Coral Reef Question

[Tigger2252]

I have heard so much about the Coral Reef, and would love to see the interior of the restaurant. However, I have looked at the menu at allears and know that my family would not necessarily enjoy the cuisine (not big seafood eaters). Would it be considered bad taste to make a reservation for just dessert? That way we could see the aquarium but not have to try to figure out something we could eat.

 

[cara loves the poly]

I have heard of people doing this. We had dinner there and the portions are tiny, price is huge and it is average food at best. I think dessert would be the way to go!

 

[sleepydog25]

Though I respectfully disagree with cara loves the poly regarding CR, I do agree that many people make ADRs at restaurants just to have dessert. If you book them late enough, you might also avoid larger crowds. As for not liking seafood and not wanting to eat there? Smart move. Too often folks will go to a restaurant knowing they likely won't enjoy the food; but they go anyway hoping the "experience" will make up for it. I'm a big believer in enjoying the food first, then being able to appreciate the experience as a secondary goal.

 

[Amy&Dan]

We love Coral Reef. I have seen people only ordering dessert. I have done that before (not there) and I just leave the waiter more like 25% for a tip since they are not making as much off my smaller tab. I agree with making a later ADR for either lunch or dinner to avoid crowds. And our last waitress at CR told us that they are the only restaurant at Epcot besides the one in France that has thier own pastry chef. Their desserts are to die for so I think she was right (or maybe just a good saleswoman)!

 

[sleepydog25]

Oh, yes, I forgot to add: Chocolate Wave. It's a tremendous dessert. Try it.

 

[formernyer]

I'm on the DDE and I have an ADR at CR for 3/28. If it were just me traveling with another adult I wouldn't have selected another restaurant, since I don't eat ANY seafood. I decided that the atmosphere/experience made it worth it to book this place anyway with the kids (my kids both hate all seafood too).

We have a restaurant called "Aquarium" here. It has lots of tanks, the largest of which is 280,000 gallons. The kids LOVE this place. I'm guessing that CR will be similar.

I checked out the menu before I made the ADR and noticed that they have Beef skewers as an appetizer and they have both chicken and filet mignon on the main course menu. I'm happy with those choices and I'm sure my kids will be too.

 

[Mouse511]

The atmosphere and aquarium are beautiful! I think dessert is the way to go. We've had dinner there and I wasn't impressed with the food.

 

[Passions71203]

I guess I am like the only one that liked the food and also liked the dessert. I agree with the chocolate wave!!! It was awesome! Plus it does have a very nice view inside.

Erin

 

[Uncleromulus]

Your not the only one at all!! We had a fine meal at Coral Reef last trip!!

 

[Belle5]

We tried Coral Reef for the first time in January and it was a smash hit with our family. We went for lunch and several of our teens ordered a sandwich of some sort (salmon?) and they just raved about it. We all enjoyed the chocolate wave . The atmosphere was lovely, too! Service there was the best of any we have had on WDW property.

 

[Mike N Kathy]

The food there isnt very good but if u want to see the atmosphere go for desert

 

[te2077]

we fit coral reef into every trip. if for some reason i couldnt make it for a meal there i would definately go for just desert. coral reef is one of our must do's. i usually order just the salad and a cup of soup of the appetizer menu so that i can have room for the chocolate wave.

 

[Tigger2252]

Thanks to everyone that replied! I am going to plan on a dessert reservation later one evening during our stay. I also like the idea of bumping up the tip so that the server doesn't get penalized because of our picky taste.

 

[byoung]

Had good meals there.

 

[emma'smom]

We just ate here last week and the food was really good! I would say it was one of our best meals. We are not seafood eaters. We ordered the steak and they were huge and really delicious. My husband had the mushroom soup as an appetizer. The server also said that we could have ordered, among other things, a caesar salad with chicken as an appetizer in addition to the entree and dessert. The portions were really big. We were pleasantly surprised based on earlier reviews on the DIS. We are big eaters and we were stuffed! We went early (6:15 adr's), so the service wasn't bad. However, i could see things might slow down as the crowds increased.