Tusker House, Bomas, or Sanaa?

[disneybliss2]

Which of these 3 restaurants is your favorite?

Info on us: we (DH, myself, DD8, DD3) would like to eat at one of these restaurants for dinner on a day we visit AK. We'd have a full day at AK and either stay and eat at Tusker House, or leave (in time to make it for dinner reservations) and go to Bomas or Sanaa. We're fine w/ buffets or ordering a meal (DH & I prefer ordering but we're totally fine either way; kids like buffets better), and we're open to trying new foods (those I'm sure my picky children would prefer mac-n-cheese & peanut butter jelly). We'll be on the dining plan. Since none of these restaurants are character meals so that's not a factor, we'd like to choose the restaurant w/ the best food and that's best for kids.

Questions/concerns that keep us from deciding as of yet:

Tusker House--we like the idea of not having to leave the park, the ease of hopping on the bus back to our resort when through; the menus at the other restaurants look a tad more appealing

Sanaa--will it be too stuffy for our children? Too spicy of food?

Boma--keep reading reviews that the food was really sweet with lots of nutmeg and vanilla flavorings. Doesn't sound appealing, but yet it does get great reviews. ???? The deserts here sound great (I believe this restaurant was the one w/ I read w/ zebra domes & simba paws; not sure what those are, but they sound yummo!)

Also, how far away are Boma and Sanaa from AK? Is the transportation to & from AK to these restaurants time consuming? I'm thinking more of the time it takes after we leave the restaurant, go to AK to switch, go to our resort.

Thanks for everyone's thoughts!!!

 

[fterie4u]

We have not eaten at the other two places, however, we love Boma! We are going on our next trip! I think they have something for everyone on their buffet menu.

 

[momtoejanda]

AK has such short hours that I would not leave the park to go eat. However depending on when you want to eat is what I would pick.

I like Tusker House for breakfast..it is a character meal then plus get a ADR BEFORE the park opens (like 8am) so you are ready to go and already in the back of the park at opening time (usually around 9)

If you want to eat dinner, I would pick any of the restaurants at AKL AFTER the park closes. Not sure when you are going but sometimes during the year AK closes at 5..you can make an ADR for 6.

Lunch I would recommend TH or Yak and Yeti. We (kids include) like that as well

 

[RabbitFood]

Tough question--we like all three.

Some things to ponder:
1) Do you really want to leave and then return to AK? Although AKL/Kidani are close to AK, factor an hour total for travel/security. When we were at Kidani recently, bus service was kind of slow (1/2 hr wait). I agree with other poster-make a dinner ADR if you want to eat at Boma or Sanaa.

2) Do you want to be served (Sanaa) or do you prefer buffets?

3) Does your family like Indian-type food? If not, I wouldn't choose Sanaa.

4) Would you like a view of the savanna and maybe a chance to wander around AKL/Kidani? Then Sanaa or Boma is good.

5) Do you want more "mainstream" food and a fantastic dessert selection? Tusker House is for you.

6) Finally, both Tusker House and Boma are bustling, noisy and often crowded. Sanaa is much quieter and relaxing. Boma's lines can get long. Not a problem with Tusker House so much.

7) Sanaa offer discounts for DVC members for lunch. Tusker doesn't, and I don't know about Boma.


Hope this helped.

 

[RabbitFood]

Nevermind discounts--I see you're on DP.

 

[disneybliss2]

Thanks for everyone's input thus far. I really appreciate the specific feedback. I edited my post after reading everyone's comments to clarify when we'd be eating. We're planning for a full day at AK and then a dinner reservation at one of these restaurants. We'll do QS for lunch.
Keep those opinions coming!

 

[brernick]

One word, "Boma".

 

[amy-momofthree]

I'm having the same dilemma myself!!! I make ADRs Monday!!

 

[mullysisters]

Tusker and Boma are very similar in offerings. Boma may have slightly more choices. I love them both. I enjoy Indian food but did not really care for Sanaa.
I wouldn't expect a child to like Sanaa.
Boma will give you a break from the park and the resort is an adventure in itself!

 

[GiJohnsGirl]

Tusker and Boma are very similar in offerings. Boma may have slightly more choices. I love them both. I enjoy Indian food but did not really care for Sanaa.
I wouldn't expect a child to like Sanaa.
Boma will give you a break from the park and the resort is an adventure in itself!

My DS (3) loved Sanaa. I would vote Sanaa. It is a nice escape from bustling crowds.

 

[jimmiej]

One word, "Boma".

One more, "Ditto"!

 

[hannahdrewmom]

If you aren't going back to your resort in between to change I'd do Tusker House. To me after a long day at AK I'd want to freshen up before dinner. People at Boma and Sanna tend to be "cleaned up" a bit as opposed to people at TH since you are already in a park. The hot and sticky look goes a long way there! (I'm not saying you have to be dressed up for either but I'd think after a full day in a park it might be more comfortable to be freshened up for a hotel restaurant.)

 

[cbg1027]

I have never been to Tusker House, so I'm only comparing Boma and Sanaa.

Boma is good, but I think Sanaa is excellent.

Sanaa is not at all stuffy - in fact, I find it quite casual and relaxed. It's a great place to go after a long day in the park. When I walk in to Sanaa I just get that 'aaaahhhh' feeling of relaxation and happiness. The atmosphere and view can't be beat. The decor is really interesting and unusual too. The large windows on one side of the dining area look out on the Sunset savannah - so you have a chance to view animals like Giraffes and Zebras while you eat.

The food at Sanaa is very mildly spiced (in terms of hotness...there are lots of spices, but it's not set your mouth on fire kind). If you do like things spicy, you can request to have your food kicked up a notch. Most children probably won't like the adult menu, but the kids menu has basic fare - http://allears.net/menu/menu_sanaak.htm

Here's the adult Sanaa menu: http://allears.net/menu/menu_sanaad.htm

As for Boma, it is good, but it's not amazing. I definitely enjoyed my meal there, but given the choice, I will always go with Sanaa.

Boma is loud, chaotic, and hectic. It's in a large open space with high ceilings and hard flooring. Add in all the people running back and forth to the buffet and an open kitchen and a relaxing meal isn't what you will find here. The food is quite good for a buffet though. While there is a lot of the vanilla/cinnamon sweetish spice flavors, they do have things that are more bland and there is plenty for picky kids.
The dessert were my favorite part because they had lots of items in little 2-bite size servings. I love that set up because you can sample more!

So it depends on what type of meal experience you want.

Boma and Sanaa are very close to AK. It's not a time consuming thing - just hop on a bus to AKL from AK. Once the bus comes and you get on your way, it's maybe a 5 minute ride.

You will have to get a bus from AKL to some other park or DTD after your meal if choose Sanaa or Boma.

The hassle of getting back to your resort after dinner is well worth it if you go to Sanaa. Or Boma for that matter.

 

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

Don't mean to hijack this thread - but are Zebra Domes only available at Boma?
I intend to make an ADR at Sanaa, as we'll be staying at AKV Kindani. But I really want the kids to be able to experience Zebra Domes, since I've heard so much about them. Didn't see them on the menu at Sanaa.
Will make an ADR at Boma also, if necessary.
TIA!

 

[The Tabasco Kid]

Not interested in Indian style food, so we don't do Saana, but we have hit Boma and TH many times. In the end, Tusker is "Boma lite". The flavors and themes are the same. Boma is a bit more upscale and offers a few things you don't get at Tusker, like soups or zebra domes. In all, I have come to prefer Tusker.

 

[JenSop]

I haven't eaten at Tusker House since it went TS, but I've eaten at Sanaa AND Boma three times each. While I really enjoy Boma, I'd pick Sanaa hand down. (Heck, it's only been open two years and I've eaten there on all three trips since then - it's THAT good.)

The flavors are not hot spicy. The only HOT spicy thing I've eaten there is the one dipping sauce for the bread service appetizer. I did not find anything else there to be spicy.

The restaurant is really gorgeous and the views are fantastic. Plus, we've always had excellent service.

Here are some pics inside Sanaa:

Just look how beautiful the ceiling is!

And the view from the tall windows:

Green shrimp curry and short ribs:

The dessert trio. The chai cream is the one in the middle - it is SO yummy. It tastes like a chai latte, but is light as mousse!

As others have said, Boma is loud and big. But there is a huge variety. I really do like it, but with all the other great restaurants in WDW, we haven't been there on our last couple of trips.

 

[cbg1027]

Don't mean to hijack this thread - but are Zebra Domes only available at Boma?
I intend to make an ADR at Sanaa, as we'll be staying at AKV Kindani. But I really want the kids to be able to experience Zebra Domes, since I've heard so much about them. Didn't see them on the menu at Sanaa.
Will make an ADR at Boma also, if necessary.
TIA!

Zebra Domes are available in packs of six at The Mara, the CS in AKL.

 

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

Thanks!

 

[disneybliss2]

Wow, thanks for everyone's feedback. I see pros to eating at all three places. Just when I think I have decided which restaurant to eat at, I see another post that sways my mind. I'll choose one (or two) for this trip and then go for the third on another trip. I like to try the restaurants at WDW at least once to form my own opinion if we like it. I'm anxious to try all three of these restaurants!

JenSop, thanks for posting the pics. Sanaa looks so beautiful inside. I love the pics of the giraffes. What a neat experience!