The following “CHEW THAT!” column originally appeared in “The Courier-Times” and / or “The Shelbyville News”. Check their websites for further information.
“CHEW THAT”
Oasis Diner
Blaise Doubman
I love a good nostalgic restaurant that has not really changed much over the years. A place that is warm, friendly, familiar and not only keeps with their traditions over the years but adds new ones, maintains their delicious menu and scores only go up when talking about customer service. No, unfortunately I am not talking about Cracker Barrel and their latest fiascos, I am talking about Indianapolis’ one, “Oasis Diner”. This icon of a restaurant has been in Plainfield, Indiana since 1954. The Oasis Diner serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and are known for several things in each time of day. Also, did you know that they have a fresh bakery right on site? Or that they have hand-crafted sodas, milkshakes and more, including their butterscotch root beer and their chocolate shake. Ask anyone in the area though and they will tell you that they are known for their tenderloins. I took a survey awhile back and over half of the people surveyed said that they know the Oasis Diner because of their tenderloin. Ruth Edwin told me that they have been making their tenderloins the same way, using the same recipe for over 50 years! Talk about a well loved, remembered and talked about tradition!
The Oasis Diner is currently involved in a program called “Devour Indy”, where local restaurants will create unique specials with discounted pricing, to try and get new customers into their stores, while thanking their regular customers for their services. The Oasis Diner’s special is that they have created a “Comfort Food Favorites” menu, where you pick one starter, one sandwich and one dessert for only $19.99. Bring a friend and get their meal for two, which consists of a starter, two sandwiches and two desserts for only $38.99. The Oasis Diner may be old-fashioned but they also keep up with the times, such as with their Devour Indy partnership, as well as their exclusive text club. Join the Oasis Diner text club and get 25% off your next order and keep saving by earning points every time you eat there! Simply text, “Plainfield” to 833-922-4750. They also are “up to speed” on their menu and listening to what the people want, such as seasonal favorites that change with the freshness of the local produce.
The Fried Green Tomato Basket and their Fried Green Tomato BLT’s are just a small example of this. They also have weekly diner specials such as their famous spaghetti and meatballs with garlic toast, meatball sub and crispy fries, Columbus steak and egg skillet with toast and smoked sausage white bean soup. Their menu boasts some incredible food that really needs to be tasted to be believed.
When driving by you can first tell that this is an old-fashioned diner and right away you will be able to tell it is going to be a fun and unique place to eat. Judging from the outside you would think that perhaps the building is a reproduction but no, it is not. It is an original 1954 Mountain View Diner from Signac, New Jersey. The restaurant has been named “One of Indiana’s Top 10 Tenderloins” as well as “USA Today, 10 Best Tenderloins in Indiana”, one of “Visit Indiana’s 10 Best Tenderloins.
For breakfast they offer biscuits and gravy, a Reno skillet with home fries, diced ham, bacon, green peppers, onions, cheddar cheese and two eggs with a side of toast. They also offer a Lumberjack Breakfast or even a San Francisco Avacado Toast. Literally, something for everyone. And lots of stuff in between such as omelets with all different types of add ins and fillings, breakfast combos that contain ham and cheese, grits, mush, biscuits and gravy, corned beef hash, cinnamon rolls and more. My favorite though are their pancakes! Delicious, wonderful, flavorful, Heavenly, delightful, filling but not heavy, are just some of the words and phrases that come to mind when I think about their pancakes. Also just as delicious, they offer French toast and waffles as well! What about to drink? They offer milk, chocolate milk, orange juice, apple juice, V8, cranberry juice, coffee, cappuccino, hand-crafted sodas, floats, hot chocolate, hot tea, sweet tea, unsweet tea, peach tea, raspberry tea, Coke products, lemonade, shakes and malts!
Now, let us move on into lunch and dinner! You thought they had an expansive breakfast menu! Just listen to this. For lunch or dinner you can try their fried pickles, fried mushrooms, loaded fries, onion rings or more just for an appetizer. Then they offer their famous and mouthwatering delicious and my favorite I have to say, “The Original Tenderloin”. If you get this, ask for extra garlic mayo. Wonderful! Not a tenderloin person or what to try something different? How about their reuben, their Philly cheesesteak, their viral grilled cheese sandwich with several types of cheese, bacon, tomatoes and avocado relish. What about their club sandwich that is always fresh, or their pulled pork? More of a burger person? They have you covered. They have their Oasis Burger, which is fabulous and contains double burger patties, pulled pork, bacon, BBQ sauce, coleslaw, pickles and cheddar cheese. Open wide! They also offer a regular hamburger though too as well as a mushroom Swiss burger and a patty melt. Want maybe something a little more “Diner” and served in a cute basket? They have a catfish basket, a chicken fingers basket as well as a chicken and waffles basket!
They also offer “lighter” favorites such as chicken salad sandwiches, soups and salads.
Want to place an order for pies around the Holidays? Do it! They just need a 24 haour notice and they would be happy to accommodate you. What types of pies do they have? Pumpkin, sweet potato, pecan, sugar cream, cherry, apple, blackberry, blueberry, rhubarb, peach, cinnamon peach and strawberry rhubarb. As well as chocolate cake, German chocolate cake and carrot cake. I have had many of these desserts and you can not go wrong! They also offer catering! You can pick from pork tenderloin sliders, pulled pork sandwiches, chicken salad sliders and chicken tenders. Sides and desserts you can pick from are coleslaw, pasta salad and baked beans. Desserts for catering are whole pies, cookies and brownies.
Do yourself a favor and check out this deliciously famous landmark! Stop for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Either by yourself, with some friends of take your family. I love this.traditional landmark restaurant!
You can find the Oasis Diner in Plainfield at 405 West Main Street. They are open Monday through Thursday, 7am-9pm, Friday and Saturday, 7am-10pm and Sunday from 7am-3pm.