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)