Nostalgia and great food await you at Hendricks County’s Oasis Diner

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Hendricks County
The Oasis Diner in Plainfield, Indiana, got its start in the train car in the 1950s.

The Oasis Diner takes its guests back to the 1950s, where you expect teenagers to be wearing poodle skirts and leather jackets. Instead, enjoy the nostalgia the restaurant brings and the great food it serves.

The Oasis Diner opened its doors in Plainfield, Indiana, in 1954. It was housed in a dining car delivered via the railroad from New Jersey. The original owners ran it through the 1970s. Additional owners operated the restaurant until 2008.

Hendricks County
A picture of the original location hangs on the restaurant’s wall.

After an owner closed it due to health issues, the building fell into disrepair. The Indiana Landmarks added Oasis Diner to its list of most endangered buildings in 2010. Current owners Doug Huff and Don Rector commissioned a three-year research before buying the building in 2014.

They relocated the diner from the original location to the current spot. Adding on to the original dining car created the modern Oasis Diner.

As the new owners were looking for someone to run the daily operations, Pedro Caperon was looking for a place to cook. Through a series of cooking demonstrations, Pedro – a South Carolina native – became Chef Pedro.

Hendricks County
Of course, there was no way to finish all this food. but tasting it was delicious.

The chef likes to prepare food the way it was done during the 1950s – by hand using fresh ingredients. And those preparations came through with the taste of the food. My pork tenderloin was moist and tender. The breading was light and tasty. It was hands down the best pork tenderloin I’ve ever tasted. I’m not sure I can eat another pork tenderloin because the Oasis’ version tops them all.

Hendricks County
The best pork tenderloin in the world in my opinion.

Lisa opted for a breakfast option. She ordered the Quaker, which included two eggs, ham and grits. It was outstanding, too.

We also split an order of fresh made fried pickles.

Hendricks County
The diner has excellent desserts.

The Oasis Diner’s theme sparks nostalgia as soon as you walk in. A waitress uniform that would have been worn during the restaurant’s early days is on display.

Hendricks County
Waitresses wore this style of outfit during the early days.

Photographs from its early days to reconstruction wrap around a couple of walls for visitors to enjoy its history.

Hendricks County
The Oasis Diner is on Indiana’s famed Foodway trail. The diner highlights a history of the state with its license plates.

The restaurant is a member of Indiana’s Foodway Trails, which highlights key eateries around the Hoosier state. It’s part of the Historic National Road, which was the first federally funded highway running from Maryland to Illinois, crossing six states. Antique license plates adorn a wall.

Hendricks County
Old metal lunch pails highlight the history of lunch pails at the diner.

 

A throwback to the days of metal lunch boxes covers their history from the 1950s to the 1990s, when plastic took over. I remember watching reruns of the old western “Hopalong Cassidy.” So, the lunch box jumped out at me.

Hendricks County
Does anyone remember watching reruns of his westerns?

The Oasis Diner needs to be on everyone’s to-do list when visiting Hendricks County. We enjoyed it so much during our visit to the area that we stopped by for breakfast another day. You can stop by for the nostalgia, but you’ll leave knowing you’ve had one of the best meals in your life.

Check out more information on the Oasis Diner at www.oasisdiner.com or www.visithendrickscounty.com.

Disclaimer: Thank you to Chef and the Oasis Diner for the complimentary meal. However, all opinions and views are ours.