I have been visiting this place off and on for years, was pretty much a regular stop on Fridays after work when I lived in the ICT, but that was long ago. Â I absolutely love the burgers, fries are good too, just sometimes a bit saturated, but tasty for sure. Â
However, I am not giving the 4 stars for the food, but for the wonderful, friendly little dive bar that it is, and it is the same as it ever was. It just takes me back to memories of the past, as I remember some fantastic times with some fantastic friends...I just wonder what they are all doing now?
I'd like to point out that I eat mostly vegan/vegetarian when I'm at home, and when I go out to restaurants, I try to find healthier options. I have tried Oasis on two occasions, and one of those times was before I ate vegan/vegetarian.
That being said, my review will be a little biased based on my last visit to Oasis...
I received a credit for a "free" groupon, and the only option during that time was for Oasis Lounge. My husband and I had tried it about a year before (also because we had a groupon) and we weren't too impressed, but I thought, hey...the groupon is free.
When my husband and I went the first time, it appeared to be a little dive bar with not too great of service and typical dive bar fare (mostly fried options, homestyle type of food - chicken fried steak, etc). I don't remember what we ordered, but the beer was good! It didn't leave too much of an impression on either of us though, and my husband was reluctant to go with me again.
My friend and I decided to go for lunch to use my free groupon, and as we were waiting for our waitress...a cockroach crawled across our table.
Not on the floor. On the table.
I, of course, made an embarrassing screeching noise and brushed the bug off the table with a menu. A manly looking man came and stepped on the bug, and that was that. After that, I was a little grossed out, but whatever.
As for the food: I ordered a beer, which was not too bad of a price (it was lunchtime). Both of us ordered salads and shared an order of fried pickles. The pickles were pretty good, but standard. The salads were what I was expecting, white leaves of iceberg and limp looking lettuce with shredded cheese and croutons. Mine had grilled (kind of) chicken that had some sort of marinade/sauce on it that was a little bit teriyaki flavored. The salads were overpriced for what they were, but again...the pickles were good.
The service was okay...she wasn't too attentive, and when I pulled out my groupon, she told me it had expired. I've had this issue at a couple of restaurants now, and I'm not sure if it's groupon's mess up or the restaurants, but either way she let it slide and gave me my credit.
Both times I have gone to Oasis, the atmosphere was a little strange. Kind of like walking into a small town bar where everyone knows each other and they all look up at you, wondering who the hell you are. That's the vibe I got both times...but once I sat down I didn't care too much.
I guess if I were to sum this all up, I'd say - if you're looking for a burger or typical fried bar food while you have a beer, by all means visit Oasis. If you're looking for something else...I'd try one of the millions of other bars or local restaurants in Wichita that offer more choices and better service.
I came to Oasis to try a burger and left with other favorites.
The burger is good. Seasoned. Homemade. Juicy. I have mine without a bun and loved it.
The fries here are made fresh. Don't expect crispy. Expect TASTY. Do not get the to-go. They will not be good if you do not eat them fresh.
The fried pickle chips came from a food service (I asked). Amazingly, whatever company makes these little frozen-then-fried treat put a touch of ground caraway seed in the breading. Genius. Caraway is a classic marriage with sour kraut, so it only makes sense to work with pickles.
I will be back. Good stuff.
Good old fashioned burger.
I did wish it was a little less meatball shaped but at least i felt like it was handmade on site. It is a big burger so don't for a second think about getting a double (I'm not sure how they would stack them).
Their fried fare is also very good, cauliflower, mushrooms, and more.
Kind of a hole in the wall place, but it does live up to having one of the best burgers in town. Â Especially for the price, you get a burger of that size and caliber with fries for around six dollars. Â I haven't tried anything else on the menu (why would you?) and it's not a place I would want to drink. Â However, whenever I'm around the area and want a burger I will pick it over the other places in the area every time.
Review Source:Really good juicy burger. Really so-so fries-but super hot! Beer OK, bathrooms have been improved so not as nasty as in the past, doors were opened so not as smoky as it could have been later in the evening, some guys hanging out and eating while chatting with what I think was a lady of the evening on her lunch break was entertaining. Tables were dirty but the waitress did come and clean it off for us after she complained that we just had to sit at the dirty table. News flash-they were all dirty. But the burger was really good!
Review Source:Oasis Lounge has been voted amongst the "10 Best Burgers in America 1989" according to USA Today, and it recently topped the poll for The Eagle's Reader's Choice 2010 for best burger. More importantly, I had a Groupon, and those things don't stay good forever, you know.
This certainly wouldn't be my first choice for watering holes at 10:30 on a Saturday night, but in the middle of the day with the doors open to enjoy the sunshine, you don't smell as much of the smoke that has permeated the very essence of every nook and cranny of the place.
It was the weekend, so I decided to let my hair down a little bit and go crazy - I demanded that my cheeseburger be topped with chili. Then I politely requested I also have a half order of fried cauliflower.
The 1/2 lb burger was well-seasoned, though leaner than I would have liked - there was a bit of chew in the back molars, but nothing too bad. The patty was a bit undercooked too, as I noticed a bit of pink  (oddly not in the center of the patty). Personally, the only time I think less than medium is an appropriate cooking temperature for a burger is when they grind the meat on the premises, which I highly doubt is the case here. At least they're aiming to not cook the bejeezus out of it, which is admirable. The rest of the burger was by the number just like so many places in Wichita - pickles, onions, chopped lettuce, plain white bun. Nothing standing out there.
I like the chili, even if I suspect it was lending a bit of its seasoning to the overall burger. Mostly meat, the only way it could have been better is if it was ALL meat, because any chili purist can tell you that the only true way to enjoy the dish is without all of those silly beans ruining the party.
Again, like most of Wichita's burger restaurants, the fries are freshly cut, but are greasy and soft. I was so frustrated with how many places around here can't seem to grasp how to make a proper fry, that I dug out my deep fryer, cut some potatoes, and confirmed that it was indeed as easy as I thought it was. YUP:
Look, all you have to do is fry them at 325 degrees for 5-6 minutes to cook them, take them out, crank the oil up to 375 and put them back in to make them crispy. Easy.
These particular fries were undercooked to where I still tasted a little bit of raw potato, but I chalk that up to the lunch rush that was transpiring during my visit. The undercooked patty was probably a victim of this, too.
Oasis Lounge falls into that category that so many of Wichita's burger restaurant are falling - fine burger, ordinary toppings, fresh-but-flawed-fries - and I can't tell them apart. It's just another day eating burgers in Wichita.
The Burgers are GREAT!  I always get the single cheeseburger with a side of fresh cut fries.  I believe the Oasis Lounge Burger to be one of the best in town.  They're really juice with great flavor.  It takes a while for them to prepare an order but they're worth the wait.  And you can always play pool, watch "the game", or play various kinds of lotto while you wait.  The waiting staff  is excellent and all around good people.  There's nothing like an Oasis Burger and a cold beer, to help you slip into your own personal oasis.  Cheesy...I know...Mmmm, cheese.
Review Source:Oasis Lounge is more than one your run of the mill pool halls. Â They have absolutely one of the best burgers in Wichita. Â I usually get the single cheeseburger as that is more than enough. Â It's a pretty thick patty that barely extends past the bun. Â Fries are homemade, none of that frozen stuff. Â It takes a little while as they make everything fresh but it is well worth the wait. Â Highly recommended.
Review Source:
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