Boma for Buffet Haters?

[Eponine]

I'm trying to convince my husband that a PS for Boma is a good idea, but he says that he's never been to a buffet that's had good food, and is very leery about this one. I've read lots of reviews about the kinds of food they serve and the fact that even picky eaters usually seem to like it, but can someone give me opinions in the context of the fact that it's a buffet? I'd like to hear about the freshness of the food, whether you can tell that it's sat under a heat lamp, how long it DOES sit under a heat lamp, how often they rotate the items, that sort of thing. He's also worried about atmosphere - he wonders if a bunch of people huddling around the hot plates doesn't ruin the ambiance and basically turn the place into a glorified Furr's Cafeteria, or Picadilly.

Can anyone tell me whether or not this is the case? I'd love some reassurances, but if he's right, then go ahead and say so... I can handle it!

 

[Belle5]

Trust me, Boma is no Furr's. Boma doesn't even refer to itself as a buffet. It's food is set up in "pods". I can't tell you how long things sit under lights but the turnover is so quick that I know it's not long. We really aren't buffet fans, but Boma is a unique experience that should be tried at least once. I suggest with your husband being so leery of buffets that you make sure your PS is for the first dinner seating.

 

[jds]

We're not anti-buffet people, but chose not to eat at Boma when we stayed at AKL because it seemed so noisy and crowded every time we passed by.

We ate at Jiko instead, had a wonderful (and quiet!) meal, and ---because we're not big eaters---spent less than we would have at Boma... but we DID miss out on what looked like really wonderful desserts there...

Hope you have a great meal wherever you dine...

 

[Micca]

I'm not a big buffet fan either, but at Boma you get the opportunity to sample so many unusual things you might not order off the menu. We've been there 2 or three times and it was noisy and crowded. It seems like there are always people swarming around the area where you check in, and two times we had difficulty getting seated even with PS. That said, we really enjoy eating there(and three of the four of us are PICKY eaters).
The zebra domes are a cousin to tiramisu.

 

[eeyore0062]

I like Disney Buffets, but usually stay away from non Disney buffets... reason being, that Disney has GOOD, Fresh food on their buffets.. and Boma is definitely no slouch in that department, in fact they a little better than the rest (well, except maybe my beloved 1900 Park Faire breakfast!)

The food at Boma is delicious, and the chefs are all right there to answer any questions you have about preparation, etc. The service was also very good. We really enjoyed it, but to tell you the truth, it is not a place I go to everytime we go... it is very filling, and there is so much, you walk out of their stuffed to the gills!

 

[Pig Pen]

Go early, go empty, and enjoy. It's now our favorite!

 

[Micca]

Eponine I just want to second what Eeyore said about 1900 Park Fare. That's a darn good breakfast buffet.

 

[Dreamfinder2]

Eponine, regarding your husband's apprehensions ... Boma is big, bustling, and noisy. It is not a quiet, intimate experience. But the crowds, I think, make for fresher food. Because the food selections are depleated so quickly, the chefs have to work doubletime to keep the food out. They don't use conventional steam tables or heat lamps; much of the food is served in the pots right off the stove. I noted that when an item was just a little over half-gone, the chefs would replace it with the fresh stuff. You just didn't get that wilted, warmed-over experience you get from most buffet lines. And, as other posters have noted, the "pod" setup keeps lines from forming.

It's kind of fun, as you're serving your plate, to see how conversations strike up with others doing the same thing: "Have you tried this? What did you think?" etc. And, there's NO ONE any pickier than my DW and her aunt, and they did just fine. Some of the soups/stews lend themselves to sitting out a bit longer for the flavors to mingle, and the chicken-corn porrige was a hit with our whole party.

If you can accept the bustle and hubbub - which, oddly enough, added to the experience in a postive "marketplace" kind of way - the food is exceptional. And, hey, if you find something you don't like, get something else! Of course, we all ate way too much, but that's a different issue.

 

[Erikarate]

Sorry to those that enjoyed it, but DH and I thought it was the most disgusting meal we've ever had at Disney. Here is my original post on why:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=167299

Just my opinion.

 

[Eponine]

Wow, thanks, everyone!! He did agree last night to give it a whirl (your posts, along with some photos that I dug up on someone's site, did the trick, I think...or more likely, he just wanted to shut me up!). Now, another question...

How old does a child have to be before they aren't allowed to just share off their parents' plates at the buffets? I know that it's likely that they'll want us to pay full children's price for our 2-year old, but it would sure be nice if we didn't have to...I don't see that kid eating anywhere near $10.00 worth of food!

Thank you again, all!

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by Eponine
Wow, thanks, everyone!! He did agree last night to give it a whirl (your posts, along with some photos that I dug up on someone's site, did the trick, I think...or more likely, he just wanted to shut me up!). Now, another question...

How old does a child have to be before they aren't allowed to just share off their parents' plates at the buffets? I know that it's likely that they'll want us to pay full children's price for our 2-year old, but it would sure be nice if we didn't have to...I don't see that kid eating anywhere near $10.00 worth of food!

Thank you again, all!

Good news for you, Eponine! Children under 3 are not charged at the buffet restaurants. Enjoy!