Did you guys read this review?

[OllieDannyandMe]

We were just there in December 08, and we liked Coral Reef better than Jiko's or Citricos. In fact, we loved our meal at Coral Reef. It was one of the highlights of our trip.

Actually, if you read the review closely, he is not harsh on the food. He says most of the food is good. His complaints were mostly about small portions and high prices.

We liked the small portions. We were on the Deluxe Dining Plan, and we couldn't eat big portions AND do three table service meals per day. So the small portions were heavenly to us. We didn't feel like we were wasting any food.

And since we were on the dining plan, we liked seeing the high prices. It made us feel like we were getting our money's worth. ROFL (Probably an illusion--but it sure made us feel good!)

And the reviewer needs to remember that he is in a theme park. It's like dining in an airport--you are part of a captive audience. They always charge more in a theme park. And if I can pay $10 for a $5 hamburger combo meal, then I can pay $12 for a $6 appetizer. It's a theme park--that's what you do!

As for some guests receiving beepers, perhaps those guests had requested a table right by the tank. Or perhaps the restaurant staff was waiting to see if some ADR's would be no-shows, before giving away the tables.

His other big complaint concerned entrees coming out at the same time as the appetizers. Since he made a specific request, that is a legitimate complaint. But I think he has high expectations of a theme park restaurant.

Coral Reef does not aspire to be 5-star dining. Yes, they should have been able to accommodate that request, but many guests are probably in a hurry to get in and get out. People in a theme park are usually more interested in a quick meal than a leisurely one. After all, they want to make the best use of their theme park tickets.

If the server was kind and apologized for the mistake, and if the restaurant made amends by making new entrees at the appropriate time, then I do not see that as a serious strike against the restaurant. In fact, the graciousness with which they handled their mistake would make me favor them all the more. We're all human.

 

[LovinPooh]

I was there in February and completely agree with this review. Overpriced definetly was something we pointed out as well.
Wont be doing this restaurant next time.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

You know, I've read nearly all of the recent restaurant reviews on wdwinfo and here's my take. The people who are doing those reviews seem rather hard to please. I don't mean that negatively. What I mean is that it appears to me at least, that they're expecting world class food. Regular theme park food like Hershey Park, King's Dominion or Busch Gardens is pretty blech and costly! So when I go to Disney I know it will be better than that of course but I'm not fool enough to compare it to some of the fancy places my DH and I have been to. I think those reviews need to be taken with a grain of salt. Especially this particular one since they'd already reviewed it and weren't impressed, you know?

Now we've eaten at Coral Reef, last year actually, and thought it was good. I would say amotsphere here is better than the food. Would I eat there again, yup!

 

[eventamy]

I absolutely agree with the reviewer.
We had lunch there in February and seriously consider it one of the worst restaurant experiences we've EVER had. It was truly awful. This is being said by a truly NOT picky eater, I love food!

 

[SereneOne]

We ate at Coral Reef in Dec 2007 and it was in our top two of favorite meals. My DH and DS19 had the steak and my son thought it was one of the best steaks he had ever had (and he eats mainly steak and bacon cheeseburgers, lol). I had the catfish and it was great and I know good seafood. I am from Daytona Beach and fished extensively with my family, we were the kings of the fish fry and crab stew, etc.! ALso lived on the Gulf Coast

Some restaurants do really suck, however a majority have off days, just like people.

 

[Pirate Me]

We didn't like Coral Reef either...it was actually our least favorite and most likely won't be going back. The only up was the atmosphere because the fish are amusing to watch while waiting for the food.

 

[Tbelle1976]

We also didn't have a great experience at Coral Reef, and it was one of the ADR's we were most excited about. I completely agree with the review especially about portion sizes! I had the lobster salad that was in the review, and although I didn't think it tasted bad it was just an ice cream scoop size, not much more soup with the meal either.

It's definitely a restaurant that we won't make another ADR for anytime soon.

 

[2manypets]

I'm planning on Coral Reef being our first lunch at Disney and looking forward to it. I still want to try it for myself, maybe with a little lower expectations. But the restaurant itself is beautiful and I want that experience of the ambiance. If the foods really that bad, then we have 13 other meals to make us forget about it.

 

[MickeyNicki]

Hey Nicki,

Did you see Kevin's original review:

http://www.wdwinfo.com/reviews/coralreef.htm

That's the one with the famous "sad little crab cake"

OMIGOD I just read it and laughed but tush off...that review was hysterical and the poor sad little crab cake was ridiculous! It looked like cat food!

 

[MinnieTink]

There's another not-so-great review of CR on allears too. We went in 2007 and enjoyed it. The food was not great, but it at least lived up to our expectations. Plus, it is hard to beat the views! We are planning to do a dinner here in Aug/Sept and had recommended it to some friends who will be staying there at the same time. Glad to see that many of you have had good/decent experiences here!!!

 

[disneysuncat]

WOW both his Coral Reef reviews are sadly hilarious!

I have Coral Reef on our "to do" list for when I make the ADRs, but I am re-thinking it. My Mom keeps saying "but it was so GOOD when we went there last!" I keep telling her that was in 1993/94! At that time, she got a whole lobster, dad got some steak, and I don't remember what I had other than a white chocolate mousse with dark chocolate Mickey ears on top. MAN that was good. (I have photos, lol.) OH, and back then, we just walked in and were seated, no reservations.

I am still laughing over that sad little crab cake in that review.

 

[LisaNJ25]

Did they stop the diver with signs this year? We went in August 07 and everything was good. I am not sure about this year though.

 

[budbeerlady]

I have read so many poor reviews of Coral Reef lately, its making me feel pretty nervous about our May ADR.

I am so tempted to swap it for The Wave but the veggie entree there doesn't sound too great.

The vegetarian entree at the wave was one of the best of our trip! Its now on our must do list! Its not a stew as you would imagine a stew to be, not thick soupy stuff. It was excellant and if I could figure out how to exactly make it at home I would.

Really, if the rest of the menu looks good to the rest of your party give the wave a try.

Coral reef is a demand by DD, so we go. I do enjoy other places more....

DD has to have Coral Reef, Dh has to have Le Cellier and I have the Wave now to keep me happy.

 

[cascarlet]

I haven't been there, but there is something just weird about eating all that seafood while the fish are surrounding the place.

 

[IndianaJ]

We ate dinner there on Monday, and it was the best table service of our trip. I had the grouper, DD1 had the kids salmon, DD2 has the kids mahi mahi, and DH has the steak. The steak was supposed to be MR, but came out M to MW. He still enjoyed it, and we loved the atmosphere. My desert was fantastic, and the girls loved there make your own sundays.

 

[chocovrdmicears]

We have dined at Coral Reef every year for the past 3 years and LOVE it. The food has been excellent (our steak was better than the one we had a LeCellier), the creamy lobster soup is excellent, the service has always been fantastic...and of course the kids love the atmosphere. We have ADR's for lunch in June.

 

[JerseyJanice]

I wanted to eat here last trip and couldn't get an ADR. We love looking at the aquarium in the Living Seas and think it'd be a great use of our time to watch the sealife while dining. I'm not going to let any bad reviews I read deter me. I figure they'll temper my expectations.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I keep seeing the bad reviews and makes me wonder why people like it, but I guess I will have to be really brave one day when I have exhausted all other restaurants and need to fill in space. I have to eat there at least once...I mean, how bad can it possibly be? Tons of people hate Tony's and we love it. Subjectiveness...it rules the tastebuds.

Definitely try it (CR). For what its worth, this same guy who reviewed Coral Reef, HATED Tony's. We like Tony's too so I ignored him on that one as well!

I haven't really read anything too positive he's written. He's certainly entitled to his opinion but like most reviewers, he invests way more time and energy into his meal than the average person. Reviewers go in looking to pick apart. This guy hated CR when he went last and I think he probably didn't move past that too well for this visit.

I have had some great meals at CR and some good ones. Never a bad one and never poor service. We enjoy the atmopshere, revel in the Full House memories and enjoy ourselves.