Ohana's for Dinner -- Reviews please

[allie_to_you]

Hey everyone,

My DH & I have just about gotten all our dining plans worked out for our upcoming November trip. We had one more meal to plan and we are looking at Ohana's for dinner one evening. Can anyone tell me about it. I have read the menu's and everything, but what is this restaurant like? How is the food, atmosphere, etc.?

 

[TinaLala]

LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT

Okay...dinner at Ohana's

Food - they come out with a family style apetizer selection - green salad, chicken wings, fried wontons and sweet and sour shrimp. I don't know what dressing they put on the salad, but it's yummy! There's scalloped potatoes (which I hate scalloped potatoes, but they make them with some magic that they are really good) and vegetables. Then they bring out an all you can eat grouping of skewers with hunks of sirloin steak, pork loin, turkey and pork sausage. Not to mention the banana foster dessert. vanilla ice cream, warm caramel and slices of banana - YUM!

Atmosphere - you have stepped on to the island of Maui and you are inside a someone's home. There's the firepit in the middle and views of the castle from every angle as well as the Polynesian volcano in the front. For entertainment there's an authentic Haiwaian man/woman who will teach you a luau dance - 'Now we're going to the Tiki Lounge, where the fishes swim and we throw our nets.' My daughter still knows her dance and we last went in Dec 2006. The seats are cushioned, the tables are made to look like bamboo. The napkins are cloth, the ceilings are made to look like it's a thatched hut. There are usually two servers per table - one for your immediate drinking and family style needs and one for your skewer needs.

The BEST thing is that if you time your ADR (you MUST make an ADR for near the windows!! Make you sure you ask to be near the windows (you don't have to be, but it helps)) at least 30 - 60 mins before the Wishes fireworks at MK - while you eat this delicious meal on the hour of Wishes, they lower the lights, plug the music in from Main Street and you can watch the Wishes fireworks from the comfort of your air conditioned, cushioned, all you can eat seat. Yes you can see Tinkerbell's light fly down from the castle. Yes you can see every single twinkle of fireworks in the sky. It's very romantic.

We usually go there twice a vacation just for dinner - it's usually our first stop directly off the plane check in and then directly to Ohana's. Breakfast with Stitch and Lilo are your usual eggs, bacon, sausage and such, but an added benefit of lots of fresh fruits (my kids live on fruit).

I would say a definite YES! Two thumbs up

 

[aljack33]

We were just there and didn't like it at all. We were not seated in the main dining room for dinner which was a bummer for my daughters who wanted to participate in some of the activities. I found the meat inedible. It was way too dry. My husband didn't mind it. The potatoes are wonderful. Sticky wings and shrimp are Ok. I didn't like the wontons with sauces at all. The salad was Ok. The food just keeps coming out at you. I wanted to like it, but didn't. It's loud and it feels like a lot is going on, which to me is fine because you are in Disney. But, it just felt like there was way too much activity there. The breakfast was better and that was a character breakfast and I was more relaxed there!

 

[christinadei]

WE LOVE IT! It's my favorite restaurant in all of Disney! I just got a reservation for 12 of us when we go in August. I am so excited about it. I think you should try it, it's great food an da lot of fun.

 

[tinaluis]

We were less than impressed last year when we tried it, but we've made an ADR for our trip in September to give it another chance. The food was OK, but nothing special. We liked Kona Cafe much better.

 

[jillyjoey]

We will definitely go back. This one even won over my snobby sister & her DH.

DD(4) got picky and wouldn't try anything. Our wonderful (and cute) server brought her a huge plate of mac n cheese.

 

[jillyjoey]

LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT

Okay...dinner at Ohana's


Atmosphere - you have stepped on to the island of Maui and you are inside a someone's home. There's the firepit in the middle and views of the castle from every angle as well as the Polynesian volcano in the front. For entertainment there's an authentic Haiwaian man/woman who will teach you a luau dance - 'Now we're going to the Tiki Lounge, where the fishes swim and we throw our nets.' My daughter still knows her dance and we last went in Dec 2006. The seats are cushioned, the tables are made to look like bamboo. The napkins are cloth, the ceilings are made to look like it's a thatched hut. There are usually two servers per table - one for your immediate drinking and family style needs and one for your skewer needs.



I would say a definite YES! Two thumbs up

We were there in December 2006 too! Wonder if we were there at the same time.

I totally agree with your review. It was awesome.

 

[hellokitty86]

'Ohana is my favorite restaurant that isn't in any of the theme parks. It's delicious, and so much fun to go to!!!

 

[Tam1067]

We liked it a lot. I think this is one of those places where people either love it or hate it. Our experience was good.

After reading some not so great reviews, I nearly cancelled our ADRs here last July. I am SO glad I didn't, because 'Ohana has now become one of our "must-do" restaurants. We're returning there this July.

 

[ceecee]

We've been there three times. We really like it, DD loves the games and hula lesson. We got a table by the window the last time and it was wonderful. As for the food, I really like the shrimp and not much else. We are not big meat eaters and DD and I had stomachaches after eating there one time, so we made sure not to over do it on the meat the last time. We only had the steak and shrimp, salad was okay, potatoes weren't great, nor were the appretizer things IMO. DD really wanted the pineapple for dessert and was disappointed when they switched, but the waiter did bring her a plate of fresh pineapple.

 

[IlovemythreeC's]

Hey everyone,

My DH & I have just about gotten all our dining plans worked out for our upcoming November trip. We had one more meal to plan and we are looking at Ohana's for dinner one evening. Can anyone tell me about it. I have read the menu's and everything, but what is this restaurant like? How is the food, atmosphere, etc.?

Please don't miss O'hana- it is wonderful. The atmosphere at the Poly is so so amazing. We went there twice last year and we are so careful with our table service credits.

 

[HopperFan]

If I have FREE dining I may return, but I will never go back and pay for it again. Atmosphere was much like the old Denny's, very 70's and brown, fake. Did not feel "island" at all to us. Our service was minimal and we had to constantly wave down our server who then was put out if we wanted more than two shrimp. And that's if he brought it with him. The games the kids played were loud and bothersome, and now I would know to ask to be as far away as possible. (ps Have kids, my youngest did not want anything to do with it). Tables are tight, we were constantly being bumped. Shrimp, steak and one of the meats good, the other very dry. The sides are fine, but nothing I can't make at home - was expecting more ethnic fare. Alot of money for as little variety as you get. If you are a carnivore and your server is good about bringing you more, you could possible eat your monies worth.

I did enjoy the breakfast. Very relaxed. Great character interaction and had a wonderful attentive server. The activity with the kids seemed appropriate for a character meal. Looked at it as a character meal, not a polynesian themed meal.

 

[Tonyspad]

We ate there last Wednesday night for our third time and did NOT like it at all. Our server, Heather, was the only bright spot during our meal. The main course was inedible and the noise was defening. We would have much rather eaten at Kona.

 

[Ron from Michigan]

We were really disapointed in O'Hanas when we ate there last December. We were a party of 6 adults and none of us were very impressed with it. The meats and shrimp that you get were very dry and tasteless. I would have to say that the shrimp were about the worst I had ever had, no flavor at all. The only good thing were the sticky wings and potatoes. From now on we will stick to our favorite buffet Boma......

 

[allie_to_you]

Can you get a skewer with just one type of meat on it, like the turkey?

 

[TheDisneyClan]

You are able to get more of any type of meat. The severs come to your table with huge skewers of meat, two at a time, and offer you more. As this TS is all you care to eat, you can ask for more of any item...salad, wings, veggies, desert, etc...

IMO, Ohana is a great place! My family has gone there every trip for the past three years at least twice during our vacations. We can't wait to go again in Sept. 07 with FREE DINING!!!!!!

OHANA here we come! ALOHA!

 

[raidermatt]

The atmosphere is great as long as you are ok with the noise and frequent activities for the kids going on.

The food is ok. Not great. I think meat on a stick is an awesome invention, and Ohana fits that bill, but its still not great. The menu has lost some good stuff over the last couple of years, which is unfortunate.

But all in all, I'd say give it a try unless you are looking for a more quiet experience.

 

[GenieCat]

Check out this week's Dis Unplugged Roundtable podcast for a review. There is a link at the top of the main page for the Dis Discussion Forums.