fbpx
Menu

Review: Coral Reef Restaurant: Epcot

Review: Coral Reef Restaurant: Epcot

Located next to The Seas With Nemo & Friends at Epcot is a seafood restaurant. I had heard a lot about it and we decided to check it out on a Sunday afternoon. Being a vegetarian I was a bit nervous but I thought that I would give it a chance. The park was crowded and we had a 1:30 lunch reservation. We did not feel like waiting in another line so we showed up about 15 minutes early. We were seated almost immediately.

The restaurant itself is gorgeous. The sea theme is evident, there is a giant aquarium along one wall. As we were seated we were given a guide to the different fish that can be seen in it. Although we were not close to it we could still see many of them. The lighting and the fixtures are meant to feel like you are under water, it is well done.

Our server was Shannon. You would be hard pressed to find a more knowledgeable server in all of Walt Disney World, she really knew her stuff. She gave us her recommendations and told us a bit about some of the items on the menu. I asked her if there are any vegetarian choices and she immediately described the Vegetable-Potato Strudel. My daughter and I decided to split that and my husband ordered the Caesar Salad with Shrimp.

For a no obligation, FREE Quote with new bookings contact our sponsor Magical Vacation Planner by calling: 1(407)442-0289 Or for a free no obligation quote with new bookings you can fill out the form by Clicking HERE!

Shannon brought us rolls with butter and also water. The rolls were your basic restaurant rolls, we were hungry so they hit the spot. When the meals were ready they were brought out from the kitchen with two plates so that my daughter and I could split the dish. Shannon brought us more rolls, something that most Disney restaurants do not seem to do.

My husband’s salad came with five large shrimp and lots of cheese on top. It was basic but it was a good lunch for a hot day. He enjoyed it and said that he would order it again. The highlight of the meal was the Vegetable-Potato Strudel. With the first bite I realized that finally a restaurant did a vegetarian option right. It was a large pastry dish made out of phyllo dough. Inside was a combination of vegetables in a cheese mixture. My daughter said that it reminded her of the cheese in a good vegetable lasagna. The tomato compote that it was served in was delicious. Shannon described it as a similar to marinara sauce but thicker and sweeter. She was right, it was the perfect accent to the dish.

We decided to order dessert and split it three ways. We picked the Cherry Cheesecake, which is made with no sugar added. It was very good, not quite as heavy as most cheesecakes. It was the perfect ending to a perfect meal.

F.A.S.T. Review

F-Food- Excellent. One of the best meals that we have had at Disney.

A-Atmosphere- Fun. Watching the aquarium, even from far away, is the perfect way to pass the time until the meal arrives.

S-Service- Excellent. Even though we were early we were seated right away and Shannon is a credit to her job.

T-Tips- Ask for a table near the aquarium if you want to see the fish up close.

 

About PaulaK

I grew up in Western Massachusetts. When I was nine my family went to Disneyland and I was hooked. I grew up, attended New England College in Henniker, NH and eventually moved to Virginia. I worked as a disc jockey, married and became a full time mom when our daughter was born. Fast forward several years. In 2010 we moved to Central Florida and my Disney obsession grew. I now work as a freelance writer and spend my spare time in the parks. Under the name Paula Brown I penned the novels Dream Wanderers and The Coffee Cruiser. I also am a co-author of Dining at Walt Disney World: The Definitive Guide. I'm obsessed with Star Wars, so this is a good time to live in Central Florida. I've been a vegetarian for well over a decade, a choice that my daughter eventually made as well. While my husband still hasn't joined us fully he has given up most meats except for seafood. I was relieved to find that vegetarian dining is not difficult at Walt Disney World.