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Coral Reef...

ImagineerDude

ImagineerDude

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
...not much is said about it around here. Is it good? Table Service credits are hard for us because of the families we are going with. Kids range from ages 1 1/2-14 plus 3 sets of parents and the grandparents. Would coral reef be interesting to the kids compared to ANY other table dining service restaurant? We are already doing Be Our Guest which would be the only deluxe type of dining because Rainforest Cafe, Chef Mickey's, and Cinderella's Royal Table (mistake?) are in our schedule. Thoughts? Thanks :D
 
WDWNooby

WDWNooby

Well-Known Member
We were fortunate to have a table next to the aquarium on our previous trip. My granddaughter loved it. She was 8 at the time. She thought it was cool people were swimming around and waving at us. She was very enthralled by all of the fish species as well. My son, then at 14, really enjoyed it as well. I thought the atmosphere was great.

I cannot speak to Via Napoli.
 
Blueskyze

Blueskyze

Well-Known Member
The kids would definitely think it was cool to watch the fish (and sometimes divers) while they were eating, but as for the food and service - not that great. We were seated one table away from the tank, and it was a very busy area. It was a cool atmosphere, but I probably wouldn't go back. Via Napoli is my favorite restaurant in Epcot - it's a must-do on every trip for me! I love the atmosphere there - the big ovens, and just the whole look and feel of the place, but I wouldn't consider it entertaining for kids. They have crayons and activity/coloring sheets, which kept my son occupied until our food came. Let us know what you decide!
 
Weather_Lady

Weather_Lady

Well-Known Member
We're planning on Coral Reef with our 4 and 6-year-old in a few days. I think they're going to love it! The food is okay -- not great, not terrible -- but the atmosphere is really special. We're doing the Nemo attraction and Turtle Talk with Crush just beforehand, to sort of set the mood. They love anything to do with sea life, and the way the restaurant is tiered, you'll have a decent view of the tank no matter where you are seated.
 
popcenturylover

popcenturylover

Well-Known Member
We just got back Sunday night.:( We ate at both the Coral Reef & Via Napoli. The food at Coral Reef was great & my daughter loved watching the fish swim around! Via Napoli the food was so/so & there honestly wasn't much of an atmosphere. They just have those giant ovens, nothing to keep a child's attention!
 
Mukta

Mukta

Well-Known Member
Coral Reef has a great atmosphere. The food is really just so-so for me, but I eat there often because of the atmosphere. I prefer sitting next to the tank.
 
W

wiigirl

Well-Known Member
Dad 2 M & M said:
And...you would need to be near the tanks to get the full effect of Coral Reef, especially with young ones
Click to expand...

My kids love Coral Reef....food is not the Best of the Best, but its good. :)
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chipndale76

chipndale76

Active Member
ImagineerDude said:
...not much is said about it around here. Is it good? Table Service credits are hard for us because of the families we are going with. Kids range from ages 1 1/2-14 plus 3 sets of parents and the grandparents. Would coral reef be interesting to the kids compared to ANY other table dining service restaurant? We are already doing Be Our Guest which would be the only deluxe type of dining because Rainforest Cafe, Chef Mickey's, and Cinderella's Royal Table (mistake?) are in our schedule. Thoughts? Thanks :D
Click to expand...
Do you know what day the Be Our Guest opens?
 
The Incredible Schmulk

The Incredible Schmulk

Well-Known Member
I can't speak for the current state of the restaurant, because we haven't visited in a few years now, but in the several times that we have dined at Coral Reef, we've never had a bad meal. On a couple of occasions, we've actually had great food there. The current trout dish is very good, and the catfish that used be on the menu was some kind of Southern soul food-inspired fantastic. Since there are only the two of us, we tend to get seated in the two top tables on the floor right next to the glass. That might add a little bit of a rosy tint to our experiences there, but I really do like all of the food I've ever eaten in the joint.

Truthfully, I actually like the food more than the atmosphere. The tank is great and all, but the noise-level and proximity to other diners is a little off-putting, and when you're close enough to other guests to hear every single thing that they say, even in hushed tones, there is zero intimacy. With kids, though, I doubt these concerns are as important.
 
sxeensweet

sxeensweet

Love a little Disney every day!! ;)
As me and DH enjoyed the atmosphere (requested to sit next to the tank but did not get to :( ) the food was not all that great so we have never gone back. There and Tony's are the 2 places we will never go back to. Tony's is or numerous reasons (including but not limited to waiting almost 2 hours to be seated even with a reservation).but Coral Reef was solely because of the food. Wanted to love Coral Reef but it sadly fell short.
 
donaldtoo

donaldtoo

Well-Known Member
We've been to Coral Reef twice, and it was worth it for us both times. The atmousephere ;) is great and the food was AWESOME the first time we went in '07. We celebrated oldest DD's sweet 16 b-day there. I had a plate of shrimp fettucini with a sun-dried tomato cream sauce that was out of this world! This last trip this past July, I was not so impressed with the mahi mahi. It was dry and not flavorful at all really. Looked for that shrimp dish again and asked, but to no avail. I should have pushed them harder...exceptional Guest service, and all...! :D
 
Dad 2 M & M

Dad 2 M & M

Well-Known Member
We thought the food at the Reef was good, and the desserts were great. If you are lucky enough to grab a table by the tank, keep mind it will be crowded with others walking up/standing there to get a better view. I am not saying people are continuously standing there, just that a fairly steady amount are walking by and stopping for a few minutes at a time (adults, not just children).
 
Sweet Melissa

Sweet Melissa

Well-Known Member
Dad 2 M & M said:
We thought the food at the Reef was good, and the desserts were great. If you are lucky enough to grab a table by the tank, keep mind it will be crowded with others walking up/standing there to get a better view. I am not saying people are continuously standing there, just that a fairly steady amount are walking by and stopping for a few minutes at a time (adults, not just children).
Click to expand...

People always say this, but I've never experienced it. It must be because my fiancé is a surly looking dude that tends to scare children. Your face must not be mean enough!
 

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