Cajun seafood specials make West Fargo’s Oasis Restaurant and Bar worth a visit – InForum

WEST FARGO —

Oasis Restaurant and Bar

is, above all, a bar and grill, and so it has its limitations. But it surely does supply one thing distinctive to the Fargo-Moorhead space: Crawfish, lobster and crab.

They will not be right-out-of-the-Louisiana-rice-fields-tail-flipping-fresh, however we’re 1,500 miles away from New Orleans and who is aware of how a lot of the style of live-boiled crawfish within the deep South comes from the scent of Spanish moss and the sound of cicadas?

When you can’t beat a crawfish boil within the deep South,

Oasis

brings one thing near the frozen plains. So, whereas you may get but another “our particular tackle the California burger” in most bars and grills within the Fargo metro, this one offers you lobster at an honest value and crawfish at an excellent higher value. For that alone, it’s value a go to.

There’s a joke that goes one thing like this: What number of surrealists does it take to alter a lightbulb? Two. One to alter the lightbulb and one to fill the bath with brightly coloured bicycles. It could be that Oasis has a tub someplace, however the remainder actually suits.

It’s brightly lit with neon and LEDs each in and out and, sure, there are brightly coloured bicycles hanging from the ceiling. The bar is inviting and the area, due to lofted ceilings within the bar space, feels open. The outside summer season area seems to be interesting, too, though it was closed and chilly after I visited.

The eating space, even with a hearth, seems like one other bar area. It’s plainly furnished and there is not a lot wall area that isn’t lined with TV screens. The music is pop, however the eating space is snug, not too loud, and roomy.

Eric Daeuber / The Discussion board

The service is what you’d anticipate – informal, pleasant and quick. So it has the texture of a fusion sports activities bar diner, should you can think about that.

However, as soon as once more, what issues is the meals, and never a lot the meals itself however which you could even discover such meals on this a part of the nation, properly ready and offered, and for an affordable value. There’s a lot on the menu. And most seafood dishes will come near $30 which, in at the moment’s market, is about proper.

Eric Daeuber / The Discussion board

For these not involved in seafood, there are some Asian choices similar to Korean barbecue hen ($22). It is notable for avoiding the tendency for Korean barbecue to dry out by exchanging that potential for dry meat for some critical sauce. The edges don’t fairly meet the extent of the hen in relation to taste and texture, however general it’s a pleasing non-seafood choice.

What stands out are the Cajun seafood specials. The menu doesn’t let you know up entrance that the $37 crawfish platter is designed for 2, however it’s. It’s an schooling in Cajun delicacies with boiled corn, entire potatoes, shrimp, sausage, mussels and, in fact, a stable pound of crawfish, though ours appeared extra beneficiant than that. It’s not served as a clear boil because it could be down south, however the Cajun au jus type sauce that comes on the platter is welcome. It’s a little bit overdone however, once more, the sources of an outside boil aren’t accessible. There are plastic gloves accessible however use your fingers. If it bothers your associate on the platter, you want higher associates.

Eric Daeuber / The Discussion board

A very nice shock, given the informal sports-bar ambiance, was the lava cake desert. Transported proper out of a $20 cupcake high quality eating institution, it got here fantastically offered with ice-cream and recent berries. An actual deal with.

Oasis is a mixture of completely different feels and meals and particularly good for individuals who have thought-about an excellent Cajun boil out of their attain due to cash or distance.

WHAT: Oasis Asian Fusion Restaurant
WHERE: 3147 Bluestem Drive, West Fargo
PHONE: 701-532-2251
CUISINE: Cajun after which some
HOURS: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday although Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday
RESERVATIONS ACCEPTED: sure
ALCOHOL: full bar

FOOD: 2.5 stars
SERVICE: 3 stars
AMBIANCE: 2.5 stars

Eric Daeuber is an teacher at Minnesota State Group and Technical Faculty. Readers can attain him at meals@daeuber.com.