We had an amazing lunch today at Sanaa and since it is new I thought I would post a quick review.
DH and I arrived right as they opened at 11:30 (not planned, this was a spur of the moment, boy-it-sure-is-hot-and-crowded-at-the-MK-so-lets-leave-for-lunch thing....we walked out to the bus stop and saw the AKL bus and decided to give Sanaa a try and look around at Kidani while we were there).
When we walked down the steps to the hostess desk they were just starting the opening song/ceremony....kind of a cute beginning. I did not quite get the thing where they shake all the reeds at you as you walk by though!
We were seated right away by the windows onto the savannah, so we got to watch a LOT of giraffes while we ate. They were also filming a video segment with Dee VC or whatever her name is....the ditzy redhead they use for DVC web promotions. SO there was some interesting entertainment...she stuck her face in a plate of chocolate cake during the video!
Our server was absolutely excellent....her suggestions were right on.
DH ordered a wild berry smoothie, and although I am not usually much of a smoothie person this one was excellent....not too sweet, icy cold and very berryish. We shared the bread sampler with the garlic lime pickle, coriander chutney and the hummus. The garlic-lime and the coriander both had a fair kick, but the flavors were AMAZING. The hummus was good but paled in comparison to the intense flavors of the other 2....but it was a nice cool balance to them. We also shared the salad sampler with the chick pea, okra and radish and corn and potatoe salads....all with fresh, cool flavors. The okra and radish was my favorite....fresh baby okra that had been steamed until crisp tender, sliced radishes, chopped tomatoe all had been marinated in a light flavorful dressing. DH liked the chick pea salad best, chopped onion, celery (I think) and several other finely chopped crunchy veggies. The roasted corn and potaoe was also very good.
I ordered from the slow cooked menu....short ribs and shrimp in a green curry sauce....oh my....I cannot begin to describe the richness of the flavors in those dishes. The boneless short rib meat was fall apart tender with a dark gravy....there was cinnamon and many other things in the sauce, I wish I knew what all but I could not identify the flavors, but they were to die for. Then the shrimp....ahhhhh There were 7 or 8 medium large shrimp in a very mild coconut milk green curry sauce that were also to die for. Again the flavors were amazing....not spicy or hot, but intense, yet somehow did not over power the shrimp.
DH ordered the sustainable fish of the day over veggies....today it was halibut. It was very good and perfectly cooked, but we both agreed my entree was better. The fish was flavorful and in any other setting would have been delightful....but it was not nearly as exotic and interesting as mine.
He ordered the eggless chocolate cake for dessert. It was served with fresh rasberries, and a scoop of delicious mango sorbet....the sorbet tasted like frozen ripe mango....and while that does not sound like it would do much for chocolate cake it was again a delicious combination. He finished with coffee, that was strong and dark enough to have a life of its own, but DH loves coffee that way so he was in heaven.
Total for the meal was right at $70 before gratuity. I always expect service and pacing of meals to be a little off in a new restaurant (today was their 11th day of operation they told us)....but both were impeccable. We took our time and spent about 90 minutes at the table. This is such a pretty place to dine. The beadwork pillars, the tree ceiling and beautiful light fixtures and fabrics not to mention the incredible savannah views made it a delightful place to dine.
I think this was my best WDW meal in several years. I wish I could do a better job describing the different spices and flavors, it was a totally different menu and taste from the standard Disney fare (and don't get me wrong.....I LOVE dining at WDW). It would probably NOT be a good choice for meat and potatoes, don't make me try anything new kind of eaters....you would definitely need to be a little bit of an adventurous eater...but what a WONDERFUL new addition to Disney dining.
I would have to say I preferred this meal to my last ones at Jiko or Ca. Grill which have been long time favorites. I cannot wait to go back and try some other things on the menu.
DH and I arrived right as they opened at 11:30 (not planned, this was a spur of the moment, boy-it-sure-is-hot-and-crowded-at-the-MK-so-lets-leave-for-lunch thing....we walked out to the bus stop and saw the AKL bus and decided to give Sanaa a try and look around at Kidani while we were there).
When we walked down the steps to the hostess desk they were just starting the opening song/ceremony....kind of a cute beginning. I did not quite get the thing where they shake all the reeds at you as you walk by though!
We were seated right away by the windows onto the savannah, so we got to watch a LOT of giraffes while we ate. They were also filming a video segment with Dee VC or whatever her name is....the ditzy redhead they use for DVC web promotions. SO there was some interesting entertainment...she stuck her face in a plate of chocolate cake during the video!
Our server was absolutely excellent....her suggestions were right on.
DH ordered a wild berry smoothie, and although I am not usually much of a smoothie person this one was excellent....not too sweet, icy cold and very berryish. We shared the bread sampler with the garlic lime pickle, coriander chutney and the hummus. The garlic-lime and the coriander both had a fair kick, but the flavors were AMAZING. The hummus was good but paled in comparison to the intense flavors of the other 2....but it was a nice cool balance to them. We also shared the salad sampler with the chick pea, okra and radish and corn and potatoe salads....all with fresh, cool flavors. The okra and radish was my favorite....fresh baby okra that had been steamed until crisp tender, sliced radishes, chopped tomatoe all had been marinated in a light flavorful dressing. DH liked the chick pea salad best, chopped onion, celery (I think) and several other finely chopped crunchy veggies. The roasted corn and potaoe was also very good.
I ordered from the slow cooked menu....short ribs and shrimp in a green curry sauce....oh my....I cannot begin to describe the richness of the flavors in those dishes. The boneless short rib meat was fall apart tender with a dark gravy....there was cinnamon and many other things in the sauce, I wish I knew what all but I could not identify the flavors, but they were to die for. Then the shrimp....ahhhhh There were 7 or 8 medium large shrimp in a very mild coconut milk green curry sauce that were also to die for. Again the flavors were amazing....not spicy or hot, but intense, yet somehow did not over power the shrimp.
DH ordered the sustainable fish of the day over veggies....today it was halibut. It was very good and perfectly cooked, but we both agreed my entree was better. The fish was flavorful and in any other setting would have been delightful....but it was not nearly as exotic and interesting as mine.
He ordered the eggless chocolate cake for dessert. It was served with fresh rasberries, and a scoop of delicious mango sorbet....the sorbet tasted like frozen ripe mango....and while that does not sound like it would do much for chocolate cake it was again a delicious combination. He finished with coffee, that was strong and dark enough to have a life of its own, but DH loves coffee that way so he was in heaven.
Total for the meal was right at $70 before gratuity. I always expect service and pacing of meals to be a little off in a new restaurant (today was their 11th day of operation they told us)....but both were impeccable. We took our time and spent about 90 minutes at the table. This is such a pretty place to dine. The beadwork pillars, the tree ceiling and beautiful light fixtures and fabrics not to mention the incredible savannah views made it a delightful place to dine.
I think this was my best WDW meal in several years. I wish I could do a better job describing the different spices and flavors, it was a totally different menu and taste from the standard Disney fare (and don't get me wrong.....I LOVE dining at WDW). It would probably NOT be a good choice for meat and potatoes, don't make me try anything new kind of eaters....you would definitely need to be a little bit of an adventurous eater...but what a WONDERFUL new addition to Disney dining.
I would have to say I preferred this meal to my last ones at Jiko or Ca. Grill which have been long time favorites. I cannot wait to go back and try some other things on the menu.
Thanks so much for writing up your Sanaa experience. We'll be there for dinner 2 weeks from Friday...really looking forward to it.
