Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Coral Reef

[cariann77]

I just finished making our ADR. I wanted to see what everyone on here thought of Coral Reef. I was checking out some reviews and there are quite a few not so great ones.

Should I keep this one or try something else?

 

[DONTMINDME]

We walked out on our reservation, we went in Dec 09 and were really looking forward to the experience and were totally disgusted. We were seated in the middle of the lower floor isle in the walk way and the noise was so bad the cm couldn't here us when we asked to move, then the smell was so overwhelming it was horrible, smelled like and old dirty fish market and my husband is a seafood guy and he said it was too much for him. We couldn't even wait to order, both of us were out of there we ended up in the Land for cs and were sooo much happier.

 

[megan4777]

We're going again in August, for lunch. It's definitely a must try restaurant...
We've never had bad service, food, etc there and it's a great atmosphere.

Have fun!!

 

[Queenofallthings]

One of our absolute favorites!! We make an ADR every single trip...have only had one bad server once...but the food has always been delish!

 

[catne]

ate there last Wednesday(Feb 2011) and all 3 of us had wonderful meals (apps, entrees, desserts were all great) Had table next to aquarium and was great entertainment watching the fish. Love the rays & sharks! We had no issues with kids crowding our table to see fish, etc. Course there were not huge numbers of kids in there this time of year, but there were families with kids. Some came down to the lower tier to get a better view, but they did not come up to the glass or get inbetween the tables like has happened to some. Service was excellent, too. Did not notice any kind of smell other than the usual cooked food you would smell in any restaurant.

 

[Wolfpacklegion]

We ate at Coral last December for dinner and had an awesome meal, and great server. It was one of the best meals that we had all week.

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

We have gone every trip (2002, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010) and it has been outstanding every single time. The grilled mahi mahi with jasmine rice cannot be beat! It is wonderful

 

[psindone]

We were there in January after many years of staying away due to bad reviews. Have to say we had a very nice lunch here. Apps and main course were very good. I do feel that years ago it was a nicer place. It seemed that it was one of the more upscale restaurants in Epcot. Once Nemo got there it became more kid friendly and seemed to go down a few steps in quality.
I would say give it a try as to my surprise I did enjoy it.

 

[ShhhQ]

This Sept. will be our 4th trip to Disney in 5 years. We went to Coral Reef our 1st visit and found it amazing, we were right by the tank and had a tough time keeping my mind on the food with all that was going on in the tank. However, it was the best meal that we had the whole trip! The next year, we planned on trying all new restaurants, but some friends were joining us that it was their 1st trip. I had raved to them on how we loved Coral Reef and the aquarium, they wanted to eat there. So trip 2 again we ate at Coral Reef, it was very good, maybe didn't live up to the hype I had built in my own head, but still really good. Trip 3 we held to the try new restaurants rule and had no repeats.... I wanted to try Le Cellier and since we only had 1 day at Epcot that was our choice. For trip 4, DM said that she wanted to go to that one restaurant that we loved so much... I had to get a clarification as to what one she meant.... she said you know the one with the fish tank. So when we make our ADRs next month, Coral Reef will be at the top of the list. It is the only restaurant (not including CS) we have been to twice, and this will make 3 times (and 2 for Yak & Yeti).

 

[Tinker12]

It's a must for every trip. Great atmosphere, but it is a little noisy. At this point, with so many visits, I'm hoping to get seated in the middle of the restaurant instead of by the tank. It seems like every time we are by the tank, it's hard to enjoy your meal when people are coming right up to the table to look at the fish. I like some space. But all in all, a great place! Great food!

 

[cariann77]

Thanks, I'll keep our reservations. I'm glad to finally hear some positive things. It so hard to judge from reviews, but this one had more than the norm of negative ones. However, I do find that most people review places to complain more than they do to rave.

 

[irishfanx4]

We think it is a must!! It was a great all around dining experience for us!! The vew of the fish swimming by, the food, the service---it was all terrific!! We will be going back shortly! Yahooo!!! A definate thumbs up !!

 

[mikkiwikki]

Kids wanted the 'fishtank experience'
We tried it...and had a bad experience...sorry to report.
Had to talk to the manager about being overbilled, and they sent out rotten, rock hard carrots for my kid as a "side".
To the managers credit, he fixed the billing issue.

I actually have pictures somewhere of the rotten carrots tho. I just couldnt believe they didnt check the food before sending it out. maybe it being a dark restaurant facilitates that, but ever since that event, hubbie wont do 'dark' restaurants anymore.

Oh also I post lots of positive reviews...see TR in my siggie.

I know I should give them a second chance, because any spot might have a bad day....given the number of people they serve, however I haven't made a ressie for my next trip. Just cant bring myself yet to try it again. Hope your experience is better

 

[River Country]

Going back to WDW for the 14th time and this will be the first time i do not eat at the Coral Reef. I was there last in Dec '09 and we had a 7:00 ressie and so did 100 other people. Actually had to wait outside of the restaurant. Not easy with a starving kid, but things happen. The food was not great and i am not a bad reviewer, but I have to tell it like it is. This used to be a staple on all my trips, just like Alfredo's in World Showcase was, and we all saw what happened there. You may have a different experience, good luck, the view is absolutely amazing if you are lucky enough to sit by the glass.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

 

[Jazzabelle508]

Thumbs up

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

We ate there last year, party of 10 including 4 kids. I am not much of a fish person at all so I had the steak and it was great! It was up there with Le Celliers . The Chocolate wave dessert was to die for. I love chocolate and raspberries so I was sold on that.
Everyone else got fish though and everyone really enjoyed it. Fiance got salmon and his only complaint was he wished that the portion would have been bigger because he really enjoyed it. I don't remember what my dad got but he also got an appetizer and he said everything was great (and he's in and out of restaurants all day everyday for his job, so he is a bit of a critic lol)
I'd do it again for sure.

 

[chinarider]

I was debating on this one as well. My daugher is 16 and not a fish person but, says it looks cool and wants to go. Keeping our resie for lunch end of May

 

[phinz]

I've been three times. 1991, 2002 and 2003. Unless they've made *massive* improvements, I'll not be going back.

Our first experience was amazing. They had a lot more soft surfaces in the restaurant at the time, so the noise was a lot less. Our food was incredible and the atmosphere was great.

Our second time was not so magical. It was loud, there were kids running everywhere and the food was just barely palatable.

The last time we went the food was worse than Long John Silvers, the aquarium was disgustingly dirty and the kids were so poorly behaved that I fully expected to see some of them swinging from the chandeliers. I've had better experiences at Chuck E. Cheese.

 

[Heather H]

We 've eaten there twice - Dec. 08 and Dec 2010.
The first time was a hit.It was our first night at Disney. We sat by the tank and the kids loved it. The food was pretty good and we were off to a flying start with the DDP.
The second and last time was terrible. We were sitting on the highest tier and could barely see the tank. The service was terrible (our order was wrong) and the food just wasn't good.
There are so many places to eat at Epcot that I'd like to try something different next time - maybe Bier Garden or Rose & Crown.
Coral Reef is inconsistent.