Kona Cafe - My Truth About Series

[USAswimmer626]

Here is the second installment in my "The Truth About" series. I hope this review can help clear up any confusion you might have regarding Kona Cafe.

Atmosphere - My first comment would be that the restaurant is very loud, but I'll talk about this later. The decor is very nice, but definitely not overpowering in any sense. The high ceilings and Polynesian ornaments make for a nice feel.

Menu - Nice variety, so anyone should be able to come here multiple times without feeling the need to order the same thing just to be safe. Many meat and seafood dishes, but also some alternatives, so there is something for everybody.

Appetizers - Here are probably some of the stand-out starters in Disney World. The Sticky Wings are outstanding, the Pot Stickers are good, and the Lump Crab Cakes are delicious. Soups and salad are also offered.

Entrees - The only entree I've ever ordered here is the Teriyaki-Style New York Strip. It is served over mashed Yukon gold potatoes and with a side of stir-fried broccolini. I absolutely recommend it! The Shrimp and Scallops were a bit dry when they arrived at our table, but perhaps that was just our specific experience. The Pomegranate Barbecued Pork Chop also sounds enticing, as does the Tuna Oscar, but I'll stick with my steak on my upcoming trip.

Desserts - The Kiluea Torte, a chocolate lava cake, served with a side of ice cream, is very good. But there are several restaurants that do it better. The Coconut Cream Kiki Tart sounds good, but I'm probably going to stay with something I can trust being good.

Portions - The appetizer portions are fair, but the entrees are huge. I have never finished my steak or potatoes. The desserts are a very decent size too, probably big enough to share after a full meal here.

Service - It has been inconsistent here, as in many other Disney World restaurants. We have had fantastic service, and "why am I here"-style service.

Cleanliness - Nothing to complain about here. All the Disney restaurants seem to be very clean, and this is no exception.

Value - I'd say some of the food is definitely overpriced, but you're at Disney, so who cares. If you're worried about getting the best value when dropping $100 for an Out Of Pocket meal, this is probably one of the better choices. On the Disney Dining Plan, eating here is a no-brainer.

Location - This is where I am going to come back to the loudness topic. Since Kona is located on the second floor of the lobby in the Grand Ceremonial House of the Polynesian, it can be very loud. Not only do the people in Kona and the waterfall make noise, but the people waiting for O'hana can be very loud too. The Polynesian is very easy to reach by bus from any Disney part. The resort is also on the monorail for easy access from the Magic Kingdom and Epcot.

That's it for this review. Hope I've helped some of you make up your minds about getting a reservation here. If I had a 10-day vacation and could eat anywhere I wanted, this would definitely make it onto my list. I highly recommend Kona Cafe.

Thanks for reading! This is the second review in my "The Truth About" series. If you wish to read more, please visit my profile and look for the links under my signature. Also, please leave any questions about Kona or comments about my review. If you would like to suggest a restaurant for a future review, please ask me. I'd be more that willing to write one up.

[WDWtraveler27]

wow this is amazing ur good at this stuff
keep it up

[USAswimmer626]

Originally Posted by WDWtraveler27

wow this is amazing ur good at this stuff
keep it up

Thanks so much! It started out as just a down-to-earth review about the king of ADR's, Le Cellier, but it is evolving into something much larger. I'm hoping to gather a fan base.

[mickey2minnie1]

Very informative! This is one of the best reviews I have read.

[1disneynutt]

I would be very interested in hearing reviews from all restaurants you have eaten at here whether they are TS, CS, or even snack carts! Thanks

[USAswimmer626]

Originally Posted by mickey2minnie1

Very informative! This is one of the best reviews I have read.

Thanks!

This one didn't take that long to write, so maybe I'll be publishing two a week.

[USAswimmer626]

The next review is coming tonight on Columbia Harbour House.

Feel free to ask any questions about the restaurants I review on their respective threads. It's always nice to generate some healthy conversation.

[jenmc88]

I have really enjoyed your reviews. These are two of the places that we have chosen to eat at in our September trip. Since we have never eaten at either place, this has been very helpful. Can hardly wait for the next one.

[BriarRosie]

You forgot to mention my favorite start of the meal:

The bread and butter service. Aka "Kona Crack". Because whatever they put in that bread and macadamia nut butter, it's addictive.

While I agree the teriyaki steak is good, I think you need to try the pork chop. It was outstanding. My mother was kind enough to share a bite of it. That night it was cooked perfectly and very tender and flavorful.

[USAswimmer626]

The bread is AMAZING! We get at least two loaves each time. It's so good!!!

[goofy4tink]

I'm really not trying to be negative here...but perhaps the titles of your threads are a bit misleading. I'm not sure your reviews, while helpful to read, are the 'truth' about any restaurant. How can your experiences be classified as the 'truth'?
I've eaten at Kona Cafe. Used to be a regular stop for my friend and I. But, no matter how much we liked the sticky wings and the pot stickers, we found a lot of the entrees to be lacking. The last two times we ate there, our meals were not all that great. And our service the last time was a joke....we still laugh about our server. He must have felt that we loved it there so much, that we wanted to remain there all day. It took forever to get our meals, then forever to order dessert. The bill?? again, forever.

I'm really not trying to be argumentative...just giving my experience. I figure it's good to have various experiences so others can make qualified choices.

[Disneyadore]

Originally Posted by goofy4tink

I'm really not trying to be negative here...but perhaps the titles of your threads are a bit misleading. I'm not sure your reviews, while helpful to read, are the 'truth' about any restaurant. How can your experiences be classified as the 'truth'?
I've eaten at Kona Cafe. Used to be a regular stop for my friend and I. But, no matter how much we liked the sticky wings and the pot stickers, we found a lot of the entrees to be lacking. The last two times we ate there, our meals were not all that great. And our service the last time was a joke....we still laugh about our server. He must have felt that we loved it there so much, that we wanted to remain there all day. It took forever to get our meals, then forever to order dessert. The bill?? again, forever.

I'm really not trying to be argumentative...just giving my experience. I figure it's good to have various experiences so others can make qualified choices.

I agree. The "truth" is a matter of taste an personnel preferences.

[Tricia1972]

Thanks for posting goofy4tink! I saw the title and was coming to say about the same thing.

It's important to remember that every dining review on the review board is the Truth about the restaurant that's being reviewed. All of our reviewers share their own truth, and all reviews are appreciated. No one review is more true or important than any other review.

That being said, thank you for sharing your opinion on Kona Cafe.

[Cazbucket]

Originally Posted by 1disneynutt

I would be very interested in hearing reviews from all restaurants you have eaten at here whether they are TS, CS, or even snack carts! Thanks

Me too!

Excellent reading - this is my first trip with DP, hope you have a great time on your upcoming trip and look forward to reading more when you return!

[natalielongstaff]

was good to read your review