The Oasis Café

The Oasis Café used to be in the road that runs alongside the El Luxor (previously Mercure) hotel. It was in an old building full of character and with separate rooms for smokers and non-smokers. Many reviews, especially the printed guides, still refer to the Oasis Café in that location. Those premises previously occupied by the Oasis Café are now the Oasis Palace. The Oasis Café moved from its old location, not far from the Luxor Museum, to 'restaurant land' in 2010. In its old location it stood up to its name, truly and Oasis of refreshment in a busy area with little close competition outside the hotels. In its new location the Oasis Café is surrounded by competition with similar offerings, so it has to work harder for its customers and for its reputation.

The old separate, dark painted rooms have given way to a more typical layout where the original Oasis Café furniture is arranged over a black-and-white tiled floor in a brighter single room. There are still paintings on the wall and there are still magazines to read from wicker lounge chairs.

The menu has stretched a little since the café was in its old location. The focus is still on lighter snacks and drinks, with a good variety of breakfast and brunch snacks, such as omelettes and other egg-based meals including pancakes (mostly LE25) and hot and cold sandwiches from around LE25. The smaller range of more substantial meals includes soups from LE12, salads from LE15 (but mostly LE25 - LE35) and pastas, chicken and fish options or steaks from LE55 (fillet LE60). Less commonly for Egypt, you can get real ham or bacon for LE10 a slice. There is also a fair choice of desserts, mostly between LE15 and LE25.

The extended menu has been accompanied by extended opening times. Oasis is now open pretty well all the time - from 9am each day for breakfast, through to 10pm weekdays (7pm weekends) for a small selection of about half a dozen egyptian-influenced special evening meals, in addition to their normal menu.

But this is a café, and despite the availability of some more substantial meals, its strength is based on refreshments. The variety of hot and cold drinks (mostly LE10 - LE15 for the popular ones) is very good and you can choose to have decaffeinated coffees and skimmed milk. Nice touch.

We liked the Oasis Café in its old location. It had an unusual charm and stood alone amongst the bustle of a busy street. We thought the food there was excellent too, but it helps when the ambience is just right. In the new location there is less to set the café aside from its neighbours. The menu is fair enough, especially for morning to tea-time needs, but it has the Tutti Fruitti few metres away and the Secret Garden in the next road, all catering for the same appetites, and there is not as much to set it apart as there was in the old location.

Whether it is different enough or special enough, or whether there is sufficient demand for the several places catering for the same customers remains to be seen, but we didn't enjoy it as much as we did before. We can't help thinking that for the new Oasis Café, the going will be tougher than it used to be.

 

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Review updated January 2012
Prices at January 2012