Having Second thoughts about Coral Reef

[My2QTs]

Im wondering if I should swap my coral reef for LTT or chefs de france. I have two kids 3 & 9, so atmosphere is an issue, but I just keep hearing such mixed reviews about coral reef. I know that they would like LTT but I was a bit turned off by the turkey and the stauffers mac and cheese (I can get that at home...not crazy about frozen mac and cheese anyway). I also dont' think I will be able to get and ADR there now. We go in eight days (Oct 17-26). I also tought chefs de france looked good or San Angel, but I don't know if the kids would enjoy it. Any thoughts?

 

[Samantha/NC]

we went a month ago and our kids loved coral reef. They lovedddddd the aquarium, they watched the fish the entire time--our meal was great

 

[phlufster]

We hadn't done Coral Reef in years because it just wasn't one of those places that impressed us that much. This past May we decided to try it again and we LOVED it!! The food was excellent and the aquarium was so cool, I was like a little kid pointing everything out to my husband! We are going back in a few weeks and I can't wait!! It is one of the places I am lookng forward to the most!
I ordered the side salad, lobster soup and the Wave (??) dessert and it was all amazing! I think that is my 2nd favortie dessert on property (Maple Creme Brulee is No. 1)

Keep your ADR, YOu will enjoy it! Just curious what day you are going, we are eating there for lunch on the 22nd.

 

[vtwep]

ate there last November. Enjoyed it a lot and we had a 4 year old with us. Also eating there again on our next trip. I vote for "go and enjoy"!

 

[Bev J]

Coral Reef has become one of our favs since trying it 3 trips ago. Your kids will really enjoy the view of the divers, fish, turtles and other marine life in the tank. We have also found food and service to be very good. You won't be disapointed in your choice here- keep that ADR.

Bev

 

[Uno Mas]

I've never been to Coral Reef but have been to Chefs de France and San Angel. Chefs was not kid friendly at all -the waiter was very rude and rushed us along the entire time. San Angel has gone downhill since we first ate there. The last two times I tried it, the food was sub-par and I will not go back, even though I love the atmosphere so much. Stick with Coral Reef and make sure you post a review - I've considered trying it but have also heard mixed reviews so I've been on the fence!

 

[shyjade]

I ignored the mixed reviews for Coral Reef back in 06 and almost cancelled our ADR. Glad I didn't, as it was our best meal of the trip and became a family favorite. Even my daughter loves it...loved it more than CRT, LTT, etc.

 

[surfdisney]

This will be our first trip out of eight in the last 10 years that we chose not to eat at Coral Reef. Hopefully it has improved since our last trip two years ago, but at that time the food was fair and the service was slow and unimpressive. The atmosphere can't be beat - and we are all kind of bummed out not to go this trip, but our last experiences haven't been good.

One new (for us) restaurant we tried and liked alot was the Biergarten in Germany (and we're not big fans of buffets or German food). The atmosphere was great - the kids loved it and the food was tasty.

I would agree the Chefs is not the easiest place to go with kids - we've done it before and it lost their interest quickly.

 

[ptrbryant]

I think Coral Reef was in a slump a few years ago...many of the really bad reviews may come from that time. We almost cancelled our CR reservation last year because of all the poor reviews, but ended up going and we all loved it! The food was great and the setting beautiful. After we got back, it seemed most people had the same experience we'd had.

We're going again in Dec. and also trying Chefs de France for the 1st time. Now, I keep reading very mixed reviews about Chefs de France!

Karla B.

 

[ROEDISNEY]

Love Coral Reef. Good food and nice atmosphere.

 

[Stitchfans]

We ate at Coral Reefs last March. Good food, but not much and very expensive. IMO you shouldn't walk away still hungry after spending tons of money. It is a try once, but don't go back restaurant for us.

 

[rockonthemoon]

We have an ADR for Coal Reef this Jan...

Last year, we ate at Chefs de France and were not impressed. The outside is beautiful, but we were seated in the room with all of the windows, and the people staring at us from outside got weird.

(A lot of people liked to lean against the glass, so we got lots of booty with our meal... )

If I were you and had young children, I would go to Coral Reef. There will be things to entertain them there, the kids menu is basically the same (everywhere... sadly) and I know that they have a build your own cupcake desert.

 

[CPT Tripss]

I think Coral Reef was in a slump a few years ago...many of the really bad reviews may come from that time. We almost cancelled our CR reservation last year because of all the poor reviews, but ended up going and we all loved it! The food was great and the setting beautiful. After we got back, it seemed most people had the same experience we'd had.

We're going again in Dec. and also trying Chefs de France for the 1st time. Now, I keep reading very mixed reviews about Chefs de France!

Karla B.

We hit the "slump" - about two years ago - it was our worst meal ever at WDW . . . food and service. Also, it was entirely too "kid friendly" - many families seemed to think it was OK for their child(ren) to run around and loudly play at the aquarium windows.

It might have improved (food service does change with some regularity) but I won't be back for a while.

 

[skw444]

We were at Coral Reef about a month ago and it was one of our top meals of our trip. Our kids ages 6 and 3 enjoyed the fish and we thought the food was good. I say keep it and give it a try.

 

[MickeyNicki]

We have Coral Reef booked for dinner in Jan when we are taking our 2 nieces....we have dined there 10 years ago and loved the filet so I think we will be happy with a steak.

The main reason we picked this place was the ambiance for the girls plus they have food on the kids menu that they will eat.

If you do switch Chefs de France has amazing food

 

[spooky1]

IF you get a tank side table I think that in of its own would occupy the kids ... if you are seating an aisil away or further up it is rather dark and you really cant see much in the tank...

If I were you I would change - we tried Coral Reef last year and had a horrible experience we will never go back again. Too many other places to give one a second try to get things right.

 

[Nohal]

We ate lunch at Coral Reef 2 weeks ago and it was perfect. We sat by the aquarium and were able to see everything in the tank. I've read on other threads that you can request to be seated by the tank.

 

[chocovrdmicears]

We ate at Coral Reef for the first time in Sept 07. It was fantastic! Best meal of our trip! It was the ONLY place DD6 asked to eat at this year.
So we returned a few weeks ago for our Sept 08 trip. It was again fantastic! Best meal we ate all week. The atmosphere was wonderful, service was perfect and everything we ate, especially the steak, was excellent! It is already in the plans for our Sept 09.

 

[jamieT]

we were just there in September. Service wasn't great and we all left still hungry... even the kids Really that is just ridiculous when you spend that much money!

 

[raenyny]

we ate at coral reef last year with my 8, 3, and 1 year old they loved it. We had a diver come down to annouce to the kids they were go to have a new baby brother my daughter had no idea I was pregnant and it was fantastic. The wait staff was wonderful and the food was great. Can't wait to go back.