t he name of this café and bakery could not be more fitting. Oasis Café is your oasis for all things delicious and relaxing. From the dazzling array of pastries, cakes, cookies and breads to the pizzas, panini, salads and snacks, Oasis Café has something for everyone. The spacious European style patio is the perfect place in which to enjoy it all and still watch the exciting

World Cup matches on large screens outdoors.

Sip on a refreshing cocktail, beer, wine or a specialty coffee drink while you chat with friends on the patio, enjoying the cool breezes.

Oasis Café is the ideal place for an intimate date, gathering of friends, or family occasion. The Ambrosiados Family welcomes you to Oasis Café, opened 23 years ago, just next to St. Nick’s Greek Church on Northern Blvd. in Flushing. Maria Ambrosiados explained that everything is made from scratch, including cream fillings, puddings and frostings, in the kitchen below the dining room. As she mixed up a delicious fruit smoothie for a customer she told me about the Greek bread they make with special herbs from the island of Kios. This soft, delicious bread is slightly sweet and topped with sliced almonds and is the perfect breakfast treat, spread with jam or dunked into coffee.

Oasis’ variety of Greek and continental pastries is seemingly limitless. “Ekmek” is a pastry made with shredded wheat, their house made custard and almonds and it is just delicious. “Galaktoboureko” is made with the same custard layered with phyllo dough and honey syrup. Two Greek cakes that I really love are the walnut cake, rich and moist with nuts and syrup, and semolina cake which has a nice texture from the ground semolina, eggs and honey. Of course, the “baklava” is legendary, available in large triangles or smaller, bite-sized pieces. In fact, convenient party trays are available in different sizes to take away, offering bite-sized pieces of many of their famous pastries. It makes deciding easy and there are always some trays in the front, just ready to go.

One of their most popular desserts is “tiramisu”, a creamy dessert whose recipe comes from Venice, Italy. Oasis’ tiramisu is available in individual portions, trays, or made into a beautiful cake to celebrate any occasion. I took home a chocolate mousse cake for a birthday party the next day and the guests were ooh-ing and aah-ing at the light texture of the chocolate mousse and beautiful decoration. I enjoyed it because it was not overly sweet and laden with sugar, so you could taste the chocolate mousse and moist cake layered with strawberries.

Oasis Café makes tempting savory snacks and meals as well. Flaky spinach pie or cheese pie makes a nice light lunch or snack anytime. The kids love the mozzarella sticks and chicken fingers while the older kids love the Buffalo wings. I had heard about their pan pizzas and was impressed with the crisp crust and fresh fillings. I chose the Greek pizza, which was topped with crumbled feta cheese, fresh tomatoes, black olives and oregano. The small pan pizza is perfectly sized for one person so everyone can have their own. The large version will serve two. Other pizzas include the Oasis pizza with tomato, basil and mozzarella, and the Hawaiian pizza with ham and pineapple.

The chef grilled up a delicious Panini sandwich for me, with tender, grilled chicken breast, perfectly cooked, and topped with cheese on pita bread for easy handling. The Oasis delight is made with turkey and provolone cheese and the Americano is made with ham and cheese for the best grilled sandwich around. All hot grilled sandwiches are served with your choice of a crunchy salad or their hand-sliced French fries. The salads are freshly tossed and include a classic Caesar and Greek salad, with the option of topping them with either grilled chicken or shrimp for a meal in itself. Enjoy a juicy hamburger or cheeseburger deluxe with an icy cold beer while you watch the match or try the Philly cheese steak sandwich with sautéed onions, peppers and tomatoes. The 3-cheese quesadilla is ideal for sharing and it can be grilled with chicken as well.

Crepes are very popular here and very versatile, as they can be made with sweet or savory fillings, depending on your mood. Classic ham and cheese, smoked turkey and provolone or the “Zorba” crepe with feta, spinach, olive and tomato make for a light dinner or snack. Sweet crepes include my favorite: Nutella and banana or strawberries. Greek yogurt with honey and walnuts is ambrosia for the gods. I love homemade rice pudding and Oasis makes theirs from scratch. Fruit tarts, apple turnovers, fudge brownies, Napoleons and carrot cake are just a sampling of all the decadent treats available.

Stop in at Oasis Café, open morning until night, seven days a week and later on the weekends where many come to enjoy the ambience of the outdoor patio. Iced coffees, frappes, moccaccino and hazelnut latte are just some of their famous coffee drinks, served hot or cold that pair well with their fabulous pastries and cakes. Life is too short. Take a break from the humdrum of your workday and escape to Oasis Café for a taste of Europe right in the neighborhood.