Boma or Sanaa?

[BWV2001]

We're a family of 5, not terribly adventurous, but we do want more than chicken tenders and mac and cheese. Which restaurant should we try? I've read that Boma uses a lot of cinnamon and vanilla flavorings, which worries me. Can you get meat and vegetables that doesn't have a sweet taste? And the side orders at Sanaa sound pretty unfamiliar. We are on dining plan so cost isn't an issue, but I don't want to leave the restaurant hungry. Which would you recommend?

 

[wdwmom0f3]

If you have picky eaters, I would avoid these two places. Do a little more research on the other places and choose some places that would have more of what your family would like. At the top of this page there is a section for dining. I would go there and see what you can find out.

I have picky eaters and a few of our favorite places are: Chef Mickeys, Kona Cafe, 50's Prime Time Cafe, O'Hana, and Crystal Palace. There is also Whispering Canyon Cafe, it's a fun place to eat too. There are so many different places to choose from that will have things that everyone would like.

 

[Quin]

Of the 2 I think Boma, in part because it is a buffet so everybody can choose from everything wereas with Sanaa you are each ordering a single menu item. Also, Sanaa is more Indian and that food tends to be more hot-spicy. I did not think all the food at Boma had sweet or cinnamon tastes. To me it was more that there was the opportunity to try multiple unfamiliar dishes. But there were also more basic options (the carved meats are pretty plan; sauces are on the side), soups (wonderful choices here; had a cream of mushroom that was out of this world), salads, breads. And don't forget the dessert bar!

 

[vettegirl]

I have not eaten at either, however I took a tour of the buffet for dinner at Boma and it looked pretty exotic to me. I would eat there but I know my DH would not.

 

[Pakey]

Both of these restaurants are not for picky eaters.

Boma's food offerings are almost all spiced. The meat, the vegetables, even the soups. The children's pod is pretty plain but that puts you back to eating the same stuff you can get anywhere else.

Sanaa's food is Indian inspired and although not as spicy as authentic Indian, it is spiced. I would not dine here if I didn't care for Indian food and the spices used in it.

 

[crabbygal902]

Although I have never been to either restaurant, I'll try to help.

1. Which menu is more appealing to you? (As others have said, check the menus here on this site or over at allears.net.) The Sanaa menu does seem quite adventurous, and Boma has comfort foods listed: meatballs and spaghetti, mac and cheese, chicken tenders, etc. If you are concerned about the African and Indian inspired flavors, you may want to choose Boma so that you have the option to try some different things. The basics are there if you are not happy.

2. Which decor/atmosphere is more appealing to you? (You can find pics on this site, at allears, or just google them.)

3. Do you prefer a buffet or a plated meal?

Having said all that, I'd pick Sanaa because I want to try the chai tea ice cream and the Indian breads! Also, having a view of the savanna during your meal would be lovely, and the restaurant seems a bit more upscale than Boma, which appeals to me and my crew.

 

[CookingWithMickey]

If you have picky eaters, I would avoid these two places. Do a little more research on the other places and choose some places that would have more of what your family would like. At the top of this page there is a section for dining. I would go there and see what you can find out.

I have picky eaters and a few of our favorite places are: Chef Mickeys, Kona Cafe, 50's Prime Time Cafe, O'Hana, and Crystal Palace. There is also Whispering Canyon Cafe, it's a fun place to eat too. There are so many different places to choose from that will have things that everyone would like.

I agree with this. Both Sanaa and Boma have more exotic food than many of the other restaurants at Disney. Also, the suggested choices are great. For buffets you might also want to consider 1900 Park Fare and if your family likes seafood Cape May Cafe.

 

[ciera321]

I love both, and Sanaa is our new favorite...But with a picky eater (and I have one that requests Boma every trip!) I say Boma would be better. While Boma uses spices on most things, the items are not hot and spicy, just flavorful. And I've never noticed vanilla, except maybe in the desserts. They kids pod has mac and cheese, spaghetti and meatballs and fries, plus I'm sure they'll find things in the other areas to eat. The desserts are also wonderful!!!

 

[kwdw]

Boma! Really, there will be plenty of choices here, even for picky eaters. The menu at Sanaa is limited and you have to "pick" an entree vs. having all the choices at Boma. If you don't like your entree - you are out of luck. At the buffet - you just try something different.

The meats themselves are not exotically spiced - and you can try all the sauces on the side so you don't have to like all the sauces. Yes, the meats are flavored, but it's not super strong. Only a few items are HOT spicy, so you don't need to worry about that. The kids pod has Disney staples - so if nothing else - everyone can fill up.

If you don't have much exposure to any of this type of food before, the trick is to take lots of little tastes the first time through the buffet - just a bite or two. That way - you can learn what you like and go back for that and not have a big pile on your plate of something you don't like.

Also, there's fresh fruit, bread, and very normal desserts. The soups might be different than what you have had before, but not all of them in a given evening are going to so strong with unusual flavors that you hate them. Basically - there are a TON of "safe" items on the buffet - nobody should go away hungry.

Really, as long as you try a bunch of things, you'll find things you like. Sure, even I sampled a couple things I didn't want anymore of than the bite I tried, but other things surprised me at how good they were. And I'm a "medium" level adventurous eater.

Now - I love SANAA, too, but if you aren't familiar with Indian food, it's more "risky" because you won't have as many choices.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

Neither restaurant is really for picky eaters. We tried Boma back in December and were horribly disappointed. DH is quite the carnivore and he felt the meat options and quality were very limited/poor and fairly bland/blah. I felt like the best food was side dishes and grazing food- i.e. couscous and rice while good shouldn't be the best thing to me on the buffet. And the hyped zebra domes were extremely disappointing. I'm hoping to try Sanaa and Jiko (in that order), but we're pretty adventerous eaters. If you're willing to take the risk on non-traditional food, the atmosphere at Sanaa trumps Boma.

 

[over50visits]

If by picky you mean you are looking for quality food with a range of tastes, I'd recommend Boma's. If by picky you mean someone who will only eat basic meat and potatoes and other comfort food, I'd recommend Boma's. The range of food there is enough to really impress those who appreciate good foods, as well as some plain food for children (and adults) who won't eat anything new. Something for everyone.