Just back-Ohana's still very good In Our Opinion...

[tiggergirlinMI]

After reading many disappointed reviews of Ohana's we were leary to go back to one of our favorite places. But we did and were glad we did. I don't know what all the complaining is about. We got the table by the window facing Cinderella's castle, even though it was only 5:10 ADR still a great view. In the 4 times we have eaten here we always get one of 2 tables, always facing the castle. We are a party of 3 so maybe that is why. Service was great. Our main server was Bernie and she was super. We went in with an open mind. We loved the old menu. So we started with the salad (very good) and the coriander honey chicken wings (delicious), wonton chips with different sauces (not one for sauces, neither were my teen sons) and the shrimp (WOW). On to the scalloped potatoes (good but nothing wow, but then neither was the fried rice from before) and the steamed veggies (tasted like they weren't cooked much so passed on them). Meats were the same as before, Turkey was good, Pork was overcooked, we like ours medium and the steak was a little pink the middle and was my favorite.
The pineapple bread pudding with banana foster sauce a la mode was delicious. My sons held the limbo bar for the younger kids during the march and the limbo. A great time was had by all 3 of us.
If you have any doubts of trying the "new " menu , try it, I think you will like it. Go in with an open mind. Food was great, service was great. I'm just sorry we skipped it on our trip late last year because of what I was reading. We will be back.....!!!!!

 

[tinkerbeth]

ITA. Can't wait to go back.

Beth

 

[WAHMto5]

We also loved it when we went in December and can't wait to go back!!

 

[danny1649]

Sharing,we also enjoy O'Hana's

 

[lustergirl]

We tried Ohana's on our last trip and it was fabulous. Our server was Cousin Joe, a nice young man.

 

[La2kw]

After reading many disappointed reviews of Ohana's we were leary to go back to one of our favorite places. But we did and were glad we did. I don't know what all the complaining is about.

I haven't tried the new menu, but my complaint is all the cost cutting that took place in the new menu. They went from jumbo grilled shrimp to a shrimp dish with smaller shrimp that are not even deveined or shelled. That's clearly a cost cutting move. Replacing the fresh pineapple and caramel sauce with bread pudding is another cost cutting move. Eliminating the wonton appetizers and replacing them with wonton "chips" is also a cost cutting move. I've never heard of polynesian style potatoes, but I'm sure that dish is also cheaper than whatever it replaced. I see the new menu as just another way for Disney to gouge us, just like the new menu at CRT. I wouldn't be surprised if they replaced the steak with SPAM (which is popular in Hawaii, but much cheaper than steak).

 

[kirbsam]

we were there with the old menu and have been there with the new menu and loved it both times. i dont really care about the cost cutting. the bread pudding and the potatoes are both better than what they replaced. change is difficult, and some people just do not handle change well. it is different, sure, but it remains a great meal.

 

[mickeymousemom]

Cost cutting or not, Ohana is one of our favorite places. We loved the bread pudding(my favorite WDW dessert now) and if I want pineapple with caramel I'll go to the grocery and buy it myself. I can't imagine that the scalloped potatoes could really be that much cheaper than fried rice. Even though we never ate from the old menu, I was familiar with it. Frm what I understand the shrimp on the skewers were also peel and eat(though I do think I would rather have those). What matters to us is if the food is good...and it is! We'll be back!

 

[Stacerita]

We love the new menu.

 

[Allison]

I loved it when we were there in December.

 

[cdpa4d]

Just ate there last Sunday. We loved the food. The service could have been better. My biggest complaint was being served all the food other guests were receiving. We did not receive any potatos or veggy stir fry until we asked for it. This was after we were finished with most of our skewered meat. Once we asked our server (Carlos) he said he would bring some right out. And he did without any problem.

Ohana is still one of our favorites and plan to do it in our next trip in October!

 

[MOMOFMNM]

After reading many disappointed reviews of Ohana's we were leary to go back to one of our favorite places. But we did and were glad we did. I don't know what all the complaining is about. We got the table by the window facing Cinderella's castle, even though it was only 5:10 ADR still a great view. In the 4 times we have eaten here we always get one of 2 tables, always facing the castle. We are a party of 3 so maybe that is why. Service was great. Our main server was Bernie and she was super. We went in with an open mind. We loved the old menu. So we started with the salad (very good) and the coriander honey chicken wings (delicious), wonton chips with different sauces (not one for sauces, neither were my teen sons) and the shrimp (WOW). On to the scalloped potatoes (good but nothing wow, but then neither was the fried rice from before) and the steamed veggies (tasted like they weren't cooked much so passed on them). Meats were the same as before, Turkey was good, Pork was overcooked, we like ours medium and the steak was a little pink the middle and was my favorite.
The pineapple bread pudding with banana foster sauce a la mode was delicious. My sons held the limbo bar for the younger kids during the march and the limbo. A great time was had by all 3 of us.
If you have any doubts of trying the "new " menu , try it, I think you will like it. Go in with an open mind. Food was great, service was great. I'm just sorry we skipped it on our trip late last year because of what I was reading. We will be back.....!!!!!

ITA that was our table too!!!!!!!!!!!!
I will post pics of it on my trip report if you want to look it up...will proably do it tomorrow!!

We love Ohanas and are going back this year...the only place we chose to go back to!!!!

 

[tiggergirlinMI]

I don't see how pineapple and caramel (very cheap)from the past is more costly than the new pineapple bread pudding with ice cream and banana fosters sauce. I am glad the wontons are gone, they were always a bit greasy. Rice is cheaper than the new scalloped potatoes and the shrimp we had? Were not as big as the tiger shrimp from the past but were not small by any means. So I have to disagree with the "cost cutting" opinion. The meat is the same. Only things that changed were the side dish and the appetizer and the dessert, all for the better. Change is good, and sometimes it's hard to accept but with an open mind it can be a great thing! Try the new menu, it just may surprise you.

 

[WillCAD]

I haven't tried the new menu, but my complaint is all the cost cutting that took place in the new menu.

I'm sure that was part of the motivation, but I don't care if something is cheaper as long as it is just as tasty and just as high quality.

They went from jumbo grilled shrimp to a shrimp dish with smaller shrimp that are not even deveined or shelled. That's clearly a cost cutting move.

Yes, it was, because the smaller shrimp are about 10% cheaper per pound, but the shrimp were never peeled or deveined, so I don't consider this as heinous a move as you might.

Replacing the fresh pineapple and caramel sauce with bread pudding is another cost cutting move.

I fail to see that. The cost of buying and slicing pineapple, and buying pre-made caramel sauce, must be lower or equal to the cost of bread pudding, bananas foster, and vanilla ice cream. And I personally think the new desert blows the doors off the pineapple.

Eliminating the wonton appetizers and replacing them with wonton "chips" is also a cost cutting move.

That is the worst of the cost cutting moves. I personally never ate the wontons anyway, but they were popular and taking them away in favor of those chips was a mistake.

I've never heard of polynesian style potatoes, but I'm sure that dish is also cheaper than whatever it replaced.

It replaced fried rice, which is about as cheap a dish as you can get anywhere in the world. The potatoes are actually a cheesy potato, so it's not just sliced up spuds, it's a dish that takes some prep, so I'd be willing to bet that they cost as much or more than the rice they replaced.

I see the new menu as just another way for Disney to gouge us, just like the new menu at CRT. I wouldn't be surprised if they replaced the steak with SPAM (which is popular in Hawaii, but much cheaper than steak).

Nobody has been more critical of Disney than me when it comes to cost-cutting, cutbacks, and price increases, but I don't see these changes at 'Ohana as a cost-cutting or cutback measure. I see them as an experimental change to the menu of an established restaurant - after all, any restaurant that keeps exactly the same menu without adding or subtracting even a single item for more than a few years is doomed to eventual failure.

 

[tiggergirlinMI]

Thanks WillCad, you had the same points I was thinking....and worded it better than I could, haha......

 

[La2kw]

Nobody has been more critical of Disney than me when it comes to cost-cutting, cutbacks, and price increases, but I don't see these changes at 'Ohana as a cost-cutting or cutback measure. I see them as an experimental change to the menu of an established restaurant - after all, any restaurant that keeps exactly the same menu without adding or subtracting even a single item for more than a few years is doomed to eventual failure.

Well we can agree to disagree on that. Smaller shrimp, bread pudding instead of fresh pineapple, and the other things I mentioned definitely seem like cheaper substitutes than what those items have replaced. I haven't had the new menu yet, so I can't comment on whether or not the new menu is good. I will say I'm a huge bread pudding fan, and their version sounds great! Most restaurants don't change as many key items on their menu all at once, and from the popularity of O'hana I doubt if it's "doomed to eventual failure". IMO, the motive for the menu change has nothing to do with that.

 

[La2kw]

I don't see how pineapple and caramel (very cheap)from the past is more costly than the new pineapple bread pudding with ice cream and banana fosters sauce. I am glad the wontons are gone, they were always a bit greasy. Rice is cheaper than the new scalloped potatoes and the shrimp we had? Were not as big as the tiger shrimp from the past but were not small by any means. So I have to disagree with the "cost cutting" opinion. The meat is the same. Only things that changed were the side dish and the appetizer and the dessert, all for the better. Change is good, and sometimes it's hard to accept but with an open mind it can be a great thing! Try the new menu, it just may surprise you.

I'm glad you like the menu changes-I'm sure Disney is glad you like them too. That's what's so great about all the choices at WDW, no one has to eat anything they don't like. As I posted in response to your op, I see them as cost cutting measures to key items on the menu I previously enjoyed. Fresh pineapple is more apt to spoilage and can increase the costs. Have you ever priced fresh pineapple in Florida? Bread pudding is made of bread, eggs, milk, etc. Not as apt to spoilage, so probably lower costs. I'm not knocking bread pudding- I love the stuff. It's just cheaper to make and keep fresh than fresh pineapple would be, especially when pineapple is out of season. I could go on about how the other items are most likely cheaper substitutions, but I'm not trying to convince you of anything. My post was to answer your question about what "all the complaints are about."