It was a 40 minute drive for us to get to the Whistle Stop Cafe in Deep River. I'm glad we made the drive! The place was inviting & the food was good. The restaurant is a very small (seating for 12 at tables + 4 at the counter inside; more seating outside) cozy, local place that opened in 1938. Good thing we went early & didn't have a wait. Each table has old trivial pursuit cards to pass the time while you wait for food. Servers/owner were really nice. I had an herbal tea (Prunella) which addresses a lot of my medical issues. Too bad they ran out of it, and I couldn't get a refill. My husband had coffee which he said was good. We both had breakfast sandwiches which were really good. Got an order of the corned beef hash which was homemade BUT lacked corned beef. 95% potatoes. It's quite a drive for me, but if you live closer - check it out. Note: no credit cards. They accept cash, check or Venmo. read more

Whistle Stop Cafe - Breakfast sandwich & corned beef hash - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Deep River, Connecticut

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A top rate breakfast place. Excellent Benedict and marmalade. Fair prices good service. This place is tiny. They do have outdoor seating but not sure what they do when it's cold or precipitating. As a southern boy at heart I wish they had biscuits and gravy. They also have a host of healing teas written up on chalkboards. It fun to look for the misspells. Check them out read more

Whistle Stop Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Deep River, Connecticut

Great quirky cash only breakfast spot!!! Amazing fun and delicious options! If you are a veggie lover like me! Try the garden veggie Benedict so delicious and served on eggplant! My daughter got the cinnamon bun French toast, freshly baked that morning from the local bakery. Everything was fantastic and left with a cup of healing tea! read more

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Hands down the best breakfast I have had in decades. greeted by the owner Maddie who was on the grill, my wife her best friend and i had an amazing nosh here this morning. I ordered the blueberry pancakes, the girls each had Maddie's signature eggs benedict . My pancake was HUGE not a single bite missing blueberry, the bacon ?cooked to perfection. as were the home fries. The eggs were brilliant and the hollandaise sauce was absolute silk. Coffee was excellent. My wife went with one of the Stops "Home Made" Lemonades and i stole a sip, this stuff should be bottled. Great breakfast, warm and inviting service. I wish I could give it ten stars. read more

Whistle Stop Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Deep River, Connecticut

How sweet is it to find a cafe in Connecticut with amazing vegan options? I ordered the spicy tofu scramble and it was to die for!! I finished it completely. I could eat it every single day. Norma and Maddie are very friendly. They have almond milk as a dairy alternative too!! The bread is from a local bakery so it's pretty delicious. Plenty of street parking. Super cute area in Deep River. Makes you feel at home. Highly recommend! read more

Whistle Stop Cafe - Vegan Spicy Tofu Scramble - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Deep River, Connecticut

Stopped in for a bite to eat after attending the farmer's market in the next town over. I had arrived just as they were beginning to serve lunch options; however, breakfast is available all day. The place is small with some seating inside and options for outdoor seating in front or on the back patio. The cafe does not accept credit cards, so bring cash, check, or use Venmo. The cafe is clearly known for their breakfast as the options and variety were plentiful. They also offered many different varieties of herbal/healing teas. I opted for an entree off the lunch menu, the french quarter sandwich which consisted of a chicken cutlet, fire roasted red peppers, baby spinach, and remoulade. It comes served with your choice of side (side salad, chips, home fries, or a cup of soup). My friends stuck with breakfast ordering the Madeline eggs benedict with loaded home fries. My sandwich was tasty, but after having a taste of my friend's dish, next time I'll be ordering breakfast! If you are in the area, absolutely check this place out! read more

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Here we are, Whistle Stop Cafe, in the middle of Green Fried Tomatoes (fyi, no bbq). Delicious food including my Mediterranean vegan tofu scramble, was heaven, adding an everything bagel and vegan butter, homemade orange marmalade and raspberry jams. Yum. Lovely staff. Heavenly. Since 1934, highly recommended. read more

Stopped in while waiting for a Essex steam train adventure. Server was very nice, made some good recommendations and was working like a dog. They were short staff and he tried to make sure everyone was accommodated and you can tell it was a local place that a lot of people knew about. People were non-stop walking in. I would totally recommend this place, I got the Austin a little heavy but delicious and he recommended the stuff banana French toast which was also delicious but I only had a few bites bc I was full from the Austin! Unique place and I loved the signs on the wall! read more

We have been going here for more than 20 years. It is charming and the staff is friendly. The last time here we were disappointed by lax service (like bring the setups before you bring the food not 10 minutes later). The hash had almost no meat. The Hague omelette was good but very little salmon. Breakfast for two with one cup of tea was $40 including tip so you are paying for ambiance more than the quality of the food. Sad that it has fallen. read more

Literally just searched for breakfast nearby on our way to Hartford and picked this place. Luckiest day ever. The food was great! Beyond great!! The amazing young lady whose family has run the business for years (see attached history) was hopping in the kitchen, but her attitude and the way she spoke to her employees was always positive, kind and funny. I've been on a special diet from a surgery and I had my first solid food in 9 weeks here - a simply scrambled egg with her HOMEMADE garlic and herb cheese - fantastic. This place is a little jewel - find it and experience it. Well worth a little side trip to an amazing place for breakfast. read more

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SMALL BUT MIGHTY!! What a wonderful hidden gem! Everyone was so kind, they treat you like family and the food is delicious. We tried the salmon eggs Benedict and the loaded home fries. They were the best I've ever had! Nice and crispy edges and plenty of bang for your buck. We came during the parade and they set chairs up outside and we were able to watch until our food was prepared. It was such a great experience and we can't wait to come back! I'm looking forward to trying the banana stuffed French toast! read more

Whistle Stop Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Deep River, Connecticut

This was a cute cafe. There is plenty of parking in front, across the street, and down the street. There is some seating inside and some tables outside. Hedy was very friendly and spoke with us for a bit. There was an older gentleman working too. They were both helpful and pleasant. It got more crowded as we enjoyed our meal. They have a variety of teas to choose from. We had the Chrysanthemum Tea and strawberry current iced tea. The Chrysanthemum Tea was really good and we purchased 2 packages to take home to brew ourselves. Hedy said she purchased it from China. The strawberry current wasn't too sweet and refreshing. The menu has French toast, Eggs Benedict, pancakes, omelets, sandwiches, bagels, and platters. Plenty of choices for everyone! We shared a slice of the French Toast-Albert's White Bread dipped in our Vanilla Nutmeg French Toast mix. All Eggs Benedicts are served with Poached Eggs and Hollandaise and come with Homefries on the side. I had the Madeline-English muffin with Honey Ham, Crispy Fried Brie, and Sliced Tomato and my husband had the Austin-English muffin with Corned Beef Hash, Spicy Red Hot Sausage, Green Bell Peppers, Fire Roasted Red Peppers. We thought it was a little salty, but it overall tasted great. The homefries portion was a little small, but the Eggs Benedict was a good size. I recommend stopping here if you are in town. We came here before going to Gillette Castle State Park. read more

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Tiny little roadside restaurant. Six tables and a diner bar top. Apparently this is a historic, family owned, and operated establishment. We met Maddie, who is the current owner and the granddaughter of the original owners. Very friendly, great service, fantastic food. Close quarters, cozy, no frills, yummmmmyyyy! read more

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We did eat both in doors & out ; really a special place ; if you can don't hit the rush ! Yummy eEVERY time

So glad we stumbled upon this place! It was busy, so we sat outside, but we were well taken care of. The owner (I'm assuming) was around to fill our coffees constantly, as well as to provide tons of history about the surrounding area! Our food was great, and the perfect amount to get filled up but not stuffed. The place doesn't take cards, but does take venmo, so that's something to keep in mind, but definitely make the trip and have a nice breakfast by the river, if you're in the area! read more

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This place seems to be the only breakfast place that is in the entire town (judging by the number of people coming there). I was not familiar with the area and the Yelp reviews let me here while we were on a day trip exploring this part of the state, on the way towards Gillette castle. It's a small place with a few tables indoor and 2-3 tables on the back. There's no reservation system. We got seated right away. But I have seen others coming after us taking 15-20 minutes to get seated. The employees were friendly and took our order right away. It took almost a good 45 minutes (if not more) for the food to arrive. We think they cook almost everything from scratch and they have only a limited space to cook so one can expect to have a little bit of wait time. We liked the breakfast and tea/coffees. Pictures are of my vegan tofu scramble and home fries and almond milk tea. Note: I loved reading about the history of this place. read more

Whistle Stop Cafe - Tofu scramble with Home Fries - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Deep River, Connecticut

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This place is such a gem! We visited from NJ and it was so worth the drive. The hospitality starts when you immediately walk in the door. The warmth we felt cannot be described. What these 2 sisters have in there is something special. The food was amazing! The chef just knows what pairs well with each other. I can't wait to get back and try the rest of the menu. I am vegan and my boyfriend is not. We had a complete menu for both of us. An absolute must try! read more

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Favorite diner-style breakfast joint we've been to in the entire area. The food is always amazing. They have an extensive eggs Benedict selection that I cannot recommend enough. I've had the Rustler and the Neptune eggs bennies and both are incredible. I'm particularly partial to the old bay seasoned home fries that come on the side. So good! My husband has had the Madeline and, after sneaking a bite, I can confirm that one is delicious, as well. The pancakes and French toast are also noteworthy! My husband loves that when he orders their famous iced coffee, the ice cubes are also coffee so it never waters down. Cannot wait to sample more of the menu. Service is always attentive, fast, and friendly. Maddie is the absolute best - she's been so helpful with us bringing our 18m old son. She always gets his order out fast and brings the check for us right when we get our food in case things go south with the baby's mood, as does happen with toddlers. She even brought him a coloring book, crayons, and a bucket of chalk for the sidewalk next to their outdoor seating area. So incredibly sweet and thoughtful! They are cash-only, but do accept Venmo, which is super convenient. We actually visited Whistle Stop today and as we were eating breakfast, decided it was going to be our Sunday tradition. It means a lot to us to support a local, family-owned business with such a rich history. Cheers to many more visits, Whistle Stop! Can't wait to bring our family and friends here. read more

Great service, great breakfast dishes, unique ambience (outside). Communal picnic tables are catalysts for making new friends. Wonderful experience! read more

Stopped in for the first time today and it was amazing. The place is small, but that's what makes the place so charming. The service and food is excellent. We fell in love and can't wait to go back. read more

We have been visiting the Whistle Stop for years. It's an amazing family run restaurant in Deep River. At first glance you may assume that this is just a small town, hole in the wall. Do not drive by. Park your car and enjoy a well prepared breakfast or lunch. If you don't have time to stop, call your order in and grab it curbside. While the restaurant has been cash only, they are now accepting Venmo. All the convenience of drive through, only healthier, tastier and more filling! There is big taste being served from this small restaurant. Even the standards here are amazing, but the specials is where it's at. Do yourself a favor and try one! Hedy, the owner and chef, cooks from her heart & soul and it shows in her dishes. The ingredients here are as unique as the recipes. One of my favorites to this day, has been the Gluten Free Benny. Served without the extra carbs from the English Muffin. I can only describe this dish as savory yumminess! With all of it's tender sautéed veggies at the base, to the beautiful poached egg and incredible Hollandaise Sauce, it is one of my top 5 favorite breakfasts. Like any small businesses, there have been a few small hiccups along the way. When I took my dad here pre-Covid, he had ordered the corned beef hash. He was disappointed in the portion and lack of meat. He had said that the flavor was amazing. He just wished that there had been more. We've also been served meals with missing items. They are happy to get them for you, just speak up. They have also run out of ingredients on a couple of our visits. Get here as early as you can to guarantee a full menu. Recently, Hedy has been posting call ahead meals to Facebook. Her English style Pot Pies have been a favorite. Follow their Facebook page for menu updates and specials. read more

Whistle Stop Cafe - Gluten Free Benny to die for! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Deep River, Connecticut

Wonderfully homespun, family-owned spot for generations. Actually when I was looking to buy in Deep River it was the first things my Dad brought up... "Deep River...there's a great breakfast place I took your mom to once, years ago...." :-) I have since moved away but think very fondly on all past Whistle Stop experiences and expect more in the future! read more

This place is absolutely outstanding. I can't say enough about it. Service, food, atmosphere. This is a must stop at least once!

Randomly stopped here after a night away. Great hole in the wall place with good food. Small but cozy, and everyone working there were friendly. read more

This place is the epitome of what I like to discover through Yelp reviews. Simple, friendly, great views, great unique food, a local favorite. The restaurant is very small inside, but a greeting is called out upon entering with a genuineness that lets you know these people like what they do and are happy to see you. We came by on a weekend after staying at the casino for a concert on our way home. Our waitress was lovely, so nice, so friendly, all smiles, with great recommendations on drinks that were freshly brewed. We both tried some of their homemade iced teas and they were refreshing. My cinnamon roll French toast was fanfreakingtastic, my husbands French toast was great too. The little Brook view while seated at picnic tables next to the water is soothing and exactly what we needed for recovery after being bombarded with the lights & sounds of the casino. A+ would recommend. read more

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Ok here we go...once again I'm in the area, passed by on several occasions & decided to stop for a bite. I was greeted with a warm hello & good morning from the cook and Waiter. It's that small-quaint LITTLE dinerwith maybe seating for 14 guests at the max @ full capacity. The decor is promoted healthy teas and there were a abundant amount of yeas and I asked for a menu-somewhat limited. No worries. I ordered the Sage omelet which included homefries and toast: I opted for the cranberry toast with butter which was on the dry side, even slathered with butter. Sage sausage, which I had to send out a search warrent to find some little nuggets. But the tad bit I tasted was good. The rest of the Omelet contained roasted red peppers; they opened a jar or can of the peppers and julienne them WAY too big, it would have been better if they would have diced them!!! Also canned sun-dried tomatoes, which needed to be reconstituted a bit more; they were burnt..do sad. Ok, there's a difference between charred on burnt and they were for sure burnt which left a horrible taste on my palate, which I could not get pass as well as the fried onions. This is the first Omelet I've had which the eggs were an afterthought. The mozz cheese was lacking cheese which I could barely taste...oh Boy! There was way too much of the ingredients (way too much roasted red peppers, burnt sun-dried tomatoes) not enough Sage sausage which should have been the STAR of the show, but M.I.A. Oh wait, there were the home fires which were seasoned well except for the overwhelming Spanish Paprika-which was a bit charred. If they would just turn down the flat top about 25 degrees it will make a huge difference!!! Listen, it's an art to preparing Omelets on the grill-after you saute you ingredients, you pour your Omelet mixture on the grill, square off the eggs, add cheese and the other ingredients and fold it in half-BASIC. The owner/cook Katherine, seemed apologetic but my server was sincere about it and gave me a discount and offered a substitute (which I humbly refused). I'm not sure if I may return, probably just for some of the speciality teas. Thank you, my server for being kind to me. Chef Gee Oh ok- I rate this establishment a 1.25 out of 5 stats. read more

Small but very good restaurant. The food is fantastic with many options that are unique and fun. Little wait time and very good coffee. Owner is extremely nice and totally worth going. read more

Food was amazing, service was fast and friendly! A small place with a big heart, this cozy cafe is the best choice for a relaxed Sunday morning brunch. I got the traditional eggs Benedict with honey ham and my boyfriend got the southern discomfort omelet, the food was flavorful and left us full! We will definitely be coming back for more! read more

Cool little place a little off the highway via route 9. Sat outside on a beautiful morning and had a coffee and their steak omelet. The waitress was cheery and helpful. The cranberry & walnut toast was something I've never had before, but would get again. There isn't a whole lot of seating here, so you would want to get there early or at an off time perhaps. I would return if in the area again. read more

Whistle Stop Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Deep River, Connecticut

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Went for breakfast and ordered PB&J French Toast, loaded home fries and scrambled eggs with bacon and two iced coffees for a reasonable $35 not including tip. Food was tasty but home fries portion was small and french toast was tasty but a little pricey for one piece. Server was extremely friendly and seating outside was enjoyable, especially due to the nice weather. I would have given more stars if the portions were a larger. read more

My girlfriend and I needed a Memorial Day getaway and got a cottage in Deep River. Looked up the reviews for Whistle Stop, and was not disappointed! Amazing breakfast! We had the eggs benedict and stuffed French Toast with their signature iced coffee and sat outside. Food was immaculate. The place is quaint and the owner is a gem of a woman. You will not go wrong with this place for breakfast. Hands down of the best I have had. read more

Sat outside on rear patio, service couldn't be nicer & a huge shoutout to the owner's 2 kids who were serving. They were SO friendly, mature, & accommodating!! Good job Mom! Breakfast was delicious! My husband said he had the best blueberry pancake in his life & I had one of the many "Benny" offerings!! You will not be disappointed at this family establishment!! read more

Whistle Stop Cafe - Great coffee! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Deep River, Connecticut

I've been hearing about this place for over a year. The owner added a couple vegan items to the menu and it caught my attention. I live about 45 minutes away, so my plans to eat at The Whistle Stop always seemed to fall through. In the year or more that I've been meaning to check them out, they've added more vegan options, including a separate vegan breakfast and lunch menu that will be launching shortly. I finally visited a week ago with my father. He said it was still in the same location where it had been some 40 years prior when he lived nearby. We walked in and the place was very busy. Once seated, I checked out the menu and found at least 7 vegan options, not counting the vegan scramble, which they were out of, or the vegan hot chocolate. Yes, vegan hot chocolate! After inquiring about something on the menu, our chill AF server asked if I was vegan, I said yes, and she informed me that the grill is cleaned and wiped down before cooking anything vegan. I ordered the Something Street Tacos (for the love of Gawd, get 'em spicy!) and the eggplant veggie burger with home fries. While waiting, I discovered the vegan hot chocolate and ordered that too. Yeah boy! The tacos were great, perhaps a little light on the quantity of food, but I eat very large amounts of food, so I can't knock the tacos for that. The eggplant burger was great, the peppers, sundried tomatoes, carrots and chickpeas surrounding the burger were pure magic, the homefries are amazing and taste like they can't be vegan, but SURPRISE! they are. There were a few other meals on the menu I can't wait to go back and try. Like some banana and peanut butter sammich or something, I can't remember exactly, but I don't need to know any more. Sounds yumm. One thing to be mindful of, is that they don't take credit cards. I think she said they take cash, check, and something else...Venmo? Bitcoin? I truly don't remember. But there's a bank and ATM two or three blocks away. It's not every day I give non-vegan restaurants 5 stars, but this place is great and the people are awesome, and they're with the times and rockin' it hardcore. read more

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what a hidden gem!! Had breakfast at this funky diner and was blown away! Great food and a really creative menu - it's the kind of place where you are already thinking of what you want on the next trip there - 5 stars! The place is a bit cramped (because it is so popular) but we had a great breakfast on the back deck and still had great service - our server was Maddie the new owner and she was spot on - do not miss the eclectic "diner". This is the kind place you root for! Thanks, Maddie -you have a loyal customer and convert! Blaze read more

Charming spot, but not sure. I like small town cash only vibes but not when it's a bit off. Didn't have the cleanest cups and had floaters in our waters. Highlights were the hash but there was a hair in my Benedict. The joint was very busy and packed so we know it's popular and would love to try it again if in the area again. read more

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Love love loveeee This place would be the reason that I move to Connecticut Had the most interesting conversation with the owner went from martial art to meditation to yoga to Cambodia I would've sat there and carried on another 7 hour conversation and tried everything on the menu if my friends didn't drag me out the door read more

I decided to stop here on my way to Niantic. The place is small. It was very hot that day and they did not have air conditioning. But the food was excellent, and the service was as well. The staff was delightful and attentive and their neighbor Bobby was good company. I would definitely go back again. read more

Its a tiny hole in the wall but they have a really unique menu and it's delicious!!!! Great list of herbal teas for any ailment you may have. The owner is friendly and really knows how to cook. She is retiring soon and passing the bar to her daughter. Can't wait to go back again when they re-open in March. Hubby got the cinnamon bun french toast and he loved it. read more

Whistle Stop Cafe - Angus Eggs benny Steak portabella mushrooms & gorgonzola - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Deep River, Connecticut

Delicious food and specialty ice teas served with personality! Everything fresh, everything quality, everything delicious. A must-go if in the area. read more

Whistle Stop Cafe - Rear veranda by the creek - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Deep River, Connecticut

I loved that the menu had several vegetarian and vegan options. If you are in Essex for the train ride, do take a drive down here to try their brunch and breakfast options. The iced coffee was really good and so was the raspberry lemonade. The staff is very friendly and the sitting area at the back of the restaurant is nice and relaxing. read more