REVIEW: Should You SKIP This Controversial Disney World Restaurant?

If you’re heading to Disney World soon and aren’t quite sure where to eat, don’t worry, we’re here to help!

We’ve eaten at every single restaurant in Disney World, and we continue to check back at restaurants, because there are so many different menu items that get added throughout the year. We’re heading back to Coral Reef Restaurant, one of the most controversial dining spots in EPCOT, to see if it’s still hit or miss. Should you stop here on your next visit? Let’s see!

Background

Coral Reef Restaurant is located in the World Nature section of EPCOT, and is one of the most interesting dining options in all of Disney World. It’s not every day that you get to dine while looking into the windows of a giant aquarium!

This spot is honestly a little tucked away, and it’s hard to find sometimes if you don’t know where to look. If you’re looking at The Seas with Nemo and Friends, it’ll be off to your right!

Atmosphere

When you step into this restaurant, you really will feel like you’ve stepped under the sea. The light fixtures look like jellyfish, the walls look like sand, and the floors will remind you of the ocean floor.

When you get to your table, you’ll find some giant windows that allow you to see into the large aquarium tank. Sometimes, you can even see divers as well, which is always lots of fun. It’s like dinner and a show, especially since you never know what animals may swim past your viewing window.

Now, we will say that during the later times of day, sometimes this restaurant can seem a little dark, so keep that in mind if you sometimes have trouble seeing in lower lighting.

But enough about that, what are we eating?!

Food & Drinks

To start, we tried the Pineapple-Coconut Bread and Plantain Chips, which were brought to every table. The chips had a wonderful glossy cilantro oil that paired so well with all three of the dips: guacamole, refried bean dip, and pico de gallo. The bread itself was incredibly soft, and while most of the coconut flavor mostly comes from the butter, we weren’t complaining. We couldn’t taste the pineapple at all, but we were still pretty happy with this starter.

We also tried the Shrimp Fettuccini for $38, which is made with Garlic, Chardonnay-Cream Sauce, Lemon, and Parsley. While the shrimp here was cooked well, and we enjoyed that we could taste that it was grilled, that was basically the only flavor there was. The Alfredo pasta didn’t have that Parmesan flavor you normally associate with it. It was a decent meal, but we do feel it’s pretty expensive for the portion size.

We also grabbed the Grilled Snapper for $35, which is served with Coconut-Lime Rice, Mango Salsa, Avocado, Toasted Coconut, and Chili-Lime Seasoning. Unfortunately, the fish and rice didn’t have a lot of flavor at all, other than the char from the grill. While the Mango Salsa and Avocado were strong in flavor, the cilantro was extremely strong, in our opinion. The mango does pair decently well with it, but you’ve really got to like cilantro to be a fan of this dish.

For dessert, we tried the Chocolate Mousse Bar for $11, which is made with Chocolate Ganache, Almonds, and Orange Coral. This was very rich dark chocolate, and while the mousse inside the chocolate shell was incredibly smooth, and we liked the freshness of the whipped cream, the orange coral basically tasted like wheat.

If you’re a fan of dark chocolate and like rich desserts, this could be a solid pick, but we do recommend forgoing eating the coral.

Magic or Tragic?

This Disney World restaurant is a must-visit if…

• You want a really unique dining experience. Coral Reef Restaurant is one of the most interesting dining experiences available in Walt Disney World, and kids and adults alike will love dining amongst the fish.
• You want a quiet, relaxed meal. Like any other, this restaurant can get loud, but something about the aquarium setting makes Coral Reef feel quieter and more relaxed. If you want some calm in your day, this is a good choice.
• You want a menu with lots of seafood. The menu here is primarily seafood-oriented, featuring options based on the season, so if that’s a big hit for you, it’s a good spot to consider.

You should skip this Disney World spot if…

• You’re looking for a lively, festive dining experience. Coral Reef isn’t a character meal, so while the aquarium is certainly entertaining, it’s more of a chill vibe in here.
• People in your party aren’t a fan of seafood. While there are non-seafood options on the menu here, it’s primarily seafood-focused, so if you’re averse to that, consider dining somewhere else.
• You’re looking for a quick meal. Coral Reef is a relaxed atmosphere, and while meals here don’t take up as much time as some others (like character meals), it can still take a big chunk out of your day to stop and eat here. If you want something faster, we recommend checking out quick-service dining options in the park, like Connections Eatery.

This may not be everyone’s favorite spot, and we do feel like a lot of the offerings are a little too expensive for the quality and/or size, but if you know you, or someone in your party, loves the ocean, or wants to feel like you’re dining underwater, this is a really neat choice.

In the meantime, we’ll be on the lookout for more restaurant updates from Disney World and beyond. Make sure you stay tuned to AllEars for the latest Disney news and more!

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Have you eaten at this Disney World restaurant before? Tell us in the comments.

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