Coral Reef

[chloelovesdisney]

Anyone been recently, how was it? I'm really interested in the crab cake and lobster bisque.

Are there any tables for 2 by the tank?

 

[Shelbizzles]

We ate there a little over a week ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. We’ve been there before and it had just been okay but we really like the atmosphere and it was my brothers first time at Disney World so we wanted to bring him there. And it was excellent. I didn’t have the bisque this time but have had it before and liked it.

This time my husband ordered shrimp and grits and they were so dang good, I kept stealing bites of it lol. I had the lobster Mac and cheese. Which I did not see on any online menus. It was good but I liked my husbands meal better. My brother got the steak and loved it! Great first meal for us.

Oh and I’m fairly certain there were tables for two by the tank. I would try and check in a touch early and request it.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

We ate there a little over a week ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. We’ve been there before and it had just been okay but we really like the atmosphere and it was my brothers first time at Disney World so we wanted to bring him there. And it was excellent. I didn’t have the bisque this time but have had it before and liked it.

This time my husband ordered shrimp and grits and they were so dang good, I kept stealing bites of it lol. I had the lobster Mac and cheese. Which I did not see on any online menus. It was good but I liked my husbands meal better. My brother got the steak and loved it! Great first meal for us.

Oh and I’m fairly certain there were tables for two by the tank. I would try and check in a touch early and request it.

Thank you, I am feeling much better about our adr there!

 

[DisneyHardin]

We've eaten there twice and had great experiences both times. The first time we were seated up on the top level and the second time we were right by the tank (it was a 2-top).

The food has also been great. I can't remember what we ate the first time we ate there, but last year DH had the steak and I had the seafood pasta. Both were fantastic.

 

[sleepydog25]

Coral Reef is one of those places that galvanizes people, so you will likely get those who think it is terrible. However, we've eaten there three times and had good meals every time, including the latest one just a few months ago. It's not a must-do restaurant for us, but we have enjoyed it and found our meals to be solid to good; same with service. I'm not sure how many two-tops, if any, are right at the tank--the clear majority are four-tops. Most of the two-tops sit in between those and the first level of booths on the bottom floor. Still, those are quite close to the tank, and as the PP mentions, I'd go early since you'll most likely have to wait. We typically do lunch there and make an ADR for as close to the restaurant opening as possible. Good luck!

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Coral Reef is one of those places that galvanizes people, so you will likely get those who think it is terrible. However, we've eaten there three times and had good meals every time, including the latest one just a few months ago. It's not a must-do restaurant for us, but we have enjoyed it and found our meals to be solid to good; same with service. I'm not sure how many two-tops, if any, are right at the tank--the clear majority are four-tops. Most of the two-tops sit in between those and the first level of booths on the bottom floor. Still, those are quite close to the tank, and as the PP mentions, I'd go early since you'll most likely have to wait. We typically do lunch there and make an ADR for as close to the restaurant opening as possible. Good luck!

Our adr is at 11:45am, I don't really want to do much earlier because I want to leave time to go on rides beforehand. Maybe we could do 11:30am. Thanks.

 

[Micca]

I had the lobster bisque there during our April/May 2017 trip and it was quite good. It had been decades since we had dined at CR but we booked it because of our DGDs going along with us. The service was very good during our lunch there too. Everyone enjoyed their meal and we were trying to figure out why we stopped going there in the first place(probably because DW does not eat fish or seafood.)

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Happy to hear folks have enjoyed the lobster bisque. I think the soup and crab cake appetizer will be a nice lunch without being overly heavy so early in the day. I'd like to have some room for a nice treat in France a little later on.

 

[samsteele]

I was there for lunch a few days ago.

There are a few tables for 2 right at the tank. Your chance of getting one improves greatly if you check in approx 15 mins before it opens for lunch at 11:30am and specifically ask for a tank side table.

The menu has changed over the summer for both better and worse. The upside? The food quality seems better, it is fresher and even old stalwart dishes like the mahi-mahi have been changed up with a more modern take ie less heavy cream sauce and more fresh fruit salsa for the fish. The down? Some strange changes. Old favs like the turtle cheesecake are still on the menu but have been modified for kitchen efficiency. For example, my server told me the cheesecake no longer looks like a turtle. Just the cheesecake dome. Apparently, the cute presentation took too much time to plate. Biggest down? The food prices are still outrageously high for the quality received.

If CR has been an old favourite, still go and experience it. I haven't written it off at all. But feels like CR is still trying to find it's groove. She's getting a little old to be revamped every few months. Hoping they finally work out the kinks in the near future.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Okay, I've switched our adr from 11:45am to 11:35am, it was the earliest I could get. Do you think we have a chance if we arrive early for check in to get a tank side table or is it pretty much out of luck unless you have 11:30am?

 

[sleepydog25]

Okay, I've switched our adr from 11:45am to 11:35am, it was the earliest I could get. Do you think we have a chance if we arrive early for check in to get a tank side table or is it pretty much out of luck unless you have 11:30am?

Odds are pretty good if you get there before your actual reservation time. It truly depends upon those who make an ADR there that day, how busy the park is, and the like. If many of the first ADRs are families of 5 or more, they won't sit them at the four-tops, usually. All you can do is go and hope for the best. As I mentioned before, there are two-tops very close to the tanks which are almost as good. In fact, in some ways they can be better as small kids who are not your own often become part of your "family" when you sit next to the tank.

 

[samsteele]

Okay, I've switched our adr from 11:45am to 11:35am, it was the earliest I could get. Do you think we have a chance if we arrive early for check in to get a tank side table or is it pretty much out of luck unless you have 11:30am?

My ADR was also for 11:35 am & I got a 2 top right beside the tank by showing up around 11:15 am to check in. Like PP mentioned, it all depends on how many people have ADRs at that time & who shows up before opening. But your chances should be good.

 

[Shelbizzles]

Odds are pretty good if you get there before your actual reservation time. It truly depends upon those who make an ADR there that day, how busy the park is, and the like. If many of the first ADRs are families of 5 or more, they won't sit them at the four-tops, usually. All you can do is go and hope for the best. As I mentioned before, there are two-tops very close to the tanks which are almost as good. In fact, in some ways they can be better as small kids who are not your own often become part of your "family" when you sit next to the tank.

Haha yes. This happened to us. We weren’t sitting directly next to the tank but in the booths on the same level as the tank directly across and like 5 small kids came out of nowhere and we’re looking at at the tank and literally throwing a stuffed animal in the air. One time it landed in between our table and the one next to us. Seriously almost into our food. The couple next to us told them to go.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I will give it our best shot, worst case hopefully they put us close by. Ds will mesmerized, he loves the fish tanks.

 

[Mr & Mrs DD]

We have eaten there 4 times. Twice it was really good, and the other two times it was NOT very good. I hope you have a good dining experience there. They do I have a dessert that I really like. The Bailey's & Jack Daniels Chocolate Mousse is very good.

 

[Mr & Mrs DD]

Anyone been recently, how was it? I'm really interested in the crab cake and lobster bisque.

Are there any tables for 2 by the tank?

Yes. We asked to be seated by the tank (party of two). We had to wait maybe an extra 10 minutes past our reservation time.

 

[alliecat523]

We sat by the tank one time when they had a scuba tour going on. So fun having everyone wave at us.

 

[sleepydog25]

Haha yes. This happened to us. We weren’t sitting directly next to the tank but in the booths on the same level as the tank directly across and like 5 small kids came out of nowhere and we’re looking at at the tank and literally throwing a stuffed animal in the air. One time it landed in between our table and the one next to us. Seriously almost into our food. The couple next to us told them to go.

Once when we got a seat right at the tank, there were literally children from three different tables who came up right beside us to watch the fish. It wasn't like there was a ton of room, either, as the tables are fairly close together. At one point, we had kids behind both our chairs (we were sitting across from each other) right at our shoulders. Must say we weren't thrilled, most particularly because the kids jostled each other (and us) and not one of them (nor parent) asked politely if they could squeeze in. Yes, I am a curmudgeon.