Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Coral Reef

[prttynpnk]

We went on 2005 and my husband was disapointed- it didn't live up to his earlier visits. My only complaint was the seating was very close to other tables and staff was having to get very close to you with other peoples hot food when they passed. We are set to try again in November. I hear such good things generally.

 

[arubio0801]

I will say take everyones opinions with a grain of salt! Not everyone is going to love a place! I made a ressie for mine and now DH first trip but read soo many negative reviews I cancelled it! Well on our last trip we decided to give it a shot and we LOVED it everything we had there was very good we couldn't complain at all about that meal! I would say to look at the menu and decided if you and your family would enjoy any of the food there! Thats what I do now but I still look at others reviews too!

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I ate there Mother's Day weekend this year and really enjoyed my meal.

I had the lobster bisque for an appetizer and it had chunks of lobster in it, Yum.

Then the Mahi Mahi with coconut and lime sauce. That was delicious since the sauce didn't overpower the fish.

And the chocolate wave for dessert. Another hit with me.

Service was fast and efficient. I would definitely return.

 

[wvulion]

I will say take everyones opinions with a grain of salt! Not everyone is going to love a place! I made a ressie for mine and now DH first trip but read soo many negative reviews I cancelled it! Well on our last trip we decided to give it a shot and we LOVED it everything we had there was very good we couldn't complain at all about that meal! I would say to look at the menu and decided if you and your family would enjoy any of the food there! Thats what I do now but I still look at others reviews too!

See that's exactly my point---I have gone to/stayed away from some places based upon what I read, but have just decided to take the approach of trying anything once. If it doesn't work out it doesn't work out...and I know it's an expensive mistake to make, but sometimes when you go in with low expectations, as I did with the Garden Grill in January, you're surprised...but seriously, take notes--you're your own best historian!

 

[tinkerpea]

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.

Thats Awful your poor Neice! ....we honestly never thought we would go back, but what i did get to eat i thought was really good and i am pleased that i gave it another go,(only because of the decor) i love it! And the 2nd time we went was fab and its made me want to go back again,Its such a shame when you get such bad service at Disney Im sure it was because he knew that theri was over 6 in our party so he felt he would get his Tip either way! little did he realise i will NOT tip somebody who doesnt deserve it over 6 people or not(that also got an argument from managment saying I had to TIP him or he would put a note on my other ressies I told him go ahead ill just explain when i get to them the awful service i got!!), you should put just as much effort in as if there was only 2 of us! IMO.

 

[saturndb]

We went for the first time last year for lunch. It was great to see all the fish and my son loved that. The food was good, but we felt for the cost of the meal, it was not worth it. I think everyone should go one time to see it, if you want a different experience, but is not a must goto place in our opinion.
We did get lucky since we sat right up front in the first row.

 

[grace&philipsmom]

 

[FireDonald2]

I really like the Coral Reef. Two thumbs up from me. The Swordfish was GREAT!

 

[qanita92]

 

[squirrel]

Thats Awful your poor Neice! ....we honestly never thought we would go back, but what i did get to eat i thought was really good and i am pleased that i gave it another go,(only because of the decor) i love it! And the 2nd time we went was fab and its made me want to go back again,Its such a shame when you get such bad service at Disney Im sure it was because he knew that theri was over 6 in our party so he felt he would get his Tip either way! little did he realise i will NOT tip somebody who doesnt deserve it over 6 people or not(that also got an argument from managment saying I had to TIP him or he would put a note on my other ressies I told him go ahead ill just explain when i get to them the awful service i got!!), you should put just as much effort in as if there was only 2 of us! IMO.

We were a table of 6 also.

My neighbour talked to the manager and he brought out our desserts. The server then eventually came with my refill. I was then able to finish my steak and rice.

My neighbour also sent an e-mail to someone at Disney and told them about our meal. A few days later we returned to our room and my niece found a Chocolate Cake sitting on the bed. I of course started panicing as it's cake and she's lactose intollerant. She was so excited! My neighbour came over to our room to see what we got-they got a gift basket with crackers and other items. When I read the note, I found out the chef (the one my niece saw almost everyday for 2 weeks) at the resort made it special for her. I still have the card!

 

[moniqueelaine]

WOW!!!! Well after reading this whole thread I think we are going to try it, we have been quite a few times and I have changed ADRs because of bad reviews but on our next trip we are going no matter what....You only live once

 

[magicalcouple]

 

[LuvLuvLuv]

We have scheduled Coral Reef 4 times, and just made it there 2 weeks ago. We kept hearing spotty reviews and canceled. I'm so glad we tried it because our meals were very good. We can't wait to go back!!

 

[disneychic]

We ate there last fall after not eating there for a few years - & we won't be going back any time soon. Bad service, so/so food. With so many great places I won't waste my time or $$ here again - JMHO

 

[WantToGoNow]

We've eaten there 4 times and will be going back in October. We have never had a bad meal as far as the food goes - the last 2 trips have had rather slow service but one of those we were a party of 11 and had slow service the entire 9 days. I have never ordered anything other than the steak - I think it's better than the filet at LeCellier.

 

[marielynn724]

Thumps UP! Eaten there twice and love both the atmosphere and food both times. Of course, Epcot has so many great TS choices! I'd say give it a try and see for yourself.

 

[Wendy5055]

I think it would definately be worth a try.

We have gone for dinner and for lunch. I prefer doing Coral Reef for lunch. My dd9 enjoys the fish tank and the atmosphere is enjoyable.

We have had a standoffish waiter previously, but it was nothing major...just not super attentive...we have also had great service too! We just try not to let the less than great service (which can happen anywhere from time to time) ruin our meal.

While I do not make this restaurant a "Must Do" as we like to try a new one and the World Showcase has sooooo many, it is definately decent food and worth a try.

 

[Mom2micayla]

I'm on the fence on Coral Reef...

We were the first seating for lunch and got a table right next to the tanks which was very nice. The sea turtle hung out directly in front of us a lot of the meal.

Our server was one of the worst we had our entire trip (only one worse was at The Plaza). It wasn't that he wasn't attentive.. he was WAY too much so. He practically stood over our table the entire meal. It was very uncomfortable. We both wanted something light for lunch and got caesar salads (I got chicken on mine, DH shrimp). The salads would have been very good, if not for the fact the lettuce was practically swimming in the dressing.

If I went again, I'd hope for a different server and request the dressing on the side if I got the salad.

 

[mikkiwikki]

We ate there last fall after not eating there for a few years - & we won't be going back any time soon. Bad service, so/so food. With so many great places I won't waste my time or $$ here again - JMHO

agree!

 

[bytheblood]

We have done it twice. Honestly, I will not do it again unless somebody is offering a free meal.

1st time - 5:30 ADR
We arrived at 5:15 and were seated after 6:00. The service was terrible. The restaurant was very loud and our waiter was from another country; we could not understand a word he said.
15 minutes for us to see our waiter for the first time and him take our drink order.
Another 10 minutes to get those drinks and we had to flag him down to place an appetizer order. When he came for the appetizer order, he wanted to know what we wanted for our main course and dessert.
The appetizers came about 15 minutes after we ordered them, it was salad. About 2 minutes after we received our appetizer, our meal came out. Nobody really enjoyed their meal.
We ordered seafood pasta, steak, chicken a pizza that came with a complimentary hair in it. (about 4 inches long and thick black - hard to miss)
None of us really liked or finished the meal. Twenty minutes after he took our plates away dessert came. I gave him my card, he brought back the slip for us to sign and we never saw him again.


2nd time - 5:00 ADR
We were seated at 5:00. We ordered chicken and fish. The place was almost empty when we arrived. We were sat right next to the noisiest kids in all of EPCOT. The waiter was very slow. Our food was okay, just not wonderful. I am really not that picky, but it was just okay. The place is noisy and it is hard to hear in there. We were set at the highest level both times - maybe it is because of the way noise travels in there. Overall, this experience was better that the first one, it just was not the best.