The change from RAHU to Oskar's Bistro
-
- Making Khmer girls cry since 2003
- Reactions: 130
- Posts: 21358
- Joined: Thu Dec 11, 2003 10:15 pm
The change from RAHU to Oskar's Bistro
I remember when I first heard about six months ago that RAHU would be closing for a few months for renovations and then re-opened. I thought that was a dumb idea because the place had only opened a few years earlier, and it had been fitted out well with a nice long bar, cool modern decor, etc. I liked the food and ambiance at RAHU and though I noticed it wasn't always busy I chalked that up to the not-great location on the northern end of the riverside strip.
It reopened a few months ago as Oskar's Bistro, and I'm amazed how much better the place seems to be doing now. I've only been three times but the place always seems to be packed full. They changed the long straight bar so that it juts out just a bit in a point so that customers aren't all just facing straight ahead, they are angled towards each other just a bit.
They added seats outside, RAHU never had those, and in retrospect RAHU's frontage wasn't particularly inviting.
They've changed the decor a fair bit, it's still modern-themed decor, but RAHU tended towards the austere and "artsy", whereas the Oskar Bistro's decor is warmer. They've gotten rid of the big mural of the demon child that used to be on the back wall.
Staff still wears black, but instead of the tight black dresses they just wear black t-shirts now. They've changed the music, they play a lot of jazzy/soul numbers, I forget what type of music RAHU had.
The theme of the food has been changed from Asian fushion/sushi to American/Western comfort food. They serve very good pizzas now.
Anyway, I'm just fascinated how much better the place is doing now -- it's still a modern, casual to upscale restaurant, in the same location, targeting essentially the same demographic, with I think the same management (I think Metro group still owns or partly owns Oskar's Bistro). But the format change and decor changes seem to have been remarkably successful.
It reopened a few months ago as Oskar's Bistro, and I'm amazed how much better the place seems to be doing now. I've only been three times but the place always seems to be packed full. They changed the long straight bar so that it juts out just a bit in a point so that customers aren't all just facing straight ahead, they are angled towards each other just a bit.
They added seats outside, RAHU never had those, and in retrospect RAHU's frontage wasn't particularly inviting.
They've changed the decor a fair bit, it's still modern-themed decor, but RAHU tended towards the austere and "artsy", whereas the Oskar Bistro's decor is warmer. They've gotten rid of the big mural of the demon child that used to be on the back wall.
Staff still wears black, but instead of the tight black dresses they just wear black t-shirts now. They've changed the music, they play a lot of jazzy/soul numbers, I forget what type of music RAHU had.
The theme of the food has been changed from Asian fushion/sushi to American/Western comfort food. They serve very good pizzas now.
Anyway, I'm just fascinated how much better the place is doing now -- it's still a modern, casual to upscale restaurant, in the same location, targeting essentially the same demographic, with I think the same management (I think Metro group still owns or partly owns Oskar's Bistro). But the format change and decor changes seem to have been remarkably successful.
Follow my lame Twitter feed: @gavin_mac
Great report.
So there's no "oskar" eastern european expat-type running the show then. That's a relief.
So there's no "oskar" eastern european expat-type running the show then. That's a relief.
-
- Making Khmer girls cry since 2003
- Reactions: 130
- Posts: 21358
- Joined: Thu Dec 11, 2003 10:15 pm
There's an Oskar's Bistro in Bangkok. For some reason, I'm under the impression that the Phnom Penh restaurant is half owned by the Bangkok folks and half owned by the Metro group, but I could be wrong about that and would welcome any correction. Maybe Metro Group has a parent company in Bangkok. I don't know.
Also, I've seen references to the them having DJ's at Oskar's Bistro, which in my opinion would totally suck, if I go for dinner and there's a loud fucking DJ there, but so far I haven't seen any DJ's, maybe they start up late at night.
RAHU used to to an excellent Asian spiced beef tenderloin, I ordered the Oskar's beef tenderloin and it tasted the same, so there may be some carry-over with using the same chef/suppliers as RAHU.
Also, I've seen references to the them having DJ's at Oskar's Bistro, which in my opinion would totally suck, if I go for dinner and there's a loud fucking DJ there, but so far I haven't seen any DJ's, maybe they start up late at night.
RAHU used to to an excellent Asian spiced beef tenderloin, I ordered the Oskar's beef tenderloin and it tasted the same, so there may be some carry-over with using the same chef/suppliers as RAHU.
Follow my lame Twitter feed: @gavin_mac
-
- Least Likely to be a Moderator, ever !
- Reactions: 0
- Posts: 3940
- Joined: Thu Aug 01, 2013 1:29 pm
-
- I need professional help
- Reactions: 0
- Posts: 1045
- Joined: Tue Jun 12, 2012 5:03 am
Don't know the ownership %s, but I think GM is right. I have heard they're associated with Oscar's on Soi 11 too. I've been there a lot. Great drinks, reliable food, and attractive freelancers. The food at Rahu was much better than Oscar's in BKK though. One problem with Rahu was that the menu was pretty much the same as Metro and they were too close together IMO.
New bars are often busy when they first open. But I do like to recessed frontage, I can imagine the confusion for the police when they crack down on street side seating.
-
- Making Khmer girls cry since 2003
- Reactions: 130
- Posts: 21358
- Joined: Thu Dec 11, 2003 10:15 pm
I think that's probably right.wackyjacky wrote: One problem with Rahu was that the menu was pretty much the same as Metro and they were too close together IMO.
Follow my lame Twitter feed: @gavin_mac
Cool story bro. I guess I did read your topic
Isnt it owned by that Khmer drummer with the long hair, he looks a bit like a Cambodian Felderkarb.
-
- I need professional help
- Reactions: 0
- Posts: 1045
- Joined: Tue Jun 12, 2012 5:03 am
-
- Least Likely to be a Moderator, ever !
- Reactions: 0
- Posts: 3940
- Joined: Thu Aug 01, 2013 1:29 pm
Wondering how many many Memes saying "Cool Story Bro" it will take to close this thread down?
-
- Least Likely to be a Moderator, ever !
- Reactions: 0
- Posts: 3940
- Joined: Thu Aug 01, 2013 1:29 pm
-
- MerkinMaker
- Reactions: 62
- Posts: 3232
- Joined: Wed Mar 21, 2012 11:04 am
-
- Similar Topics
- Replies
- Views
- Last post
-
-
Mata Hari bar (2006) behind the Riverside Bistro
by 1960 » Tue May 21, 2019 12:01 pm » in Questions and Answers - 3 Replies
- 1711 Views
-
Last post by Chicagogato
Fri May 31, 2019 10:10 am
-
-
-
Ostro Bistro waitress steals $100+ from Khmer Times Business Editor
by Bong Burgundy » Thu Aug 27, 2020 9:18 pm » in Cambodia News - 42 Replies
- 7648 Views
-
Last post by Alexandra
Fri Sep 04, 2020 2:59 pm
-
-
-
Riverside Bistro and FCC/Foreign Correspondent’s Club closed down post-pandemic
by Phnom Penh Trader » Mon Apr 17, 2023 8:34 pm » in Cambodia Speakeasy - 21 Replies
- 2553 Views
-
Last post by chkai chgout
Tue Jan 30, 2024 6:14 pm
-
-
-
Moto over 125cc test and name change on vehicle registration
by Guets999 » Wed Nov 25, 2020 5:12 pm » in Questions and Answers - 5 Replies
- 2668 Views
-
Last post by Miguelito
Fri Nov 27, 2020 3:08 pm
-
-
-
Visa run to Thailand to change T visa to E visa, plus Cambodian bank account
by MarkVNCB » Sun Aug 11, 2019 7:19 pm » in Questions and Answers - 4 Replies
- 6066 Views
-
Last post by Alex
Tue Aug 13, 2019 10:13 am
-