Tiemann Oasis, R.I.P.
A great Uptown restaurant is no more.
Tiemann Oasis, the wonderful Middle Eastern/Eclectic dive up on Tiemann Place (near 125th and Bway), appears to be closed for business, judging by the barren look of the storefront at 8:00pm on Sunday.
I only had one chance to eat there--wonderful lentl soup, evergreen grape leaves and hearty chicken Roti--and looked forward to trying what looked like an exceptionally original-minded brunch menu.
Alas, I had travel plans for the summer and didn't get to go back. My friend who made the initial trek with me went back a few times over the summer and came back with reports that the owner was losing his lease, which, apparently, he has.
It was a true iconoclast place, an establishment run by and for the rugged individualist and its existence will be hard to replace.
So, I guess we won't be seeing each other at the same "Tiem-ann Place..."
-shane
By Shane
on Aug 14, 2000 01:05 PM
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Shane--are you sure they're not just on vacation? It IS August. And that place looks barren even on busy nights.
I don't know...I have a hunch it's not all over there. Let's wait and see.
Sure hope they don't close...I raved about 'em in my book. Always got a big kick of the sign on their wall:
"West Harlem Coalition Ant-Gentrification Ass-Kicking Award: for waging an uncompromising, persistent and imaginative battle against gentrification."
ciao
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There was an article in the Times several weeks back about the closing of Tiemann Oasis. Seems there was a lease dispute with the coop board of the building in which the place was located.
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Oh, dear. This is dark news indeed.
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The owner said told my friend he was having lease problems, as another poster, Kelly Monaghan, informs us was covered by the NYTimes.
When I passed by, there were really no signs of life, on vacation or otherwise: none of the humurous/satirical/spiritual cartoons and signs were up in the window, not even the restaurant's name.
However, I have faith in the spirit of the owner/chef (what was his name?) that he'll probably find a new spot to get a whole new anti-gentirfication ass-kicking (indeed, a well-worded award) restaurant rolling, and it's likely someone around here will sniff it out.
-shane
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His name is Saad Kadhim.
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