DESPITE the fact that Boscombe decided to experience one of the biggest downpours of the summer when we visited Urban Reef, it was clear straight away that the 90-seater sun deck, situated on the promenade, is going to be very popular when the sun does decide to shine.

The only drawback to its ideal beach-front location is the lack of nearby parking, so we parked on the clifftops and made our way down from there.

We walked through the ground floor café and bar and upstairs to the 100-seater restaurant on the first floor.

Despite seating 100 people, the restaurant feels intimate and every table has a priceless view out to sea that not even the pouring rain can spoil.

After perusing the menu and specials options for what seemed an eternity – such was the plethora of choices, mainly seafood – we chose our dishes and a couple of glasses of very tasty Aspal cider.

My guest opted for the pan-fried scallops (with curried cauliflower, tamarind and ginger dressing) to start and the crab from the specials menu for main.

Having recently tried some fantastic mussels in France, I was keen to see how Urban Reef’s Thai style mussels (in a coconut, chilli, lemon grass and ginger sauce) would match up. I then plumped for the stuffed sea bass for main – also from the specials menu.

The mussels were divine and the sauce was so tasty I was still dipping my bread into it once all the mussels had gone.

My guest thoroughly enjoyed her scallops and was a big fan of the dressing that accompanied them.

On to the mains and my giant whole sea bass arrived. Having devoured every last mussel I was already a little full, but on tasting the succulent white fish I knew I would be finishing every piece.

The crab also drew rave reviews and on finishing our meals we were both well and truly sated.

However, when the dessert menu was presented to us we somehow found the ability to share a delightful chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream.

For the sheer volume and undoubted quality of the food we consumed, the bill of £53 was a pleasant surprise and I will definitely be paying another visit to Urban Reef – fingers crossed the heavens won’t open again next time.