Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Coral Reef

[NOLAdisneymom]

Coral Reef was our very favorite meal of our Nov 2010 trip. Two of us had steaks, AWESOME, I had the roasted pork with veggies, TO DIE FOR, and one had Chicken Ceasar Salad, which while good, was just a salad.

At any rate, we ate lunch there, first availiable time, 1115am. It was pretty quiet, but by the time we left, the noise level was amping up. We had a seat in the middle of the resturant, 2nd level. Perfect. Give it a try, I doubt you'll be sorry.

Make sure you get the sourdough rolls before your meal. Warm, crunchy, lots of butter... Oh boy. I can't wait to go back this December!

 

[iX.]

Thumb up here, way up. It was probably our best experience. Love the sea turtle that stares at people eating. Food was superb, everyone ordered something different and all of it was excellent. It will be an automatic on every return trip.

Middle tier is probably best... nobody leaning over you taking pictures but you can see well.

 

[ChefMickey123]

I didn't care for it, and my fiancee really did not like it. But, after my anger has subsided, I'd give them a second chance.

 

[zuly]

One of our favorites only good experiences here! In fact we will be going again with extended family that is going to be with us on Epcot day in May and we selected Coral Reef because it has something for everyone , fish meat atmosphere. WS restaurants are more specific ...(sp. italian, sushi, mexican etc) and with a large group there is always someone that does not like something or prefer something else ...that being said I give CR

 

[HMin]

Had to laugh when I was reading onsite reviews of Coral Reef written by a Kevin Klouse, which is what had me coming to the forums. Here is a portion of my review I posted on another travel site I also frequent. Seems that the DisBoard reviewer and I thought along the same line about one thing, though with different dishes - whether we were actually eating a low-grade canned tuna.

I went here as I did another Disney restaurant just to try their fish tacos (or in Coral Reef's case, Fish Tostadas). The appetizer I received was plated very nicely on an oblong plate with 3 tostadas, and attractive to the eye (as a matter of fact, a much better presentation than that of DTD's Fultons Crab House where I also ordered fish tacos).

Having talked to someone at the restaurant prior to my visit, I was looking forward to trying a new varietly of fish I had never heard of - Triple Tail. The tostadas, though beautiful in appearance didn't allow me to even taste the fish, because the cilantro and lime included in the dish was WAY overpowering. For all I know, they could have served me a low-grade canned tuna - that is how much this dish was taken over by the other two ingredients. The tostadas themselves were to die for - I'm sure freshly fried by the taste.

I would definitely like to visit and try another meal at Coral Reef, something I would not do at Fultons. Also going to see if there is a way to contact the restaurant directly with feedback.

 

[rznhal]

Love CR!!!

 

[telephoneman66]

that is all....

 

[jennylyn_b]

Never again....although the service was excellent and the atmosphere was lovely, the food was barely edible let alone good. All four adults and we all thought the same thing. We had the sampler appetizers and they were cold and too salty. We each had a different entree. The salmon was so strong it wasnt palatable, the chicken was bland, the mahi mahimahi was tough and my dad had the fish of the day and it was overcooked and the sauce was burnt. We don't usually have a meal that we don't enjoy in its entirety but this was one we didn't like and won't do again. I will say however, my sister and her dh went a different night and enjoyed it so........
Good luck and I hope we just had a really really off night!

 

[ShhhQ]

Never again....although the service was excellent and the atmosphere was lovely, the food was barely edible let alone good. All four adults and we all thought the same thing. We had the sampler appetizers and they were cold and too salty. We each had a different entree. The salmon was so strong it wasnt palatable, the chicken was bland, the mahi mahimahi was tough and my dad had the fish of the day and it was overcooked and the sauce was burnt. We don't usually have a meal that we don't enjoy in its entirety but this was one we didn't like and won't do again. I will say however, my sister and her dh went a different night and enjoyed it so........
Good luck and I hope we just had a really really off night!

Sorry you had such a bad meal!!! I think you must have hit a pretty bad night, which I think can happen anywhere. Maybe they were short staffed in the kitchen or had a newbie that really messed up. We have been a few times and it one of our favorite places.

 

[Ro Z]

. We each had a different entree. The salmon was so strong it wasnt palatable, the chicken was bland, the mahi mahimahi was tough and my dad had the fish of the day and it was overcooked and the sauce was burnt. We don't usually have a meal that we don't enjoy in its entirety but this was one we didn't like and won't do again. I will say however, my sister and her dh went a different night and enjoyed it so........
Good luck and I hope we just had a really really off night![/QUOTe
DS and I love the chicken! We sub mashed potato for the spaetzle. We don't do a lot of TS unless DH is with us but we always do CR. Hope OP gave it a try!

 

[wvulion]

I've enjoyed the times I've eaten at the Coral Reef, but I think you have to take everything with a grain of salt...or in this case the entire tank of saltwater. I'm to the point where I read the reviews, gauge my own family, and throw caution to the winds...I know plenty of people who love the restaurant in the Mexico pavillion that my family hates. I also know plenty of people who love Le Cellier....and who hate Le Cellier. My advice is to take a look at the online menus, eat there, grab your Birnbaum's book and after you eat make some notes to refer to in the future (yes I still look at the 1988 guide sometimes), and if it doesn't work out, at least you can say you ate in a giant fishtank, right??

 

[jennylyn_b]

Sorry you had such a bad meal!!! I think you must have hit a pretty bad night, which I think can happen anywhere. Maybe they were short staffed in the kitchen or had a newbie that really messed up. We have been a few times and it one of our favorite places.

Yes, off nights do happen and I'm hoping thats what happened. Like I said my sister and her dh liked their meal and still rave about it. I just want to be honest and fair...I hope the op will let us know how it went

 

[tinkerpea]

When we went for the 1st time the meal was great the service was so so bad i had to talk to the manager about the guy who was serving us! he took half an hour to take our drink order never explained the menus to us and never re filled mine or my childrens drinks!!! I never thought i would go again BUT
The next yr i decided to give it another go, we waited for a tank table, it was out of this world!!!! I loved every minute of it and felt so specail as we got treated in an amazing way (not sure if it was beacuse of our Anniversary pins) but the yr before we actually got married at Disney so had just married pins on and got the awfuol treatment lol! they gave us some free dolphine glass clips,very cute! The cocktails are lush as is the food, the steak was fab Hubby had the Mahi Mahi and it was so yum! i had to have another bite when he nipped to the restroom and the choc wave was Amazing, as was the Creme brullee, we thought it so good we went bk again! and will do so again every yr!

 

[princssdisnygina]

Just went on Saturday and service was HORRIBLE and food was just ok. I will not be going back any time soon.

 

[squirrel]

When we went for the 1st time the meal was great the service was so so bad i had to talk to the manager about the guy who was serving us! he took half an hour to take our drink order never explained the menus to us and never re filled mine or my childrens drinks!!! I never thought i would go again BUT
The next yr i decided to give it another go, we waited for a tank table, it was out of this world!!!! I loved every minute of it and felt so specail as we got treated in an amazing way (not sure if it was beacuse of our Anniversary pins) but the yr before we actually got married at Disney so had just married pins on and got the awful treatment lol! they gave us some free dolphin glass clips,very cute! The cocktails are lush as is the food, the steak was fab Hubby had the Mahi Mahi and it was so yum! i had to have another bite when he nipped to the restroom and the choc wave was Amazing, as was the Creme brullee, we thought it so good we went bk again! and will do so again every yr!

We must have had the same server! I also couldn't get a refill. He also argued with me about what I ordered, mixed up two of the kid's orders. Wouldn't get the chef for my lactose intollerant niece. She ended up not getting dessert. Really bad experience after it started off so well. At that time they had the diver and the special menus which I had done for the kids. My neighbour's were really impressed for about 10 min or so.

I am actually thinking about going back this year. The food was good, the server was terrible.

 

[disneyloveNY]

thumbs down

 

[Millie12591]

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.

I think this is a great idea, it's something you should experience at least once. We went and the everyone loved it! We were right next to the tank and it was amazing. The food was great, the next trip we didn't go because my daughter was on the adult meal plan and didn't find anything on the menu she liked. We wanted to try some new places so it all worked out, but you bet your boots I'll be going back soon.

 

[Rekenna]

Hi! We've been to CR quite a few times, our last trip was in Nov '10, my kids actually went there twice that week. We all had wonderful meals and really enjoy this dining experience. We have always had good food and decent service. The boys really enjoy the tank. If you have never been you should try it at least once! Enjoy!

 

[jjsdad]

Thumbs up, we love this place. The servers do seem to be busy but we have never had bad service. We had a guy from the midwest (Bob might have been his name) and he was great. Busy but great. We eat here every trip and love it.

 

[Dragonfly_34]

We ate dinner there in '08 and while it wasn't spectacular, it wasn't awful either. We plan on eating dinner there again when we go back next month, but mainly because DS2 loves fish and turtles so we think he'll enjoy the aquarium.