Disney Dining Review: Epcot's Coral Reef

The Coral Reef restaurant is located inside the Living Seas pavilion at Epcot, and boasts breathtaking views of the largest indoor reef ever built — and its inhabitants. The atmosphere is wonderful — but how is the food? Our family (2 adults, 2 kids, and a toddler), gave the Coral Reef a try on a recent trip to Epcot. Read on for a full review of one of Epcot's most unusual dining locations.

Dining reviews are scored based on atmosphere, food, service, value, and kid-friendliness, on a scale of one to five points per category.

The Coral Reef gets an easy 5 out of 5 for atmosphere — one wall is dominated by a view of the Living Seas Pavilion aquarium. Tables are placed on risers to maximize viewing potential, and it is not unusual to see a sea turtle, ray or shark glide by as you dine. While some seats are closer to the aquarium than others, there are no bad seats at the Coral Reef.

The only downside of the atmosphere? Animal lovers may feel guilty about consuming fish while admiring their counterparts behind the glass wall. I felt the need to chant "Fish are friends, not food" just like Bruce the Shark while perusing the menu!

The menu at the Coral Reef focuses on fish, but has a few options for landlubbers. The descriptions are clear and easy to understand, and our server was able to clarify any items we were unsure of.

Dinner begins with bread, ciabatta style rolls that were fresh from the oven, with over sized pats of unsalted butter. The bread was a hit with everyone, and disappeared quickly. My husband's Coral Rita specialty Margarita ($9.00) was perfectly prepared, with a generously salted rim and frosty glass. The Pirate's Punch ($5.99) came complete with a glowing "Captain Hook" clip, and was a huge hit with the kids.

I tried the Creamy Lobster soup ($6.99) as an appetizer, and was disappointed to find it totally lacking in lobster, aside from one lone piece at the bottom of the bowl. It also had an oily, gravy-like texture, and I abandoned it quickly. My husband fared much better with the Caesar salad our server recommended. The greens were fresh and crisp, the dressing and croutons were made in house, and the heaping portion was topped with freshly grated Parmesan.

My entree of Mahi-Mahi ($25.99) was paired with Jasmine rice, and I enjoyed the combination. The soy based sauce complemented the grilled fish nicely, and I was pleased with both the taste and the presentation. My husband's New York Strip steak was good as well, but at $30.99, we were expecting a little more pizzazz in the presentation and taste.

Overall, the food at the Coral Reef is good, but not outstanding, and we gave it a 2.5 out of 5.

Kids of all ages will adore the decor and kid-friendly menu at the Coral Reef. The children's menu offers a selection of dishes designed to appeal to even finicky eaters. Pizza and fries share the menu with fish dishes, so there is something to appeal to everyone.

The Coral Reef offers dessert along with any kid's menu pick, and the "make your own" sundae was a nice way to finish off the meal. Our kids gave the Coral Reef a 5 out of 5 for fun and food, and it is a good pick if you are traveling with a child under 10.

Service: Our server, Patty, was friendly and helpful without being intrusive. She was able to make recommendations and answer questions about the menu. Patty was attentive and took the time to make us feel at home. Our meal was a little slow to arrive, so overall, I rate the service at 4 out of 5.

Value: The Coral Reef is not the best pick for a value restaurant. The food was good, but not great, and the final tab for our family of five was just shy of $150.00. Our Coral Reef dinner cost more than dinners at Artist Pointe and Chefs de France, but the food was not nearly as good. For value, the Coral Reef rates a 1 out of 5 for us.

The Coral Reef is best enjoyed on the Disney Dining Plan, where the poor value won't be such an issue. You can also consider dropping in for appetizers or drinks and dessert, and soak up the atmosphere without spending a fortune.

Tip: Epcot admission is required and be sure to make an advanced dining reservation before your trip if you want to dine at the Coral Reef.

As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary services for review purposes. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our Ethics Policy.