I want to start off by saying I really don't like buffets, and I especially don't like them solo, when I feel the need to take my purse up to the buffet with me since I'm afraid of it getting stolen if I leave it at the table, (even in Disney.) I also worry about the food being dried out from heat lamps, as well as sanitary issues, from everyone serving themselves.
That all being said, I love Boma. Even though I still drag my purse up to the buffet with me, I have no worries of the food, (which Disney does an excellant job of keeping fresh,) and there's an excellant variety and quality to the food, the other buffets don't quite match, (though I am now quite fond of the Crystal Palace lunch buffet, Boma is still my favorite.) Sure there are some old standbys like macaroni and cheese and chicken nuggets, but most of the food is unusual at the very least.
This was my third time dining at Boma. The first time was in 2005 on a Tuesday night, the second time was in 2006 on a Thursday night, and the most recent time was in 2007 on a Friday night. Boma is on a roational menu, which is Monday and Thursday has the same menu, Tuesday and Friday have the same menu, and Wednesday and Saturday have the same menu. So up to this point I have been able to try every rotational night except for Wednesday and Saturday. Even though both of the other rotations are very good, (though if I had to pick one, I'd pick the Tuesday / Friday menu for the day's soups alone,) I really wanted to try the Wednesday / Saturday menu since I heard that was the night that ribs are served, as well as some soups that sounded good. (I could just eat soup all night when at Boma and be happy.)
It would of fit my original schedule better to eat here the next night, (which was my other Animal Kingdom day, and if you remember from my Jiko review, I think spending the day at Animal Kingdom, before eating at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, adds to the mood,) but due to the rotational menus, I decided to eat here Saturday, even though I was not spending the day at Animal Kingdom.
Between my lunch at Raglan Road and my dinner at Boma I had gone back to Pop for a break, though I didn't actually sleep, I had a nice rest, as well as a fabulous drink, (more about that in my review of Disney drinks and lounges.) I had a 5:00 ADR, but got bored in the room before that, and headed to the Animal Kingdom Lodge around 3:30.
I had excellant luck with the buses, as one pulled up at both stops as soon as I arrived, (I had to transfer buses at Epcot to get to the Animal Kingdom Lodge since I went from Pop.) I arrived at Boma early, but was seated right away, since it was only 4:40, and no one was really eating dinner at that time.
My server was Nikki, and she was very nice, and recommended a lot of the things I'd read about that I was already anxious to try. I was very pleased that both the ribs, and the carrot-ginger soup, the two main reasons I had booked Boma on Saturday night, were both being served that night.
Now I must admit that my throat was still not feeling that great, but I had bought a few packs of cough drops, and they were doing wonderful things for my throat, like allowing me to swallow without pain, so I was able to eat more then I was at lunch. Still, had my throat not been bothering me, I probably would've eaten more.
I started with a plate of hot food, since there was no line at the meat station, I'm sorry, meat "pod," and I knew from experience, that there would be a line there later. (Maybe Disney could start making buffet Fast Passes, LOL.)
Going clockwise is prime rib with some kind of sauce, (you'll have to excuse me, but I don't remember the name of the sauce,) nut-crusted salmon, peanut rice, fufu, and a rib.
The prime rib was good as always. It was nice and rare, though I prefer it without the sauce, which I thought was bland. Granted, I took the one that was "least spicy" according to the guy carving the meats, so the other sauces may be better. The nut-crusted salmon was good, as was the peanut rice, which was much better then the rice I had at Crystal Palace. The fufu a.k.a. mashed sweet potatoes are always a favorite of mine. The rib was good, I found it to not be too spicy, like I'd read they were, I enjoyed it.
I had also gotten a bowl of soup. This is the carrot-ginger soup that I was so excited to try.
This was so good, and may be my favorite soup Boma serves, (which is really saying something, as I love all the soups there.) It was so creamy with a slightly sweet very delicate flavor. Well worth the anticipation.
I wanted to save some room for zebra domes, but I also wanted to try at least one more soup, so my next plate was rather small.
This is the coconut-curried chicken soup, and it was very similar, and just as yummy as the coconut curry seafood stew that I'd had last year. I think they must use the same base for both soups, and just change a few ingrediants, as I don't remember there being tomatoes in the seafood one. Anyway this was delicious. With the soup I had some sun-dried tomato hummus, which is another "oldie but goodie" and some assorted dipping breads.
It was then time for dessert. Overall, I have always been almost consistantly dissapointed with the desserts at Boma, (except for the zebra domes,) but I always take a little bit of everything, hoping to find something I like.
Unfortunatly, this time wasn't much different. I would blame it on me not feeling 100% well, but being as this was my fourth time at Boma, I know that I just don't care that much for the desserts. There were a few highlights however.
Starting with the fruit tart and going clockwise. The fruit tart was all right, nothing to complain about, but also nothing special. Then there was a milk tart, which was pretty bland, and kassava cake, which was also bland, and had the strangest texture, it really had to be chewed. That's a pineapple cheesecake at the top of the plate, which I hated on my first trip to Boma, but after reading good reviews about it I grabbed one, and was pleased with it this time, it was one of the better desserts. The amarula cake was very dry, and not good. The chocolate mousse tasted all right, but I much preferred it when it was served in little individual portions. There's also some coconut tiramisu on the plate, which was very light, and had a nice taste to it. In the center there are of course two zebra domes, which were good as always.
So long story short the only desserts I really enjoyed were the pineapple cheesecake, the coconut tiramisu, and the always delightful zebra domes.
I'll be keeping Boma on my "must" list, though I'd recommend eating there on a Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday, due to the rotational menus. The next time I eat there I'm going to try Sunday night though, since that's a random night, and I read somewhere that the chefs recommend eating there on Sunday, since they try new recipes and such that night. I think that would be fun.