The Wave or Kona Cafe?

[Dixiemom]

Still trying to get into Ohana, but in the meantime I am trying to decide between The Wave and Kona Cafe. Maybe I am thinking since Kona is so close to Ohana I'll feel like I am there but The Wave looks good too and the kids would love dining in the resort the monorail goes through.......
Your thoughts???

 

[SnwflkCts]

We'll be trying the Wave in exactly two weeks so I can't compare yet. But Kona Cafe is one of our favorite places. We have eaten there five times. The food is good. I think your kids would LOVE the desserts. I don't know that you will feel the 'Ohana vibe though.

I wasn't sure if it was dinner you were thinking but if you time it right, you could see Wishes from the Poly Beach.

It is neat to visit the Contemporary -- we just popped over and ate at the Contempo Cafe (quick service). DH thought it sounded like a train station.

The Wave looks to be far removed from the Monorail (sort of dark and secluded) so not sure the kids would feel that they were close to the action.

I probably haven't helped in the decision any -- but I think Kona might be a better choice. Food wise, by looking just at the menu -- the Wave seems more adult oriented. Decisions ... decisions!

 

[rrkman]

Not really sure I'll put this into words correctly but I'll try. First off, both are way better than 'Ohana....food, service, etc. The only thing different with 'Ohana (and some say better) would be the games, etc. As for Kona, we have always loved the food and service there. On our last trip we tried The Wave. We thought the food was really good and the service was fine as well. Plus it had more of an upscale feel to it....and I think that was the big difference....it just didn't feel like disney. Still disney service and quality, just not disney atmosphere. Plus, this isn't always a bad thing, it is nice to step away for a minute or 2....so I'm not saying it was bad. In Kona, you can still see out of the restaurant and even though it isn't overly disney, you still know that you are there....if that makes sense.

 

[grace&philipsmom]

I think I would go with Kona.

 

[Sweet Melissa]

We haven't tried the Wave for dinner, but we've had both for breakfast and Kona for dinner. We didn't really enjoy the Wave's food or atmosphere for breakfast so we're hesitant to go back, but I can't wait to return to Kona. I'm not crazy about the restaurant's open layout, but the food is fantastic.

 

[wdwbride2005]

I've been to both and I prefer Kona. Kona has a bigger selection on their menu. I didn't find anything on the Wave's menu to be too appealing; I dined with three other people and none of us were crazy about our entrees or desserts.

I think that kids would be happier at Kona as well, as they have fun desserts.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Kona.

 

[bicker]

Dinner at The Wave was the most pleasant surprise we had during our last visit. I highly recommend it.

 

[Cookie Princess]

We have done both. We prefer The Wave for dinner, and Kona for breakfast!

 

[GatorLady]

We are doing Kona this trip. I tried to get the rest of the family interested in going to The Wave since I have read lots of good reviews here on the boards, but they weren't that keen on the menu. So Kona it is for us!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I would go with The Wave because I have read a lot of great reviews about it.

 

[Tiger926]

We love both The Wave and Kona, and like a previous poster said, they are both so much better than 'Ohana. For us, pretty much every restaurant is better than 'Ohana...but seriously, both of those restaurants serve great fab food, awesome atmospheres and great service.

On our last trip in July, we had a server named Jimmy at The Wave, who was the best server we've ever had at WDW. That's a lot of servers since we've eaten at pretty much every restaurant, multiple times. As others have mentioned though, The Wave is right near check-in desk, so you can't see the monorail from inside the restaurant. It has a very cool atmosphere - kids call it the blue restaurant! The food is beyond good!

I would highly recommend either The Wave or Kona. Happy eating, Tiger

 

[ConcKahuna]

The Wave is MUCH better now than it was at opening. I like the Polynesian style of the Kona menu. The Wave is really good, but fairly standard fare.

 

[USAswimmer626]

I'd definitely pick The Wave. I put it on the same level as Ohana, and Kona Cafe beneath both of them.

 

[Tam1067]

We think the food and service are both better at the Wave. Kona is very noisy, and our experiences there have been hit and miss. It was better in December than it had been on our last two visits though.

The Wave is much quieter and more refined if that matters to you. Also, Kona is more of an Asian influenced menu whereas the Wave is not. But the Wave is downstairs at the Contemporary and not anywhere near the monorail going through the building.

Desserts are pretty good at both.

 

[MeLaNie9]

We go to Kona every trip and love it. However, we tried the Wave last trip as well and I loved it - the kids and DH thought it was ok, but it was a late dinner and the kids were tired and it was pouring rain outside before and after and we had some difficulty getting to and from CR (we were there in May Monsoon) so that may have colored their experience. But, I had the lamb shank and it was to die for - DH didn't put it on the top of our list for our next trip, but we will be heading back to Kona.

 

[Melknor]

DH and I ate at both Kona and the Wave in Sept. Hands down Kona was the better choice. Don't get me wrong, The Wave was very good, just Kona was better IMO. The teriyaki steak was the best of the whole trip as were the yukon mashed potatos and the dessert choices. The dessert choices at the Wave were not very good, IMO.

Since I don't get dessert when we normally go out, I base our restaurant choices on dessert first and then entrees.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Maybe it was just me....

But Kona is great and the the Wave is awful....

I don't know...the menu makes no sense and our meal their last year was one of the poorest quality food experiences i've ever had at WDW....it was more like Six Flags

It seems like it was trying to be a poor man's California Grill (yes...that is a paradox....no "poor men" eat at WDW)...and it was a completely dumb idea...

You know what they should have put in the Contemp? A STEAKHOUSE...now there was an idea....

Or a dedicated moderately priced seafood location...which they have zero of on property

 

[kamikazecat]

We loved the Wave for dinner so much that we changed our ADR's mid trip to eat dinner there a second time. We loved the food and the atmosphere was relaxed with amazing service. Even my picky 3yo loved it. It was the only time he cleared his plate during the whole trip.

 

[Tiger926]

Maybe it was just me....

But Kona is great and the the Wave is awful....

I don't know...the menu makes no sense and our meal their last year was one of the poorest quality food experiences i've ever had at WDW....it was more like Six Flags

It seems like it was trying to be a poor man's California Grill (yes...that is a paradox....no "poor men" eat at WDW)...and it was a completely dumb idea...

You know what they should have put in the Contemp? A STEAKHOUSE...now there was an idea....

Or a dedicated moderately priced seafood location...which they have zero of on property

Wow! I'm stunned at this as we experienced the best service ever in all of the years of eating at WDW at The Wave. The food is very good too. Nothing poor about this place at all.

It's funny you mention Cali Grill - we think it's overrated and not very good at all.

Love your idea of a steakhouse at CRT - hubby would be all over that! Tiger