GREAT EATS HAWAII: AMA AMA - DISNEY AULANI RESORT

Monday, September 19, 2011

AMA AMA - DISNEY AULANI RESORT

AMA AMA

AULANI DISNEY RESORT

KO'OLINA HAWAII

We were blessed to be treated to dinner at the new Disney Resort in Ko'Olina. Aulani is a huge resort that dominates the once calm skyline of the lagoons at Ko'Olina. The place sticks out like a sore thumb and will forever change the face and fabric of West Oahu. Ama Ama is the fine dining restaurant within the resort. It is situated in a perfect location overlooking the lagoon. Our table was perfect and so was the service. Our waiter was Isaac from Molokai. Isaac was the perfect gentlemen. He was knowledgable about the menu and always was there to take care of us in a professional and relaxed manner. To start our meal, we were served a complimentary spoon filled with a fresh lobster and seafood. This was good. Could have eaten a dozen of those spoons. The complimentary bread is served with sweet butter and two kinds of sea salt. You put the salt on the butter and then on the bread. Wow...this was really good. We split the Hirabara Farm Greens with Papaya Seed Vinaigrette ($12). The salad is served in a large bowl. Isaac was nice enough to split our portion into two bowls. The salad was crisp and fresh. The dressing was light and just tangy enough to satisfy. For my entree, I ordered the Grilled Lobster served with some sort of pancake and Korean vegetables ($63). This dish was a mess. It tasted worse than it looked. Probably one of the worst lobster dishes I have had in my life. While the lobster was a bit undercooked and cold, the surrounding things on the plate should be outlawed. The lobster was set on top of some kind of mush patty. The thing had no taste and was uneatable. There was a pool of sauce with Korean cucumber and other tart vegetables. Look at the picture below. Would you pay $63 for this dish? What a huge disappointment. My friend enjoyed the Whole Salt-Crusted Island Sustainable Catch with Limu and Tomato and Maui Onion Vinaigrette. Don't know how much this cost, but I guarantee it was expensive. The presentation was beautiful. The fish was brought to the table and un-crusted by a waiter. Our friends also ordered the Fresh Hawaiian Sustainable Catch at Market Price. Why they have to put "sustainable" in all of the descriptions is beyond me. You catch a fish and you eat the fish. What does this sustain? My wife had the Paniolo Rack of Lamb ($53). Served with a pineapple, mango and Poha Berry Chutney. This was delicious dish. For dessert most had a scoop of sorbet. I ordered a scoop of chocolate ice cream but they only had vanilla with chocolate sauce. This is one expensive restaurant that I probably will not go back to again. Sorry Mickey Mouse.

Click links below for more on Ama Ama;

http://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2011/09/ama-ama-aulani-disney-resort-koolina_19.html

http://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2012/04/ama-ama-restaurant-disneys-aulani.html

AMA AMA

BEAUTIFUL VIEW OF LAGOON FROM PATIO TABLE

SUNSET VIEWS WERE FANTASTIC

Here is info provided by the Aulani web site:

MENU
The gourmet chefs use fresh local ingredients and island flavors to create distinctive Hawaiian dishes that juxtapose the traditional with the contemporary—for breakfast, lunch and dinner. While the menu rotates to highlight seasonal ingredients, the dinner menu focuses on sustainable seafood, steak, duck and pasta. For lunch, enjoy hot and cold sandwiches, soup, salads and pasta. Hawaiian-inspired breakfast specialties feature omelets, waffles, pancakes, grains and freshly-made bakery items. Delicious vegetarian options are available for breakfast, lunch and dinner. All desserts are house-made daily!
Something special to drink? Treat yourself to a classic island cocktail updated with a unique twist or a glass of fine wine!

ATMOSPHERE
The restaurant features an open-aired seating section with amazing views of the Pacific Ocean. Gather your loved ones, dine on amazing food, enjoy a tropical sunset and watch as rolling waves crash against the shore.

NAME
The restaurant is named after the ʻamaʻama—a tasty local mullet fish immortalized in popular Hawaiian songs. Our signature dining restaurant celebrates not only the fish, but also the fishing settlements along the leeward coast dating back to the 12th century.