Coral Reef vs Chefs de France with kids

[merlee76]

Already did Akershus last year with our boys (age 5) so we wanted something different. There is coral reef for the aquarium or chefs de france at 1 in hopes of seeing Remy (I know he is not guaranteed, but neither is aquarium view seating). We will have my parents with us as well.

 

[mouselovenfamily]

My kids are now 18 and 15 and it's an easy choice...Coral Reef. At every age they love the aquarium. The food has been good and it's a calm atmosphere.

My DD and I ate at Chefs last year and probably won't return. Although Remy was cute, the food was bad and it was not relaxing at all.

 

[TDC Nala]

I haven't been to Coral Reef in nearly 2 years but that's because the last visit was anything but calm...it was like a jungle gym in there. Kids climbing up by the tank, kids putting their feet on the tables by the tank, kids running back and forth and up and down the stairs.

I like Chefs for lunch but not dinner.

 

[lin7]

Coral Reef is a bit more relaxed in a sense that it's more casual. Chefs seems a bit formal. I havent been there in years after being served really bad escargots, so maybe the atmosphere has changed since

 

[Pakey]

If you are a party of 6, you will definitely not be seated tankside at Coral Reef. That doesn't mean you won't have a good view. Every time we have done 6 here, we've been seated at the tables on the 2nd tier which I prefer to the first tier anyway.

As far as the food, I rank both restaurants about the same, so it's more about the experience you are looking for.

 

[dvcHammer]

with kids go for Coral Reef

France is not a happy meal for kids, but it is great for the adults.

 

[LynneyPooh]

I haven't been to Coral Reef in nearly 2 years but that's because the last visit was anything but calm...it was like a jungle gym in there. Kids climbing up by the tank, kids putting their feet on the tables by the tank, kids running back and forth and up and down the stairs.

I like Chefs for lunch but not dinner.

I agree about the atmosphere. We went to Coral Reef in Jan. The food was good, but everyone else's kids running around my table was Not relaxing! We were relieved to leave because we felt like we were at the playground @ mickeyd's. Sorry can't say about LeCHef's. We actually have ADR's there in Oct.

 

[Colleen27]

If you're looking for kid appeal, go with Coral Reef. We enjoyed our lunch at Chefs and I think they have the better food, but Remy is about 5 minutes of interaction with an audio-animatronic on a wheeled cart. It is a nice bonus if you want to dine there anyway but not a reason to book the restaurant in my opinion. Coral Reef, on the other hand, is constantly changing visual appeal for kids and is great for keeping them occupied to have a nice relaxing meal.

We've always (as a party of 5 or 6) gotten second tier seating, which is great because you get a more panoramic view of the aquarium from that level and because you don't end up with strangers crowding you to see the fish close-up like can happen tankside. I think being in those booths makes for a quieter/calmer atmosphere than being on the main level, and we thought the atmosphere at Coral Reef was lovely.

 

[merlee76]

when you say panoramic on the second tier, do you mean you can still see the aquarium when you eat? we would like to see it without moving. Does anyone have pics? Thanks??