Waiouru's Oasis — much more than just a restaurant

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 3, Issue 5, 25 June 1985, Page 17

Waiouru's Oasis — much more than just a restaurant

Before coming to the Oasis Hotel/Motel in Waiouru, Ron and Betty Biss spent 18 months managing a hotel in New Guinea. However, they don't notice the change in climate, they claim, as the hotel keeps them too busy! The Oasis' tastefully decorated restaurant attracts year-round trade — passing tourists making their way to Taupo in the summer and to the skifields in winter, as well as a high percentage of locals.

The family roast dinners every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday and the restaurant's home-made puddings and soups are a big attraction for Ruapehu region residents — many of whom travel from Ohakune and Raetihi to sample the goodies prepared by cook Vicky Dillon. The a la carte menu gives diners a choice" of oyster cocktail, shrimp cocktail, seafood cocktail, soup de jour or pate for entree. In addition to the usual steak and fish dishes, the

restaurant offers deep fried oysters, fish caprice, squid rings, ham steaks and Hawaiian chicken on its main course menu. Ham, salmon and vegetarian salads are also available. Huge ice-cream sundaes are amongst the desserts customers can choose from. These can be had with an amazing number of toppings which include chocolate, rnaple, raspberry, kiwifruit, boysenberry and passion fruit. An extensive wine list is available and liqueur

coffees can be ordered to end the evening's dining. Daily specials give regular customers a new choice at very reasonable prices : — a typical special being seafood mornay, roast lamb, followed by Tia Maria gateau. But the Oasis is more than a restaurant — it has fifty beds and three pub-

lic bars. Monthly dine and dance evenings will begin at the hotel on 19th July, when Wanganui band 'Choice Juice' will entertain. Bookings are essential for these functions. The hotel has also recently been permitted a change in trading hours by the Licensing Com-

mittee and can extend its Thursday and Saturday opening hours to 1 1pm. These are the two nights during which the youngsters take the floor to the music of live bands or a disco. Tourist bus services and dinner parties are also catered for by the hotel's versatile staff.