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    Whistle Stop Cafe

    4.3 (278 reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 2:00 pm
    Updated a few days ago

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    WHISTLE STOP CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Whistle Stop Cafe

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    A good cup of coffee
    Matthew M.

    On my never ending quest for the perfect country fried steak, I ended up here in fox Lake. I was too hungry to take a picture of the food when it came out, but over all 9/10 for the whole experience here. I ordered crispy hash browns and they were crispy! The country fried steak was nearly perfect. Topped off with a scoop of country gravy and an abnormally large chunk of sausage in it. I appreciate that. I sat at the bar and Brittany never let me see that bottom of my coffee cup. Well done!

    Churro Waffle
    Emily J.

    We love this place for the people alone! Kiki, Luka, Tony, Christina - the whole crew is AMAZING! They make it feel like home. Love the mismatched mugs from all over and random train decor. The menu is huge and has something for everybody. They also have great pies and milkshakes.

    Way north diner!
    Michael R.

    Wonderful diner experience. Great service and delicious food. We'll be back. Recommend the corned beef hash and tuna melt.

    Sausage links and potato pancakes, applesauce on the side
    Cassady H.

    This will be a quick one. With cute and on theme decor, friendly and helpful staff, and food that's better than most places nearby, this is a must-try for breakfast. I had potato pancakes with a side of sausage links. Personally, I'd like my potato pancakes to be a bit more potato heavy but the sausage was spot on if just a little pricey. We only waited for about 15 minutes to be seated which isn't bad at all for peak breakfast hours on a Saturday and the food came out in a very reasonable amount of time. My friends enjoyed their meals as well and we all cleaned our plates. Definitely a quality meal.

    January 2025 Menu

    Late (snowy) Sunday morning in January. Door to seated - fast Seated to beverages - really fast Seated to ordered - perfect for people new to the menu Order to food - ok. Came shortly after getting antsy but believe it was well within an acceptable/ average time for items ordered at a diner. Hostess was peppy, cashier friendly; waitress efficient, pleasant; and bus boy (man) pleasant , efficient, patient. Tuna Melt w/tots - albacore, perfect for me Healthy Skillet w/toast - no complaints Sides: 2 scrambled eggs - standard and appreciated Corned beef hash (ordered crispy) - good but not crispy enough Cup of coffee (usual diner caliber) and two very large glasses of water $42 rounded, pre tip

    Gyro Plate (4/5)
    Randi M.

    We stopped in on a week night for dinner. The restaurant has a great train theme and decor. The staff were very friendly and helpful with suggestions for the very large menu. I went with the gyro sandwich with tater tots. It was good and a lot of food! The meat was lightly grilled and the pita was warm. The sandwich was served with a generous amount of fresh onion and sliced tomatoes with a pickle spear on the side. The tzatziki was great too, creamy and flavorful. The tater tots were hot with a crispy exterior and tender interior. We'll likely stop by again as their breakfast menu has lots of exciting options.

    Seating is full

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    1 year ago

    Great place. Been here solo and with various size groups. Food always good quality and portions.

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    Andy H.

    Thanks Alex!

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    2 years ago

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    Andy H.

    Thank you, Allie! Happy to hear you enjoyed the French Toast!

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    3 years ago

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    Andy H.

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    3 years ago

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    Andy H.

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    2 years ago

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    Andy H.

    Thanks Laura! Appreciate the kind words.

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    3 years ago

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    Andy H.

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    3 years ago

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    Andy H.

    Thanks for stopping in Lou! Hope to see you again!

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    2 years ago

    Always busy but the staff is friendly, service is fast, and the food is great! I got the eggs Benedict and it was perfect!

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    Andy H.

    You're awesome, Katie! Thanks for taking time to leave us a review.

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    3 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    Andy H.

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    Andy H.

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    3 years ago

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    Andy H.

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    3 years ago

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    Andy H.

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    2 years ago

    Great food , great service . Very friendly and welcoming overall. The Blueberry stuffed French toast is to die for.

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    Andy H.

    Thank you, Maria! We're happy you enjoyed the Stuffed French Toast!

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    3 years ago

    Menu was revamped and tastes delicious! Service is quick even when restaurant is packed. Too many options to choose from!

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    Andy H.

    Thank you, Debbie!

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    2 years ago

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    Andy H.

    Thank you, Brayleigh! We're glad you stopped by!

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    4 years ago

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    Andy H.

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    3 years ago

    Amazing food and service! Make sure to try the eggs Benedict with fried green tomatoes

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    Andy H.

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    3 years ago

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    Andy H.

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    3 years ago

    Consistently fantastic food in enormous portions. I've only been here for breakfast but I'm sure the rest of the menu is great too

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    Andy H.

    Thank you for your review Naomi!

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    Andy H.

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    3 years ago

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    Andy H.

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    3 years ago

    Great food and good service. Has a great variety of breakfast and lunch choices. I have enjoyed every meal I've eaten there.

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    Andy H.

    Thank you, Tim!

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    3 years ago

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    Andy H.

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    3 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    Andy H.

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    5 years ago

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    Page 2 of 7

    Ask the Community - Whistle Stop Cafe

    You might also consider

    Franks Diner

    Franks Diner

    4.2
    (669 reviews)
    22.6 mi
    $$

    This place is an absolute gem and worth burning a little gas to get to. The food was outstanding…read moreand the staff somehow managed to be both wildly efficient and genuinely warm, like they actually enjoy being there. I ordered the half garbage plate with sausage and bacon. Pro tip: ask the difference between the half and the whole before you commit. The half comes with three eggs. The whole comes with five. Five. I chose wisely. Oh and don't forget the homemade bread smothered in butter! It's clearly a neighborhood staple. People were greeting each other by name, swapping stories across tables, and operating like they've been meeting there every Saturday since 1974. Thankfully, they extend that same friendliness to random out-of-towners who just wandered in hungry. The vibe is energetic and communal, the kind of place where conversations overlap and nobody seems to mind. It has a modern, eclectic feel, but there's also a subtle time-machine quality to it. Like you stepped into the 1960s, just with better coffee and fewer ashtrays. Perfect blend of nostalgic and now.

    This place is super cute because it was an old train car made into a diner. There is so much eye…read morecandy around with funny signs. If you're a snobby person or someone with tons of food allergies don't come here. They are irrelevant in a very good way. I would stick to the basics here. My friend got the cheeseburger with fries and it was perfect. They have fresh meat, no frozen patties. I got the half order of biscuits and gravy with 2 eggs and it was perfect diner style food. The portions are huge so a half order was way more than enough. My friend had the roast beef omelette and I wouldn't recommend it because the beef was in chunks and was full of gristle. However, everything else was terrific. I didn't have the garbage plate because the portion was huge but it's on my list for next time. Maybe I'll split it with someone because you need to come hungry. Prices are very reasonable but it's cash only.

    Photos
    Cool decor
    Cool decor
    Garbage plate
    Garbage plate
    Interior

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    Interior
    Red School Cafe

    Red School Cafe

    4.2
    (109 reviews)
    10.7 mi
    $$

    I've drive by this old schoolhouse a million times, but never stopped in until today. I really…read moreenjoyed my first breakfast at Red School Cafe! There's lots of parking in the gravel lot; several cute planters ring the entrance and outdoor patio. The cafe has several counter seats and maybe 10 tables indoors (there's also a covered outdoor patio with additional seating in warmer months). This is a first-come-first-serve sort of place; when you come in, you wait in line until a table or counter seat opens up. All of the waitstaff was cheerful and helpful and came around with fresh coffee a few times. I had a veggie omelet with a berry cup and sourdough toast. The veggies were cooked nicely with just the right amount of browning and flavor. There were a lot of interesting specials (country meatloaf with eggs and potatoes, for example) and the coffee and ice team were super fresh. We'll be back!

    Not sure that I have much to add being that I only stopped by in a desperate search for coffee…read more If this cafe isn't the epitome of small town life, I don't know what is. Legitimately a converted schoolhouse, you get the feel of that as all. As you walk in to the dining room. There is a nice covered porch area for outdoor seating. The waitress was kind and quickly grabbed me a coffee to go. For a diner coffee, I was actually impressed by the palatability and overall just grateful to get some caffeine in me!

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    Red School Cafe
    Veggie omelet with sourdough toast and berry cup.
    Veggie omelet with sourdough toast and berry cup.
    Red School Cafe

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    Whistle Stop Cafe - breakfast_brunch - Updated July 2026

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