Coral Reef anyone?

[darlingfamily]

I have looked the menu over but I would like to really hear people's opinion of the food there. We are going for the first time this fall.

 

[toefungus]

I ate there last year and was pretty impressed. I really enjoyed the atmosphere, it was really cool sitting there watching all of t he fish go by in the big tank. The good was good, although I thought a little pricey for how much you got. I'd recommend it!

 

[Mouse-n-Mini]

If you're not into ultra gourmet food, or not into paying a mouse ear and a leg for a meal, I would avoid it. My mother and I had lunch there once. We showed up without a PS, but got a table rather quickly at noontime. The atmosphere in the dining room is really awesome- low lighting, a giant glass aquarium, quiet surroundings. The fare, however, wasn't what we expected. The portions were small and the pasta dish I ordered had zucchini and squash (uck and UCK). I ended up just picking through stuff that was on the plate, and ended up leaving hungry...but not before paying the $75 LUNCH tab!!! If I recall correctly, my mom and I both got a sandwich soon after we left. We won't return to the Coral Reef.

 

[tinkgrl]

Hi,

Just came back from WDW & went to the coral reef for the 1st time. It was really good. Would recoomend it to anyone!!!

Ms. Sparrow aka Allison

 

[tubachick]

DH and I always make a point to eat at the coral reef. We love it, we love the views and the food too!!

 

[novastar]

take a look at the Unofficial Guide, it seems Coral Reef has poor reader response. I haven't been so I can't say. It seems like one of the best for atmosphere though

 

[Cplofdisneynutz]

We enjoy the coral reef. Food was great, service exceptional, great wines and the chocolate wave dessert is to die for!!

hope you enjoy it as much as we did

 

[jag90]

We have eaten at Coral Reef two times and loved it both times.

DH LOVES the Surf & Turf. He got it both times we went. If I remember correctly, it wasn't on the menu. He asked if they had a land & sea combination and found they did.

I can't for the life of me remember what I got either time. I know it was some kind of fish (I know, I know...I'm a huge help!). Whatever it was, I remember really enjoying it.

I would recommend trying it at least once if for no other reason than the atmosphere.

 

[sleepydog25]

The fare, however, wasn't what we expected. The portions were small and the pasta dish I ordered had zucchini and squash (uck and UCK).

Alas, one of the classic reasons for checking out a place before eating there. CR is fish/seafood eatery, and although any other meal there should be good, as well, I generally believe in sticking with the general "theme" of a restaurant. Thus, I don't tend to order lobster at a steak house nor cheesecake from a sushi bar. That being said, I like just about anything so having some zucchini and squash in a pasta actually sounds good to me.

As for CR, in particular, it is likely the most polarizing restaurant I've read about on this board. Many swear it's awful, while just as many will defend its quality at the drop of a crab, er, hat. For what it's worth, most of the posts I have read from those who most dislike CR fall into one of two categories: they either don't like the food because it's not what they expected or because they felt the price was too high. In the first category, there have been a few who simply thought the food was of poor quality, and that happens at any restaurant on occasion. On the other hand, I've actually read posts of people who hated CR but then admitted they didn't really care for seafood to begin with! As for the cost, it is, or at least should be, well known that CR isn't cheap; then again, name one upscale restaurant in WDW that is. Personally, I found CR to be comparable in cost to most nicer restaurants in any mid-sized to large city.

We enjoyed CR immensely. Our food was wonderful; our server was superb; and the view of the tank kept both the DD4 and DW enthralled. Darlingfamily, give CR a chance since you haven't been before, and then the next time CR is mentioned on here after your visit, you can weigh in with your thoughts!

 

[DisneyJen0504]

We didnt care for it. In our experience we have found better seafood at other WDW restaurants. Yes DH is a seafood lover but we didnt care for the quality at CR.

 

[Marni]

We have eaten there twice with the last visit being in June 2004. We love the atmosphere, but not the food. We are picky eaters and not to excited about trying new foods. I ordered the grilled chicken from the kids menu the last time we were there. It's nice to try, but we are not going there when we visit in December 2005.

 

[novastar]

I guess it seems like signature atmosphere, not signature food

 

[Mad4Mickey]

I have never eaten there but I have scared people that were eating there while Diving in the Living Seas

 

[darlingfamily]

Oh my! ROFL!! That is too funny!

Thank you everyone who has given me your opinion! I truly appreciate the experiences here!

 

[Suzanne74]

I am curious if it is worth 2 TS points - doesn't seem like it??

 

[Cass]

We had an excellent meal at the coral reef...

I had the jumbo shrimp on pasta with black olives & lobster bisque, My DD10 had spaghetti & parmesan cheese...

For dessert we had the make your own sundae and the peanut butter playdoh.

I was a very tastey meal in a wonderful setting, the fish were fun to watch and the scuba diver came by a few times too. (doing summersaults &making faces through the glass)

 

[mimif1]

We really like the food at CR, but when we went in May, our meal took over 2 and 1/2 hours! With three kids, that was just too long for us. It wouldn't have been that bad, but we were at a table against the back wall and there was a small wall between our level and the one below us that almost completely blocked the view of the tank. The kids couldn't see the tank at all. Thank goodness I carry small coloring books in my backpack or it might have been a disaster! We had been planning on touring in Epcot after dinner before Illuminations, but as it was, we almost missed Illuminations all together. We had to hurry from the restraurant right to our seats. Next time, we'll either skip it or just plan for a lot more time.

 

[michvin]

Cass - Glad to hear you had a good experience! We are planning on making PS or AR (whatever) for our trip in Oct. with the little ones. Lunchtime, at noon on our Epcot day. My dh and I are going to use our two dining meals, and just pay for the DS 6 and DD 4 (who, by the way loves seafood). Will probably bring food for the 20 mos old dd..but you never know she will probably just love watching the fish! The peanut butter playdoh sounds awesome...was this lunch or dinner? Thanks!

 

[Mad4Mickey]

Just info for anyone who wants to knwo when they dive in the Living Seas.
They do 2 Dives a day one at 4:30 and one at 6:00p.m. The Dives last about 40-50 min each .

We will be diving on Oct 27th at 6:00pm we will be glad to scare any of you that want us to LOL . We both tend to spend most of our time playing with the kids on the other sid eof the glass . We look at the fish a bit but we really go to the ocean to see the fish : ) so playing with the kids is alot more fun !