Reviews of Coral Reef – Lunch/Dinner
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Menus at Coral Reef Restaurant
Reviewed by Anonymous Review Date: 08/26/2023
Rating: (1) Not Recommended
This has been the worst vacation and money waisted. To top off this experience, we ate at the Coral Reed restaurant at 6:35pm last night. My 5 yr old son was eating his jello dessert and spit out a shrimp tail that was mixed into the dessert. I’m thankful he didn’t choke on it nor was allergic to shellfish. I alerted the waiter and all he did was replace the dessert. This is our last experience with Disney. After spending every year for the last ten years at a Disney theme park at least twice a year, it’s definitely not the Disney it once was. This is shameful and puts others at risk. Disneys quality has reach an all time low for us!!!
Pros:
NoneCons:
Cross contaminationReviewed by Anonymous Review Date: 12/11/2022
Rating: (1) Not Recommended
The menu is very limited, the food is terrible, the employees act like they don't want to be there, the manager was condescending and rude.
Pros:
The appearance is good.Cons:
Menu is limited, food is terrible, service is rude.Reviewed by HowardVincentKurtz13 Review Date: 09/12/2020
Rating: (1) Not Recommended
On Thursday, September 10 we had reservations for lunch at the Coral Reef restaurant to celebrate my birthday while at WDW. I made reservations online and checked the box concerning dietary restrictions.
When we arrived at the restaurant I was given a menu for allergies, however, I don’t actually have an allergy, but a necessity for a low sodium diet. When the waiter arrived at the table I asked him for a low sodium menu, or if it would be possible for me to speak to the chef? He assured me he would take care of it and he suggested the rib eye steak with no seasoning. He later returned to the table with rolls and olive oil saying the butter would be too salty and that he was replacing the side dish of mashed potatoes with steamed broccoli.
The dinner arrived and my plate was piled high with broccoli and a grilled steak. The steak was filled with fat and gristle, and by the time I cut away the uneatable portions, I was left with less than half of the meat. I asked to speak with the manager. The manager arrived at the table and said, “is there a problem.” I showed him the remains of the fat and gristle and the half eaten plate of broccoli. He explained, “that is the way our meat is cut and marbled, it has a lot of fat on it.” He never apologized, nor did he attempt to correct the poor meal that I was served, and he just walked away. I assumed as a manager of the restaurant that he would try to make amends, but he did nothing and the waiter brought the check with no correction or apology.
We paid the bill, which amounted to over $90 for our meals, before the tip. I know the Coral Reef is an expensive restaurant, but the expense was definitely not worth the price and the ineffective Disney employees did not make the situation any better. Here are three things that I have learned after eating at the Coral Reef restaurant and want to share: 1) Never order steak at a sea food restaurant, 2) Never have a waiter order for you instead of allowing you to talk to the chief, and 3) Never eat at the Coral Reef at Disney or any other Disney owned restaurants where the manager displays little or no concern for his guests.
Pros:
There were no pros for this dining experienceCons:
1) Never order steak at a sea food restaurant, 2) Never have a waiter order for you instead of allowing you to talk to the chief, and 3) Never eat at the Coral Reef at Disney or any other Disney owned restaurants where the manager displays little or no concern for his guests.Reviewed by Anonymous Review Date: 09/12/2020
Rating: (1) Not Recommended
On Thursday, September 10 we had reservations for lunch at the Coral Reef restaurant to celebrate my birthday while at WDW. I made reservations online and checked the box concerning dietary restrictions.
When we arrived at the restaurant I was given a menu for allergies, however, I don’t actually have an allergy, but a necessity for a low sodium diet. When the waiter arrived at the table I asked him for a low sodium menu, or if it would be possible for me to speak to the chef? He assured me he would take care of it and he suggested the rib eye steak with no seasoning. He later returned to the table with rolls and olive oil saying the butter would be too salty and that he was replacing the side dish of mashed potatoes with steamed broccoli.
The dinner arrived and my plate was piled high with broccoli and a grilled steak. The steak was filled with fat and gristle, and by the time I cut away the uneatable portions, I was left with less than half of the meat. I asked to speak with the manager. The manager arrived at the table and said, “is there a problem.” I showed him the remains of the fat and gristle and the half eaten plate of broccoli. He explained, “that is the way our meat is cut and marbled, it has a lot of fat on it.” He never apologized, nor did he attempt to correct the poor meal that I was served, and he just walked away. I assumed as a manager of the restaurant that he would try to make amends, but he did nothing and the waiter brought the check with no correction or apology.
We paid the bill, which amounted to over $90 for our meals, before the tip. I know the Coral Reef is an expensive restaurant, but the expense was definitely not worth the price and the ineffective Disney employees did not make the situation any better. Here are three things that I have learned after eating at the Coral Reef restaurant and want to share: 1) Never order steak at a sea food restaurant, 2) Never have a waiter order for you instead of allowing you to talk to the chief, and 3) Never eat at the Coral Reef at Disney or any other Disney owned restaurants where the manager displays little or no concern for his guests.
Pros:
There are no Pros on this dining experienceCons:
1) Never order steak at a sea food restaurant, 2) Never have a waiter order for you instead of allowing you to talk to the chief, and 3) Never eat at the Coral Reef at Disney or any other Disney owned restaurants where the manager displays little or no concern for his guests.Reviewed by mastover Review Date: 06/14/2017
Rating: (1) Recommended
My son, daughter, wife and myself visited the Coral Reef in mid May 2017. We had reservations and were seated promptly. Three of us ordered the Mahi Mahi while my daughter ordered the salmon. My wife's came out barely cooked...basically raw. Mine and my son's were cooked but barely warm. My daughter didn't realize till having eaten half of it that part of hers was WAY undercooked as well. They did redo my wife's meal, and did give us two gold fast passes to make up for it, but still I expected better food. The desserts (chocolate wave and Baileys and Jack Daniels mousse) were very good though. I would not go back.
Pros:
Great view of the aquarium tankCons:
Raw, coldReviewed by sdlehman Review Date: 06/05/2014
Rating: (1) Not Recommended
Our family dined at the Coral Reef on the last night of our vacation, May 24. We had dined there in the past with mixed reviews and we wanted to try it again. The three adults ordered lobster pasta which according to the description was to have lobster, shrimp pasta and a white cheddar sauce. It sounded pretty good. When it arrived and we began to eat it we all looked at one another. The pasta was the shell kind and was very under done. There was very little lobster and the sauce was watery and bland. Knowing I was paying $30 per plate I pushed on and ate the shrimps and scrounged for any lobster I could find. When we were finished our waitress asked if we would like to see a dessert menu. I said "no but I have to tell you this was very disappointing." She said she would bring the manager who was very polite and asked what we were dissatisfied with. She immediately volunteered to remove the three dinners from our bill and only charge us for the diet Coke and apple juice we had ordered which came to about $5. I left $20 so the waitress would still get a tip since she played no part in preparing the food. I doubt we will be coming back to the Coral Reef anytime soon.
Pros:
AtmosphereCons:
FoodReviewed by aidenmama Review Date: 04/30/2014
Rating: (1) Not Recommended
Today my family ate at Coral Reef (DH, DS (5) and myself) - it was AWFUL!!!!! The aquarium is really the only positive. The service was mediocre -- the lady who seated us told us to order immediately otherwise it would take 30 minutes to get our food - then our waitress said she knew we were in a hurry (we NEVER said anything about being in a hurry - were actually NOT in a hurry AT ALL). But we ordered immediately (like she suggested) and we did get our food quickly. I ordered the lobster/shrimp pasta -- OMG it was terrible -- there was ONE bite of lobster (and it was not a big bite) and then about 6 shrimp and lots of soupy sauce with shell macaroni. I had to put lots of salt and pepper on it to even make it edible. My DH ordered the steak - not a good idea! It was obviously cooked at least a couple of hours ahead of time and reheated (probably in a microwave) -- he ordered it medium -- he added lots of salt and pepper as well. My DS's choice of mac and cheese was somewhat of ok - he ate most of it - but he'll eat anything if he's hungry (he is not your typical 5 yo). The bread that was brought to the table was TERRIBLE - it was the driest plainest no taste bread I've EVER had - and I'm a bread nut! Lastly - the dessert - we got the signature wave (lava) cake - simply put DO NOT make this mistake. And it was the best part of the meal. Do not waste a table service credit on this meal like we did and absolutely DO NOT pay cash to eat here. Go to House of Blues or Fulton's Crab House -- those two meals were beyond FABULOUS. Halfway through our meal - my DH and I both looked at each other and asked "are we sure this is run by Disney?" - it was most certainly NOT up to Disney standards.
Pros:
aquariumCons:
everything elseReviewed 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 Tjdull Review Date: 07/26/2013
Rating: (1) Not Recommended
We ate here on 7-17-13 for dinner, our first DDP meal of our vacation.
Two of us had the Lobster Orecchiette Pasta which was just mac & cheese with a few chunks of lobster. Our two childern had kid's meals which were not as good as a Happy Meal from McDonalds.
The server never re-filled our glasses and was absent for most of the meal.
Pros:
AtmosphereCons:
Food, prices, serviceReviewed by peytonshea02 Review Date: 06/07/2013
Rating: (1) Not Recommended
I have always been an advocate of Coral Reef. Unfortunately this has quickly dropped to the bottom of our list.
We had a lunch here 2 weeks ago. Our server was very nice but painfully slow.
DH had the special of the day..described as fried shrimp tossed in a spicy Sriracha sauce. When it finally arrived it was a plate of plain fried shrimp - they forgot the sauce. I ordered the Lobster Orecchiette Pasta. It was a bowl of gluey mac n cheese with 3 small pieces of lobster. DD11 had the Grilled Mahi Mahi. It was so dry. DS9 had the kids fried shrimp. It was fine.
When our server finally returned to see how things were, DH told her they forgot his *sauce* and apparently forgot my lobster. She apologized and said she thought our dishes didn't look right. Um..ok...?
She brought hubby his shrimp back out and it was covered in a weird creamy pink sauce. He took one bite and couldn't eat the rest. No spice..no heat...just pink. yuk!
Her solution for my dish was to bring me a small bowl of lobster meat...which I proceeded to stir into my now lukewarm pasta...one bite and I discovered the lobster meat was just taken out of the fridge and was ice cold. At this point we gave up.
To their credit ( I think) the manager came over and apologized and offered to make us new dishes. At this point we already had almost 2 hours invested in this fiasco, so we just asked for the check and off we went.
Sorry Coral Reef - for those considering this place...Swim Away! Swim Away! 😉
