Bad review of 'Ohana--what do you think?

[gk90]

I've been wondering about making ADRs at 'Ohana, I like the sound of the menu, DH and I love Hawaii, we're both adventurous eaters and so are DD9 and DS6. But the bad review on wdwinfo.com is really giving me second thoughts:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningdetail.cfm?Restaurant.ID=25

Some of the highlights (or lowlights!) from the review:
"Ohana is the wildly popular restaurant on the second floor of Disney's Polynesian Resort that does not deserve the reputation it has."
"The food quality varies from mediocre to poor. There is relentless Hawaiian 'lounge act' type entertainment that includes singing, ukulele playing, limbo contests and races where children push coconuts around the restaurant, all on hardwood floors. The noise level is extremely loud and the ambience is best described as chaotic. 'Ohana has a large and loyal following who obviously see something we don't."

I'm really hoping it's not as bad as they say!

 

[Snow_White]

I think 'Ohana is basically a gorge fest with decent food. We pretty much ignored the entertainment (no kiddies, it just wasn't "our thing"). If you like to eat A LOT of food, then you should enjoy 'Ohana because you get a TON of food, however, none of the food was spectacular IMO. The dessert and the salad was the best part IMO. We're going to stick with Kona from now on.

 

[tndisneyfan]

If you think the your family will enjoy the food, I say go for it. Every place at WDW gets good and bad reviews, check out the reviews on this site. We have ate at Ohana twice, the food is not the best food I have ever ate but it's above average. One thing I do agree with is the place is loud. I'll also say I am one of the few who didn't enjoy the person up there playing the ukelele (sp?). Overall we enjoyed our experience, you probably will too.

 

[ryno2355]

We loved it and the dessert was delicious! Cant wait to go back!

 

[Babyboo]

We went for the first time in January and have booked an ADR for our upcoming June trip.

I have to say that we didn't eat much of the meat as we were full from the shrimp, salad, watons & potatoes which are to die for

The pudding was also unmissable and I will be making sure that I leave plenty of room for that when we go back.

We had great service, the kids had fun and were offered alternative if they didn't want what was on offer. To top it off we got to see Wishes while we were eating.

 

[dancemomnj]

We went in November and loved it! It was a must do for our July trip. We're bringing my sister and her family too. The entertainment is great for the kids. The food was yummy. We had the best waiter ever! He did not rush us at all! The kids were able to order chicken fingers and still try what we had. If you want to be where the action is sit in the main dining room. We asked to with the kids. We are looking so forward to going back.

 

[Gurgi]

I will say that Ohana has changed in the last year, and we're not fans of the changes, but still like to eat there. They changed some of the first course items and got rid of the tiny peel and eat shrimp for big ones that they bring to your table on the skewers.

Hint: If you still want the fresh pineapple with caramel sauce, just ask for it. We've done this every time and it's always brought out at no extra charge. One server even brought it out along with the other dessert.

I am NOT a big fan of the entertainment only for the fact that it can get quite loud. But it's great fun for the kids!

 

[ChrisnKim913]

We ate there last summer for the first time(after the changes) and it is our favorite restaurant... not just at the world but all together! The food is absolutly delicious and the atmosphere can't be beat. We were the first ones seated... right at the window over-looking the sevin seas lagoon and castle. The kids do fun activities and there's a hawaiiian guy singing. You will not leave hungry. I give it 1,000 thumbs up!!!

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

The food isn't really adventerous at all and it's incredibly mediocre. The "entertainment" is really the best reason for attending as it is great fun for the kids but I can't fathom adults going here on their own. JMO, of course but at 30+ per person I am personally stunned at the continued popularity of this once pretty darned good restaurant.

 

[skoi]

We've never eaten there "before the changes" so can't compare. But we did like it when we went last Fall with our 3 kids (12, 8, and 2). The service was good, the food was good (we weren't crazy about the turkey and sausage though- and we're normally a turkey and sausage family). The kids had fun, and we had a great view.

We also saw horrible reviews before we went, and I wanted to cancel our ADRs, but dh said not to, and I'm glad we didn't. Was it the best restaurant we'd even been to? No, but we liked it.

 

[srgibbs]

Let me start by saying we are not buffet all you can eat type of people. We don't care about really fancy restaurants either. We are middle of the road good food not huge portions people. We were not sure what to think of O'hana before we went since we don't care about portions as much as the food being good. This was one of our favorite restaurants! There was lots of food but it was all very good. We prefered just the steak meat as the rest of the meat was just ok, but the salad, shrimp and especially the dessert was wonderful. Kids got little umbrella's in their drinks, we saw the MK fireworks from our table, had fun games for the kids, and service was great. My 2yo was even given her own dessert and drink at no extra charge. We are going back in Sept. and eating there again. We love Kona Cafe also they are just both so different that we will do both on this trip also. Poly def. has the 2 best restaurants IMO. Don't worry to much about everyones reviews. Unless you are really pickey I think most everything at Disney is done very well.

 

[ElizabethB]

The review is accurate. We'll never go back.

 

[TheDisneyClan]

I've been wondering about making ADRs at 'Ohana, I like the sound of the menu, DH and I love Hawaii, we're both adventurous eaters and so are DD9 and DS6. But the bad review on wdwinfo.com is really giving me second thoughts:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningdetail.cfm?Restaurant.ID=25

Some of the highlights (or lowlights!) from the review:
"Ohana is the wildly popular restaurant on the second floor of Disney's Polynesian Resort that does not deserve the reputation it has."
"The food quality varies from mediocre to poor. There is relentless Hawaiian 'lounge act' type entertainment that includes singing, ukulele playing, limbo contests and races where children push coconuts around the restaurant, all on hardwood floors. The noise level is extremely loud and the ambience is best described as chaotic. 'Ohana has a large and loyal following who obviously see something we don't."

I'm really hoping it's not as bad as they say!

This review by Kevin from DIS staff is really just his own opinion. I don't think Kevin has any special culinary talent, he is just a guy. I usually do not agree with his opinions. He seems to dislike any restaurants that includes a family atmosphere. I mean come on ...how could anyone not think there is going to be kid / family entertainment at a restaurant named Ohana...(means family) ?

As for the food, it might not be high cuisine, however it is a nice polynesian variation to a generally "american" family diet.

Try it....you will be glad you did!

 

[Nancyg56]

I think that reviews often reflect personal taste. My family went there a year ago in January. I had not made an ADR there, I read the reviews, but my DDIL asked if we could try to get in. Called and got a ressie. I thought that it was okay, everyone else in our party loved it. Went back this January, and my DD and DSIL were with us this time. Again they all loved it, DGD the most of all. I am still on the fence. The food was good but not my favorite, the entertainment fun. Now they want 'Ohana added to their August list. I would not mind if we went to Kona. They did not like it there.


If you think that your family would enjoy trying it, see for yourself. We are all in the same family and we can't agree, so I would take reviews in the spirit that they are offered, and then see for yourself.

 

[Mickey&Donald]

We're trying Ohana for the first time this summer, after having dinner at Kona last year, and wishing we'd been next door instead. Personally, I don't understand the hype about Kona, but to each their own! Ohana's Hawaiian music and boisterous family atmosphere sounds like a GREAT time to me!!!

 

[Judy from Boise]

I enjoy the food and the view, besides that I would agree with the reviewer....nothing compensates for the relentless and tacky "entertainment". Not my cup of tea at all !

 

[LAWalz23]

My family enjoys the food at Ohana. That said everyone needs to try things themsselves before they can say whether they like it or not and then sometimes the restaurant is just having an off day. We always try to eat at one or two new restaurants each trip and a few old favorites.

 

[smartestnumber5]

I've eaten there before (at least 5 years ago) and after (a few months ago) the changes and enjoyed it both times. I got the feeling there was more for me as a vegetarian after the changes (besides the special entree they make for you) but since the first dinner there was so long ago I can't really remember.

We didn't mind the entertainment at all. We have no kids, but found the kid's limbo contest amazingly cute. As for the food, we really enjoyed it. It wasn't fancy, but it tasted darn good. We both loved the potatoes--very creamy and cheesy I think. I loved the wontons and peanut sauce (have been experimenting with making peanut sauce at home now). GF loved the shrimp--she ate an entire bowl herself. I do have to say the server did not come by with meat skewers very often so she didn't get much meat and she didn't think it was that impressive. But she liked the other stuff enough that it didn't matter. The dessert was yummy too, but we were so full we couldn't eat much of it.

 

[TVEPFOX]

Do the kid's meal still come in a sand pail and shovel? My DD would love that, we leave on DCL after our stay at WDW.

 

[luvdisney00]

We're going to be trying Ohana for the first time in July. It sounds like a blast to me, I think the kids will love it.

When it comes to food you will always get differing opinions, since everyone has their own taste. All you can do is try places that you think your party will enjoy, and make up your mind to have fun even if it is a less than perfect dining experience.

Remember, you're in Disney...it's all good!