Ohana -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Polynesian
*This dining experience took place in November 2015.Aloha! Ohana located at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort has long been one of my family's favorite restaurants on Disney property. We love the fun and friendly atmosphere, the Polynesian theme, and, of course, the food! The menu itself has changed a lot over the years, and while we often lament some of our favorites that are no longer on the menu (oh, how I miss the honey lime vinaigrette salad dressing), we still very much enjoy the offerings available at Ohana.On this particular occasion, I visited with a friend, who also happens to be gluten free and dairy free too. It's always fun to dine out with friends, and especially those that have special dietary needs!I actually dined at Ohana this summer, but I realized I hadn't blogged about it yet (yikes! We'll chalk that one up to all the new job and moving craziness). But, as I was telling my friend, I actually haven't dined at Ohana in a couple of years because it's often hard to get a reservation when you are local and don't make 180 day in advance plans (I know, I know, local problems!). So, it was awesome to be dining here twice in the span of a few months!Both my friend and I were ready to dig into our meal at Ohana and both knew going in we were going to be plenty full by the time the meal was over. Ohana definitely keeps the food coming, as a family style dining option.After being seated, the chef greeted us and let us know that we would be getting salad (with the removal of wontons), GNI brand rolls with Earth Balance vegan margarine, white rice, sauteed veggies, chicken wings, sweet and sour sauce, and could enjoy all three grilled meats: Shrimp, Chicken, and Steak. I also asked if they still had the gluten free teriyaki sauce (which they do) and was able to get that as well. And, of course, everything began to come out quickly...Let the food photos begin!First up was the salad. This contained shredded vegetables (such as carrot), mushrooms, edamame, and red onion along with a vinaigrette. I really enjoyed this in July but both my friend and I found it to be woefully underdressed this time.The GNI rolls we received were also poorly heated. Very crumbly and dry, while I ate one of them, my friend opted to skip, because -- of course -- it's all about the other food here!We also got a plate to share of steamed white rice, sweet and sour sauce, teriyaki sauce, sauteed vegetables, and chicken wings. The chicken wings continue to be a favorite with a nice spicy dry rub. I also love having some rice and veggies along with the sauces they provide. Overall, it's definitely a good mix of options.But, the best part about Ohana are the grilled meats that come out Brazilian Steakhouse style on skewers. All three grilled meats are now gluten free (which I love). I do miss their pork but the new sauces and rubs on the meats have definitely improved the meats offered. The steak that I had in July was perfectly cooked to my liking and nicely seasoned. This time, I found the meat to be just a bit too rare for my taste, so I didn't go for a second round. The chicken had a nice sweet and sour sauce on it and was delicious. Yep, I totally went for seconds on that. And, my hands down favorite is the shrimp. Sure, you have to peel them, and they are messy, but if you aren't enjoying a messy meal like this...you're doing it wrong! Between my friend and I, I think we ate our weight in shrimp!Between all the courses, we were both quite stuffed. Though we were brought dessert both of us didn't eat much of it.Dessert at Ohana is always underwhelming. But, then again, it's not why I go there. Served Tofutti with Enjoy Life cookies, fresh fruit and Hershey's Syrup, it was just OK. Still, props for the cute hidden Mickey on the plate!Overall, we both really enjoyed our meal at Ohana. Our main courses were exactly why we dined here and while some of the sides were just OK, we both left the meal satisfied and totally stuffed. Ohana is definitely a must do tradition for my family and friends. Plus, the entertainment there is great. Kiddos can get in on coconut racing and the live singing is delightful.Have you been to Ohana? What did you enjoy most there?