Oasis Restaurant may have to move in January
Oasis Restaurant may have to move in January
JAKARTA (JP): The famous Central Jakarta restaurant Oasis may
have to move when its contract ends in January.
However patrons can be sure the traditional rijstaffel -- a set
menu served by 12 waitresses in Betawi (old Jakarta) costumes --
will still be served wherever the Oasis' location.
But recreating the ambience will be a big job. The management
will have to look for antique window panes, black and white floor
tiles, high ceilings and other items to replicate the features of
its present 68-year-old home.
The restaurant, popular mainly for its antique interior, may
stay at Jl. Raden Saleh 47, if it can pay higher contract fees
than other parties.
Many dignitaries, including Spain's King Juan Carlos,
Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahatir Mohamad and America's President
Bill Clinton, have dined at Oasis.
Governor Surjadi Soedirdja often hosts visiting heads of state
at the Oasis which has won national and international awards.
A source close to the building's owner said yesterday nothing
was definite. He was responding to rumors that the restaurant,
set up in 1968, had to move because another party wanted to rent
the building.
The building's owner is the Upakara Foundation which belongs
to the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"Even if another party rents the place we would prefer it to
be a restaurant," the source said.
"But no one can take over the Oasis name, not even us," he
said.
He said it was reasonable for the Foundation to select the
party willing to pay the most.
The foundation raises funds to improve the welfare of the
ministry's employees, he said.
A restaurant business was among the interested parties, he
said.
The source said the foundation had a good relationship with
Oasis' manager, PT Transindo Oasis Enterprises. The company was
owned by the late Tirto Utomo, a pioneer of the bottled water
business, who bought the restaurant in 1978. The General Manager
is Oom Mucharam Endi.
"In our last meeting pak Oom said he wished to extend the
contract," the source said.
The foundation's chairman, Djanarto, and Oom were not
available for comment.
An Oasis source said he hoped the restaurant contract could be
extended. In case this was not possible the management has sought
out a building in the Tanah Abang area, he said.
"But it would be different, it's not a former home like this
one," the source said.
"Besides the food, people come to dine here because of the
ambience brought about by the interior," he said.
"They always bring cameras because they know the view is
beautiful," he said. Guests often take pictures in the backyard
which is filled with thin figurines.
The restaurant, which employs 120 people, seats 150 diners
including 30 in private quarters on the upper floor.
Paintings by the renowned Hendra Gunawan adorn the walls along
with artifacts collected by the late Carol Gandanegara, the
restaurant's original owner.
Fashion designer Ghea Panggabean, State Minister of Research
and Technology B.J. Habibie, are among Oasis' other patrons.
But most are ordinary people seeking the experience of dining
in a grand old home. The old bathroom doors turned into batik
panels, a bar and fireplace and a big stained glass window, all
from the 1920s, are unlikely to be found elsewhere. (anr)