The Oasis

The Oasis

Some time ago, the Oasis atop Lake Travis had a reputation as a place to go for drinks and a great view, but the food was seen as sketchy at best.

Well, things change. The view is still great, they still have the killer sunsets, the margaritas are potent and tasty, but the food has ramped up to the point where the Oasis has become an attractive dining option for comfort food and Tex Mex.

Owner Beau Theriot likes his customers to have fun, and that attitude is pervasive. And fun comes in many forms here. Let’s start with the appetizers. The Chicken Fireballs are little breaded and fried morsels of chicken breast served with a creamy jalapeno sauce. Always get an order, and then wind up taking an order to go. Tasty little buggers!

The BBQ Brisket Flatbread is a newer dish with some real pop to it. The mix of chopped brisket, smoked Applewood bacon, cheese, arugula, and pickled red onion on a fresh flatbread is quite tasty with layers of flavor.

Then try the Homemade Guacamole. This is vastly improved from the “old days,” and is dense with the rich flavor of fresh avocados. Nothing watered down here, just the real appeal of genuine taste. You can even mix it with the Queso for one of their “double deals.” This is a fun option.

The Enchiladas are another category of good new dishes at the Oasis. The Pulled Chicken Enchilada with a roasted tomatillo sauce is quite tender and really presents nicely. Goes down pretty well too! The Cheese Enchiladas with a classic Tex Mex chili sauce are also good. The texture is smooth and the flavor, as it should be with this dish, is very comforting with just a bit of a kick.

The Fajitas have also noticeably improved at the Oasis. A newer dish is the Pork Fajitas, and I was pleasantly surprised when I first tasted them. The pork is delightfully tender and resonates with rich flavors, and blends beautifully with the the accompanying veggies. Kudos to the chef on this one. The Shrimp Fajitas are a slam dunk flavor rush. A bit pricey perhaps at $37.95 for two, but the quality measures up. When they arrive sizzling at the table, it’s a view that rivals the one of the lake!

There’s more than Tex Mex at the Oasis. The seafood and sandwiches are also more than worthy of your consideration. I like the Hatch Green Chile Burger. It starts with what all great burgers must start with: a fresh and tasty roll. In this case it’s a lovely Brioche bun with hatch green chiles (great New Mexican vibe) and a killer chipotle aioli along with pepper jack cheese and a fire-grilled angus patty. This is a burger worth sinking your teeth into.

And I can never resist the Fried Shrimp. They are plump and lovely, and done in a batter that really complements the flavor. They are accompanied by some crispy fries with a decent shelf life.

Another Balon fav is the Grilled Red Fish. I’m partial to the genre, and the Oasis does this justice. The grilling is the key, and the fish arrives tender and flakey with a perfect cilantro lime butter. It’s always a good choice.

The Oasis will never be Trio or Congress, but then it was never intended to be. It’s as Beau intended: fun comfort food in a killer location with the best view in Austin. Oh, and lest I forget, the obligatory and always zippy Margarita. Come early, stay late as Mack Brown used to say.

101120130745