Day 3: Lunch Under the Sea at Coral Reef
After breakfast, we planned to ride TT, Soarin', and SSE as many times as we could, but the Disney Gods had other plans for us. The park was PACKED. By the time DM and DGM got us our FP for Soarin' (while we waited in the modest 40 minute line for TT), they were for late afternoon. This was RIGHT after breakfast. We got on Soarin' once before lunch when the standby line was around 50 minutes. Even SSE had a regular wait time of 20 minutes (but I blame this to the people who stop and take multiple pictures of themselves in line or talk on their cellphones and don't realize the line is moving).
So, 3.5 hours after breakfast ended, all we had accomplished was one ride on TT, one ride on Soarin', two rides on LWTL (which, oddly enough, had frequent 50-minute waits when the crowds weren't bad when we went in May yet had frequent 5-minute waits when the crowds were insane on this trip), and two rides on SSE. It was hot and we spent most of the morning in lines, so we were all a bit cranky. But it was lunch time and it was nothing a good lunch couldn't fix.
DSis decided we would eat at Coral Reef because she saw it on Full House (two months later she decided she didn't want to eat there because she watched Free Willy and now had a fear of the aquarium exploding...too bad for her!). It was pretty full for lunch and we heard one walk-up try to make a reservation there to be told they were booked solid for lunch for four days and booked solid for dinner for four MONTHS!
We quickly checked in for our 1:00 ADR and were given a beeper. We had a modest 15 minute wait before we were seated on the "second level" of the restaurant (the first level...the seats right by the aquarium...are not handicap accessible...which was fine, as we had a fine view from our table).
Our server, Joe, came over and was absolutely wonderful in telling us what was included in our plan (all non-alcoholic drinks are included at CF, including virgin mocktails and frozen drinks, but this changes at every restaurant in Epcot. For example, at CdF, you can only order soft drinks, so check with your server!) and how we could modify the menu any way we wanted to (he must have sensed my aversion to anything that comes from underwater).
DSis, of course, ordered a diet coke (DM kicked it up a notch and ordered an iced tea instead). DGM and I took advantage of what the plan offered us and both got virgin strawberry daiquiri's. They were light and refreshing and the perfect refresher for such a hot, crowded day. He also brought us some water with our smoothies (something that earned him brownie points since I usually have to ask!).
Out with our drinks came some loaves of hot, crusty sourdough bread and some olive oil with balsamic vinegar to dip the bread in. SO good. Nothing more comforting than hot, doughy bread with some good EVOO and a light balsamic.
DSis and DGM both started with the Mixed Greens Salad (with the Key Lime Herb Vinaigrette, but you can get blue cheese dressing if you like). They both loved it. DSis thought this was one of the best salad dressings she's ever had. It was tangy and light and matched perfectly with the field greens.
DM and I both took Joe's suggestion for modifying what we wanted to. Between us, we had the Land and Sea appetizer, except I hate seafood so I had "Land and Land" (barbecued beef skewer with creamy polenta) and she doesn't like meat all that much so she had "Sea and Sea" (grilled shrimp with cucumber salad). DM didn't care for hers (she said the shrimp were warm and it didn't work for her), but I loved mine! The beef was soft and tender and the bbq sauce was tangy and not too sweet. The polenta was very creamy and worked well off the beef, but the portion of the "Land and Land" really could have been a meal. I only finished one full skewer and some of the polenta.
For our main courses, DSis and DGM both got the Grilled Chicken Breast (served with roasted parsnips tossed in mizuna and almond-parsley pesto finished with toasted almonds). They both liked it. DSis didn't know what parsnips were but seemed to like it. She said the chicken was very moist and not over cooked.
DM ordered the Caesar Salad with Shrimp. She didn't care for the shrimp, again (she also got sick that night and thought it might have been from the shrimp, but we ate so much at so many places she couldn't say if it was the shrimp that made her feel icky).
I ordered the Grilled NY Strip Steak (served with potatoes au gratin and broccolini). The steak was cooked as I ordered it (medium-well), but again, I found the steak a bit tough and it had quite a bit of gristle. I'm starting to wonder, with the
DDP, if Disney is buying lower-quality steaks. I love broccolini and the potatoes were pretty good, too.
Even though we were all pretty stuffed from our lunch, we knew we HAD to try dessert here. I've seen too many pictures of scrumptious desserts to let an almost-full stomach get in my way
DGM had the Key Lime Tart (served with a mango sauce) and she seriously threw that thing down in record time! She loved it. It also inspired DSis to stop at Sunshine Seasons later that day to get a Key Lime tart because she couldn't stop thinking about the one DGM had at lunch!
Despite trying to convince each other to all try different things so we could try everything, DSis, DM and I all ordered the Chocolate Wave (served with brandied cherries) and it did not disappoint! It was warm and gooey and VERY chocolate-y. The brandied cherries were very strong but a perfect compliment to the heavy chocolate.
All in all, we enjoyed our meal here (except for DM, she only really liked her dessert). Not a seafood eater? No worries. There's plenty of non-seafood options to choose from. But even if you're full, don't skip dessert: it's the best part of the meal.
Up next: Viva (Tutto) Italia!
We haven't been to Ohana's in years, but were thinking of going in December. Hopefully (for me 
) you were just there on a bad night 
i'm still looking forward to it, especialy after your great pics!! I'm elated to hear that the bread pudding ha coconut!1 I love coconut anything!! Looking forward to your akeshurs breakfast report. We are doing it for our first time in a couple weeks!!
She looks at me the same way she always has (no one adores me the way she always has...I'm her oldest grandchild) so I take comfort in that.
We leave in 6 days. 
