Courtesy of @DineAtConn on Instagram
Oasis, as it stands post-renovation, is an amazing addition to Conn’s dining; it’s convenient and often a go-to necessity when I don’t want to spend time at the dining hall. That said, there are still a few gaps in the menu options that make it feel more limited than it needs to be. Most of these aren’t major changes, just small things that I have thought of over the year that would make a huge difference for many students.
Add Chicken Tenders to Meal Exchange:
This is probably the most straightforward and most frequently discussed change among students, especially when the meal exchange option was first announced at the beginning of the year. Chicken tenders are one of the most standard college dining options, and it was a little surprising that they weren’t included in the meal exchange at Oasis. A burger with fries is already available through the meal exchange, which is a pretty similar choice. You can sometimes get tenders at the dining hall, but the same goes for burgers, making it unclear exactly why the options are what they are.
Bring Back Old Mozzarella Sticks:
The mozzarella sticks before the Oasis renovation were, in my opinion, close to perfect. First, they were actual sticks. More specifically, they were crispy, had a good cheese-to-breading ratio, were tasty, and were consistent. The current ones are not sticks (despite being listed as such on the menu), sometimes have barely any cheese inside, and are sometimes way too oily.
While small menu changes are inevitable over time and can be for the best, this one is a clear downgrade in quality. Restoring the original stick would be a simple but solid improvement.
Expand Sushi Beyond Current Options:
Sushi was mentioned in the survey before Oasis’ renovation, and is an idea that actually made its way into the available options. However, many of the current options are Americanized sushi. This consists of rolls with ingredients such as spicy mayo, imitation crab, avocado, cream cheese, etc. Adding more staple options, like simple tuna/salmon nigiri and sashimi, would make the sushi option more approachable. Not everyone wants rolls with a ton of sauces and fillings, and offering simpler options would also be more true to traditional Japanese options. Beyond that, it is pre-packaged and not available made-to-order. Even if not every day, I’d love to be able to get some fresh sushi on occasion.
Add Milkshakes:
Also before the Oasis renovation was completed, “freakshakes” were mentioned as a possible addition. A freakshake is typically an extreme version of a milkshake that combines the drink itself with desserts and toppings that are added both to the shake and the cup that it comes in. Their absence now feels like a big missed opportunity. Right now, the closest thing to a chocolate milkshake is the chocolate peanut butter shake, but that obviously raises allergy concerns for some students. Smoothies are available, but they aren’t really the same thing as a milkshake in terms of texture and flavors. A few basic milkshake options (like chocolate and vanilla) would be a nice addition.
Late-night Breakfast:
“I could go for a bacon egg and cheese right now”, one of my friends said to me while doing homework in Cro one weekend. One small change would be offering breakfast items later at night, even if only one or a few times a week. A lot of students are up late doing homework, and sometimes breakfast food just hits the spot. I’ve gone on more late-night Dunkin sandwich runs than I can count, and having that option as Oasis would get me there much more.
