Sanaa at Kidani Village

[Phedre]

I was speaking with a CM last week who said she got to go do a tasting for Sanaa (the restaurant that will be going in to Kidani Village (AKV) when it is finished). She said everything was just delicious and it was themed to have Indian food, with Naan and such.

I wasn't sure if this was common knowledge but I hadn't heard it before so I thought I'd share

 

[ADP]

I think most people knew about Sanaa, but the type of food was a mystery. I'm glad to see they are conducting taste tests. Hopefully, the restaurant will be open in about 14 to 16 months from now.

 

[3DisneyKids]

We really love Indian food, but I have to say, I don't see this being a huge hit with many Disney guests. Likely, they will Disnify the food.

 

[AKV707]

It does sound intersting. I am also glad that they are taste testing. Can't wait for Kidani!

 

[BCV23]

I wonder if Sanaa will be opening sooner than projected? Doesn't taste testing 14-16 months out seem extreme?

 

[LisaS]

It's about time there will be somewhere at WDW to get Indian food! I think Yak and Yeti really missed an opportunity since they are in the ideal location for that cuisine so I'm happy to hear AKV is considering it. Did the CM mention anything besides just naan?

 

[shellbelle1971]

Oh, please, let them have good peshwari naan and chicken makhani!

 

[Deb & Bill]

I guess we won't have to worry about an ADR there.

 

[AKV707]

I guess we won't have to worry about an ADR there.

I wouldn't be so sure. I think Indian cuisine would be great, but the taste testing goes, just because that was the food at the time, that doesn't mean that the entire menu would be that.

I also imagine that if a similar report had been made about Jiko or Boma, over a year in advance, many people would have found the now excessively popular menus to be strange.

Time will tell. I am glad that my home resort will have three very interesting restaurants.

 

[Inkmahm]

I guess we won't have to worry about an ADR there.

I'm with you. I have NO interest in it what-so-ever. I'll hike to Jiko's to get my filet mignon.

 

[pixie08]

I agree I think if people knew about Jiko/boma's menu in advance they might have thought the same thing. I love Indian food so I am excited to give it a try, however, I am sure Disney will find a way to make it more Asian possibly- cover more than just Indian, add Thai etc? just a thought- to tie in what is going on at AK....AKL is primarily thought of as an African theme, maybe they are trying to segway in some Asian aspects with the popularity of EE and what not.

 

[bavaria]

While I love cooking and eating Indian food, have diplomas in Indian cooking, and have enjoyed the wide variety of regional foods in India, I have serious doubts about this one.

I know that the mainstream American palate doesn't like Indian food (many people do in America, but they are the minority, or only know the overly greasy, no longer authentic food served at poor quality restaurants).

I also suspect that based on the Americanization of food at World Showcase (specifically Marrakesh, Biergarten, Nine Dragons) the food will not be authentic.

There is an opportunity to do some modern Indian infused cuisine as seen in great restaurants around the world, but somehow I doubt that will be the end result. It would serve too narrow an audience, disappointing those like me who enjoy Indian food, as well as those like Deb who do not.

 

[LisaS]

Oh, please, let them have good peshwari naan and chicken makhani!

I hope they have some good vegetarian dishes: channa masala, vegetable biryani, mattar paneer, aloo gobhi, vegetable samosas and pakuras...

It will be interesting to see how this plays out. I'm afraid to get my hopes up after what happened with Yak and Yeti.

 

[pixie08]

I hope they have some good vegetarian dishes: channa masala, vegetable biryani, mattar paneer, aloo gobhi, vegetable samosas and pakuras...

It will be interesting to see how this plays out. I'm afraid to get my hopes up after what happened with Yak and Yeti.

I haven't tried Yak and yeti but I heard it is more yak anyway..I feel the same way. I hope if they do it, they do it right. I guess we will have to see how this pans out.

 

[Claire L]

Oh yes a good Bhuna or Tikka with Naan would be good

Claire

 

[WolfpackFan]

I have to say I'm very disappointed. I don't care for Indian food. Plus the fact that it doesn't appear that there will be a counter service restaurant at Kidani makes the choices kind of poor. Either cook in your unit or walk to Boma or Mara.

 

[WolfpackFan]

I haven't tried Yak and yeti but I heard it is more yak anyway..I feel the same way. I hope if they do it, they do it right. I guess we will have to see how this pans out.

We were disappointed in Yak and Yeti a couple of weeks ago. Mediocre Chinese food and the prices were rather high. We spend $75 for lunch for two. I much prefer the Chinese restaurant at Epcot.

 

[snowbunny]

She said everything was just delicious and it was themed to have Indian food, with Naan and such.

Ooooh...

 

[ADP]

Although this restaurant will offer Indian food I wouldn't be too hasty in thinking it will only offer Indian food. I'd like to think there will be other varieties of food.

 

[AKV707]

Although this restaurant will offer Indian food I wouldn't be too hasty in thinking it will only offer Indian food. I'd like to think there will be other varieties of food.

I agree. It is impossible to make a judgement on the restaurant this far out. And has been pointed out, the resort is the Animal Kingdom Villas, not the Exclusively African Kingdom Villas. Remember that the them park celebrates many different regions.

And to those simply dismissing it, have some faith. Disney is obviously doing market research here. hence the taste testing. The report in the op was that the CM said that the food was good. I am sure that it is.

Let's be patient, see how it develops before we declare it a failure. I predict that it will be extremely successful. Just my gut feeling.