Coral Reef, is it worth it, food good?

[Minniekins]

We are going to WDW for 10 days in Nov '08. It will be myself and my DD17. It will be a bday trip for us, celebrating a big bday - my 50th and her 18th. We may also be bringing her cousin, my DN13 who will be there for her 14th if I can convince my brother and his ex, her mom, that she should come with us!

Anyway, my DD17 would like to go to Coral Reef. I don't have a big interest in going there though. It just seems so expensive, though I don't mind paying the high prices for character meals. I checked the menus at Allears and the food seems, Idk, sort of gourmet like. None of it sounds appealing, I'm surprised my daugther even wants to try it. She used to be a pretty picky eater though she definitely is trying many more foods these days. It's not that I just want plain food but it just sounds very unappealing, idk. Maybe we'd have steak, we all love steak(are they good?) and it sounds like it might be okay. Love crab legs but I remember there was something about them that didn't sound so good. Not to mention the price! Everything is very expensive and if they don't like their food they won't eat and that will really be a waste and then I'll be mad cause we wasted so much money on food they won't eat. I figured maybe we should try for lunch since the same meal is less expensive at then So, looking for opinions on why the Coral Reef would be a good/great place to eat! Or, why it would not be good to eat there, bad food or w.e.

Btw, where exactly is it in Epcot?

Thanks!

 

[Suzymouse]

Well, Coral Reef is not our favorite, but it's not aweful either. We just thought it was nothing special. The aquarium was pretty, but after spending over an hour in the Living Seas, we were kind of "over it."

But, that said, it might be a very special place for your daughter, considering her age. It's kind of modern and hip, but elegant and classy at the same time. In our opinions, the steak was the best thing on the menu-exceptionally good steaks here!

I say go for it, if that's her birthday wish! For a teenager, a place like the Coral Reef is probably the equivalent of a character meal in level of coolness. Look at it from that perspective.

 

[Minniekins]

Hmmm, you do make the steaks sound good! I'm actually making another post about best places for steaks, so this would cover both! Yeah, if she really wants it for bday, we might have to do it! Even though it won't be either of our exact bdays while we are there, the trip is celebrating the bdays so I guess that still counts!

Also, is it a dressy place or can we just wear what we wear to the park that day?

 

[inaminute]

Coral Reef was the single worst experience we've ever had at any restaurant we've ever been to.

The food is nothing special but the service, the last time we were there, was so bad that I simply refused to deal with our server by the end of the meal. I've never been treated so badly by a waitress before--ever. She was just plain mean. She may have been having a bad day, but there was no need to take it out on my family.

I did complain to the manager and requested a different server. I've NEVER complained about a server to management before the meal was finished. Usually, we just reflect poor service in our tip. If it's really bad I'll make note of the servers name and will write a complaint letter. This was truly awful, though and I couldn't take it another second. The manager finished up our table.

We'll never go back and I certainly do not encourage anyone to eat there. I'd feel bad subjecting them to the possibility of dealing with this server!

 

[Binknsassy]

Food was ok, nothing that great. The atmosphere was pretty cool though because the people that sat accross from us had just got married and some divers swam up and held up a card that said congratulations. We thought that was pretty neat but the service was SLOW!!!

The service was so slow that even our server even complained, he had never seen it this slow ever and apologized by giving us some fastpasses to Soarin. That was better than nothing for an hour and a half wait though.

Coral Reef really reminded me of those big city trendy type restaurants that are built on a theme and fade out within a year, so if you miss it, no biggie.

Hope it helped.

 

[DIZBOUND]

We were there at Easter time and LOVED it. Infact my DS5 is insisting that on our next trip with grandparents in Nov that we take them there for a meal. The kids had the chicken fingers and myself and DH had the grilled Mahai and it was absolutely fabulous! Our server was wonderful and I did not think that the service was slow, infact, our server gave us a 10% discount using her Fl residence because the DVC and DDE were not working at that time for some reason. We will definately be back!! I say go for it the bread was delicious also.

 

[darthtatty]

well its a shame we cant have all the same experiences, i went there a few days after getting married and we all had a fab time.
we were given free champagne and a free dessert- it was a chocolate cup with chocolate mousse in with fresh strawberries- delicious!
on the plate they had written 'congratulations'
service was fab

 

[frannn]

We love it! Best steak we've had at WDW, but too expensive to do without DDP.

 

[carmiedog]

DH said the steak was awesome.

I had a veggie dish and it was my worst meal the entire trip (I'm still not even sure they served me the right thing). But the whole thing was worth it just for the Chocolate Wave.

 

[Stitchfans]

We where there Easter week and thought the food was pretty good. Just didn't think you got much for your money. Very expensive and not that much on your plate. The atmosphere was awesome. I have to admit though it is at least for us a once in a lifetime experience. I like to get at least a fair share of food for our money.

 

[bcuinohio]

I have to make my ADRs at the end of the month. I let each of my boys pick a restaurant to eat at while we are there. My seven year old chose the Coral Reef. I am going there with the mindset that even if the meal isn't the greatest, he will enjoy the view. He was torn between the Biergarten and the Coral Reef but ending up going with the Coral Reef.

 

[shadowryter]

Don't forget about the free personalized menu and the diver. That can make any birthday special.

 

[angiejg]

We've been twice because we LOVE the lobster bisque at Coral Reef! Last time we just ordered appetizers and the soup.

Angie

 

[RllngRckBrw]

I think that the place is great, but have never paid OOP for it so it is tough to say if it is worth the price. Below is a post I made for the "best meal ever" thread, maybe that will help.

In a close second was our first TS meal ever at Coral Reef. This was not only because of the food but the overall experience. We had a table right next to the aquarium. The food was pretty good but the service was amazing. For some reason I was so thirsty and just wanted water (maybe the heat did it to me) and our waiter was very gracious about bringing it to me every 5 min. He even was playful about it and brought me 2 and 3 at a time. One of the best experiences I have had. Probabally the fact that I had nothing to compare it to helped because I was not expecting the exceptional experience that was offered.

 

[Catrinabeach]

We went in Dec and we loved it. It was great food. I loved the atmosphere. My Dd was so tired she napped on the bench between Dh and I while we enjoyed our dinner. the server wrapped her meal up for her to eat later.

 

[septbaby]

We are going to WDW for 10 days in Nov '08. It will be myself and my DD17. It will be a bday trip for us, celebrating a big bday - my 50th and her 18th. We may also be bringing her cousin, my DN13 who will be there for her 14th if I can convince my brother and his ex, her mom, that she should come with us!

Anyway, my DD17 would like to go to Coral Reef. I don't have a big interest in going there though. It just seems so expensive
Thanks!

Any reason you're not doing the Dining Plan? If you did the "price" is a TS credit so you won't have to worry about how expensive it or any other place is in WDW. If it fits into your budget it will really make the birthdays special as you will pretty much be able to eat and snack at your leisure.

I'd also suggest at least one Signature meal: we loved Narcoossee's for food, service and Wishes experience. If you go one of you must order the YOAMD dessert. It tastes wonderful (and I don't really appreciate cheesecake) and the presentation is jaw dropping; perfect for your dual celebration.

We loved lunch at Coral Reef. We left nothing on our plates, ate a couple of baskets of bread and loved the aquarium atmosphere. I would not hesitate to return. Our next trip is short and the only reason it isn't on the list is we're trying Crystal Palace and Playhouse Disney meals his time. We are repeating Boma and Chef Mickey's (a must), but doing the opposite meals (breakfast at Boma and dinner at CM's) to make things different. Both Narcoossee's and Coral Reef would likely make our list again if we were staying 9 nights like you.

 

[Goofy4Disney]

We loved Coral Reef last year and the diver/b-day experience is something very unique and special. The food was great (there were 7 of us - kids thru adult - and no complaints from anyone!) and our service was fantastic!

 

[gilby]

Best steaks we had at WDW.

 

[airplane]

I am glad I tried it once but I would never eat there again. It's just too expensive. My sirloin was delicious but the fish dishes were average and the portions are way too small.

 

[WDisnut]

I went last year and because of the DDP, Its a long wait even with ADRs, small ok food , apps are the smallest things ever, dessert same as most other places: I had to get a snack after (still hungry) and the bill was around 100 for CR for 2 : the inside is like a three bleacher steps to a large window at the bottom that looks into the living sea/ something new now. not exciting also becasue of the DDP its like McDonalds experience family style but its disney so soon all will probably become this way lol....