Narcoossee and Coral Reef

[wdwfan1]

Anyone eaten at either of these restaurants lately? We will be trying Narcoossee for the first time (DH loves lobster) but I just read a really negative post. I would hate to disappoint him!

We have been to Coral Reef several times, but the menu is not the same. What's the deal on the meal????? It will be just the two of us.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

This is going to sound harsh, but skip them both. You would be better off going offsite to a Red Lobster than to dine at either of those places.

Now, having said that, I'll confess that I am a Northeasterner who grew up with Maine lobster/seafood.

 

[MinnieTink]

I have never been to Narcoosee but we dined at Coral Reef on Sept 4. As long as you are not expecting FINE dining, I think you will enjoy it. The atmosphere with all the fish and sea turtles swimming right in front of you is very relaxing. I had a very good salad and had the blackened catfish for my entrée. It was really good. Both my DD and DH had the lobster ravioli which had a decent amount of lobster meat in the sauce. They both enjoyed it. Give it a try!

 

[TLSnell1981]

DH and I dined at Narcoossee and Coral Reef last December. Narcoossee was by far the better experience
.

 

[robinb]

This is going to sound harsh, but skip them both. You would be better off going offsite to a Red Lobster than to dine at either of those places.

Now, having said that, I'll confess that I am a Northeasterner who grew up with Maine lobster/seafood.

As a midwesterner, I think that both restaurants are perfectly fine. The last time I was at Narcoossee's I ordered my lobster whole and our server made it happen for me. It was WAY better than Red Lobster! As for Coral Reef, I didn't have the best meal in WDW. However, I heard that Coral Reef has a new chef and the food has gotten much better. Narcoossee's has the better food, but Coral Reef has the better atmosphere.

 

[TLSnell1981]

As a midwesterner, I think that both restaurants are perfectly fine. The last time I was at Narcoossee's I ordered my lobster whole and our server made it happen for me. It was WAY better than Red Lobster! As for Coral Reef, I didn't have the best meal in WDW. However, I heard that Coral Reef has a new chef and the food has gotten much better. Narcoossee's has the better food, but Coral Reef has the better atmosphere.

CR's aquarium is nice, but a view of the Castle, during Wishes, is pretty magical.

 

[robinb]

CR's aquarium is nice, but a view of the Castle, during Wishes, is pretty magical.

Unless someone parks their big fat butts in front of you on the balcony. That happened to us two years ago on our anniversary after the nice folks at Narcoossee's gave us a "front row" table and timed our dinner to coincide with Wishes. We got to see a double moon instead of the fireworks .

 

[TLSnell1981]

Unless someone parks their big fat butts in front of you on the balcony. That happened to us two years ago on our anniversary after the nice folks at Narcoossee's gave us a "front row" table and timed our dinner to coincide with Wishes. We got to see a double moon instead of the fireworks .

I'm sooo nonassertive and subtle. I would have knocked on the window and shooed them away!

 

[robinb]

I'm sooo nonassertive and subtle. I would have knocked on the window and shooed them away!

I tried that! I actually knocked on the window and made a "shooing" motion. They gave me a "look", turned their backs on me and stayed where they were! What made me madder about the whole thing that by their dress and their bags they did not look like they were guests of the restaurant. Just a pair of big lookie-loos who read it was a great place to watch the fireworks.

 

[TLSnell1981]

I tried that! I actually knocked on the window and made a "shooing" motion. They gave me a "look", turned their backs on me and stayed where they were! What made me madder about the whole thing that by their dress and their bags they did not look like they were guests of the restaurant. Just a pair of big lookie-loos who read it was a great place to watch the fireworks.

Methinks, I would have helped them get "a little closer"....made 'em walk the plank!!

 

[Pakey]

Flying Fish is so much better than both of these restaurants.

 

[wezee]

We definantly prefer Narcoosee over Coral Reef. That being said, we do not bother to request a window seat because a large number of the patrons will move out to the veranda to view Wishes. Matter of fact, on more than one occasion, our server suggested we take our glasses of wine and enjoy Wishes before he/she served our next course.

 

[luvmy3jewels]

My family just ate at Narcoosee's last week (my birthday dinner) and it was great!! I had the surf and turf. The lobster was a little chewy and I kind of wish I had substituted scallops instead, however the filet was very good and the potatos were delicious!!! Dh had the crab crusted halibut which was wonderful and we shared the crab cake appetizer which consisted of the best crab cakes we have ever tasted (usually my homemade crab cakes can't be beat).

We ended up taking our desserts to go (long story) and they were yummy the next morning. I can't imagine how good the cheesecake would have tasted if we had been able to eat it "fresh" after dinner.

Overall, I would say that the food was tied with Tutto Italia for the best we had last week! We didn't eat at Coral Reef, so I can't comment on that one.

 

[TifffanyD]

I've eaten at Coral Reef twice this month (and many times in the past) and Narcoossee's once this month (and once in the past).

Narc's was great! Loved it. This was September 6

Coral Reef was great on Sept 7 and lived up to its reputation as one of our top restaurants.

Coral Reef yesterday (Sept 27) was terrible. The menu is changed and the Mahi Mahi is ruined. The chocolate wave was like an upside down mediocre (chocolate) muffin with a tiny spot of white stuff you didn't even taste (the filling). Service was horrible, we had an off-time lunch and were seated about 40 minutes late. The server took forever to do anything. The bread is now these not-properly-risen rolls, or at least it was this day. DH said the mousse was overly whiskey-ed and not good. The lobster soup was the only thing I enjoyed. It's now off our list, sadly

 

[DisneyAngel83]

Narccooses is by far my favorite restaurant in WDW. We have eaten there every year since 2002 and now can't skip it! We always get the steak and lobster meal. The filet will just melt in your mouth it is so high quality and made so well. The almond cheesecake is also THE BEST cheesecake I have ever had.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

We skipped Coral Reef this year because we had too many other ADRs.

We ate at Narcoosee's last year for the first time, and went back last month. It is just not "all that" for us and we won't be back. Last year we went on a night that I had a horrible headache, so I thought maybe that colored my perception of the restaurant. We were also seated near a big group who could not seem to manage to keep their children SEATED.

So we went back this year. On my birthday. It was OK, not fabulous. Flying Fish is fabulous. Narcoosee's, not fabulous.

I have read here that the whole lobster is fresh and the tails are frozen, so something to keep in mind when ordering lobster.

 

[wdwfan1]

Thanks for all the replies!

 

[landshark]

My BF wanted to eat at Coral Reef for his bday when we were there earlier this month and we both thought it was one of the worse picks we made.

He had the Lobster Ravioli and I the Seared Chicken Breast--both dishes were overly salty. Our server already seemed irritated (possibly even moreso by my BF "inconveniencing" him by having requested a seat closer to the tank) and the restaurant had just opened when we got there. I was also bothered by a funky smell in the restaurant the entire time--probably because of how small and enclosed it is. Not fishy (that came later once the place was packed) just odd and unappetizing. The almond gelato for dessert was really good, though!

 

[MarkinNM]

Coral Reef has its points, Narcossees doesn’t, I would avoid Narcossees like the plaque! Just returned from that roach infested place and the food was so-so for a supposed signature resturant, if that’s a signature Disney resturant then save your money and go to Red Lobster when you get back, better service, better food and no roaches!

 

[LoraJ]

We have eaten at both and definitely prefer Narcoossees. We had a wonderful meal there. Loved the atmosphere and I had a wonderful filet. DH had the surf-n-turf which he thought was excellent. Coral Reef was okay, but we have no plans on returning.