Coral Reef restaurant, your experiences? ...

[speedmaster]

We'll be down at WDW in a couple weeks for the first time and 3 years and plant to eat at the Coral Reef restaurant.

How did you like it? Anything good or bad to say about it?

All advice appreciated, thanks very much in advance!

Chris

 

[snowwhite325]

I ate at Coral Reef in August and loved it The food was wonderful and the service was excellent

 

[septbaby]

Aug '07: Arrived early and starved, buzzer went off before we could finish washing our hands, seated very quickly.

Ate EVERYTHING put in front of use for lunch: 2 baskets of bread, child's pizza meal w/make your own sundae, BBQ Salmon sandwich and talapia entrees.

Wonderful service and atmosphere and definite do over.

 

[drenalin'junkie]

Yummy and kids love it.Food is pretty as well as tasty.

 

[snowwhite325]

Some food pictures for you...

The pork chop

Steak

Lava cake

Key Lime Pie

 

[jack hannah bananah]

I am not a huge fan of the food, but I make reservations every time we go. The service is great and the kids love the aquarium.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Very overrated.

The view is alright, but the children running up and down to get a closer look, and the average food makes it not a great place.

 

[rrkman]

I really like this restaurant....the food is good, the aquarium is nice, service was good.

Couple comments based on some other respones.....we actually waited a very long time to be seated (didn't ask for it but did have a table right next to aquarium).....and, atleast the night we were there - there were a lot less kids running around compared to most of the other disney restaurants that I have been to.

The biggest thing that I remember about this place was that the portions were normal sized......if you are really hungry, you would need an appetizer and dessert to fill up.

But overall, I would recommend it.

 

[Pakey]

Have eaten here a dozen times; including twice this year. The aquarium is unique; the food is average. It is very common for them to run behind on ADR times. Unless you dine for the earliest lunch or the latest dinner, the place is packed, many children running around the tables by the aquarium and it echoes a lot in here.

We go because the kids love the aquarium but if we had to eat here at peak times, we would quit going because the noise level is deafening.

 

[The Hendies]

We just have not been very satisfied with Coral Reef lately. The food is good, but small portions and high priced. If you are on the dining plan, it is a great way to get in a pricier meal. The aquarium is entertaining, I'll give it that.

 

[tinkfan355]

When we ate there in December 2006 and i loved it! We sat right next to the tank and it made my day! The dessert was GREAT. The main course was okay.. just a little spicy for my taste (sorry i forget what i got). The service was good too. I would totally eat there again!

 

[squirrel]

I ate at the Coral Reef this September during free dining. It was very busy. I had personalized menus made for the children and also had a diver.

Unfortunately our server was not very good. I don't know if he just figured he didn't have to do anything as there were 6 in our party and he gets an automatic 18% tip or what. He didn't refill the drinks and I had to ask for more pop and then still waited and waited for him to bring it. He also wouldn't get the chef for my niece who is lactose intollerant (every other place even the CS places the chef talked to me). He messed up two of the kids orders. My niece ended up not getting any dessert and watch us all trying to eat ours quickly as at that point we just wanted to leave-we had been there over 2 hrs.

I would like to give it one more try next time but if the server is bad then I will not return. The food was good. But our overal experience was better at Sci-Fi Dine In as the server was so good, even though the food was not as good as Coral Reef.

 

[vtwep]

November 2007 - really enjoyed it. We weren't near the aquarium, but could still see it just fine. Didn't notice it being loud. Didn't notice any kids running around. Good meal. Good service. Overpriced? Not sure - we were on DDP, enjoyed the meal, and left full. So, we think it was fine.

We're going again this year!

 

[Racknack]

One of my favorite restaurants. Love the Lobster Soup. The atmosphere is good, the service is excellent, the food is very good, and I've never noticed any loud noise as some have written on this thread. The children do not run around any more in the Corral Reef than they do in any other Disney restaurant. In fact, it seems to me like the kids are more interested in watching the fish than in running around.

 

[ROEDISNEY]

Had a great time. Food was good & a nice atmosphere.

 

[hungrygreenhippo]

I was there in September and enjoyed it. By itself the meal wasn't outstanding, but we really enjoyed the aquarium (we were seated right next to the tank). When I asked my BF if I should make any ADRs for a possible trip in March, Coral Reef was the only restaurant he wanted to visit again.

 

[jess20k]

I have mixed feelings about this place. The first time we went it was terrible. The food was not good, the service was not good, and it was very very very loud!!!

We went back last year and had a better experience. The food was much better, I had the crab legs, which unfortunately are no longer on the menu. They were delicious. I also enjoyed the chocolate wave for dessert. Our server was very good on this occasion. While it was still loud, it was a little better than the last visit.

We enjoy the tanks, and that is the main draw for us. However, I think the menu selection is lacking a good amount of choices. Plus, for a "seafood" place they really do not have enough seafood selections.

I am 50-50 on this one.

 

[Be1021]

I have been twice and both times I said I would not go back. The food is just OK, the restaurant is dreary dark but the tank is unique...Kind of reminds me of an old vegas dinner show set-up.