Wondering how Coral Reef stacks up against the other Epcot Table Service Restaurants? Check out The Best Epcot Sit Down Restaurants for a comparison of all 15 Epcot restaurants in a variety of categories including Most Unique Menu, Best Value on the Disney Dining Plan, Best Value Out of Pocket, Best Atmosphere, Best Food, and Best Overall Restaurant.
Food Type: Fish, chicken, steak
Dining Plan: One Table Service
Cost: For lunch, appetizers are $7-$17 and entrées are $13-$28. For dinner, appetizers are $7-$17 and entrées are $19-$31.
Setting: The tables at the Coral Reef Restaurant face a large aquarium full of sharks, sting rays, turtles, and more than 85 varieties of tropical fish. The restaurant features raised stadium seating so most tables have a great view.
Advantages: The atmosphere can’t be beat. Kids and adults who enjoy aquariums will be fascinated by the variety of fish. Fish is presented nicely. Service is usually attentive. I recommend the Mahi Mahi and Chocolate Wave dessert.
Disadvantages: This restaurant is deceptively noisy due to the sound bouncing off the aquarium glass. Service may be rushed, especially during Free Dining promotions. The menu is limited with less than ten entrée choices. There are no crab, lobster, or shrimp entrées. Portions are small. Lunch isn’t much cheaper than dinner. Personally, I am deathly afraid of fish (not kidding), so eating here is entirely unpleasant for me.
Value: Average out of pocket or excellent on the Dining Plan. The Coral Reef Restaurant relies heavily on its ambiance to please guests. The food portions are small and the prices are high considering the low cost of many of the ingredients. You come here mostly for the aquarium, so if that is not something you would particularly enjoy then you’re better off dining elsewhere. You can spend about $45 on the Dining Plan, making this an excellent use of a credit.
Reputation: The jury is out on this one. There is definitely better food and service at Epcot, but the chances of finding another aquarium with a table to eat at are slim to none. Chances are you will have a good meal here, but be aware that the portions are small and the Coral Reef is not known for its high quality food or relaxing atmosphere. The other potential downside is that not all of the tables have a great view of the aquarium, so you may want to request a good view or ask to be moved elsewhere in the restaurant.
Overall Rank on The Best Epcot Sit Down Restaurants: 15th out of 15
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
This was our only option on the plan for the Candlelight processional package. We have annual passes and have been to Epcot the most – and we kind of laughed that we really didn’t know it was here. My husband and I were a little worried about eating here after the review. We were pleasantly surprised.
We were sat at an aquarium view table, which was nice. My 8 year old was entertained the whole time. They give you a fish guide to see if you can spot certain species. He was so excited to be able to pick some out, add some on, etc. The kids menu was just like the other paper ones you get. This one had the meal option, or the specials for the place. He chose the grilled kids Mahi, which I was surprised about, mashed potatoes and broccoli. The kids fish was about the size of a deck of cards, which was fine by me. It was thicker than it looked, and he was full. The mashed potatoes looked a little old, but they tasted fine. Steamed broccoli was just fine. He ate everything and said he was full. He did get a sundae with it, and of course he found room for that.
My husband and I know that you are going to pay a bit more at WDW then you would at a normal place. For the app we each got something different. Presentation was nice, taste was good. Portion was small. HOWEVER, with that being said, we don’t want to be overstuffed with an app. We prefer normal portion sizes and not the jumbo 4000 ones you get at some places. Crab cakes were a good consistency and the sauce had a good kick.
For lunch he ordered the steak. It was cooked perfectly. He didn’t ask for any sauces, like A1 which he usually will get at chili’s or Outback. His asparagus was steamed perfectly.
I ordered the Mahi which had shrimp and came with Jasmine rice. It was better than I expected. Once again – it was not a 12 oz piece of fish. It was more like 4-6. But, we are healthy eaters for the most part, so we appreciate the good portion size. Fish had a good flavor, not ‘fishy’.
I think for the most part it was worth the money. What we did say was that you didn’t remember you were at Epcot. Because you are by the aquarium and kind of under dim lights, there is not blaring outside noise, no real reminder of where you are. It was nice to ‘forget’ the craziness of the park. We would go there again if the need arises.
I had my worse WDW meal ever at Coral Reef.
We had lunch here in mid-January 2011. The place was mostly empty, it was about 2-3 pm. We had a great time! The staff was friendly, the food was great, and we have been thinking of it since. The atmosphere was unlike any that I had ever enjoyed before. The aquarium was amazing, and then getting a chance to enjoy some lobster soup while sitting down in a (semi) cozy & comfy environment that felt like we were underwater has left me waiting anxiously to get back there. Although the Coral Reef may not serve “world-class” seafood preparations, it was an experience that I will never forget, and I look forward to our next time. I am surprised by how unhappy many people are after dining here. We have our next reservation in December, so we will see and report…..
I try to eat here at least once per trip (which is twice a year), as it has long been one of my favorite restuarants. I always sit right by the glass, and spend my meal gazing out at the sealife. They have an excellent wine list. And while the menu has been pared down over the years and is now much shorter than it used to be, I’ve always found something to my taste, well prepared and served promptly. (Well, I had one sucky waiter here about a year ago, but that can happen anywhere!) Overall I rate it as well within the top 3 at Epcot!
Hmm. I thought I was the only one “literally” afraid of fish. Not one of the sexier phobias.