The Kona Cafe Isn't Just for Coffee Lovers
Written: Dec 30 '07 (Updated Dec 30 '07)
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Pros: unusual breakfast options, close to Magic Kingdom, relatively inexpensive (for Disney)
Cons: uneven service, not the most filling meal I've ever had
The Bottom Line: The Kona Cafe is very convenient if you plan to spend the morning in the Magic Kingdom
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| quasar's Full Review: Kona Cafe |
The Kona Cafe, found on the second floor of the Polynesian Resort, is one of the few breakfast options I found at Disney that didn't involve the same old, same old dishes. Don't get me wrong - I love those standard dishes, especially on the buffets when I can pick and choose among a lot of them - but I was very drawn to a breakfast where the food was just a bit different.
The Kona Cafe offers some normal breakfast options like omelets and eggs and and toast, but it was two of the more unusual options that really appealed to me: Tonga Toast and Macadamia Pineapple pancakes. Tonga Toast is a sweet banana stuffed french toast. Although I'm sure it was still tasty, I was disappointed to discover than the pancakes were just normal pancakes with macadamia butter and pineapple toppings rather than pancakes with macadamia nuts and pineapple bits mixed into the batter, so my decision was a bit easier to make. Tonga Toast it was.
The Tonga Toast comes with your choice of ham, bacon, or sausage and consists of two thick pieces of "Texas Toast" grilled in an egg batter. Cinnamon covered banana slices are placed between the two slices of bread, then the whole thing is covered in powdered sugar and cinnamon and deep fried. It's served with syrup, butter, and a strawberry sauce on the side. The dish was tasty on its own, but the strawberry sauce seemed to deepen the flavors and enhance the sweetness of an already incredibly sweet dish.
The banana was mostly found in one corner of the toast which happened to be the last section of the dish I ate. I actually liked the dish better without the banana which got a little bit mushy and made the whole thing just a little bit too sweet.
I chose a side of ham and was pleasantly surprised by how large and thick the hamsteak was. It was perfectly cooked, too, and the protein helped turn a delicious but not terribly filling dish like the Texas Toast into a more hearty breakfast. When I eat breakfast on vacation, I typically don't eat again until dinner, often a late dinner. While I needed a small snack in the midafternoon and had to have dinner a bit earlier than I'd like, I was able to forego a full lunch after this breakfast.
Obviously a restaurant with the name Kona Cafe prides itself on its coffee, but I'm not a coffee drinker so I can't comment on the coffee here or whether it's really better than the norm as reported by others.
The cafe is situated in a corner of the Polynesian overlooking the fake rainforest landscaping. It's a really peaceful and appealing view if you can get a table near the window. It's also right by the monorail station, making it really convenient for visitors who aren't staying at this hotel. I took the ferryboat from the Magic Kingdom to the Polynesian that morning, and while I don't regret the lovely ride, be aware that taking the monorail is much more convenient.
The restaurant features a mix of round tables, square tables, and half booths. I guess there's some vaguely Polynesian theming, but it's very subtle and, to be honest, I was so enthralled by the view out the window that I didn't pay that much attention to the restaurant itself. I was seated immediately, so I basically went right to my table and that lovely view.
The service at the Kona Cafe was a bit uneven. As just mentioned, I was seated immediately and my server came quickly to take my order and bring drinks. I ordered water and it came quickly, but I wasn't able to get a refill until the check came. My server passed near my table in the meantime, but I was unable to get her attention. Once the check came, I was able to get that water refill and pay fairly quickly.
The Kona Cafe is very convenient if you plan to spend the morning in the Magic Kingdom and offers a combination of standard, generic breakfast options and dishes you won't find elsewhere. Most of the options are around $10-12 which is downright cheap for table service breakfast at Disney (although, in fairness, I'm comparing apples and oranges since most of the other choices are all you can eat offerings). The service could be better, but I found that to be the case at the majority of restaurants around Disney World so you're not really any worse off here because of that. If you're the type to eat breakfast, definitely consider trying the Kona Cafe during your next trip to Disney World.
Recommended:
Yes
Kid Friendliness: No
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
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