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Oasis Restaurant reopens in South Fayette
Oasis Restaurant reopens in South Fayette
Fourth and fifth generations of family-owned Italian restaurant continue business and recipes
By Andrea Iglar
Oasis Restaurant is back, and it’s in South Fayette.
Following a 90-year tradition, descendants of the original owners are preparing their family's traditional Italian recipes and homemade pasta on Washington Pike.
The founders' great-great granddaughter, Rebecca Kelly, and her uncle Chuck Miller reopened the hallmark eatery in June. They represent the fifth and fourth generations, respectively, of the business.
“I’m obviously proud of the tradition and legacy that we’re carrying on,” Miller said. “It’s important to our family that this continues.”
Recipes, passed down for generations, include homemade spaghetti, gnocchi, and meat and cheese ravioli. Lasagna is offered on Fridays.
Chuck's father, Mark Miller—Kelly's grandfather—makes sauce from scratch daily, like he has been doing for more than 50 years.
“The main staples have remained the same all this time,” Kelly said.
Italian immigrants Giovaccino "Jack" and Gilda Battistoni (known by family as Nonno and Nonna) started the eatery in 1933 as Jack’s supper club in the Cuddy neighborhood of South Fayette Township.
In 1954, the restaurant changed its name to Oasis and moved to Heidelberg, where it operated at two locations, first across from the Heidelberg Raceway and, from 1971 to 2005, on the site currently occupied by Walgreens.
Over the years, relatives also operated offshoots of Oasis, including Little Oasis on McLaughlin Run Road in Bridgeville and Oasis Pasta House in Carnegie and Cecil.
Through it all, Oasis stayed in the family, passing to the five Battistoni children, and then to Mark and Gary Miller, and eventually to the fourth and fifth generations.
While Oasis never was fancy, it always had a comfortable family atmosphere.
Starting at age 17, Kelly learned the restaurant trade alongside her grandfather. She was working at the Oasis Pasta House in Cecil when it closed for what was supposed to be a temporary period, but it turned into a permanent closure due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Kelly couldn’t stay away from the restaurant business for long. She joined forces with Miller, who had started rolling pasta and bartending for the family businesses in 2001.
The duo, who are 12 years apart in age, found a space to lease that formerly housed ice cream, pizza and taco places.
The location is near the established Oasis customer base and close home in South Fayette, Kelly said.
“This is my first time owning, so I’m excited this is where I got to be,” she said.
A South Fayette resident, Kelly was born and raised on Sygan Hill, where other relatives continue to reside. Miller lives in Hunting Ridge.
Kelly and Miller said one of the best parts of reopening Oasis has been reconnecting with multiple generations of customers.
“Everyone always has a story about the Oasis,” Miller said.
Many customers have celebrated special occasions at Oasis over the years because, while it never was fancy, it always had a comfortable family atmosphere, Kelly said.
“I can’t tell you how many people got engaged at Oasis,” she said.
Oasis serves lunch and dinner. Takeout is popular because the small, 12-seat dining room is first come, first served. Online and phone ordering are available Monday through Thursday. Call well ahead for takeout on Fridays and Saturdays.
In addition to pasta, the restaurant offers dinners such as chicken Parmesan (Kelly’s favorite), appetizers, salads (homemade ranch and Italian dressings are available), sandwiches (especially fish) and homemade soups, such as Kelly’s cheeseburger soup and Miller’s creamy chicken soup. The owners also create daily specials.
While owning a business is tough—and working with family can be challenging—the niece and uncle felt confident they could work together.
“I knew that we would come through no matter what because we love each other,” Kelly said. “And at the end of the day, that’s the biggest thing—we’re family.”
