Few places capture vintage charm like a truly old-school diner, and the Oasis Diner has been serving the classics since the 1950s!

American Diners

There is something about diners that has a uniquely "classic American" charm to them.  I think it's because diners are traditionally places where you can go for a stack of pancakes or a delicious burger.   So what makes a restaurant a "diner" specifically?

According to Delighted Cooking, a diner is a place that typically specializes in American fare and offers seating at tables and a communal counter.  While the image of a classic 1950s-style diner with chrome accents, neon signs, and checkerboard patterns all comes to mind, Delighted Cooking says that diners have actually been around since the late 1800s, but peaked in popularity around mid-century.

The Best Diner in Indiana Will Transport You Back in Time

Recently, LoveFood named the best diner in every state, and in Indiana, they chose the Oasis Diner in Plainfield.

Here is what LoveFood has to say about Oasis Diner and why they chose it as the best in the state:

Oasis Diner makes its own sodas – and they’re delicious. It’s just one of the things that sets this cute and colorful spot apart from the competition. Another is its obsession with lunch; not just serving it, but honoring a part of its history, with a display of vintage tin lunchboxes filling the shelves (and bearing illustrations of everything from ET to Pac-Man). Throw in some wonderfully comforting and classic diner food and a TV playing old sitcoms, and it’s pretty much guaranteed to brighten your day.

The Oasis Diner Opened in 1954

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According to Oasis Diner's website, it opened in 1954 and is still slinging delicious burgers and breakfast to this day.

They say that locals rave about their tenderloin sandwich, which makes sense because Hoosiers love their tenderloins!  My friend Hilary checked out the Oasis Diner in person and shared these incredible photos with me.  She said the food was delicious, and the nostalgia was on point, it felt like being transported back in time.