Coral Reef restaurant

[jess20k]

We didn't care for it at all...except of course for the marvelous tanks! We went this past Feb. it was our first time there. We have heard many bad reviews, so we would always skip it. But, I did want to try it out for myself, and finally went. By the way, we were on the DDP.

The good things: We did have a wonderful table right next to the tanks. It was very nice! The chocolate wave dessert, it was yummy!

The not so good things: I had the mahi-mahi, I just did not like it. The fish itself was cooked very nicely, but I did not enjoy the sauce that was on it. Nor did I like the Israili cous cous that accompanied it. My DBF had some type of chicken dish, and it was terrible! The lobster bisque that we had for our appetizers was just so-so. I wish their menu selection was better, and they had more quality food.

It was very very loud and the service was just ok.

If this place has been on your list to do's, I say try it out for yourself, you never know, you may just love it. Others have great reviews of it.

 

[rie'smom]

We love the Coral Reef. In fact, we're eating there Saturday. We'd been to WDW over 20x before we tried this restaurant last May. It's now our favorite!!

 

[mom2my3kids]

Need I say more

 

[Smile4Me]

DBF and I just adored the Coral Reef . The atmosphere was really great, a little loud, but you are so enthralled with the tanks and your meal that it is just background noise. The food was soo good. I believe I had salmon and my dbf had steak when we went in August. The water is the best in the whole World too!

 

[WillJenDisney]

We loved it. I had the lobster soup, which was excellent, and some kind of catfish meal that was somewhat spicy, but was also delicious.

Combination of food and atmosphere made it a unanimous choice among my family to return to

 

[Tooie]

i love eating at the coral reef resturant! the lobster soup is so good along with the bread, i like dipping the bread into the soup and the chocolate wave is good too. i love the soup its very filling i cant remember what i got for the main course. they always give you fun facts in the coral reef on this one sheet and its neat to read them one tells you that space ship earth could fit into the tanks or something like that

 

[lUVTOGO]

We had lunch at the Coral Reef and I have to say it was the best meal of the trip. My kids loved the Lobster Bisque and our waiter was very attentive and even let the kids try the soup before we ordered it. His service was excellent and we will definetly go back again.

 

[MonkersMama]

We ate there last Friday - November 9 for lunch. It was such a beautiful restaurant, we had a tank-side table which kept our 4yo DS occupied. DS ate the kids mahi-mahi meal (his mashed potatoes were outstanding!) and he also enjoyed the lobster bisque. DH had the lobster salad and bisque lunch (don't remember what his appetizer was) his lobster salad had big yummy chunks of lobster. I ordered the Sea and Land appetizer (2 shrimp on a skewer - delicious!) some beef and polenta and a little pile of cucumber salad. For my entree I ordered the blackened catfish and pepperjack cheese grits. YUMMY!!

ETA: dessert! (how could I forget this?!) DH ordered the butterscotch brulee (so creamy and smooth), DS had the make-your-own sundae and was covered in chocolate syrup afterwards, I had the chocolate wave - it was good, I just think I wasn't in the mood for dessert by the time it got to the table. I sort of picked at it.

The tank was very entertaining - we had an ENORMOUS turtle snoozing beside our table and when he decided to wake up and go for a swim the whole restaurant "Ooooh'ed" - there were tons of sharks swimming around and rays, and a gigantic grouper - had to be half the length of the window (4 feet?)...lots of noise from the restaurant anytime a unique looking fishy or animal swam by. It was very comfortable and relaxing, despite the noise volume. We would definitely go back. I said to DH it would be cool if they had 2 restaurants - a "kid" themed one where noise was acceptable and a more romantic version for couples. Both would be equally fun.

 

[A_NY_Outlaw]

We went in April. They seated us right next to the aquarium (which was both a good and a bad thing). As for the food, I believe I had steak and it was pretty good. One of the more delicious meals we had on the DDP. Although as was the case with many of the DDP restaurants, I left still feeling hungry. The portions were not overwhelming.

All in all, I'd give it a 7 on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being exceptional.
I'd consider eating there again.

The bad thing about sitting near the tank was that parents would allow their kids to push and shove into our table and "seating area" to get up near the glass. This bugged me a great deal. Then the parents tell their kids "oh it's OK".....NO IT'S NOT...TEACH YOUR KID SOME MANNERS.

 

[disneyfan2]

The bad thing about sitting near the tank was that parents would allow their kids to push and shove into our table and "seating area" to get up near the glass. This bugged me a great deal. Then the parents tell their kids "oh it's OK".....NO IT'S NOT...TEACH YOUR KID SOME MANNERS.

This happend to us during the parades. We arrived 45 min early and had a spot next tp the ropes, righton the edge. I had my DD3 in her stroller in front, she was very sick, fever etc and was content to sit there and wait. My dd sat beside her and we stood behind. Well after the section was full, some mother arrived 5 min before ist started and pushed her 2 sons to sit in front of DD Disney stroller, After that the CM came by and made us all move back because he was too far out the road. So, we all had to move back and they were now in front. Now they were blocking DD, and one kept leaning on her stroller which kept making her upset. We tried polietly to tell the mom the we arrived early so we could be out front. But she ignored us. After the parade someone went up to her and said what she did was very rude and she laughed. I feel sorry for kids like that, they will not have manners and it is not there fault. If she had asked before had i would have tried and moved them over to make room but this was ridicoulous

 

[CPT Tripss]

Gee, I must be a contrarian! Ate there twice, service was so-so and the food was not to our liking. I'm not really sure whether it was the cooking or that perhaps the waiter let it sit too long.
We enjoyed the atmosphere, but not enough to try it a third time considering the options we have at EPCOT.

 

[scrump]

We love this restaurant!!! The food is good, but the atmosphere is what draws us in. We didn't experience the crazy noise levels or the kids running around, so perhaps we went during an off-peak time? I love the blues and the greens in the restaurant, especially with the glow cubes!!!

 

[bntrdntht]

Not only is the food great there but the atmosphere is just so different. Something you don't see probably at home. We were lucky when we went we were right up against the tank and we got to see them diving and one of the instructors kept coming to our table and making funny gestures at us!! This restaurant is one of our favorites (if we can evan get reservations), just there the first week of October and could not get in.

 

[dbmarie]

The bad thing about sitting near the tank was that parents would allow their kids to push and shove into our table and "seating area" to get up near the glass.

I've heard this quite often and I don't think that people realize the wait staff actually tell parents that this is okay. When we were there in August the waiter told my kids and quite a few other tables that they could go down to the tank and look at the fish. I wouldn't let them and they were really angry when the other kids did. I really think more people need to complain to the manager at the restaurant so they change this.

 

[mom2my3kids]

This happend to us during the parades. We arrived 45 min early and had a spot next tp the ropes, righton the edge. I had my DD3 in her stroller in front, she was very sick, fever etc and was content to sit there and wait. My dd sat beside her and we stood behind. Well after the section was full, some mother arrived 5 min before ist started and pushed her 2 sons to sit in front of DD Disney stroller, After that the CM came by and made us all move back because he was too far out the road. So, we all had to move back and they were now in front. Now they were blocking DD, and one kept leaning on her stroller which kept making her upset. We tried polietly to tell the mom the we arrived early so we could be out front. But she ignored us. After the parade someone went up to her and said what she did was very rude and she laughed. I feel sorry for kids like that, they will not have manners and it is not there fault. If she had asked before had i would have tried and moved them over to make room but this was ridicoulous

We had a lady put her sandals on spots next to her, then sat there with her bare feet stinking everywhere. She also told me to move down she was saving spots, I moved a bit. Later when her adult friends joined her I heard her say we took their spots . My husband actually got there before her with two of our kids, I was right behind him but she sat down before me. There was plenty of room but she made that comment and it made me mad, but I was the better person and ignored her.

 

[disneyloveNY]

the lobster bisque is simply amazing
the chocolate wave is delicious and the atmosphere is great. My DD and
DS insist on eating here every time we go.

 

[ZuZugal]

We just ate at the Coral Reef on the DDP. It was wonderful. Our second time to eat there. There server was awesome....answered all of our questions and was "right there" when he should have been.

We were seated in the second row (a booth) and he told us our kids could go down to the tank to look at the fish ONLY IF A TABLE WAS EMPTY AT THE TIME SO WE WOULDN'T BOTHER THE OTHER GUESTS! He was absolutely right. I didn't send them down even when there was an empty table because I just didn't feel right about it.

The meal was delicious and the atmosphere was great. I didn't find it loud at all. We did eat at Hollywood and Vine at MGM and that place was LOUD LOUD LOUD!

 

[raven69david]

We ate at Coral Reef on 10/10 for DH's bday and it was wonderful! We both had the NY strip with (what I call) scalloped potatoes and broccolini; DD had the kids' grilled chicken, pasta and broccoli.

Would you say that it was big enough for two? We plan on sharing most of our meals as we're not very large eaters. Will this be enough for two or do we have to place 2 orders?

 

[tigger62]

We dined at Coral Reef the day after Christmas. We were very impressed. The food was great. Watching the fish, turtle, shark, divers swim while eating was a whole new experience. I would highly recommend this restaurant to everyone, especially if you join the diner plan. Our bill was more than $250 for family of four, all covered by the diner plan.

 

[kimis]

Thank you all for your great reviews. We will be eating there very soon.