Post #605920 by TikiTomD on Thu, Sep 8, 2011 8:47 AM

Name:Beef ‘n’ Reef
Type:restaurant
Street:3900 N Atlantic Ave
City:Cocoa Beach
State:FL
Zip:32931
country:USA
Phone:305-783-9404
Status:defunct

Description:
James Billet opened the Beef ‘n’ Reef in Cocoa Beach on September 1973. It featured full Polynesian décor with exotic drinks, food and live entertainment on weekends. Wayne Coombs, legendary Space Coast Tiki carver, provided the initial 12 tall Tikis for the restaurant, as noted in another TC thread posted by kahukini in 2002 (http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=289&forum=4&vpost=2724&hilite=beef)

Here’s an article from the archives describing the opening experience...

Florida Today September 21, 1973

Kono posted a menu in this TC thread back in 2005, but the image link is broken (it would be great if someone could fix it or re-post the image): http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=1099&forum=5&vpost=181193&hilite=beef

After opening, a few adjustments were made...

Florida Today January 7, 1974

Here’s an article overviewing the competition at the time...

Florida Today April 27, 1974

And here are some representative ads over the years, all from Florida Today...

October 7, 1973

October 28, 1973

November 23, 1973

December 30, 1973

October 11, 1974

January 24, 1975

February 15, 1975

October 8, 1975

October 31, 1975

Thought you might appreciate this article on Wayne Coombs that includes mention of his work for the Beef ‘n’ Reef...

Florida Today July 13, 1973

Next, the Beef ‘n’ Reef is sold...

-Tom