Opinion on Coral Reef?

Tink9721

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Jun 14, 2009
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My mom and I are trying to decide if we should try out Coral Reef on our April trip. I should also mention that I don't like seafood, but I know there's other stuff on the menu.

What do you guys think about Coral Reef? I've heard mixed reviews so I'm not sure :confused3
 
I really like it. I think it might even be my favorite table service for lunch in all of the World. I've never had anything from there that wasn't seafood, but I hear great things about the strip steak.
 
Hi! :wave2: I'd say try it at least once then make up your mind about it. There are other menu items besides seafood. I believe there is a sirloin choice as well as a pasta dish. We did try it June 09 and very much liked the ambiance of the restaurant and the food was good too. I was concerned about that ressie as we had read mixed reviews of that restaurant. Enjoy! :goodvibes
 
I've eaten there three times now. 2 of those 3 times were wonderful. The one time we had a less than wonderful experience was during free dining and it was horribly noisy, the service was hurried and the food was just okay.
I always have the steak, and haven't been disappointed yet. I'm planning on going back in August.
 

I did like the blackened catfish but I understand it is off the menu now. I would try something else if I went back (definitely seafood as I prefer seafood to meat). I did not find anything wrong with the food. The restaurant itself was noisy, chaotic and full of families (which is not objectionable in and of itself, but something about this place, likely the presence of the fish tank, appears to convince many parents that it's OK to let the kids run through the place, throw food, climb up on the tank without consideration of those at the tables beside it, and treat the restaurant in general like a playground.) Yes, I went during free dining. The restaurant was quite crowded.
 
Coral Reef is one of my 2 favorites along with 50s Prime Time Cafe. I HAVE to eat there everytime I go. I have always gotten the seafood but last time we were there the man at the table next to us couldn't stop saying how good his chicken was! :thumbsup2
 
Glad to read positive reviews! We are going to the Coral Reef for my b-day dinner!!!!I will be the BIG 40! WOW!!! I do not like seafood but DH and DS do. I will have steak! We are looking forward to our trip!:goodvibes
 
We Love Coral Reef! I know the food doesn't always get good reviews, but we've never had a bad meal there. I was just there with my bff in Nov. and our server was Blanca. She was super sweet and took great care of us! :goodvibes

If you like martinis order the one made with agave nector that comes with a souvenier bracelet. The drink was positively the yummiest ever....And I don't usually like sweet drinks...I'm a beer girl ; )

Go and enjoy!!!
 
o.k. I am the wet blanket of the bunch...

I hated the food and said I would never eat there again, but I think I was just so disappointed because this was the place I was most looking forward to my trip.

Now that time has passed and another trip, I have softened a bit...

this is why, because my kids really have great memories and they looooooooooved the fish tank.

Now keep in mind I went at lunch and I am from New England and I love seafood. So I guess I had too high of expectations.

Now the dinner menu did look better than the lunch and since then I have read others raving over the desserts and the steak.

I just posted because I thought you should here a different perspective, so like me you do not have too high of expectations.;)
 
We alway have dinner there one night during our trip. I've had the steak & the Mahi Mahi & both were delicious. My DD had their chicken & really liked it. We have our adrs for April - can't wait!
 
We loved Coral Reef for lunch last May and are returning for dinner later this month. I had the blackened catfish, which I understand is off the menu, but everything I tried was equally delicious. I hear great things about the strip steak, if you do not want one of the seafood dishes. I do not understand why this restaurant receives such mixed reviews, but I hope I never have to find out.
 
We ate there 2 trips ago and have ressies again for our trip in a few weeks. I had the Mahi Mahi and thought it was very fresh and I grew up at the beach. Husband had either a strip or the Ribye and said it was excellent. The noise doesn't bother me as we have younger kids so we are used to it. It was crowded when we went and I assume that it usually is being it is a popular restaurant but we didn't experience any kids running around crazy. I guess anything can be hit or miss. We used to love Kona Cafe until our last trip and the food was just awful and we won't be back. That being said you should def. give it a try.
 
Thanks for all the responses! I think we'll be making Coral Reef reservations :thumbsup2
 
Thanks for all the responses! I think we'll be making Coral Reef reservations :thumbsup2
 
DH and I both had the steak and it was wonderful. Second favorite meal of the trip. Plus the fish tank was great, they had divers in the water when we were there and DS loved it.:thumbsup2
 
My step-mom and dad ate there a few years ago and said it was good. We're all going to DW to celebrate my DD's 4th birthday and taking her to Coral Reef. She LOVES fish tanks.
 
We are actually trying Coral Reef for the first time this trip! You never know until you try it;) What one family loves, another dislikes.
 
We enjoyed it too! I think we had a 4:15 pm reservation and we got a tank-side table. Very nice. Also they let me substitute a baked potato with my steak. I gave the broccoli to my husband. I forget what he had.

The only thing I was disappointed with was the Chocolate Wave dessert. Maybe because everyone raves about it so I was a bit disappointed. It was a cupcake. It seems like it might have had some white sauce in it.
 
This has been my fav resturant three years consecutively. I loved the seasonal catch with mushroom scallop risotto and last time I tried the mushroom lasagna and was impressed with that as well. That risotto was my fav dish at any Disney resturant so far. Oh, and the creme brulee is a lovely dessert on a hot day too :)

I hope you enjoy your meal there!
 


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