'Ohana - Polynesian Resort - Review - April 9, 2019

Last Friday we managed to get a reservation for 'Ohana, located at the Walt Disney Polynesian Resort. We haven't dined here since 2013 so it was a great one to revisit.

As you enter this beautiful resort you will be overwhelmed by the beauty of the grounds. The entire hotel transports you to the islands.

The waterfalls at the front entrance have you believing you've stepped into Hawaii.

The lobby is a two story open air room with lots of places to sit and rest your feet or photo opportunities.

Others were standing in line to get their picture taken in front of the statue in the center of the room.

On one wall is a large hand drawn map of the entire hotel grounds.

To get to 'Ohana you can either take the stairs or an elevator on the right side of the lobby. If you take the stairs along the interior wall you will see a bamboo art installation that looks like this.

If you are ever there look for the many "hidden Mickey's" that appear in this grouping. 

 As you come to the second floor you will see a check in podium for 'Ohana. You need to check in there. They take your cell phone number and text you when your table is ready for seating. 

Fro the second floor you have a wonderful view of the entire lobby.

While you are waiting you can get a drink from the Tambu lounge located on the second floor.

There is lots of seating for while you are waiting. Or you can go into either of the two gift shops on the second floor.

The first time I came to this restaurant was in the early 1980s. At that time it was called Papeete Bay Verandah, in 1995 it became 'Ohana. It was mainly Polynesian and asian dishes. Including lots of stir fry and seafood. I remember staying at the Contemporary resort hotel that weekend and was able to call from our room and get reservations for that evening. Back then if you were on property you were guaranteed a dinner reservation by just picking up the phone in your room. But there weren't many choices of where to eat then either. We sat by the window and at that time the music for the fireworks across the lake were piped in to the dining room. You could see them off in the distance as you had dinner.

There are many recipes in the Disney cookbooks for items that were served at Papeete Bay Verandah.

In the Cooking with Mickey Volume II you'll find the following...

• page 42 - Ginger Egg Drop Soup
• page 66 - Oatmeal Macadamia Muffins
• page 89 - Neptune Salad
• page 89 - Papeete Bay Salad
• page 105 - Eggs Kamehameha
• page 107 - Polynesian breakfast Pizza Soufflé
• page 125 - Char Grilled Shrimp with coconut butter
• page 140 - Shrimp Pasta
• page 149 - Stir Fry Shrimp & Scallops with Ginger Sauce
• page 150 - Tuna Steak with Black bean sauce
• page 202 - Orange Beef
• page 208 - Stir Fried Beef with broccoli and snow peas
• page 226 - Sesame Green Beans and asparagus
• page 228 - Stir Fry vegetables
• page 229 - Tempura Vegetables
• page 239 - Bread Pudding
• page 249 - Coconut squares
• page 262 - Macadamia Nut Pie

In the Chef Mickey cookbook you'll find...

• page 115 - Orange Beef

In 2013 we dined at 'Ohana. At this time they were giving out paper menus. When we went last Friday they were no longer giving out menus but were just telling you what was on the menu for that evening as it's a set meal for everyone in the dining room. (unless you have allergies)

The most notable difference between our 2013 visit and the one last Friday was that the price in 2013 was $25.99 per adult and last Friday it was $59.99 per adult. This is an all you can eat restaurant.

 This is a photo I took in 2013 of the grill where they cook the meats.

As we entered this time I was able to get more photos. They first walk you by the bread station where they pick up a loaf of "Ohana Pineapple Coconut Bread and honey butter.

If you have the Kitchen Magic Cookbook you'll find the recipe for this bread on page 152.

Our Table was at the window with a perfect view of the Seven Seas Lagoon looking directly out towards Magic Kingdom.

Directly out in this view was Cinderella Castle.

To start my husband had the Terrapin Luau Krunkles Passionfruit-Orange Guava IPA.

We proceeded with our bread.

And a salad of radicchio, kale, baby spinach, arugula, Craisins, and fried oriental noodles with a Lillikoi dressing served family style. What is Lillikoi? It's similar to passionfruit but a larger fruit with bright yellow skin and a tart pulp.

Our next course was the starters. This consisted of Pork Dumplings with a Garlic Ginger sauce.

Honey-Coriander Chicken wings. If you have the Chef Mickey Volume II this recipe is on page 109.  

These are served with Sweet and Sour Sauce and Peanut Sauce.

The Peanut Sauce recipe is in the Kitchen Magic cookbook on page 14.

Also in the pan are stir fried vegetables that consisted of water chestnuts, broccoli carrots, mushrooms, onions, red and green peppers and baby corn

The recipe for the stir fried vegetables is in the Cooking with Mickey Volume II on page 228.

Also in the center are Teriyaki noodles.

They let you know to pace your self as there is a lot of food coming. The meats are cooked on an open grill that sits in the middle of the dining room. 

They are served table side. This was the Szechuan Sirloin Steak.

Then came the Sweet-n-Sour Chicken

And the Spicy Grilled Peel-n-Eat Shrimp.

After you've finished eating the meats course they bring out piping hot towels to wash your hands before dessert is served.

Dessert is their world famous 'Ohana bread pudding à la mode.

You can find the recipe for the bread pudding in the Delicious Disney cookbook on page 171. I've made this many times and it's a fabulous recipe.

It's topped with a Bananas Foster Caramel Sauce

Everyone gets a lei to take home with them as they enter the restaurant.

But don't ask for a doggie bag because they aren't allowed here.

There's one more recipe in my Disney cookbooks that some that have been to 'Ohana in the past might be interested in.

The recipe for the Maui Scalloped Potatoes can be found in the Chef Mickey cookbook on page 148.

Tables in Wonderland is accepted, as well as some dining plans it is a 1 credit meal. This is for everything but the quick service plan. 

To subscribe to this blog click this link