Better family dinner: Boma or Sanaa?

[WaterLinds]

We currently have reservations at Boma on our arrival day, but after watching my son inhale butter chicken this week I'm pondering switching to Sanaa! Group is 4 adults (all reasonably adventurous eaters), a 6 year old who often has typical kid tastes but also a rapidly expanding palate lately, and a 2 year old who will either eat everything or nothing depending on the day. I had been thinking the buffet would do a better job at satisfying all tastes in a more casual atmosphere, but I know the kids would enjoy the bread service and at least one of them would love some butter chicken. And the savannah views at Sanaa are an added draw.

I've asked the other adults in our group for feedback but they tend to just shrug and say whatever I have planned works for them!

So if it were you...where would you go for dinner with the family?

 

[skittles67]

We've eaten at both and preferred Sanaa. We have a trip planned in May and I have our reservation for Sanaa!

 

[Micca]

The quality of the food is better at Sanaa, but you have an opportunity to try various things at Boma (fun for adventurous eaters to try a variety.) Also Boma a huge dining hall that's noisy and can get a bit congested around the food stations, Sanaa is comparatively quiet. Both are good experiences, just depends on what you're looking for. The good thing about a buffet with small kids is that if they begin to get restless you can wrap things up and get out of there. The downside to the buffet with small kids is they sometimes just won't eat much, but you pay the freight anyway.(No charge for the two year old though.)

 

[kiford]

We've not been to Sanaa yet (we go to Jiko's at least once per trip and that always takes precedence schedule-wise) but I intend to do so next time. It's really nice at Boma's to get a wide variety of options especially if you don't have adventurous eaters and we do like it but since it doesn't sound like you have too many people in your party who would balk at more seasoned food, I'd say do Sanaa. It's much more clearly Indian inspired than Boma.

 

[mousestruck]

They are two very different experiences. Sanaa has my vote for ambiance (though you'll only see animals if it's still light out), but my family isn't as adventurous when it comes to the food. We've gone three times and never loved the entrees. However, the bread service is AMAZING! Last time we skipped the entrees and just did the bread service and appetizers. It was perfect! That being said, my family prefers Boma. Yes, it is loud and sometimes has a bit of a wait (even with an ADR), but we love trying all the different foods! It is truly a fabulous buffet... interesting soups, salads and sides along with the entrees and yummy desserts. I'm sure you'll enjoy either restaurant!

 

[smiths02]

Is everyone a big eater in your group? Are you on the Dining Plan?
For hearty appetites, Boma might be better for the all you can eat aspect.
If you are on the Dining Plan, the cost wouldn't really matter, but your party would cost about $210 at Boma out of pocket.
Sanaa would probably be a little cheaper.

I haven't been to Sanaa, but I would also consider time of day and that you might not get a window seat. At Boma, you could do animal watching before dinner...they also have night goggles after dinner you could use

ETA: Even with four adults, sometimes actually being waited on (Sanaa) versus having to make a bunch of trips to the buffet is nice when you have small children with you. Although, buffets can be easy for kids because you can eat right away

 

[pixie08]

Sannaa's setting is better.However, it will come down to the groups eating habits. Do you like buffets or prefer sit downs? Are there picky eaters? if so Boma would actually be better imo because of the variety and you can just fill up on mac n cheese and try a few other things.

Sanaa is delicious but a bit more adventurous.

 

[Pumbaa_]

I like Boma

 

[rg35]

For an arrival day, I would say Sanaa. After a day of travel, I'd prefer a quiet, sit down meal rather than a loud, self-service buffet.

That said, we do like both places.

 

[WaterLinds]

You're not helping my indecision at all! An opening came up at Sanaa so I grabbed it for now, Boma has had plenty of openings for that night so it should be easy to switch back. My dad tells me Boma sounds a bit better to him but I'm not sure he had thought through buffet vs sit down.

 

[gharter]

Will be going to Sanaa in April so can't compare. We have eaten at Boma when our kids were younger (they loved it) and it is really good for a buffet.
From what you posted about your kids, I think Boma would be a better choice. For your 6 year old, they can eat safe kid food, but also be more adventurous if they choose. Same for the younger one. For adults, there is plenty of safe food, but also a very good mix of African foods. Without kids, my vote would be Sanaa or Jiko, with younger kids, Boma.
Boma also will be more crowded and louder than Sanaa most likely.

 

[JZCubed]

We currently have reservations at Boma on our arrival day, but after watching my son inhale butter chicken this week I'm pondering switching to Sanaa! Group is 4 adults (all reasonably adventurous eaters), a 6 year old who often has typical kid tastes but also a rapidly expanding palate lately, and a 2 year old who will either eat everything or nothing depending on the day. I had been thinking the buffet would do a better job at satisfying all tastes in a more casual atmosphere, but I know the kids would enjoy the bread service and at least one of them would love some butter chicken. And the savannah views at Sanaa are an added draw.

I've asked the other adults in our group for feedback but they tend to just shrug and say whatever I have planned works for them!

So if it were you...where would you go for dinner with the family?

First, let's start with comparing food. Dinner at Boma provides the opportunity to enjoy the variety of a buffet, but the nature of buffets means that the food is cooked in large batches. On the other hand, Sanaa requires the personalization of each dish.

Similarly, some people like having their food 'served' while on vacation, while others are very happy to repeatedly get up at their leisure.

Similarly, some folks with small children find their children enjoy getting up to self-serve at a buffet, while others are seemingly annoyed that their child wants to go back-n-forth & back-n-forth & back-n-forth.

The rooms - if you make your reservation at Sanaa for during daylight, then the 2 y.o. will most certainly be pleasantly distracted by the live animals on the Savannah. Boma is certainly lovely and the animals can be enjoyed from any of the vista points throughout the AKLodge.

Cost can be an issue - your 6 y.o. will be charged (I don't think your 2 y.o. gets charged), but that might not matter if they enjoy the well-seasoned chicken that will be on the buffet.

This is a coin-flip, unless any of the things mentioned in this or other posts tip the scale of your personal calculus.

Fwiw - we avoid buffets, so Sanaa is our preference.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Sanaa. It's quieter and the food is so much better. I am not a fan of doing buffets with children who can't navigate a buffet on their own. It just created more work for me when DS was younger.

 

[Koogs]

We ate at both last trip, my parents, wife and 2 children, 5 and 9 months at the time. Boma was a hit with everyone. Sanaa I liked a lot but was a miss for most everyone except me. It was an interesting food experience for the not so adventurous eaters, they had things they liked, but the main courses missed the mark for some. Although the quality and attention to detail is higher at Sanaa, I did feel that the buffet at Boma was high quality and worth the price, as opposed to some buffets where you feel like you're paying to see the characters and suffering through the food.

My father is a meat and potatoes person, my mother is somewhat too. Boma delivered on that. I like interesting things as well as "normal" things and Boma had both, I ate myself silly. I tried all sorts of soups and sides. The chocolate dessert at Sanaa was really one of the best things I ever had though.

We are staying at AKL next trip for a little more than a week, and booked Boma twice and are not visiting Sanaa.

The animals are only seen in the light from the restaurant. you have the opportunity to visit the animals from either restaurant from the lobby.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

We also ate at both on our last trip. Sanaa was my favorite of the two. The service was excellent and the food was delicious.

Now, if you or your party are not at least somewhat adventurous, you probably won't enjoy it.

 

[10CJ]

I have only been to Sanaa. We did dinner and it was great. The bread service is awesome. My five year old liked it and enjoyed "painting" her own cookie for dessert (looks like this option has changed to paint your own brownie). we are going for lunch this year so we are doing Sanaa (Boma is not open for lunch). I am okay with that as there are some in our party who have not been and we really enjoyed dinner. I do hope to try Boma some day though.

I have heard good things about both. I would lean towards Sanaa since it seems a little more relaxing and being served could be nice after a day of travel.

 

[WaterLinds]

I think I'm being thrown off by the number of mentions of Sanaa not being a good choice for non-adventurous eaters, because to our group the Sanaa menu looks...not that adventurous? There are a lot more unfamiliar dishes on the Boma menu than the Sanaa one, which was part of the attraction for the adults. I don't anticipate anyone having a hard time finding things to eat at either, other than the 2 year old if he's in a non-eating mood, but that's too hard to predict and not really a factor.

We should be ok for daylight for animal watching at least until the food comes, and I'm hoping we can get to AKL early enough for a walk around before dinner while it's light out. Dad is driving up from Ft Lauderdale so we'll see when they get there!

The main thing I'm taking away from this thread is we will almost certainly have a great experience at either one, just two different great experiences! So that's reassuring. Whichever one we don't eat at hopefully we can go to next year--maybe we'll even stay at AKL and do both! (Part of why we're headed there...scouting mission for next year. Mostly just concerned about the travel time to the parks, tough, I think we would love it generally.)

 

[crabbygal902]

I enjoy both. The rest of my family would choose Sanaa, they aren’t big on buffets and the crowds.

 

[kiford]

I think I'm being thrown off by the number of mentions of Sanaa not being a good choice for non-adventurous eaters, because to our group the Sanaa menu looks...not that adventurous?

I don't personally consider the menu to be that adventurous since we have a widely varied set of dishes we make at home as well as a large range of local restaurants locally. However, a lot of people have a much less broad experience and food preference so may find it a bit adventurous and/or too spicy for them. It's hard to know what people find adventurous and what they don't without knowing their own background and experience.

 

[crabbygal902]

For what it’s worth, the food at Sanaa Is not adventurous at all to me. Grilled meats, some veggies...maybe the spices are exotic?
For example, Tzatziki sauce on the bread service may sound weird to some , but my Southern Grandma used to make a very similar dish with cucumbers and yogurt during the summer for church pot lucks. Delicious on tomatoes, by the way.