Wonderful dining experience. Great food & service. We got the Tahitian feast and it was more than enough food for the 2 of us. One word of caution- be prepared to wait. Even with a reservation it can take a while to be seated depending on the size of your party and the crowd at the time.
(5)
Michael S.
I actually experienced this place with the daunting task of having dinner with my girlfriend and her parents. I've got to say I really liked this place. And by the way, when you order The Tahitian Feast, oh boy are you in for an actual feast. It comes loaded with Egg flower soup, bora bora, won ton, crab rangoon, egg roll, rumaki, Polynesian pit ribs, beef teriyaki sticks, shrimp panamanian, tahitian tid bits, sweet & pungent pork, chicken chow mein, and shrimp-fried rice. The shrimp-fried rice and the chicken chow mein come last in the course. It's all delicious, everything was cooked to perfection and my only regret here was not eating more. The food was absolutely delicious, and extremely reasonably priced. I'd recommend this place a million times over without hesitation, I loved it!
(5)
Lashanda H.
Tried it aftwr readinf a review and seeing the high volume of cars outside. I hated the food. The only thing that I can see that would bring the crowd in would be being able to bring outside alcohol into the restaurant. I havent been back since and live less than 2 minutes away.
(1)
Bryant B.
Please do not waste your time or money; the 80's decor will make you nauseated and the food seems to be one note at best.
(1)
Marisa H.
My all time favorite restaurant. Cool atmosphere, amazing food, and friendly staff. Plus it's byob! Everything is good. My favorites are ramuki and chicken ono ono.
(5)
Mary V.
So I was contacted by a charming person who I'm guessing either works at Omni Hut or is a family member of the owners of Omni Hut. This person said they specifically signed up for Yelp just to message me - why thank you, I'm honored! This person was very rude, cursed a lot, called me names, and basically was not happy about my review. Get over it. He/she/it said I had no right to criticize the restaurant because my check was only $6.45 and I was a cheap ass. First of all, what a customer spends does not matter - they are still the customer. There were a lot of us and everyone paid for a little bit of something - who cares. Secondly, I am far from bring a cheap ass. In fact, I have a wonderful professional career and I probably make more money in a week than this lovely person makes in a month from what I gather about his/her/its attitude and language. Everyone has a right to their opinion. If you cannot or do not want criticism, don't work for or open a business. The best businesses in the world get bad reviews. I reviewed from MY experience, which SUCKED. What is Yelp but a platform to tell other people your experience at a certain business? Congratulations, idiot, you diminished my rating for Omni Hut to one mere star. Stupid.
(1)
Mindy J.
I cannot believe I've lived in Smyrna my entire life, seeing the Omni Hut just about every day, and never tried it before. It was AWESOME!!! My boyfriend's father was back in town and was actually kinda excited to go back after so many years. You walk in and are immediately "not in Smyrna anymore". The atmosphere sets the tone for an intimate island adventure, right here in the heart of our small little town... I thought this was really cool. and the walls in the actual dining area are beautiful, i loved looking at all the decor while we waited. The lady that led us to our table was so sweet and genuine, as well as our actual waitress, and even the boy refilling our drinks, GREAT SERVICE! And then the food... Oh my goodness the FOOD!!!! We ordered the Tahitian Feast since I had never been before and that basically gives you samples of everything on the menu, in a 3 course style meal. (Soup, appetizers-- Enough to feed a GROUP-- and the entrees) Everything was REALLY good! I loved the soup, and the Polynesian Pit ribs were AMAAAAAZING!!!! Really liked the crab rangoon and the shrimp panamanian was a close second favorite. Of the entrees, I was getting so full I couldnt eat a lot of them, but i didn't actually care for the shrimp fried rice (but i dont like onions, so thats just a personal preference) But the chicken chow mein was REALLY good too!!! Tip- Mix it up with the fried noodles... SO good! All in all, I LOVED the Omni Hut! My boyfriend enjoyed it, and his dad was glad he came back WILL frequent quite often now that I have tried this awesomeness
(5)
Rob D.
I love this place. The food is unique and fresh tasting and the atmosphere is so fun and inviting. It's also bring your own alcohol which I really like. I'm not much of a drinker but it is a fun idea. They make a delicious homemade fruit tea that's more like a fruit punch. I suggest bringing a bottle of Malibu rum to mix with it.
(4)
Will A.
Fun birthday place. It's a hole -in-the-wall that's unique. The food is Polynesian, and the service is excellent. Be sure to make reservations on holidays and weekends because it gets filled up quickly. BYOB
(5)
Kristi B.
The only restaurant I have been to that is still BYOB. The food was below average the Decour very cheesy. We paid $22 a person for their feast which is fair for the amount of food. If only I wanted to eat it.
(2)
R H.
In a nutshell, one goes to the Omni Hut for the experience. Talk about being transported into your grandparents tiki hut themed basement. It is hilarious and fun and unforgettable. Kids LOVE it. Waitresses wear muumuus and every drink comes with a tiny umbrella and a cherry on top. The menu offers "feasts" which are basic samples of the adequate polynesian cuisine that is brought out in crazy volcano displays and elaborately decorated dishes. Recommended: The hawaiian tea (the place is byob, so I recommend bringing dark rum to pour into your fruit drinks) and the pupu platter app, which can serve as a meal for one and offers a wide sampling of the menu, including the bora bora (pineapple and bacon), ribs, and egg rolls , which surprisingly have great flavor. Try it once, just so you can say you've been!
(4)
Bryan L.
If you can find anything wrong with the Tahitian Feast, then you are a terrorist and you should bomb yourself in your home. Alone. Boom shakalaka. Now, I don't want people thinking they are going in here for a 152 star meal. Omni Hut is what it is. It's a mini-vacation from the same old stuff you always see. The food, the staff, the decor, the black lights.. It's all different than you would find anywhere else in TN. The food Is alright. It's not amazing, it's not bad. It's decent food. The good thing though is it's very consistent. you're not going to come in here and have a BAD meal. I highly recommend this place just for the fun factor. It's a great place for a date, or special occasion. Oh yeah... the best part...... it's BYOB!!!! They will even cork and chill your wine for you! Wanna get hammered and learn Hawaii'an? Get a bottle of your favorite spirit and mix it into some of their homemade punch! I'm giving it an extra star JUST for this reason!
(4)
Mindy T.
My husband and I enjoy trying interesting places we have never been to before. We like quality food so when he said that he had heard great things about Omni Hut, we decided to take the family and give it a try. The decor was...different. I get the theme but it looks like very little has changed in the 50+ years the place has been open. Our server was very friendly and took time to explain the menu. Based on everyone's likes and dislikes, and varying appetites, we chose individual dinners as opposed to one of the feasts. Maybe this was a mistake as all of the positive reviews mention the feasts but they just looked like a bunch of fried stuff to me. We were very disappointed by the individual dinners. The egg flower soup was pretty good but considering it is just chicken based broth with cooked egg whites, I would think it would be hard to mess up. The chicken in two of the dishes and my Panamanian Shrimp were overcooked. The "fried rice" had an odd flavor and was a little soft. The seafood feast looked to be more breading than seafood but I did not taste any of it to know for sure. The one thing that bothered me was the method of simultaneously taking up old dishes and delivering fresh food on the same tray. While this did not bother me when our dishes ended up on the tray with our fresh food, I was very turned off to see a dirty dish from another table placed on the tray next to our fresh salads. Maybe I am picky but I found this to be disgusting and chose not to eat my salad. Not sure if this is a health code thing or not but I would think it would be frowned upon. All in all, it was a disappointing experience and we will not be back. At $17-22 per person (not including beverages) we can have a much better meal elsewhere. Omni Hut is certainly not worth those prices. How they are always busy is beyond me and I can only assume the prices are to make up for lost income from not selling liquor or beer and the fact they are only open 20 hours a week. That leads me to believe the food quality must be low to keep margins high.
(2)
Kristin Marie S.
The Omni Hut is a destination. You don't go there for top of the line island food, you go for the experience! Plus it's the only tiki establishment within 40 miles. So if you haven't noticed from my reviews, I love a good theme. The Omni Hut really goes for it with the decor which is much appreciated. If you are going to have a themed establishment, then you really need to 100% decorate for it. The menu tries to stick with the theme as much as possible. They have Tahitian Feasts! Punch drinks! Pupu Platters! Oh and it's BYOB. If you are looking to have a little fun and break the norm head down to the Omni Hut. After all, it's been a middle Tennessee landmark for 50 years!
(3)
Larry S.
I've been waiting for 45 years to come back to the Omni Hut, and it was as good as I had remembered. It's not just a restaurant, but a unique and fascinating dining experience. And I'm a sucker for the Tiki Hut atmosphere. The presentation of the Tahitian Feast is as much a part of the experience as the food itself. And there is plenty of food. It's more fun with more people sharing it, and the prices are very reasonable. Just remember to bring your own alcohol, if that's what you want.
(5)
Alex H.
I drive through here once or twice a year, but I was never quite able to fit in this Tiki Roadtrip. My last round through I was able to drop by for a pupu platter. This was a step up from my usual pupu platter. The water chestnut, liver, and bacon tidbit really surprised me. The rest was exactly what I expected and everything that I needed right then. This place is BYOB, and as such they have no signature cocktails. However, I suspect that their fruit tea could be enhanced quite nicely with some El Dorado 5 year, or possibly a nice dark rum like Gosling's. The exterior architecture is striking, and the lobby is a true tiki gem. A nice touch for tiki fans is they have a stack of decommissioned menus in the entry room that you can take away as a souvenir.
(4)
Terri H.
Fun Atmosphere! We have been wanting to visit this place for a couple of years and everyone's schedule finally worked out for our best friend's birthday. The hawaiian atmosphere was very fun and festive. I loved it. The service was great and our waitress was very friendly. They don't take reservations per say but they have call ahead seating. I didn't order an appetizer but I ate some of my friend's mushrooms. I also had some of my husband's appetizer but I couldn't tell you what I ate only that it was all good. My husband ordered the Tahitian Feast so he had a sample of several apps. I ordered the Chicken Ono Ono for my feast. The egg flower soup that came with the feast was great. The chicken in the main dish was tender. Everything was very good and I can't wait for our next visit.
(4)
Grant L.
Its a BYOB Tiki Bar. I can't wait to return with a bottle of rum and get some of their fresh juices to mix. Oh, the food was hit or miss. I'd stick to the stuff that gets cooked over a fire, some of which you can cook table side. Ambiance was top notch.
(4)
Alan B.
One of the best dinners I've had here in TN. It's like going back into time as you walk in. If you've seen "The Brady Bunch Hawaii vacation" you'll love this place. The Tahitian Feast is an experience.
(5)
Billy T.
If you enjoy Polynesian food, then this is the place to go. This place is an institution and has been around for years. The service was great and the food is outstanding. We especially enjoy the Tahitian Feast. No alcohol is served here but you are more than welcome to bring your own in. This place can get very busy so do yourself a favor and get a reservation.
(5)
Michelle B.
Food was good as usual. At first you think you are going to have too much food, but then it's just the right amount. I would recommend reservations or getting there as soon as they open. Very busy place. Overall, I will be back as you can bring your own beverage. Love this place!
(4)
Phillip U.
Fun experience. Food was interesting as was the atmosphere. Go for a fun time, Onmi Hut is an interesting conversation place. Waitress was new and knew little about the menu...whatever, just go for the fun of it. Food is served family style with a little burner for you to warm it. Less formal than Melting Pot and much more relaxed.
(4)
Laura H.
Although I knew this was a Hawaiian restaurant, I was still surprised upon entering another world. It is fully decorated in tiki style and provides lots of neat items to look at while dining. I do recommend reservations, as it was very busy when we arrived at 7pm on a Friday. Our service was excellent with a very friendly server who took time to explain some of the menu items. I have not been to Hawaii, so I cannot rate the authenticity of the food. I selected the Samoan dinner, as the variety of food offered appealed to me. It was a lot of food! The egg flower soup was my favorite. It reminded me of egg drop soup but with a slightly different flavor. My husband said it tasted like Doritos, and I could agree with that! I also enjoyed the beef chop suey that reminded me of pot roast, and the crab rangoon was good as well. I wasn't thrilled with the rest of my dinner, but I cannot say if it just wasn't cooked well or possibly I'm just not a huge fan of Hawaiian food. However, Omni Hut is an experience and one I recommend to visit at least once.
(3)
Robert C.
I have been meaning to eat here for quite some time; but their hours of operation are a little different, so it had never worked out before. However, I was able to finally dine at Omni Hut this past week. Upon entering the lobby, there was no hostess at the counter; but she arrived at her station without too much delay. The small dining room was already mostly filled, so we had to eat at the center table ... not my favorite location within a restaurant. The hostess was very pleasant however and thanked us repeatedly for stopping in for dinner. The actual service was adequate; and my party & I decided on the Hawaiian dinner for two ... which included egg flower soup, a starter plate of 2 prawns, 2 egg rolls & some barbecue ribs. The soup was excellent & the appetizers were also quite good. The entree dishes (one pork, one beef & one chicken) arrived in small bowls; and they included adequate ... but not large ... portions for two. They were distinctly middle of the road in terms of quality. I realize that this is not a Chinese restaurant; but I asked for some Sriracha or chile sauce. These are fairly common condiments used for most Asian food; but I was told they did not have them. Also, I would have enjoyed having a side dish of rice provided. The beef entree was served over a small amount of rice; but the other two dishes were not. I would have preferred extra rice to be used for all the dishes; but this was not offered. To sum things up, the service would have earned them four stars; but the food, while fine, was not anything to get excited over. I will likely not think of Omni Hut as a place to go for dinner in the future; but it is certainly OK if I am invited to eat there with a friend or group from time to time.
(3)
Mary L.
I've been coming to Omni Hut since I was a kid. The food is great....I always order the Tahitian Feast. You get just about everything on the menu just in the appetizer! But, the main portion of the meal comes after. The feast comes with shrimp, egg roll, ribs, wontons, bacon wrapped goodness, and lots of other stuff. In the middle is a little fire pit for you to warm or char your meats. The main portion comes with sweat and sour pork, shrimp fried rice, and chicken lo mein (the lo mein is my favorite!!) The staff is so friendly and they just make you feel so welcome. It's a great place for special occasions, but also a place to go just because.
(5)
Kasi Z.
I had no idea what to expect from this restaurant when we first got there but I was pleasantly surprised when we actually made our way into the dining room. It has a fun atmosphere, you feel like you're on vacation with the dim lights and the island feel ambience. One thing I would recommend though is getting some kind of tropical scent going, because it smelled of an old house filled with moth balls. That was the only downside for me. There were a lot of food options, and the portions were very large. We started off with appetizers and by the end of the meal we had to waddle back to the car. Everyone at the table ordered something from the seafood section and we were all happy with our selection. It turned out to be a three course meal since they started off with the soup, then brought out the salad, and finally the main dish. Their home made bread is the best, it is freshly made and it's still hot when they bring it out. Overall this is a cool spot whenever you want something different from the typical restaurants.
(3)
James S.
I've wanted to come here for years because it seemed like fun, and I'm a sucker for gimmicks like a theme decor and having a teeny grill at your table where you heat your food on a stick. Based on Yelp reviews, I expected kitschy decorations, decent food, and spotty service. I was disappointed, except for the great decor, which looks like it was designed by the castaways on Gilligan's Island (which is a good thing in my book). Service was about the same as you'd expect from Gilligan. It took a half hour to be seated, even though we had reservations. The server didn't know the menu. Twice we asked her a question about a dish, and she leaned over our shoulder and read part of the menu to us. When a young man refilled my drink, I asked him for another napkin. He said yes and disappeared forever. I had to ask my main server twice more. I had to ask two people to get my grill re-lit. Another server tried to refill our drinks from a pitcher that had much too much ice. She ended up spilling soda all over our phone. Obviously management hasn't trained the staff in the basic skills they need to succeed. The food itself wasn't that great. The Tahitian Feast was creative, looked amazing, had great potential, but the taste and quality of the food didn't deliver. I really didn't know what I was ordering. Neither the menu nor my server could explain that it's a three-course meal. Starts with a soup that was OK. Then a bunch of appetizers on a tray with a tiny grill to heat them up -- it looks great but tasted just OK. Then a plate of three entrees that were a real letdown. However, the mahi-mahi dinner was pretty good, well cooked with mild spices. As another reviewer said, this is a destination -- an experience -- not a great restaurant.
(2)
Sarah B.
One of our favorite things about the Omni Hut is that the experience is always quirky, fun, and delicious. I love to tell friends who have not visited here, "The episode of The Brady Bunch Goes To Hawaii could have been filmed there yesterday," and it could. I think the yelpers that did not enjoy their experience here just were not ready for the Omni Hut. I celebrated my 40th birthday there five years ago with a crowd, and hubby and I went last night just the two of us... and we've visited other times in between and prior. What you should know - you will probably wait. Maybe 10 minutes, maybe an hour... and they only take reservations for large groups. Wearing a Hawaiian lei is encouraged, most of the servers are wearing tropical mu-mus (or how do you spell that word?) and you'll learn to speak Hawaiian off the placemats while you're waiting for your dinner - so think quirky. They are only open for dinner, and only Tuesday-Saturday. Lighting is mostly by black light to add to the unusual feel, and you might have a fish tank, a rock wall covered in fish nets, or day-glo foral vines beside you. Most of our visits, we have ordered the Tahitian Feast. When in Rome, go all out I say. This is the most expensive thing on the menu is $19.95 per person. You start out with an egg drop soup that is very flavorful, then the super-fun appetizer course on your hibachi wheel with fire in the center. I took a photo of that you'll find on their profile - super fun. Chicken skewers, teriyaki steak bites, crab rangoons, fried jumbo prawns, egg rolls, all sorts of stuff on this wheel you spin around and enjoy with your luau partner or partners. Then they bring out hot towels so you can clean your hands from all the finger-lickin' yumminess, you're full and ready to go, and they bring out chicken chow mein, sweet and sour pork, and shrimp fried rice. I was full after courses #1 and #2, but ate a little of the chicken chow mein which was very good and flavorful. I tried some of the sweet and sour pork - it was fine, but I'm not really a sweet and sour fan. I did not try the rice as I'm currently going low carb. We brought home most of the latter course in to go boxes after the merriment of the earlier courses, which will be handy later I'm sure. The place is BYOB, so great for folks wanting to imbibe on a budget. They do offer a Tahitian tea (kind of a reddish tea punch), that is good but sweet. We didn't have it this trip but have many times earlier. I did see some children nearby ordering hamburgers and french fries - sad, but good to know they can accomodate. The owners are such nice people and you feel very appreciated being seated by the hostess whose been there forever in her happy mumu and beads. Decide to go now, decide to go a year from now - it'll be exactly the same.
(4)
Paige s.
What a awful experience! The food was gross and I had a MOUSE run at me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! While I was eating! I screamed jumped up and ran, then it went to another table full of ppl and thats where the workers caught it. I never even got an apology even tho I totally lost my appetite and didnt eat my main course. Waste of money even before the mouse! The food was just ok, actually it was bad,
(1)
Chris B.
I love the food and staff here. I have been going here for 25 years and I have never had a bad meal or bad service. I live in California now and I MISS being able to run to Omnihut after a rough day at work and just relax.
(5)
Jimmy D.
The food has not changed in 50 years. Always excellent. The Poopoo is the best. Sweet and Pungent pork and chow Mein is also great. You will LOVE the Tidbits.
(5)
Amanda M.
After I got over the initial shock of my boyfriend living outside of Davidson County, I decided to venture into neighboring Rutherford to join him for dinner. We passed many a chain restaurant and began driving down a stretch of open road until I heard "Ok! We're here!" "What? We are?" In front of me stood a lone building, nothing around it. In the middle of nowhere. I cautiously walked inside and was instantly transported to retro-Hawaii! Mesmorized by the memorabilia and decor on the walls, I couldn't decide which I liked more: the waitresses' muu-muus, the fascinating aquarium, the waterfall, the beaded curtains, or the blue-light ambiance. Come to find out, The Omni Hut is family owned and operated and has been serving the people in Smyrna for 60+ years. That kind of staying power says something alright! BF and I have now returned together three times and always split the Tahitian Feast: egg flower soup, bora bora, won tons, crab rangoons, egg rolls, rumaki, polynesian pit ribs, beef teriyaki sticks, shrimp panamanian, tahitian tid bits, sweet & pungent pork, chicken chow mein and shrimp-fried rice. The perfect dish when you want to try a little of everything... and bring home leftovers to enjoy the next day! Bonus: Omni Hut is BYOB!!! Aaaaand, you get to learn how to toast in Hawaiian thanks to their sweet placemats... Okole maluna!
(4)
Anthony C.
Awesome venue, great food. A little pricy but not too bad. Great for romantic dinners.
(5)
Brandon M.
The only place worth going for Hawaiian cuisine! Reminds me of the vacations I have taken to the islands. Great food and service!
(5)
Jamie A.
I loved it! In keeping with our recent theme of "off the beaten path" double date nights, we made the trip out to Smyrna for a night of kitsch, tasty eats and fantastic service. We went on a stormy weeknight, which might explain why we were the only patrons...at the recommendation of our server, we chose the Tahitian Feast. Feast is an understatement! The best part was definitely the appetizer course that showed up on a lazy susan with an open flame in the middle. The steak skewers were a perfect mid rare (if you want it cooked more, use the fire!). Bacon wrapped chicken livers (Rumaki) were surprisingly good, but my favorite was the bacon wrapped pineapple. Entrees were tasty, but we kind of overdid it on the apps. They made a great lunch the next day...The four of us split a "lava" dessert. Pretty basic, but tasty.
(4)
Rainbow M.
I loved the concept. We got the Tahitian feast so we could try a little bit of everything. We should have stopped at the appetizers. The 3 main course, chicken chow mein, orange chicken and something else was out of a can. Was shocked and not able to take more than a bite of each. Maybe the single dinners are a better choice. I would go back but know now what to stay away from. It is byob so my tip would be to brig some vodka or rum for the hawaiian juice!
(2)
Jessie G.
Pretty good and has a wonderful atmosphere. Wish that the tahitian feast came with 2 shrimp per person instead of one. Other than that the portion size was more than adequate. it reminded me of Germaine's luau in Oahu.
(4)
Christina G.
Certain things you should know about Omni-Hut if you've never been...First off, their credit card machine and phone line are connected so if someone wants to pay and wants to place an order on the phone for carryout, you better believe it'll take awhile. Great place for a party, unfortunately theres not many waitresses so they tend to the party tables first. Their bread is delicious for the sole fact that they heat it up first. Their butter is served with keebler crackers still in their packaging....enough said. their fried rice, better yet, their "fried" rice, is the worst fried rice I've ever had. The only good thing about this place is the BYOB, making it good for parties. Although being drunk may make the food taste better because it's pretty boring and cooked to taste tough. Good luck and Godspeed.
(1)
Jason B.
This place was great. I've never heard of it until recently, and I'm going to be sure to tell others about it. Fantastic food and service on my recent visit. No complaints and I got to bring my own wine!
(5)
T L.
If I could give it a negative star review I would. Some of the worst food I have ever had the misfortune of eating. There is no way I will ever enter this place again. I'd write more but it would just be mean.
(1)
Vicki L.
I agree with TL and many others with negative reviews. This is some of the worst food I have ever had the misfortune of eating. Everyone is nice enough and the decor is nice for a city like Smyrna. But I am not exaggerating when I say that it is not worth your time nor money. First of all, waitress does not know the menu. I had dwindled my choices down to 2 items, a shishabob type dish and beef chop suey. Strangely enough, my only desire was to eat brocoli so I asked the waitress if the beef chop suey had any. The menu reads, "marinated beef stir fried with water chests and various oriental vegetables" or somewhere along that line. What was delivered was American rice(cooked with butter of all things!) covered in a goopy booger like slime that tasted like reconstituted roast beef gravy packets thickened with a healthy dose of corn starch. I turned over the swamp-like goop over and over again to find maybe 4 slices of beef and only celery. What they really should have called the dish was celery chopped swamp mush. It had 1 dimensional flavor and a huge travesty for "Asian" food. And don't even get me started on the menu. It's like some frat boy came up with this menu in his kitchen and decided to serve it up with flair. Other items within my party ordered were the Thai & Spicey, the Shrimp & Pungent Shrimp, Veggie kabob platter, Beef kabob platter, skewered pineapples (canned pineapple stuck on a stick and heated up slightly[rip off]) With the amount of money you are paying for food.....you are better off just throwing it in the trash. I have never eaten at a restaurant with less effort, cooking skill, and thought put into their food. Everything was mono-flavored (all sweet, or not marinated at all let alone salted)
(1)
Tonya O.
One of my all-time most favorite places to dine. The atmosphere might be a little on the cheesey side, but they go all out to make it feel like you're dining in Hawaii or another Pacific island. I have never had bad service, and the food is outstanding. If you've never dined here, it's Polynesian-style...think better than your regular Chinese food. I recommend going all out with one of the Luau dinners, preferably the Tahitian feast. However, make you you come hungry for this meal because it's a lot of food! On Fridays and Saturdays, they get busy very fast. I've arrived before they open to a line waiting to get in. As far as I know, they do not take reservations. They are not open for lunch or on Sundays and Mondays. I believe that they still do not serve alcohol, but you can BYOB with a cork fee.
(5)
David O.
Omni Hut is like a trip to an Hawaiian restaurant at Epcot. The inside even feels vaguely like a trip to Disney with low lights and bright florescent colors on the wall. The food is delicious with decent portions for a decent price. Beware though, Omni Hut is a popular dinner destination and it is likely to have a line before they open in the evening.
(4)
Jess R.
This is the worst food I've ever had in my liiiiiife. The veggie chow mein is essentially chicken broth flavored slop. My boyfriend ordered the Tahitian Feast and it was also bad. Dry, a little cold, mysterious meats... The staff was really sweet, but I literally couldn't make eye contact with them it was that bad.
(1)
Stacy D.
My family has been eating here since I was born. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Omni Hut. I have never tried anything that I did not like. My favorite menu item is the Tahitian Tidbits which are an appetizer served with sweet & sour sauce with a little horseradish on the side. They are an appetizer but ive had them as my dinner many, many times...I crave them all the time and I am thankful I live in Smyrna to order them to go. The shrimp panamanium is awesome! They are the hugest shrimp you've ever seen and they are battered and fried. You can only eat 1 or 2 but they are still good reheated in the oven. I am guessing the steak is really tasty from the reaction of a girl who was sitting at a table behind us once. I thought she was having an orgasm. Lol. The Tahitian Feast is also great but better shared by 2 or more. The soup they bring you is delicious and for dessert try the flaming ice cream in a shell. It's fun. The atmosphere is great, the people are really nice and the food is exceptional. I highly recommend this place. Despite what the other reviewers say, I do think the food is amazing. I'm thinking they tried the wrong thing and should give it another try. Or maybe they do not like Polynesian food and if that's the case please stick with O'Charleys or Applebee's or whatever it is you like. But don't give them a bad review...that's just rude!
(5)
Jinan R.
This had been one of my favorite local places in the area for a really long time. It's nothing really fancy complete with tacky cheap Hawaiian fluorescent flowers and black lights. The atmosphere is fun though and it's a neat place to bring the kids. There is a full fountain wall for making wishes and huge fish tanks built into the wall. Also if your a fan of Bacon and Pineapples the Bora Bora is a MUST!!! Keep in Mind... if you want to drink something other then cola, you have to bring it yourself. The staff will keep your drinks cooled and will give you mugs or glasses as needed. Overall it's one of my faves in Smyrna.
(4)
Steph H.
Gross, gross, gross! This place is essentially my idea of food hell. Had the GROSS misfortune (see what I did there?) of coming here for a friend's birthday. I was optimistic because reviews were so positive and who doesn't love a little Hawaiian/Polynesian luau kitsch every now and then? Apparently me! The vibe was definitely very dated in a Mad Men Tiki Bar kind of way which I take no issue with. Maybe if this were a bar... well, it would fail because it's totally BYO, but I see how the decor is fun. But this a restaurant and the food fails spectacularly. Bringing things out on platters that involve sterno to keep your food warm isn't a great idea, though I admit that having the flavors masked by the sterno was probably not the worst thing that could have happened because the food was so bad as to essentially be inedible. It looked, smelled, and tasted like someone had already eaten it at some point; I pretty much managed to choke down three mouthfuls before waving my napkin in surrender, and surreptitiously left my conspicuously full to-go box on the table when fleeing from the joint. I can't figure out how other people were gobbling this stuff down and positively raving about it, because this is still the meal that haunts my nightmares. I have to think the liberal additions of rum to the punch had something to do with it. Whenever my husband & I dine out somewhere and are underwhelmed, we always ask, "But is it worse than Omni Hut?" and the answer is invariably "No". If you value your stomach in any which way, avoid this place at all costs. This is a place where bacon-wrapped liver is the height of decadence and mushy chop suey is considered a pivotal dish. I know some people dig Americanized Chinese food but this takes things to really scary dark place. The atmosphere was fun and the service was good, but what they were serving was so bad, I vow to never come back here ever again and neither should you. Seriously the worst meal I've ever had in my life. Avoid!!!
(1)
Paul G.
Please, please, please ignore the negative review below. The Omni Hut is a treasure. My favorite restaurant in Middle Tennessee--and I've been to em all. We drive out from Nashville at least once a month, and the food and service are consistently great. Get the Pu Pu Platter, a dinner salad and soup, and that'll be plenty of food. The Hawaiian bread is warm and delicious. Salad dressing and teriyaki sauce are made on site. The decor is fabulous, and the BYOB factor (we usually bring Mai Tai's or something similar) keeps the cost low. There may be a wait for tables during peak hours, but it's worth it. Call ahead for reservations on the weekend.
(5)
Rasada R.
This was my first time back to the Omni Hut in over 15 years. It was my sister in laws birthday and she wanted to go there. As we were driving there I noticed two large Chinese Buffets close by. I thought to myself how can they compete with the Omni Hut ? Now I know why. I ordered the "special" which included a volcano platter~ a cut up egg roll, one fried shrimp, several fatty ribs and some chicken livers. Everything sucked except the fried shrimp. The next part of the meal included chicken chow mein (straight out of a can) and shrimp egg foo young. Cold and uninviting for sure. It was all inedible ! I picked at the food and stirred it around my plate..nearly gagging on the few bites that I did force down. Did I mention it costs $19.95 ? Thank goodness we brought plenty of wine (there only redeeming quality, you can brown bag). The atmosphere is okay in a kind of run down sad way but the food is way below the quality one comes to expect when eating out these days. We were quiet and subdued on the way home, especially me as I contemplated all the things I could have bought with the $154.00 it cost. I am dumbfounded that some people actually like the food.
(1)
Suzanne B.
This was my first visit and last. The decor is kitch and great and the people are sweet and attentive. The food is not Hawaiian. I have lived in Hawaii and was told that this place was good. But the food is make at home out of the can chinese food. Bland! is the best thing I can say about it. It was also $20 a person! Very disappointed!
(1)
Greg S.
Great place,food is excellent. Worth the $.
(4)
Leann L.
Great food, although the grilled options are my favorite, and who doesn't love BYOB? Get some good rum to add to the Hawaiian tea for an awesome drink.
(5)
glenn s.
Been eating here for 40+ years. My parents took my brother and I there for our birthdays. Drove all the way from Nahville in the 70's. We didnt have many choices back then. Hasnt changed much over the years, even some of the staff. Has a great story behind its beginning. Still original owner and family run. Food is awesome!!! Never had a bad meal. Plentiful, affordable and good. No alcohol but you can BYOB. This is not fast food style asian food. They bring your meal in stages properly timed with your eating habits. They always have birthday parties there, I guess because you get a free dish of ice cream. They have old copies of there menu from over the years in the waiting area. You can tell they havnt changed the menu at all. Still the same tried and true recipe's
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
John G.
Wonderful dining experience. Great food & service. We got the Tahitian feast and it was more than enough food for the 2 of us. One word of caution- be prepared to wait. Even with a reservation it can take a while to be seated depending on the size of your party and the crowd at the time.
(5)Michael S.
I actually experienced this place with the daunting task of having dinner with my girlfriend and her parents. I've got to say I really liked this place. And by the way, when you order The Tahitian Feast, oh boy are you in for an actual feast. It comes loaded with Egg flower soup, bora bora, won ton, crab rangoon, egg roll, rumaki, Polynesian pit ribs, beef teriyaki sticks, shrimp panamanian, tahitian tid bits, sweet & pungent pork, chicken chow mein, and shrimp-fried rice. The shrimp-fried rice and the chicken chow mein come last in the course. It's all delicious, everything was cooked to perfection and my only regret here was not eating more. The food was absolutely delicious, and extremely reasonably priced. I'd recommend this place a million times over without hesitation, I loved it!
(5)Lashanda H.
Tried it aftwr readinf a review and seeing the high volume of cars outside. I hated the food. The only thing that I can see that would bring the crowd in would be being able to bring outside alcohol into the restaurant. I havent been back since and live less than 2 minutes away.
(1)Bryant B.
Please do not waste your time or money; the 80's decor will make you nauseated and the food seems to be one note at best.
(1)Marisa H.
My all time favorite restaurant. Cool atmosphere, amazing food, and friendly staff. Plus it's byob! Everything is good. My favorites are ramuki and chicken ono ono.
(5)Mary V.
So I was contacted by a charming person who I'm guessing either works at Omni Hut or is a family member of the owners of Omni Hut. This person said they specifically signed up for Yelp just to message me - why thank you, I'm honored! This person was very rude, cursed a lot, called me names, and basically was not happy about my review. Get over it. He/she/it said I had no right to criticize the restaurant because my check was only $6.45 and I was a cheap ass. First of all, what a customer spends does not matter - they are still the customer. There were a lot of us and everyone paid for a little bit of something - who cares. Secondly, I am far from bring a cheap ass. In fact, I have a wonderful professional career and I probably make more money in a week than this lovely person makes in a month from what I gather about his/her/its attitude and language. Everyone has a right to their opinion. If you cannot or do not want criticism, don't work for or open a business. The best businesses in the world get bad reviews. I reviewed from MY experience, which SUCKED. What is Yelp but a platform to tell other people your experience at a certain business? Congratulations, idiot, you diminished my rating for Omni Hut to one mere star. Stupid.
(1)Mindy J.
I cannot believe I've lived in Smyrna my entire life, seeing the Omni Hut just about every day, and never tried it before. It was AWESOME!!! My boyfriend's father was back in town and was actually kinda excited to go back after so many years. You walk in and are immediately "not in Smyrna anymore". The atmosphere sets the tone for an intimate island adventure, right here in the heart of our small little town... I thought this was really cool. and the walls in the actual dining area are beautiful, i loved looking at all the decor while we waited. The lady that led us to our table was so sweet and genuine, as well as our actual waitress, and even the boy refilling our drinks, GREAT SERVICE! And then the food... Oh my goodness the FOOD!!!! We ordered the Tahitian Feast since I had never been before and that basically gives you samples of everything on the menu, in a 3 course style meal. (Soup, appetizers-- Enough to feed a GROUP-- and the entrees) Everything was REALLY good! I loved the soup, and the Polynesian Pit ribs were AMAAAAAZING!!!! Really liked the crab rangoon and the shrimp panamanian was a close second favorite. Of the entrees, I was getting so full I couldnt eat a lot of them, but i didn't actually care for the shrimp fried rice (but i dont like onions, so thats just a personal preference) But the chicken chow mein was REALLY good too!!! Tip- Mix it up with the fried noodles... SO good! All in all, I LOVED the Omni Hut! My boyfriend enjoyed it, and his dad was glad he came back WILL frequent quite often now that I have tried this awesomeness
(5)Rob D.
I love this place. The food is unique and fresh tasting and the atmosphere is so fun and inviting. It's also bring your own alcohol which I really like. I'm not much of a drinker but it is a fun idea. They make a delicious homemade fruit tea that's more like a fruit punch. I suggest bringing a bottle of Malibu rum to mix with it.
(4)Will A.
Fun birthday place. It's a hole -in-the-wall that's unique. The food is Polynesian, and the service is excellent. Be sure to make reservations on holidays and weekends because it gets filled up quickly. BYOB
(5)Kristi B.
The only restaurant I have been to that is still BYOB. The food was below average the Decour very cheesy. We paid $22 a person for their feast which is fair for the amount of food. If only I wanted to eat it.
(2)R H.
In a nutshell, one goes to the Omni Hut for the experience. Talk about being transported into your grandparents tiki hut themed basement. It is hilarious and fun and unforgettable. Kids LOVE it. Waitresses wear muumuus and every drink comes with a tiny umbrella and a cherry on top. The menu offers "feasts" which are basic samples of the adequate polynesian cuisine that is brought out in crazy volcano displays and elaborately decorated dishes. Recommended: The hawaiian tea (the place is byob, so I recommend bringing dark rum to pour into your fruit drinks) and the pupu platter app, which can serve as a meal for one and offers a wide sampling of the menu, including the bora bora (pineapple and bacon), ribs, and egg rolls , which surprisingly have great flavor. Try it once, just so you can say you've been!
(4)Bryan L.
If you can find anything wrong with the Tahitian Feast, then you are a terrorist and you should bomb yourself in your home. Alone. Boom shakalaka. Now, I don't want people thinking they are going in here for a 152 star meal. Omni Hut is what it is. It's a mini-vacation from the same old stuff you always see. The food, the staff, the decor, the black lights.. It's all different than you would find anywhere else in TN. The food Is alright. It's not amazing, it's not bad. It's decent food. The good thing though is it's very consistent. you're not going to come in here and have a BAD meal. I highly recommend this place just for the fun factor. It's a great place for a date, or special occasion. Oh yeah... the best part...... it's BYOB!!!! They will even cork and chill your wine for you! Wanna get hammered and learn Hawaii'an? Get a bottle of your favorite spirit and mix it into some of their homemade punch! I'm giving it an extra star JUST for this reason!
(4)Mindy T.
My husband and I enjoy trying interesting places we have never been to before. We like quality food so when he said that he had heard great things about Omni Hut, we decided to take the family and give it a try. The decor was...different. I get the theme but it looks like very little has changed in the 50+ years the place has been open. Our server was very friendly and took time to explain the menu. Based on everyone's likes and dislikes, and varying appetites, we chose individual dinners as opposed to one of the feasts. Maybe this was a mistake as all of the positive reviews mention the feasts but they just looked like a bunch of fried stuff to me. We were very disappointed by the individual dinners. The egg flower soup was pretty good but considering it is just chicken based broth with cooked egg whites, I would think it would be hard to mess up. The chicken in two of the dishes and my Panamanian Shrimp were overcooked. The "fried rice" had an odd flavor and was a little soft. The seafood feast looked to be more breading than seafood but I did not taste any of it to know for sure. The one thing that bothered me was the method of simultaneously taking up old dishes and delivering fresh food on the same tray. While this did not bother me when our dishes ended up on the tray with our fresh food, I was very turned off to see a dirty dish from another table placed on the tray next to our fresh salads. Maybe I am picky but I found this to be disgusting and chose not to eat my salad. Not sure if this is a health code thing or not but I would think it would be frowned upon. All in all, it was a disappointing experience and we will not be back. At $17-22 per person (not including beverages) we can have a much better meal elsewhere. Omni Hut is certainly not worth those prices. How they are always busy is beyond me and I can only assume the prices are to make up for lost income from not selling liquor or beer and the fact they are only open 20 hours a week. That leads me to believe the food quality must be low to keep margins high.
(2)Kristin Marie S.
The Omni Hut is a destination. You don't go there for top of the line island food, you go for the experience! Plus it's the only tiki establishment within 40 miles. So if you haven't noticed from my reviews, I love a good theme. The Omni Hut really goes for it with the decor which is much appreciated. If you are going to have a themed establishment, then you really need to 100% decorate for it. The menu tries to stick with the theme as much as possible. They have Tahitian Feasts! Punch drinks! Pupu Platters! Oh and it's BYOB. If you are looking to have a little fun and break the norm head down to the Omni Hut. After all, it's been a middle Tennessee landmark for 50 years!
(3)Larry S.
I've been waiting for 45 years to come back to the Omni Hut, and it was as good as I had remembered. It's not just a restaurant, but a unique and fascinating dining experience. And I'm a sucker for the Tiki Hut atmosphere. The presentation of the Tahitian Feast is as much a part of the experience as the food itself. And there is plenty of food. It's more fun with more people sharing it, and the prices are very reasonable. Just remember to bring your own alcohol, if that's what you want.
(5)Alex H.
I drive through here once or twice a year, but I was never quite able to fit in this Tiki Roadtrip. My last round through I was able to drop by for a pupu platter. This was a step up from my usual pupu platter. The water chestnut, liver, and bacon tidbit really surprised me. The rest was exactly what I expected and everything that I needed right then. This place is BYOB, and as such they have no signature cocktails. However, I suspect that their fruit tea could be enhanced quite nicely with some El Dorado 5 year, or possibly a nice dark rum like Gosling's. The exterior architecture is striking, and the lobby is a true tiki gem. A nice touch for tiki fans is they have a stack of decommissioned menus in the entry room that you can take away as a souvenir.
(4)Terri H.
Fun Atmosphere! We have been wanting to visit this place for a couple of years and everyone's schedule finally worked out for our best friend's birthday. The hawaiian atmosphere was very fun and festive. I loved it. The service was great and our waitress was very friendly. They don't take reservations per say but they have call ahead seating. I didn't order an appetizer but I ate some of my friend's mushrooms. I also had some of my husband's appetizer but I couldn't tell you what I ate only that it was all good. My husband ordered the Tahitian Feast so he had a sample of several apps. I ordered the Chicken Ono Ono for my feast. The egg flower soup that came with the feast was great. The chicken in the main dish was tender. Everything was very good and I can't wait for our next visit.
(4)Grant L.
Its a BYOB Tiki Bar. I can't wait to return with a bottle of rum and get some of their fresh juices to mix. Oh, the food was hit or miss. I'd stick to the stuff that gets cooked over a fire, some of which you can cook table side. Ambiance was top notch.
(4)Alan B.
One of the best dinners I've had here in TN. It's like going back into time as you walk in. If you've seen "The Brady Bunch Hawaii vacation" you'll love this place. The Tahitian Feast is an experience.
(5)Billy T.
If you enjoy Polynesian food, then this is the place to go. This place is an institution and has been around for years. The service was great and the food is outstanding. We especially enjoy the Tahitian Feast. No alcohol is served here but you are more than welcome to bring your own in. This place can get very busy so do yourself a favor and get a reservation.
(5)Michelle B.
Food was good as usual. At first you think you are going to have too much food, but then it's just the right amount. I would recommend reservations or getting there as soon as they open. Very busy place. Overall, I will be back as you can bring your own beverage. Love this place!
(4)Phillip U.
Fun experience. Food was interesting as was the atmosphere. Go for a fun time, Onmi Hut is an interesting conversation place. Waitress was new and knew little about the menu...whatever, just go for the fun of it. Food is served family style with a little burner for you to warm it. Less formal than Melting Pot and much more relaxed.
(4)Laura H.
Although I knew this was a Hawaiian restaurant, I was still surprised upon entering another world. It is fully decorated in tiki style and provides lots of neat items to look at while dining. I do recommend reservations, as it was very busy when we arrived at 7pm on a Friday. Our service was excellent with a very friendly server who took time to explain some of the menu items. I have not been to Hawaii, so I cannot rate the authenticity of the food. I selected the Samoan dinner, as the variety of food offered appealed to me. It was a lot of food! The egg flower soup was my favorite. It reminded me of egg drop soup but with a slightly different flavor. My husband said it tasted like Doritos, and I could agree with that! I also enjoyed the beef chop suey that reminded me of pot roast, and the crab rangoon was good as well. I wasn't thrilled with the rest of my dinner, but I cannot say if it just wasn't cooked well or possibly I'm just not a huge fan of Hawaiian food. However, Omni Hut is an experience and one I recommend to visit at least once.
(3)Robert C.
I have been meaning to eat here for quite some time; but their hours of operation are a little different, so it had never worked out before. However, I was able to finally dine at Omni Hut this past week. Upon entering the lobby, there was no hostess at the counter; but she arrived at her station without too much delay. The small dining room was already mostly filled, so we had to eat at the center table ... not my favorite location within a restaurant. The hostess was very pleasant however and thanked us repeatedly for stopping in for dinner. The actual service was adequate; and my party & I decided on the Hawaiian dinner for two ... which included egg flower soup, a starter plate of 2 prawns, 2 egg rolls & some barbecue ribs. The soup was excellent & the appetizers were also quite good. The entree dishes (one pork, one beef & one chicken) arrived in small bowls; and they included adequate ... but not large ... portions for two. They were distinctly middle of the road in terms of quality. I realize that this is not a Chinese restaurant; but I asked for some Sriracha or chile sauce. These are fairly common condiments used for most Asian food; but I was told they did not have them. Also, I would have enjoyed having a side dish of rice provided. The beef entree was served over a small amount of rice; but the other two dishes were not. I would have preferred extra rice to be used for all the dishes; but this was not offered. To sum things up, the service would have earned them four stars; but the food, while fine, was not anything to get excited over. I will likely not think of Omni Hut as a place to go for dinner in the future; but it is certainly OK if I am invited to eat there with a friend or group from time to time.
(3)Mary L.
I've been coming to Omni Hut since I was a kid. The food is great....I always order the Tahitian Feast. You get just about everything on the menu just in the appetizer! But, the main portion of the meal comes after. The feast comes with shrimp, egg roll, ribs, wontons, bacon wrapped goodness, and lots of other stuff. In the middle is a little fire pit for you to warm or char your meats. The main portion comes with sweat and sour pork, shrimp fried rice, and chicken lo mein (the lo mein is my favorite!!) The staff is so friendly and they just make you feel so welcome. It's a great place for special occasions, but also a place to go just because.
(5)Kasi Z.
I had no idea what to expect from this restaurant when we first got there but I was pleasantly surprised when we actually made our way into the dining room. It has a fun atmosphere, you feel like you're on vacation with the dim lights and the island feel ambience. One thing I would recommend though is getting some kind of tropical scent going, because it smelled of an old house filled with moth balls. That was the only downside for me. There were a lot of food options, and the portions were very large. We started off with appetizers and by the end of the meal we had to waddle back to the car. Everyone at the table ordered something from the seafood section and we were all happy with our selection. It turned out to be a three course meal since they started off with the soup, then brought out the salad, and finally the main dish. Their home made bread is the best, it is freshly made and it's still hot when they bring it out. Overall this is a cool spot whenever you want something different from the typical restaurants.
(3)James S.
I've wanted to come here for years because it seemed like fun, and I'm a sucker for gimmicks like a theme decor and having a teeny grill at your table where you heat your food on a stick. Based on Yelp reviews, I expected kitschy decorations, decent food, and spotty service. I was disappointed, except for the great decor, which looks like it was designed by the castaways on Gilligan's Island (which is a good thing in my book). Service was about the same as you'd expect from Gilligan. It took a half hour to be seated, even though we had reservations. The server didn't know the menu. Twice we asked her a question about a dish, and she leaned over our shoulder and read part of the menu to us. When a young man refilled my drink, I asked him for another napkin. He said yes and disappeared forever. I had to ask my main server twice more. I had to ask two people to get my grill re-lit. Another server tried to refill our drinks from a pitcher that had much too much ice. She ended up spilling soda all over our phone. Obviously management hasn't trained the staff in the basic skills they need to succeed. The food itself wasn't that great. The Tahitian Feast was creative, looked amazing, had great potential, but the taste and quality of the food didn't deliver. I really didn't know what I was ordering. Neither the menu nor my server could explain that it's a three-course meal. Starts with a soup that was OK. Then a bunch of appetizers on a tray with a tiny grill to heat them up -- it looks great but tasted just OK. Then a plate of three entrees that were a real letdown. However, the mahi-mahi dinner was pretty good, well cooked with mild spices. As another reviewer said, this is a destination -- an experience -- not a great restaurant.
(2)Sarah B.
One of our favorite things about the Omni Hut is that the experience is always quirky, fun, and delicious. I love to tell friends who have not visited here, "The episode of The Brady Bunch Goes To Hawaii could have been filmed there yesterday," and it could. I think the yelpers that did not enjoy their experience here just were not ready for the Omni Hut. I celebrated my 40th birthday there five years ago with a crowd, and hubby and I went last night just the two of us... and we've visited other times in between and prior. What you should know - you will probably wait. Maybe 10 minutes, maybe an hour... and they only take reservations for large groups. Wearing a Hawaiian lei is encouraged, most of the servers are wearing tropical mu-mus (or how do you spell that word?) and you'll learn to speak Hawaiian off the placemats while you're waiting for your dinner - so think quirky. They are only open for dinner, and only Tuesday-Saturday. Lighting is mostly by black light to add to the unusual feel, and you might have a fish tank, a rock wall covered in fish nets, or day-glo foral vines beside you. Most of our visits, we have ordered the Tahitian Feast. When in Rome, go all out I say. This is the most expensive thing on the menu is $19.95 per person. You start out with an egg drop soup that is very flavorful, then the super-fun appetizer course on your hibachi wheel with fire in the center. I took a photo of that you'll find on their profile - super fun. Chicken skewers, teriyaki steak bites, crab rangoons, fried jumbo prawns, egg rolls, all sorts of stuff on this wheel you spin around and enjoy with your luau partner or partners. Then they bring out hot towels so you can clean your hands from all the finger-lickin' yumminess, you're full and ready to go, and they bring out chicken chow mein, sweet and sour pork, and shrimp fried rice. I was full after courses #1 and #2, but ate a little of the chicken chow mein which was very good and flavorful. I tried some of the sweet and sour pork - it was fine, but I'm not really a sweet and sour fan. I did not try the rice as I'm currently going low carb. We brought home most of the latter course in to go boxes after the merriment of the earlier courses, which will be handy later I'm sure. The place is BYOB, so great for folks wanting to imbibe on a budget. They do offer a Tahitian tea (kind of a reddish tea punch), that is good but sweet. We didn't have it this trip but have many times earlier. I did see some children nearby ordering hamburgers and french fries - sad, but good to know they can accomodate. The owners are such nice people and you feel very appreciated being seated by the hostess whose been there forever in her happy mumu and beads. Decide to go now, decide to go a year from now - it'll be exactly the same.
(4)Paige s.
What a awful experience! The food was gross and I had a MOUSE run at me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! While I was eating! I screamed jumped up and ran, then it went to another table full of ppl and thats where the workers caught it. I never even got an apology even tho I totally lost my appetite and didnt eat my main course. Waste of money even before the mouse! The food was just ok, actually it was bad,
(1)Chris B.
I love the food and staff here. I have been going here for 25 years and I have never had a bad meal or bad service. I live in California now and I MISS being able to run to Omnihut after a rough day at work and just relax.
(5)Jimmy D.
The food has not changed in 50 years. Always excellent. The Poopoo is the best. Sweet and Pungent pork and chow Mein is also great. You will LOVE the Tidbits.
(5)Amanda M.
After I got over the initial shock of my boyfriend living outside of Davidson County, I decided to venture into neighboring Rutherford to join him for dinner. We passed many a chain restaurant and began driving down a stretch of open road until I heard "Ok! We're here!" "What? We are?" In front of me stood a lone building, nothing around it. In the middle of nowhere. I cautiously walked inside and was instantly transported to retro-Hawaii! Mesmorized by the memorabilia and decor on the walls, I couldn't decide which I liked more: the waitresses' muu-muus, the fascinating aquarium, the waterfall, the beaded curtains, or the blue-light ambiance. Come to find out, The Omni Hut is family owned and operated and has been serving the people in Smyrna for 60+ years. That kind of staying power says something alright! BF and I have now returned together three times and always split the Tahitian Feast: egg flower soup, bora bora, won tons, crab rangoons, egg rolls, rumaki, polynesian pit ribs, beef teriyaki sticks, shrimp panamanian, tahitian tid bits, sweet & pungent pork, chicken chow mein and shrimp-fried rice. The perfect dish when you want to try a little of everything... and bring home leftovers to enjoy the next day! Bonus: Omni Hut is BYOB!!! Aaaaand, you get to learn how to toast in Hawaiian thanks to their sweet placemats... Okole maluna!
(4)Anthony C.
Awesome venue, great food. A little pricy but not too bad. Great for romantic dinners.
(5)Brandon M.
The only place worth going for Hawaiian cuisine! Reminds me of the vacations I have taken to the islands. Great food and service!
(5)Jamie A.
I loved it! In keeping with our recent theme of "off the beaten path" double date nights, we made the trip out to Smyrna for a night of kitsch, tasty eats and fantastic service. We went on a stormy weeknight, which might explain why we were the only patrons...at the recommendation of our server, we chose the Tahitian Feast. Feast is an understatement! The best part was definitely the appetizer course that showed up on a lazy susan with an open flame in the middle. The steak skewers were a perfect mid rare (if you want it cooked more, use the fire!). Bacon wrapped chicken livers (Rumaki) were surprisingly good, but my favorite was the bacon wrapped pineapple. Entrees were tasty, but we kind of overdid it on the apps. They made a great lunch the next day...The four of us split a "lava" dessert. Pretty basic, but tasty.
(4)Rainbow M.
I loved the concept. We got the Tahitian feast so we could try a little bit of everything. We should have stopped at the appetizers. The 3 main course, chicken chow mein, orange chicken and something else was out of a can. Was shocked and not able to take more than a bite of each. Maybe the single dinners are a better choice. I would go back but know now what to stay away from. It is byob so my tip would be to brig some vodka or rum for the hawaiian juice!
(2)Jessie G.
Pretty good and has a wonderful atmosphere. Wish that the tahitian feast came with 2 shrimp per person instead of one. Other than that the portion size was more than adequate. it reminded me of Germaine's luau in Oahu.
(4)Christina G.
Certain things you should know about Omni-Hut if you've never been...First off, their credit card machine and phone line are connected so if someone wants to pay and wants to place an order on the phone for carryout, you better believe it'll take awhile. Great place for a party, unfortunately theres not many waitresses so they tend to the party tables first. Their bread is delicious for the sole fact that they heat it up first. Their butter is served with keebler crackers still in their packaging....enough said. their fried rice, better yet, their "fried" rice, is the worst fried rice I've ever had. The only good thing about this place is the BYOB, making it good for parties. Although being drunk may make the food taste better because it's pretty boring and cooked to taste tough. Good luck and Godspeed.
(1)Jason B.
This place was great. I've never heard of it until recently, and I'm going to be sure to tell others about it. Fantastic food and service on my recent visit. No complaints and I got to bring my own wine!
(5)T L.
If I could give it a negative star review I would. Some of the worst food I have ever had the misfortune of eating. There is no way I will ever enter this place again. I'd write more but it would just be mean.
(1)Vicki L.
I agree with TL and many others with negative reviews. This is some of the worst food I have ever had the misfortune of eating. Everyone is nice enough and the decor is nice for a city like Smyrna. But I am not exaggerating when I say that it is not worth your time nor money. First of all, waitress does not know the menu. I had dwindled my choices down to 2 items, a shishabob type dish and beef chop suey. Strangely enough, my only desire was to eat brocoli so I asked the waitress if the beef chop suey had any. The menu reads, "marinated beef stir fried with water chests and various oriental vegetables" or somewhere along that line. What was delivered was American rice(cooked with butter of all things!) covered in a goopy booger like slime that tasted like reconstituted roast beef gravy packets thickened with a healthy dose of corn starch. I turned over the swamp-like goop over and over again to find maybe 4 slices of beef and only celery. What they really should have called the dish was celery chopped swamp mush. It had 1 dimensional flavor and a huge travesty for "Asian" food. And don't even get me started on the menu. It's like some frat boy came up with this menu in his kitchen and decided to serve it up with flair. Other items within my party ordered were the Thai & Spicey, the Shrimp & Pungent Shrimp, Veggie kabob platter, Beef kabob platter, skewered pineapples (canned pineapple stuck on a stick and heated up slightly[rip off]) With the amount of money you are paying for food.....you are better off just throwing it in the trash. I have never eaten at a restaurant with less effort, cooking skill, and thought put into their food. Everything was mono-flavored (all sweet, or not marinated at all let alone salted)
(1)Tonya O.
One of my all-time most favorite places to dine. The atmosphere might be a little on the cheesey side, but they go all out to make it feel like you're dining in Hawaii or another Pacific island. I have never had bad service, and the food is outstanding. If you've never dined here, it's Polynesian-style...think better than your regular Chinese food. I recommend going all out with one of the Luau dinners, preferably the Tahitian feast. However, make you you come hungry for this meal because it's a lot of food! On Fridays and Saturdays, they get busy very fast. I've arrived before they open to a line waiting to get in. As far as I know, they do not take reservations. They are not open for lunch or on Sundays and Mondays. I believe that they still do not serve alcohol, but you can BYOB with a cork fee.
(5)David O.
Omni Hut is like a trip to an Hawaiian restaurant at Epcot. The inside even feels vaguely like a trip to Disney with low lights and bright florescent colors on the wall. The food is delicious with decent portions for a decent price. Beware though, Omni Hut is a popular dinner destination and it is likely to have a line before they open in the evening.
(4)Jess R.
This is the worst food I've ever had in my liiiiiife. The veggie chow mein is essentially chicken broth flavored slop. My boyfriend ordered the Tahitian Feast and it was also bad. Dry, a little cold, mysterious meats... The staff was really sweet, but I literally couldn't make eye contact with them it was that bad.
(1)Stacy D.
My family has been eating here since I was born. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Omni Hut. I have never tried anything that I did not like. My favorite menu item is the Tahitian Tidbits which are an appetizer served with sweet & sour sauce with a little horseradish on the side. They are an appetizer but ive had them as my dinner many, many times...I crave them all the time and I am thankful I live in Smyrna to order them to go. The shrimp panamanium is awesome! They are the hugest shrimp you've ever seen and they are battered and fried. You can only eat 1 or 2 but they are still good reheated in the oven. I am guessing the steak is really tasty from the reaction of a girl who was sitting at a table behind us once. I thought she was having an orgasm. Lol. The Tahitian Feast is also great but better shared by 2 or more. The soup they bring you is delicious and for dessert try the flaming ice cream in a shell. It's fun. The atmosphere is great, the people are really nice and the food is exceptional. I highly recommend this place. Despite what the other reviewers say, I do think the food is amazing. I'm thinking they tried the wrong thing and should give it another try. Or maybe they do not like Polynesian food and if that's the case please stick with O'Charleys or Applebee's or whatever it is you like. But don't give them a bad review...that's just rude!
(5)Jinan R.
This had been one of my favorite local places in the area for a really long time. It's nothing really fancy complete with tacky cheap Hawaiian fluorescent flowers and black lights. The atmosphere is fun though and it's a neat place to bring the kids. There is a full fountain wall for making wishes and huge fish tanks built into the wall. Also if your a fan of Bacon and Pineapples the Bora Bora is a MUST!!! Keep in Mind... if you want to drink something other then cola, you have to bring it yourself. The staff will keep your drinks cooled and will give you mugs or glasses as needed. Overall it's one of my faves in Smyrna.
(4)Steph H.
Gross, gross, gross! This place is essentially my idea of food hell. Had the GROSS misfortune (see what I did there?) of coming here for a friend's birthday. I was optimistic because reviews were so positive and who doesn't love a little Hawaiian/Polynesian luau kitsch every now and then? Apparently me! The vibe was definitely very dated in a Mad Men Tiki Bar kind of way which I take no issue with. Maybe if this were a bar... well, it would fail because it's totally BYO, but I see how the decor is fun. But this a restaurant and the food fails spectacularly. Bringing things out on platters that involve sterno to keep your food warm isn't a great idea, though I admit that having the flavors masked by the sterno was probably not the worst thing that could have happened because the food was so bad as to essentially be inedible. It looked, smelled, and tasted like someone had already eaten it at some point; I pretty much managed to choke down three mouthfuls before waving my napkin in surrender, and surreptitiously left my conspicuously full to-go box on the table when fleeing from the joint. I can't figure out how other people were gobbling this stuff down and positively raving about it, because this is still the meal that haunts my nightmares. I have to think the liberal additions of rum to the punch had something to do with it. Whenever my husband & I dine out somewhere and are underwhelmed, we always ask, "But is it worse than Omni Hut?" and the answer is invariably "No". If you value your stomach in any which way, avoid this place at all costs. This is a place where bacon-wrapped liver is the height of decadence and mushy chop suey is considered a pivotal dish. I know some people dig Americanized Chinese food but this takes things to really scary dark place. The atmosphere was fun and the service was good, but what they were serving was so bad, I vow to never come back here ever again and neither should you. Seriously the worst meal I've ever had in my life. Avoid!!!
(1)Paul G.
Please, please, please ignore the negative review below. The Omni Hut is a treasure. My favorite restaurant in Middle Tennessee--and I've been to em all. We drive out from Nashville at least once a month, and the food and service are consistently great. Get the Pu Pu Platter, a dinner salad and soup, and that'll be plenty of food. The Hawaiian bread is warm and delicious. Salad dressing and teriyaki sauce are made on site. The decor is fabulous, and the BYOB factor (we usually bring Mai Tai's or something similar) keeps the cost low. There may be a wait for tables during peak hours, but it's worth it. Call ahead for reservations on the weekend.
(5)Rasada R.
This was my first time back to the Omni Hut in over 15 years. It was my sister in laws birthday and she wanted to go there. As we were driving there I noticed two large Chinese Buffets close by. I thought to myself how can they compete with the Omni Hut ? Now I know why. I ordered the "special" which included a volcano platter~ a cut up egg roll, one fried shrimp, several fatty ribs and some chicken livers. Everything sucked except the fried shrimp. The next part of the meal included chicken chow mein (straight out of a can) and shrimp egg foo young. Cold and uninviting for sure. It was all inedible ! I picked at the food and stirred it around my plate..nearly gagging on the few bites that I did force down. Did I mention it costs $19.95 ? Thank goodness we brought plenty of wine (there only redeeming quality, you can brown bag). The atmosphere is okay in a kind of run down sad way but the food is way below the quality one comes to expect when eating out these days. We were quiet and subdued on the way home, especially me as I contemplated all the things I could have bought with the $154.00 it cost. I am dumbfounded that some people actually like the food.
(1)Suzanne B.
This was my first visit and last. The decor is kitch and great and the people are sweet and attentive. The food is not Hawaiian. I have lived in Hawaii and was told that this place was good. But the food is make at home out of the can chinese food. Bland! is the best thing I can say about it. It was also $20 a person! Very disappointed!
(1)Greg S.
Great place,food is excellent. Worth the $.
(4)Leann L.
Great food, although the grilled options are my favorite, and who doesn't love BYOB? Get some good rum to add to the Hawaiian tea for an awesome drink.
(5)glenn s.
Been eating here for 40+ years. My parents took my brother and I there for our birthdays. Drove all the way from Nahville in the 70's. We didnt have many choices back then. Hasnt changed much over the years, even some of the staff. Has a great story behind its beginning. Still original owner and family run. Food is awesome!!! Never had a bad meal. Plentiful, affordable and good. No alcohol but you can BYOB. This is not fast food style asian food. They bring your meal in stages properly timed with your eating habits. They always have birthday parties there, I guess because you get a free dish of ice cream. They have old copies of there menu from over the years in the waiting area. You can tell they havnt changed the menu at all. Still the same tried and true recipe's
(5)