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The Oasis on the Oxford

Published:Thursday | April 28, 2011 | 12:00 AM
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Lorraine Clunie has created her own little oasis along the busy Oxford Road.
You have the option of dining in the gazebo beside the soothing waterfalls and pond of colorful koi.
Fresh vegetables are a part of every meal at The Red Snapper.
The brown stewed snapper is simply awesome.
This will get you ready to finish your day: Strong Back.
One of the Red Snapper's signature drinks: Power Punch.
Stewed pork and beans with ground provisions - a slice of yam and green banana. - Photos by Gladstone Taylor/Photographer
Okra-style steamed fish. - Photos by Gladstone Taylor/Photographer
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HERE IS a new retreat along Oxford Road in the busy commercial district of New Kingston. The Oasis on the Oxford is more like a one-stop for all your wedding and gastronomic needs.

Opened last Monday, April 18, by Elegant Wedding's Lorraine Clunie, it houses The Red Snapper Restaurant, the soon-to-be-opened Thirsty Man pub and, of course, Elegant Weddings.

The speciality of Red Snapper is, as you might have guessed, fish. Available every day, it is done to order, so you get to choose your fish and how you like it cooked. Steamed, escoveitched, brown stewed, jerked or foil-roasted stuffed with pak choi, callaloo or watercress.

For a really hearty Jamaican lunch, it's the new place in town. Cow head and beans, pig trotters, turned cornmeal, mackerel rundown or roast yam and salt fish are all on the menu. Of course, these can be complemented by a wide array of authentic Jamaican juices or any of the three house specialities: Strong Bac', Power Punch and Ready Freddy. Strong Back is a potent but delicious mix of Irish moss, peanut, wheat germ, turbot skin, oats, stout and a secret ingredient. Power Punch is a mixture of carrot, pumpkin, oats, Irish moss, Lasco milk, Red Label Wine and a touch of bitters and its own secret ingredient.

And how can you forget their soups: conch, janga, busu, wilks and good old cow cod which will also be available at Thirsty Man Pub when it opens next month. Another feature of the pub will be draft Guinness and beer.

Already there are regulars such as journalist Cliff Hughes. He told Food he thoroughly enjoyed his steamed fish and Strong Back. Being a diabetic, he notes that "fish is my thing". Percival Parkes and his daughter Paula note that The Red Snapper will always have them as customers. "Lunch was extremely good. I had curried chicken and guango peas and rice. When you look at the price and quality, they will always have us."

The Red Snapper currently does deliveries to Oxford Road, Norwood, Belmont and Haining Road.

The Oasis on the Oxford, 11 Oxford Road (in front of the Dorchester). Telephone 754-1996; 908-754-8118'754-1996.