Reviews of Coral Reef – Lunch/Dinner
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Menus at Coral Reef Restaurant
Reviewed by Motherhen Review Date: 12/12/2013
Rating: (6) Not Recommended
We ate here 12/2. Our server was the worst we've ever had at WDW. She spilled lemonade into our butter and never replaced either of them. She only returned once our meals were finished. The aquarium and atmosphere were lovely as always, but we will not be back.
Pros:
AmbienceCons:
Server was awfulReviewed by annat856 Review Date: 11/13/2013
Rating: (8) Recommended
My party of 6 ate here in late September. DS 9 had the fried shrimp and he loved it! I wanted seafood and got the crab cakes as an entree. I only got 2! They were good but not enough really to be an entree. Everybody else had the New York Strip and loved it! Got the wave for dessert, yum!
Pros:
Pretty decor,good food and serviceCons:
no longer have lobster ravioliReviewed by NJDzneMom Review Date: 11/11/2013
Rating: (4) Not Recommended
Dined here the week of Nov 4th. We've eaten here in the past and even though I'm not a seafood fan (DH and DS are)I remembered a very good filet from a prior visit. I ordered the sirloin steak and had to send it back twice because it was not cooked properly; DS indicated lobster in mac and cheese was tough. The manager apologized and comped appetizers to try to make up for it, so while the service was good, the food quality is lacking. I will not be returning to this restaurant on future trips.
Pros:
View of AquariumCons:
Food QualityReviewed by DisneyJunkie Review Date: 10/31/2013
Rating: (10) Recommended
Coral Reef is one of our must-do restaurants on each trip to WDW. We love the food, and love the view of the Seas' aquarium and it's beautiful sea life. The wait service can be hit or miss, but the meals and desserts are just great.
Pros:
Great theming. Terrific food. Good service.Cons:
Need to offer normal iced tea. Pomegranate one is nasty.Reviewed by allec999 Review Date: 10/04/2013
Rating: (9) Recommended
Finally tried this place after reading many mixed reviews. Our experience was excellent. Food was very good, and atmosphere was worth the high prices.
Pros:
Food, atmosphereCons:
PricesReviewed by StacyLovesDisney Review Date: 10/01/2013
Rating: (6) Not Recommended
I checked in 15 minutes prior to my 11:30 AM reservation time. I requested a bottom floor seat so the kids could see the fish well. I was told it depended on availability. I was the first one to enter the restaurant and no one was in front of me at the time. (We did get a floor seat, but I found it odd that hostess went through the "availability" speech.) The host walked around guessing who he was supposed to call. It seems to me it would be better to just call out someone's last name instead. We were seated (party of 5) and the chef came to talk to me about my son's allergies. This was difficult because the reason why I chose Coral Reef is so he could have the meaty macaroni w/o cheese. Unfortunately they took it off of the menu 3 days prior to our arrival. I ordered the Mahi Mahi with Laughing Bird Shrimp. (I have ordered the same dish in two years ago and it was fabulous) This time, the mahi was a bit soggy. The sauce was extremely sweet and had the fishy taste in it. My daughter loved the fried shrimp and fries. I ordered the chocolate wave for dessert and it did not disappoint. YUM! Our waitress, though nice, was extremely slow. It took an hour and a half to eat here and we missed a fast pass appt. I am glad we were on the dining plan. This would not have been worth the cash. I would have preferred to have eaten at Sunshine Seasons.
Pros:
lovely sea life to watchCons:
mediocre food, slow!Reviewed by Hamill04 Review Date: 09/24/2013
Rating: (6) Not Recommended
First off I have to say that the way they call you for your table has to change! You give them your full name when you check in but when they "call" you for your table they actually walk around the waiting area trying to telepathically figure out who you are. They look around and then stand right in front of a party and state(what they think) is your first name and size of your party. It was weird-they were right about 80% of the time but why not just call out the name?! Of course, we were the 20% they got wrong- we had waited about 20 minutes(with ADRs) when the table guide walked right in front of a woman who had been waiting for about 5 minutes and stated 'Jessica-party of 4". Maybe her name was really Jessica(like me)but she obviously had more people in her party and they took her anyway! My husband looks at me and says "I think they meant us" so he went back up to the desk and explained and the manager looked at the computer and then says "you'll be next". Maybe they should use the LAST name. So we finally sit down and as cool as the tank is it is actually pretty small and the partitions between the stadium seating are high waves so if your children are small the will have to be on the knees on their chairs to see it. Our waitress was very nice, service is very slow and the food is OK- I had lobster mac which was the same macaroni they gave my daughter except with lobster in it- the lobster was good but the macaroni was very bland and liquid-y. My husband said the steak is good. I cant remember what we ordered my son but he only really ate bread and dessert all week anyway. The best thing about the meal was the lobster soup that came with our appetizer-it was amazing. The shrimp and crabcakes tasted like Red Lobster. Dessert was very good-the Jack Daniels mousse and the Wave are some of the best desserts in the world. We had free dining so we only had to pay for the appetizer and gratuity but I would have been pretty upset if I had to pay the full bill of $120.
Pros:
Fish tankCons:
Blah....Reviewed by disneymom77 Review Date: 08/21/2013
Rating: (1) Not Recommended
I ordered my steak medium rare. It was delivered well done. The waitress took it back & the second one came the same way. Everyone else was finished with their meal so I didn't want to wait for a third one. It was taken off my bill & I was given a free dessert. My vegetarian daughter didn't want the only dish offered as it was spicy. The chef came out 7 was totally unconcerned. She did not eat. Horrible! Have never had this food or treatment at a Disney restaurant. Will never go back!
Pros:
Aquarium is niceCons:
Food not prepared wellReviewed by Ebersole2 Review Date: 08/11/2013
Rating: (2) Not Recommended
Disappointment and Disney rarely go in the same sentence, but when it comes to the Coral Reef, I must put the two together. My family had visited this restaurant for years when it used to be the Living Seas. I remember butter in the shape of Mickey, walking around and viewing the tanks, and my parents grinning over how delicious the food was. I knew the restaurant had undergone a name change and potentially new management, and I read the mediocre reviews online, but my husband and I are seafood lovers, and a seafood restaurant just sounds fresh and inviting after a long day in the Animal Kingdom. We were very disappointed. At this point, we were used to be seating in nice places –near windows, in plush booths, etc… because we were honeymooning. We were spoiled with free desserts or at least greetings of congratulations. We were seating very far back not close to the tanks, in a seemingly empty restaurant. The menu was lack luster and spare – one sided. The seafood was just ok. All the whimsical elements I remember from childhood were gone. The restaurant felt dated and neglected. We will not be going back.
Pros:
not many, disappointingCons:
poor menu selection, weak serviceReviewed by Fitzboyzmom Review Date: 07/28/2013
Rating: (10) Recommended
I have been here before and wasn't too crazy about it. We ended up here when other locations were full one day and they let us in without a reservation. The inside is just great, and this time the food matched the décor. Everything was delicious. Two of us had chicken Caesar salad and it was one of the best we've had. I am glad, because I really do like going here...it is very relaxing watching the fish and the lighting is subdued. A nice alternative to some of the more noisy/crowded places around.
