In the past 24 years we have lived in Stillwater we have taken visitors downtown to shop for antiques, see the riverfront and perhaps eat at a local restaurant or go out on the riverboat. We have never shared our favorite breakfast diner with them. We did spend years sharing breakfast on Saturday morns with good friends who lived in the area. I don't know why we don't bring visitors there. Perhaps we should let them see the "real" Stillwater that the tourists don't see.
This small diner is called the River Oasis which everyone just calls the Oasis or Jon shortens to "The O". It is his favorite. This is no franchise restaurant. The food is also better and more varied than most diners. They serve the regulation bacon or ham and eggs, but also a tasty quiche or eggs benedict. Food is homemade. Pies are made on the premises and you can get a malted milk like the drug stores served in the 50's.
I have a few other places I enjoy breakfast, but they don't have the charm or clientele of this joint. There are two counters where singles meet for good coffee and an economical meal. The collection of mostly men, mostly older, seated at the counter come from a variety of backgrounds. One was the mayor and is still on the school board. Another lifetime hometown resident owns several restaurants, a small hotel and five riverboats. I think he could buy and sell everyone else in the joint. Jon asked him one day why he wasn't eating breakfast at his own establishment, a fancy small local hotel. He said the food was better at the Oasis. I think the comraderie probably brings them in. If you come regularly you will recognize most of the faces.
The waitresses and staff don't change much. One waitress has been there as long as I can remember. We asked her one morning how long she had worked there and she said "23 years". We left a $23. tip that day and boy do we get good service since. She deserves that amount every day.
When Hollywood filmed "Beautiful Girls" in Stillwater they used the Oasis for a scene. Another Indie picture was filmed here last summer. I am not sure if that will be popular enough for us to see on the big screen.
One of the regulars has written a book called "The Oasis". Read an excerpt online.
http://www.trafford.com/05-1721
Come visit us sometime. I promise we will take you to the Oasis for breakfast.
This small diner is called the River Oasis which everyone just calls the Oasis or Jon shortens to "The O". It is his favorite. This is no franchise restaurant. The food is also better and more varied than most diners. They serve the regulation bacon or ham and eggs, but also a tasty quiche or eggs benedict. Food is homemade. Pies are made on the premises and you can get a malted milk like the drug stores served in the 50's.
I have a few other places I enjoy breakfast, but they don't have the charm or clientele of this joint. There are two counters where singles meet for good coffee and an economical meal. The collection of mostly men, mostly older, seated at the counter come from a variety of backgrounds. One was the mayor and is still on the school board. Another lifetime hometown resident owns several restaurants, a small hotel and five riverboats. I think he could buy and sell everyone else in the joint. Jon asked him one day why he wasn't eating breakfast at his own establishment, a fancy small local hotel. He said the food was better at the Oasis. I think the comraderie probably brings them in. If you come regularly you will recognize most of the faces.
The waitresses and staff don't change much. One waitress has been there as long as I can remember. We asked her one morning how long she had worked there and she said "23 years". We left a $23. tip that day and boy do we get good service since. She deserves that amount every day.
When Hollywood filmed "Beautiful Girls" in Stillwater they used the Oasis for a scene. Another Indie picture was filmed here last summer. I am not sure if that will be popular enough for us to see on the big screen.
One of the regulars has written a book called "The Oasis". Read an excerpt online.
http://www.trafford.com/05-1721
Come visit us sometime. I promise we will take you to the Oasis for breakfast.
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