Need a vacation, a stiff drink and some music therapy? The owners of a new record and sushi bar say you don’t even have to leave Arlington to get that fix.
Aug. 21 marks the official debut of Oasis: The Listening Bar, a self-described “peaceful Japanese retreat in the city” occupying the former Cava Mezze space on Clarendon Boulevard. The concept is modeled after Tokyo listening bars pairing high fidelity sound with sophisticated food and cocktails.
“We think the listening bar is a cool concept,” says Sumontita “Tammie” Disayawathana, who co-owns Oasis with her husband, Jaturon “Drew” Srirote. (Their Sisters Group restaurant empire also includes Flore Café in Tysons and multiple locations of Sisters Thai.) The ambience caters to “a music lover who can eat, drink and enjoy the sound.”
A café by day, Oasis changes its tune at night, with DJs spinning vinyl and live bands covering a range of musical genres, from jazz to pop. Music is pumped through a high-end sound system. Records, music posters and guitars line the walls, giving the space a clubby feel.
Ocean Eats
Sushi is the star of the menu. Jewel-toned salmon belly, sea bream and other premium fish appear in sashimi, nigiri and maki form. The signature Oasis Roll finds lump crab meat, avocado and cucumber draped in shrimp and lobster.
For those inclined to take pics of their food, there are photogenic small plates such as Hotate Strawberry Yuzu (scallops with strawberry, salmon roe, black tobiko, micro greens and yuzu ponzu sauce). Taste of Foie Gras, a decadent combo of sashimi, caviar, eel sauce, truffle oil and balsamic glaze, is topped with seared foie gras and 24-karat gold flakes.
If you prefer something that’s seen a stove or oven, entrees such as Akaki Katsu Don (fried oysters over steamed rice) and grilled pork sirloin aim to please. Soup, salads and kushiyaki (skewers of meat or veggies) round out the offerings.
Boozy Beverages
A 25-seat wrap-around bar with a lighted marquee forms the centerpiece of Oasis, with eye-catching drinks to match. The Tokyo Banana blends clarified vanilla vodka, Giffard Banane du Brésil liqueur, honey and lemon. The Kimi Wa 1000% is a concoction featuring Four Roses Bourbon, house-made plum syrup, lime, egg white and plum bitters.
Spins on classics include an old fashioned made with Hatozaki Japanese whisky, sugar and orange bitters.
Speaking of whisky, Oasis stocks 20 kinds. It offers curated tasting flights of Japanese whisky, as well as sake. A beer program featuring Joy Boy Craft Beers (a local side venture for Srirote) highlights brews designed to pair well with Asian food.
Amiable Ambience
Oasis bears little resemblance to its sibling restaurants (you won’t find shabby-chic chairs or exuberant tumbles of flowers here) but the design is perhaps the latest evidence of the owners’ knack for laying down a vibe.
“When you enter Oasis, you will feel relaxed…like you’re on vacation,” Disayawathana says. Although where is subject to interpretation. Like the fusion cuisine, the decor is a mashup. Wood-paneled walls and desert-chic midcentury-style furnishings (think Palm Springs) comingle with a wall display of Hawaiian surfboards that Srirote bought in the Aloha State. Plush green cacti sprout up from one wall.
Panels of Japanese characters paired with dark walls and moody lighting suggest an intimate izakaya in Tokyo.
“We’ve poured our passion for audiophile-level sound and handcrafted cuisine into every detail,” Srirote said in a release, “creating a space where guests can truly listen, unwind, and connect.”
Find Oasis: The Listening Bar at 2940 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington.