WDW Cravings Countdown: Day 3 - 'Ohana!

WDW Cravings Countdown

Day 3 – 'Ohana!

 
'Ohana is such a fun restaurant. It is located on the 2nd floor of the Great Ceremonial House at Disney's Polynesian Resort. For those that don't know, 'Ohana means "family" in Hawaiian. The dinner served at 'Ohana is all about family! Your servers will refer to themselves as your "cousins" and the meal itself is served "family style." This means that all items are brought to your table in shareable portions. Everything is also "all-you-care-to-eat. 

Our last meal at 'Ohana was October 2010, and while my parents won't be dining at 'Ohana this trip, I will. And in a sense it will be a "first" for me. Every time I have dined at 'Ohana, I've seen those large parties at the tables in the middle of the room, celebrating a birthday or a wedding rehearsal dinner…well this trip, I'll be part of one of those large parties!

I am dining at 'Ohana for my best friend's Welcome Dinner for her Disney Fairytale Wedding!

I know that some feel 'Ohana can be hit or miss, and it will be interesting to experience it as part of a large party! But, we have always had good to great meals here. For the price, you can't beat the food! Though I do miss the scalloped potatoes which were removed during a menu change a few years ago!

Perfect View from Window Table

Sunken Treasure and Blue Glowtini

I'm trying to figure out why on earth I didn't get a Lapu Lapu. For those of you asking...what on earth is a Lapu Lapu, see the picture below!

These lovely hollowed out pineapples, filled with rum, sweet & sour and pineapple juice are to die for! And man are they strong! I have a pretty high tolerance, but after a few Lapu Lapus....well, let's say I'd get acquainted with the floor quite quickly!

After you have checked-in at the podium, a hostess will escort you to your table. As you enter the restaurant she will stop by the dessert kitchen to show you the sinful Pineapple Bread Pudding (more on that later!) and will pick up your "Welcome" bread. They will also walk you past the wood-burning fire pit where all the meats are cooked.

Pineapple Coconut Bread

This bread is nice. It has chunks of pineapple and coconut throughout, but isn't so sweet that it tastes like a pastry. A tip: If you ask your server for butter they will bring you some. It vastly improves the bread.

Shortly after being seated, your "cousin" will stop by with the salad course:

Salad with Honey Lime Dressing

I am not the world's largest salad fan, far from it actually. However, this salad is light, sweet, tart and refreshing! It is the perfect start to the meal.

At the same time, your cousin will drop off the dipping sauces that accompany the appetizers and meats:

Dipping Sauces

Clockwise from top the sauces are:
Peanut - this pairs well with the noodles and the chicken
Sweet & Sour - this pairs well with the pot stickers and the shrimp
Spicy Mustard - I LOVE the spicy mustard and I feel it pairs well with everything, but the wings, the steak and the pork are the suggested pairings from what I recall.

Pork Pot Stickers

These are quite tasty. Crispy on the outside, soft and tender inside. The filling is pork with Asian flavors like ginger and lemongrass. They drizzle some sweet and sour sauce over these before they bring them to the table.

Honey Coriander Sticky Wings

I could easily make an entire meal out of just these wings. They are sticky, salty, and sweet. Like a thick soy sauce with added spices. In fact, I have replicated them at home successfully. The sauce is soy, honey, lime juice, garlic powder, ginger powder, a bit of sesame oil, some coriander and a few other ingredients.

Stir Fried Vegetables

These are exactly what they sound like: Stir Fried Vegetables. A bit boring, but good.

Pineapple Lo Mein Noodles

These have grown on me over the years. As I stated earlier, I miss the scalloped potatoes!! But, as a huge pasta fan, I tried these and they are very tasty. The sweetness from the pineapple balances out the soy based sauce. They are thicker than a spaghetti noodle and they are a bit softer in texture than an al dente pasta.

Chicken & Beef

It can be quite the challenge to get pictures of the meats at 'Ohana. They are all cooked over the open, wood-burning fire pit and presented on large skewers. The options are:
- Oak Grilled Chicken
- Asian Barbecued Pork Loin
- Marinated Sirloin Steak
- Spicy Grilled Peel and Eat Shrimp

After you've had your fill of all the appetizers, sides and meats, you will be presented with:

Pineapple Bread Pudding with Vanilla Ice Cream and Bananas Foster Sauce

Angels sing and the heavens open when this dessert is presented...I'm not kidding! This is bliss. It is only of the best desserts at Walt Disney World. The warm, custard-y bread pudding, the crunchy baked top, the cool ice cream and the sweet caramel sauce are the perfect combination!

Throughout the course of the evening, entertainment will be provided by one of two entertainers, one male and one female. The male entertainer is a bit more laid back, and the female entertainer is a bit more high energy. They sing songs, wander the dining room interacting with guests and host games for children, such as coconut races and hula lessons!

Overall, I love 'Ohana. Between the food and the fun atmosphere I make a point of returning here every few trips