*Pesto Risotto* More Like Pesto Disgusting-o (Coral Reef)

[qanita92]

My family and I went to
Coral Reef

Since we are Muslim and we cant eat meat unless it is Halal(and halal inst available on Disney Property) we went vegetarian-except for some fish and shrimp.

My mother and sister ordered the pest risotto. We didn't know what this was so I asked the waiter and he said it was some type of rice and my mom loves rice so she ordered it. The entree is described like this:

Pesto Risotto - Made with grilled Portobello mushrooms, crumbled blue cheese, and tomato-lemon grass broth topped with crispy leeks. - $16.99

It came out in a plate full of an UFB(Unidentified Food Blob)

If you want a plate of mush cooked in ear wax and a 7 pounds of bitter flavorings then get it. It was absolutely DISGUSTING. Do NOT NOT NOT get it. There wasn't even a vegetable or anything that you can eat of the plate. It even looks like vomit. Which is what I felt like doing when I saw it. Who knew that food that makes you vomit looks exactly like the vomit. It is not worth the $17. They should actually pay us $17 for even thinking of ordering it. I hope they decided to get something that vegetarians can eat.

Just to let all Disers know I am not such a picky person when it comes to food nor am I so critical but I just had to warn anybody deciding to oder it. I don't want to sound harsh but I had to say it.​

 

[John's Mom]

Thanks for posting your honest review!

 

[familyS]

That's such a shame. Since the dish looked nothing like the description, I wonder if there was a new chef in the kitchen. Maybe someone unfamiliar with the vegetarian option. What a dissappointment.

 

[Maggi May]

I'm sorry you had such a disappointing meal. I hope you and your family were able to find other vegetarian meals on your trip that you enjoyed better.

The combination of flavors -- blue cheese and lemon grass -- sounds a little off. What a shame that was the only veggie entree.

 

[Katy Belle]

Here is the definition of Risotto from the encyclopedia

Risotto is a traditional Italian dish made with a suitable variety of rice such as Arborio, Carnaroli or Vialone Nano. It is one of the most common ways of cooking rice in Italy. It originated in North Italy, specifically Eastern Piedmont, Western Lombardy, and Veneto (where the Vialone Nano comes from) where rice paddies are abundant. It is one of the pillars of Milanese cuisine.

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We tried risotto for the first time in Italy and I do not like risotto! If you are used to rice being dry and individual pieces, this is much different, soupy. I've tried it a few times in different places, because it always sounds like something I will like. I don't!

Sorry you had a bad experience.

Katy

 

[cremebrulee]

My bf and I split the pumpkin risotto at Coral Reef about a week ago and it was FANTASTIC. Best meal we had eaten in Disney, hands down. There was just so much flavor. I wish I could go back just to eat that meal again.

Don't give up on Coral Reef just yet. Try the pumpkin next time.

Did you get dessert at all? If not, next time get the Chocolate Wave. Absolutely phenomenal.

 

[Pirate's Princess]

I think they updated the menu to Pumpkin in october. Sounds much better. However risotto isn't for all tastes--much more like rice oatmeal (all the gelatinized starch granules) rather than normal rice.

(I love it though! )

Sorry about the poor experience. I'm curious as to if you decided to eat fish as well, you didn't get fish here. It's really good!

 

[qanita92]

I think they updated the menu to Pumpkin in october. Sounds much better. However risotto isn't for all tastes--much more like rice oatmeal (all the gelatinized starch granules) rather than normal rice.

(I love it though! )

Sorry about the poor experience. I'm curious as to if you decided to eat fish as well, you didn't get fish here. It's really good!

Yeah I think I got the shrimp pasta. I don't even remember eating it. I took two bites and then just chatted and laughed with my family the rest of the time. I'm not such a big eater.

 

[Zeebs]

Ummm did you know what risotto was before ordering as the look and texture sounds spot on. Taste however is personal preference but the combination of flavours don't sound great to me.

Kirsten

 

[JenSop]

Yeah, that sounds like risotto. That's what it's supposed to be like - kind of sticky and blobbish. It's not like regular rice. Plus, pesto is the green stuff that they put on pasta sometimes, so I'm guessing it came out looking like a big green blob. I personally like risotto, but I understand how it could be a bit disturbing if you didn't know what to expect ahead of time.

 

[lazydazy8]

It sounds to me that the pesto might be what was most offensive to you. Pesto is quite flavorful and risotto takes on the flavor of whatever it's served with. Risotto IS very starchy. I can see that could be very overpowering.

We had the pumpkin risotto in October as well. It was rather ugly to look at, but it was DELISH! Loved it!

I had a steak dish. DS6 did the pizza. DD8 had the mahi mahi! She loved it!

 

[branv]

Did it look anything like this?

Sometimes it looks more liquidy, sometimes more firm. But in general, this is just what various types of risotto can look like, depending on the ingredients.

I honestly can't tell if your family received a pretty accurate rendition of risotto...but not being used to it, or liking that type of food, didn't care for it. And pesto is NOT a subtle flavor. Or if you received a really, really bad version of risotto. But then, I guess that's exactly like most other food reviews. It's all subjective in the end.

But personally, those combinations as described don't peak my interest at all. WAY too much going on there.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

"Pesto" is traditionally: basil, pine nuts, extra virgin olive oil, garlic (and salt). It is a very strong combination, but one I like - even though the garlic is usually RAW.

It seems though that pesto is a nice sounding word so more and more American chefs are abusing it to desribe mixtures that are not really pesto at all. Usually they will say something like rosemary pesto or mint pesto....to indicate that the green herb smashed into their mixture is not basil, but LEMONGRASS is quite a far cry from basil - and not at all related to an Italian dish like risotto.

Think of risotto as the Italian version of chicken fried rice. If you've got a little leftover meat or fish...a few leftover veggies...risotto. Instead of the rice being fried it's cooked al dente - slightly chewy. Instead of the grease of fried rice - risotto has a creamy buttery taste. If it is made well it is quite good, but it is tricky to get it just right. The rice has to be stirred constantly for 20 minutes. The one downside to risotto, IMO, (other than it's often not made right) is that it's kind of like bisque - all one flavor. The veggies and meat are supposed to be blended into the rice. I assure you, if you ever get thechance to have real risotto, done right, you'll at least find it passable, if not your favorite....so if you're ever in Italy, give it a try!

 

[PrincessAurora]

So aside from that Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play?

Sorry the server was not better trained to explain what pesto is, sorry the chef was brain damaged enough to pair risotto with blue cheese, portabellos and lemon grass and that the dish was not cooked correctly.

I made amazing risotto but them I'm Italian so it's genetic. What else did you have there? Was the shrimp a replacement for the risotto?