Comments on: Keeping It Kona: A Dining Review

By: Wilbur Parker

Wilbur Parker — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 17:41:43 +0000

Searching for this for some time now, Thank you.

By: nahtazu

nahtazu — Sun, 17 May 2009 06:53:50 +0000

Thanks so much for this review. Adding Kona to our plans in September! Everything sounds so delicous, I want to try to get there a couple of times. Especially if I can figure out how to time it to catch the fireworks afterwards on the beach. Thanks again for all the ideas everyone.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Sun, 17 May 2009 04:55:29 +0000

I tried this restaurant with my family just for the deserts, and we loved it so much that when my husband and I came back for our honeymoon we ate there again! The food is excellent- but make sure to save room for desert because it is to die for (your two picks were the best, in my opinion)! The atmosphere is great too- if you get a later reservation you can walk out to the beach after dinner and watch the fireworks at Magic Kingdom over the water… a very romantic and to a fun evening. =)

By: Elisabeth

Elisabeth — Sat, 16 May 2009 20:51:53 +0000

Thanks for the review! I totally agree with you that Kona is an overlooked gem when it comes to lunch and dinner. It seems to have kept up its quality even after the rise in popularity of the dining plan, which sadly isn’t the case for many Disney restaurants. Kona is in our top 3 WDW restaurants, and it’s great to read another positive review!

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 16 May 2009 19:49:29 +0000

I haven’t been there yet, but I understand that the Kona is one of few places where you can get a decent cup of coffee! We are using one of our reservations there for evening coffee and fireworks down at the beach!
BTW I love your blog!

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 16 May 2009 16:33:38 +0000

By: JillAnn

JillAnn — Sat, 16 May 2009 15:05:12 +0000

I’m so glad that you’re sharing the hidden gem that is Kona Cafe. Food-wise, I had one of the best meals of my life there! (For the record, I had pan-Asian noodles and crab cakes.)

My two complaints are: at least when I’ve been there, it’s incredibly loud, and it’s not kid-friendly at all. The only explicitly children’s item on the menu is “Pirate Punch.” It seems odd that there’s no kids’ menu because there’s a chocolate Lilo & Stitch sculpture near the kitchen.

By: Josh Carver

Josh Carver — Sat, 16 May 2009 12:32:03 +0000

Thanks for the comments Jul, be careful with the Hawaiian sweet bread, that is, if you want to still be hungry for your entree…lol. That slow teasing walk by the desserts just before being seated is where Sarah first noticed the Banana-Chocolate Creme Brulee. It was love at first bite.

By: Josh Carver

Josh Carver — Sat, 16 May 2009 12:29:42 +0000

You are so right Deb, I think it’s a great “get-away” restaurant.

By: Jul from MD

Jul from MD — Sat, 16 May 2009 03:19:49 +0000

SHHHHHHHH! Don’t tell people about Kona. It’s horrible. It’s awful. Especially for the second week of August, it’s going to be the most miserable restaurant you can imagine. Stay far away. (And if you’re going to not listen anyhow, please wait another 10 hours until I make our ADRs for our party of 10. *grin*)

Seriously, though, we’ve had both lunch and dinner there and loved it every time. The duck potstickers are insanely good. The salads at lunch are awesome except the one with the mustard dressing (which was very bitter, but the waiter did a great job rushing a different entree out for our person who ordered it).

It has some of the most unique food around, and the teaser that they do walking you by the desserts on the way to your table is an act of brilliant cruelty. This, by far, is one of the most under-appreciated restaurants, especially for lunch or dinner. Everyone just goes on about tonga toast… at some point we’ll need to get there for breakfast to try it, but we’re so hooked on lunch and dinner.

Given the challenge for good dining in the MK, this is where we tend to sneak off for a nice meal. The only challenge with it is that the acoustics are terrible and so even with a small crowd, it will be noisy.

Thanks for posting the info. I’m glad to see they replaced the olive bread with that new bread. It looks much more appealing given that none of our party are big olive fans.