tasted fresh out of the box and rehydrated whereas the squash was cooked to a perfect al dente and as bland as nursing home food. Given the prices, the poor service, the mediocre food and beverage and given the abundance of better options down the street at the new "Downtown Crown" area, there's really no reason to ever return to this place. I'd suggest you stay away.. I'd be surprised if they were still around in 6 months.

    (1)

  • Juan Z.

    Ordered Calamari, wicked mussels, grilled shrimp, corn on the cob, and raw oysters. All of food was awesome and service was great. Awesome place, definitely recommend.

    (5)

  • R Q.

    OK, after trying this place a few more times at the insistence of friends, I have to say, the cod is just a no-go dish here. Avoid the cod in all its forms and you will be fine. The crab cakes are amazing (though a bit small) and the salmon is also excellent.

    (4)

  • Tina G.

    Having been surprised by a major line at our first dinner choice, my friend recommended this place for its seafood. The weather was nicer and the wait was long inside, so we decided to sit outside with no wait at all. We both ordered a beer and then a fish dish. I had the mahi mahi with mashed potatoes and veggies and my friend has the pecan coconut encrusted tilapia with rice and veggies. Her pecan encrusted tilapia was good, but my mahi mahi with a ginger lobster sauce had no competition in my books. The fish was flavorful and fresh and both the sides were also full of flavor. I finished the whole plate in under ten minutes. I'm sure being hungry helped, but I would happily eat that dish again and again.

    (4)

  • Philippe B.

    Crabcakes!!!! CRABCAKES!!!!!! Food: 5 Stars The food here is exquisite, excellent, delicious, unbelievable, and any synonym you wish to add here. If what I said there was enough to go there by all means go there NOW, if not continue reading my thoughts on the terrific food. Starters: Wicked Mussels: I normally have a major dislike for mussels, clams, or any other food related to these types of shellfish, but with the light spiciness of the chorizo and the added flavor of the pico de gallo, it was rather appetizing. The blends worked well together. Lobster & Spinach Queso: The chips were paper thin and crisp, too thin to pick up the dip but strong enough to hold a mound of the gooey treasure. Healthy chunks of lobster were included in the dip which gives the price point tons of merit, not to mention finely chopped up spinach to not overbear you with its flavor in each bite. If I can find something even remotely close to the greatness of this dish, I will be in heaven. Main Course: Crab "No" Cake Sandwich: Crab cake in all its glory. No excess sauces, mayo and whatever else most places put in a crab cake. Plain and simple with some diced lettuce and a side cup of tartar sauce on a fresh bun. Everything blended together to perfection and for $18 the quantity of crab was pretty good. The fries were crisp and delicious as well. Special of the Evening "Volcano": Skirt steak and a crab cake over a mound of mash. While I wasn't a fan of the crab cake mixture (it was different from the crab cake sandwich), I must say the skirt steak was cooked to medium-rare perfection and the mash was well above average. Drinks: 4.5 Stars Good strong margaritas, good beer. Can't go wrong there. Service: 5 Stars The server was authentic and very helpful. Excellent memory in giving us the specials list and our orders. Ambiance: 4.5 Stars Nice setup that reminds me of what I would expect to see in a restaurant in New England. Very spacious compared to 95% of other restaurants I've been to that try and utilize the space as much as possible. As soon as I entered Nantucket's reef I felt comfortable. Overall: 5 Stars It doesn't get much better than this. If you are a local or are visiting, come to this place. The food was delicious beyond words, the service was exceptional, and the environment was very welcoming. This is one of the few times that all my dishes were completely bare (except for a few crumbs) by the end of the meal! If you are undecided where to go for lunch/dinner and are reading my review get off your computer or cellphone and go here immediately, you won't regret it.

    (5)

  • Alison W.

    Finally some good food at this location! So many restaurants have tried and failed in this spot, but I'm hoping Nantucket's Reef will stay. The food is very good - love the mussels, fish tacos, and the fried cod filets are perfectly done!! The bread pudding isn't your typical version, but very good - the owner's family recipe. My kids love the brownie a la mode. Very easy to get seating and the service is good. We've eaten here several times for lunch and dinner and it's been great each time!

    (4)

  • Henrique S.

    Held my birthday dinner here and they accommodated a large table with ease and split the check. All this and everyone enjoyed the food a lot! Would definitely do it again.

    (5)

  • Jung H.

    The Best happy hour for oysters!

    (5)

  • Kim T.

    Disappointment! All the rave reviews had me excited, and wanting to love this place. We went for brunch on a beautiful day, so we sat outside. It was slightly breezy, which made for particles flying into your drink/food. But that's not why I'm giving the 2 stars, it was our choice to sit outside and we enjoyed the atmosphere! The service was ok, not quick enough on refills of drinks/ unlimited bloody marys. Food was a bit of a wait also. The food: We ordered crab benny, hotcakes, lobster roll, and shrimp and gritcakes. Even though we all were mighty hungry, no one raved about their meal (which seemed to be overpriced for the quality of food/meal). The lobster on the roll was chewy/rubbery, not worth the $23, and the corn on the side came grilled with the husk pulled back( but not pulled back very cleanly, the silk was still all over the kernels). The shrimp and grits came without shrimp initially (they forgot it). The home fries were unevenly cooked, some didn't have a crispy edge, the poached eggs were under -seasoned, ham was overcooked and dry, but the shrimp was good, nice and grilled, but a tad on the overcooked side. We will probably not go out of our way to come back to this establishment again. Aside from the atmosphere on the patio, it was quite underwhelming.

    (2)

  • Clint R.

    Went here for happy hour and was not disappointed. All drafts for $3.50 and $1 oysters and $6 fish tacos. Yes please. And by all drafts I mean ALL (Guinness, dogfish IPA, Kona IPA) not just domestic pints of pee. Service was a tad slow but it was busy and had only one guy running the bar. He also was very friendly and gave people the attention they deserved instead of the "I am too busy to care" attitude which gives him bonus points. They also ran out of Oysters. Oops. I did get 6 before that happened and they were really good. Parking is very easy which tends to be a big deal around here and it is free. The couple in front of me got two meals that had nice plating and they seemed to really enjoy it. Ambiance is nice and not intimidating. I will be back. Good stuff. Nitpicky stuff.... They should serve a small amount of fries with the tacos and sliders.

    (4)

  • Rita W.

    This restaurant can be good or not so good, depending on the day you go. I would say inconsistent is the best way to describe it. Decent seafood and good portion sizes for dinner. They're happy hour is really affordable, but pretty limited. Their fish tacos on the happy hour menu for $5 is my recommendation, but I really had nothing else that jumped out to me.

    (3)

  • The S.

    Unfortunately, we chose a night when the heat was not working. So cold!! Overheard nearby table stating that this was not the first time they had been at Nantucket's Reef and the heat was OUT. Despite circumstances, we stuck it out. Nice on tap selection for Happy Hour. Creamy crab dip appetizer was too creamy and not enough crab, should have trusted bartender and ordered the mussels. Lobster roll was good as were the fish and chips.. Friendly service. But Lobster Roll at Jackson's is better. Nantucket's Reef is worth a visit but not a show stopper.

    (3)

  • Devon N.

    Never tried this place before. Unless you are handicapped, you need to park behind the restaurant and walk around, so I dropped off my handicapped passenger at the door. The ceilings are very high so the acoustics inside do not make for a quiet environment. Fortunately for us, we went on a Saturday. We arrived at 1:45 but the brunch was not offered to us - they said it was over at 2pm - and we were handed dinner menus. We did not want to eat dinner at 1:45pm. I was looking for restaurants that were open for lunch, not dinner. Nantucket's Reef can make more informative disclosures on its Facebook page, which I checked out before making the reservation as well as its website and yelp. I ordered the Volcano, which was not on the menu but I read about on yelp) cost $32. It is skirt steak with mashed potatoes and a lump/backfin crabcake on top and has a sauce over all. I found a some shell in the crabcake and think that it did not consist of all lump crabmeat. The steak was grilled & tasty. The portion was ample for two. My guest had salmon. The waiter was unaware whether the crabcake was lump or claw, or if the salmon was farm-raised or fresh caught. He ventured a guess and said, fresh and went to ask about the crab. When we asked for rolls, he didn't know what they were. We mentioned a bread basket and we were brought three 1/2 pieces of grilled bread slices. Hmm. I will not return.

    (3)

  • Katie S.

    The food here is amazing! I continuously recommend this place to seafood lover friends and no one has been disappointed. We ordered: Wicked mussels: a MUST at this place. Hands. Down. Best. Mussels. Ever. The garlic toast soaked in the sauce after all the delicious mussels are eaten just hits the right spot in your stomach. Love the smokey taste of the chorizo. The portion is plenty large. We split it amongst two people and had no problem finishing it. Fish and chips: incredibly moist fish. The portion size was huge. The fish was not overly battered. The batter was crispy and just perfect. The slaw, as someone else mentioned, had a cinnamon or curry hint to it but it added a nice, refreshing touch East coast oysters: very fresh and delicious! Current market price for the night was a very reasonable $10 for half a dozen Ahi tuna salad: as good as this was, $17 seemed a little high for the portion of this. Although the plate looks relatively large, most of it appeared to be lettuce. However the tuna was seared perfectly on the outside with the inside left raw. Cannot complain. Would've personally preferred avocado or something else to add a little more substance to the salad, but nonetheless still a good dish. The service was excellent and everyone was incredibly friendly. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone in the Rockville area. Heck, I would recommend this to anyone in the DMV area since it is certainly worth the drive. A side plus note is the late night special they offer. Tonight (Friday), after 9pm they offer the wicked mussels at only $6! The price cannot be beaten for the quality and quantity!

    (5)

  • Lexi Z.

    Service: Went to brunch and it wasn't too crowded, our server was very attentive. Food: the wicked mussel was great, crab benny had a lot of lump crab meat and the french toast was AMAZING! Cost: Reasonable Overall, a neighborhood gem considering how little choices for seafood restaurants the area has, haven't been to dinner for their regular menu but will return to try it out soon.

    (4)

  • Sergio P. T.

    HOLY WOWWWW! it's rare that you find a place where everything you touch , eat, and taste is amazing. This is how a restaurant should be run. The staff was a+ Heather was magnificent explaining the menu , options and quality of freshness. We ordered the crab dip and shrimp tacos as appetizers. Savor the favor ! I ordered the Volcano which is a combination of skirt steak on top of home made mash with a massive jumbo lump crab cake no filler topped with a special sauce and pico de gallo . My wife ordered the lobster roll . Holy f*****g Wow! Even the french fries were fresh and not oily . Thanks for such great food , quality, freshness and taste ! Were coming back and bringing more people ! I'm very picky with food and for the money you can't beat this food palace !

    (5)

  • Benjamin M.

    Craving seafood, we decided to to check out this new place for my birthday. We parked in the nearby lot and wandered in without a reservation. Luckily, it didn't matter and we were promptly seated at one of the perimeter tables. Let me start by saying the interior layout is somewhat odd. There's a small bar to the right side of the entrance and tables (no booths) on the left side, all along the walls. The lighting was very bright, giving me the impression we were on display versus having a nice dinner. Fishing decor? Eh. But the food and service quickly made us forget all that. We started with the Wicked Mussels topped with chorizo and Pico de Gallo and a side of grilled garlic bread (for dipping, of course). The quantity was more than I expected and, even better, they were still within Happy Hour pricing of only $5.00 (normally $11.00). They were gone in a matter of minutes and we actually considered ordering another batch. I ordered one of the specials our waiter highlighted: a medium sirloin topped with a large crab cake with sides of fresh, green beans and red mashed potatoes. It was a lot of food and I had no issue putting a major dent in the delicious plate. We were also happy with our waiter, who was friendly and attentive. I've heard a lot of restaurants have come and gone in this specific location, so I'm hoping this place has more luck and success than its predecessors.

    (4)

  • Ray G.

    This place is great. Awesome Happy hour, great service, and good food.

    (5)

  • Sheena S.

    Got a reservation, and had to wait a little bit, which was fine, because there was plenty of room, and I wasn't starving. We ordered the "wicked" mussels which were fantastic-I am not a huge mussel fan, but there were quite tasty-spicy, salty and some lemon to freshen the dish up made it hard to resist. It was a good size for an appetizer for two people-it came with two pieces of garlic bread as well. We ordered the chicken tenders (I know) and the lobsta roll (conneticut style). The chicken tenders were not salty, light breading, and super moist. The corn was delicious, and I subsituted the mashed potatoes for veggies, and those were delicious as well. I did not try the lobsta roll since I am not a fan, but it looked great. I love the fact that they have nectars on their menu-I was feelin' the pineapple guava one. Overall, our server was awesome, and I would definetly visit again.

    (4)

  • Chris H.

    I really enjoy this place. Service is pretty nice and friendly, food is good, price is on point. Fish and chips are one of the better ones in the area. They have a decent selection of craft beer to choose from which is nice. I enjoyed the wicked mussels. Stuff Cod tasted light and fresh. The ONLY feedback is that I think the atmosphere could use some work. I really like this place but I don't enjoy being there. The tables outside have a weird feel to them too since they are just randomly placed in front of the restaurant... That could just be the location, only so much you can do... but inside feels very cold and desolate. Anyways, only reason why it lost a star. Regardless, I overall enjoy this place and would come back.

    (4)

  • EmiLy A.

    I first encountered Nantucket's Reef when they had a booth at Taste of Rockville. They were serving their "Crab No Cakes" and "Wicked Mussels". Initially I was skeptical of how good seafood could be at an outdoor food fair, but it was hands down the best food I had at the event. Fast forward to this weekend, when my family and I headed over to Nantucket's Reef near the Universities of Shady Grove in Rockville. I overheard that the space used to be a bank, but they've converted it nicely into an open and light colored restaurant. I especially liked the light blue walls and nautical wall decorations. There's benches and tables for outdoor seating. A cozy bar with small bar dining tables located separately from the indoor dining area is also a plus. I'd recommend making reservations in advance, especially for larger groups during summer weekends. It was pretty busy on a Saturday night. We didn't have reservations, but our tactful hostess was able to accommodate our party (6 people) in less than 10 minutes. Now to the grub.... for appetizers we had the Calamari and Wicked Mussels, which were great. Mussels are served in a tasty sauce with pico de gallo, chorizo, and topped with garlic bread. I contemplated on just getting another order of Wicket Mussels for my meal. I ended up ordering their Maine Lobster Salad and really enjoyed it. You can also substitute the lobster with their Crab No Cakes, which are tasty lumps of crab heaven. You can also get these as a dinner entree, a sandwich, or in their New England stuffed cod. Several diners in our party also enjoyed their Fried Seafood baskets. The Fish and Chips, and fried Oysters and Clams were crispy and not too greasy. Overall, I really enjoyed dinner at Nantucket Reef. I'd definitely come back again, especially for their Happy Hour and Late Happy Hour (after 8 or 9pm) for deals on drinks and small dishes.

    (4)

  • Gwen B.

    We went to Nantucket's Reef for Sunday brunch and had a lovely time. The service was excellent, the food was delicious and we enjoyed the bottemless mimosa's once they were served in champagne flutes rather than tall glasses on ice. The Crab Benny was really good and so was the wicked shrimp pasta. We are planning to come back for Happy Hour.

    (5)

  • Drethi C.

    We went there for a family dinner. The food was decent. I had the wild pasta with chicken. It was ok. The best part was really our service. The server was really great, attentive and friendly. Our glasses were never empty. Good place to come check out.

    (3)

  • Janis L.

    3 of us went for dinner on a weekday evening. We were welcomed easily and seated at one of the outdoor tables with an umbrella to protect us from the setting sun. Order taken promptly for drinks and food and the first round of everything arrived quickly. Our service problems arose with the second round of drinks. We had to ask 3 times. Each time the server apologized profusely, but the drink still didn't arrive. The food was ok - but nothing I would order again. We had the Wicked Mussels. The broth was pretty good, lots of butter and chorizo, but the mussels were itty bitty. If you put all of the mussel meat from this order into a measuring cup, I'm guessing there would be less than 1/2 cup The fried calamari was uninspiring. The batter was a bit heavy and the pieces quite large. The skirt steak special was cooked well, but the accomopanying salsa was forgotten. The chef came out to our table to check on the food and quickly returned with salsa in hand. The salad topped with lobster salad was pretty good. We all enjoyed the cilantro dressing. But it wasn't so phenomenal that I would make a special trip here to eat it.

    (2)

  • Roxy M.

    Went for my birthday. Food was very good. I can't say the same for service etiquette. Server stood at head of table and reached across every one to put plates and drinks down. Also staff Hokies floors while we were still eating. Both things bothered all at the table. These are basics of table service no nos .

    (3)

  • Teresa L.

    This is a great find and not too far from my house. Ever since the Legal Seafood (don't judge) at the mall closed I've been looking for a place that makes a good lobster roll. And Nantucket's Reef is it. I went with a pile of friends for their Sunday brunch, at which they offer a bottomless bloody mary or mimosa. The last few times I have been to places which offer this the drinks have either not been anywhere near a bottle of alcohol or the waitstaff is glacially slow in refilling your glass. Not here. The mimosas were middling strong and my glass was rarely empty. We aren't talking the best orange juice or the finest champagne here but they were decent. We started with an order of the classic crab dip, which was nice both because it was very good but also because the restaurant was freezing cold. Nantucket's Reef specializes in its various forms of eggs benedict, none of which I tried. I am not a huge fan of eggs. However, my friends got a few different ones (the crab one, one with shrimp and grits) and declared them delicious. They certainly looked good. I ordered a Maine style lobster roll and it was soooo yummy. Big chunks of lobster, a tender/chewy roll, crispy fresh lettuce, and a lemony mayonnaise. They serve the same thing hot with butter and lemon instead of the mayo. As an added bonus it was accompanied with exceptionally good french fries. I am so used to french fries sucking at some level that these surprised me. They were obviously freshly made, hot and crispy, and had a wonderful rich flavor. I tasted someone's home fries as well and can say that in general Nantucket's Reef does a good job with potato products. Other than the restaurant being cold when we first got there, the dining environment is pleasant. The staff were friendly and pretty quick on their feet, even though there was a large group in the room next to us that took up a lot of their time. For the price this was an excellent breakfast and I would certainly go back for some of that lobster.

    (4)

  • Eunice K.

    made reservations on opentable for 8 people at 8:15. got seated around 8:50 wish they had a back door or something because there is no parking in the front. you can either park on the side (limited parking) or in the back. the front door of the restaurant is where cars drive but i was hoping there would be a side door but there isnt :( i just wanted to park close cus it was so cold but otherwise there are plenty of parking spaces. this restaurant is close to giant and university of shady grove. before ordering i looked on yelp and thank you yelpers! the wicked mussels were really good! it was flavorful! the pico de gallo, chorizo and mussels went so well together! taste really good when you eat it altogether. separately it is good too but when you have it all in your mouth it really compliments each other. also comes with bread and half of it is in the sauce and so half the bread is really soggy. i didnt mind the soggyness because the sauce is really good but my sister and i think my cousin did not like the soggy bread. i think it might be better to bring the bread on the side or place it differently so the bread is not soggy. the bread reminded me of a garlic texas toast. before getting the mussels the waiter brought out a basket of corn bread with butter (butter seemed to have maple syrup infused in it but im not sure). wish the corn bread came out hot or even warm but unfortunately it was cold :( my sister and i also got the clam chowda. the soup doesn't look like it would be warm/hot but it was hot! :D thank you for bringing out hot soup! it was thick and had lots of clams! really good! wish it came with some bread. for our entree most of us ordered the crab stuffed cod. this dish lets you also get a taste of the crab cakes :) the vegetables were nicely buttered. the rice was also cooked well. the fish was really good. i dont really know if cod is suppose to taste this way but i think the fish is a most dry fish. the fish didnt taste dry; the meat just seemed to fall apart more unlike the mackerel which i think is more soft..? my cousin also ordered the crab stuffed cod and she decided to switch out the rice for grilled corn and the corn was really really good! i was able to taste the smokeyness and sweet corn. it was so good! my cousin ordered the blackened chicken pasta. he doesn't like seafood but seemed to enjoy his meal. i only tried a little and it seemed like white sauce with tabasco. it was interesting and good :) my other cousin ordered the crab cakes. said it was like the crab meat on the cod. i think the crab cake was really good. seemed like there was a lot of crab meat :) my other cousin got the fried lobster. we all got to try a little and the lobster was juicy! :D however it was a pretty salty. i think if it was a little less salty then it would have been so so good! still good. our waiter and other staff members were really friendly :) this place was packed and i can see why. just wish we were seated a little sooner. 35 mins after reservation time is not professional. they almost gave away our table to someone who had come later than us. i dont know if it's cus we didn't complain and just waited but it got ridiculous after waiting 20 mins so then my cousin spoke up. thank goodness. if not we mightve been seated later. overall i am impressed with the seafood here. i heard about the hh so i cannot wait to go back.

    (4)

  • Kristin S.

    Recently went here for dinner since i was going to be in MD. I really liked the decor, a very cute cape cod feel. We walked in right at the tail end of HH, so there wasn't anytime to order any of the food specials, but the table next to us looked like they did well on the oyster specials. I will definitely have to come back for that. The service was great, our waiter gave us the HH drinks and was very attentive. The food was really good: The calamari was not overcooked, and had a nice flaky batter on it. The coconut and pecan crusted tilapia tasted really good, the coating was just perfect with the right amount of sweetness to enhance the fish. The stuffed cod was also great, cooked just right and the crabmeat stuffing pulled it all together. Everything tasted very fresh. I would come back next time I'm in the area.

    (4)

  • R H.

    We enjoy Nantucket's Reef. A great place to take the whole family, the wait staff and management seem to really get customer service and the seafood is always fresh and delicious. It's nestled in Traville Gateway shopping center which isn't the most scenic area and isn't the biggest destination for anything else other than grabbing a meal. IE not much to do after eating but Reef makes up for it with good eats, good people and an inviting atmosphere. The mussels are ridiculous and the seafood is so fresh I had bits of sand on the bottom of my plate (a good thing).

    (4)

  • Maryann K.

    We went to this restaurant for Father's Day. It didn't have much of a wow factor. The food was ok, service was average. It was very loud. They have high ceiling and nothing to dampen the noise. I had a lobster salad. It was good, but not so good I'd go out of my way to come back to this place again.

    (3)

  • Steve R.

    This place is very good. Service is tops. Great drinks and happy hour us a good value

    (4)

  • Courtney S.

    So some friends invited my bf and I out to try this place. Pros: the stuffed cod was delicious. My bf had the Pecan and coconut crusted tilapia. This was probably the best dish out of everyone's. It wasn't too sweet and had a really good crust. Another friend substituted sweet potato fries. These were done perfectly. Not overly salty and they weren't mushy at all. Cons: the crab dip was overly creamy cheesy and you had to dig to find any signs of crab. This was disappointing because the flavor wasn't bad. We also arrived at our reservation time and had to wait another 15+ minutes to be seated. I know it's a Saturday night but what's the point of reservations if you have to wait after it? We also didn't have our water glasses filled a single time we were there (almost 2hours).

    (3)

  • John B.

    Just a fantastic experience, the freshest and most delicious seafood I've had in years. This is my new go to seafood joint. Everything including fantastic service and attentive wait staff to the head chef and co-owner coming over to make sure we had a good experience.

    (4)

  • Jenny N.

    This place is in the Traville shopping center. My boyfriend and I went there on the whim. We sat at the bar so I'm not sure exactly how big the dining room is but the area did seem nice. They of course had their sea decor but the restaurant was still some what polished. The bartender promptly greeted us after we were sat and went over some key items on their menu. Being an Oyster fanatic, my boyfriend and I decided we wanted to order them and the bartender provided us with good knowledge about each selection. We also ordered the mac & cheese to be shared. The food runners were prompt and friendly as well and quickly brought by sauces that we had asked for. The one thing that stood out the most was their margaritas. They use pure fresh squeezed lime juice with I believe agave nectar (?) My boyfriend wouldn't stop raving about it and even after a couple weeks still bugs me to go there again just for the margaritas. In review, the parking was easy, service as great, the restaurant looked nice and the food wasn't bad but it also wasn't anything that I thought about in my sleep and have to go back for. The margaritas are a must have and I totally suggest everyone stop by there for one - I believe they were a decent price for something all fresh squeezed.

    (4)

  • Shey C.

    The food was excellent. Customer service superb. Atmosphere festive. Spirits were on point! I would definitely revisit and recommend this establishment!!!

    (5)

  • Leslie W.

    The lobster salad was yummy and all of our group got it except one person who got the crab salad. It was my first time here but I will return.

    (4)

  • Dawn T.

    Really good crab "no" cakes...so much crab! My dad had the coconut and pecan crusted tilapia with rice pilaf and veggies. My niece had fried shrimp. The sweet potato fries are awesome! I had the Surf and turf special which at first was not cooked well enough for me, but they fixed it quickly for me (i prefer my steak medium well and it was way too rare for me). We liked it so much we are going back tonight before i got back to Missouri...where it is harder to get fresh seafood.

    (5)

  • Jonathan K.

    Very good. Fast and fresh. Not a ton of fish choices but what they have is worth trying. If you can't find something, you aren't trying hard enough. Lobster choices were very good. Tuna tartare app with their guacamole was a stumble upon that turned out to be a real treat when combined. They accommodated our party of 8 very well. I would have given 5 stars if their menu was just a bit larger.

    (4)

  • Janelle K.

    Food and service were excellent. It was a birthday celebration. Told the staff and they provided a special treat.

    (5)

  • David G.

    Food was delicious. Service was great. We sat at the bar for brunch and was served by Carlos. He did a great job telling us about the menu, specials, and drinks. We started with oysters Rockefeller. They were great! For entrees we got the lobster salad, crabby Benedict, and split the Connecticut style lobster roll. Everything was great. We will definitely be back and will order the lobster roll again!

    (5)

  • Tyler W.

    After a long day of being tourists in DC, we decided on Nantuckets Reef for dinner based on awesome yelp reviews. Needless to say, it lives up to the hype! We entered the restaurant just past 9 pm-- they close at 10. The waitstaff mostly seemed to be doing their side work and closing duties when we arrived, but we were greeted kindly and seated promptly. Our waitress, Sophia, was awesome...we definitely expected a little sass since we were there so close to close (and we wouldn't even have blamed her!) Instead, she took her time going over some of the menus highlights and explaining the specials. Then she brought us some corn muffins and maple butter, which were tasty and complimentary. I ordered the wicked mussels at the recommendation of the waitress, and my family ordered the stuffed cod, 2 lobster tails (one fried, one seared, another recommendation from Sophia), and a Caesar salad. The only Caesar on the menu was a side, but they easily made an exception for my sister, who wanted it as a meal. My mussels were awesome. I love mussels anyways, and these were like none I'd ever had. The sauce was bright, buttery, and delicious, and the chorizo was smoky and perfectly spicy. The "pico de gallo" topping was mostly just tomatoes and onions, which was just fine. The bread was a little overly buttery for me, given the already buttery sauce, but I didn't not gobble it up anyways. The appetizer-sized portion was a perfect meal for me! The lobster was a hit too, particularly the fried tail. The studded cod was good, but I have a feeling if we were there a bit earlier it would have been a little better...the sauce was a little scant and the crab wasn't quite as fresh-tasting as expected. The veggies and pilaf were both tasty, though. My sister's salad was, well, a humongous plate of lettuce and croutons. She had to request more dressing, so that was the highlight of that dish. Bottom line: great experience and really tasty food in an unexpected place, made even better by really wonderful service. If I was a local, I would be back for sure!

    (4)

  • Joy B.

    Looking for a casual, but enjoyable new place to try? We settled on Nantucket 's Reef for a Sunday evening dining experience. The place was busy with other like minded patrons searching for some succulent seafood. Mike and I opted for the bar area that had a full service menu and wait service. Our waiter was bright and helpful giving us his honest insights to the menu. We decided to split the lobster salad and the Ahi tuna salad. The lobster salad was delicious with large chunks of lobster, avocado, and crispy wonton noodles with bread crumbs, as well. The dressing was light and delicious. It did not overwhelm the seafood. My only criticism is that the bread crumbs had a spice that was a little spicy for my taste. Mike really liked it. The ahi tuna was very good as well. There was lots of food and we declined dessert. Luckily, a friend told us about a coupon for a discount this month and we were able to access it online. So, it made a good meal a great deal. If you are looking for a local seafood I would recommend giving them a try.

    (4)

  • Amelia O.

    After getting tired of the same old restaurants, I decided to yelp seafood restaurants in MoCo and found this gem. This place is amazing. Nice casual atmosphere and great food. We ordered the mussels to start and we were not disappointed. They were in a lemon herb sauce with chorizo and pico de gallo. The smokiness of the chorizo made the dish very unique and tasty. Since I am gluten free, I had them modify my crab cake dinner. For an extra $3, they just added more crab to my dish and I ended up with two crabcakes that were crab meat only ($31 total). No fillers, nothing. I also switched up my side dish, which wasn't a problem. The red skin mashed potatoes were amazing. My friend ordered the crab stuffed cod and that was a winner too. I highly recommend this place if you want a laid back atmosphere and some good eats. Pricey for some, but you get what you pay for and this was worth it.

    (5)

  • Joey W.

    Fish Tacos are really good. Great outdoor patio seating for when it's nice out.

    (5)

  • Jason G.

    This was my first time at this establishment and I had heard some good things and decided to take the wife over to check it out. When I arrived at their I realized that the location had once been a Tapa's style restaurant that went out of business. The last place was okay. Very dark, but The Reef was very brightly lit and very relaxing inside. The decor is a little "fast foodish" but in the attempt in being "too" casual but overall it was nice. We were seated quickly and the wait staff was very pleasant. For the Appetizers we had the Wicked Mussels and the Calamari. The Mussels were good, but the calamari while cooked perfectly, was given to us in very large pieces. The wife had the Crab Cake sandwich and I had the Stuff Cod. My wife said the crab cake was great (she always orders Crab Cake - which is saying something) but my cod although well cooked didn't taste as fresh as I would have liked it to be. Overall, it was nice enough. Wait staff was great and my wife was happy which is all that really matters...

    (3)

  • Jason S.

    GREAT crabcakes. Get the double and don't look back. The baskets are nothing special so don't try to get too fancy. Definitely worth the trip if you get the crabcakes. Did I mention that the crabcakes are amazing?

    (4)

  • Robert C.

    Had the reef burger, and it was like eating one of the best burgers I've ever had, combined with one of the best crabcakes I've ever had. The cheese was different but really good (I think they used havarti?) $16 is not bad -- maybe I'll start eating here instead of timbuktu or G&M. Ordered popcorn shrimp for the kids, and the shrimp was really juicy. They're picky eaters, but they loved it. My only complaint is that I was sitting in the one chair where the AC was raining down, and it was freezing.

    (5)

  • Stephanie L.

    It's rare to come across a yummy and fresh seafood restaurant like this in Rockville. Service: server was really attentive and very knowledgeable about the menu Ambiance: loving the nautical theme, it feels like I'm visiting Maine Food: The tiny cornbread with maple butter is delicious. The cornbread was really tiny, which is nice or else i would have ate too many and have no space in my tummy left for my lobster roll. Also, I was very tempted to ask them how to make the maple butter because i think i could really live on that stuff. As a big fan of lobster rolls, of course I had to order it. The portions are very generous and most of all the lobster was really fresh. The bun isn't too buttery and they had the right amount of greens to even it out with the mayo. Although the fries are on the oily side but it paired nicely with the roll. My mom ordered the New England Stuffed Cod. The cod and the crabcake was really fresh, it's nothing like those frozen ones at other restaurants. However, the rice and brown butter spinach was a little bland. Will definitely return to try out other things on the menu and the happy hour seems like a pretty good deal. How can you say no to 1 dollar oysters?

    (4)

  • Bryan V.

    Our first time here last night for a birthday dinner. The lobster/spinach queso and mussels were excellent appetizers. The fried basket was excellent - not over fried. Stuffed cod, crab cake and lobster tail all top notch. Desserts were great - bread pudding and brownie. Will definitely be back!

    (4)

  • Tom P.

    Good food, especially since it's the only place in the area that serves fresh seafood. As a seafood snob, I suggest that they add more crab and less cream cheese to their crab dip. We definitely will visit them again.

    (4)

  • Sarah P.

    Awesome place. My Dad and I went on a Sunday for a late brunch, and it wasn't super busy, but still a good amount of people. Our server, Sophia, was great. She was very friendly, and explained the menu in great detail. We got the wicked mussels, the lobster roll, and the ahi tuna salad. The salad was huge! The dressing was light, yet flavorful, with a little spicy kick. The lobster roll (Connecticut style) was soooo good - lots of lobster, on a crispy, buttery roll. The fries were good too, and I loved how big the corn on the cob was. And lastly, the wicked mussels were to die for. So, so yummy. I just wish it came with more bread, to soak up the sauce! The place is pricey, but the portions are good, and the service is great. The decor is simple, but it definitely reminds me of my vacation in Cape Cod. Overall, we loved everything about this restaurant and we'll definitely be coming back!

    (4)

  • Bedelle M.

    I have nothing but nice things to say about this establishment! Quick great service food is nice and hot! Definitely a must visit!

    (5)

  • Mike P.

    We had our holiday party here yesterday, and it was a HUGE success thanks to the extraordinary efforts of Alberto, Paula and Kevin. Alberto could not have been more helpful in getting the room set up to meet our needs, and all of his food was outstanding from the appetizers to the desserts. Alberto is a first class chef, and everyone raved about the high quality and deeeelicious taste of everything. Paula and Kevin were outstanding as well, and they too were so helpful in getting the room set up. As servers they were very attentive to everyone's needs, and they get high marks for their outstanding service and their extremely pleasant personalities. Overall our party experience could not have been better. Thanks again to Alberto, Paula and Kevin for making it possible. I highly recommend Nantucket's Reef.

    (5)

  • Sam B.

    Took a lady here for a first date since it was highly recommended on Yelp. The service was very friendly and everyone was helpful and smiled at you. They recommended items and they had daily specials. I had the coconut pecan crusted tilapia with homemade mashed potatoes and steamed veggies. All of it was great. My date got the grilled trout with eggplant and she enjoyed it (took half home because it was too much for her). The servings were generous. My only complaint was that they charge $3 for a soda (refills are free of course). My waiter took the soda off the bill because he was late in bringing it to me (I didn't think it was that late, but I didn't argue about it). Very nice place with nautical theme.

    (4)

  • C J.

    We were excited to try this place since we're both from New England. It's so hard to get real clams in this area. We were seated outside on a nice day. First let me say, we were not disappointed. The clam basket was amazing. The cod and salmon were also good. And the fries were pretty good. Now the other side. The service seemed really overwhelmed. They were very nice, but just not really with it. It took a really long time to get just ketchup for my son's chicken tenders. The servers brought out the wrong food to the wrong people the whole time, so much so that we all on the porch started to bond over it. The servers tried to be attentive but they were very hard to get to help with anything. I think they just didn't expect the large crowd maybe - that's what I was thinking anyway. So it was worth it. But hopefully their service gets more training or more help.

    (4)

  • Duyen T.

    We decided to venture out and were glad we did. Nantucket Reef has fabulous happy hour specials - $1 oysters (good size, tasty), sliders, beer, wine, desserts. The Parmesan crusted trout with fried eggplant and garlic spinach was delish and so big I had to bring home half. The lobster and angel hair, fried fish (thick, fresh and perfectly seasoned) and popcorn shrimp was also really good and a big hit with the kids. Nice decor, prompt and friendly staff. We'll definitely be coming back, especially for the oysters!

    (4)

  • Tim S.

    Two of us had dinner here and loved everything we ordered...from soup to seafood. The salmon was wonderful.

    (5)

  • D'Lena D.

    Took a chance on Nantucket's Reef for my birthday dinner tonight and I'm glad I did. The dining room is very clean and bright--no residual crumbs to be found on booth cushions or hiding on the corner of the table tops here. It is a casual dining restaurant but feels more upscale--there is attention to detail in the decor and the attentiveness of the hostess and servers. On to the food: delicious. I had a fried reef basket, but got my scallops grilled instead and they were seared perfectly. They were moist, flavorful and fresh. I was a happy birthday girl. The fries they're served atop were good, too, well seasoned with salt & pepper. I even ate a bit of the coleslaw that came along with it, and I am not a coleslaw lover. It was slightly sweet and much tastier than other coleslaws I've had. I wasn't in love with the little cornbread muffins that are complimentary with your meal but I appreciated the idea of them. They were just a bit dry for my liking but overall, I was very happy with my meal and would definitely come again. Come during happy hour if you can; I was happy to have a $3.50 glass of wine with my meal!

    (4)

  • PJ L.

    I was looking for fish tacos in an area I would be shopping in later that day. I came across NR on yelp and the pictures of the brunch items were enticing! I ended up here the next Sunday and I was so glad I did. It was a pretty cold Sunday morning and I was starving so I wanted to warm up with some soup. Soup was not on the menu but I saw pics of it on YELP so I inquired within. To my delight they had soup today! I'm a cream based soup kinda gal, so when the waiter said Crab Tortilla, I was less than excited. But then he said "CRAB", "AVOCADO", and "CILANTRO" to which I replied "YES PLEASE!" The soup was pretty good and exactly as described and I'd get it again. I ordered the Crab Benedict for my entree and with that I was invited to bottomless mimosas for $7....YES PLEASE! The benny came with home fries/breakfast potatoes. Simplicity at it's best! Perfectly poached eggs ontop of perfect lump crab cakes topped with perfect hollandaise all on top of toast (nope not english muffins but still alright with me). When I say perfect hollandaise, this sauce alone could've won an award. Crab cakes were as they should be...all crab no cake. The server offered me old bay to which I was confused but went ahead and sprinkled some on....then a little more...then a little more....WOW, that kicked it up a notch! I'd never put old bay on my benny's but this was a great idea! I take one star away for the mimosas which were served in a tall soda glass with ice...yes ICE. I sat in the bar area and the restaurant seemed pretty empty for a Sunday. Fine by me. I'll be back Nantucket....you've made a fan of me!

    (4)

  • Olcay A.

    We went for another restaurant in the neighborhood but the wait was too long. We decided to give Nantucket a try. We had the lobster dip. It was really good but could have had some more lobster in it, it was mostly cream. I would order it again for taste though, it was yummy! My husband had the salmon which was excellent. I had the fish and chips and I was happily surprised that it was very light, it didn't have a thick blanket of oil soaked bread. Just fresh fish and a light bread crust around it. Service was good and the barmen was very kind and attentive. We will go back soon.

    (4)

  • Fred K.

    Love their happy hour. They recently expanded their happy hour menu, Monday - Thursday (Bar Only), from 3PM - 9:45PM! Includes: $3 Beers $3 House Wines $5 Rail Mixed Drinks $5 Shipwrecks $5 Dark & Stormys $1 Raw East Coast Oysters $5 Fish Tacos $6 Crab Dip $6 Lobster and Spinach Queso They used to have their wicked mussels in their happy hour. Boo. Their wicked mussels is my favorite appetizer. Lots of flavor, sometimes plump, sometimes small mussels. I have always liked their lobster roll, shrimp roll, and their fish chips. Check out Living Social, as they do on occasion have coupon deals ($20 for $35), Its a nicely decorated restaurant, like you are in a beach town seafood restaurant and it is a relatively quiet place, so you can easily hear your table companions and have a very small outdoor seating (make sure to wear mosquito repellent!), which is nice. Glad it opened in Rockville, a perhaps better alternative to Bonefish Grill, in the Kentlands.

    (4)

  • Melanie K.

    I wish Yelp allowed 1/2 stars. I think this place is probably a 4.5, but I'm rounding up because I don't think 4-stars do it justice. AMBIANCE: Nantucket's Reef feels very much like New England, except the employees are a whole lot friendlier than New Englanders. The restaurant is bright, nautical and overall pretty casual in terms of atmosphere. I wore a semi-casual dress and hubby wore a sweater and jeans. I think we both felt like we were dressed appropriately. WAIT SERVICE: We had the entire dining room to ourselves when we got here on Monday evening. Our waiter was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu and the draught list. I asked him what his favorite menu item was and I have to give him major props for being honest (he said his favorite were the fish tacos!) rather than just telling me the most expensive item on the menu. DRINKS: I tried the house Chardonnay and an Orange Crush. The Chardonnay was surprisingly tasty and the Orange Crush tastes just like they do at the beach. Hubby got a couple beers and enjoyed both. FOOD: Fish tasted fresh and delicious. We got the crab dip as an appetizer and it was really tasty. I got the stuffed cod for my entree and it was phenomenal. I wish I hadn't filled up on crab dip because it was flaky and delicious and literally tasted like butter. It was absolute perfection and I just wish I had room to fit the last 3 or so bites. My husband got the coconut and pecan tilapia, which was also good. It was pretty sweet and the habenero mango salsa wasn't too spicy. We split the bread pudding for dessert and it was supremely good. BOTTOM LINE: I really couldn't be happier with this place. I think prices and portions were beyond fair. I would absolutely come back.

    (5)

  • Anne Z.

    Delish!! Came here for brunch a while back. I had the crab benny which was awesome, mostly crab meat-not much fillers and pretty flavorful. My friend had the wicket shrimp which was also awesome, I kept picking at her dish. The shrimp and chorizo never ends! Now, for the main reason why I wanted to come here, bottomless mimosas and bloody mary's! The Blood Mary was awesome, they come in both regular and spicy I believe, the spicy has got a bite to it so if you can't handle your spice, I suggest you opt for the regular but I loved it! Went very well with the food. They certainly do not skimp out on the alcohol. And you can interchange mimosas and bloody marys! Beyond awesome. Highly recommend. I plan on coming back to try their happy hour soon!

    (5)

  • Ash S.

    Brought my friends here for a celebration dinner. I am really gratified to say that they improved on all the little things that I mentioned previously and now genuinely deserve 5 stars. The complimentary mini-corn muffins were fantastic, and something I'd actually order for breakfast. My friend's tilapia dinner featured a massive, well cooked piece of fish, and some great looking sides. The raw oysters were also deliciously creamy tonight. My basket of beer-battered cod and lightly fried scallops felt like a steal at $19. The cod was better than most fine dining restaurant's fish and chips entree, and scallops were like treasures of the sea. Huge, perfectly cooked with flaky fried exteriors and tender, ever so slightly sweet interiors. And of course, perfectly fried and crispy french fries and sweet potato fries. It's like a Chippie (British reference) on steroids! And to top off a great night, my friend insisted on picking up the tab, since he'd just gotten word of a big promotion ;)

    (5)

  • Ching C.

    I live so close to this place, but finally tried it once back in the summer. The mussels for the appetizer are AMAZING. The sauce is so goodddd, and you get yummy garlic bread. Boyfriend and I happened to go when there was still happy hour and so he got the happy hour mahi mahi tacos. We both LOVED these tacos. Great flavor. At first, I've had bad experiences with really bland fish tacos, but now I am converting to loving fish tacos. This one had great salsa and flavor. I got the salmon, which was REALLY disappointing. It needed seasoning. The fish was cooked alright, it wasn't overly dry or anything, but it was SO BLAND. It seriously needed even the simplest salt and pepper (of which, they didn't even have at the tables.) I would go to try the hh menu and the mussels. Maybe the other entrees are better too. I would go back and try it, just not get the salmon.

    (3)

  • Raj L.

    Excellent food and great service. I ordered the Fish and Chips which was 5 sizable pieces of deliciously cooked cod deep fried in an extremely light batter. My wife went with the popular mussels which she suggested is the best she has had in years! There are so many other popular dishes which we plan on coming back for. Our daughter has a tree nut allergy and the manager made a special appearance to let us know he would be extra careful. Great place!

    (5)

  • Bernadette S.

    We were craving seafood so we finally decided to check this place out on the recommendation of some coworkers. Started off with the wicked mussels. Highly recommend ordering this! Portion is good for 4 people. The sauce is real savory with bits of chorizo. I only wish they came with more bread to accompany the yummy sauce! Shared the lobster roll (Maine style) and the stuff cod. While both dishes were prepared just well, somehow we felt like there was something lacking. We couldn't pinpoint what it was though. Our overall first visit was good. Service and staff were very attentive and nice. We will probably visit again in the future to try other things.

    (3)

  • Jason C.

    Those who have lived around the food scene in the Montgomery County area long enough would have heard about Stella's. No. This is not the bakery between Bethesda/Rockville but the restaurant that was tip-toeing on a yelp rating between 2-2.5 stars. Well, Stella's is no more and Nantucket's Reef has taken its place. I wouldn't be surprised if those who have eaten at Stella's would shy away from going to Nantucket's because of how bad Stella's was. That being said, I was pleasantly surprised at Nantucket's and it's been my budget eating spot in the Northern Rockville/Gaithersburg area. For those who don't know, the restaurant is located in the Traville Village Center behind the Univ. of Shady Grove. It's a relatively small complex but has 2 restaurants that have been on a lot of peoples' radars (for different reasons): Cava and Quench. The competition here is fierce. Cava dominates the high-end restaurant scene in Northern Rockville and Quench has gone the route of being the budget restaurant (offering Groupons almost every month) and cheap specials. Nantucket offers an extremely reasonable low priced dishes at food qualities somewhere in-between Cava and Quench. Their mussel dishes which I think is arguably within the top 5 mussel dishes in the DMV area (definitely better than Mannequin Pis in Olney) is a generous amount of plump mussels in a heavy creamy sauce that only costs $10 ($6 if you get it on special on some days). Oysters are $1 a piece (don't expect Hank's Oyster Bar quality or even Clyde's) on HH. Beer/wine can easily be had for $3 (late nights/bar/specials on certain days). If the find the food halfway decent (it's actually good though) at these price levels, you'll have a hard time complaining considering how expensive food gets in MoCo. That being said, my favorite dishes here are: MUSSELS - Top 5 in DMV area and I haven't found a place in MoCo that serves better mussel dishes. It has bits of bacon in a buttery and creamy sauce and comes with two large slices of garlic bread. This is a must have. CALAMARI - has a very crispy outer layer and the calamari is very fresh and chewy AHI TUNA SALAD - a very very generous portion of salad with 6 slices of thick ahi tuna. For the portion size, I'd say this is great for $17. The server recommended the salad over the appetizer b/c you get salad for $3 extra. If you work in Gaithersburg/northern Rockville area, this place is a great place to visit. They have long HH at the bar (something like 4-8:45) with appetizers less than $6 and drink specials for $3-$5. In my opinion, Nantucket's offers one of the best values for the $ of restaurants in Rockville and it has been one of my go-to places when I'm conscientious about how much I want to spend at a restaurant.

    (4)

  • Adie S.

    Really good food in the suburbs. Went for lunch and ended up getting the Crab No Cake Sandwich. It's called that because there is basically no filler, just pure crab meat. Paid a buck extra for the sweet potato fries, worth it. My mother ordered the Sea Scallops and they came out perfectly seasoned and cooked. But by far the best item we had was the Mac and Cheese. Perfection.

    (4)

  • Julie H.

    Cute & cozy restaurant. I enjoy the ambience and food here - great seafood restaurant. There are so many things I want to try out here. Everything at this restaurant is made in house. If there are any dietary restrictions, you can let them know and they will make a dish that works for you. The mini corn muffins that you get when you come in are great and super addicting. I really enjoy the clam chowder, is creamy and has lots of clams in it. The oyster rolls is delicious, but I wish there were more oysters in the roll. You can really taste the freshness of the oysters. The bun itself was very soft and buttery. The table next to us got lobster rolls, and it looked delicious. Its definitely on my list of things to try at this restaurant (a lot with probably everything else). The bread pudding here is a must have. The bread pudding had the most perfect texture, and it was the perfect temperature when we received it. Apparently its the owner's grandma's recipe. The ice cream and bread pudding go so well together, stopping by this restaurant just to get the bread pudding is so worth it.

    (4)

  • James G.

    I loved this place before, now they carry blue crabs! They were delicious. Paired them with Leinenkugel Summer Shandy. My dog came along and hung out on the patio.

    (5)

  • Nikolas K.

    Crab cakes and lobster rolls are both stellar. However, it's all about the atmosphere for me and at the reef, it was lacking. The service was also lacking. However, restaurants are all about the food in the end and the seafood her was delicious. I would definitely make a second trip, maybe if I wasn't paying (:

    (4)

  • Brian L.

    Really it's 3.5, but I'lll round up. I came here with a friend for a Saturday linner/early dinner around 430. Not surprisingly it wasn't packed. We got seated right away. Food was excellent - I had a crab cake sandwich, and she had the angry lobster roll - both great choices at around $20 each. Service was a bit slow and inattentive - we had to call the waiter over for condiments/water. I'd come back again at a busier time, maybe service would be a bit more attentive.

    (4)

  • Richard W.

    One of my favorite seafood restaurants. Feels like a boat house. Great deals at the bar with an outstanding Happy Hour. I usually get the crab cakes. Which have no fillers in them and are just lump crab piled high. The clam chowder is excellent and so is the lobster, which is huge. Make sure to bring your appetite. The shopping center might detract from the curb appeal a bit, but you quickly forget once you're in there. Outstanding service with a very friendly hostess. Looking for great New England style seafood, this is your place.

    (4)

  • Megan H.

    I've been here for both brunch and dinner and it's been wonderful both times! Service is always friendly and food is great. Favorites so far are the lobster roll during dinner and the crab Benedict for brunch. They also have a pretty sweet $7 unlimited mimosa or Bloody Mary drink option during brunch. As expected, outdoor seating comes with a few extra unexpected dining companions (of the bug variety), but nothing major to worry about.

    (4)

  • Dave G.

    Wow - what a disappointing evening! We called during the day to tell them that we were bringing a group of 10 to celebrate my mother-in-law's 82nd birthday - even pre-ordered dessert so she wouldn't see us do it. The evening started when we sat down and told the waitress we had an eleventh person coming, but we could easily fit along the booth side, we just needed another place setting. Here's what we dealt with: - We had to ask three more times for 2 missing place settings (table was only set for 9) - We had to ask at least three times for 2 missing waters - One of us asked the waitress about the Rose wine - she said "I don't know, I've never tasted it" - We had to ask the waitress if there were specials - she didn't volunteer them - The waitress had clearly never been taught how to properly serve wine (i.e., pour a small amount to taste before filling glasses) - We asked for more cornbread - never got that - We asked her if there was dairy in the mashed potatoes - she didn't know and had to go ask - We told her that two people were going to share a meal - had to ask her twice for an extra plate - The food in general was very good (appetizers and entrees - we had quite a variety), except that the steak on the special was way overcooked (and of course, no one came to check on it when it was served) or to take notice that we left at least half of the steak - When we finished dinner we had to re-order the "surprise" dessert - The waitress then came out to say, "sorry, we ran out of candles" - no attempt to help at all - SO WE HAD TO GET UP AND WALK OVER THE GIANT - A BLOCK AWAY!!! - When they brought out the dessert, they put a glass over the candle to keep it from going out, except that they actually put the candle out (and no attempt to re-light it) - My brother-in-law walked over to talk to the owner (who had been walking around all evening, but hadn't once stopped by our table) - he tried to tell the owner what the issues were and that accomplished two things - he said I want another chance and he took the waitress aside (who he clearly had NOT trained nearly well enough) and talked to her at a table, in front of all of us - AND, TO TOP EVERYTHING OFF, another waiter (maybe a manager), brings the check over and tells us that he had to add a tip into the check to make sure that his waitress was paid fairly. NOTE TO MANAGEMENT: If you hire a waitress (who seemed like a nice, hard-working young lady) who you haven't trained properly (so that our experience suffers), you should pay her, not expect us to - she is your employee and it is YOUR responsibility to train her and pay her while she's being trained so that then she can earn tips. It was a terrible excuse to tell me that you do tastings for your employees but she hasn't had a chance to taste the rose wine yet - at least make her learn the tasting notes! Do like better restaurants do and make sure your employees know your menu before you have them serve on their own. We have eaten at the restaurant many times in the past and had very good food, but I'm not sure I'll ever go back after this dinner and the poor experience. The rating is an average - all of the courses except the steak were 5 stars, but the service and response from management was a ZERO.

    (2)

  • LuisOmar L.

    Their guac is awesome. Loved the fact that with my check in I got a free glass of their wine. Pretty chill, nice environment. Service is good, portions are pretty big. Overall, I recommend it.

    (4)

  • Natasha S.

    We came back here one day for a late lunch with our cousins and it was nice and dead. There was plenty of seating, privacy and it wasn't too loud. Lunch is a great time to come! Our server was nice. Had a good sense of humor and understood our sarcastic and odd humor. That was fortunate. We ordered the wicked mussels as an appetizer and they were SOOOOOOO good! I wouldn't have thought to order them if our cousins weren't with us, but so glad we did. Definitely ordering them next time. The mussels are well prepared, flavorful and it had a smoky Cajun twist to it. My partner and I ordered the fried seafood reef basket to share, which had fried oysters, fried scallops, fried shrimp, fried clams and fried cod. It was served with coleslaw and shoestring fries. I really liked the clams, cod and shrimp but wasn't crazy for the scallops and oysters. I imagine the scallops would have been tastier grilled. The coleslaw is very good and not all mayo which is great. I also had a house side salad that came with in house made ranch - so good and light! Not too creamy. Our cousins had the lobster roll and stuffed cod which they liked a lot. Everything was good. And better then the last time we were here. Definitely foresee us coming again soon - especially for lunch!

    (4)

  • Neal L.

    Worst service and management I have seen in a long time. The crab sizes are greatly mis-represented. Large wouldn't pass for sm/med in most crab houses. I do not expect this place to be open very long.

    (1)

  • Justine K.

    Took a friend who was visting from out of town for lunch and she said her seafood cravings were completely satisfied. Our eyes were definitely bigger than our stomaches. We started off with the wicked mussels. The flavors are so good but the size of the mussels are hit or miss. This time the mussels were not as plump as I remembered. Next we had the shrimp roll and lobster roll (CT style - cooked with a side of butter verses with mayo). We decided to split each of the rolls. I was so stuffed from the mussels I just picked on the shrimp and lobster and didn't bother with the rolls. Shrimp and lobster were cooked perfectly. I definitely want to come back for happy hour.

    (4)

  • Susanna P.

    My husband and I came here for brunch a few Saturdays back. While the restaurant was busy, we were able to get a seat right away. Service was prompt and friendly, and the owner (I assume) came by several times to check on us. We each got some version of Eggs Benedict - I got the Shrimp & Grits, and he got the Crab Benny. Both were freakin' delicious, and just the right amount of food. Definitely looking forward to eating here again - especially since they have a dog-friendly patio!

    (5)

  • Nate B.

    Very medicore meal. The fish and shrimp were not very fresh (though certainly not rotten), and, with a seafood restaurant, that's really all that matters.

    (2)

  • Sharon W.

    Thank you Yelpers! Was looking for a restaurant in the Rockville area and I did a Yelp search and found Nantucket's Reef with a lot of good reviews. First happy note was there is plenty of parking. The restaurant sits at the end of a road filled with shops and other restaurants and is slightly hidden around a corner. Next happy note was the staff was so friendly and enthusiastic! Not forced just genuinely nice. We were there for Sunday lunch and I was surprised it wasn't busier. Many of the patrons there seemed to be regulars who were greeted by name by the manager. My first decision was an easy one--unlimited Bloody Marys (or Mimosas) for $7.00--I'll take unlimited Bloody Marys thank you! Husband ordered a beer. Now for the dilemma, everything sounded good. We finally decided to try two entirely different dishes. Husband ordered an oyster basket and I had the stuffed cod. The cod was the best fish dish I have had in a long time. The fish was moist and flaky and the crab stuffing was buttery and creamy and was the perfect sauce to complement the fish, without overwhelming it. My mashed potatoes were good and the squash was cooked nicely. One minor note is that I did add salt to my plate, but I'd rather add some myself than be served a dish with too much salt. Also, as husband pointed out, I tend to like things slightly saltier than some others. Husband loved his oyster basket. He even said the Cole slaw was good and he doesn't usually eat it at all. This version he polished off and didn't hand over to me. The oysters were plump and fried so that they were crisp but not greasy. Both of our dishes were generous servings so I did have to share with husband. We were pleasantly surprised when the bill arrived. It was very reasonable (no coupon), mainly because the drinks were so inexpensive. For my review, I debated between 4 stars and 5 stars, but decided on 5 because the restaurant staff is so friendly, the service was good, and that cod dish is going to be calling me back. Which is a problem because there are so many other things I want to try!

    (5)

  • Joe C.

    We've been here a few times for dinner, but we mostly do brunch here. Nantucket's bills themselves as a New England style seafood restaurant, with lobsters seemingly being their focused specialty, but they also serve other shellfish (mussels, oysters, crabs), some standard fish options (salmon, crab), and those old standby chicken and burgers for those who don't like seafood but got dragged against their will. The full lobsters and crab rolls we've had have been excellent. Most of our visits have been for brunch, though. The menu is fairly standard for brunch - eggs, french toast, pancakes. They do eggs benedict really well, but I particularly love their french toast which is done with baguettes. More than that, we love their $7 unlimited bloody mary/mimosa specials during brunch. As is normal, some bartenders make better bloody mary's than others, but in the few occasions that we weren't totally satisfied, the drink was either easily correctable with some additional seasoning, or the bartender was willing to remake the drink differently. The restaurant feels strangely bright and airy for a typical seafood place, which tend to have darker color schemes, but it's a nice restaurant and the service is friendly and helpful. Even when we spend a few hours enjoying their brunch and drinks, we've never once felt like they were getting tired of us. Definitely a good choice for dinner in Rockville, but one of the best choices for brunch.

    (5)

  • Nikkia G.

    Nantucket's Reef is the answer to my seafood prayers. Growing up on the shore in Ct, I can easily get good quality seafood with no headaches. Living in the DC area, getting real seafood, thick, tasty white fish like cod or lobsters warm with butter not mayo like the Maine style has became a real thorn in my side. BUT I've been delivered to a place that gets it right. Oddly located on a roundabout, this place has a seaside feel as soon as you walk in. Nautical decorations, high ceilings, wood furnishings and lots of natural light really makes you feel like you're in a boat house. The menu had everything I was looking for cod, Connecticut' style lobster tail (warm with butter), crab cakes with no filler, scallops, mussels AND its affordably priced! I got the lobster roll Ct style and my friend got the Reef basket fried at the suggestion of Sophia, the waitress. I really loved her. I told her it was my first time there and she gave me plenty of time to review the menu and lots of suggestions. She was also very honest about what wasn't her fav or what she would chose out of two dishes. I certainly appreciate that kind of honesty. Back to the food--DELICIOUS! The lobster tail was perfectly cooked and accompanied by the best asparagus I've ever had (see pic). Although it was the biggest asparagus I've even seen the flavor was undeniable, peppery with lemon but not over the top. The scallops on the Reef basket literally, lit-er-al-ly melted in my mouth. Good service, good food, good ambiance and my main man Bob Marley playing softly in the background makes this place the best seafood restaurant in the area for me. So glad I've been delivered from my seafood deprivation.

    (5)

  • Geydy D.

    My 5th time coming here and I just love it! Their Wicked Mussels are to die for! Great prices, great to hang out with friends and family... Their brunch $7 bottomless AMAZING deal!

    (5)

  • Tierra H.

    Sometimes, it's hard to find good seafood. Even in Maryland. I really would expect this place to be in Annapolis, but I'm glad it's in Rockville. My husband and I have been here twice, thanks to Living Social. For some reason, when we go, it's kind of empty. I want it to not be empty so it can do well and be here forever. The first time here, my husband and I went or the lobster roll. I'm NOT a fan of the regular NE style lobster roll. So I went for the Connecticut style, which is hot and buttery. It didn't disappoint! Served with fries, it's just enough food to be full, but not overly so. The next time, I thought I'd venture out and try something else. Meh. I had the much ballyhooed Wicked Mussels. I make better mussels than this, for real. So I wasn't impressed. I did, however, get the crab tortilla soup and wanted to do cartwheels and recommit my life to Jesus right then and there because soup was SINFULLY good! So that was a win, even if the mussels weren't. Husband had the "crab, no cake" sandwich, which he enjoyed. All crab. All good. Service is always decent. Not super friendly, but it works. A pet peeve? The ketchup situation. I don't even like ketchup all that much, but if you serve me fries, give me ketchup. HOWEVER, here, they give you a teaspoon full. They put it in ramekins that are about 1/3 full. Nah. I'm gonna need more than that, thanks. All in all, a good spot though. Definitely going back for the soup and lobster roll.

    (4)

  • Irene F.

    Came here for the first time last night for an early Mother's Day celebration. We had a fabulous time. The decor is adorable- I loved the nautical feel, and the brightness of the space. You feel transported to the beach in the heart of Rockville suburbia. The oysters were delicious- sweet and perfectly briny. I could have eaten 2 dozen more. The Wicked Mussels were so good that my dad ordered it again as his entree because he didn't get enough of the appetizer! But the quantity was huge. The 1/2 lb of shrimp tasted great, I wish they were slightly bigger, but for the price I'm just being greedy. The lobster spinach dip tasted great but needed a lot more spinach and more lobster. The free cornbread muffins were cute, but hard and crumbly. They should go scope out O'Donnells cornbread - it's much better. For the entrees we all got the 2 lobster tails dish. I recommend you switch out the fries for the sweet potato fries- they are awesome. The lobster tail was sweet and tender. I don't think they are main lobsters though. I could have eaten 4 more of those too. I liked how they removed them from the shell so we could eat them more easily. The blueberry soda is super sweet. If I was ever to order it again, I would get it 1/2 soda and 1/2 seltzer water. The dessert was the bread pudding. We asked for the syrups on the side because we don't want things too sweet. It was seriously the best bread pudding I have ever eaten. And I don't like bread pudding. I was sad that we were all sharing one dessert. I had to step away from the BP so others could manage a bite. :p The Angry Orchard beer was only $5- which is my favorite hard cider. Overall I would say their prices are perfectly aligned with the wallets of the area. You don't leave feeling ripped off. It's terrific food and the waitstaff and manager seem genuinely to care about your experience. I even received a visit from the executive chef- and he spoke Chinese to my family. (He was previously married to a Chinese woman). It was hilarious. I will definitely be back, I'm a little sad I waited so long to try it out. I guess after so many failed restaurants in this location I was a little paranoid.

    (5)

  • Sonni W.

    Very much a great place for local seafood - a bit commercial for my taste (I prefer local-yocal, niche-type places) - but I really liked the little ham bits in the steamed mussels appetizer! Great customer service (ask for Selena), and about 2 steps away from Red Lobster (in the positive direction)! Recommend.

    (4)

  • Brittany B.

    My boyfriend and I were having a seafood craving one weekend and stumbled upon Nantucket Reef on Yelp. It was pleasant surprise to see how reasonable it was in terms of the pricing, the portions and the wait time (they sat us immediately on a Sunday afternoon). They start you off with mini corn bread muffins with a side maple butter (my boyfriend orders another basket each time we've come). We ordered the oysters which were fresh and flavorful, and the mussels which were sautéed in a lovely butter blend of onions, tomato and sausage. He ordered the crab dip which was rich and delicious and I had a warm lobster roll, which had so much lobster (I ended up eating most of it without the bread because I was getting full). We came back within two weeks and ordered a dozen oysters each, with a hearty side of mashed potatoes and corn on the cob. We returned for a celebration with his family and had the calamari, (oysters and mussels...again) and everyone ordered lobster rolls. I had the fish and chips and wasn't a fan. The batter had detached from the fish and was a little soggy. Otherwise, everything was wonderful!

    (4)

  • Alicia G.

    The roommate and I have been twice. Which is partly because we came to use a LivingSocial deal and failed to notice the fine print which basically says it's only good Sun-Thurs. But honestly, even if that hadn't been the case that first Friday night we came, the food was good enough that we'd have totally come back on our own anyway. The first visit, I had the half clam/half shrimp basket and a side caesar salad. The salad was fine. Nothing terribly exciting there. The clams and shrimp were great. The "ranch" dressing I had asked for on the side to dip my fries in, however, was questionable. I have no idea what it was that I was served, but if that is ranch dressing...then you should not get it. On the second visit, I had the clam chowder to start since it was so dang cold out. It was really good and definitely warmed me up. After seeing all of the yelp photos of the clam roll, I knew that's what I had to get this time. And boy, did it not disappoint! A plentiful portion of fried crisp clams on top of a split roll with lettuce. My only complaint would be that without slathering everything in tartar sauce, the bun is pretty dry and there's not a ton of flavor. Perhaps they could have buttered the roll a little better? Service both times was interesting. The first time it was overkill. The moment I finished something, it was taken away. Which I mean, great that you're paying attention to our needs but whoa, nelly... I felt like my every move was watched. Whereas on the second visit, our server was noticeably absent for parts of the evening. So that's curious. But yeah. It's safe to say despite two very different service experiences, we'll totally be back. The food is good and reasonably priced so that's all that matters. The HH deals look legit so hopefully we'll be back to try those out too.

    (4)

  • Kristin S.

    I would give Nantucket's Reef 5 stars if it wasn't for how pricey it is. Being from the South, maybe that's why I was shock that a crab cake sandwich is $19 but I have to say, it was a pretty delicious crab cake! Oysters were great and the calamari was perfectly cooked. I do wish it had more of a spicy marina sauce vs the spaghetti like marina sauce. But overall, had a great first experience and will more than likely be back!

    (4)

  • Michael Y.

    We had a great dining experience there. We have continued to return to your restaurant for great food. Thank you!

    (5)

  • Jennifer Y.

    Oysters were fresh. Ahi Tuna salad was very good, well dressed.

    (4)

  • Alicia R.

    Service was good. Decor and ambience was good. Maybe I set too high expectations because I felt the food could have been so much better than it was. The corn muffins could have been a little more moist. The lobster roll should have had twice the amount of lobster it came with, considering the price. My husband's coconut tilapia was lackluster. I don't know if it was because it was in between lunch and dinner times, but the entrees just could have been so much better than they were.

    (3)

  • Steven M.

    Decided to pick this restaurant for our Mother's Day brunch. Was able to get spot for three with a reservation about a week ahead of time. The only negative with the reservation was that while I indicated it would be 2 adults and one toddler who needs a high chair, we almost didn't get the high chair. Would have been a problem. We ordered the Oysters and Wicked Mussels for appetizers. Absolutely delicious! The Wicked Mussels especially had a great sauce. We ordered extra bread to soak up the sauce, definitely suggest you do the same. We order the Crab Eggs Benedict and the Banana French Toast. Both were delicious as well. The eggs were cooked perfectly with just the right amount of runny yolk, crab cakes were fluffy and full of meat, and served with a side of fried potato wedges. The banana toast was definitely full of banana flavor! My son loved it! Portions were large and definitely welcome for the price. Presentation was great. Our waitress, I believe it was Gabriella, was very attentive and pleasant. We were in a booth spot and the tables/floors were very clean. Again very nice, clean restaurant. It's next to a upscale strip mall so parking is a non-issue. It was Mother's Day so the place was a expectedly busy but noise levels were still decent enough that we could talk without yelling. Menu has a decent selection of seafood dishes and we are eyeing a return for a dinner sometime in the future.

    (4)

  • John L.

    Succulent food. Had the reef burger and now want no other burger but this one. Have not gone to or seen another place like this. The food was amazing and the environment equally so (5stars to both). The only aspect I will rate lower is the service (4 stars) only because we were waiting for our waiter a few times. However, we were a complicated party seeing as we were arriving at different times and compared to other restaurants, the service was definitely above average. So many people I want to take to this restaurant so they can share in my love for Nantuckets. Can't wait!

    (5)

  • Suzanne C.

    Overall very good. Good place for family's. Excellent service. Love the crab no cakes!

    (4)

  • Claire L.

    Best crab cake ever! It is all crab no filling, in fact it is so much crab that it doesn't stay in the standard "cake" shape but rather a hill of well seasoned crab meat! Not oily at all. Love it. The $1 oyster is cool too. Service is a bit slow but maybe we came too early for dinner.

    (4)

  • Ed G.

    Cannot understand the positive reviews here. Everything was bland. Shrimp, scallops, clams, fries all bland. No seasoning. The waiter was horrific. It took over 15 minutes for a refill. It was a huge disappointment. It just wasn't good. It was a nice place, but man, this is the highest echelon of 'meh'

    (1)

  • Jeff O.

    Just finished eating there. Lobster roll was great. The corn bread was excellent too. Outdoor seating rocked!! Can't wait to go back for happy hour. Service was a little slow, but it was refreshing not feeling rushed. Our waiter, George, was very personable and attentive.

    (4)

  • Colin C.

    I rely on Yelp for new finds yet I don't give back to the Yelp community. Nantucket's Reef has triggered my action here. I had an open mind on this being a good experience - 100% based off of yelp reviews as none of my friends had been there yet. I gambled and lost. Food - very standard menu. Almost too boring and bland. Items ordered at our table included the wedge salad which should be renamed "Greed Goddess Dressing with a side of lettuce". I believe the bacon was from a bottle. The bleu cheese was nonexistent and all paled in comparison to the quart of dressing poured on it. The caesar salad had that phenomenal kraft bottled parmesan cheese on it. Classy. Fortunately the dressing was ordered on the side for this one and she was spared the soup consistency. Beers were ordered - decent selection and not some of the same 'ol ones you see every day now. DuClaw Neon Lights was a nice change - that's a plus. Menu $5. Bill $6. Kid had the standard choices of Cheeseburger, chicken fingers, whatever else and went with the tried and true Cheeseburger. Menu price $8 - Bill price $11. Sense the trend? Entrees - Stuffed Cod. I think it was stuffed with crab, but more crab essence and bread crumbs. Cod was also undercooked but still good. Pasta Del Mare. As she put it - nothing to write home about. Desserts - passed because... Atmosphere - it is louder than bombs in there. It's truly amazing that sitting at the same table 2' apart from each other we still had to practically yell to hear each other. We both liked the decor and the beach vibe they're attempting to recreate but they are in desperate need of some noise cancelling bumpers on their ceiling. Service - our server was Chris and he's the saving grace of this review. He was extremely attentive, knowledgeable on the menu and our questions. He anticipated our son's needs and treated him like an adult vs. the add on at the table like most servers do. Overall - the food is average, the decor and beer is good, the ambiance is too loud. You can do better my going elsewhere.

    (2)

  • Richard J.

    Had a coupon from the weekly mailer so we decided to try it. The food was very good, Denis our waiter was polite and knowledgable. We will definitely go back again! Thank you for a tasty dinner.

    (5)

  • Christine V.

    I took my mom here for Mother's Day and it was delicious! I had the crab benny and my mom had the lobster salad...both wonderful! We split the bread pudding for dessert and it was the best bread pudding either of us has ever had! The service was terrific and the restaurant is big and comfortable! We will definitely be going back for more yummy food!

    (5)

  • Fede C.

    We've been here for dinner on Thursday evening. It's a bit far from downtown Rockville but the area is nice and there's plenty of space for parking. The restaurant inside is quite stylish, with a mix of modern lines and navigation/fishing references (see photo). The service was very fast and kind, the food delicious! We ordered the Lobster Roll Connecticut Style, the Clam Roll and the Tuna Salad. The quality of the ingredients is high and you can easily recognize that they care about the hygiene. The fried clams were so soft and juicy that my mouth is watering just thinking about it :-) Good for a date, but also for a night with friends or family.

    (4)

  • Karen M.

    The fiance and I ventured out of the restaurant desert that is Ashburn, VA and met another couple at Nantucket's. Nantucket's is tucked away behind the University so when we first drove in I was a little worried I had the address wrong. But sure enough, there it was with plenty of parking nearby. The decor inside was clean and bright with a nautical theme. Everyone else at the table wanted to order calamari for an appetizer which I never order because usually it is rubbery and tasteless. When the order arrived, I was pleasantly surprised. It was cooked perfectly, and the breading on the outside was dry (not greasy) and crispy. This was probably the best calamari I've ever had! For dinner, 2 in the group ordered the shrimp scampi, 1 got the basket with fried clams, oysters and shrimp, and I ordered the stuffed cod. The stuffed cod normally comes with rice pilaf, but because it was cooked with chicken broth (Which I don't eat), I substituted mashed potatoes. The cod was perfectly cooked and stuffed with crab. The mashed potatoes included the red potato skins and were fantastic and not gummy at all. Everyone else at the table devoured their plates of food and had great things to say about all of it. I will absolutely be coming back to Nantucket's for great seafood and I'd love to try their fried basket next time as it looked delicious!

    (4)

  • Leigh M.

    Came here with a 6 person party including some elderly family members. Our server did a great job meeting some of my aunts' demands. The food was good, they had reasonable beer prices, and I'll definitely go back.

    (3)

  • Cristina D.

    I recently went to Nantucket's Reef to try their steamed crabs. I ordered the crabs as take out. The restaurant offers great customer service. I was greeted upon arrival, offered a drink while I waited for the crabs and they even threw a wooden mallet in my crab order which I thought was nice. The crabs were pretty good. Given that this is not a crab house and they only recently started offering hard shelled crabs it was a good effort. The flavor of the crab meat wasn't as good perfect as you would get at a crab house but the crabs were full and I am delighted to have a hard shell crab option so close to home.

    (4)

  • Corey S.

    Ran out of lobster on Sunday but they comped me with an appetizer whch was nice. I will go back for dinner again some other time.

    (4)

  • Steven W.

    3.5 Stars...I find the food to be satisfying, tasty and priced fairly. It's not exciting or inspiring. That's not bad by any means...it just has more of a seafood, comfort food vibe. This is one of those restaurants that if you live nearby, it's great to have in the rotation. I'm not going to list everything I've tried, because they have all been good. Servings are large as well!

    (3)

  • Jenna L.

    I was very pleased to have visited Nantucket's Reef to satisfy a random urge for crab cakes. On a late Sunday afternoon Nantucket's Reef was fairly empty and my boyfriend and I were promptly seated in a restaurant that does a great job of recalling Nantucket. Our waitress was friendly and attentive. She even indulged us in settling an obnoxious bet (what is the TRUE definition of brunch) while trying her best to insult neither of us. Her best call was suggesting the Crab Cakes Benedict and the Diablo mussels. The mussels were out of this world. My only complaint is that I wish they came with more bread so I could soak up some of that delicious sauce! The crab cakes here are small, but because they are actually made of crab (and not filling) it seems justified. The eggs, potatoes and everything else on my plate was equally delicious. Apparently they have $7 unlimited mimosas/bloody mary's at brunch. As I was driving I wasn't able to indulge, but it would provide me some motivation to return!

    (5)

  • Rick B.

    Awesome Happy Hour specials from 3-close every day. Great bar food at $6.00 a plate is very reasonable. Mussel Mondays was incredible. $6.00 for a full order of mussels, which are as good as any Belgian restaurant. The Beer specials are fantastic as well. $2.50 bottles and $3.50 draft! Highly recommend. Also the place is just unknown enough that it doesn't get loud.

    (5)

  • Kimberly T.

    First off the decor is super cute, I felt like I was at a beach house. But that is only the case if it is like sunny outside; when it is dark or cloudy it looks super different inside. All the reviews talk about the wicked mussels.... And just to let you know... They are right. Those mussels are banging. BANGING. It comes with chorizo and this creamy sauce. There is even bread to dip with the sauce. If I could just put that sauce over like rice or everything I would be super happy. I have been here twice and the service has been meh. My friends told me about how their first time their the owner came up to them and talked to them and how their waiter was so attentive and helpful. I believe it is because they are getting more popular but I haven't experienced that yet. My first visit no one came to our table initially for 10 minutes. But they turned it around by the end of the meal. The volcano steak I believe it is called, is massive. It is a mountain of mashed potatoes with steak circling the mashed potatoes and with a crab cake on top. It is super yummy, but really heavy and huge. My friend got the lobster salad, but got her lobster I believe Connecticut style meaning with butter. I got the wicked chicken pasta because I didn't want any seafood that day it was pretty amazing. The chorizo is never a bad thing in any dish. The time before that I got the stuffed cod because of the reviews. It was pretty amazing the crab is super yummy, and the cod was cooked perfectly. I crushed the whole plate.

    (4)

  • allie y.

    Everything was great here. We had HH $1 oysters, crab cake salad, lobster and drinks. They were the best $1 oysters we've had. We ended up ordering 3 orders since they were so fresh! Lobster was cooked perfect and very juicy. Crab cake had lumps of crab meat which was yummy. Service was great and attentive. Highly recommend this place!

    (5)

  • Kevin F.

    My beautiful daughter and I went out for dinner, but I didn't want to go far from Gaithersburg, so I went to Yelp (duh) to find somewhere nice. sound of basketball buzzer. The ratings werent stellar, but a lot of stars should never be the sole (pardon the pun) criterion for making your choice. I should have READ the review. Our portions were good, but the batter used to deep fry stuff was lacking in "punch". I had fried oysters which was quite lackluster. Thank goodness for the sauces. Maybe if I had more alcohol, it would have been better, but I didn't like their selections in those areas, as well. If you MUST eat somewhere, and it's close, it is an ok place, with good service, average prices in a mall--type restaurant setting. Synopsis: no big whoop

    (3)

  • M E.

    What a great place for Sunday brunch!! The crab Benedict was fantastic and the French baguette banana French toast were also quite nice. They also make a mean Bloody Mary!!

    (5)

  • Dan F.

    Fresh seafood and great service! We got: 1. Mussels as appetizer - not over cooked. Great sauce 2. Salmon salad - perfectly cooked salmon. They asked how I'd like it cooked. I asked for well and it was still juicy but cooked all the way through. 3. Lobster salad - large pieces of lobster 4. Lobster roll - came with corn and fries. Two sauces options, light mayonnaise or light butter. Bun was nicely toasted 5. Came with corn muffins - pretty good and just the right size, mini sized 6. Crab tortilla soup - like MD crab soup but a little thicker and a tiny bit spicy. Can't taste the crab, more like tortilla soup. Waitress had great recommendations and told us what she wouldn't recommend without pushing us against it if that's what we wanted. She was attentive but let us be. The host saw we had a toddler and knew immediately that a booth would be better. And the waiter who brought the mussels made sure we kept the hot dish way away from the toddler.

    (5)

  • Carletta M.

    All I can say is "Happy Dance" The stuffed Cod was so moist, flakey and delicious. Nantucket Reef is bookmarked for life. This place is a must try for all who like fresh and flavorful food

    (4)

  • R j N.

    Great place for casual seafood dinner. Service is professional and prices are fair. Only wish they would offer more typical Nantucket fare such as lobster rolls and scallops. Mussels are excellent and a must have. Very limited but adequate menu and wine list. Owner is present and attentive.

    (4)

  • Al D.

    As far as a finding a decent lobster roll goes, this is about as good as it gets. Located in a shopping area near the Shady Grove campus, Nantucket's Reef doesn't look like much from the outside. Kind of like a standard brick style commercial buildings located throughout Montgomery County. There is a outside dining area consisting of picnic tables which fill a small enclosed patio area. The interior decor resembles that of a seaside New England style restaurants. Nevertheless, the proof is in the food, and Nantucket's does not disappoint. Famous for its Lobster rolls, Nantucket's doesn't do fancy - just good portions of fresh seafood served the way you like it.

    (4)

  • Sa N.

    Yum! The freshest seafood... Best crab cakes and fish n chips I've ever had... And crab cakes are all I eat;) barely any filler or coating-- just fresh food. Everything was spot on... Great food, service... The kids meals were real food, fresh... Amazing kids burger... Will definitely be coming here many more times... We went for a Friday lunch.

    (5)

  • Cat P.

    My verdict: Excellent service, good but not great food I would highly recommend the wicked mussels for your starter or a light main. I was less impressed by the coconut and pecan-crusted tilapia, which I thought needed a little something else to give it more pop. My hubby's fish and chips was good, but again, not too memorable. They perhaps need something in the batter to make it more unique? For instance, Eamonn's fish and chips is quite distinct, from the flavor to the consistency of the fried fish. I will most likely return more for the alfresco dining option and the commendable service that we received. The manager checked in on us to make sure everything was going okay, and our server was very friendly and helpful.

    (4)

  • Suzanne R.

    NOTE: Living Social can only be used Sun-Thurs I'd give it 6 stars if I could -- it's that good! Super open. Perfect for a wheelchair or walker. Service is very good & staff is super friendly!! Fried calamari is excellent! It is PERFECTLY cooked. It's large tubes & no tentacles. Breading is light & Lobsta Sauce delicious! Coconut/Pecan crusted tilapia is very good! Mashed poatoes are what you want yours to taste like. Riptide tacos are A+. The only downside was cod....but that's the fish, not the cook. Get the bread pudding!! Go here! It's worth it! Prices are higher then say Friday's but it's Seafood and therefore priced exactly right.

    (5)

  • Marshall G.

    Good quality food at reasonable prices. Service was a little slow at times but was VERY friendly.

    (4)

  • Jason W.

    Stop thinking about where to eat. Drive here. This place aims for authentic explosive taste consistency.

    (5)

  • Hannah S.

    We came here on a Saturday during peak lunch hour and there were only 2-3 other tables seated. Pretty deserted looking. The food was OK. Not great, not terrible either. The service was very friendly though. I had the shrimp scampi - too much butter and used those little frozen shrimps... not that great. My mom had the fish and chips with an extra crab "no" cake - the fish was clearly fresh and flaky, but lacked flavor; the crab "no" cake also delivered as promised tons of lump crab meat, but maybe relied too heavily on the natural crab flavor and did not add their own twist to it... Bland in my opinion. Would I come back? Probably not if I had other choices but I wouldn't avoid it vehemently either.

    (3)

  • Al T.

    What an unexpected discovery - to find a seafood gem in No. Potomac/Gaithersburg! While the choice of entrées was a bit limited, the quality was generally high. My friend had the fried shrimp box, really enjoyed the shrimp, but found the french fries rather ordinary. I had a special nicknamed the Volcano which consisted of a "wheel" of top sirloin surrounding a mound of mashed potatoes. This was topped by a no-breading crab cake with a housemade sauce. This was completely delicious and one of the best versions of surf 'n' turf that I've ever had. Top sirloin is not my first choice in steak cuts, but this (I requested it be cooked medium rare) was tender and very flavorful - an unexpected surprise. Sophia, our server, was very attentive and took excellent care of us. I think we'll be returning for brunch soon.

    (4)

  • Sheri Y.

    This is a hidden gem at Rockville area. I like their deals about Mimosa but I ordered something sweet that goes better with coffee. I ordered wicked mussels, crab benny, and banana french toast. My waiter is very helpful and recommended a few good dishes. We followed his suggestion and order our dishes. Great food. I enjoy it a lot!! will come back again with family!

    (4)

  • Kevin W.

    A pleasing atmosphere, and a trendy looking comfortable restaurant with all the Theme of what you'd expect for a Northeastern named restaurant of Nantucket. The menu of course has multiples of Lobster dishes along with other seafood and fried Ipswich clams (a favorite) among many others. On this night, 2/17/14 I opted for the simple,,things that are staples when it comes to the northeast, and should be ones they do well with their eyes closed. My starter did not disappoint. The New England Clam Chowder is loaded with Clams,, NOT just Potatoes! Is as flavorful as any Ive had in recent memory, and of course served with a crisp Cracker, as well a side of mini Corn muffins ( a little cold and kind of dry) a nice flavorful dipping accompaniment to the Chowder. My Entree was the old stand by,, Lobster Roll,, A crispy yet soft inside buttery toasted bun loaded with Large Juicy Chunks of Lobster Claw meat! Tender delicious, and as flavorful as any I'd remembered. Where any of this falls short is the sides,, Shoestring french fries,, clearly a frozen brand, of some type, and Corn on the cob, clearly out of season. The Corn was tough, and basically not terribly edible. I think they could pay better attention to the seasons here, this is an oversight that really goes back to the Chef and poor buying choices. Buy in Season, or do a creative play on Corn in another manner that lends itself to less scrutiny of "Seasonal". I do understand that Corn on the cob naturally goes with the choice of a Lobster sandwich,, and it was served in the husk,, this did not go unnoticed, actually a very smart presentation, but again, out of season. A Good cooking/presentation effort for a sub par product. The waiter was a young guy and I could not help but feel a little rushed throughout the barely hour that I was there. The place was clearly not hurting for seats, but my waiter seemed to constantly ask me questions ( I need very little attention accept for when I order, and pay my bill) and seemed to want to hurry me along.. I was asked how everything was for my soup and my entree separately. In my opinion this question really needs happen once if at all. Anymore tends to give one pause as to any possible underlying problems I might be missing here? I gave in towards the end and kind of wanted to leave,, a shame cause I wanted to try the Bread pudding. All that said, and it deserved to be said, I like this place and I truly imagine there is much more to like here. As stated my Entree and Soup were Top notch, and Id come back for these by themselves. Just a little better attention to details on the Seasonal Produce and Fresh Cut Fries would be a real winner here, and frankly not hard to do. Being a former restaurant Chef of many years, I understand the difficulties of pleasing everyone, however here, their hurdles are actually not difficult. This place has some great opportunities with very little effort needed to succeed even more than they clearly do. I like Nantucket's Reef,, I hope to try it again.

    (3)

  • Jinsoo L.

    This is a very refreshing addition to the Rockville area. First of all, how many actual seafood restaurants are there here? I'm not talking about restaurants that serve seafood but restaurants that specialize in it. Anyway, I came here for dinner with a reservation made through OpenTable. It did take about 10 minutes for them to find a table but its fine. No big deal. I do question how old the host was. He must have been like 14. The restaurant is decorated very "Nautical". Looks like a place you would dine on the shores of NanTucket, hence the name. DUH. They have random things hung up on the walls like ropes and boat thingies. I always wondered where restaurants acquire these things. Like do they just goto a junkyard and pick up a bunch of crap and hang it on the wall? Or is there actually a merchant that specializes in junk you can hang on walls at restaurants? Anyway, I digress. I ordered 2 jumbo jump crab cakes and my girlfriend ordered the Mahi Mahi. I tasted a bit of the Mahi Mahi and can definitely vouch for everyone else's review that it tasted FRESH. Like it was literally caught and cooked on the same day. The star of the show however, was the crab cakes. There is absolutely NO FILLER in these bad boys. All crab meat. The portions were also huge and although pricey, it's definitely worth the price you pay. Usually when I order crab cakes, I don't feel that full afterwards since it's not too big but these definitely filled me up. Since we were so full, we did not order any dessert so have to try that next time. Also, it looks like they have killer happy hours that occur on a DAILY basis with really cheap beer, cocktails and appetizers. Only improvement that is needed is the presentation. Food DOES taste better when its presented in a more appetizing fashion. My rice was spilling over into the crab cakes and just looked sloppy. I think improving this would def. make this restaurant a 5 star IMO. Next time I go, I'll definitely try the full menu, including appetizer and dessert. But seriously, if you are looking for fresh seafood and don't awnt to drive to DC or Baltimore, go here! Support your local restaurants and don't go to chains like McCormick (BLEHHHHHH).

    (4)

  • Morgen C.

    My boyfriend and I went here on Saturday afternoon. The service was excellent. The waitress went over the menu and made suggestions, it's always nice to have someone that has tried everything on the menu! We go the calamari which was very good. My boyfriend got the fried lobster tail and steamed lobster tail. The fried lobster tail was very unique but was def something to try if you like lobster. He loved both. I got the salmon and it was cooked perfectly. I also got the key lime cheesecake and it was just heavenly!! I would def recommend this place if you want some good seafood and a relaxed atmosphere. The happy hour is 3-6 daily and they have wonderful specials. We will be bringing our family back very soon!!!!

    (5)

  • Mike K.

    So there I was in Tenleytown with some of my new best friends at Dancing Crab and like a romantic fool became misty eyed over my memory of the best crab cakes ever at Nantucket Reef and, lawd helpme, I ordered the cakes at Dancing Crab and at $28 for two four ounces of not jumbo lump, I fell into a contemplative state and vowed to crab for my crab cakes only at Nantucket Reef for ever and ever. So Traville Square be kind to Stevie and John Boy and keep the crowds coming to the baddest and crabbiness spot in DC proper. And ping me please when they add key lime pie to the menu. I told Bill from O'Donnells to stop by, by the way. Props though to Dancing Crab, it was a hoot. Two pound lobster $32, what a deal, and a troubadour that got us singing and acting goofy, see the Facebook posting. They will be closed for remodeling but it is a nice place with a great blond (I forget her name) server who has been there forever and would be a great addition to the Reef. Gimme da Reef Stevie!

    (5)

  • Anne S.

    We were traveling in the Rockville, MD area and I Yelped for delicious crabcakes. This location received many favorable comments so we decided to give it a try. We were not disappointed.......delicious crabcakes were enjoyed!

    (4)

  • Annie K.

    This place is super awesome. The food was DELICIOUS - we came here for brunch on a Sunday and everything about our experience was great. Service was excellent and everyone was very considerate as I was in a gigantic leg brace and crutches. I had the Crab Benny - I don't even like eggs Benedict but this meal freakin changed my life. The boyfriend had the Bay Sound omelette which he also loved, and was happy it wasn't overwhelming with the cream cheese. We also ordered sides of bacon and sweet potato fries which were phenomenal. Home fries came with both meals and were also good. Waiter offered me minute maid lemonade or make me a fresh one - you can guess which I had, also delicious. The chef - Alberto - was very hospitable and even set up a booster seat on the ground for my leg. And apparently, we even met the owner in the parking lot who was also a cool guy who didn't even brag the place was his. Boyfriend is from Boston and felt like he was back in the Cape. We will definitely be back and bring everyone we know.

    (5)

  • Joel S.

    Neomi, the kids and I ate here after Neomi returned home. I liked the place. Neomi not so much. I had lobsta roll and I shared 24 oysters with my kids, which were (the oysters) $1 each because it was happy hour. The oysters were small but with that price you cannot complain. The place is new and nice. I would go again. Neomi unfortunately not. I don't know why. But this is my review and I liked the place.

    (4)

  • Tiffany V.

    This food is excellent and different from a lot of what's in the area. I had the best crab cake I have had anywhere in the area by far. I never like mussels before but Nantucket's Reef quickly changed my mind about that. The restaurant is nice yet still has a very casual, friendly feel. We have brought our 3.5 year old with us and she loves the food and decorations. After two trips here I give it a 5 start rating and would love to go back and try other dishes. Highly recommend it, especially the crab cakes!

    (5)

  • Andrew G.

    I was extremely exited when I heard Nantucket's reef was coming to the neighborhood. I went opening night and shares a few appetizers (wicked mussels, lobster quest dip, and crab dip) all of which we excellent. I had cab no cake for dinner, which was amazing. It was almost entirely big hunks of crab. I was pretty full between the appetizers, crab cakes, and friends but forces myself to finish it because it was simply too good not to. A friend asked me to go Nantucket's Reef the next day as well. I said yes without hesitation, not mentioning I had been there the night before. I told her when we got to the restaurant I had been there for the open, but kept it to myself because I didn't want her to pick somewhere else! We had the crab dip and lobster Mac that night. The mac and cheese had the perfect amount of lobster in it, usually there's never enough. We split the lobster roll (Maine style) for out meal, which was packed and soooo good. For some reason we decided to order the pumpkin cheese cake for dessert, ended up being a great decision. It looked amazing when they put it on the table, and tasted just as good. As I've been there twice in its first two days I can say I will definitely be back.

    (5)

  • A G.

    I've been here twice with friends who love this place. I can't understand why. Granted, they eat shellfish and can't get enough of the mussels. I don't eat shellfish. On my first visit I tried the short smoked salmon and it had almost no flavor. Tonight I ordered the mahi mahi and it didn't look like any mahi mahi I've ever tried before. It looked more like a flat filet (like a flounder) than a steak type fish (like a mahi-mahi is). It had a bland, somewhat oily taste. Later in the evening, I realized they had brought me the tilapia instead. I find tilapia revolting because it eats feces so I have to say I'm pretty nauseated right now.

    (1)

  • Andy M.

    This is a great place. The food is all made in house, so you have to be willing to have some day-to-day variations in the food, but the food is always good. The happy hour fish tacos are a real deal, 2 for $5, and the happy hour oysters can't be beat.

    (5)

  • Randy d.

    Bad service and so-so food. Waiter told us that one of the things that set this restaurant apart from others is their "scratch kitchen" which he proceeded to explain what that meant "that everything is made from scratch." Well thanks for that clarification. I told him I'd like a Miller Lite beer and my wife wanted a glass of Pinot Grigio (he had to look at her menu to see the words to completely comprehend that request). He didn't write anything down. Before he left the table, he repeated to me at least 3 times that my order was for a Bud Lite! I corrected him each time. We ordered our meals. I got the shrimp tacos and my wife got the "pick two." When he brought my order, it was fish tacos, not shrimp. My wife was almost finished with her dinner by the time I finally received mine. The manager(?), who incidentally, reeks of cigarette smoke, came to the table and said my entree was on the house. I'm glad because it wasn't anywhere near worth the $12.50 price. I ate the 1/2 fried shrimp out of the tacos and about 1/3 of the fries and I was done. Not a good experience -- we won't be back.

    (1)

  • Erica P.

    Ordered steak it was not bad. the mustard steak sauce taste great. The drinks are straight. there sweet potatoe fries are not good but the baby veggies are fine. wicked mussels are tiny and overated. I will return to taste the lobster roll. Service is good.

    (4)

  • Sean G.

    Was looking for a non-chain seafood place for dinner, and came across this place on OpenTable. Food was delicious. The server noted that they are a "from scratch" kitchen with fresh seafood (never frozen) and you can really tell that is the case when you eat the food. The calamari was excellent, and my wife's scallops melted in the mouth. I had the special - a "Steak and Cake", and it was perfect. The steak was a perfect medium rare, and the crab cake, well, let's just say that their Crab NO cake is an apt description - you'd be hard pressed to find filler - it's mostly very fresh crab. My raw oysters on the half shell appetizer was excellent as well... my wife, who is generally not a fan of oysters, tried one and loved it. Their drinks are good and somewhat unique as well. For dessert, we split the bread pudding and even though we'd both had full meals, it was too good to leave any on the plate. Prices are reasonable, with most entrees being in the mid to high teens. Service was excellent as well. This place is definitely on our list of restaurants to visit again and again.

    (5)

  • Mary B.

    What a surprise to find such an outstanding dining experience in an unexpected location! Nantucket's Reef is definitely worth the trip. I came for dinner with some girlfriends, and coincidentally I had just come back from the real Nantucket, Massachusetts that is. This place is as good or better than any of the seafood that I had in the best restaurants there, and the decor made me feel as if I was still on vacation!. First of all, from the moment that you walk in from the greeter to the host, and then to the server everyone is super friendly, courteous and professional. Most importantly, our orders were taken quickly and our food arrived in a timely manner. My friends and I shared the Oysters Rockefeller, and the Wicked Mussels to start, and let's just say they were both excellent. The mussels were truly wickedly good with just the right amount of fire. I had the Crab No-Cake which really was all crab, and left me wondering how it actually didn't just fall apart. I actually had to take some home the serving size was so generous. I have to also note that the sweet potato fries and coleslaw were both excellent. We also ordered a Lobsta Mac n' Cheese to share which was creamy and had plenty of lobster. One of my friends had the tilapia which she said was great, and another had the catch of the day, which I think was Cod, also a big hit! Altogether, a surprisingly good experience. I will be going back every chance I get when I visit my friends in the area! Next time I'd like to save some room for dessert, because they looked really good!

    (5)

  • Dara C.

    My husband and I had dinner here this past weekend and had a really great experience! The servers are very attentive and well informed, the decor is nautical and very inviting, and the food was delicious! We were looking for a new seafood restaurant since O'Donnells closed and we found it! If only they made the O'Donnells rum bums! My husband had the wicked mussels, I'm not a mussel eater and said they were fantastic. The waiter recommended using the mussels broth to eat some of his crab cake, which was a great idea. I had the crab stuffed cod, and it was flaky, buttery and delicious! Their prices are very fair for the quality of food. My husband had the crab cakes which are $25 and at first glance seemed like a lot for crab cakes. When they came out they were definitely worth the price. Two huge crab cakes, no filled with huge lumps of crab. We were too stuffed to try dessert, but I'm definitely going back and saving room for dessert! Check this place out!

    (5)

  • Ellen H.

    I'm not going to review the dishes we ate, because I want to get right to the point. FABULOUS! Finally a seafood restaurant that delivers the best....taste, creativity service and atmosphere. Bravo to the chef owner Alberto.

    (5)

  • G F.

    Came here because of the good reviews. Decor was nice and they had an inviting deck. The food was mediocre at best, and definitely over priced.

    (2)

  • Seth C.

    This is the first restaurant in traville gateway that I can say I have been to more than once. They start you out with 5 small complementary pieces of cornbread, which are good. I have had the caesar salad and the grilled salmon salad, and the latter is better. I do not eat shelfish, so I do not know how good the shrimp/crab is, but my grandfather had the stuffed cod and really liked it.

    (4)

  • Rehman K.

    Great atmosphere and always very friendly service. Been there 3x. Food was good. Fish and chips are great.

    (3)

  • Thomas D.

    Excellent Service, very delicious meals, and great dining atmosphere. I had the stuffed COD with crabmeat and I recommend it. My daughter had the Lobster Roll and she enjoyed it very much. The dishes were presented very nicely.

    (5)

  • Douglas R.

    An outstanding experience. Highly recommend Arturo as your server. He was prompt and very friendly with us. Their Dark and Stormy drinks are delicious. For appetizers, my wife and I had the mussels with wine sauce and chorizo; you will want to sop your garlic bread in that sauce. Ummm. Finally, top it off with a lobstah roll with mashed potatoes and corn on the cob or surf n turf (steak, jumbo shrimp, green beans, and mashed potatoes); both are very filling. As a bonus, the decor is very crisp and nautical themed. You really think you are at a yacht club instead of Rockville.

    (4)

  • Asia H.

    I loved the atmosphere of the place it was really nice. The waitress was pleasant and the food was quick and pretty good. I'd definitely go again.

    (4)

  • Jen L.

    I've been here twice now, and the 4 stars are for their superb crabcakes! The crabcakes are very substantial, large pieces of crabmeat with no fillers, and large portion of 2 cakes (dinner)...One of the better crabcakes I've had in Maryland. Their fish, on the otherhand, is only average. I've had the stuffed cod and thought the fish was a bit bland (albeit very tender), and the smoked salmon was very tough and dry. It did not come with the sauce I've seen in many yelp photos. We got the bread pudding for dessert. The portion is huge, and while a bit too sweet, was very delicious. I will be coming back here when I have a craving for crabcake, but wouldn't be back here for their fish entrees.

    (4)

  • Allen G.

    My wife and I tried out this restaurant based solely on online reviews. It was a great experience! Wicked Mussels were delicious - especially the broth. And, the "Crabcakes No Cake" were spectacular. The hostess who seated us said the seafood was wonderful and that we would be back. It was and we will.

    (5)

  • s o.

    Service was excellent. Food was great and a good value. Brought over small corn bread muffins when we arrived which was a nice touch. Family had crab cake, Tilapia and fish and chips. Everyone loved their dish. Manager and owner both came over to check how the meals were which was a nice touch. Excellent addition to the area and we will return.

    (5)

  • Brenda L.

    We loved our dinner at Nantucket's Reef. Great service, easy to park, and most importantly, delicious food. Everything is very fresh. I had a lobster roll that was perfect in every way. Big chunks of lobster, tossed with a light sauce, in a delicious bun. The coleslaw is crunchy and fresh tasting. My husband loved the stuffed cod. Everything was a good value.

    (5)

  • Linh P.

    I came here with my boyfriend today for lunch. From what I heard the building was used for many different restaurants that didn't do to well. If that were the case then Nantucket Reef destroyed the buildings reputation. We came in and were promptly greeted and asked if we wanted to sit in or outside, we chose to stay inside. The inside was very cute, as explained by a prior person. Our servers' name was Tim, he was very kind. I've seen the menu online before, but when he told us his recommendations I had a huge urge to do what he said. So we went with the Wicked Muscles for starters, and they were phenomenal. If you can't handle a little heat then I suggest you don't get this. Apparently they use "wicked butter" to have the finishing kick in the broth along side pico de gaillo and some other stuff. These were the best muscles I've eaten, and apparently they're cheaper during Happy hour. It's a must try. I ordered the Crab No Cake, Tim said they were the best crab cakes he's ever had. The words No Cake confused me, but he explained that they used no fillers in the crab cake. They were amazing, even better than my dads and he was a sous chef back in the day. My boyfriend ordered the Fish and Chips, he said they were really good and was totally happy with it. I didn't get a chance to sneak a bite of his before he finished it. We are definitely coming back, but with due time since it took out a chunk of my wallet. It was more than worth it though.

    (5)

  • Jena L.

    Delish food and great service! Wicked mussels and fish tacos were amazing! Can't wait to come back.

    (5)

  • Bob B.

    Visited based on other Yelpers - not disappointed. Liked the clean appearance of the place. Ate outside, as it was still a nice evening as late falls approaches. Service was outstanding, menu appealing. Mussels app was solid, though not as rave-able as many have posted here, I've had better. Crab tortilla soup was sort of a miss...it was 98% tortilla soup, 2% crab...could not taste anything that made it 'crab' though the soup itself was fine. Ahi Tuna salad was really good. My entree? Well, I ordered a clam basket, as I love clams, though really wanting something a bit more 'fancy'. To my disappointment, I was brought a fish and chips basket instead. Didn't say anything as didn't want to wait for another meal or to disturb the evening - I just ate it. Not sure what to say about it, as I never would have ordered it - the fish itself was obviously very fresh, but the breading was soggy. Shoestring fries, as always, were cold in about 2 minutes, so hardly ate any. Cole slaw was fresh, crisp, excellent companion to the fish. I would come back, especially if the service is always that friendly - though the right dish being served would be nice!

    (4)

  • Tina W.

    We went for lunch. Server was very nice, but the food was only so-so. I had the crab dip and the clam po' boy. The kicker was that they wanted to charge me for more bread for the crab dip. What?!?! Not worth my time or money.

    (2)

  • Yor R.

    service is amazing. crab, clams, and shrimp fresh and well prepared. good beverage selection.

    (5)

  • Shelli G.

    we heard the dinner crowds can be massive, so we went at 5:00 and it was virtually empty. there are 2 separate dining rooms (from what I could tell) and the first one had filled up by the time we finished (about 6:00 or so) and you could see the waitstaff seemed a little overwhelmed already, but not horribly. our waiter was very nice and helpful; the only tiny thing he got wrong was forgetting to bring my salad so I wound up having it with the main course. No biggie. My husband had the cod, and I had the lobster roll. while there was indeed a ton of lobster, I would only give the sandwich 4 stars overall -- it wasn't bad, it just wasn't exceptional. my husband's cod, however, was flawless. the house salad included a nice blend of interesting stuff, like roasted corn and craisins (my addiction) but the ranch dressing it came with was only so-so (I didn't ask if they had other dressing choices, but next time I'd go with something else). I had one of their signature drinks (Shipwreck) which, if you like fruity/tropical/coconut type drinks is really good. it was still happy hour (till 6pm) so drink prices were really reasonable. We'll definitely go back, and definitely on the early side as we did tonight. usually there's more on the menu I'll never be interested in trying than there is stuff that appeals to me. Not the case with this menu. I can honestly see going back regularly to try everything out. But early. Very early.

    (4)

  • Whitney D.

    I went last week for lunch with my mother and three year old niece and we were all fans! We started with the crab dip, which was accompanied by the most delicious bread. For lunch I had the Maine style lobster roll, Mother had the fish sandwich and my niece had the chicken fingers. Everything was very fresh and presented nicely. Our waiter was Tim and he was wonderful! He checked on my niece several times and was very kind to her. We'll definitely be back!

    (4)

  • Jon L.

    Great New England style seafood joint hidden away in traville gateway, rockville, md. Looking for whole belly clams or a decent lobster roll? This is the place and its got a nice bar which is not crowded.

    (4)

  • Michael K.

    I thought this place was going to be a 5 star, but it really didn't wow me... Not saying it was bad, but not saying it was great either... We had the calamari as the starter, which had decent size lightly fried calamari's. They were pretty good, but I'm not sure why so many restaurants decide to drizzle the sauce on the top, and this one did just that.. The sauce wasn't bad, but calamari is really best left untouched with the sauce on the side for dipping (so the crunch doesn't disappear..). As for entrée's, my wife got the reef basket, while I got the crab cake. My wife's reef basket had broiled scallops, broiled shrimp, and fried oysters. All were good, but the scallops and shrimp were on the small side and they only give you four of each type. The crab cake was good, had practically no filler which is great, but sort of lacked taste... Maybe some more butter and/ or seasoning would do the trick... So all-in-all, this place is not bad, and has potential, but I can't give it a high rating today because they need to work on their entrées. Montgomery county definitely needs more seafood restaurants, so I hope this one stays around and gets better!

    (3)

  • Burt H.

    We went on a Friday evening. Glad we had reservations as there were lots of people waiting around. This is a very open, airy restaurant with high ceilings and lots of space around each table. Attractive and relaxing ambiance. We started with the Wicked Mussels which were delicious. Don't miss them. My wife had the fish tacos for $11 which were big, full of tasty blackend fish. She really liked them. I had the crab stuffed cod. It is stuffed with their signature crab cake and was well cooked and very satisfying. All in all this is a great addition to the selection of seafood restaurants in the Rockville area, of which there are few. Highly recommend this place.

    (5)

  • Julie R.

    Thank God for a new Seafood place in MOCO!! the crab no cakes were awesome and the sweet potato fries were fresh. the drinks were excellent along with the happy hours prices can't be beat! we had a waiter issue but the manager and another waiter stepped in and solved it ASAP. i will definitely be back and have bragged to all my friends!

    (5)

  • L. W.

    We really needed a casual seafood restaurant in Mo Co. I don't know why there were some bad reviews because we just ate here tonight and the service and food were excellent! I wanted the swordfish special but they only had 1 left at 6pm on a Saturday night for some reason. I let someone else in my party order it instead. We ordered the crab dip to start and it was really good but they need to add more crab and give more bread or even crackers. We ran out of the delicious grilled bread that came with the dip so we had to pay an extra $2.00 for three more pieces which was dumb. We also received the complimentary mini cornbread muffins with honey butter that rocked! I had the mahi mahi which came with a really tasty lobster sauce and fresh veggies and mash. My boyfriend had the fish and chips and said they came out crispy and tasted really fresh. The person who ordered the swordfish also really liked the dish. They should add it to the regular menu! Also I recommend making a Reservation or be prepared to wait a long time.

    (3)

  • Rob L.

    1st visit by this party of 4, each of whom had a different fish entree. Wicked mussels for appetizer. Food was excellent all around; reasonable prices; environment is as it has always been in this space's previous iterations: attractive, inoffensive, low budget, spartan. Service was fair - well-intentioned but not well-prepared to explain the specials or particular menu items. Slow to clear appetizer service items; had to be asked for water refills. Notwithstanding, will more than likely return as N's R actually exceeded expectations for this outpost of a location in a grocery store parking lot. Hoping it succeeds where it's 3 or 4 predecessors did not; it's nice having good food in the neighborhood, and in this restaurant's early days, that trumps it's flaws.

    (4)

  • Lisa W.

    Was excited to here there was a seafood place finally coming to the area. Went out to yelp to read the reviews. My mistake was not noticing that most of these were initial reviews from first time yelped. We had a person that needed gluten free. We were told no problem . Lobster queso comes out with crumbs. The waiter just stared and did not know how to handle. We requested he get a new order. This dip is in a small ramekin and is really not shareable. The chips are amazing. The wicked mussels i would never get again, the sauce overwhelms the mussels. The stuffed cod with lump crab meat had no 'lump" crab. I see in one of the pics there is a sauce, we had two orders at our table, neither had a sauce. I am a lightweight when it comes to mixed drinks. I sucked down several and could not taste alcohol. Crabs cakes are yummy. We did not bother with dessert. Total bill with tip for 4 -$226.

    (2)

  • Pete H.

    Went here for a late lunch. Service was a little slow at first, but then manager came out and made sure we were taken care of. After that, service was attentive and friendly. Ordered the short smoked salmon. If you've had this at Coastal Flats you know how good this can be. This version was good but not as great as the Coastal Flats version. My wife had the seared tuna. Again it was good, but had a strange apricot glaze. The sides for both dishes were very good. If it was possible I would give it 3.5 stars. We will try again, maybe for Happy Hour and maybe try some of the fried seafood platters.

    (3)

  • J K.

    I was prepared to be disappointed because I am skeptical that a Rockville restaurant is capable of preparing truly memorable seafood, especially to a group of adults who spend their summers on Cape Cod and the Jersey Shore. I was wrong! The food was perfectly prepared, very high quality, portions were generous, and prices were outstanding. Our waitress Sophia was exemplary. She steered us in the right direction with all of the food choices, she didn't hover and she didn't disappear. The menu was very broad and had lots of interesting choices. I almost hate to be so enthusiastic because I want to keep this restaurant my secret but they deserve a five star review. We also met the chef who was accommodating and friendly. We will be back!

    (5)

  • Cindy S.

    Love this new place! Had a great meal, with lots of happy hour apps. The mussels, calamari and oysters are amazing! The owner took great care of us, giving us wonderful service! The mahi mahi and tacos are outstanding....This is a great new addition to rockville!

    (5)

  • Renee S.

    I had the clam chowder and lobster salad. Both were wonderful and reasonably price. Can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Sylvia E.

    We went for lunch, it was great!! Could not ask for a better meal, server was really friendly and the owner came over to see how we liked everything. Really nice place. Will plan another visit soon!

    (5)

  • Sara W.

    Amazing! Good atmosphere, great service and amazing food. I wanted to try everything on the menu. I will definitely be back many times!

    (5)

  • Diane M.

    My family came in from out of town and we had a reservation for 6 on a busy Saturday night. All of us had delicious meals!!! The crab cakes were out of sight! Stuffed cod, mussels, salmon, everything was so good!! The waiter and staff were very friendly and very good! I hope they continue their success, we really need a great seafood restaurant around here especially now that O'Donnells is gone. Thank You

    (4)

  • N P.

    Having lived in New England, we were excited to read about this place. Most of what we got was pretty good. We had the blackened ahi tuna as an appetizer and it had lots of rich, delicious flavors - I'd definitely get it again. For entrees I had the lobster (I refuse to write lobsta) salad, which was excellent. Nice, big chunks of lobster and a delicious dressing. My fiancee got the grilled fish sandwich and wasn't a big fan - she said the fish was mediocre but the fixings that came with it were good (especially the toasted, buttered roll). There was nothing extraordinary about the fries but I didn't think they were stale or bad like what other reviewers wrote. The service was a little inconsistent - our waiter was a bit forgetful and slow - for example, he took a long time to bring us tea and we only got cornbread after asking, and then it came out at the same time as our entrees (as did the tea). In general, though, this place was great, the food was fresh, and we'll definitely be back to try other items on the menu.

    (4)

  • Erik B.

    Delicious lunch today with my 9-year old son at Nantucket's Reef. The remodel is very well done and the place is unrecognizable from its previous iterations. I like the nautical theme--it's classy and not cheesy like a Red Lobster. We had an excellent waiter named Ryan who was spot on and friendly without being over bearing. The food is delicious and the prices are very reasonable. I had a small Caesar salad which was very good with a generous helping of gourmet Parmesan and homemade croutons. The "small" salad was huge and as big as a large salad at most places. We also received a basket of warm cornbread muffins with maple butter. I dont love cornbread but these were fresh and tasty if a bit too crumbly for my taste. I then had the ahi tuna appetizer as my main course with a grilled corn on the cob on the side. The tuna was a generous serving of very fresh ahi with a sweet glaze, a delicious wasabi aioli and a side of wasabi cole slaw. It was all very good and easily enough food for a main course. The grilled corn on the cob was also very good with nice char and crunch. My son had the fish and chips off the kids menu (5 standard items, all with a drink for $6). The fries were homemade and delicious and the piece of cod was huge and tasty. His meal was big enough for both of us. All in all a great menu and delicious food at reasonable prices with friendly service in a nice decor. Special shout out for meshing family friendliness in a sophisticated setting that doesn't sacrifice quality. I think the owners have struck the right balance here and have figured out the formula for success in what heretofore has been a cursed location.

    (5)

  • Fredda S.

    Got there early on Saturday evening (not realizing that Stella Restaurant had closed) and was greeted very warmly. Given options of sitting in the bar area or the restaurant and chose the restaurant. Immediately observed the items on the happy hour menu and wanted the fish tacos. My son wanted the oysters. Glanced at the menu and it was apparent I had to have the Lobsta Roll. I grew up on Nathan's Lobster Rolls in Coney Island, so I had to check it out. We also ordered the calamari. The server, Ryan, was very attentive and knew all of the menu items and how they were prepared. My son's oysters were served with what tasted like freshly grated horseradish on top of the cocktail sauce. My fish tacos were divine. The calamari came with red peppers dipped in the same breading as the calamari and served on a wonderful lobster sauce. And not like the Mandarin Chinese restaurant lobster sauce. I'm not into the fried calamari that much but these were incredibly light. The Maine Style Lobsta Roll had huge chunks of cold lobster; definitely not a chintzy portion. Very pleased with the serving size which came with hot fresh French Fries and a nicely grilled corn on the cob. My son still had some room, so he ordered the bread pudding which had the surprise of Tres Leches in the center of the bread pudding. What a great experience. And since O'Donnell's has now closed in The Kentlands, I think Nantucket's Reef will definitely fill the void of a GOOD seafood restaurant for this neighborhood.

    (5)

  • Donna M.

    We went to Nantucket Reef on a Monday evening, and was surprised how crowed it was. The server was awful, paid no attention to anything. Our appetizer of Oysters Rockefeller, never got ordered, as our main entrees showed up first. We choose fried clams & fried oysters, we both got fried clams. The clams were very good, the New England vegetables excellent, and the cold slaw quite spicy but good. Trying to get our waiters attention, for refills of tea & water and cocktail sauce was a no go, I finally saw him in the front of the restaurant yawning, and half asleep. We were finally rescued by a senor staff member who saved the evening and made wonderful suggestions the desserts offered. My friend had the bread pudding, and stated it was the best he has ever had. I had the chocolate brownie which was also very good. Good food, untrained staff. We went on a Monday, what kind of experience would we have had on a weekend. I will rate the food a 3, and not rte the service, as it was less than one.

    (3)

  • Alex P.

    This is my second time dining here and each time has been horrible. Being that I only eat seafood, I typically love most seafood restaurants in the area. However, this is not the case. Slowest service ever, and I sat at the bar! After sitting down at the bar, with less than six people at the bar, 5 minutes go by and still nothing! No hello, no can I start you with a drink, nothing! After waiting another 20+ minutes for my entree, once again I was let down. I ordered the Mahi Mahi, with the veggies and fries for sides. The sautéed veggies were beyond soaked in butter and clearly tasted straight of the frozen food section of the grocery store. Only great part of my meal was the shoestring French fries. Sadly, I could not finish my French fries as they were a sponge for the buttered veggies. Upon completing my meal, it once again took another 10 minutes for a check. At this point I wanted to walk-out, and heck they probably wouldn't have noticed since the bartender service was so slow to begin with. To re-cap the likelihood of me returning is the same odds as the Washinton Redskins having a winning season

    (1)

  • Vic C.

    It's 18 degrees tonight, so looking for a nice warm spot. Unfortunately, it was almost as cold inside as out. The server said the heat was broken. Did the manager come over and apologize? Did they bring in some space heaters? Did they offer some coffee to warm us up? No, no, and no! Can they possibly have less regard and respect for their diners? But what about the food? Not bad, not great. Definitely serviceable.

    (1)

  • Therese W.

    Nice find for seafood. We had the special, lobster Thermidor and lobster roll. Pleasant atmosphere and good service, especially Terrea our server.

    (4)

  • Zara K.

    Lobster roll yayyyyyy... bread and butter pudding nayyy !! Too bitter and not enough caramel sauce ! Pudding should be sweet! But if you like that kind if bitter pudding taste with cranberries go ahead ! The oysters were alright will def go for happy hour but they aren't worth the price asides from happy hour !! It's def overpriced for the food !

    (3)

  • Ashley F.

    Awesome crab cakes~ so yummy! The grilled seafood plate is delicious as well. Very cool spot and awesome cocktails.

    (4)

  • Theresa T.

    Not a bad spot considering the lack of seafood places in the area. Decent food with pretty good prices. Great crab cake like other reviews had mentioned. Casual and laid back vibe with attentive service. Solid average 3 star neighborhood joint. I'd come back for the happy hour, which seems to be a good deal.

    (3)

  • Brittany K.

    I went here with my husband and mother-in-law for dinner. First off, the happy hour specials are great. We ordered $1 oysters and $5 calamari. The calamari is humongous and delicious. My husband ordered the crabcake and lobster tail, which he said was cooked amazing. The crab cake is literally all crab, no filler. They are not lying. I had the ahi tuna salad, which was phenomenal. The tuna was incredibly fresh and cooked perfectly. My mother-in-law had the lobster which she thought was great also. Great place for happy hour, great place for dinner. Service was also great.

    (5)

  • Britt D.

    My wife and I went on a Thursday evening arriving about 6:45. The place was busy but there was no waiting. The people who work here are very friendly and polite, service was fast and the place is very clean. The dinning room was a bit loud, but then it was quite full as well. Now for the bad part. The food, it was, well disappointing. We had read the reviews and were expecting great seafood. We order the Wicked Mussels as suggested by Katie, they were okay, but most of the shells were empty and the number of mussels in the sauce didn't seem to match the number of empty shells, it seemed there were far more empty shells than there were mussels without shells. It tasted okay but I wouldn't have said it was a MUST have. I ordered the Maui Maui grilled and it was okay, not great, a bit over cooked (dry) but edible, Again, nothing to write home about. My wife had the grilled lobster or lobsta as they call it was over cooked, flavorless and rubbery in texture, the grilled corn on the cob was the same, over cooked, mushy, and flavorless. The french fries were okay though. At $19 it was a high price for okay french fries. After all the 4 and 5 star reviews I don't know if we hit it on a bad night, they hired a new cook, a new supply chain, but the only thing that kept this place from getting a one star from me was the staff being so nice, friendly, prompt. If the food was up to "Filet-O-Fish" standards I would have given them four stars. But for the price paid the food was well poor. We traveled from Silver Spring to Rockville just to try this place out... not worth the trip. Again, I want to commend the staff at Nantucket Reef they were great. But if you want more than great staff and actually want some good seafood try somewhere else.

    (2)

  • Michelle W.

    Went on a Sunday for late after-brunch lunch (scrunch?). I ordered the crab no-cake platter and my bf ordered the fish and chips. It took a while to get our orders, the waiter said the chef wasn't satifisfied with the first batch of fish and re-did them. He said they also re-did the crab cakes for me... The crab cakes were huge. They weren't kidding that they are mostly just crab, and lots of it! I only ate one (would be great if they offered a slightly cheaper one cake platter with additional cake as an add on price). They had a good flavor, but were not broiled enough (very pale colored and room temperature, which made me wonder if they really did a second batch or just sat there while my bf's order was cooked). What I really really loved was the tartar sauce--not too tart and great flavors! I definitely had order envy--my bf's fried fish and chips were really good--it looked and tasted like it just came out of the fryer and the fish batter was really yummy, almost reminded me of funnel cake dough. The fish was very fresh and light. The coleslaw was creamy and had some sort of cinnamon/curry flavor, I like it a lot but it could use just a hint of lemon or vinegar to balance the cream. All in all, not bad and we plan to go again to try the other menu items. The ambiance is what you would expect for a place called Nantucket Reef (refined casual--you could feel comfortable in beach clothes or your Sunday clothes).

    (3)

  • Robin O.

    First time last night to Nantucket's Reef, I'd give it a C+. Too many technical/policy/cooking errors to rate any higher. It has a nice, pleasant, upscalish atmosphere that's highly reminiscent of the layout of the North East Kitchen in DE. For starters, hubby and I agreed on the Clam Chowder, should be renamed: ONION, Bacon Chowder, as onion was the primary flavor followed by bacon and zero clam flavor in this thick, creamy stew. There were bits of chopped (canned) clams at bottom, some so rubbery they had to be spit out. Lastly, soup was a bit too salty. I asked our server for bread, she said they don't serve bread (for free, like 95% of all restaurants) However, she then offered me a side order of grilled garlic bread, ($2.00) which is served with other apps. I said yes since I like bread WITH my soup. Unfortunately, it came about 80% through soup and had bitter, burnt black garlic chips on it. MANAGEMENT: I should NOT have to BEG FOR BREAD, when spending $100 on dinner. ($98.45 before tip) Hubby wanted raw oysters, but I wasn't in the mood. They only had Blue Points which he doesn't care for and from Alaska. Never had Alaska so he asked if he could order 3 so he could try them. Server said "No, we only serve 6 or 12." This is a stupid policy and a simple solution would be, just prorate! Never say NO to a customer when something is SO EASILY accomplished, like serving 3 raw oysters. Many restaurants serve by the oyster, they lost money by saying no. Hubby ordered a Crab Cake. ($17) It was nothing to write home about, a touch on the fishy side, but edible. He didn't want sweet potato fries so they brought him regular fries, which were good and served hot. He had a side of cole slaw and did not like. It had cumin and something sweet in it, apples? Allspice? It was weird and flavors did not meld with the other foods. A really good version of standard (what everyone expects) cole slaw would have been nice. Now for the coup de gras... I almost fainted when I found out from Yelp (which is how we found this place) that they serve IPSWICH CLAMS, (Soft Shelled Clams) which I love. So hard to find! They have these Fried Reef Seafood Baskets in which you can pick from 1-4 items... Oysters, Scallops, Shrimp and Ipswich Clams. I ordered a choice of 2: The Clams and Oysters. Overall: ANNOYING. The breading was exactly the same on both clams and oysters, so it was impossible to tell them apart from just looking at them and they were mixed together, so I never knew from bite to bite what I was eating. The Clams which are also called Fat Bellied Clams (tender and juicy) were killed and dry. Many of the clams little sac fell out of the batter which made direct contact with oil and they were shriveled and ruined. The oysters were dry as well. Not one juicy bite and WAY too much greasy, soggy breading. They were cooked too long in not hot enough oil. The breading is too heavy, thin it out or use a dry flour breading as opposed to a wet batter. (I ate about half, pick through the breading, then gave up.) Now, for the BEST thing I ate at Nantucket's Reef. It was the deep fried lobster tail which I added onto my Fried Basket for an additional cost (Total $30.00 for my dish). It was tender and cooked perfectly. Bonus, was that it was served with REAL drawn butter and I could see the milk solids, as opposed to butter flavored oil, that so many other places use. However, it had way too much seasoning. Their house seasoning has a pleasant flavor it's just too salty. It's like combo of Seasonal and Old Bay. I must have drank a gallon of water when I came home and even today, I can still taste the salt in my mouth and throat. My last gripe with this place is that even though the name is Nantucket's and they have lobster on the menu in various forms, they do not serve fresh steamed lobster. I asked the server "Do you have steamed Lobster?" she said they don't even have a steamer in the kitchen, but assured me that their lobster is served 'fresh'. So I'm left to wonder, how does one obtain 'fresh' lobster meat, if one is not steaming live lobsters, then ripping them apart for the meat? Hint: If it comes from a Sysco truck already processed -- then it's NOT 'fresh'. I would love an owner to respond to that question. Lastly, our server was good in the sense that she tried hard to please. I did not complain to her about the food, as I wasn't in the mood to lodge a complaint in the middle of dinner. (Sometimes I AM in the mood, haha.) I did see a gent glad handing customers at group tables but he did not come over to us. If he had come over to us and asked about the food, I would have told him. While there were other items on the menu that piqued my interest, time will tell if we're drawn to go back, but for now, I'm still gulping my water trying to recuperate from last night's salt fest.

    (3)

  • Gina S.

    We went to Nantucket Reef Monday PM 2/17, and really wanted to like this place, we so very much need a good local eatery. I had read the reviews on Yelp, and had hoped the management had too and improvements were implemented. 1- We held the door open for an older couple just leaving, and asked "How was the food?" The gentleman stated- I ordered the steak and it was lousy. Ok after twisting my families arm to come, I wasn't backing down, besides who orders steak at a seafood joint 2- We asked to be seated at a combo booth/chair table, there was an entire row of such tables open by the window, but they squeezed us next to a young couple obviously on a date, when I say "us", me, my husband and 2 tweens- really sorry date couple- what was the hostess thinking? 3- We ordered, - having lived on both coasts, and owned my own clam boat- I know a few things about seafood. a. Beer line suddenly broke after we ordered drafts, and the bar maid was closing up the lines.... b. The calamari, arrived rapidly, but chewy and cold. We pointed this out to our waitress 'Sophia', who proceeded to tell us "What she tells ALL her customers, the calamari is very tender" and did nothing to fix the order. c. We requested water with lemon 3X, before I finally asked another staff to bring us lemons. Where was the corn bread everyone speaks of? d. Did I mention that when I asked what sides came with the lobster, I was instructed to read the other side of my menu, obviously our waitress had better things to do then serve us? e. We ordered fish and chips & the chicken tenders- fries were cold (as in kids did not eat them), crab cakes (very tasty) but served luke warm on a cold plate. I had the lobster boil special- Not steamy hot, but rather barely warm and over cooked- as in the tail was tough and chewy f. While still finishing our meal at about 8:45 PM, with other customers present, the staff began sweeping out under the tables- clearly time for us to go... we skipped dessert.... So it seems this place will come and go even faster than their predecessors, which is unfortunate- the food has potential; unfortunately the staff have still not been trained despite the numerous posts of complaints on Yelp, and there is non-existent management, one often begets the other. For a $100 + meal, I would have been happier almost anywhere else.

    (1)

  • I O.

    Bam! I cannot get enough of this place! New England seafood, lobster rolls, lobster bisque, mussels...doesn't matter. You cannot go wrong! The food is fresh! Service is very attentive! Décor is very New England. It's about time they put a quality restaurant in that spot.

    (5)

  • Merle T.

    Delicious food and wait staff was very attentive. Crab dip and calamari are to die for as well as the stuffed cod. And the steak was yummy and cooked to perfection. Can't wait to try brunch and the fantastic happy hour. Great place and will be back often--a must try--you will love it!

    (5)

  • Jake A.

    So based upon the reviews on both yelp and open table we decided to make this our spot for Mother's Day dinner. Needless to say we were disappointed. The service was fine they were accommodating to the larger than anticipated party and the waiter was prompt and respectful. Appetizers came and the west coast oysters were tiny and actually looked like Chesapeake oysters. The mussels were quite good. So props for that. Once the entrees came I was looking forward to a swordfish dinner. I substituted rice for mashed potatoes my wife got salmon my brother got grilled scallops and my mother got ahi tuna. The only thing that was the right temp was the ahi tuna. My food over all was tepid. Same with my wife's dinner. However my brothers scollops were way over cooked. Overall this was not a pleasant experience. I had high hopes and was very disappointed. I don't see us returning.

    (2)

  • Alexander R.

    Great seafood, fair price, and solid ambiance. Was in the area for work and wish I'd eaten here every night.

    (5)

  • Caroline G.

    The service here was wonderful. Overall, the food was good, and worth a visit. The only issue we had which was quickly resolved were the mussels we ordered. Quite a few of them in our batch were closed even after they were cooked, and served to us like that. When I asked our server about it, he said it was fine. However, it was just so fishy that we mentioned it to him again, and after bringing it back to the kitchen, the chef came out and profusely apologized to us and insisted on giving us a new set of mussels. I appreciated that. My friend and I shared the crabcake entree and the fish tacos which ended up being quite a decent amount of food! Outside of the crabcakes being a little on the salty side, the food here was okay. Probably won't be one of the places I visit often, but a new addition to the Rockville area!

    (3)

  • Brian C.

    I'm not a big fan of mussels but looking at the reviews everybody recommended the wicked mussels and so I tried it and not were they spot on. Very welcoming staff nicely themed restaurant with reasonable prices. Did I mention that the food was good as well. If your on a diet the waiter ca even offer a healthier version of the entree...at least ours did. I'll be coming back again.

    (5)

  • Ryan W.

    Great service great food. I had the the clam chowder and the house Caesar Salad very good . And to top it off i had the fish tacos they had loads of flavor and had no fishy taste of smell. I will be back very soon .

    (4)

  • Cooper H.

    Really enjoyed this place. Nice ambiance, great beer selection, delicious food, and an insanely awesome happy hour. We were in the bar area and the service was very friendly and relaxed. Just a great experience all around. Definitely recommend.

    (5)

  • James B.

    We Went for a large table birthday party on a Friday night. The place was standing room only, things were clean, excellent servers and the manager checked in to say hi to us all. The food was fresh and well presented, and the several dishes I tasted were delicious. We are going back. Glad to see a successful restaurant finally in this space!

    (4)

  • Christopher K.

    Having eaten a LOT of seafood on Cape Cod in my life, we had to try Nantucket Reef, though we entered skeptical. All in all it was a solid 4 star experience. Service was good, place was clean, and the food overall was very good. The mussels were particularly nice, and the stuffed cod matched what we would expect on the Cape. The chowder is subpar relative to the better Cape chowders, but if one accepts its different, more towards a soup than chowder it isn't bad. Strong in the bacon, but also lighter than a typical chowder. Desserts were very good as well. I would say given Montgomery county has very, very few decent seafood restaurants, Nantucket reef is notably good. Certainly better than any of the chains. It'd be unfair to compare to places right on the water, but for here, it is extremely good.

    (4)

  • Sue G.

    I've heard so much about this place, so I decided to check it out for myself. I went there on a week day, so it wouldn't be crowded. But I also made a reservation, just in case. We were seated right away. They took our drink order, & I decided to try their White Wine Sangria because I recently had a Cocktail Party, & made one of my own & wanted to see how their's compared. By the way, mine was fantastic, it was Bobby Flay's recipe! The waiter said that it was new to their menu. When he brought it to me I already knew that it wasn't going to be good because the only fruit in it was tiny pieces of oranges & lemons. So I took a sip of it & it tasted bitter. If you know anything about Sangria, it is not supposed to taste bitter. I didn't like it at all, & just put it aside. Then it came to our order. I had already seen a lot of things online that I was hoping were going to be on the menu. But to my surprise they were not. I was expecting to see a bigger selection. Based on what they advertise online, with all the pictures, I was really a little underwhelmed by the menu. But, I ordered the stuffed cod, but instead of the rice, I asked the waiter if I could have the sweet potato fries. When the waiter brought me my order, it looked pretty good. It was a nice size portion. The first thing I tried was the sweet potato fries. They were delicious! Then I tried the cod, it too was delicious! It also came with some mixed veggies, which consisted of peppers, zucchini, & squash, not too bad. So all in all, the dinner was very tasty, but I guess I chose the wrong drink! I was too full for dessert, so I can't tell you about their desserts.

    (3)

  • Jason H.

    Today (4 days later) we received a personal letter from Steve, the owner of the restaurant apologizing for the level of service that we experienced previously. I am impressed that he would reach out to us like this, and we are certainly willing to try Nantucket's again. Everyone has a bad night once in a while. Will update again with our next visit.

    (3)

  • Sam W.

    First seafood place after moving down from Boston was this place...how ironic. I tried hard not to compare. The menu was simple, had alternatives to seafood and was kid-friendly. The stuffed cod, crab cakes, and fish and chips were all tasty, and the chocolate brownie sundae and bread pudding satisfying. Kids definitely had enough variety to get them fed. The service was the best part, which makes this a solid place for a relaxing evening out.

    (4)

  • Robert L.

    I must say, it is refreshing to find a seafood restaurant in MoCo. I've been here twice with my wife, once for lunch and tonight for dinner, and both times the quality of the food and preparation made for an enjoyable meal at a very reasonable price. We've had the oysters, mussels, scallops, clams, and GULF shrimp. All have been excellent, despite the New England mentality that all seafood must be fried, but for Lobstah. The raw oyster preparation was cleanly executed with the essential accoutrements. The availability of fresh, never frozen GULF shrimp makes this Florida boy very happy; there's nothing like gulf shrimp. I hope this place sticks around and continues to provide quality seafood at a respectable price.

    (4)

  • Michael S.

    First time. Food well prepared. The "wicked mussels" are very good/nicely spiced. One of the best we've had. The cake less crab cake, :NO filler was quite good, the way a crab cake should be prepared. Also, the baked cod with crab was very good, and the veggies were prepared perfectly. We will be going back...

    (4)

  • Mike M.

    Second visit, dove a bit more deeply in to the menu, went for sandwiches and salads, very tasty. Great service. Not very crowded (the location continues to be a challenge). Give this place a try, you'll like it.

    (4)

  • Linda B.

    Been here 3 times so far. Love it! First time, for dinner, we got the lobster dip as a starter. Really nice amount of dip and chips, and really tasty. You can find a few pieces of lobster in the dip. I got the stuffed cod. I guess I'm not a fan of cod, but the crab meat that came with it was delicious. The dish also comes with some vegetables like squash or something. I said to my bf that I didn't like the vegetables, and our waiter (Chris) overheard me and offered me a different side! So I got a basket of fries. I really like their fries. Second time, for lunch, I got the wicked mussels all for myself, since bf doesn't like them. He got the crab dip, which was as good as it gets. The mussels were awesome. It's a pan of 20 something and comes with 2 pieces of thin toasted garlic bread. I don't remember when was the last time I had mussels. Plenty of the reviews suggest the wicked mussels, so that's why I got it and it definitely lived up to the hype. I got the crab cake burger, which was huge (for me) so I had to take half of it home. The amount of beef and crab was good. Third time, for dinner, we got the fried calamari. They were really big pieces compared to what I've had before, and had this kind of cheese sauce at the bottom of the dish. Very happy with it. I got a lobster sandwich which came with fries, melted butter, and corn on a cob. The lobster chunks were huge but the bread was really oily so I kind of left the bread and just ate the lobster. I love their fries and the corn was really good too. We had Chris as our waiter again. I don't think he remembers me but we had some nice conversation and laughs over a game (League of Legends) since he noticed I was wearing a jacket with the logo on it and complimented it. He's great and I hope I can ask for him to be my waiter the next time I go.

    (5)

  • Eileen S.

    My manager and a few of my coworkers were trying to figure out where to eat for dinner the other night. This particular night seafood was going to be it. This was close to the area and the other reviews helped to decided. The waiter who served us was excellent. He had only been there for about three days and knew the menu quite well. I had the crab cakes with sweet potato fries. The bread pudding for dessert was excellent as well. This will be our go to sea food place going forward. I highly recommend it.

    (5)

  • Bokyong E.

    I went for happy hour on Friday but they changed their happy hour to M-Thursdays from 3 to close. So without hh, my friends and I ordered a bottle of wine for $25. The food was really good.. I got their only pasta, friends got tacos and sweet potato fries. We ended up ordered another basket of sweet potato fries and brownie for dessert.

    (4)

  • Georgio S.

    Came back to give them a try and wow what a change. I had the seafood soup and the fish tacos. Both were great! I will be coming back.

    (4)

  • Kara D.

    This place is tiny, quaint, and the nautical ambiance is simple and not stuffy at all. We went one Saturday at noon for brunch and we were sat right away. We had the crab omelet and the crab eggs benedict--both were outstanding. They had a good price for all-you-can drink mimosas or bloody marys. Excellent service. I wish their bar was bigger for happy hours, though. They have outdoor seating as well.

    (4)

  • Janet Y.

    Come during happy hour! oysters are a $1 each. A bowl of calamari or mussels is $5! We ordered the raw oysters, fried calamari, and the famous classic lobster roll. Oysters were small but it tasted fresh. I didn't really like the calamari, it was rather bland for my taste. I thoroughly enjoyed the lobster roll; every bite was a big chuck of lobster! Our server, Tim, was great. He made our meal that much more enjoyable. We'll definitely be back for more!

    (4)

  • Jan F.

    Great Happy Hour sliders, chicken tenders, and yummy fish tacos!! They also had beer and oyster specials. Lovely atmosphere and great food. We keep coming again and again!!

    (5)

  • Guillermo C.

    My wife and had a huge craving for seafood and turned to our trusty Yelp app. After looking around and reading some reviews we decided to check this place out. The food was 4 stars and the service was 3 stars. I would give our entire experience 3.5. The place was kind of empty so I did not know why our food took so long. We got our appetizers and then literally 1 minute later got our entrees. I ordered raw oysters for appetizers so I don't think they had to cook anything. The food was not bad. My wife ordered the lobster salad and ordered the lobster role. I don't think we would go back. I would hate to see how long our food would take if the place was busy.

    (3)

  • Vicki T.

    THE BEST FRENCH TOAST EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Everywhere I go, if french toast is on the menu, I will order it. Now that I've had banana french toast at Nantucket's, I can't order it anywhere else ever again. You've ruined it for me Nantuckets! My only complaint would be that its only available on the weekends despite the fact that I crave it all the time, including right now.

    (5)

  • Angel H.

    Me and the husband have been here twice. Lobster roll is great and so is the wicked pasta. The next time we went we got the crab dib for an app. We didnt care for the tortilla chips with a crab dip. We both felt like it wasnt the best combination. My husband got the steak volcano which he said lacked flavor, but decent, and I got the coconut and pecan crusted tilapia which was ok. I did love the habenero sauce over the fish. Overall service is good and so were the sangria. We liked the white sangria over the red. We will return for the lobster roll and pasta!

    (4)

  • Daniel B.

    Great New England feel. Staff was very friendly and the chef was very accommodating to an off the menu request. The crab 'no' cake was excellent. Will definitely be coming back.

    (5)

  • Aileen L.

    The manager stopped by all the tables and checked in on us. Happy hour runs 4-7pm with nice $1 oysters (sold by the half dozen) and $5 appetizers. The wicked mussels are truly wicked! Our manager recommended removing the meat and letting them soak in the sauce which was a nice trick to let that flavor soak in. Thier calamari is also $5 during happy hour and is nice and crispy. Very good eat. Their New england stuffed cod is a must if you like fish and crab. Its a delicious combination. Its my go to entree now. They current have the volcano steak chefs special which is worth it. Its pricey ($32) but its definitely enough to be split amongst 2 people. Its mashed potatoes surrounded by the most tender and juicy skirt (or flank ?) steak then topped with a 5 oz crab "no" cake. My friend who never stops talking was silent for the rest of the meal while we savored this dish. The prices are a bit high for my taste but the quanity and quality is worth it. One table left all their entrees behind without touching them because they were full. One guy asked the waiter where his fried clams were because he was expecting tiny strips not oyster sized clams. What a waste of seafood. If it hadn't been in front of a toddler, I might have considered eating the untouched lobster roll. This place does get a bit pricey but the happy hour specials alone can fill you up. Management and wait staff have been very friendly and accommodating. Definitely my new favorite place!

    (5)

  • Michael H.

    Went here on a Wednesday to catch up with old college buddies. The calamari and mussel appetizers were both good. The mussel sauce was tasty but a little salty. Got the steak volcanoes which is a play on surf and turf. You get a steak with a big heaping crab cake and pile of mashed potatoes. They definitely don't skimp on the crab like other places so that's a big plus. The food overall is ok with some nice beers they have on tap including regional ones. Great service so giving it 4 stars.

    (4)

  • Olga S.

    Our second time at NR was not very impressive. The food was good, at least what we got to try. Service was bad, and it started with the fact that we sat for at least 15 minutes looking at waitresses chatting among themselves and nobody came up to us! It's not like it was busy, we just seemed invisible. We caught a manager who sat another couple to ask if we were going to get served today. He apologized and even bought us an appetizer, muscles that he said were the best there (which were definitely great!). He came up again later to apologize and even said our drinks were on him as well, he definitely went above and beyond to make up for it! However, another issue with service was the fact that we were told that they were out of oysters, which is understandable, however imagine my husband's surprise when after we were done with our dinner he saw a table behind us get oysters! When we asked our waitresses if they were out of oysters and how come other table got some, her response was "I don't know why they got oysters", ummmm cause you have them! Needless to say oysters is one of the reasons we got there and were very disappointed that were told they didn't have any while in fact they did. I can understand that she may have been under impression they were out, but I don't buy it that even later on she didn't realize that they did in fact them. Wait staff needs to be trained a lot better.

    (3)

  • Elaine D.

    I can't believe the other positive reviews. I had lunch there yesterday. Had the lobster roll Connecticut Style. The tiny muffins were dry and fell apart when I tried to put butter on them. The french fries were so undercooked they were white and inedible. The lobster roll itself had little or no taste. I did like the roasted corn on the cob. Then I made the mistake of ordering dessert, key lime cheesecake. It was like no cheesecake I've ever eaten. It had two layers of filling, neither of which had ever seen a key lime. There was an ice cream scoop of some kind of topping on it, but it wasn't whipped cream or anything else I could identify. The server was young and earnest but seemed inexperienced. He never asked if I wanted a refill on my iced tea even when he served the dessert. If I'm in the area again, I'll head straight for Cava instead!

    (2)

  • Lilee N.

    highly suggest ordering the mussels appetizer and the crab cake entree.

    (4)

  • Kevin S.

    Undercooked tilapia. No shrimp cocktail at a seafood restaurant I thought was quite odd. Crab dip was a little soupy for my taste but did have fresh chunks of crab meat. The cornbread muffins are great and our server Jen was very good at her job. Prices were good at $22 for a main course and $11 for the appetizer. Good on tap beer selection too.

    (3)

  • JJ R.

    This place is excellent. Just visit and you'll see how awesome it is. I promise that you'll have a great time and enjoy the food.

    (5)

  • Mary L.

    Seafood is one of those meals that I really need to be in the mood for. Luckily, I was having a hankering for some last weekend and my friend decided to check this place out with me. This restaurant gets a little bit out there in the burbs but finding it wasn't too bad. Now, the food. They started out by bringing us some of their cornbread mini muffins with maple butter. It was okay. The muffins were a bit dry and I could have used more maple butter but oh well. We ordered the Lobsta & Spinach Queso to start. It wasn't bad. There were chunks of lobster in it and a fair amount of cheese as well. Very rich flavor. I got the Connecticut Lobsta Roll (with butter instead of mayo) that came with a side of grilled corn and french fries. It was pretty good. They brought out melted butter that you poured over the lobster instead of tossing it in the butter. The roll had a nice flavor to it and there was a nice amount of lobster. The french fries were the thin kind and the grilled corn wasn't bad. My friend got the Coconut and Pecan Crusted Tilapia as well. She said her dish was really good. Our waiter was really friendly and didn't hover. We were too full for dessert but some of the options looked pretty good. Why the 3 stars you may ask? Everything "wasn't bad." I think the problem is that I wasn't "wowed" by anything and my lobster roll got a little too seafoody after a while. I know, strange since it's a seafood restaurant but I'm not a fan of "seafoody." Overall: "not bad" food + friendly service + a little too far out in the burbs = I would come here again if I'm hankering for some seafood and possibly explore the menu some more with another dish.

    (3)

  • Barb L.

    Wow!!!! Fantastic place!!! The service is outstanding! Our server, Chris was top notch. The food- great! I had the Chicken Pecan Salad and my husband had the Stuffed Cod. Now he is from Maine and knows good seafood! He thinks the food is superb! The best part was Alberto the Chef, came to our table. What a nice gentleman! Our review- two thumbs up!!!! Run, don't walk! We can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Alexandre E.

    Incredible food for a seafood lover. If their "off-the-hook" menu includes swordfish, you are in luck. Amazing sauce, expertly cut fish filet, plus mashed potatoes made just right with freshly ground black pepper mashed right in bringing extra flavor. Pair it with a glass of sauvignon blanc - it goes great with the sauce - and savor the experience.

    (5)

  • Katie A.

    This location has seen its fair share of restaurants...Nantucket's Reef is by far the best! The designers did a fantastic job making it feel like an open, bright space that could easily be on the water. The food was great -- calamari appetizer was delish; nice and crispy with a great "lobsta" sauce. Almost everyone at our table went for seafood, and we all agreed that it tasted fresh and flavorful. (The Mahi-Mahi, Tilapia and Lobster Roll were amongst some of the dishes we enjoyed.) The seating was definitely comfortable for a large party -- making reservations was a cinch and they were responsive to our specific requests. We're very much looking forward to going back!

    (5)

  • Nik D.

    Went for dinner on a Sunday evening. The food was well prepared and plentiful. I had the crab 'no' cakes which are two very large crab cakes of lump crab meat with little to no filler. I only ate one and took one home. Everyone at our table liked their food. The server was attentive and responsive. I thought most of the dishes were too large and as a result the prices were also a bit high. They could offer some smaller dishes at lower prices. For example, I would have preferred to have a single crab cake instead of two. If we had known how large the dishes were we would have ordered less and shared. We tried two desserts. Both were delicious and also large. Each dessert can be shared by three or four people. The negatives? Very loud. It was difficult to talk to someone two seats away. And as mentioned above, the prices were a bit high.

    (4)

  • Janice L.

    We came here for an early Father's Day dinner. My dad is a fan of seafood so after reading the reviews on yelp we decided to give it a try. First off, service was good. Our waiter, Arturo, was very attentive and patiently entertained my parents' numerous questions regarding the menu. Having been a waitress myself, I appreciate and value good service! Since it was happy hour (from 3 to 6pm) we ordered the fish tacos, along with the wicked mussels, to start. My mom ordered the double lobster tails, my dad ordered the crab "no" cakes, and I ordered the stuffed cod. The bread basket consisted of mini cornbread muffins with honey butter. They were so good, we asked for a refill! Our entrées came out before our appetizers. They were accidentally intercepted by another table. But our server was very apologetic about the error and we soon had ours as well. Wicked mussels: a must order! Absolutely delicious and you'll want to drink the broth after. In fact, we did! Fish tacos: very flavorful and a good amount of fish. Awesome deal for happy hour but I don't think I would order them outside of happy hour. Crab "no" cake: cute name which accurately reflects the mounds of crab meat that came out. The minimal bread crumbs were just enough to hold the shape and did not take away from the crab at all. Excellent value as you really do get a lot of crab. Stuffed cod: I'm not sure I'm actually a fan of cod so this dish was just average for me. I did enjoy the crab stuffing and broccolini though. Double lobster tail: this looked amazing but unfortunately, this dish disappointed us tonight. Something was "off" about the lobster tails and as much as I personally hate to send food back, this one had to go. Our server asked if he could make something else or have the dish remade, but I think we'll just have to give this dish a try again another time. Maybe a bad batch of tails or something. To the restaurant's credit though, they did take this off the final check. We spoke to the chef, Alberto, who was filling in for the manager this evening, and he expressed genuine interest in our feedback about our meals and showed concern over our comments about the lobster. In fact, as we left he was already looking into our reported issue. Needless to say, I feel reassured this was a one-off occasion and will give the tails a try again. Verdict: I'm happy to say I've found a seafood place nearby! The ambience really makes you feel like you're in New England. I'm looking forward to coming back to try the oysters and retry the lobster tails.

    (4)

  • Patty A.

    I should have looked at the menu before going back. I was here in Aug.2014 and the food was great...The Crab Cakes were as portrayed, not sure if they still are. Bread pudding exceptional. I think the bartender forgot to put the Kalua in my 2nd white Russian, but drank it anyway. Went a 2nd time and had the Lobster roll, did not care for it but think it was more me as I don't like the claw meat. This 3rd time was it. I ordered the crab dip and it came with tortillas vs. the bread I had it with previously. It had about 3 pieces of crab and no way I was paying 10.50 for that, so it went back. The shrimp roll was a stale roll with lettuce and fried shrimp on the top, no sauce unless you count the tartar sauce they served on the side. Too bad. I will stick with Red Lobster!

    (2)

  • Steve J.

    As others have said, the crab cake is excellent. My wife thought she had found the best crab cake at Bethany Beach last week but when she tried Nantucket's Reef's version she said THAT was the best. The small container of cole slaw that came with it was also very tasty. The tartar sauce had a slightly off taste and needed salt, which I added. Next time I will ask for a substitute for the sweet potato fries. Nothing wrong with them but I like minimally-processed veggies (steamed, etc) over fries. Our server Sophie was very attentive.

    (4)

  • Meghann L.

    I came here for the first time for my birthday brunch with some friends. They were very accommodating when taking my reservation- started at 8 people and had to bump it up twice to a total of 12, then two more showed up the day of and they easily accommodated that so I was very thankful! The food was tasty, we all got the bottomless mimosa deal (which is GREAT deal! $7, can't do much better than that) and the server was really friendly and attentive, separated our checks without us even having to ask. They also gave me a complimentary dessert (key lime cheesecake) which I unfortunately couldn't finish because I was stuffed, but I had a few bites and it was awesome. I had the Crab Benny brunch entree, and it was really tasty but unfortunately one of the egg yolks was broken when I received it. The drinks were good, but the bloody mary I got was a little lack luster- I know I'm being really picky...a broken yolk and a lack luster bloody mary? But when it comes to brunch I can be kind of serious. I'm looking forward to an expanded menu, since I know this place is relatively new. Overall I was very pleased, and all of my friends were as well! I'm definitely coming back :-)

    (4)

  • Joseph B.

    Beware! Management has stop honoring DoubleTakeOffers during happy hours. This is deceptive advertising because they've taken redeemable offers for the past 2 years. Good service. Matt and Nicholas are excellent bartenders.

    (2)

  • Katelyn K.

    I am not sure where I had read about Nantucket's Reefs opening, but with a fiance from New England, we are always excited to try a new seafood place, particularly one that bills itself as authentic. We came in on a Sunday afternoon at 1pm. We were promptly greeted and given the option of inside or outside seat and were seated immediately in the dining room. The decor is cute and very reminiscence of many New England restaurants. Props on the authentic feel. After being seated, we were given lunch menus, as lunch is served everyday until 3pm (according to their website). Kevin was our server. He provided good service, regularly checked in with us and provided us his recommendations on his favorite dishes on the menu. We both have standards that we order at restaurants like this so we can judge them adequately against each other. We both started with the Clam Chowda. While it was creamy and rich, the bacon flavor overpowered the taste of any clams in it. My bowl had way more chucks of bacon than clams. I love bacon, but I wanted clam chowder, not bacon chowder. The fiance had similar complaints. As we say looking around the dining room after we finished our chowder, we noticed everyone else had rolls. We never got any of these. Before we could point it out our meal was already out. I had the Lobsta Roll (Maine Style or Original Style). Lots of huge pieces of TAIL meat. Serious props on this. You usually get claw mean exclusively in this, it was nice to see that it was tail meat. However, I am use to having celery in my lobster roll, so it was a little too bland for my tastes. I had to add pepper to it. He had the Pick 2 Fried Reef Basket with Scallops and Whole Belly Clams. It is hard to get whole belly clams outside of New England so these was a serious plus. Overall, his meal was good. For dessert, I had the bread pudding, which was incredible. The caramel sauce on top should be sold separately so that I could sit at home and just eat it over ice cream when I'm being moody. When the bill came, my fiance kept looking at it like something was wrong. However, he wouldn't tell me what was wrong nor would he say anything. I finally got out of him when we got home that we were overcharged for our meals. After checking on the website, we realized we were charged dinner prices for our lunches. Overall, sort of disappointed. But given that they opened only 2 weeks ago, we will try again when they work out some of the kinks.

    (3)

  • Lucy X.

    Great happy hour deals for yummy drinks (I recommend the Reef Breeze, so so so good!) and fresh raw oysters. The wicked mussels appetizer was delicious and practically entree-sized. Like the clean atmosphere and superb service.

    (4)

  • Philip W.

    An excellent restaurant . Have had dinner, lunch and brunch there. All were outstanding. Food was superb, service outstanding. Owner/chef comes around to check at every table. Prices very reasonable. Nice wine list.

    (5)

  • Michelle N.

    Awesome place! If you want great seafood and amazing service, this is the place to go in MoCo! We just went for the first time yesterday and was so pleasantly surprised! This place will definitely be added to our regular list of fav restaurants to go to! I called yesterday morning to make a reservation of 6 people plus a baby for their dinner service and they were absolutely accommodating and friendly on the phone. When we got there, the table was ready so we were quickly taken to our seats. Their dining area is very open and spacious. They also have outdoor seating for spring/summer time which the hubby and I will def check out in the summer. Our server, Dustin was awesome! Very friendly, provided great suggestions on the menu, and was very informative. For appetizers we ordered the tempura asparagus (a special for the night) and the wicked mussels. Both pretty good....the asparagus was very fresh and mussels had a lot of great flavor. Everyone except myself and my sister ordered the Volcano surf and turf special which was mashed potatoes, skirt steak, and crab cake with a Cajun cream sauce. Everyone who had it loved it! My sister had the lobster tail and I had the crab cakes which were AWESOME!! Absolutely no filler and no shells....seasoned great....amazing. The portions were very big and generous. And if there was anything to complain about it would be that! We had lots of to go boxes! We also had the brownie (ok) and the key lime cheesecake (really good)! Overall, the experience at Nantucket Reef was absolutely wonderful! Great food, awesome service, and a warm and friendly ambience made it a truly great dining experience. You must go and try this place ASAP!!!!

    (5)

  • Steve G.

    Pretty good. I had fried clams and they were as good as anything we have ever had in New England. Definitely will go back.

    (4)

  • Tammy K.

    It's funny to me that this place takes reservations. This is not fine dining though it kind of wants to be. Very kid friendly, which is a minus for me but may be a plus for you. It's hard to explain this place. It has a very nice entrance, but then the dining room does not have any ambiance at all. It is quite noisy. My hostess tired to seat my party of 2 in a seat right next to the entrance, but deigned to provide a seat in the main dining room instead. Kind of rude about it even though it wasn't too busy and there were ample tables. The waiter was clueless. Confused our dishes, and then had the gumption to say that we were wrong (a scramble was an omelet). Really? The biggest sin for me was that I ordered hot tea, and they didn't understand the "hot" part. My first mug of water was merely tepid. My second mug was steamy but still not hot enough to really brew the tea. I often order hot tea restaurants, and I've never seen this problem before. This should not be so hard! The food itself was reasonable, which is why it gets 3 stars. My dining companion really liked her dish and will probably return. I'm not sure if I'll give it another go. If I do, I will bring my own mug of hot tea!

    (3)

  • Michael C.

    Nantucket's Reef opened a few weeks ago as a New England-style seafood restaurant. I came here last week with a party of six and had a great experience all the way. Christian, the owner, showed us to our seats and chatted for awhile and our waiter was courteous. The restaurant has a nautical/sailing theme and well-executed decor. For appetizers we had the Wicked Mussels, which come with bacon and a savory sauce, and East Coast oysters, which had exactly the texture and consistency you want in a fresh oyster. The Fish and Chips that I ordered for an entree was deliciously flaky and light and beer-battered with a local brew. The fries were nice and crisp, and the Caesar salad I ordered on the side was a nice compliment. Overall, this place is decently priced and the food and staff are great. Would go again!

    (5)

  • holamiis E.

    Average. Our server was a nice, young kid who pretty much had no idea what he was doing. We had to wait 10-15 min to get our bar drinks. Our appetizer came out 1 minute before our meals. They only had one kind of oyster, which came with no description. The shrimp scampi was more like a shrimp alfredo with salad shrimp. The fried clams were mushy and the lobster roll was wet. The prices were fine but the food was so average that it seemed overpriced. It might deserve another chance based on the fact everyone else gave it good reviews, but I probably won't be convinced to give it one.

    (2)

  • B Z.

    Excellent service, excellent food. 5 stars to their Bolivian chef that makes sure you like the food. Friendly staff and great location.

    (5)

  • S. O.

    My last visit to Nantucket was definitely the worst. My fiancé and I went there on a Saturday afternoon for lunch. First off, we were greeted by the unfriendly looking hostess (short girl with glasses) and taken to our table. The restaurant was very empty at 2pm. There were plenty of open tables (literally only 3 tables were filled out of about a dozen) but tell me why the hostess led us right next to a table of Asian people (I'm Asian btw). Talk about segregation! So this hostess actually ended up being our waitress also which sucked because she was unpleasant probably because she was dying to leave work. Half way through meal and introduced us to Darrel who was taking over her shift. That was a mood changer! He was very friendly and provided us with great customer service. Onto the food... Everything we ordered this time was full of butter and grease. We got the crab dip appetizer which came with super buttery bread. I think this dish would have been better with plain bread. We also ordered the mussels which were delicious with the exception of more buttery bread. The crab cake was probably the highlight of our meal. We finished our meal with a key lime cheesecake. Unfortunately we couldn't enjoy it after filling our stomachs and arteries with all that butter and greasy food. Needless to say... This went from being one of my favorite restaurants to a place I probably won't go back to for a while.

    (3)

  • Ellen W.

    I loved the fried lobster! Our group also ordered the salmon, ribs, fried clams, macaroni and cheese, and fish tacos. Everything was delicious.

    (5)

  • Ngan T.

    Husband and I stopped by for dinner last night. We had a great experience at this restaurant! The food is delicious, the atmosphere is relaxing and intimate. Our server Darryl made our first time dinning at Nactucket's Reef a joy. We had wicked mussels for appetizer, lobsta roll, and fish tacos (3 tacos for $11!!!) as our entrees. All were very tasty and well cooked. We're looking forward to coming back again and again. They also have a great happy hour special and late night special. I can't wait!

    (5)

  • Liza A.

    I am sooo sorry for this one review...but i have to tell you guys to change some things that are easy to do and that will save you reviewers like me.. 1. When there is a problem with my food, come to my table and have either the waiter or your chef or someone come to apologize...if no one comes after i told you there was a problem with my plate and you take it...i will be outraged and angry by the time someone shows up. 2. Be careful with your seafood always check for smells or spoiled items. 3. Plate like a professional ..... you guys are in Potomac, your customers are people that will demand the best....not mediocre plating like what i got. Sauce on top of my entree all spilled over my rice and veggies that look like they came from a frozen bag are not what i want to pay for at that price level. 4. If you know your dishes are having problems and there was a second complaint like mine...take them off the menu temporarily until you make sure there are not going to be anymore casualties. 5. getting a 91 dollars tab....after all this was harsh...not cus i dont have the money but because, even if you gave me one free dessert and you took off the dish from the bill, you know you should have done a lot more for this problem..... Please ... i know you are new....but for a while ill sit back and wait and see if you guys improve soon.....I am a fan of seafood...it is overall my fave food...i grew up in the coast in my country.....freshness is something you cant fool me with.... Good luck see you hopefully soon.

    (3)

  • Catherine K.

    3.5 stars. The wicked mussels are a must! The sauce they are cooked in is very flavorful and quite addicting. I ordered the grilled salmon salad which was good but the salmon was a little too dry.

    (3)

  • Jeffrey C.

    It is hard to find seafood specialty restaurants that strike the balance between affordability and freshness. Nantucket's Reef would be one of those rare places. The food here is excellent and always fresh. Everything from their $1 happy hour raw oysters to their cod to their shrimp and grits (their cod is highly recommended - the delicate texture is reminiscent of scallops!). A recommended dish? Start with their award winning Wicked Mussels that has been featured in local magazines. They taste great and is served in a piping hot cast iron. The owner is also a really nice guy, and even gave me some vouchers for free appetizers because I wanted to help pay for our neighbor's meal. It is admirable when people trade kindness with more kindness. One star is docked for amateur-ish wait staff, but nothing serious. I think some of them were new, so it is forgivable. Also, their cocktails are average, and not spectacular. They are still worth a try, especially during happy hour. In conclusion, Nantucket's Reef provides excellent seafood for a less than fair price - I say this because it is almost a steal for the diner. You will be hard pressed to find quality seafood at the price point that is offered at Nantucket. Tucked away in the shopping center in Traville Gateway, Nantucket unfortunately does not receive a lot of foot traffic, but they do getting buzzing on Friday and Saturday nights. My hope is that they will be here to stay in the local neighborhood, and I will continue to support them as a customer! An excellent and solid 4 out of 5 stars, hope to be back here soon.

    (4)

  • Erin B.

    If you're a seafood fan do yourself a favor and hit up Nantucket's Reef. My boyfriend and I visited for their grand opening, and we were both very impressed. The decor is done in a nautical theme: think white wainscoting, sailboats and wood floors. I was reminded of visits to the family cottage in summers past. We were seated at a nice table for two against a curved banquet. Our server Tim visited us promptly and was pleasant, friendly and knowledgeable. He let us know that all the seafood in the restaurant was fresh and bragged that 'the only thing that's frozen in the kitchen is the ice cream'. He suggested we order the Wicked Mussels as an appetizer and we're glad he did. They came out quickly and were perfectly cooked- not rubbery, not fishy, no grit from improperly cleaned mussels. The sauce is to die for. It's spicy and dotted with chorizo and pico de gallo. The smokiness of the chorizo lends a little something extra and we were both dredging our bread to sop up the sauce long after the mussels were eaten. We had a hard time picking our entrees since their menu is filled with delicious sounding options and we happen to be voracious seafood eaters. I settled on the New England Stuffed Cod. I can honestly tell you I've never had better cod in my entire life. It was beautifully flaky and mild in flavor, the perfect compliment for lump crab meat inside. The delicate butter sauce that was drizzled on top didn't overpower the fish. It came with a side of rice and veggies in ample proportions. The boy ordered the Short Smoked Salmon, which was also a beautiful piece of seafood, flaky and cooked to perfection. He was quite happy with it and ate every last bite despite protesting that he 'couldn't possibly eat a bite more' several times. The meals were served with homemade cornbread rolls and maple butter. Hats off for that butter, it is something else. If they sold it in jars to bring home I'd be eating some right now. Their drink menu is good and they have paid attention to stocking interesting and varied craft beers alongside some of your favorites. The wine list has something for every palette and price point. We never made it to desert, but there are a few interesting choices offered: whoopie pie, anyone? All in all, we left incredibly full, very happy and planning to return.

    (5)

  • Stephanie S.

    I went here last night- I LOVED IT. The oysters were huge and perfect, the mussels were amazing- great broth. We also had the calamari and soft shell crabs. Everything was really good, the service was great. When we went, it wasn't crowded and one of the chefs were was walking around asking everyone how everything was. It's really nice to see someone care about what they are serving. Oh and the drinks were strong, I will be coming back here a lot!

    (5)

  • C B.

    very good fresh seafood suprising for Maryland since I'm from New England. I had the stuffed haddock it was delicious. Others had the fried clams and scallops which were very tasty. Would highly recommend this restaurant it was clean and welcoming and in a nice location away from the hustle and bustle. Will return again!

    (4)

  • Andrew K.

    Made a reservation for 7:45pm and ended up waiting 20 more minutes. I ordered the wicked mussels for the appetizer and that was good but a couple mussels were undercooked. Then we ended up waiting 45 minutes for our entrees only to be told that one of our meals was dropped and it was taking a little longer. After waiting about an hour, I got my crab cakes and my wife got her alaskan cod which turned out to be undercooked so we had to send it back. After another 15 minutes, the cod came back out and it was decent. Prices are pretty high for the meal and the mistakes in the kitchen makes me not want to come back again. The manager did come out and apologize and took the cod off our tab which was a good gesture but I didn't think the meal overall was great for me to give it a second chance.

    (2)

  • Jessica J.

    This place has the best seafood in the area, and that's saying a lot because this is Maryland and we pride ourselves on seafood. Their crab no cake is delicious. It's basically a huge lump of crab that isn't mostly fillers like most crabcakes are. The "lobsta" is amazing! Moist and not spongy. The staff here is amazing as well - so nice and friendly. One time our food took a little longer than expected - our choice and we knew it was going to take extra time - the chef came out to greet us and thank us for our patience and even gave us free dessert! All the recipes are created by the chef and they are delicious. I highly recommend this restaurant!!

    (5)

  • Eric J.

    The oysters were good. The mussel sauce was a bit too cheesy or thick for my liking. The calamari could be breaded lighter and spiced a bit lighter and more lemony zest, it was a bit on the heavy side

    (3)

  • M's R.

    Been there for the first time. Overall, it was an excellent choice. We had crab cakes, shrimp pasta and mussels for our appetizer. Kind of had a mess hall type of feeling, but in a good way. This place is definitely recommended for people who are looking for some seafood. Food was awesome and the service was good. Must try.

    (5)

  • Phil C.

    Can't stay away from this place, on one of the finest days so far this year. My good friend wanted some grilled shrimp and I wanted some oysters -- and it was Happy Hour. Rock 'n roll my friends, the oysters were superb-big and juicy. The spicy grilled shrimp again were deeeLicious, and after a couple "Ship Wrecks", I was "coastin".

    (5)

  • Mel I.

    Had the sea bass. Asked for it unbreaded (why bread such a beautiful piece of fish?). Came out perfectly! :-) also skipped the potatoes, and they offered streamed veggies...again, perfect. Service was also very good. Will definitely go back.

    (4)

  • Irene P.

    We had our Mother's 70th birthday there one Sunday afternoon. The food was awesome. We had a smattering of appetizers, entrees and desserts - all of which were cooked to order and were scrumptious! The service was off the charts - thanks to our server Charis. We had a party of 12 with lots of requests. She was very accommodating, smiled the entire time and never forgot a thing. She is probably the best server we've had anywhere in a long time! My compliments to Nantuckets Reef and to Charis for making our Mom's birthday the best!

    (5)

  • Rebecca S.

    Instead of dining in, my dad and I ordered our late lunch for pick-up (1:30PM). We ordered fish and chips: - fish: The fish was cod, and it was delicious -- it was juicy; taste was clean; clearly fresh. The batter was thin and golden and crispy. I loved the tartar sauce. Not your average mayo and relish. It was fresh and rich. The taste was neither offensive nor obtrusive with the fish. It was so good, I finished it off with the sweet potato fries (it was oh em gee delicious). Coleslaw comes with it, too, and it's not your typical coleslaw. It has hidden flavors to it that I've never tasted in coleslaw. It was delicious. - chips: We substituted the regular fries for sweet potato fries for one of the orders. I prefer the sweet potato fries -- great taste and texture; it would have been amazeballs if they were hot, but they were still good. Had we eaten there, I am certain that it would have been simply magical, but we had picked up the food and ate it when it wasn't straight from the kitchen (it was still worth it). Go there.

    (4)

  • Brian B.

    Good food, a tad bit pricey, but delicious. The waitstaff was a mixed bag. We saw a trainee following an experienced server. Ours appeared to be just out of training. Wished that he had offered the specials we overheard others receiving. That will come with time. Worth a return visit.

    (4)

  • Shervin S.

    Been here twice, once in january 2014 and just recently a few days ago. First time was ok. This time was terrible. Oysters - Small and tasted old. Unusually slimy. Calamari - Questionably soft... too soft... Way too tender. Also the membrane was not cleaned, when you bit into the the calamari.. It was stringy and you could clearly see the membrane was not cleaned off (almost like a thin rubber band was around the calamari). Also it tasted unusually strong of eggs.. In fact everything tasted of eggs.... Instead of some acidic sauce, they gave you this bland butter sauce. Not good. Stuffed Cod- Never have I had a fish taste so strongly of eggs... Everything tastes of eggs here... The veggie sides were good and cooked the way i liked it. But the fish tasted odd and had a very gelatinous texture. My friend tested it and agreed. Friend ordered Fish and Chips- Batter was oily and soggy, fish bland, and also tasted of eggs again.... Fries ok. Coleslaw was the freshest tasting non egg thing we had... However it was odd for coleslaw. Strong tastes of diced onion and cinnamon. WTF is going on here. Not a pleasant experience. With 3 drinks our bill was 99 dollars. Not worth it. We felt sick going home.

    (2)

  • Saba S.

    My husband and I went here for brunch and were very impressed! What we got: Mimosa and Bloody Mary (both awesome) Mussel appetizer (pretty good!) Lobster Roll (AWESOME) Crab Omelette (very good) I will definitely be coming back here soon!

    (5)

  • Joe M.

    Fantastic fresh lobster. The atmosphere is similar to an upscale Joe's Crab Shack.

    (4)

  • Pat F.

    My husband and I were looking for a new restaurant to try for our anniversary, and we decided to try Nantucket's based on the reviews. Although it didn't have the hoped-for romantic atmosphere, it seems like the kind of place we'd enjoy going to any time that we are looking for a casual and fun place with pretty good seafood. The restaurant has a bright, seaside-style décor and plenty of seating for large groups as well as tables for 2-4. We were there Thanksgiving weekend and it was not very busy, so there was no wait. The staff was friendly, but it seems like some servers are more knowledgeable and helpful than others. Our waiter provided only basic information, but the waitress for the table next to us provided descriptions of several dishes and told them which ones she recommended (seemed honest recommendations, not pushing the most expensive stuff). Service was pretty fast, maybe because it wasn't that busy--it was only 45 minutes from the time we arrived to finishing our food (but we didn't have dessert or coffee). The food ranged from good to very good. The complimentary mini-corn muffins were slightly warm and pretty good. For appetizer we shared the Wicked mussels with a buttery sauce that has chorizo and chopped tomato--a little spicy, but tasty. We used the toasted bread that came with it to soak up the sauce. For entrees, I had the hot lobster roll with melted butter, grilled corn, and fries; my husband had the daily fish, which was grilled Arctic char with asparagus and rice. Since having great lobster rolls in Maine a few years ago, I am always seeking a good one in other places. This one was decent--not as good as the Maine lobster roll but better than the one I had in California last month. I mostly just ate the lobster and ignored the toasted roll it is served on. The grilled corn and fries were nothing special. Next time I might try the crabcake instead. My husband said his fish was perfectly done, but he scraped off the tarragon sauce because it was too rich for him. The asparagus was also good, and the rice was...rice. One thing that I really liked about this restaurant was the bathroom, because it was nicely designed and CLEAN. It's a shame that this is unusual enough to mention, but lately I've been in too many other restaurants--even fairly expensive ones--where the bathroom was not kept clean and supplied, and it is a real turnoff. So I hope Nantucket's Reef keeps up the good work in this area.

    (4)

  • Kevin C.

    The Happy Hour special for this place is pretty good. $1 oysters between 3 - 6PM EST, can't beat that for decent quality oysters. The fish tacos and salmon sliders were pretty tasty as well. What put the icing on the cake for me was the $3 all draft beers, 7 different selections. They currently have a double take deal for $30 off, when you purchase the coupon for $15. Worthy addition to the rockville area indeed. Would come again!

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Private Lot
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : Yes
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : Yes

Nantucket’s Reef

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