Coral Reef Cafe

[mickey0624]

We've been to WDW about 20 times, but one restaurant we've never eaten in is the Coral Reef Cafe at the Living Seas in Epcot. Anyone have any positive / negative experineces they can share. we're thinking of booking an ADR when we return to WDW in August. Any advice?

 

[eventamy]

We were there 2 weeks ago and had an awful experience, and will not go back. BUT, a lot of people really love it! I think it's definitely worth checking out if it's something you're interested in.
I would really ask for a seat near the tank though. Some people will say that you can see it from everywhere, you can't, even with the tiered seating. We had seating all the way in the back and the only person in my party who could really see well is my 6'3 husband, my daughters and I had to really crane our necks and my kids lost interest right away. Our food was bad too, but I've heard good and bad about it, so again, you never know!

 

[weHEARTmickey]

It is WONDERFUL!! I think I got the grilled mahi mahi with saffron risotto?? Does that sound right? Anyway, it was fabulous! I believe DH & DM got the grilled pork tenderloin (this is all from memory--and memory is terrible!) But, I do know we were all blown away by the food & it is now a MUST on our ADR list. The atmosphere is wonderful & peaceful. We were very close to the aquarium wall, but I think the further back you are the better it might be (just so you can view the wall as a whole.) So, I vote YES--get adrs!!

 

[weHEARTmickey]

WeI would really ask for a seat near the tank though. Some people will say that you can see it from everywhere, you can't, even with the tiered seating. We had seating all the way in the back and the only person in my party who could really see well is my 6'3 husband, my daughters and I had to really crane our necks and my kids lost interest right away.

Oh, sorry! We were the 2nd table from the front & thought it would be okay further back. I guess I was wrong....ask for the front!!!

 

[mickey0624]

We were there 2 weeks ago and had an awful experience, and will not go back. BUT, a lot of people really love it! I think it's definitely worth checking out if it's something you're interested in.
I would really ask for a seat near the tank though. Some people will say that you can see it from everywhere, you can't, even with the tiered seating. We had seating all the way in the back and the only person in my party who could really see well is my 6'3 husband, my daughters and I had to really crane our necks and my kids lost interest right away. Our food was bad too, but I've heard good and bad about it, so again, you never know!

Was it the food that was bad? the service?
What did you have?

 

[mickey0624]

It is WONDERFUL!! I think I got the grilled mahi mahi with saffron risotto?? Does that sound right? Anyway, it was fabulous! I believe DH & DM got the grilled pork tenderloin (this is all from memory--and memory is terrible!) But, I do know we were all blown away by the food & it is now a MUST on our ADR list. The atmosphere is wonderful & peaceful. We were very close to the aquarium wall, but I think the further back you are the better it might be (just so you can view the wall as a whole.) So, I vote YES--get adrs!!

I think we may give it a try being that we've never been there. It seems there are not many reviews that are "OK". Most either love it or hate it.

 

[billfatora]

We've been there several times... and, yes - you either love it or hate it ! I don't think there has ever really been a "just OK" for us. But then, we have gone back, again and again; so I guess the "bad" isn't bad enough to offset the "fantastic" !

 

[MickeyNicki]

We ate there in January, the link is in my sigature....it was good for me but the kids and DH didnt like it at all....

 

[LovinPooh]

We went a few weeks ago. It was really exspensive with small portions. Food was okay. Atmosphere is neat, but I dont think we will be going back.

 

[Pakey]

My advice is to take the earliest ADR for lunch. This restaurant always seats behind, it gets worse as the day goes on, so the first seating for lunch means you will be seated on time. Also, sometimes it is not as full right away which means a little better service and a little less noise (this place has super slow service and can be excruciatingly loud).

The food is okay at best. I've tried many things on the menu and I'm okay with the mahi mahi because I can scrape the overpowering sauce off to the side.

 

[SomDayMyPrnceWillCom]

This is my DD's MUST DO restaurant. We both liked it very much on the 2 occasions we have been. I have gotten the Mahi Mahi and NY strip and have enjoyed both meals. The chocolate wave dessert is scrumptious. DD has enjoyed both of her meals as well. She REALLY enjoys sitting right by the tank and watching the fish. Our service has been good on both visits. Nothing outstanding to warrant praise, but also nothing noticeably bad. Good solid food and service for us.

 

[catne]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2071152

Post #4 (my review with pictures)

We had a 12:10 ADR, mid week. Showed up at 11:55 to check in, there were maybe 10-15 people waiting. We were seated in about 10 minutes or so. By the time we came out around 1:30, there was probably 100 people waiting. The whole indoor waiting area was Standing room only, and just outside the place there was another 20 or so people waiting. So the advice to get earlier seatings is good...you'll get seated before the tables start backing up. I was surprised how small this restaurant is...which is probably one of the reasons it gets booked up so fast (like Le Cellier)

 

[CruznLexi]

We ate their in Jan. We had PS for right when it opened. On the reservation I asked for a seat by the wall. It was really good and we did get it. They give you a little fish finder chart. Good for both adults and kids. We had deluxe dining. So we had an appy too. I don't remember which I got. But for the main course I had Mahi and substiuted rice for cheese grits. I am a southern girl! It was one of the best meals! In Oct we will have basic dinning and have that!
Lexi

 

[eventamy]

Was it the food that was bad? the service?
What did you have?

The service was fine.
Here's my review if you want to see. At the bottom of the page.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2100030&page=2

 

[JackJack08]

We LOVE Coral Reef! The kids especially. We always sit at the tank though. The kids were stoked last time because a sting ray sat beside us the whole time we were eating! It was pretty cool. Always good food and excellent service!

 

[chipndales]

My very favorite place to eat in all of Disney. The steak is out of this world!

 

[Tbelle1976]

We had lunch there in February. Service was pretty slow but other than that not too bad. Food was very good, but very small portions compared to what I thought they would be, and probably not worth the $. DH had been wanting to eat here for a long time and even he said that he would not want to go back for a long time.

 

[TinkrLiz]

We went there this past December. It was nice having the aquarium to look at.... especially since it took so incredibly long to get our food. The service was horrible but the food was awesome.

 

[ShannonMB]

My whole family LOVED Coral Reef, and I will definitely return. My food was GREAT, and I really liked the atmosphere.

 

[Born 2B a Princess]

We went there in July 2007 and absolutely loved it -- my kids have been talking about it ever since. We had a great table, wonderful service, and loved the food. The cheesecake was amazing (although I don't think it's on the menu anymore -- ). DH and older DD both had the mahi mahi and loved it. I had the steak and it was very good. Younger DD also had mahi mahi, I think. All in all, we really loved it!

We're going back to WDW in July and this thread has me a bit nervous -- we were planning to go back to Coral Reef (like I said, my girls have been talking about it ever since we went in 2007)....I wonder if the food and service have deteriorated since we were there...