Restaurant Poll Series: Coral Reef

[Sweet Melissa]

I'm susprised there are so many positive votes. I see a lot of unfavorable reviews of this place around here, I thought for sure this was going to be a lot closer to 50/50.

I'm surprised too, pleasantly surprised. I guess the detractors are just kind of a vocal minority. It's too bad that so many are discouraged from trying the restaurant as a result.

Thanks everybody for voting in the poll and answering the thread. I think this might turn in to a series of polls with some of the other really polarizing restaurants too. Again, I'm interested to see how the numbers stack up for some others — places I've tried as well as some that I haven't.

 

[Luv2CtheMouse]

We tried it twice, the food is always mediocre & the service horrible...but if you are by the tank it is great.

 

[PoohsFan1]

We like it but don't love it. It is one of the those restaurants that we could go to and not return for a couple of trips and then say...."hey, why don't we go back to Coral Reef again". Right now we are so interested in trying out each of the countries first before we keep returning to that one.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

I am in the no thank you column. While the tanks are col, very underwhelmed by the food and service. Some in our group left hungry, that should never happen!

This is exactly how it was for us on our last trip. We have been there when it was much better but this past time the food was bland. It really had no flavor to it. Our service was bad too, so we all agreed that we will be skipping it for a while.

 

[beroh2253]

Coral Reef has been a must for us the past 5 trips to DW and are heading there again this year.

 

[goofy4prez]

For me the answer is a resounding


YES

I have never waited longer than 15 minutes past my ADR to get a table, I have found the service to be excellent, and I would have to say the food is very good. Coral Reef is always a must do on our visits.

 

[AnnetteF]

I couldn't answer the poll because I don't "hate" the restaurant itself. I'm somewhere in the middle. I Love the restaurant, but hate that they admittedly overbook and the wait, even with an ADR, can be impossible, especially with a young child. Had bad experiences on our last couple of visits. So while I love the atmosphere and enjoy the food, the possibility of a long wait both for a table and for the pace of the service, this is not on our list of ADR's for our upcoming trip.

 

[ROEDISNEY]

Good Food, Good Service nice Atmosphere and an Awesome Aquairum.

 

[Polarone]

Hate to admit it, but this restaurant dropped off of our "must go" list last year. Too many blah meals to keep going, even though we love the atmosphere and watching the tank. We'll probably go back in a trip or two in order to see if there have been any improvements - but since it is competing with so many great places in Epcot for dinner slots I don't see it becoming a regular stop again.

 

[MissionMouse]

I couldn't answer the poll because I don't "hate" the restaurant itself. I'm somewhere in the middle. ... I love the atmosphere ...

But for us Coral Reef is a hit or miss restaurant. It is not on our must do list, since it is a hit or miss. One time food was not fresh and service was good with our table next to the aquarium. The next time the food was better, but the service was lacking as the waitress was dedicating herself to getting alcoholic drinks for a large table on the ddp. Bottom line: You should try it at least once and do not have any thought of guranteed great dining...you will be fine.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

We've always enjoyed the food there and always gotten a table by the tanks. The biggest problem with Coral Reef is one shared by many of the Disney restaurants and it's service or lack there of. I don't find the service to be any worse at Coral Reef than anywhere else in Disney.

As far as reviews, negativity seems to take precedence on these boards.

 

[scrappymel]

we're trying it in december. hope it's ok for us!

 

[marmalade]

The Coral Reef is the only restaurant we have to eat at every trip.

 

[arcticdisneylovers]

We love the Lobster Bisque but nothing else was outstanding. We'd only go again if we couldn't find anywhere else.

 

[Ginamarie]

I'm totally neutral on the restaurant. Our service was a little slow, but the food was pretty good. Ultimately, there are other restaurants in Epcot I like better, but I wouldn't classify this place as bad either!

 

[squirrel]

The service was bad. I don't recall a long wait to be seated. I do remember the server that was super slow, wouldn't get the chef for my niece (lactose intallerant), never refilled drinks (soda) and argued with me over what I ordered.

The meal started off great as I had menus made for the kids and I also received the diver (they no longer do these).

 

[Sassagoula Billy]

I could think of 100 restaurants I'd rather not visit over the much-maligned Coral Reef.

I always say that, but let's see if I can come up with 100.

Epcot
1. Electric Umbrella
2. Rose and Crown
3. Marrakesh
4. Tutto Italia
5. Biergarten
6. Kringla Bakeri og Cafe (their savory offerings)
7. San Angel Inn

Magic Kingdom
8. Crystal Palace (Lunch and Dinner)
9. The Plaza
10. Tony's
11. Cinderella's Royal Table

Animal Kingdom
12. Rainforest Cafe

Hollywood Studios
13. Sci-Fi
14. Backlot Express
15. Studio Catering Co.
16. That outdoor place on Sunset Boulevard
17. Hollywood and Vine
18. Toy Story Pizza Planet

Resorts
19. The Wave
20. Chef Mickey's
21. Whispering Canyon Cafe
22. Artist Point (this place took a major nosedive over the past few years)
23. Kouzzina
24. Flying Fish Cafe (never been a fan)
25. Shutters
26. Caribbean Beach Food Court
27. Boatwright's

Downtown Disney
28. Planet Hollywood
29. T-Rex
30. Fulton's Crab House
31. Portobello Yacht Club (or whatever it's called these days)
32. Rainforest Cafe

Okay, so I only came up with 32. But what a nice break from work.

 

[Pugmalion1]

It doesn't appear to be quite as maligned as you would expect from all of the negative reviews you see on here.

 

[Sassagoula Billy]

It doesn't appear to be quite as maligned as you would expect from all of the negative reviews you see on here.

I'm confused. People say it sucks, right? So that makes it maligned.

 

[Pugmalion1]

I'm confused. People say it sucks, right? So that makes it maligned.

Sorry, I meant, it seems that the poll on this thread makes it seem as if the restaurant isn't quite as maligned as you'd expect given all of the negative reviews you see on the Dis anytime someone brings the restaurant up.

When this thread was started, I expected the poll numbers to be much closer to 50/50. It seems, at least so far, that the dissenting opinion belongs to a more vocal minority.