Boma's....a victim of its own success?

[DizkneeDenna]

Dear Hubby and I were just at WDW over the Labor Day weekend....and we made our usual trek to Boma's. We love this restaurant. But this time, it just wasn't the same.

I think the restaurant has become sooooo successful because of word of mouth from this board!

They seem to be catering now more to families than adults. When Boma's first opened it was so romantic....low lighting, mostly adults, not very many kids!

Now they have turned the lights up, revamped some of the recipes, lots more kiddy food....by the way we were there at 9:30 p.m. the place was packed with kids, babies....lots of family action and loud.

Please don't get me wrong, of course we know there are lots of kids at WDW....this was just one of those quiet, romantic places for couples to go for a late dinner.

I miss the old Boma's!

Anybody else notice this?

Denna

 

[Luv2Roam]

Well, going during free dining certainly would not be the best time to go if you want romance and seclusion.
We ate there not long ago. Yes, the lighting was brighter. But really did not take much notice until you mentioned it here.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I was at Boma's a few days after you-on 9/7 also about 9:30pm and unfortunately, I had a very similar reaction as you. The waiting area was just swamped. And I'm afraid the free dining isn't entirely to blame. I went to 4 resturaunts last week and 2 of them were extremely quiet, less than 1/3 of the tables were taken (YCG and GFC/Citrico's), and this was NOT at 9:30 (I only ate that late at Boma because first, that's the only time I could get a reservation, and second, the reservation I had was at 8:40-they were running VERY late).

 

[shellybaxter]

I didn't eat at Boma when it first opened, but I ate there first in 2003. I felt then that Boma was a family restaurant, as opposed to Jiko, which felt more romantic to me. Of course I've never eaten as late as 9:30 - maybe that was the difference

 

[minnie56]

Was there a few weeks ago and noticed the same thing. The background noise was very noticable. Jiko would be a better choice!

 

[Nom]

We went to Boma based on its rave reviews in 2005. It struck me as a family place, very crouded- pretty good food but nothing incredible. I can't imagine ever seeing it as romantic, based on our experience back in 05! Maybe I hit it on an off night.

 

[magicmommy]

When DH and I dine alone at Boma we ask for a quiet table along the windows. We may have to wait but they usually come thru for us. Much nicer and out of the way.

 

[MissionMouse]

We went to Boma based on its rave reviews in 2005. It struck me as a family place, very crouded- pretty good food but nothing incredible. I can't imagine ever seeing it as romantic, based on our experience back in 05!...

I agree. I think when it was first opened it just didn't have that many customers, since AKL is not a location of convienence. Once the restaurant was able to attract a crowd to keep the restaurant in the black it operated as intended. A buffet, not a romantic table restaurant like Jiko. A family buffet which attracts people with picky eaters and people who define a great meal by quanity vs. quality. Thus, it attracts the crowds it was intended, add the dining plan to fill the other seats and the sound level rises.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Is it just me or is there anything less romantic sounding than the words "all-you-care-to-eat buffet"?

That being said, regarding the brighter lighting and more kid friendly menu choices, I personally like the little changes that they've made to Boma. With Boma sticking to a more "child friendly" atmosphere, Disney offers more to AKL families who might have been stuck going to the Mara or ordering room service for their home resort meals.

If we want "romance", we always have Jiko, which is easily one of the more quiet, dark, and romantic restaurants that Disney offers.

 

[joyjoy]

Boma? Quiet and romantic?

I've been going to Boma since 2002 and I've never seen it quiet or romantic. It has always been, let's just say... bustling. We like the food so much that it doesn't matter how crazy and noisy it gets, though. We ate there just a week ago yesterday and I miss it.

 

[Nom]

Boma? Quiet and romantic?

I've been going to Boma since 2002 and I've never seen it quiet or romantic. It has always been, let's just say... bustling. We like the food so much that it doesn't matter how crazy and noisy it gets, though. We ate there just a week ago yesterday and I miss it.

I was thinking the same thing when I saw the OP!

 

[Ted and Holly]

We've been going to Boma (no 's) often for breakfast and dinner since our first trip there in Nov 2001. It was never intended to be a quiet, romantic place. If you want quiet and romantic, Jiko is the better choice.

 

[GinnyFavers]

Dear Hubby and I were just at WDW over the Labor Day weekend....and we made our usual trek to Boma's. We love this restaurant. But this time, it just wasn't the same.
Denna

I don't think I'll be going back. I loved Boma once upon a time, but my visit in early August, I found it to be so loud and crowded. The prime rib was not trimmed properly and was not of the quality it used to be, way too fatty. The soups didn't taste like they used to, and even the salad greens seemed less fresh.

To me it's a value issue. I just didn't feel my meal was worth $25.99 plus tax and tip. I think I would have enjoyed the food court more, or perhaps I should just spend double that and eat at Jiko.

The quality of the ingredients they are using has gone down, as seems to be the case in every Disney restaurant the past couple of years. This is as they are more packed than ever. I never have understood why being busy makes a restaurant worse. You think they'd spring for even better ingredients and chefs with the extra profits.

 

[SharonLowe]

We love Boma and Jiko; been going to both since the AKL opened. Boma was always the family buffet while Jiko was the signature, fine dining place. Yes, Boma is much louder than it used to be - more people have discovered it. Go at less crowded times and always ask for a table by the windows. In June, my absolute best meal was at Boma but I have food allergies and am a vegetarian so the chef made a special meal for me that was just incredible! My DS and DD liked it too.

 

[LISAMWDW]

I thought the same thing! It's been a few years since I've been there but last week we dined there and was disappointed. It was bright, loud, crazy busy and the food wasn't as good, desserts included! We dined at 8pm with about 30 minute wait for our table.

In fact, of all the meals we had last week, Boma was our worst! We won't be in a hurry to go back.

 

[Disney845]

We love Boma for breakfast, not so much for dinner...but I don't get a quiet or romantic vibe from it?? I think the lighting level (and this only refers to the evening when it is dark outside so no natural light from the windows comes into play) depends on how close you are sitting to the grazing area (buffet line). If you are sitting further away and towards the windows in the back, it seems like much lower lighting levels. There always seems to be a lot of families, and of couse noise at the buffet type restaurants, more so than sit down, due in part to the constant flow of people getting up to go through the food lines.

 

[byoung]

Boma's is still the best buffet in Disney to us.

 

[septbaby]

We ate dinner at Boma on Sun Sep 2nd. We came directly from AK for a 6pm ADR. Not sure how long we waited, but I took our 5yo to the playground and savannah during our wait. The pager went off just as we returned to the bldg. He is not an adventurous eater, but ate well at Boma. We grown ups really enjoyed the variety and quality of many items we had that night. I didn't get to taste everything that appealed to the eye because I got too full too fast. We'll go for round 2 next September.

We ate at Chef Mickey's for breakfast and Hollywood and Vine dinner. Boma is definitely the best buffet of the bunch. We'll return to Chef Mickeys but not Hollywood and Vine (Fantasmic package so been there done that).

 

[mickaholic4077]

I love Boma. I have been dining there since 2001. I have never seen it as a romantic restaurant.

 

[Micca]

We don't think of it as quiet, just really good food. We've never been disappointed.