Coral Reef??

[3lilprincesses]

i never hear to much about this restaurant. a co-worker of my husband (who i don't know) just got back from DW and said Coral Reef was their favorite restaurant this trip. they have 2 children. i asked DH to ask him what they ate, how the service was, etc. but he won't! said he doesn't know the guy too well and feels silly.

anyway, just wondering what experiences anyone here has had. wondering if i need to add it to my list of places to eat on our next trip. TIA!

 

[Mouse-n-Mini]

the atmosphere is awesome- low lighting, huge aquarium, really relaxing.
the food-ultra gourmet and ultra expensive. We didn't like the taste of what we ordered, left hungry...only after paying a $75 lunch bill! We won't be returning, but you may like it simply for the atmosphere...give it a try once.

 

[3lilprincesses]

yikes! we will be using the dining plan, so i guess you wouldn't use the 2 TS credits!!

 

[tikilyn]

I think it just depends on weather you like seafood or not. We went last december for lunch and the food was very good. I had the lobster and steak and dh had their daily special that included an app, entree, and desert, dd 4 and ds share pasta with alfredo sauce. We enjoyed so much that were going back in september and were using the dinning plan. Oh our bill in December for lunch was 100.00 plus a 20.00 tip!!! Do a search for Coral Reef and you'll find some topics on it with great reviews and some not so great!

 

[threeboysmom]

We are planning on eating lunch here on our last day using the dining plan. It'll be myself and 2 of my sons. We'll only have 4 TS left at the end of our trip, so I'm planning on just paying out of pocket for one of my sons...

 

[TJA]

We just went to Coral Reef in May with our 2 kids. Our kids shared a pasta meal and both DH and I ordered the scallops. All 4 of us loved our meals but didn't get very filled up. It was very expensive too. But we will go back simply because we liked the atmosphere and the food was great.

 

[Bracho]

It would be worth the trip atleast once. The Coral Reef has GREAT atmosphere, we have always had good service... but... like it has been stated several times, it's isn't a cheap place to eat at all. I love sitting back and watching the movement in the tank, all the fish, sometimes the divers and groups in the tank. It's just a very relaxing place to eat.

It's worth a visit!

 

[marcij]

If you are on the dining plan, then it might be worth trying. We found the service to be very slow, the portions small, and the food bland. We were also stuck in the back of the restaurant. Since we have small children, we were too far away for them to be very interested in the fish.

 

[3disAddicts]

We were there back in April and found it to be very nice. We were on the dining plan and found it to be quite filling with an appetizer, entree and dessert. We requested a tank side table and had to wait about 20 min. The divers would swim up to the glass and interact with us. The only thing I found detrimental was I thought the noise level was QUITE loud. If we had not been on the dining plan I don't think we would have gone being that it is quite expensive. But I definitely thought it was worth trying at least once. Thought the food was very good and our server was great although a tad rushed being that it was so busy even for a 5:00 dinner.

 

[TheNerdyMinnie]

We like to go to Coral Reef for lunch...for a couple margaritas and the lobster bisque. Unfortuately, the last two times we rent the service was HORRIBLE!!! I'm not one to complain, in fact I can put up with plenty but I was ready to complain complain complain. However, I don't wat our bad experience to ruin your trip. Our first time at the coral reef was inforgettable, but the last 3 times...ehhh I honestly must say the service was awful...the food has always bee great though

 

[Jungle Skipper]

Great atmosphere, a pretty good food. We took my little cousin last summer and she loved it! Was in total awe. Seeing all the fish swimming and the divers....it was a lot of fun....In fact she just asked the other day if we could go back.

Jungle Josh

 

[sleepydog25]

Yes, give it a try. The tank is quite the attraction, enthralling both my DD4 and DW. The food may seem expensive if you compare it to other, more moderate restaurants, but the prices are right in line with what you pay at AP, Le Cellier, and actually cheaper than V&A's as a whole. And CR does like to bill itself as an upscale eatery--you pay for the view and ambience.

We found the food quite tasty (and my blackened catfish was definitely not bland) and quite filling. We aren't huge eaters, though we did order an appetizer, salad, entree, and dessert (DD4 had the pasta), so we had more than we could finish. Besides, I always eat all my veggies. Our service was exemplary, though that's the one area where consistency is hard to find. As with any restaurant, your experience will depend upon what expectations you have, how you feel that day, the service, where you get seated, and even how well the kitchen is running that particular visit. If you go, do so with an open mind intent upon enjoying the moment. Draw your own conclusions then come back and tell us all about it!

 

[zcubed]

We went there in 2003. My kids were four and six. We had a great table, could see the tank clearly.

BUT...

serivce was poor and my kids got distracted when the table next to us got a drink that they thought they wanted more then the ones they ordered.

They did not appreciate the restaurant as much as I thought they would and then, on top of it all, it was our most expensive dinner (not counting the Hoop Di Do)

Now my husband says that the food was not that good, but I remember it as having really good food but not worth it with the poor service and the lack of appreciation.

When we were leaving the restaurant, it was a torrential rain storm and after waiting for a while, we ran. We finally found the rain ponchos but by then, we were soaked! But it was so cool to see everyone in the yellow Mickey rain ponchos.

 

[3lilprincesses]

well, i think i'll save this one for a future trip. maybe when DD's are a little older. it does sound like a very pretty restaurant, with very nice atmosphere though!

thank you everyone for the input!!

 

[Disneyfan63]

Hi,

I ate there on Tuesday, December 14, 2004, an early dinner. Beautiful setting with a huge tank and all those fish. I had the lobster and corn chowder to start and the tilapia with a side of asparagus. Not sure if I had dessert. The food was good but pretty pricey for the portion size.

Jim

 

[lcborn2run]

It seems to be a rarity, but in August 2003, we were finishing up dinner and lo and behold, who swims into the tank but Mickey in full scuba gear!

The kids LOVED it! I assumed it happened all the time,but I've not seen mention of it on the boards.

Also, my husband and I really enjoyed the food; I believe the kids had typical Disney food (pizza or something to that effect...don't remember). It was the week of my sons' birthday so they did bring him a Make your own sundae plate.

Expensive, but the food was definitely very good. I will agree that the service wasn't as great as it should have been for the price.

 

[Cookie Princess]

I wouldn't waste 2 table service credits for this signature restaurant. DH left hungry, and the quality of the food wasn't that great for the price. If we ever do return, it will be for appetizers and/or dessert and a drink to enjoy viewing the tank. Coming from Maine, we can get much better seafood at better prices at home.

 

[tubachick]

DH and I go every trip-- We LOVE it, the atmosphere, the food, and the service has always been great!!

 

[WillCAD]

I haven't eaten at Coral Reef for several years. It has always been beautiful, peaceful, immaculate, and the service is good to excellent. The quality of the food has also been excellent; hot stuff hot, cold stuff cold, everything neat and pretty. But the menu started to read like gibberish:

"Roasted urrabok in a light gerrikibble sauce, served with a side of lalaman chips topped with umbanaka dressing. Choice of either gembalemba salad or fries."

Sorry, I don't understand any of that, and I won't pay $40 for a children's plate of Mac and Cheese just so I can eat there!