Oasis Diner

Date: 11/05/25

Restaurant Name: Oasis Diner

Address: 405 W Main St, Plainfield, IN 46168

Phone Number: (317) 837-7777

Website: www.oasisdiner.com

About: The Oasis Diner was manufactured by Mountain View Diners in Signac, NJ, and shipped via railroad to the east side of Plainfield, Indiana in 1954. The Oasis continued operations until 2008, passing through the hands of various owners until the owner had to close the restaurant due to his ailing health. In 2010, Indiana Landmarks listed the Diner on their 10 Most Endangered Indiana Buildings list. This listing prompted the Town of Plainfield to conduct a feasibility study on the possible relocation of the Diner just 4 miles west to their recently revitalized Town Center. Local residents relocated, restored and reopened this historical landmark after more than 3 years of research, planning and construction. The Oasis Diner reopened in it’s current location in November of 2014. With this storied history, we had high expectations that the patty melt would be just as good as all those years ago.

Authenticity: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The patty melt included Swiss cheese and grilled onions on rye bread, a perfect combination and the epitome of patty melt orthodoxy. It was also served with Thousand Island dressing, which only added to the experience.

Taste: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️★

While it was not the best tasting beef patty that we had ever had, all of the flavors blended well together and created a taste sensation. Nothing was unbalanced or out of sorts, and everything was as good as it could be.

Value: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The price was $11 with a side included, which is an absolute bargain. We noted that this was the most inexpensive patty melt that we had ever had, which combined with the quality of the patty melt created the best deal we've ever found.

Ambiance: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The ambiance of the Oasis Diner was simply sublime. The interior and the exterior both look like the diner would have back in the 1950s, with a great retro atmosphere that fits with the patty melt perfectly. We were seated by a windowsill that let us look out at the city sights going by. All in all, the ambiance lends itself perfectly to capturing the authentic patty melt experience.

Total Experience: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Our food was good, and our server was pleasant. If the location was better, we may have made this a recurring experience.

Summary:

Oasis Diner has had the best patty melt so far, and we don't say that lightly. While the beef patty was not as high quality as some of the other patty melts that we've had, the total experience was the best that we've had since the LA Cafe. Combine that with the inexpensive price, and we feel confident in our assessment that the Oasis Diner has the best patty melt that we've ever had.

Leadership Lessons: The Oasis Diner is a case study in resilience. You can read the details here of its ups and downs since the building’s delivery by railroad in 1954, including its more recent relocation and restoration. Our visit was steeped in nostalgia, yet at the same time it is clearly not stuck in the past as evidenced by its igloos, which you can see in the background of the photo above. I also appreciated this reminder to its employees that is mostly out-of-sight to everyone but its employees:

OASIS [oh-ey-sis] Noun

A place, time or experience that serves as a relief, or pleasant change from what is usual, difficult, or stressful.