Ohana/Vegetarian

[AppleSister1]

Hi all!

I have an adr for Maya Grill for dinner one night for our party of 7. I was thinking of switching to Ohana if possible so maybe we could hang around the Poly and see the fireworks. Only problem: one of the party is a vegetarian (well, she'll shrimp and fish but no meat.) I read somewhere they can prepare some special dishes for vegetarians. True? Also...Maya Grill vs. Ohana..thoughts?

 

[DeborahA]

We took MIL, she is vegetarian. She ate all the side dishes, salad-potatoes etc. We asked about a vegetarian dish and they brought her a large bowl of a stir-fry dish with tofu. She loved it.

 

[v_gan]

Just fyi, when a person only eats fish/seafood, but no other meat, they're referred to as pescetarians, not vegetarians. Fish aren't vegetables

'Ohana would be a great choice for you, though. At 'Ohana, that person in your party will be able to eat the shrimp, noodles, vegetables, salad, bread, and dessert. If they don't want to eat the shrimp, there is usually a tofu dish given to vegetarians that they could probably order.

 

[verticalchaos]

Just make sure she won't make faces or comments to those of you eating the meat (or be uncomfortable with people eating meat). I've had the misfortune of having to eat with holier-than-thou vegans/vegetarians/pescetarians (friends of friends, not people I knew ahead of time - and no where at Disney), and they made it extremely uncomfortable for the rest of us trying to eat our meals.

 

[KingdomHeartsFan]

If you are lucky enough to be dining when Chef TJ is working, he has been known to create multiple course vegetarian and vegan feasts for his guests, and gets rave reviews from some vegetarians on these boards... It would be best to call the restaurant a couple of weeks before you dine to see if he is working and arrange this.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Ohana is now an excellent choice for vegetarians! er, I should say, as long as they are tolerant of others at the table eating meat.....LOTS and LOTS of meat. It's kind of a 'meat-fest'. IF yor firend eats shrimp though, she'll find PLENTY of food among the regular offerings.

You could tell Disney Dining when you make the reservation that you have a vegetarian. I think they only request 24 or 48 hrs noticve, and actually - most WDW restaurants can prep veggie stuff onthe fly, but it's a helpful courtesy. Disney is generally better able to serve your needs if you inform them in advance.

TJ is the best chef on WDW property! I first met him quite a few years ago when he worked at Boma. If you get to meet him, it will most likely be one of the highlights of your visit to WDW! I can't say enough good things about him.

Generally, WDW TS dining is a great place for vegetarians, esp if you let them know in advance.

Again I will say, however, there is MUCH food at 'Ohana. Much of it meat. If you aren't a really big eater, and you don't like to throw away large amounts of food, it's a good idea to ask for half portions of all the sides. Even if your veggie friend says nothing to the staff, there are a number of good sides she can choose from: salad, steamed broccoli with sugar snap peas (I think, usually - maybe some other veggie with the broccoli), lo mein noodles. Those alone are enough for a meal - add shrimp and she'll be stuffed!

Last, don't forget dessert. Just when you are stuffed to the brim, they bring yummy bread pudding with banana's foster sauce (like caramel - very tasty) and ice cream on top. The ice cream is just so-so, but the bread pudding is very good.

Beyond that, most restraurants at WDw have a vegetarian option on their regular menu, and amost have a fish option on the menu (esp if your friend eats salmon). If your firend doesn't find anything she wants on the regular QS menu at any given place, she may be able to order a kids' meal. Most TS places can also make an adult sized portion of any kid's meal - but you won't get a kid's menu unless there is a kid (aged 3-9) in your party. Just about ALL the kid's meals come with real portions of veggies (though at some places the adult vegetable listed is more of a garnish.)

Another place you may want to try is The Wave.

 

[Nicsmom]

Chef TJ rocks. We ate at Ohanas last February with my vegan friends. He created an entire meal for them. They loved it. He is not there every night though and I've heard from the Disboard that the other chef is not so nice to the vegans.bbbb

 

[agravette]

I hope you get in to Ohanas, because we've been trying to get reservations there for dinner for over a month, and our trip isn't until the end of September. Good luck!

 

[BusyMom2Three]

Well, she isn't a vegetarian if she eats seafood, so I think she would be fine at either restaurant. There are always seafood options available. And I don't think the OP needs to worry about the person "making faces" at the red meat eaters. I'm sure if she eats fish and other sea animals, that she doesn't refrain from eating red meats for ethical reasons (could be just a health choice, which is fine) and won't have probs with people eating red meat--that would be somewhat hypocritical. Not that I have a prob with the friend being a pescetarian--just clearing up a couple misconceptions. My immediate family are lacto-ovo vegetarians for various reasons, and although I do not make faces or leer at meat-eaters at our table, sometimes a very strong-smelling or fleshy dish does make me a bit sick. I try to look away, though. Sorry for getting a touch O/T. Just feeling a little defensive.

 

[moose.]

im a pescetarian and even though i could only eat one of the meats (shrimp) i had sooo much food! it was really delicious and i was stuffed. the only thing i want to mention, though, is that since they do come around to your table with the meat on skewers, you might want to make sure that shes okay with being around that and make sure that she declines loudly to the server. once, i guess i wasnt talking loud enough and a piece some kind of meat i dont eat fell on my plate and i had to clean it off lol.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

And I don't think the OP needs to worry about the person "making faces" at the red meat eaters.

While I agree with what you say, the reason I personally clarified the prevelance of meat, is due to the quantity of food - it's a bit gluttonous. (It's not often I eat four kinds of meat in one meal - okay three 'meats' and shrimp)

By the time the meat comes around, I'm already nearly full - and usually there's still plenty sides that go uneaten.

Asking for half portions is a simple way to limit the gluttony.

 

[snoopy5386]

If she is not into Ohana, how bout Kona? You'll still be in the Poly and can head to the beach for the fireworks.

 

[BusyMom2Three]

While I agree with what you say, the reason I personally clarified the prevelance of meat, is due to the quantity of food - it's a bit gluttonous. (It's not often I eat four kinds of meat in one meal - okay three 'meats' and shrimp)

By the time the meat comes around, I'm already nearly full - and usually there's still plenty sides that go uneaten.

Asking for half portions is a simple way to limit the gluttony.

No worries--I wasn't referring to your post.

 

[jdisnut]

I agree with the poster who suggested trying Kona Cafe if you're primarily interested in seeing the Polynesian. The restaurant is considerably better for vegetarians, and you still receive the wonderful atmosphere of the resort.

As others have written, 'Ohana will happily accommodate any diet, but it's definitely geared toward carnivores. I don't think I could justify spending the money and enduring the inevitable wait for the vegetarian menu.