mcsue
6 Feb 06, 08:08 PM
CORAL REEF – EPCOT
We had originally planned to eat at Le Cellier today. However once at EPCOT Paul decided he would prefer to try the veggie option at Coral Reef and, as we’d never eaten there before, I was happy to make the change (Le Cellier can go back on the list for next time!)
The seating is on three tiers in this restaurant, the first level being right next to the vast fish tanks of the Living Seas. There are lots of blue/green/gold wavy mosaics and there are jellyfish and shell light fixtures all around. The blue ceiling is low and even the carpet is all wavy patterned. You do get that ‘under the sea’ feeling.
We were originally seated at a booth on the lowest tier; I was pleased about this at first, but, once seated, actually found it incredibly noisy and almost cafeteria like in this location.
This was not helped by the overly-spoilt children seated right next to us, who wouldn’t stop screeching very loudly, and who kept throwing their drinks and what was left of their dinner at their ineffectual parents!
I’m all for kids being excited and happy about seeing the fish at close hand (hey this is Disneyworld after all) but I can’t be doing with pandered-to, bad mannered, rude and naughty brats.
One of the ladies sitting at the opposite table raised her eyes despondently to Paul as if to say ‘It’s been going on for ages, my lunch has been totally ruined and my head hurts’.
As we wanted a rather more intimate lunch, I discreetly asked our waiter to be re-seated on one of the higher tiers. He said there would be a bit of a wait, but that was fine with us.
The parents of the spoilt, rude, screeching kids looked down their noses at us and seemed just as pleased to see us leave, as we were to get away from them!
Anyway it was only about 10 minutes before we were seated in a comfy booth on the second tier, and introduced to a charming and extremely professional waitress called Michelle.
It was like being in a different restaurant - much more the ticket!
It was so much more serene up there, and you could still see the fish tanks very clearly. And thankfully there was barely a discernable sound from the still screeching brats below!
We started with a salad of mixed leaves with blue cheese dressing. There was a nice selection of green leaves a few cherry tomatoes and some nicely roasted red onion. Not markedly exciting as salads go, but certainly one of the freshest. The leaves had that summery, just picked from the garden taste. The dressing was good too.
Paul then had the Vegetable Strudel, which was topped with a pat of mild goats’ cheese and served on a creamy leek fondue.
The two buttery filo parcels were filled with a mixture of chopped and sautéed mushrooms, onions, courgettes, squash and some Puy lentils which added some further texture.
We’d ordered a side of broccoli dressed with balsamic shallot to share, which especially helped to lift the creamy richness of his calorific dish. .
I would have found it a little cloying for my personal taste; but Paul loved it all and didn’t leave a morsel.
I had an excellent New York Strip Steak. Cooked to a perfect medium, it was served with a very delicious potato gratin, and although not mentioned on the menu, some of the most flavourful sautéed spinach ever! (And this is from someone who is not keen on cooked spinach)
The accompanying beef demi-glace was perfectly seasoned too, lots of flavour without being over-savoury or heavy in any way.
I had a nicely chilled glass of Bonterra Viognier with the salad, and Paul had a glass of La Crema Pinot Noir. Then with the main course we both had a glass of the Coppola Merlot, which we both found to be particularly enjoyable.
Although we were quite satisfied by this time, we felt it churlish to leave without sampling the infamous Chocolate Wave :smile:
Choccie-lovers will find it hard to resist this dessert.
Not only did it look impressive, but as it arrived at the table the aroma was just like a batch of chocolate cakes fresh from the oven!
When we dug the spoon into the cake, out rushed a pool of warm Grand Marnier infused white chocolate.
It was served with white chocolate ice cream, and was garnished with a crispy chocolate tuile and a biscuit fishy! Oooh! Choccie bliss!
Over the years, I’ve read quite a number of negative reviews about the Coral Reef and I have to admit that has put me off bothering to dine here in the past (the lack of veggie food on the menu that has appealed to Paul has also been a factor)
On reflection though, the majority of those negative reviews made comments on the small portion sizes, and said that the cost is awfully steep for what you actually get on your plate.
Well our meals were in no way meagre, and we certainly did not find it overpriced when compared with similar restaurants in the parks.
So I guess if you are into those really big American portions, I won’t recommend that you dine here.
On the other hand - if you want fairly-priced, good quality food, which has been faultlessly seasoned and cooked well, then I say ‘Give it a go!’ I’m glad we did!
This was, unexpectedly, one of our favourite meals of the trip this time and we’ll be sure to return to the Coral Reef.
Coral Reef interior
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/538/Disney_Jan06_EP_067_Medium_.jpg
View of the tanks from our cosy booth
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/538/medium/Disney_Jan06_EP_045_Medium_.jpg
A fresh salad with blue cheese dressing
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/538/medium/Disney_Jan06_EP_048_Medium_.jpg
Vegetable Strudel
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/538/medium/Disney_Jan06_EP_053_Medium_.jpg
Juicy Strip Steak
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/538/medium/Disney_Jan06_EP_056_Medium_.jpg
Scrummy Chocolate Wave
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/538/medium/Disney_Jan06_EP_063_Medium_.jpg
We had originally planned to eat at Le Cellier today. However once at EPCOT Paul decided he would prefer to try the veggie option at Coral Reef and, as we’d never eaten there before, I was happy to make the change (Le Cellier can go back on the list for next time!)
The seating is on three tiers in this restaurant, the first level being right next to the vast fish tanks of the Living Seas. There are lots of blue/green/gold wavy mosaics and there are jellyfish and shell light fixtures all around. The blue ceiling is low and even the carpet is all wavy patterned. You do get that ‘under the sea’ feeling.
We were originally seated at a booth on the lowest tier; I was pleased about this at first, but, once seated, actually found it incredibly noisy and almost cafeteria like in this location.
This was not helped by the overly-spoilt children seated right next to us, who wouldn’t stop screeching very loudly, and who kept throwing their drinks and what was left of their dinner at their ineffectual parents!
I’m all for kids being excited and happy about seeing the fish at close hand (hey this is Disneyworld after all) but I can’t be doing with pandered-to, bad mannered, rude and naughty brats.
One of the ladies sitting at the opposite table raised her eyes despondently to Paul as if to say ‘It’s been going on for ages, my lunch has been totally ruined and my head hurts’.
As we wanted a rather more intimate lunch, I discreetly asked our waiter to be re-seated on one of the higher tiers. He said there would be a bit of a wait, but that was fine with us.
The parents of the spoilt, rude, screeching kids looked down their noses at us and seemed just as pleased to see us leave, as we were to get away from them!
Anyway it was only about 10 minutes before we were seated in a comfy booth on the second tier, and introduced to a charming and extremely professional waitress called Michelle.
It was like being in a different restaurant - much more the ticket!
It was so much more serene up there, and you could still see the fish tanks very clearly. And thankfully there was barely a discernable sound from the still screeching brats below!
We started with a salad of mixed leaves with blue cheese dressing. There was a nice selection of green leaves a few cherry tomatoes and some nicely roasted red onion. Not markedly exciting as salads go, but certainly one of the freshest. The leaves had that summery, just picked from the garden taste. The dressing was good too.
Paul then had the Vegetable Strudel, which was topped with a pat of mild goats’ cheese and served on a creamy leek fondue.
The two buttery filo parcels were filled with a mixture of chopped and sautéed mushrooms, onions, courgettes, squash and some Puy lentils which added some further texture.
We’d ordered a side of broccoli dressed with balsamic shallot to share, which especially helped to lift the creamy richness of his calorific dish. .
I would have found it a little cloying for my personal taste; but Paul loved it all and didn’t leave a morsel.
I had an excellent New York Strip Steak. Cooked to a perfect medium, it was served with a very delicious potato gratin, and although not mentioned on the menu, some of the most flavourful sautéed spinach ever! (And this is from someone who is not keen on cooked spinach)
The accompanying beef demi-glace was perfectly seasoned too, lots of flavour without being over-savoury or heavy in any way.
I had a nicely chilled glass of Bonterra Viognier with the salad, and Paul had a glass of La Crema Pinot Noir. Then with the main course we both had a glass of the Coppola Merlot, which we both found to be particularly enjoyable.
Although we were quite satisfied by this time, we felt it churlish to leave without sampling the infamous Chocolate Wave :smile:
Choccie-lovers will find it hard to resist this dessert.
Not only did it look impressive, but as it arrived at the table the aroma was just like a batch of chocolate cakes fresh from the oven!
When we dug the spoon into the cake, out rushed a pool of warm Grand Marnier infused white chocolate.
It was served with white chocolate ice cream, and was garnished with a crispy chocolate tuile and a biscuit fishy! Oooh! Choccie bliss!
Over the years, I’ve read quite a number of negative reviews about the Coral Reef and I have to admit that has put me off bothering to dine here in the past (the lack of veggie food on the menu that has appealed to Paul has also been a factor)
On reflection though, the majority of those negative reviews made comments on the small portion sizes, and said that the cost is awfully steep for what you actually get on your plate.
Well our meals were in no way meagre, and we certainly did not find it overpriced when compared with similar restaurants in the parks.
So I guess if you are into those really big American portions, I won’t recommend that you dine here.
On the other hand - if you want fairly-priced, good quality food, which has been faultlessly seasoned and cooked well, then I say ‘Give it a go!’ I’m glad we did!
This was, unexpectedly, one of our favourite meals of the trip this time and we’ll be sure to return to the Coral Reef.
Coral Reef interior
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/538/Disney_Jan06_EP_067_Medium_.jpg
View of the tanks from our cosy booth
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/538/medium/Disney_Jan06_EP_045_Medium_.jpg
A fresh salad with blue cheese dressing
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/538/medium/Disney_Jan06_EP_048_Medium_.jpg
Vegetable Strudel
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/538/medium/Disney_Jan06_EP_053_Medium_.jpg
Juicy Strip Steak
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/538/medium/Disney_Jan06_EP_056_Medium_.jpg
Scrummy Chocolate Wave
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/538/medium/Disney_Jan06_EP_063_Medium_.jpg