'Ohana got added to my list of meals because I love the IDEA of a buffet, but not so much the practice of them. Eating food out of the same bowls as other people kind of skeeves me out. I was just told that I have to attend a buffet dinner for work in December and my first reaction was, "I don't like buffets with strangers let alone people who I know don't wash their hands in the bathroom!" So yeah, buffets are not at the top of my list - of course, you can all call me a hypocrite when I do my Boma review
I arrived at the Poly after a short drive from my resort and valeted the car. Turns out it was a good thing that I was planning to valet because the security guard told me that the parking lots were full that night. The free valet when you use Tables In Wonderland is a great perk. Saves $14 or a long walk from self-parking!
I checked in and the place was pretty packed. I was given a pager and started to walk around the Poly. I stopped in the gift shop for a minute and didn't even have time to make a complete circle around the 2nd floor before I was buzzed back. Apparently I didn't walk fast enough as somebody was dispatched to the bar area to call my name. Really though, I couldn't have taken more than 60 seconds to walk back to the check-in desk.
A guy who was clearly frazzled because their computers had been acting wonky all night showed me to my table. He gave me basket of Welcome Bread and said that my waitress, Melly, would be over soon.
Before Melly even acknowledged that I existed, a guy brought out the salad and my sauces.
My server finally arrived and took my drink order. Although I was tempted to get a Lapu Lapu I figured I better stick with soda since I was driving. I have to at least pretend to be responsible.
After getting my drink, I dug into the bread and the salad. The bread was good, kind of like a soft warm bread sprayed with pina colada mist. The pineapple/coconut taste wasn't strong, which was much appreciated.
The salad was DELICIOUS. The dressing is a honey-lime deal and it is very light and sweet. Not too sweet though and at the same time the lime flavor does not over power it. I could have eaten the whole bowl!
Next came the rest of the appetizer type foods:
Pork Dumplings
Honey Coriander Wings
Lo Mein Noodles
The dumplings were good, but I think weren't really that necessary. They served more as a filler than anything else for me. I had one or two, but didn't go back for more later.
The wings were okay, better than the sticky wings at Kona. They were cooked well but I only ate a few because of my chicken aversion.
The lo mein noodles were my absolute favorite part of the whole meal. I could have and almost did eat the entire bowl. They are sweet and not overly saucey...just amazing. I will go back to 'Ohana just to have another chance at those noodles.
At this point I should mention that my server was mostly absent. She had other tables, but there was no reason for her to be as neglectful as she was to me. The other servers around me were wonderful, having fun with their tables and actually bringing the food and such. I think your server is supposed to bring over the meats, but mine only came by once. I was mostly given meats by the other servers.
Speaking of the meats - what a huge disappointment. They are supposed to be the star of the meal and that was not the case whatsoever. I was given Pork and Turkey first. I honestly couldn't tell the difference between the two. It was so dark in there that I couldn't tell by sight and there was absolutely no way to tell by taste. Once dipped in the sauces, they might as well have come from the same animal.
Next came steak. Boo. It was so overcooked that it was absolutely not edible. It was so bad that I considered canceling my Le Cellier ADR because I thought I couldn't risk overcooked steak again. I took one bite and pushed the rest of it away.
The shrimp came last and was the only shining light in the sea of horrible meats. I started with just two because shrimp is not something I always like to eat. I should have more because they were great, especially when dipped in the sweet and sour sauce. I just wish they were already peeled as they are quite hot when they get to your table and kind of difficult and messy to peel. When the server came back around with more steak and shrimp I passed on the steak and jumped at the shrimp.
All while eating there was quite a show going on with the entertainment lady. She sings, does limbo, acknowledges everybody's birthdays and whatnot. It was a good distraction since it is a really long meal. Amazingly enough, there were two women from different parties both celebrating their 93rd birthdays, how crazy is that??
After deciding I was too full to eat anymore food I had a nice surprise - Wishes was starting. I didn't have the best seat to see the show, but I did have a fairly good view. I was over against one of the windows over looking the longhouses so I had to lean over a little bit to see the fireworks. They don't look like they are going off over the castle when you are watching them from the Poly.
Dessert finally came and I was not impressed.
I guess I don't really like bread pudding. The ice cream was good, as was the sauce. I didn't eat much of it though. I asked my server for my check and she handed over the wrong one. Of course, she was long gone by the time I noticed. It took another 10 minutes for her to bring back the right one and to take my Key to the World and Tables in Wonderland card to pay. Ugh...no extra tip for her!
Despite the bad meat and the bad server, I did enjoy my meal. There were enough good things to outweigh the not so good that I will be returning for another visit soon.
It is ok though as I think my kids would like it hear and I should save it for when they come with me. We are having a no kids trip. 
i am guessing they weren't Australian, as we do have pretzels here. maybe they were from the outback or something... i don't think they would have pretzels out there 
What a cool drink!
