08/11/2019
Ohana – Polynesian Village Resort
There is no doubt that reservations at Ohana in the Walt Disney World Polynesian Village Resort are difficult to obtain. And there is a very good reason why it is difficult to obtain Ohana reservations – simply put, it’s that good. And it’s not just the food – which is amazing – that makes Ohana so wonderful. It is the service and the atmosphere as well.
From the minute you walk into the Polynesian Village Resort, you feel you are in another place. While that can be said about pretty much anywhere in Walt Disney World, the Polynesian takes that to another level. The beautiful flowers, décor, the soft ukulele music, and the light coming in from the skylights and the windows that look across Seven Seas Lagoon all combine to create a magical atmosphere that makes you feel like you are truly in the South Seas. (If possible, request a castle view table – the view across the lagoon to Cinderella Castle makes this incredible meal even more memorable.)
When you check in for your dinner at Ohana, you are immediately greeted as a “cousin,” and that feeling of friendliness and familiarity continues throughout your meal – after all, “Ohana” means “family.” Dinner at this beautiful restaurant that is situated on the second floor of the Polynesian Village Resort is served family-style, with the option to request extra portions of any of the dishes served throughout the meal.
The meal begins with pineapple bread served with butter. While “pineapple bread” might sound like an odd combination, it is truly delicious (honestly, I could make a meal out of the bread alone). That is one of the great things about Ohana – many of the dishes they serve are somewhat unique combinations of flavors or concepts, but just like the bread, they are SO GOOD. After the bread comes a mixed green salad tossed with a lilikoi dressing. Then comes a skillet for the table to share of the appetizers, which includes honey-coriander chicken wings, pork dumplings, teriyaki noodles, and stir- fried vegetables. Again – these are all good enough to make a complete meal on their own!
However, the real star of the show at Ohana comes from the massive grill situated in the middle of the restaurant. Here, the “cousins” (as all of the cast members at Ohana are called) working the grill prepare huge skewers of sweet-n-sour chicken, spicy grilled peel-n-eat shrimp, and Szechuan sirloin steak. The cousins serving your meal then bring these skewers to your table, and you are free to request as many portions as you can enjoy! The combination of Polynesian flavors and the wood-fired smokiness from the grill are truly incredible.
Dinner at Ohana ends with a dessert that is another example of unique flavor combinations. It is bread pudding à la mode served with bananas and caramel sauce. Even if you feel you couldn’t possibly have room left over for dessert – trust us, find some room for this bread pudding! It is one of the best dessert options available at Walt Disney World!
