Help! Need info re: Boma @AKL

[Scrufsmom]

Hope someone can help me get some straight answers. We are leaving in 10 days for our WDW vacation. After mentioning to a friend about where we are staying they informed us not to eat at Bomas at the AKL. According to them they state that "all" the food is spicey and too rich. My family is a meat/potato bunch and my concern is that I will be wasting $$$ for food they won't eat. Is it true? Please help me make the best decision for our dinner. Has anyone eaten at Bomas and would you classify it as too spicey for a 9 yo?

Thanks for you input.

 

[DVCTiff]

I think this is an overgeneralization. There are plenty American choices that I don't think are spicy. The grilled meats are not spicy but some of the sauces are. I think the choices are wonderful and your kids might expand their horizons and discover something new. I'm sure you'll get lots more advice but I, personally, think Boma would be a wonderful experience to share with your children.

 

[scrump]

You probably need to go with a more open mind to BOMA's than McDonald's, for example, but I agree with the above poster that the "too spicy" "too rich" description is overbroad. That being said, if you are going with a bunch of tried-and-true diner-style "meat and potatoes" only group, you may want to rethink this restaurant choice. But if you are willing to keep an open mind, I think it could really be a fantastic experience with the family. And know that there are very standard foods as well, so I doubt that your money would be wasted.

 

[zakatak]

First off, if you are staying at AKL, they offer a dining tour at 4pm which takes you through Jiko (get to sample), Victoria Falls (no samples) and Boma. Here they walk you through every pod and a chef explains each dish. You can sample a soup and a zebra dome. The cost for this tour is...

Free.

If you aren't staying at AKL, you just have to try it anyways! Yummy stuff and not very spicy. If you can handle Hummus and peanut sauce (not in the same dish), you can handle Boma.

Good luck!

 

[Dreamfinder2]

As much as I love Boma, the rest of the family were just a little less than enthralled. Spicy doesn't equal HOT, just spiced, but my DW, especially, said, "I'm glad I came, but I don't think I have to come back." She has the meat 'n taters genes in the family.

Me? I'll eat anything that's not fastened down.

I think I'd just have to try it once ... with the understanding that if it's too exotic for everyone, then one trip will suffice.

 

[nasmith]

DH, 4 yo son and Myself love this restaurant - my In-laws were less than thrilled (Pops is a meat-n-taters guy). One of my favorites though. Not too many items are "hot-spicy", but many are heavily spiced (as in mild curry flavor).

Why don't you ask to go in and LOOK at the buffet before you are seated - they will allow you to do that - and it gives you an idea of whether you will like the food or not;

 

[LeslieM]

Dictated by my picky DD11yo (9yo last Boma visit) :

It wasn't spicy or too saucy, unless you wanted it that way. I don't usually like the food on the kids' table, so I tried lots of stuff -- some I liked and some I didn't. The chefs were real nice and they asked you if they could help you choose food and what you wanted. My favorite part was the desserts !!

Now me :

We tried Boma for the first time on the first night of our mother/daughter trip. Both DD and I are more meat/potatoes kind of people; she walked around the entire time saying "we have to bring Daddy". Some of the foods were "different" through the spices but they were not spicy-hot. And, DD's right -- the desserts are AWESOME ! The staff were friendly and very helpful and it was a great start to a great vacation !

 

[airhead]

I thought there were plenty of choices for those not adventurous.
Mac & cheese,fried chichen fingers, roast beef,roasted chicken.
All kinds of salads and deserts. I can't imagine even the pickiest eater not being able to find something at Boma!

 

[Beth E. (NJ)]

I love Boma, but I am a pretty adventurous eater. I went there with DH and two dd's. DH liked it so much we had dinner there twice during one trip (and one breakfast.) Both dd's enjoyed the food -- even the dd who is a very picky eater. I didn't think things were particularly spicy -- but they do use some different flavors than some people might be used to.

 

[LYNSUE]

Tried Boma's March 2004 with my 9yo nephew. We liked it very much. I cannot say that the food was spicy (hot). There were different spices then we were use to but not hot. If you group is very particular about trying new things, Boma's could be a problem.

 

[MelanieC]

My family (me, DH, DD12 & DS6) all love Boma's!

I think there are plenty of "non" spicy dishes and I don't think of this type of food as spicy. Some of the sauces may have a hint of sweetness to them, but not spicy. To me spicy is Indian Food (which I love) or Spicy Mexican dishes.


The carved roast beef is excellent here. There is a rub on it, but it's not spicy at all. Everything here is so good all the way down to the desserts! I really love the mashed sweet potatoes. It's like having a dessert!

 

[motaei]

DH is into red meat & he really liked the meat carving station. The food was definately not "too spicy" or "too rich", however, there were definately more adventurous things to eat there, along side some of the regular fair. I say, give it a try - I can't beleive you could leave there hungry with all of those choices. My DD-9 is very picky & she left very satisfied without touching the "children's" food.

 

[Bob NC]

Lots of folks will tell you it's wonderful. What it boils down to though.....If you are really a "meat & potato" family, you won't see the appeal.

When we were there we saw tons and tons of their "specialty" foods being removed from peoples tables by busboys, while the carving station line got longer and longer.

It's great for your more adventurous eaters, but, it's not for meat and potatoes types.

I'm not trying to demean anyones likes or degrade anyones opinion....You know what you and your family likes, if it's meat and potatoes, you can go to many places at WDW for better M & P at non-specialty buffet prices.