I been enjoying this restaurant for decades. It's old school real small town cafe. This visit I had biscuits and gravy, it came with two pork sausage patties too! Wow! Just right. If you want to experience a small town cafe with great food that the locals frequent, stop on in here. Good food, great prices, an atmosphere you will not get at a franchise. read more

We arrived with the lunch rush on the first Friday after the start of Lent. Like most everyone else, we were there for the All You Can Eat fish fry. The two of us opted for the grandest option of All You Can Eat, which included a choice of potato, shrimp, and the salad bar. The salad bar area is small and rather crammed to the side of a back dining room, but it absolutely delighted me. There were rolls and butter pats, and a whole array of salads that felt like the same mix you'd find at a great Midwest potluck. I sampled several, but I absolutely LOVED the broccoli bacon salad and the Snickers salad! My husband opted for the simple lettuce salad with croutons. Service was consistently slow during our visit, just as a matter of timing--they looked short-staffed during the lunch rush, and the workers were being run off their feet! They were moving nonstop. I had broiled fish with shrimp and a baked potato. Perfectly cooked, flavorful fish. I loved the breading on the shrimp. I had butter and sour cream along with my potato. I didn't get seconds. My husband had the standard fried fish, shrimp, and fries, and really enjoyed them, and he did request a few more pieces of fish. They came out, piping hot. I want to come back here sometime and try the pie! read more

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Have been going here for years for breakfast. Classic Mom and Pop type cafe; can't beat the meal for the price. Service is always good. If you love pancakes, you need to stop here! read more

The owner treated me with complete disregard. as an autistic individual I don't like ice in my soda. I asked for no ice the manager refused i kindly asked because i have sensitive teeth i asked the owner to please get me a different soda with no ice she refused to get me a different soda she told me that it cost her money to change my soda the peacon pie resulted vomiting immediately after my first bite it was the absolute worst experience please boycott the restaurant on top of this handed me a glass and spoon to remove ice myself read more

We love this place for breakfast ! Trucker special is the best with country fried steak. Fast service and friendly! Highly recommend!!!

My family of 6 adults ate lunch at the Whistle Stop on Saturday. It was delightful! Kari was helpful and accommodating in so many ways. When we arrived, she welcomed us as if we were part of her family! She immediately prepared a table large enough to make us comfortable. We have several food sensitivities and allergies in the group and Kari asked the right questions to make sure that the food was prepared for our needs and made us feel welcome even though our order was more complicated. The food was amazing! We recommend the giant plate-sized pancakes, the Denver omelet and the Everything Under the Spuds. The prices were reasonable and the service was outstanding! We will be back!! read more

Whistle Stop - Best pancakes ever! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Frontenac, Minnesota

Just a local place with Delicious food and the most friendly people, say hello to Kari.

Great small town cafe. Unfortunately cafes like these seem to be on the way out. Great food, cheese curds were fresh. My other half got the daily steak and eggs special. Steak was done well and flavorful. I had the burger and it was good. I will be back next time I'm in the area. read more

I finally stopped to give this place a try. I have driven past this café hundreds or even thousands of times. Yesterday I took the chance and stopped. The place is a venture back in time. Very nice and clean. I decided to sit next to the window so I could soak up the rays of a wintery sunny day that has been rare this winter. It also had a great view of the railroad tracks...hence the name Whistle Stop. Service was very good and my order was served very promptly. I was happy to learn that breakfast was served all day. I arrived during the lunch period but nothing tastes better than a good breakfast. I order the ham and cheese omelet with extra crispy hash browns. The breakfast had great presentation and the price vs value was right on! Under $10 bucks for all this food. The ham was a little sparse but otherwise it had plenty of cheese. I would rate it about a 3 and half stars, just falling short. I would certainly stop again, besides it has a railroad theme, how bad could it be? read more

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Delicious food and great atmosphere, would definitely recommend for friends and family and the service is wonderfully!

They take cash only! Walk in and grab a seat whereever and they will come to you. We were camping out here in frontenac and made it a plan to eat here for morning breakfast on our last day. Its little old hole in the wall joint nothing fancy. With the pandemic they have a tent outside so you don't have to eat inside which is nice. The prices were reasonable and you get a lot of food and will not leave hungry that's for sure! Our server was nice and attentive even with it being kind of busy. I got the trucker special with the chicken fried steak and I definitely will be back for that again. I also saw a lady at another table get the everything omelette and that's on my list to get later too! read more

I'm giving this five stars because I've been coming to the Whistle Stop since I was a kid. It's more than a cafe at this point, it's a personal relic to many great stories told. This place is the opposite of fancy--it's filled with regulars, most dressed in camouflage and worn-in working clothes. Don't be afraid of tracking in mud. The waitress recognizes you and asks, "Do you want the usual?". It's got tchotchkes everywhere and a candy bowl up front (always grab an extra strawberry candy since they're so hard to come by). It's a put-your-phone-away-and-relax kind of perfect. (I love the Whistle Stop so much I even featured it in my children's book.) The food is basic breakfast goodness (I don't go there after breakfast time since this is usually my morning break from hunting). Two eggs (over-easy), hashbrowns (extra crispy), bacon, kielbasa, and quick grab the strawberry jams before your dad takes them all. read more

Well, I have been past this place way to many times than I care to admit. Not from the area but have been visiting for years. We even saw it on Alton Brown's show feasting on asphalt, much to our surprise. So this time we made sure to stop. WOW, I'm kicking myself for not doing it sooner. It may be small inside and unassuming on the outside but the food is awesome. Husband had the turkey dinner and it was fantastic. Everything is homemade! I just had a burger and the chili and yes the chili was homemade as well. Friendly server and knowledgeable when we asked about the area. So if your in the area stop in!!! Don't let the outside fool you. Oh and it most definitely won't break the bank. read more

Whistle Stop - the outside of a motel - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Frontenac, Minnesota

Delicious fresh made food with breakfast specials! They've been here for many many years and it's a local favorite. Very quaint but it beats all other local options. Indian tacos on Tuesdays in a super authentic way. Highly recommend! read more

Whistle Stop - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Frontenac, Minnesota

We got the chicken melt and the BLT! So delicious! Simple, but everything you wanted. read more

Whistle Stop - two plates of food on a table - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Frontenac, Minnesota

Good breakfast sandwich, extra star for coming through on a pit stop emergency while I was driving down 63.

Definitely feels like a step back in time which is what makes it super cool. Food was good and prices are very reasonable. Many reviews said you had to pay with cash so that is what we did. We were there right at lunchtime. Took awhile for our food but it seems like a limited wait staff. They were working hard and very pleasant. I would just not go if you are in a hurry. My friend and I both said we would return. There was a sign for Indian Taco Tuesday. We are very intrigued. My friends fish was actually cold when it arrived to our table. She did not want to say anything so she just ate it. Everything else was hot so I am not sure what happened with the fish. read more

Had breakast a few days ago. Nice wholesome homecooked hearty meal. Servers were great. Love the coffee shop, diner vibe.

A long time ago my racer friends and I hung out here. The guy who mostly tolerated us working on our bikes in his shop is located nearby and we'd all hit the Whistle Stop (it's located by a set of train tracks) at all hours, eating there morning noon and night on busy days. Back then, we didn't call it "The Whistle Stop". It was, for no apparent reason, "The Whistle F*cker". It was a term of endearment. Let's be clear: This is an old truck stop, with peeling siding and a small grill. Friendly staff and free newspapers on the counter. Don't bring anyone here to impress them, you won't. Good solid Midwestern food. read more

Love this place! Breakfast is served all day and the pancakes are enormous- full plate sized! I've had both breakfast and lunch and have always been very pleased with the food and service. Also very cheap! Breakfast for 2 was less than $20 with tip! Definitely a local place where all the "regulars" come for lunch. With that being said, it's usually pretty slammed between 12-1 pm and the restaurant is not very big so you may not get a spot. Never see too many cars there during non-peak times though! read more

Small town cafe. Hearty large portions. Breakfast for 2 for $18. This place is small and filled with locals. Pancakes were size of a full size plate. read more

Whistle Stop - Eat here! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Frontenac, Minnesota

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Rude staff. Last time I visited was the worse experience ever, it was fish Friday (all you can eat) server took my order and after my fish arrived she never bother to come back so when I ask to please bring more fish she said with sarcasm "more fish?" And rolled her eyes. Made me feel very uncomfortable like I had no right to order anymore fish or something... read more

Could not have asked for a more delicious breakfast...just like mom would have made it! (Definitely could taste the love!) Thanks to my husband for finding this "off the beaten path" cafe for our mid-day pitstop while traveling between Hibbing and Hudson. Warm welcome, great service and fantastic food. We had breakfast this time but are looking forward to stopping for lunch the next time we are in the area. Oh, and don't leave without a piece of homemade pie! Thanks Whistle Stop staff read more

Stopped in today, Good Friday, looking for a non-meat lunch. I had a grilled cheese with tomato that was very good. My husband ordered the fish fry, which was nore food then he bargained for = huge salad bar + all you can eat fish which was very good. Our server was delightfull. The place was jammed. Felt like I was amoung locals, everyone very nice. read more

Best place to go for breakfast lunch very small town atmosphere. The prices are so reasonable you get more than you need for food.

We had a great breakfast at the Whistle Stop with hot out of the oven cinnamon rolls, huge portions, and great service! Thanks for an enjoyable meal! read more

This place is a no-nonsense coffee shop kinda place with hot coffee and good food! Every time the door opens the whole place tends to turn around and say hi since most people know each other here. Pancakes are the size of a plate and the omelets are large and in charge. Don't expect white tablecloths and candlelight, just good food fast. Check it out if you're on the drive along the river and find yourself hungry!! read more

To take from someone else: Good hearty midwestern food. This is real breakfast. I came here as a fun stop, because I loved "Fried Green Tomatoes." Got 3 pancakes (they are HUGE), 2 eggs, 2 pieces of toast, 2 sausages, an orange juice and some tea all for $12. Busy on Sunday morning when I went. Small quaint place. Reminds me of my family up north and the local place where all the farmers have coffee then leave to get back to work. Very good! read more

Not sure a small town cafe gets better than this! We had lunch one day...breakfast the next..both times nice straightforward service, good food, and pretty reasonable prices with pretty big portions! Breakfast was very good and the thick crispy bacon and juicy pork sausage was delish....but they serve an old-fashioned pork "commercial" (hot pork sandwich?) that harkens back to growing up eating at places like this. Big mound of mashed potatoes, white bread, and roasted pork covered with gravy. If that's your thing (and it probably shouldn't be too often) it just isn't done any better! read more

We had excellent food and great service at the Whistle Stop. Loved the biscuits and gravy!

Best fries I've had in a long and a sinfully delicious patty melt! Looks a little sketchy from the outside but just a good neighborhood spot with good food. read more

I love the Whistle Stop! A classic road side diner. Don't expect pumpkin spiced lattes. But you'll get a great hearty breakfast, hot coffee, a feeling that you've stepped back in time. read more

We had the steak burger special, came with a salad mash potatoes and gravy, cooked carrots, the salad was a joke, wilted lettuce a few days past it's prime, only lettuce nothing else in the salad, overcooked burger, canned carrots , time to call it quits on the whistle stop cafe read more

I can truthfully say that The Whistle Stop use to be the best small town restaurant. I use to go there alot when i was younger. This last year i desided to work there i figured out how everything is made. i have to say somethings are really good but others i wouldnt dare to eat. Dont eat the specal of the day mostly because half the time the manger likes to keep the leftovers from the week before and add them to the week after. My old co-workers wont even dare to eat it. i remember when my grandparents owned it a few years back the food was fresh everyday. Ever since Carol became manager/owned the place when to HELL!!!!!!!!!! There is mold in the dish room there is mold behind the grill and deep frier from all the grease. If you ask me the place is gross and should get shut down!!!!! read more

Great little cafe with that small town feel. Breakfast served all day. Had the truckers special, eggs, hash browns, chicken fried steak and gravy. Hearty meal for sure!! Service was friendly. Will stop again. Want to try the pie!! read more

Don't expect a cheerful hello or even a smile, because your not going to get it here. What you will get is fast service and always a full cup of coffee. First the pancakes are great and huge, so be prepared if you order more than one. The omelet are OK. If you are not a fan of processed American cheese slices order your omelets with out cheese. I can't speak for the hash-browns but, the friend I was with orders then all the time and she is the pickiest eater. As for the cost, the prices are great. Over all, I would go again but I wouldn't go out of my way. read more

My friends and I stopped here on our way through town. It's a small dirty little place. The food was decent. It's that kind of place where you are afraid to eat the food but you do anyways. read more

We are regulars.. We drive 50 miles to eat there.. Yes the food is that good .. It is an old place in yet an older town..In over 15 years I have yet to get even indigestion much less food poisoning..Everyone is friendly, the coffee is great and so is the service.. If you want a 5 star restaurant try Manny's in MPLS.. The food here is as good and costs far less read more

A great local place that makes you feel like you are at grandma's unless your grandma is uber wealthy snob who thinks appearance is more important than quality. The place is not fancy or large but the food is excellent. It is in a very small unincorporated town of Frontenac on Lake Pepin. If you like snobbish big city places that charge a fortune for food you never heard of before then you are definitely at the wrong place. If you like good home cooking the way grandma made it then this is your place. The servings are excellent and the price is fair. read more

Very nice mom and pop cafe. Very nice sized portions for a good price! The place was very busy with locals and nearby golfers. Waitress was very nice and busy since a large group came in unannounced. Despite the many people, service was good and food was very nice. Definitely a place to come again to. read more