Coral Reef Dinner Review
Coral Reef, located in The Seas with Nemo & Friends pavilion in Epcot, is a table service restaurant that serves seafood and steak options for guests with views of a living coral reef. Brandon, his mom, and I recently had dinner at Coral Reef one evening while we were picking up our annual passholder coasters and magnets during the Epcot Food & Wine Festival.
*This gluten free dining experience took place in October 2019. It includes information about dairy free options, as well as fish/shellfish, peanut, and chicken & turkey allergies.
Dinner at Coral Reef
Coral Reef, located in The Seas with Nemo & Friends pavilion in Epcot, is a table service restaurant that serves seafood and steak options for guests with views of a living coral reef. Brandon, his mom, and I recently had dinner at Coral Reef one evening while we were picking up our annual passholder coasters and magnets during the Epcot Food & Wine Festival.
Atmosphere
Coral Reef is inspired by the living seas and features views of the coral reef located in the pavilion.
Coral Reef Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
When you arrive at the restaurant, you'll notice lots of bright vibrant colors to set the stage as you begin your journey "under water" into the restaurant.
Coral Reef Lobby / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
Once you enter the restaurant's lobby, you can see that it resembles the ocean floor. I have to admit that the restaurant's interior does feel a bit dated -- though the lobby portion is less so than the actual interior.
Coral Reef Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
While we all agreed that you can get nice views of the coral reef & aquariums from anywhere in the restaurant, since this was Brandon's mom's first visit to the restaurant, we requested a table near the front.
You can request this when you check-in to the restaurant -- though there may be a bit of a wait. We were also told by the cast member during check-in that they would try their best to honor this request, but that's it's not always a guarantee. Thankfully, the restaurant was a bit slow when we dined there, and we had no issues getting a table near The Seas marine life.
Coral Reef Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
On our previous visit, we sat at a table near The Seas and found the chairs to be really uncomfortable. This time we were seated in a much more comfortable booth. We all agreed this was far more comfortable and relaxed way to experience the restaurant and would actually request a booth straight away the next time we go.
Coral Reef - Table / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
As you can see, the interior of the restaurant features lots of blues, purples, and other sea-inspired colors. I do hope that someday they refresh the restaurant's decor because it really is a bit outdated.
The Food
Of course, the main reason we came to Coral Reef was dinner! Because it is owned and operated by the Disney Company, Coral Reef does have an allergy-friendly lunch and dinner menu. You can also always ask to speak with a chef directly whenever you dine there.
Coral Reef / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
Before our meal, we were brought out bread service. I was served Ener-Ggluten free and allergy-friendly rolls, which are also dairy free, vegan, and free of the top common allergens. These were well-heated on this visit -- making them a nice way to start the meal. If you're just gluten free, you'll be served butter with the rolls. If you're dairy free, be sure to ask for some Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Spread.
Brandon was also served the house rolls, which looked like pull-apart Parker House style rolls. Both Brandon and his mom didn't think they were very good and said they were pretty bland.
Coral Reef / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
On my previous visit, I ordered the Mahi-Mahi which is a gluten free and dairy free dish. But, on this visit, I was leaning towards trying the Shrimp & Grits because I'd heard such great things about it from Alexis's Gluten Free Adventures.
The Shrimp & Grits includes Sauteed Shrimp, Cheddar Cheese Grits, Local Corn Succotash, Andouille Sausage, Creole Spice Emulsion and is marked safe for gluten/wheat, fish, peanut/tree nut, and soy allergies. This does contain dairy and cannot be modified.
Overall, I was really impressed by the shrimp & grits entree. It wasn't my favorite version of the dish, but it was really good. Everything was really flavorful, and I was shocked at how big the dish was. The amount of shrimp in it was excellent. If you like seafood and enjoy a bit of spice, this might be a good dish for you. I would definitely order the shrimp and grits from Coral Reef again.
Coral Reef / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
Because the menu is heavy on the seafood and Brandon is allergic to both fish & shellfish, his options were pretty limited. Thankfully, he's a big steak fan, so he ordered the Grilled 10-oz Top Sirloin Steak. On the allergy menu, it comes with Olive Oil-Mashed Potatoes and Seasonal Vegetables and is marked safe for gluten/wheat, egg, fish/shellfish, milk, peanut/tree nut, and soy allergies.
But, Brandon did ask if he could order swap the olive oil-mashed potatoes for the loaded mashed potatoes on the regular Coral Reef menu. He was able to do this with no issues for his special dietary needs. Overall, he said the dish was really good -- and like my shrimp & grits, he had a huge portion of steak.
Coral Reef / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
Brandon's mom also ordered the Caesar Salad for her starter, which included Romaine Lettuce, Parmesan Cheese, and Caesar Dressing. It was marked safe for gluten/wheat, peanut/tree nut, and shellfish allergies. Although I didn't try it, Brandon's mom did say it was a really good version of Caesar Salad. So, if you're a fan of this type of salad it might be worth ordering.
Coral Reef / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
For dessert, Brandon couldn't pass up the chance to get a chocolately dessert. He's not a big dessert fan, but he loves chocolate flourless style cakes. And, the Chocolate Wave dessert at Coral Reef is one he really enjoys. This includes chocolate curls and raspberry cream and is marked safe for gluten/wheat, fish/shellfish, and peanut/tree nut allergies. If you love chocolate cake, this is definitely one to try. It's very rich and a perfect way to end a meal.
Overall
While we wouldn't say the food is anything fancy, we have been pleasantly surprised by the food at Coral Reef. On both of our recent visits, we have found delicious and tasty options that cover our special dietary needs and leave us satisfied. Even better? We really enjoy the atmosphere and spending a leisurely dinner watching the marine life at The Seas. If you seafood that isn't super pricey, this may be a good option to dine at when you're in Epcot.
Have you been to Coral Reef? What did you enjoy when you dined there?
Coral Reef Dinner Review
*This gluten free dining experience took place in October 2018. It includes notes about dairy free options and modifications.
Dinner at Coral Reef
Coral Reef is a table service restaurant located in The Seas pavilion in Future World at Epcot. It serves up a variety of seafood and coastal inspired meals with exceptional views of the coral reef and its marine life in The Seas. It has been nearly 9 years since I'd dined at Coral Reef and Brandon had never been. We decided to go one evening on a whim to try it out.
Atmosphere
The theming of Coral Reef is set to resemble, well, a reef. Its main focal point are the panoramic views of the Coral Reefs in The Seas pavilion. So, the restaurant has excellent views fo the marine life depending on where you are seated.
Coral Reef - Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
When we arrived at the restaurant, we were there around 8 p.m. -- about an hour before IllumiNations began. Because we were closer to the end of the evening, we asked if it would be possible to get a seat with a better view of The Seas. They said it might be a little bit of a wait, but we were seated within in 5 minutes after arriving at the restaurant.
Coral Reef Restaurant - Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
The photos here are as we were leaving the restaurant, when it was nearly empty. One of the biggest things we noticed about Coral Reef is that the decor seems a bit dated. While it does a good job at reflecting the marine life theme, it just felt like it could really use a refurbishment.
Coral Reef Restaurant - Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
We were seated near the front of the restaurant with a view of The Seas marine life. We thought this gave a great view. Our only complaint was that the restaurant's tables seemed very close together. And, because the restaurant was a bit dated, the chairs were extremely old and uncomfortable. We would have preferred a booth and would definitely ask for that next time.
Coral Reef Restaurant - Fish Tank / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
We were both in awe of the marine life at The Seas. Disney has said that there are are 4,000-plus sea creatures and 85 species of tropical fish in the pavilion. It was so neat to see them up close. Our server Joshua was also a wealth of knowledge and gave us a ton of information about the marine life there. You'll also be given a small guide to help identify some of the marine life too.
The Food
Coral Reef does have an allergy-friendly lunch and dinner menu. You can also ask to speak with a chef if you have questions or need further assistance with ordering due to multiple special dietary needs. On this visit, I opted to order directly from the menu without speaking to a chef, as I felt comfortable with the options I was ordering.
Coral Reef - Ener-G Rolls / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
First up, our server Joshua brought me some Ener-G rolls and Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Spread. I usually don't love Ener-G rolls, mostly because they are never well-heated, but on our visit to Coral Reef I was extremely impressed at how well-heated they were. Even Brandon commented that they were really good. I was also glad to see the Earth Balance served with the rolls.
Coral Reef - Mahi Mahi Entree / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
For my entree, I ordered the Seared Mahi Mahi with Jasmine Rice, Coconut and Cilantro-Lime Sauce, and Avocado-Mango Salsa. It is listed as safe for Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Milk, Peanut, Shellfish, and Soy Allergies on the allergy-friendly menu. I am always a big fan of fish and rice, so this was a good dish for me to order. Overall, I enjoyed it a lot. The fish was a bit overcooked, but I loved the flavors of the sauces and salsa which were bright and citrusy.
Coral Reef Restaurant - Steak / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
Since Brandon is allergic to fish and shellfish, we made sure that we were extra careful on this visit, as restaurants with a lot of seafood are a higher risk for him to eat at. He ended up getting the 10-oz Grilled Top Sirloin Steak with Loaded Mashed Potatoes with Bacon, Creamed Spinach, and Bercy Butter.
This is also listed on the allergy-friendly menu with some modifications (roasted potatoes and seasonal vegetables in place of the mashed potatoes and spinach). We confirmed that the dish he ordered was safe for fish and shellfish allergies. It was also gluten free. Guests who are gluten free and dairy free can order the version off the allergy-friendly menu for a safe option. Overall, he said he enjoyed this steak -- though it wasn't his favorite. He really enjoyed the mashed potatoes.
Coral Reef Restaurant - Chocolate Wave Dessert / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW
I don't normally order dessert, but on this visit, I had to try the Chocolate Wave dessert. I've always heard that it was amazing for guests who are gluten free. So, it was a must order now that I've reintroduced dairy back into my diet. The Chocolate Wave is a Warm Flourless Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Curls and Raspberry Gelato. It is listed as safe for Gluten/Wheat, Fish/Shellfish, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies.
Overall, I really enjoyed this dessert. Was it my favorite chocolate dessert? No. But, it was really delicious. I loved the addition of the raspberry sauce and gelato. Brandon, on the other hand, was not a fan of those additions, but liked the chocolate cake portion of the dessert. I would definitely order this if we visited Coral Reef again.
Overall
While I wouldn't say that Coral Reef is on the top of our lists of restaurants to eat, we both agreed that the food was good and the atmosphere was excellent. It's also nice to dine at a restaurant in Epcot that has an allergy-friendly menu and is run by Disney directly. Since many of the restaurants in the World Showcase are not owned & operated by Disney, they may or may not follow the same special dietary needs protocols. So, Coral Reef can be a great option for those who feel safer with Disney owned restaurants. We would definitely visit again, though I'd love to see this restaurant get a bit of a refurbishment, as it feels somewhat dated. Overall, though, we had a safe and pleasant meal in a unique setting.
Have you been to Coral Reef? What did you think of your dining experience there?
Coral Reef -- Table Service -- Epcot
Our last meal of the trip was at Coral Reef in Epcot. On the previous trip, we had a reservation here, but unfortunately, I got really sick that day and was unable to go. This trip, we decided to go try again. I've never eaten at this restaurant, so I was excited to see the decor and try the food.
Upon arrival, we were greeted by the server who then brought out the chef. He gave me a few options, and I settled on the Mahi Mahi with a coconut milk sauce. I asked for the hearts of palm to be removed because I react badly to them for some reason. For dessert, they had a mango sorbet (which sounded interesting). I was offered the Energ-G rolls, but I politely declined (I avoid yeast, and only eat them on rare occasions).
The entree was very good. Nice and mild, but full of flavor. The mahi mahi was cooked perfectly and the sauce was yummy. The sauces were on the side, which is nice (although I ended up pouring it all over my fish!)
Mahi Mahi with shrimp and a coconut lime sauce
Mango sorbet