Saanaa
We had an ADR for Saanaa this evening at 6.30 and we wanted to get to Kidani Village in plenty of time.
We got the bus to KV and had a little wander around. It’s really cute! Obviously very similar in theming to AKL but on a smaller, cuter scale. It was obviously cocktail o’clock and we were both looking forward to drinks at Saanaa’s lounge.
It was very cute in here too, dark and cosy!
We nabbed a super comfy corner sofa and I’m not ashamed to say I took my trainers off and kicked back! Ben had a frozen mango margarita (2nd of the day, good man) and I came over all cultured and ordered the Saanaa wine flight! It was $17 and I really, really enjoyed it. I don’t know much about wine and am your standard ‘glass of house white please’ girl, but I loved reading the little descriptions and seeing if I could taste the different flavours in each. I was impressed with the size of each pour and would really recommend the flight
Once we’d finished our drinks, it was about 6.20. We walked to the podium to check in for our din dins and were given a buzzer which we could go outside with. So we did! We walked out to the viewing platform and watched some of the animals, which was lovely. Such a special resort! One of the little antelope thingies was going absolutely cray cray so we watched him careening about haha, must have just had a great day!
My camera was critically low so I had to calm down with the photo taking so I’d be able to take some at dinner!
Our buzzer then buzzed and we were led to the absolute most PERFECT table, I was over the moon! Right in the middle of the restaurant, next to a huge window
Such a treat! I was glad it was an early ADR and still light outside as we had such a beautiful view. However, this is where the highs of our evening came to a grinding halt
Our server was called Danielle – she was nice and bubbly, but reaallllly not very good! We ordered drinks; a diet coke for me and a Tusker beer for Ben. When they were bought out, I could immediately tell I had a coke and not diet coke. I actually don’t like the taste of normal coke and much prefer diet coke. Obviously it wasn’t for diet reasons as I never hold back food wise, I’ll order a diet coke with my Quarter pounder cheeseburger meal haha, you feelin’ me? So I wasn’t impressed that she’d got that wrong as it’s pretty simple, but it wasn’t a big deal. When she came over again, I asked her if it was normal coke as I’d ordered diet, and she was really apologetic and bought me out a diet straightaway. Mmmm, much better! She didn’t take the normal coke away though…it was just hangin’ out on our table haha, taking up precious space! Danielle then asked for our food orders and weirdly, didn’t write anything down! Like, not a single thing. Hmmmm, I had a bad feeling about this!
You can see our view here
We decided to pay OOP for a starter here as we were both starving marvin. We ordered the bread service with 3 different naan breads. It was pretty tough trying to decide which dips to get; they all sounded really good! After much deliberation, we opted for the garlic pickle (my choice, I live and die for Garlic <3), jalapeno lime pickle (Ben’s choice) and hummus (joint
) Danielle bought them out and shocker, it was all correct! I was pleasantly surprised.
They were all delish and my favourite combo was the garlic pickle with the plain naan, mmmmmm! It was all good so far, we were enjoying the food and the relaxed atmosphere and all was good.
Our main courses were then bought out. I chose the duo of curries; paneer tikka and butter chicken, with the 5 grain pilaf. Ben ordered the Paneer tikka and the chickpea masala, again with the pilaf.
So Danielle brings out our dishes and straightaway, I think somethings up. Bear in mind I’ve spent like 4 years reading reviews of Disney food – that’s a lot of lunchbreaks
I can pretty much recognise most dishes from most Disney restaurants, and I know a bowl of basmati rice when I see one! Both our dishes had basmati rice. Unless I was massively mistaken. Hmmm, what to do, what to do? Was it possible she’d got it wrong…twice? Had they run out of 5 grain pilaf? Was that 5 grain pilaf and my whole life had been a lie!? I threw caution to the wind and said to Danielle, ‘is this the pilaf?’ And she said, WEIRDLY, ‘oh you got me again! Did you want to try the pilaf?’
Ummm yes, that’s why we ordered it…I said yes please, she disappeared and came back with one bowl of the pilaf…even though Ben wanted some too! Grrrrr
Ben wasn’t fussed though and just ate my rice as well as his, while I had the pilaf.
So, with all rice correct and accounted for, it was time to eat. The food was…okay. It wasn’t amazing. Maybe we are spoilt with delicious Indian food over here? We have an amazing posh Indian near us which puts so much flavour in their dishes; I could literally drink their lamb passanda gravy. And, if I’m honest, I have. So not sure if we’d been spoiled, or the food just wasn’t that great. Neither of us were fans though which is VERY unusual – Ben is an easy boy to please, he likes everything! Unless it’s got meat in, obvs. The butter chicken was bland and watery, and the paneer was completely tasteless. I had to put salt on it!
My food, with the pilaf that clearly isn’t a pilaf
I don’t have a photo of Ben’s I’m afraid, must have just completely given up haha!
So we were disappointed with the food
I was annoyed with the service too, she really wasn’t very good. She didn’t check on us again after Pilaf-gate and we were just feeling a bit fed up. So fed up in fact, that we skipped dessert! CRAZY TIMES! I know. But, none of the options were jumping out at us and I was feeling so exhausted. We didn’t really want to stay and have to give her a bigger tip, as bad as that sounds. We did leave her 18% though but we both agree it should have been less.
So it was a disappointing meal. Not sure if we’d go back, definitely not for a while!
The Verdict
I didn’t really enjoy this meal
Bad service and the food is better at our local takeaway :O Although the location and view can’t be beaten!
It’s a fins
I have taken a long break from the Dis due to some personal stuff going on but I am so glad I came back! Keep on writing!!
I feel like every time we saw an animal we had to have a conversation about it! But maybe we didn’t. This was just like a farm anyway and it was pretty cute watching the kids stroking the goats and stuff.
For some reason, I didn’t get one!?!? WEIRD. No explanation for that. He got a mango margarita and thoroughly enjoyed it.
I've been reading through this and your last dining review as well and I just adore your writing style!! SO much fun!!!
