Coral Reef vs. LeCellier

[ybcart7]

We are trying to decide which one is better for DD7, DH, myself and Grandma (first time to Disney since the 80's for Grandma) Thinking Coral Reef has better atmosphere & LeCellier has better food. What do you think?

 

[formernyer]

Last week I was at WDW with DD10 and DS9. I had a hard time deciding between the two, so we chose Coral Reef. I think I made the right choice...we loved it. Check out the threads posted last night for my full review.

I feel like I missed out on a good experience at LeCellier, but I know what I'm missing now if I don't go to CR again during the free dining promotion. My solution is that I'm going to do both! CR for an early lunch and LC for a late dinner! I'll use my conserved credits (from meal sharing) to cover the extra TS meal that day.

FWIW, my steak at CR was EXCELLENT and everyone I've seen post on these boards agrees that the NY Strip Steak at CR is slightly better than the one at LC.

 

[LakeAriel]

I had my hand on the phone to book an ADR for Coral reef. It must be beautiful! I then checked out the menu's and everything sounded delicious.
Then something struck me. How much will I enjoy eating seafood while watching the creatures swimming around me? I changed my mind. Everyone wouldn't be bothered by this but I would not enjoy that meal. Then again I don't eat red meat so maybe it's just me.

 

[formernyer]

Then something struck me. How much will I enjoy eating seafood while watching the creatures swimming around me? I changed my mind. Everyone wouldn't be bothered by this but I would not enjoy that meal. Then again I don't eat red meat so maybe it's just me.

You aren't as alone in this feeling as you think. Apparently a lot of people feel that way because one of the very first things our server said to use after we were seated was something to the effect of, "Here is a guide to the fish in our aqaurium. The fish are for your viewing pleasure only. You will never find any of the same seafood on our menu that you see in the tank."

 

[Kitka]

We had reservations for both and due to a change in plans will only be at Epcot for one dinner so had to cancel one. We picked Coral Reef, because I figured my 4 and 9 year old would enjoy the atmosphere there better than at Le Celier.

I'm a vegetarian anyway, and the kids don't eat red meat. The only reason were going to Le Celier was for DH to try a steak there but I've heard that Coral Reef has an excellent steak too so he should be fine

 

[JimMIA]

As you see in the responses so far, I think it is really a matter of what kind of food you prefer, rather than which restaurant is "better." We love Le Cellier, and were disappointed that we could not get near it in December because of all the Candlelight Processional Dinner Plans. We remember when Le Cellier used to be the best kept secret in Disney and we've always have wonderful meals there.

On our May trip, however, we are going to be lucky. We got Le Cellier, and because we've heard so may rave reviews about Coral Reef, we also have an ADR there. We also have Teppenyaki, another restaurant we've never tried but have heard good things about.

 

[dianemb]

In December we ate at both. I was alittle disappointed with LeCellier and absolutely LOVED Coral Reef. The same with my husband and 11 year old son. The Coral Reef is beautiful and the food was wonderful. Everyone was fantastic. I had the blackened catfish with pepper cheese grits. Best meal of the trip. At all our meals at disney on the dining plan so we had a lot to compare.

 

[gigi1313]

i've been to lecellier twice and while i've not been "unhappy" i've always left feeling a bit "disappointed" like i had built it up so much in my mind, that it's a bit of a let-down... so we're skipping it this trip and have selected coral reef as well!

 

[loveDmouse]

I think we are going to go to CR instead of LeCellier too although I haven't made up my mind yet. We went to CR in 2001 and it was wonderful. I love the aquarium.
We decided NOT to go with the dinning plan. Do you think you get a good meal for the price? I know it is expensive but I remember it being worth it but it has been a long time. Maybe we should try LeCellier too????

 

[missy522]

Oh my gosh! I posted this same question last week and the response was overwhelmingly Le Cellier. Now I read this and it's just the opposite! I made ADR's for Le Cellier and cancelled CR. Now I don't know what to do. One thing I may do, based on reading these posts, is try both and share meals. Or maybe just keep what I've got. So far I have ADR's for H&V Fantasmic Package, Crystal Palace, Le Cellier, Teppanyaki, and Hoop-De-Doo. I know some would say skip H&V and add CR, but I really don't want to wait 2 hours to see Fantasmic, and also I don't want 3 meals at Epcot. I only plan to be there 1 or 2 days. HELP!!!!!!!!! I'm going nuts over this!!!!

 

[scrapbookworm]

I haven't actually eaten at Le Cellier, but I would pick it over CR. We just did not like the food at CR. I thought that everything sounded yummy on the menu, but even the aquarium view didn't make up for it. Our bill was $75 and we were still hungry. I know I must be in the minority here, LOL. Sorry.

 

[bicker]

I've eaten at both, more than once, and Coral Reef has never failed to dazzle me with its artistic creations and amazing views of the aquarium, while Le Cellier has never failed to disppoint me, with its dry, grizzly steaks and its cramped, dreary dining room.

 

[Kitka]

I'm suprised to read all of this too. Here I was feeling horrible about cancelling based on all the raves of LeCelier. Good to know others agree with my choice!

 

[formernyer]

We decided NOT to go with the dinning plan. Do you think you get a good meal for the price? I know it is expensive but I remember it being worth it but it has been a long time.

Personally I don't think it is worth the price. We ate there a little over a week ago. I loved the atmosphere, loved the food, and loved just about everything else about the place. We were on the DDP, so I think the value was incredible relative to the experience. I don't, however, think it's a good value if you are paying OOP. We ordered one adult lunch with appetizer and dessert and two kids meals (which came with adult appetizer and kid's dessert). None of us ordered any seafood, so it's not like we were picking the most expensive things on the menu. Our lunch bill came to $120.

Personally I don't think that any lunch for one adult and two kids is worth $120, no matter how good it is.

 

[bicker]

Since lunch is typically a less expensive meal than dinner, it isn't surprising that the best value for the dining plan is when it is applied to TS meals at dinner.

Here's a link to my personal analysis of whether the Dining Plan is "worth it" or not:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=12130518#post12130518

In message 5 I compared the dining plan to OOP, assuming NO appetizers, and NO desserts. The Dining Plan STILL saves us $50.

Appetizer Entrée Dessert Beverage Tax Gratuity Total
Lunches
Tangierine Cafe $9.96 $0.65 $42.43
Cosmic Ray's $8.69 $0.56 $37.02
Flame Tree Barbecue $7.99 $0.52 $34.04
Yakitori House $7.29 $0.47 $31.06
Columbia Harbor House $6.89 $0.45 $29.35

Dinners
Biergarten (buffet) $20.99 $1.36 $3.78 $104.53
50s Prime Time $16.99 $1.10 $3.06 $84.61
Spoodles $25.29 $1.64 $4.55 $125.94
Chefs de France $25.95 $1.69 $4.67 $129.23
Coral Reef $29.50 $1.92 $5.31 $146.91

Snacks $10.45 $0.68 $44.52

$679.96 $44.20 $85.48 $809.64

Cost $759.80

Savings $49.84

 

[dancemomnj]

I can't deicde between the two either. My TA says to keep LaCellier but Coral Reef looks like a place my kids will like and my husband and I can have a nice meal. I don't eat seafood but the steaks sound great.