Ohana's Menu Changes NOT for the Better

[Gerweniel]

We were on the dining plan for our trip in December and I REALLY wanted to try Ohana because of the food and atmosphere that I have read about. We ran out of table service credits, so I paid for dinner out of pocket. I loved going to the Poly, we got seated right away and our server was good. We were psyched to dig into the skewers.

My sons didn't touch the salad (I really liked the dressing), enjoyed the wings and shrimp and I liked the wontons (the boys tried, but did not like the sauces). We were really disappointed however in the skewers. None of us liked the turkey at all, passed on the sausage and only ate the steak and pork loin, which were both good, but not great.

I did enjoy the dessert, but my sons were not into it at all. We got some pixie dust as we were able to watch the fire works from our table! It was a fun night - not our most favorite meal, but enjoyable enough and we are glad we tried it, even though we'll probably not return right away.

 

[majortom]

(by joining them we are having to cancel our 1st trip to Chef Mickeys )

I really like Chef Mickey's and if you have never done that, I would say you will enjoy it.

/carmi

 

[CAJUNWDWFAN]

While I have never eaten at Ohanas with the old menu. My family ate there in December and we loved it! We especially loved to potatoes. And my dad and mom enjoyed the salad and shrimp.

It's all a matter of opinion.

 

[JoiseyMom]

Ohana's WAS a family favorite. I loved the large skewered shrimp, and would have them grill it without the sauce. My other favorite was the wontons. My DH loved the meats. Last time we were there in August they had the potatoes, and they were really gross, the veggies were also tasteless ( I loved the green beans). Since the shrimp is gone, wontons gone, and DH's pineapple is gone, so are we. We won't be going back to Ohana's...no reason too.

 

[NMW]

We really like the new menu. I thought the shrimp were good, albeit a little messy, but you had to peel the ones on the skewers too. Not much of a difference mess-wise to me. The biggest hit with my family is the potatoes-we asked for more of these. I don't think anyone in my family ever even touched the rice. Yes, the wontons were good, but we like the chips with the dipping sauces just as much.
Oh, and the dessert-my kids loved it. Only one of my kids ever used to eat the pineapple. I liked the pineapple, but the bread pudding was really, really good. A much better dessert in our families opinion. We've never had poor service there either. It will remain a "must-do" for our family.

 

[Piecey]

I'll miss the rice

Is the dressing on the salad the same as it was before?

 

[dzneelvr]

We don't think Konas is even in the same league as Ohanas. I really think it depends on individual taste. To us, Kona is a place like any other resort sit down...geez, if you have a table along the lobby, the public walking by is practically breathing on your plate! that doesn't appeal to us at all. Ohanas is an experience we wouldn't miss for the world, now that our DS is 18 and DD-16, we sit and talk and just enjoy each other We'll be dining there in June and can't wait

 

[eeyore45]

We were totally underwhelmed by our dining experience there last Sept. Although they were still serving the wontons (the highlight of the meal), we were none too impressed with the meal. Some thoughts on the meal;

- Without the lazy susan the table was crowded with dishes. I thought the lazy susan was a novelty that made the restaurant unique.

- Wonton chips with dipping sauces. Yuck.

- Potatoes were good, but heavy. Doesn't really fit the Poly theme.

- Veggies were okay, but tasteless.

- Meats were still good, but we have found that they can be hit or miss. We have gone to 'Ohana every trip and it has always been like that. Addition of the sausage seems odd. Adding another meat choice is not what this meal needed.

- The bread pudding. Again the pineapple with caramel was unique to this restaurant. We noticed on our trip that practically every restaurant was offering a bread pudding and sometimes more than one kind. I am not a bread pudding fan, so needless to say I was not impressed.

THAT'S IT!!

LOL you hit the nail on the head, and I agree with the OP - we no longer reccommend Ohana - we are going to try the character breakfast -

I will say that any dining experience and food choices is so subjective. When the new menu was announced before our Oct trip last year, I read every review, looked at so many pictures... and then decided with my heart, I just couldnt NOT go - this was a hard ressie to get - so I stuck it out - the Fireworks, the races - but like it was stated, the service was worse than poor - we wont go back -

And enough people never had the wontons, or the grilled shrimp (I cannot fathom why they put a sweet sour sauce on the shrimp THEN make you peel it - at least grilled it wasnt sticky - imho!!) so they are satisfied - but I like what this poster said - enough with the CHEESEY POTATOES DISNEY!! Ditto with the bread pudding!!

My initial thoughts were the more carbs you ate, the less meat you ate!!

Bottom line, to each his own!! I'm gladly giving up our ressies in the future!!

 

[DisneyPhD]

We were totally underwhelmed by our dining experience there last Sept. Although they were still serving the wontons (the highlight of the meal), we were none too impressed with the meal. Some thoughts on the meal;

- Without the lazy susan the table was crowded with dishes. I thought the lazy susan was a novelty that made the restaurant unique.

- Wonton chips with dipping sauces. Yuck.

I agree about the lazy suzan. I miss the old appitisers. The beans were good too. I really miss the wontons and the good dipping sauses they had before.

I think the shrimp not being on the grill is a better plan, much safer for seafood allgeries. Our meat was all made seperate at is was since I can't have milk and the beef is brushed with butter.

Having said that I don't thing the changes are enough to make me not go back. As others have said the view and atmaphere is still the same.

I wasn't able to have the potaotos and bread pudding, but as soon as I can have milk and eggs again I am going back and trying them.

Oh, but my DD was really sad they no longer have gummy worms!

 

[bdg100]

ITA. I no longer recommend it to anyone. Before everything was delicious but not anymore. The shrimp are so tiny and they did away with the sweet dipping sauce that made the wontons so good. The only thing it really has going for it is the bread pudding. We have an ADR for our upcoming trip just for that bread pudding!

We may go on our next trip, maybe not. Unthinkable when they had the old menu. We also do not recommend it any longer. We MAY go, but more out of tradition and hoping that somehow, someway they bring back the old menu.

 

[cncDisney4]

We ate at 'Ohana's before the change and after the change and can't wait to go on our next trip. It will be the first ADR I book in June. Yes, I miss the shrimp on the skewer and my DH misses the pineapple and caramel sauce for dessert, but I enjoyed the new shrimp and we both enjoyed the new dessert alot.

Would I recommend 'Ohana's to anyone - YOU BET!!! I'm not going to cross off a great restaurant just because they changed a few items - especially since they added some wonderful items too. The potatoes were very good and the vegetables are great.

I hope those of you trying to decide whether to try 'Ohana's for the first time with the changes will go, enjoy, and hopefully see that not all change is bad.

P.S. Our service on our last visit in December was fantastic. I do know how your server can either make or break your experience, but we have never been disappointed with the service there.

 

[Tinkerbell10403]

Just ate at Ohanas tonite...it was amazing as always! I have eaten there 4 times...w/ onely one being the old menu, if that says anything. I ate there w/ DBF twice..Loved it. Brought my family there in Dec..they fell in love w/ it. They said it was a requirement that we eat there again this go round. The atmosphere is wonderful..the food is just great, I guess it all depends on your taste in foods, and such. Not everything is going to sit well w/ every body. However, Ohana will always be one of our must do's at WDW!!

 

[Mamu]

I'm one of the few on these boards that can give or take this restaurant. First I'm not a big meat eater and was overwhelmed with all the meat. I did enjoy the shrimp. I also enjoyed the starters.

I've gone for dinner twice, both times long wait even with ADR (1 Hour) Lousy service. Not the best seats.

Would I try it again, maybe! I would ask for a seat on the main dinning area, and be willing to wait for that area. This may be the key to the whole dinning experience. I would be interested in tasting the new additions, keep the meat. I find it too dry, as I find most grilled meats. I like my fish, burgers and dogs grilled. I'll pass on the meats.

On the other hand I do enjoy the breakfast here. A fun place to start the day.

 

[lovmy2girls]

Our server at Kona Cafe told us the servers at Ohanas say there are more people who dislike the new menu than like it, and its hurting their tips. She said the servers are really upset and have told the powers that be higher up and her exact words were "They don't listen to us" Still when we were there in Jan., the line to get into Ohanas was long and the room was packed so...I will miss the bread, the shrimp on skewers and pineapple.

 

[mudman]

Ohana's came highly recommended to us as a must do from a family who went last April. I would like to know when they changed the menu? was it before or after it was recommended to us?
We have ADR's next month and I was really looking forward to it.

 

[vascubaguy]

Ohana's came highly recommended to us as a must do from a family who went last April. I would like to know when they changed the menu? was it before or after it was recommended to us?
We have ADR's next month and I was really looking forward to it.

Correction: it switched over sometime in September/October 2005, so the family who recommended it to you went when it was the "old" menu. However, I wouldn't worry or make any changes. Go and try it out, you'll probably still like it. Here's the "new" menu as listed on allearsnet.com:

Starters/Appetizers:
Fried wontons served with peanut sauce, chimichurri sauce, & harissa
Mixed greens with a honey-lime dressing
Spicy-sweet and sour shrimp
Honey-coriander chicken wings

Skewers:
Marinated Sirloin Steak
Asian BBQ Pork Loin
Mesquite Grilled Turkey
Hawaiin Pork-sausage with pineapple terriyaki glaze

Sides:
Maui Scalloped Potatoes
Stir-fried vegetables

Dessert
Bread pudding a la mode with bananas foster sauce

 

[Tinkerbell10403]

The new menu has been in place since atleast Sept. I have eaten there 3 times since then and love it. Remember, as with alot of Disney restaurants...you are mostly paying for the ambiance the uniqueness of Ohana...its a wonderful place, especially for kids. We were lucky enough to be there during Wishes last night, and they dimmed the lights and played the music throughout the restaurant. It's truley a special place. My advice: Try it out!

 

[DaisyD]

The new menu was in place October 2005.

 

[Tinkerbell10403]

Hmm..then they must have been previewing it before...because myself and DBF ate there in Sept. 05 and our waitress let us know that the menu was just started one or two weeks prior.

 

[cajunmommy]

The jury's still out for me on this one.

We were there last week for the first time, so I can't compare old vs. new menu. The menu items were varied enough, so all 4 of us found something we liked. DS7 particularly enjoyed the bread pudding!

The service, however, left something to be desired. We lucked into a table with a great view, so I was hoping to "linger" a bit to be able to enjoy Wishes. No chance - our server seemed to be too eager to turn our table. Now, I wasn't being a table hog, stretching time over that one last drink. My restaurant manners are better than that. Didn't have the chance. From the very beginning of the meal, it felt like the server was pushing. You know the situation....salad still left in my plate, and she whisked it away to make room for the hot starters before I could stop her.

We had the chaotic interruptions of the coconut races & hula dances for the kids, so I knew that would buy us some time, but it seemed the server didn't want to wait for us to return from these activities.

Don't know...maybe it was just me. But I definitely didn't like the feeling of being rushed through my meal.