Ohana at the Polynesian Resort
3/10/2004


By: Leslie Klug

We’re just back from a visit to Walt Disney World. There were three adults in our party and we had a most delicious dinner at Ohana. When you arrive, you are taken over to the fire pit (where the meats are grilled on skewers) and your host or hostess gets your Hawaiian bread for your table.

Once seated, your beverage order is taken and you notice a lazy susan on the table. Here, is placed stir fried green beans and onions, salad with honey lime dressing, shrimp and vegetable wontons, honey coriander chicken wings, stir-fried rice, and dipping sauces: fruit, peanut and cilantro ginger.

Your server brings you an assortment of skewered meats: grilled tiger shrimp, marinated sirloin steak mesquite seasoned turkey breast, and barbecue pork loin. The server brings the skewers right to your table and pushes them off in generous portions right onto your plate. The shrimp is gleaming with a spicy sweet rub; the pork, turkey and steak are tender and so delicious!

At precisely 9 PM, with our view over the Seven Seas Lagoon toward Cinderella’s Castle in the Magic Kingdom, we were treated to an awesome view of Wishes, the Magic Kingdom’s new fireworks spectacular! The music from the show was broadcast in the restaurant so we could enjoy all the splendor!

We ate much too much to entertain the idea of dessert. Here are the items offered if you should have a heartier appetite than us: Mousse - creamy white and chocolate mousse, Kona Coffee and Irish Cream Brulee - coffee custard and Irish Cream with caramelized sugar, The Beach Bomb - Hawaiian shaved ice with sweet rainbow syrup, passion fruit cheesecake - cheesecake layered with passion fruit custard, Coconut snowball - coconut ice cream rolled in toasted coconut, chocolate pave - layers of chocolate ganache, macadamia nuts and graham crumbs.

The dinner is all you can eat and costs $23.99 for adults and $9.99 for children. The above desserts are an additional charge but you are served fresh pineapple with caramel sauce. To top it off, you are presented with a steaming hot cloth and a slice of lemon with which to freshen up!

During dinner, children are encouraged to participate in the coconut race and learn to hula.

Ohana means family and here, everyone is your cousin! Aloha!