Coral Reef & Rose & Crown

[f-LORI-da]

I'm fairly certain I want to try these two restaurants during my next trip. I've had lunch at CR a few years ago, but have never dined at R & C. Watching Illuminations from R&C is not particularly important to me. What would you choose to do and why?

 

[cord]

Actually, if I had to pick...these would be my two least favorite restaurants. I would probably go to R&C again, but have no desire to go to CR again. We did dinner at R&C and the food was OK, I didnt really care for mine and my husband liked his. I thought my prime rib was served way too rare for the medium that I ordered and I didn't like anything else about my meal. Also, our service there was so-so. They were pretty packed though, our PS fell right in the middle of the down pour that day. I would go again though and I would do it for dinner again too.
Now, the Coral Reef...we did lunch there and actually were one of the first tables seated that day. Our service here was the worst we received during our trip. The food was OK too, kind of different from the kind of seafood places I like (Fulton's, Red Lobster). I will not eat at Coral Reef again. It was neat to see the aquarium and all that, but the food and the service - not good. There are too many other great places to eat to waste meals!!

 

[Lorac1127]

We just had lunch at Coral Reef and dinner at Rose & Crown.

We found the menu at CR to be the most difficult one to choose from in alll our dining experiences at WDW. The food was just ok and the prices were high for lunch. We enjoyed the relaxing experience of the aquarium but would not go back again.

We have dinner at the R&C mainly for a front row seat for IllumiNations. The food is average, maybe even good if you enjoy the British menu, and the service was extremely friendly.

If you have any questions, write me.

 

[honeymom]

Coral Reef is good for the atmosphere. However, the food is extremely overpriced and okay - not great, not horrible, just zero value. They were very accomodating of my one year old, however, and helpful in making sure that she did not ruin our meal. So while I voted against going to it, I would go if you really want to eat surrounded by the tanks or have young children.

I did not like my meal at Rose & Crown. It was fatty, tough to chew, horrendously drowned in garlic prime rib. What a disappointment. Plus, I had to wait forever for my waitress to show up again after she dropped it off to ask for some sauce to make it more palatable. I think it was close to 20 minute disappearing act. I can't think of any reason to go here except Illuminations.

 

[crisi]

There are far better places for seafood than the Coral Reef (though the atmosphere is great - but you are paying for atmosphere, not the food - which has been very poor in the past and I understand has worked its way up to marginal.)

British cuisine is bad no matter how well it is cooked:

If the English can survive their food, they can survive anything!

George Bernard Shaw

and

To eat well in England you should have breakfast three times a day
W. Somerset Maughan

 

[kiahrah]

I just really can't eat seafood while it is swimming around me - yup - it might be a little crazy - but alas - its true.

I am also a REAL fan of UK food - although - please take note that the meals are heavy (most of them) and if it is HOT out - it may not be the best choice for cuisine. I would eat it if it was 100 degrees out

 

[f-LORI-da]

It appears a consistent problem with R&C is the prime rib. I probably wouldn't order that anyway. We like to try at least one new restaurant in the WS each trip, and considering the list is quickly narrowing, we will probably try R&C next trip. It's just a matter of choosing L or D.

Despite the many negative reviews of R&C, can anyone recommend something (anything? ) from their menu? How are the meat pies? For anyone who has dined there recently, is "The Beefeater" still on the lunch menu? How is it?

I'm still undecided about Coral Reef. As I mentioned before, we had lunch there several years ago, and it was fine then. At this point, I'm leaning towards lunch there, only because it's less expensive.

Sorry this is so long. Again, I appreciate everyone's opinions and votes.

 

[Lorac1127]

My family had the chicken dish which was not prepared very well; they thought the meat was not cooked enough.

I had such a tough time deciding on a meal, that we ordered the cheese and fruit appetizer for all of us and I had the mushroom appetizer as my meal. It was sufficient as far as quantity, but I only ate half of it because it was so filling.

However, the desserts were very good. I had a lemon mousse with fresh berries which was very refreshing on a very hot evening. Don't remember what everyone else had but they all enjoyed the desserts.

Wish I could be more helpful.

 

[SamanthaL]

We ate at R&C in Dec. and will be eating there again in Nov. My DH liked the prime rib well enough but said he could have eaten more. I thought I died and went to heavan when I ate the fish and chips. Another girl at work said the same thing about the fish.
It is heavy though, but since we will gong in Nov. I don't anticipate a problem.

I will also be doing lunch at Coral Reef. I know some reviews are not that good, but I have always wanted to try it and my DD wants to see the fish. I say form your own opinion of both places. Since you are not sure if they will measure up eat lunch at both places to keep the cost down.

 

[robinb]

I liked my last CR experience for lunch. The food was very good and the view great. I don't like the R&C at all. I think it's terribly overpriced for what you get. If you really want to eat there, try the pub menu in the bar. The fish and chips are great.

 

[f-LORI-da]

I truly appreciate everyone's replies (and votes). There's alot of sage advice here. Thank you.

Despite the fact that most votes indicated a preference toward dinner at Rose & Crown, I've decided to try lunch instead. After pouring over the menues some more, there just seems to be more to my liking on the lunch menu.

BUT, I'm still undecided about Coral Reef. It's difficult to decide based on the menu, since it seems to change alot. My DH loves seafood, but I do not. Then again, I can make a meal out of salad and rolls, lol.

Do the lunch & dinner menues vary (in content) greatly at the CR? I know they vary a great deal in price.

Samanthal : perhaps you have the right idea...I could try lunch there to keep the price down. My DH can enjoy his seafood, and if it's that bad, I'll just order a salad... and the Chocolate Wave!

Any recommendations from the menu at CR? (Both L or D, Seafood or Landlubber)

Thanks again, everyone for your help.

 

[f-LORI-da]

bump