If you've ever eaten inside an authentic diner, you know when you walk in, it can take you back to a certain place. That's what the Oasis Diner did for me, right down to the white tile floor and the counter seating.
The Oasis Diner first opened its doors in Plainfield, Indiana in 1954. Through a few different owners, it served customers in Hendricks County until closing in 2008. But a few years ago, new owners moved the old diner about four miles up the road on US 40, refurbished the place and reopened in November 2014.
The diner is run by Chef Pedro Caperon and his wife. That's right, a chef, not a cook, and the food reflects Chef Caperon's years of culinary experience.
"We try to do everything as fresh as possible as it was done in 1954. They didn't have a lot of processed stuff and we don't want to do that now," he said.
Chef Caperon also worked to keep many of the authentic recipes from the old diner on the menu. In fact, the tenderloin, (which by the way, is amazing), is the original recipe from 1954.
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"We have so many people that come in and have memories of the when they were here in the 60's, 70's and 80s and that's what we are trying to keep true to form", says Caperon.
But he does put his own modern spin on things. For example, the mayo on the tenderloin, (Which by the way, did I mention how delicious it was? Oh yeah, sorry.) is replaced with a homemade roasted garlic aioli.
I would also venture to guess they didn't put too many avocados on omelets in the 50's, but you'll find it on the menu at the Oasis today. One of their best sellers, is a gut-busting dish called the Kansas City.
"We start with two homemade biscuits, smothered in sausage gravy, two eggs, home fries, shredded cheese, and topped with crumbled bacon," says Caperon. It was good, but I can’t imagine a very productive day after one of these, maybe a nap.
The Oasis also makes all of their bread products fresh, on-site, daily. You can taste that freshness in everything. I am so glad I found this little Oasis in Plainfield, and can't wait to go back. Yes, for the tenderloin!
Oasis Diner
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