Tiziminchac
<font color=blue>I always travel with my George Fo
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2004
- Messages
- 2,812
Last Saturday a friend and I decided to have lunch at the Coral Reef Restaurant. I hadn't been there in years (and that was just an appetizer and drink) and my friend has never eaten there so we didn't know what to expect. We had a PS for 12:10 p.m., and we were seated almost immediately. The restaurant started serving lunch at 12 p.m. and it was nearly empty. Even so we weren't seated right next to the tank but on the second(middle) of the three tiers of the restaurant. The view was still pretty good. Later, during lunch, we both wished we would have requested a table next to the tank though. Our server was Amanda. Saturday was her very first day and we were her very first customers. She seemed a bit nervous but she did a wonderful job and was very attentive. Our glasses were never empty!
Amanda brought us a basket of bread and took our drink orders. I had a Coke and my friend ordered a vodka on the rocks. We decided split the Mussels Sofrito appetizer ($8.00). It was made with steamed Prince Edward Mussels covered with Sofrito sauce, bits of smoked bacon and Andouille sausage. All over Saffron (yellow) rice. It was a little on the spicy side but good and more than enough for two people to share as an appetizer. And we happily polished it off. But we didn't care for the bread. A little too tough for my tastes.
For lunch I ordered the Blackened Catfish ($14.00). I loved this! It was a nice fillet of catfish, blackened of course, over pepperjack cheese grits. Now I'm from the South, but I never had grits like these. And I really liked them. The grits and cheese were mixed and formed into a patty. The filet was laid across the grits and the whole thing was covered with a smoked tomato compote. The meal was better than I expected and I ate it all. Actually the catfish was my second choice until I found out the current market price for the lobster in the Seared South African Lobster Tail dinner was $42.00. The catfish looked pretty good then!
My friend ordered the Smoked Sliced Salmon Sandwich ($14.00). It came on pumpernickel bread with horseradish mayonnaise. And a chilled penne pasta salad. They enjoyed the sandwich. But only was able to finish half of it. The pasta salad was also good. But I think the pasta could have used another minute or two of cooking.
After another round of drinks we decided we were too full for dessert and left the restaurant, but only after I let management know about the good service. Overall the experience was a good one. The prices do seem a bit extravagant, but the atmosphere is definitely there to be had with the whole under the sea vibe you get. There were also menu items for the non seafood eaters. Grilled beef tenderloin, beef bourguignonne lasagne and oven roasted chicken.
Would I recommend this restaurant? Yes if you really enjoy The Living Seas. But even though the food was good, it isn't so good you couldn't get it elsewhere, cheaper.
Amanda brought us a basket of bread and took our drink orders. I had a Coke and my friend ordered a vodka on the rocks. We decided split the Mussels Sofrito appetizer ($8.00). It was made with steamed Prince Edward Mussels covered with Sofrito sauce, bits of smoked bacon and Andouille sausage. All over Saffron (yellow) rice. It was a little on the spicy side but good and more than enough for two people to share as an appetizer. And we happily polished it off. But we didn't care for the bread. A little too tough for my tastes.
For lunch I ordered the Blackened Catfish ($14.00). I loved this! It was a nice fillet of catfish, blackened of course, over pepperjack cheese grits. Now I'm from the South, but I never had grits like these. And I really liked them. The grits and cheese were mixed and formed into a patty. The filet was laid across the grits and the whole thing was covered with a smoked tomato compote. The meal was better than I expected and I ate it all. Actually the catfish was my second choice until I found out the current market price for the lobster in the Seared South African Lobster Tail dinner was $42.00. The catfish looked pretty good then!
My friend ordered the Smoked Sliced Salmon Sandwich ($14.00). It came on pumpernickel bread with horseradish mayonnaise. And a chilled penne pasta salad. They enjoyed the sandwich. But only was able to finish half of it. The pasta salad was also good. But I think the pasta could have used another minute or two of cooking.
After another round of drinks we decided we were too full for dessert and left the restaurant, but only after I let management know about the good service. Overall the experience was a good one. The prices do seem a bit extravagant, but the atmosphere is definitely there to be had with the whole under the sea vibe you get. There were also menu items for the non seafood eaters. Grilled beef tenderloin, beef bourguignonne lasagne and oven roasted chicken.
Would I recommend this restaurant? Yes if you really enjoy The Living Seas. But even though the food was good, it isn't so good you couldn't get it elsewhere, cheaper.
