Sanaa Review is up with photos

[DisneyKevin]

http://www.disunplugged.com/2009/05/06/sanaa-restaurant-review/#more-2540

[*NikkiBell*]

OMG, you went already? Nice! I'm excited to have another ethnic restaurant on property. I absolutely love Jiko and Boma. I'm going to check this our right now....

[DisneyKevin]

OMG, you went already? Nice! I'm excited to have another ethnic restaurant on property. I absolutely love Jiko and Boma. I'm going to check this our right now....

I'm big...but fast.:lmao:

[crazydisneyman]

Kevin, having eaten at several Indian restaurants and listening to the names of the choices, I thought that the menu would definately appeal to me.

I agree that it is not for everyone, but for the dessert you should have had the Mango pudding. That is my favorite dessert whenever I eat Indian.

The selections sounded intriguing and I definately plan to visit this place when we go next time.

Thanks for the review. :thumbsup2

[*NikkiBell*]

OH yummy! I wanted to try a few of these things! -drooling-

Are you big enough to buy my phone? ;)

[cchev]

Kevin, having eaten at several Indian restaurants and listening to the names of the choices, I thought that the menu would definately appeal to me.

I agree that it is not for everyone, but for the dessert you should have had the Mango pudding. That is my favorite dessert whenever I eat Indian.

The selections sounded intriguing and I definately plan to visit this place when we go next time.

Thanks for the review. :thumbsup2

What is your opinion of getting the tandoori chicken/shrimp vs what Kevin had?

[spaddy]

That naan looks good. I might go and just order that.

[yitbos96bb]

OMG, you went already? Nice! I'm excited to have another ethnic restaurant on property. I absolutely love Jiko and Boma. I'm going to check this our right now....

I don't know how much I'd call Jiko ethnic. I wouldn't even consider it authentic.

[DisneyKevin]

I don't know how much I'd call Jiko ethnic. I wouldn't even consider it authentic.

No...really....it's an authentic restaurant. I've been there.

Whether it's authentically African...I dont know...as I havent been there.

[minie_meese]

Kevin - Thanks much for the review. Sanaa looks beautiful. The menu and your descriptions sound like it is a place our family would like very much. As you said, it is not going to be for everyone. I am all for more diversity :)

Our family eats a lot of Indian food and we cook it at home quite often. Our entire family (grand-kids included) prefer Indian to just about any other cuisine. Sounds like Sanaa has a lot of things that you would find in an Indian restaurant and a few that might be a little be alternative.

I know you didn't order it, but if others might be interested in trying something a little less adventuresome than some of the things you tried, Tandoori Chicken is usually pretty simple. Mango lassis are very tasty too.

I chuckled when I heard you talk about paneer. I know many people who have the same reaction to it. I am actually a big fan and order at least one paneer dish every time I eat Indian. Paneer is more like cottage cheese or ricotta, not the aged cheeses we put on sandwiches. So I can understand your surprise when it didn't melt. It is just boiled whole milk with lemon added then strained through cheese cloth. The spinach/paneer dish was probably something you'd see in an Indian restaurant called Saag Paneer (paneer with overcooked spinach) - my least favorite Indian dish. If it was the first Indian dish I had I probably would not be such a fan today. There is nothing about overcooked spinach that I could enjoy.

I'm really glad you took the time to go to Sanaa. I hope to try in when we at DisneyWorld in December.

Thanks!

[yitbos96bb]

No...really....it's an authentic restaurant. I've been there.

Whether it's authentically African...I dont know...as I havent been there.

LOL... I meant Authentic African. Anecdotally, friends from Africa have said so and I have asked the waiter or waitress every time I am there and all of them say no. The Filet in the red wine reduction is more french than anything else.



BTW, thanks for the La Nouba tickets... I was one of the three Prizematron people on this weeks show... Michael from Aurora. You asked my screenname, so here it is.

[*NikkiBell*]

I think Boma has a lot of different foods that we could never find anywhere else at home. I'd dare to call them ethnic or somewhat close. I feel the same about Jiko. I think it is more "inspired" food rather than the real deal. Still, I enjoy them both and feel that they are special experiences.

BTW, I read online it was Sanaa, pronounced "Sah-nah" and not "Suh-nah." Which is it? Is it the way you said it on the show (with the stressed syllable being the "nah" part?).

[SamSam]

Kevin, thank you so much for your review of Sanaa. Dh and I enjoy highly spiced dished and are hoping we get to eat there before they decide they need to dumb down the spice to appeal to a wider range of diners.

I'm really looking forward to my first experience there!

Have a great cruise.

[DisneyKevin]

BTW, I read online it was Sanaa, pronounced "Sah-nah" and not "Suh-nah." Which is it? Is it the way you said it on the show (with the stressed syllable being the "nah" part?).

I dont speak "African with Indian spices".
:lmao:

I dont know how it's pronounced.

I'm pretty sure they'll know what your talking about no matter how you pronounce it.

[*NikkiBell*]

ROFL. But I NEED to know how to say it! This will drive me batty until I find out. Just wait until chat tonight! ;)

SamSam, I am 100% with you. I am hoping that they DO NOT tone down the spices at Sanaa. I really want a restaurant on property that doesn't do this for the weaklings. I am all about spice and heat and unique flavors.

[DisneyKevin]

I am hoping that they DO NOT tone down the spices at Sanaa.

I think you said it wrong.:lmao:

[*NikkiBell*]

OMG! ROFL

WELL, then I am going to let YOU know that YOU said Boma instead of Jiko when talking about the Taste of Africa appetizer on the show! I wasn't going to bust on you and you just pushed me to do so! ;)

[DisneyKevin]

I have a bad eye.

[Cyrano]

Great review Kevin.
Not sure we will manage to try this on our trip but would definitely add it for the future.

[*NikkiBell*]

Oh my. Your eye is so bad that you went to Jiko for an appetizer and thought you were at Boma? ROFL

BTW, am listening to the chai cream dessert part of the show right now. It doesn't look exactly this, but the name reminds me of the frozen chai at the tea stand in AK. I know John said it tastes like feet, but does it have a tea taste at all? The frozen chai from the park is a new treat I tried a few weeks back and is now my favorite OVER Dole Whips (I dare say this on the DIS) .

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

Thanks so much for the review of Sanaa, Kevin. I was really interested in trying it, but after hearing your comments and seeing the photos, I think the less adventurous diners in my group would be disappointed. Maybe we will give it some time and check for changes. :confused3

[AnninIowa]

Great review and photos, Kevin! What an amazing view out the windows, too! I have to say that I will never eat here - it isn't my taste at all - but it's always fun to read about the restaurants. I am disappointed that the only American food at AKL is breakfast at Boma and all day at Mara. I was hoping the new village would have a counter service restaurant; this will definintely keep me from staying here, as I heard the walk over to Jambo House is a half mile. While I know that this new restaurant will appeal to quite a few people, I think families with small children (or picky eaters like me!) will feel a bit stranded and hungry staying at this building.

[ptrbryant]

Great review, Kevin. But, for those of us who love Indian food---it was mouthwatering! I try very hard to limit my accessibility to samosas or I'd go up three dress sizes quickly...can never get enough of them and prefer the spicier accompaniments. But, it's obviously not for everyone. The chai dessert as well---mouthwatering to me, I guess not so much for you and John.

Karla B.

[SamSam]

OMG! ROFL

WELL, then I am going to let YOU know that YOU said Boma instead of Jiko when talking about the Taste of Africa appetizer on the show! I wasn't going to bust on you and you just pushed me to do so! ;)

Yes, I was trying to be nice and not point this out. :rotfl:
We also go to the Jiko bar just to order an appetizer, or even a main dish that we want to split. Yum!

[Cinderella89]

Oh man...I remember when they were asking us to test the food for Sanaa. One of the women that makes our pretzels/turkey legs/corn/baked potatos helped create that menu and we went a week straight trying everything. I love Indian food....But....*pats my tummy* I think I've had my fill. :laughing:
But I still love me some of Unna's cooking!! Yummy. :laughing::cloud9:

[WaDiWo]

Incredible review as always Kevin ... I think I often take for granted how well you review, in terms of how effectively you communicate every aspect of the restaurant experience, from the "feel" of the place, to describing the service and food in a "non-food-snob" sort of way. :angel:

Anyway, as for Sanaa, it looks and sounds delicious!!! I showed your review to several of my coworkers (who happen to be Indian), and they were impressed. It may not be for everyone, but it will certainly be on my list of restaurants to try on a future visit.

WaDiWo

[BriarRosie]

Oooh, I'm looking forward to the review, since this is one of the places I wanted to try, even though I don't like what I call "curry". Indian is one ethic food I can't get into as much as other ethnicities.

I think tandoori will be more my speed. I'm usually not a picky eater, but if paneer is like cottage cheese, I would hate it.

Oh, and I think I'm destined to go there when SamSam is there. They'd have to seat me next to her just like that Jiko wine dinner. :laughing:

[svalencia1]

Thanks so much for the review Kevin! Sanaa is one of the places I have an ADR for in June and kept going back and forth on, so your review helped immensly. After listening to your review I think we are going to skip it. I was afraid of the spices (my DD thinks pepper is too spicy) and my boyfriend thought the serving sizes were going to be too small. After listening to your review I think you confirmed these things for me. Since we are on the DP we wouldn't order an app., soup, or salad. I do think the restuarant is gorgeous though form the pictures I have seen. I love the views, lighting and the seating. Maybe someday we will get here but not this time. Thanks so much for such a great review. :)

[SamSam]

Oh, and I think I'm destined to go there when SamSam is there. They'd have to seat me next to her just like that Jiko wine dinner. :laughing:

:lmao:Sounds fun! We're going to be in Orlando for one night on May 22nd, I'm actually thinking of calling to see if I can get a ressie for 7pm that night. Come join us. But you have to promise not to be too good.:rotfl:

[BriarRosie]

:lmao:Sounds fun! We're going to be in Orlando for one night on May 22nd, I'm actually thinking of calling to see if I can get a ressie for 7pm that night. Come join us. But you have to promise not to be too good.:rotfl:

Well, I'm actually off from work that day, but the flight down to MCO...I couldn't swing that with two flights to book later this year. :laughing:

[SamSam]

:rotfl:Just got off the phone with WDW Dining and I have a ressie for May 22 at 7pm at Sanaa. Wahoo!! Come join us....it's only money.:)

[soupy11]

Oh my. Your eye is so bad that you went to Jiko for an appetizer and thought you were at Boma? ROFL

BTW, am listening to the chai cream dessert part of the show right now. It doesn't look exactly this, but the name reminds me of the frozen chai at the tea stand in AK. I know John said it tastes like feet, but does it have a tea taste at all? The frozen chai from the park is a new treat I tried a few weeks back and is now my favorite OVER Dole Whips (I dare say this on the DIS) .

Sorry to hijack - where can you get the frozen chai? Thanks!

[NJ Disney Fan]

Can't wait to try Sanaa on my next trip. It seems like all of the menus at WDW have become homogenized over the years, so it'll be great to try something really different.

[Carolinagal]

Hi Kevin - thank you for the great review and awesome pictures - terrific job, as always.

I do wonder - do you and John generally like Indian food? I've never heard you mention it specifically, so I wasn't sure?

Sorry for the personal question - just wondered if someone who seeks Indian out as a preference would have the same reactions.

Thanks!

[*NikkiBell*]

Sorry to hijack - where can you get the frozen chai? Thanks!

The frozen chai is at the tea stand just outside of Kali River Rapids. It is a cart with a variety of teas there. The frozen chai is just one of them and absolutely outstanding! :thumbsup2:woohoo::yay:

[Mickey_Man]

Hi Kevin - thank you for the great review and awesome pictures - terrific job, as always.

I do wonder - do you and John generally like Indian food? I've never heard you mention it specifically, so I wasn't sure?

Sorry for the personal question - just wondered if someone who seeks Indian out as a preference would have the same reactions.

Thanks!

Good question - I was wondering this too. Indian food is definitely different from the norm, but I am glad to hear that people are going to give it a try. So many people just dismiss this as "not my taste" or "doesn't sound like something I'd like". Just try it - it is one meal and if you don't eat a single thing, you can always grab something on the go later. Start with the Tandoori Chicken and Naan - i can't imagine those being too adventurous for anyone. Then you can start sampling other things after that. My neighbor is a very picky eater but his DW LOVES Indian food. They were so happy when we moved in and became friends because now we bully him to go eat everywhere and you know what - he now loves Indian food too! Point is - give it a try!