Changes at Boma (dinner)

[turkygurl]

Let me begin by saying I love Disney. I love the parks, the food, the people, etc. I've visited Disney on average of once a month for the past 6 years and have dined at Boma at least half of those times. It's my favorite restaurant on property. Or should I say, it was. A group of us dined at Boma in early June. Holiday pricing was in effect, so we each paid over $30 for the buffet. We were all less than impressed. Among our group were cast members, AP holders, and first timers. Boma had changed. The more amazing thing was that it had changed since April 26, the last time I had been there. I thought they had an off night, so when we returned this past Saturday, I was surprised to find that the quality had further deteriorated. A summary of changes:

The ribs: (used to be VERY tender and have a wonderful BBQ type sauce). The sauce now is very sweet and the ribs are tough. They are dry and chewy and not something I would ever pay for as a meal.

The steak: Boma used to serve carved prime-rib encrusted with spices. Now, they have changed to New York Strip steak, carved en masse and sitting on the board. I like my steak rare, and used to be able to get a cut from the rare prime rib, but no longer. I was told by the rude carving attendant that they had medium well and well and that was it. The meat was pre-sliced and even the medium-well slices had completely drained of all juice and were tough and dry. It was like over-cooked roast beef. (I asked about the steak and was told that they changed to a "better cut of beef." It's like trying to sell me a Cadillac at a Bentley price - both are nice, but a Cadillac is NOT superior to a Bentley).

The bobotie: They changed the recipe for this. It used to be an eggy/bread on top of ground meats and spices. Now, it's really eggy and almost no meat (more like a gravy).

The couscous seafood stew: At first I thought I had just gotten the bottom of the pot, but nope, I sat there for a fresh pot and found the same thing. Lots of couscous, lots of carrots and tomatoes, not a lot of seafood. You used to get tons of shrimp, scallops, and mussels, but no longer.

The desserts: TAKE NOTE- There is no more Cocomisu or Chocolate Mousse Crunch. They now serve "Coconut Tiramisu" which is little more than a hard mini-tart shell filled with coconut pudding. They are disgusting. The "Chocolate Mousse Crunch" is now just a tiny chocolate shell filled with a 1/2 tsp of chocolate mousse. Gone is the crunch and the amazing texture of the old mousse. (When I asked about the dessert changes, I was told that the new head chef had decided that the individual servings were more visually appealing than a bowl that you had to scoop from. The real reason is money, because it's a lot cheaper this way.)

I don't know that I'll go back unless something changes. It's too bad, because I really did love it.

[disneynuts777]

Wow...this is my favorite place to dine and if this is the way it is now I will be quite disappointed at the end of August.
I find it hard to believe that individual servings cost less than one mass bowl of something. Visually more appealing yes...but cost....no way

[chalee94]

bad news...

[JACKie SPARROW]

Thank you very much for the heads up. We are staying at BWV for 10 nights in August and have booked Boma's twice; once at the beginning of our stay and once at the end. I guess I won't go in with my usual high expectations.

I am really bummed about the prime rib; that's mine and DHs favorite.

I hope the new chef doesn't make too many changes or Disney will be getting a lot of complaints.

Do you by chance know the name of the dessert at Boma that's made with alcohol? I had it back in November, but can't remember the name; I hope it's still there.

Can you imaging if they took away the zebra domes?

If I am disappointed with Bomas, I might cancel my second ressie!

[tnkr mom]

Oh I am sooo disappointed to hear this bad news on the food quality at BOMA; it is also our FAVorite and the one meal we look forward to EVERY trip! Please take a minute to let the restaurant manager know of your experiences there past and present; a good manager will step in- hopefully soon and fix it before your next trip.... if there is another try for BOMA! Keep us posted.

[tortoni]

We were there last week and it was our first visit. Mixed reviews. I liked the salmon and chicken. I, too, found the meat not very good. The night we were there was a rare cut and a well-done cut. The rare was too rare and tough, the well done was dry and tough. NO ribs at all. I did enjoy the soups, but was less than thrilled with the salads. I did think the desserts were very nice. Did not care for the zebra domes, but liked the individual moose and the cheesecake. Also, there was a divine bread pudding and cobbler with rum sauces to go with it. Very tasty. I'd go back, but DH and my 3 kids said it was not their favorite. Generally, we are not buffet people and only do one per trip. Next time--Biergarten.

[pdmedic]

Hmmm...... I hope it gets better soon we are planning on eating there during our trip based on all the great reviews we had read.

[disnut8]

Well, I can kind of see the change in the rare meat not being available. So many restaurants are making it standard to serve meat medium well so there's no danger of uncooked meat bacteria (or whatever they are afraid of). I know this is not the norm but at a local restaurant my husband and I actually had to sign our bill stating that we had indeed ordered our burgers medium and not medium well like was stated on the menu.

And the individual servings of dessert could also be a product of too many people using what others consider unsanitary measures to get their helping out of the bigger bowl. With individual servings, you only touch what you are taking to eat.

[turkygurl]

Originally Posted by JACKie SPARROW

Do you by chance know the name of the dessert at Boma that's made with alcohol? I had it back in November, but can't remember the name; I hope it's still there.

Both the Cocomisu and the Chocolate Mousse Crunch had alcohol. Small amount of kahlua in the cocomisu and I believe chocolate liqueur in the mousse. Not anymore.

The reason it costs less to do the very small individual desserts is the consumption v. waste issue. People tend to take larger scoops of a dish, but will "generally" take fewer individual pieces (at least on the first go around). Also, when they are doing the individual desserts, they only place a small # of them on the bar at once and replenish them often. They ran out of the mousse cups the other night before they could replenish them. Whatever they don't put out tonight can go back on the bar tomorrow night. With a large bowl of something, if someone takes ONE SCOOP from the bowl, it's done. They can't serve it again so it gets trashed. I'll be trying other restaurants from now on, but it's sad to see my favorite go down the tubes like this.

[Sandy321]

Thank you for your honest and informative post -

I think quite a few "veterans" have noticed changes - and not for the better! I've often commented that the desserts are all the same - except at Boma! (cape may and crystal palace for example!) and I've seen slow, suttle changes to many of the meat selections at buffets - and yet the price continues to be above what many would consider "worth it"

I've also read a report on how The Quarterly Report is due out July 30 (end of July, I'll have to search for it again!) and it noted that the cut backs of the parks will help their report - but that the quality of services to the guests will begin to show...

sad that...

Boma was an amazing experience - and DH was definately looking forward to returning - but if the reviews continue to show the decline you have mentioned, I can easily scratch that adr off our "must do" list!

and yet - it does us no good to be sad as a group on the internet - for the cast members would love reactions in writing to show those "higher ups" that the guests really do matter! While I understand cost cutting measure are across the board - across the country - people are going to make choices...

still makes me sad!

[turkygurl]

I just sent an email to wdw.guest.communications@disney.com to inform them of my displeasure with the cutbacks at Boma.

[MickeyNicki]

Man that is terrible...why do they need to mess with a good thing? We ate at Boma once and didnt care for the dinner (love the breakfast) but we did love the Prime Rib...I wonder if Cape May got rid of their Prime Rib too?

I have noticed a few changes in our favorite foods like the School Bread isnt as wonderful as it used to be and the falafel wrap at Tangierine Cafe is nothing like it used to be....

Dont fix what aint broke

[Buzzsgramma]

Oh say it isn't true.....I was planning to make an ADR there for Thanksgiving wk for 14 of us....We were going to celebrate out 45 th Anniversay there..The grown kids actually requested it.......

[mickey2000]

The bottom line is Di$ney DOES NOT CARE ! They will continue to get the repeat customers who can never see Disney do wrong ! And as for the new visitors they have NOTHING to compare it to . Thus they will be very happy with what ever is served !
Its funny that so many cannot see the dumbing down of the menus over the years. Food quality and cuts have taken place. A few weeks ago another poster told me that nothing has changed ??? Yea right $$$
Maybe its time to eat off property !! THey have offered the Magical Express to keep you from leaving the property. Rent a car and see what else there is!
THERE IS LIFE AFTER DI$NEY !!

[Sandy321]

I think there are many at Disney that does care - but because of the "economy" and the watchers of the stock exchange, Disney HAS to answer to the "stockholders" and so with that effect - there is a "dumbing" down of food - food stocked from one source, same desserts, same prime ribs -

but you are correct as long as people "vote" with $$ and keep going back, they have no incentive to spend more money on higher quality offerings!!!