What a special spot. Breakfast was amazing . Service by Sherri was outstanding. She clearly loves what she is doing. I was at home here. Now the food. I had the breakfast sandwich which did not disappoint.. melted cheese, eggs and bacon on sourdough bun. Yummmmm. Husband had egg breakfast with toast and sausage and all was hot and delicious. read more

Whistle Stop Cafe - My sandwich- could not finish but I tried. lol - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Boone, Iowa

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Sometimes the best breakfast spots aren't in the middle of downtown--they're tucked away waiting to be discovered. The Whistle Stop Café on the north side of Boone is one of those places. There's plenty of parking, and from the moment I walked in, I felt genuinely welcome. My waitress, who I suspect may have been the owner, greeted me with a smile, took my coffee order right away, and made sure I never needed to ask for a refill. Bonus points for serving it in a pretty cool coffee mug that added a little personality to the experience. The service was fast without feeling rushed, and the food was fresh, flavorful, and exactly what I was hoping for. More than anything, though, it was the hospitality that stood out. It's the kind of place where you're treated like a regular, even if it's your first visit. If you're looking for a welcoming local café with great food, friendly people, and a memorable small-town dining experience, the Whistle Stop Café is well worth making a stop. read more

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Very good breakfast. Very low prices. Cinnamon rolls are light with just enough cream cheese frosting. Go here every time we camp at Saylorville. But you really go here for the server!!! She makes the experience!! read more

Wonderful place to go eat! The service was great and the food was very fresh and filling. I hope to go back soon!

Classic small diner. Average decor. Good service and good food. They do more ala cart prices. This helps keep prices down if not that hungry. read more

If you want gravy from a can and frozen sysco products you can get at the gas station....this place is for you! The staff was friendly but the food is bottom of the barrel. read more

Unfortunately, we used to frequent the Whistle Stop Cafe on a very regular basis. We've been there once since it changed hands. The menu changed almost completely & the food just isn't the same. The daily specials have changed (which many of them were a staple to people in the community & often they'd run out even before the lunch hour). Not having some of our old time favorites offered we just haven't been able to bring ourselves to going back. I wish them nothing but all the best wishes and know that many, many people are extremely satisfied with the changes but it just isn't for us anymore. Miss it for sure. read more

This is a regular Tuesday spot that my husband and I frequently go to for breakfast. New owners revamped the menu and let me tell you they did their dang thing:)!!!! My husband gets the blueberry pancakes every time and switch between biscuits and gravy or country fried steak both are delicious:)!!!! The blueberry pancakes have so many fresh blueberries in them and the sausage gravy is full of flavor:)!!!! The servers know our drink order and have them waiting on the counter as soon as we arrive:)! That's great customer service:)!!!! It's just a nice relaxed breakfast/lunch spot:)!!!! When you walk in the door you feel like you're home:)!!!! I will continue to come here as long as I live in Boone:)!!!! read more

We really enjoyed our visit to Boone over Easter weekend. One of the stops was at the Whistle Stop Cafe for breakfast with friends. The place was really busy but, the staff were kind, helpful and happy. Making our time with our friends even more enjoyable. The food was great - felt like home cooking. We will definitely go back the Whistle Stop when visiting Boone in the future. read more

Very nice cafe, good food, great service Kind and friendly spot! Check it out. Real ceramic plates, real glass glasses, CLOTH napkins, not plastic silverware!!! A real bit of home...... thank you read more

That picture is not what it looks like now. They no look like any generic fast food restaurant. The things that made Whistlestop unique are gone. The daily specials the menus on the wall, all gone. The biscuit and gravy is not as good, and they don't have white bread for toast read more

The Whistle Stop Cafe is located not far from the Union Pacific mainline, and certainly fits with Boone's cred as a railroad-infused town. It's also where Mamie Eisenhower was born. The restaurant is a modest establishment, with tight and welcoming seating, and a bathroom that requires a trip through the kitchen and prep areas. My Dad and I came here from breakfast last Monday. Service was down home friendly, and half the fun was observing the various locals and their small town interactions (which is how I grew up here in Iowa). Dad chose corn beef hash and eggs, while I opted for a more common over easy, toast, and potatoes combination. My choice was delicious, while Dad was not as impressed, especially concerning the coffee. And we had a nice time together and very much enjoyed the experience. read more

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Everything was perfect in every way. Hoping to visit again soon. I took home a piece of cherry pie. Best I ever had

Whistle stop is that home town Cafe food . Breakfast is goo, lunch specials are really good. The employees are always nice and seem like the care about you. read more

Home cooking in a small town restaurant!!! It's a bit cramped but the staff will brighten up your day! I love the biscuits and gravy, it's like mom would make growing up. Did I mention the cinnamon rolls... too good for the price! Did you ever wake up and wanted to not cook but just be with the gang? Well the gangs all here and everyone is having a great meal! read more

First time visiting. The restaurant was cute, simple, and local. Was seated quickly and the prices were very good in comparison to Des Moibes metro. read more

This is a tiny little diner that serves a fair amount of food for a fair price, but by no means is serving high-quality. The Whistle Stop Cafe is a Boone tradition serving standard Midwestern American favorites. I believe they get most of their ingredients from Walmart using the generic brand and they don't add much flavor or seasoning other than a pat of butter to some of the sweet items. If you like your food plain and standard, as most Iowans do, then you'll love it here. read more

Whistle Stop Cafe - Kids meal #6 I think Hot dog and smiley fries - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Boone, Iowa

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Fantastic place! Food and service was great! I doubt I will ever be in Boone, Iowa again but if I am, I will definitely try it again.

Very nice local diner in Boone. Good selection of breakfast options (what we ordered). Reasonably priced.

Had the cinnamon roll, eggs, American fries and English muffin. Husband had pancakes, sausage and eggs the cinnamon roll was soft and frosting was tasty. Eggs were cooked perfectly. American fries were whole potatoes cut up with onions and seasoning which was tasty. Pancakes were thick and huge. Usually don't like thick pancakes, but these were tasty. Only bad thing was the very weak coffee. Tasted like hot water. But I've found a lot of places in this area in the country drink hot water that is labeled coffee. Lol. The price is very reasonable. Service was great! read more

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Another great place in Boone. Pork tenderloin is great but it doesn't come with anything. Breakfast was great too.. pancakes are huge read more

The waitress was really nice, but the food wasn't good. The food lacked flavor and the quality of ingredients aren't there! Also the restaurant is very small so difficult to walk in there. I would not return and my stomach would appreciate if we never went. read more

This place is a Boone staple, which I think allows them to get away with less than stellar service and food. We stopped on a fairly busy Saturday but there were open seats and ample waitstaff. It took about 10 minutes to be acknowledged and another 5 to 10 minutes after receiving our drinks to order. I had pumpkin spice pancakes, scrambled eggs and hashbrowns. My eggs were not quite cooked through and appeared to be a messed up omelette, not purposefully scrambled eggs. My pancake was overdone but not burnt. I was disappointed I didn't read the option closer as I was thinking pumpkin pancake not pumpkin pie spice pancakes. When the waitress took our plates it took her 15 minutes to return with our check. After another 5 to minutes we left cash on the table and left. read more

Good food. Good variety. Always busy. Small town cafe type home cooking. Relax and enjoy! read more

Wow! The best pumpkin pancakes I've ever had! See pics. Small, community place. Prices are ok. Very friendly staff. Family friendly. Street and small lot parking. Great cold day to stop in for these fabulous pancakes! And filling. They have a few booths, some tables and a large counter seating area here. Marcydiner tantrum scale of 5/5-no screaming kids. Anyone who is used to "small town Iowa" should stop in. Plenty of locals here, too! Only open 5am til 2 pm. M-F, 5am til 1 pm Sat and closed Sunday. read more

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This small family owned cafe has breakfasts that are nearly unmatched. They also have a very affordable lunch special daily. I would highly recommend checking out this ma and pa style restaurant in the small town of Boone, Iowa. read more

WHOLE MENU ALLLL DAY! Lunch at 7am, breakfast at 1pm, it's all good. Love that! Food: We had a green pepper/onion/cheese scramble and a chicken strips basket. Tasty food and lots of it! Super health-conscious types take note: there's grease and oil and stuff, this is a more home-y style of cooking. Comfort food. More whole milk, less skim. In other words, right up my alley. Woohoo! The Other Stuff: Friendly service, open early, good coffee. Clean restroom (you go through the kitchen to get there -- could be awkward, but everyone on the way was friendly, so it wasn't awkward at all...I kinda felt like I was visiting with the kitchen staff, they were super nice about me crashing their space). Booths, tables, or stools up at a circular bar. Fun decor and mugs. The whole place has a nice, friendly local feel. Great prices, special deals daily, and we left full and happy. Will definitely head over there again soon, and I especially recommend it to breakfast fans! read more

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Nice place & people, but the food was just awful. Fake cheese, canned mushrooms, too many onions in the omelet. Only a few peppers & almost no tomatoes. Bread not really toasted. Some of the bacon was overcooked & some undercooked. My husband had sausage and eggs and the sausage was basically inedible read more

The Whistle Stop Café is a small breakfast and lunch joint that is a perfect compliment to a ride on the Boone Scenic Valley Railway. I'd recommend sticking to the breakfast menu, although the lunch offerings are diverse and very reasonably priced as well. We were served by the elementary school teacher daughter of the owner the day we dropped in. The pancakes were great. The kids meals were inexpensive and well received, particularly the smiley face fries. When another diner left their phone behind, the waitress rushed out the door to run them down. When I asked if she found them she replied. "yes, but it didn't matter since they were friends anyway." A nice vibe. Just don't show up for dinner. They'll be closed. read more

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It's the kind of place that after a couple visits everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came! Small mom & pop diner . Owner John is a really nice guy! I like getting John's special (3 scrambled eggs, cheese, bell pepper, mushroom and sausage, hold the onion) and a half order of the biscuits and gravy!! My hubby enjoys the "Train Wreck" and the kids love the pancakes and French toast!! We visit at least hi-weekly!! read more

I'm not sure I can think of anything bad to say about the Whistle Stop. It is everything that a small town greasy spoon diner should be. When you go in, you'll notice that this place has a very obvious theme and you might already know what it is based on the name itself. Whistle stop Cafe has a train theme, which is fit for the community of Boone, since this town is home to Pufferbilly Days, the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad and plays an important role in the Union Pacific railroad. The restaurant itself sits just one block north of the UP railroad line, just north of Downtown Boone. The seating is mostly counter seating, but you will find a couple of folding tables and chair seats in the corners where there is room. They have a printed menu, but also have a diner menu up on the wall. You will see hand-written notes on blackboards featuring specials in addition to the menu on hand. I have only eaten breakfast at the Whistle Stop and the food is great. I love their pancakes and french toast plates. You get a generous amount of food, but not so much that you can't finish it. You can get your standard breakfast food here, with the eggs, sausage, bacon, potatoes, french toast, pancakes, toast, etc. The lunch menu is mostly sandwiches, soups and salad and they offer pot roast and chicken at dinner. The staff at the Whistle Stop is fantastic. The server behind the counter is always friendly no matter who is working and the cook on duty often comes out and talks with the customers to make sure the food is to our liking. If I could knock anything about this place it is the restroom situation. You have to walk through the kitchen area to get to the tiny bathroom in the back. Nothing bad about anything else, it's a great place to eat. if you like greasy spoons, a good breakfast, friendly service and a nice cup of coffee, this is the place to stop in Boone. read more

Delicious, cheap, and quick! The wait staff was friendly and fast. They have a giant (seriously, giant) and DELICIOUS cinnamon roll. Doesn't seem to get too busy, which I like! I will be returning here at some point for sure! read more

This is by far my favorite restaurant in Boone. Such a quaint little cafe with amazing food! My husband and I love their breakfast options, and I have recently discovered that their lunch options are just as wonderful! The cinnamon roll pancake is to die for. We are always greeted with a smile and never fail to leave stuffed full and happy! The owners are lovely people with caring hearts for this community. Their staff members are equally as friendly. They treat every customer that walks through the door like family! We will continue to go back for years to come! read more

Great simple restaurant that offered home cooking at a reasonable price. They knew all their locals that walked through the door and treated us out of towners like we were neighbors. There was about 4 people working the place between wait staff to cook were pitching in to help serve food and clean up. Loved the soup and salad combo. Had chicken noodle perfect not to salty or greasy. It had home made noodles. Great! read more

Great menu for a small neighborhood diner. Very friendly service for the area. Limited hours of service, but great breakfasts, and lunch menu too. read more

What a gem of a small town cafe for a great home style breakfast or lunch! The ambiance is 1960's railroad which is appropriate given its location. The servers treat me like family even though I've been there a couple of times. The food has been superb. Basic burgers and sandwiches for lunch but always a special that IS special with homemade pie if you get there early enough. Fantastic breakfast as well. read more

Their breakfasts are some of the best you will find, but lunches are another story. Recently got their "steak" sandwich which was nothing more than shaved beef (think hot beef sandwich), not good and pricey. Will continue to come for breakfast but that's it. read more

Super good, just a few things were not top notch. First of all, the waitress was fantastic and was doing great while having to serve the whole restaurant. She did however fill my coffee cup with normal coffee and decaf like I had previously said and ordered. But her personality made up for the small mistake. The food was great, just nothing out of this world. But definitely some good breakfast. The portions are very big! I left extremely happy and stuffed! read more

My wife and I live in Ames but had occasion, on two consecutive Thursdays, to be in Boone in the morning for meetings, so we ate breakfast here both times. I enjoyed this place a lot. On our first visit I had scrambled eggs and American fries, and on the second I had eggs, chicken fried steak and hash browns. The chicken fried steak on the second breakfast was excellent, even better than at Texas Road House. The steak comes with sausage gravy, which I ordered on the side, and it was perhaps the best I've ever had-- clearly homemade, with bits of sausage in it, and very tasty. I usually don't eat much gravy with chicken fried steak but this was so good that I had more than usual. The scrambled eggs both times were nicely made, as were the potatoes; if I had to choose, I'd say the American fries were my favorite, but they were both very good. The coffee was pretty good, too. My wife ordered the cinnamon roll french toast on the first visit but was disappointed that they had run out of cinnamon rolls. Forewarned is forearmed, so she called the day before our second visit to ask the restaurant to put aside a roll for her, which they did. She thought the cinnamon roll french toast was excellent. Service was excellent on both occasions. I also liked the atmosphere of the restaurant-- your typical small-town diner, with local residents sitting at the counter talking politics and the like. The only potential drawback I noticed was that there weren't a lot of tables available, maybe only four or five, so unless you want to sit at a counter you may encounter trouble getting seated. We ate at around 7 am both times, and had no difficulty getting seated. All told, I think that this place is good enough that it is worth a trip from Ames even if we don't have to be in Boone. read more

Always love my breakfasts here. Good place to sit and listen to farm talk from the regulars. Coffee is weak but you'll love this if you love a greasy spoon. read more