Often if it’s getting late and I only want a fast, affordable meal, I’ll head over to Oasis Grill for some take out. Other times when I want a really tasty, healthy meal, I also head over to Oasis Grill at 91 Drumm Street near the corner of Sacramento.
And sometimes when the guys in the office have a hankering for Mediterranean food, we’ll walk an extra five blocks, just to get a tasty falafel or shawarma and visit Mohammed at the Oasis Grill.
No frills place
Oasis Grill is one of those no frills, workaday restaurants than continually cranks out good food you can count on. While Oasis Grill doesn’t have any seats, it does have an admirable dedication to purpose: fast, made to order, Mediterranean fare that’s tasty and affordable—all served up in a clean environment with a smile.
The menu isn’t extensive, but has all the staples: chicken shawarma, falafel, kefta kabab, and beef and lamb gyros. You’ll also find the traditional sides and salads including hummus, taboulli, cucumber and yogurt, and babaganoush.
I usually opt for the falafel or chicken shawarma, but have generally been pleased with what I’ve tried. I do, however, now know to ask them to put a little extra tahini sauce in the chicken shawarma. which can be a bit dry.
I also generally pass on the Chicken Mediterranean Melt which includes havarti cheese. Not that the Chicken Mediterranean Melt is bad, but somehow Danish cheese doesn’t jibe with my conception of Mediterranean food.
If you’re a little extra hungry, you can ask them to add chicken to the falafel or visa versa, which they’ll happily do for an extra $1.50.
Not exactly “fast food”
While Oasis Grill serves food quickly, it isn’t fast food in the sloppy, greasy, mass production sense. Each order is made fresh the way you want it with the most important question being, “how hot do you want it?” How you answer that question controls how much harissa is spread on the lavash wrap.
After assembly, all of the lavash wraps are thrown back on the grill for a minute or two. This nice touch eliminates the sometimes “raw” flavor that cold lavash can have and warms everything up to an even temperature throughout.
While the food is tasty and a solid value, the real heart and soul of the place is Mohammed, who, in all likelihood, will be the guy behind the counter making your meal. Though there are always other people working, I cannot remember a time when Mohammed didn’t prepare my meal. He seems to be there day and night on weekdays and weekends.
Mohamed is a friendly, but extremely efficient guy— exactly the kind of person you want behind the counter at a place like this.
I’m not going to say that Oasis Grill is the best Mediterranean food in the City— that’s not its place. But I will say that if you live or work in the area and like Mediterranean food, you’ll wish that there were more places like Oasis Grill in the neighborhood.
No frills place
Oasis Grill is one of those no frills, workaday restaurants than continually cranks out good food you can count on. While Oasis Grill doesn’t have any seats, it does have an admirable dedication to purpose: fast, made to order, Mediterranean fare that’s tasty and affordable—all served up in a clean environment with a smile.
The menu isn’t extensive, but has all the staples: chicken shawarma, falafel, kefta kabab, and beef and lamb gyros. You’ll also find the traditional sides and salads including hummus, taboulli, cucumber and yogurt, and babaganoush.
I usually opt for the falafel or chicken shawarma, but have generally been pleased with what I’ve tried. I do, however, now know to ask them to put a little extra tahini sauce in the chicken shawarma. which can be a bit dry.
I also generally pass on the Chicken Mediterranean Melt which includes havarti cheese. Not that the Chicken Mediterranean Melt is bad, but somehow Danish cheese doesn’t jibe with my conception of Mediterranean food.
If you’re a little extra hungry, you can ask them to add chicken to the falafel or visa versa, which they’ll happily do for an extra $1.50.
Not exactly “fast food”
While Oasis Grill serves food quickly, it isn’t fast food in the sloppy, greasy, mass production sense. Each order is made fresh the way you want it with the most important question being, “how hot do you want it?” How you answer that question controls how much harissa is spread on the lavash wrap.
While the food is tasty and a solid value, the real heart and soul of the place is Mohammed, who, in all likelihood, will be the guy behind the counter making your meal. Though there are always other people working, I cannot remember a time when Mohammed didn’t prepare my meal. He seems to be there day and night on weekdays and weekends.
Mohamed is a friendly, but extremely efficient guy— exactly the kind of person you want behind the counter at a place like this.
I’m not going to say that Oasis Grill is the best Mediterranean food in the City— that’s not its place. But I will say that if you live or work in the area and like Mediterranean food, you’ll wish that there were more places like Oasis Grill in the neighborhood.
by Dan Beltramo*
OASIS GRILL
91 Drumm Street
San Francisco 94111
415.781.0313
91 Drumm Street
San Francisco 94111
415.781.0313
* Dan Beltramo is a local Barbary Coast resident who, among other things, is a food aficionado. To read more about Dan, CLICK HERE.