Whistle Stop Cafe

We really like this little place! It’s in an old building onto too far from the square. Whenever we’ve been there it’s been packed, and each time I’ve really enjoyed seeing so many people greet friends and acquaintances that come in. The ladies who work here are friendly and efficient. I’ve had the meatloaf with green beans and the chili. I wasn’t super fond of the meatloaf. It seemed more like a mound of meat sauce as opposed to a slice of meat with some sauce on top. It was alright, just a different style =) The chili? DELICIOUS. It’s so, so good. It wasn’t a chunky chili, but more like you’d find on top of a chili dog… which is how I prefer mine. My husband has had the pork chop and their chicken fried chicken. He enjoyed both of his meals! Prices are decent, especially considering that this is not some commercial chain. The food is on par with what we’d make at home, if that helps. I saw a list of top places to find pie in Texas, and this place was on the list. I haven’t had any pie from here… but someday I will. Oh yes, I will…

Wow! Food excellent service we’ll definitely not what I would expect. Very rude. Very bitchy and hateful. I read the reviews after I ate there but clearly I had the same waitress as Mike L. And yes after being so rude she stood over me waiting to see her tip. For the record I left her a tip anyhow– clearly she needs to buy some manners!

What a nice little café, with great flavorful home cooking, stopped in the way home from Winstar. What delight! The café is very small and cozy it is very tight to seat a large group! Has great daily specials and banana pudding to die for.

Stopped here for lunch with a coworker and we were not disappointed. The place is small and located in an old building within a really great restores motor court. The number of cars and trucks parked outside when we pulled up was promising.
You can sit where you want and menus are located on each table. A chalkboard above the cashier has the daily specials. I ordered a veggie plate with Mac and cheese, fried okra, mashed potatoes, and green beans with ham. It came with a dinner roll. My coworker ordered a chicken salad sandwich with tater tots and a slice of apple pie for dessert. We each ordered tea, and like everywhere in North Texas we were offered sweet or unsweet.
Food came quickly and was delicious! Everything was flavorful and the portions were large. The pie came last and was beautiful looking.
This place was great. I highly recommend it if ever in the area.

Before today I really enjoyed eating here the food is always good and meet colleagues on a regular basis but today the waitress was extremely rude the order was wrong after being rudely asked 3 times what I wanted explained all 3 times still wrong nothing difficult just no tomatoes made the waitress aware her response was just pickem off then was asked how long we would be staying mind you there was 5 open tables we were not taking up space literally as soon as my last bite was chewed she started trying to clear us out then went to other patrons and said rude things about us when warned by other patrons about how she was acting her response was I don’t care I’ve been here forever finally when paying she stood over the cashier in her words I wanna see if I get a tip from those people it was horrible experience such a shame as I really liked that restaurant #rudeassbitch

Had great breakfasts here. Wish they were open on weekends for breakfast.

I was in town on business yesterday and dropped in for breakfast. Really great food and an incredibly welcoming feeling. It seemed like everyone knew each other. They were all so kind and friendly and made me feel right at home. That’s a rare experience when you travel and means so much. I’ll definitely be back next time I’m in town!

A true southern comfort greasy spoon where all the local cops and farmers eat. Don’t be alarmed when the waitresses call you sweetie, sugar and honey they’re not flirting they’re suggesting you try the pie, which is the best in north Texas BTW.

We were traveling through town on our way back to Vegas and stumbled upon this quaint little café off the beaten path and are we so happy we did! They’re famous for their pies & chili so of course we had to check out the chili! It was delish!!! My man got a cheeseburger and fries. They were both outstanding. And let me tell you my man is what you’d call a burger & fry connoisseur! I got their chicken delight salad and it was so tasty I over ate because I didn’t want to waste even one bite! The Mother/​Daughter service team were over the top in making sure everything was perfect. Thank goodness we got there before lunchtime because by the time we left there wasn’t an empty seat in the place… Nothing beats good olé southern hospitality!!!
WE WILL BE BACK FOR SURE…

Off the beeten track the food is good hot country and plenty of it at a reasonable price and check out the dozens of pies made fresh staff is frindly seating is lkmited to around thiry guest so hurry closes at 2pm chicken fried steak is huge and can come with a salad and a side for jnder 8 bjcks and you can cut it with your fork

Wonderful, firendly service and home cooked meals. The staff and restaurant is charming!

Hellooooooooo everybody! Mr. Smidgens here! First I would like to give you a little background about the Whistle Stop location and then I will get into the food and service review. Here we go!
Local Businessman C.F. Boydston purchased this site, a former feed lot in 1927. Recognizing a potential business opportunity offering services to the traveling public, he built a wooden shed and gas station in 1927. Travelers were allowed to build campfires during their overnight stays and by 1931 Boydston added three wooden cabins with garages to the camp complex. The buildings were later faced with rock and more cabins were added in 1935. The original wooden gas station was covered with petrified wood in 1935 when the highway was widened and remained in operation by the Boydston family until 1988.
The Texas lunchroom was built in 1929 and renamed the Texas Café’ in 1935. It was a popular hangout with high school and college students of the time as well as a destination for the traveling public. Trains often stopped for engineers and passenger to get a bite to eat. Part of the Complex is now occupied by private offices. The now Whistle Stop Café’ has once again become a hangout for locals. The Texas Tourist Camp is one of the few intact example of tourist camps built throughout Texas in the mid 20^th century. The Complex is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
There is your history lesson for the day! Now, onto the food review. We were on our way to Oklahoma and needed to fill our bellies with some breakfast. The Whistle Stop was on the way. We parked, walked in fairly briskly since baby, it was cold outside! As we entered the tiny café we were greeted with a not so much as a smile but a grin and told to take a seat anywhere.
We chose the table in the middle of the tiny café and decided what we wanted for breakfast. My GF and I tend to share meals so we decided to get an omelet with spinach, tomatoes, and bacon of course! We also wanted the two biscuits and gravy. Both came with hash browns.
The service was great once we got the waitress to smile. the coffee was okay. It was not fresh. Once the food arrived we all took a bite. The biscuits and gravy were meh. The biscuits were dry and the sausage gravy was bland. i guess they figure people are going to salt everything anyway. Not me, I expect the food to come out ready to consume, as is. The omelet was delicious! Now for the hash browns. This is where they lost a star. The hash browns were horrible. they tasted like they were made days ago and just reheated under a heat lamp. I can only assume someone grated too many potatoes a few days earlier and they didn’t want to waste them.
Will we go back? Probably not. I do like to give places more than one chance so, we might go for lunch and see if that makes a difference. Don’t take my word for it though. Try them out for yourselves and let the Unilocalers know what you think.
Until next time!
Mr. Smidgens

A bit hard to find. Maps indicates 81south, not the business 81 or as the waitress said the «old 81.» Service was fast and we arrived right when they were transitioning from breakfast to lunch. We wanted breakfast and both ordered 2 eggs over medium with bacon. My eggs were cooked perfectly but one of the eggs of my fiancée, s was undercooked. Waitress was friendly.

This is a breakfast and lunch restaurant open only Monday through Friday and it closes early at 2PM. The café is very small. I counted approximately 40 seats thus if you don’t arrive before the lunch crowd you more than likely will not get a seat. Upon entering you will immediately notice the black and white checked floor tiles which will remind you of the 1940s. There is neon in many of the windows, once again from the 1940s-1950s.There are daily specials which include the meat of the day plus three side items for $ 8.50 however one can order from the menu and get one meat and two side for $ 7.50.We opted to order form the menu since the meat of the day was beef roast which we had in another restaurant the day before. I ordered the chicken fried steak, salad and pinto beans. It was a good sized steak and well prepared. I found it to be very good.
My spouse ordered a grilled chicken breast and it was very small. The breast had been marinated and there was not other seasoning. She ordered the fried okra which was delicious and a garden salad. The meals were served with a homemade roll which was excellent. My steak was covered with white gravy.
The place was packed from the minute we went in until the time we left. Tables turn over rather rapidly as this was lunch time and it was working people coming in for lunch and they had to get back to work. I understand the place is also noted for its pies however we were stuffed and decided not to get a pie.
The building is an old 1920s rock building which sits in front of an old rock motel which has long been closed plus a gas station that too is closed. This is an interesting historical area in this small town.

I had an enjoyable lunch here the other day when I randomly ‘discovered’ it on an unplanned ramble. It’s like a little slice of old-​time Texas. I had the chicken fingers, but the man next to me had a yummy looking chicken fried steak. When I come back, that’s what I’m getting.
Price range is super acceptable.

I have lived in Decatur for almost 8 years & just finally made it to this place a few months ago. Unfortunately, they are not open on the weekends. I had breakfast and it was good. I think the biscuits & gravy could be a little better. Gravy was made from a mix. It was OK but could be better. Service was good & atmosphere was rustic. I will go again when I get a weekday off.

It was a fun drive out here, but I ended up disappointed. I put off eating for 6 hours on my way over, so I ordered up two hefty soups to fill my traveling tummy.
I really enjoyed the homestyle service, with a really nice atmosphere and small-​town feel, to boot. Sadly, the grub did not come up to par. Locals and tourists are both welcome here. While we were eating, there was a call-​in for 80 pieces of Chicken Fried Steak. Definitely a Decatur (or nearby) favorite.
The special of the day, chicken and dumplings, was boring: creamy. but way underseasoned; dumpling-​filled, but with tough dumplings. No chicken, also. They also had chili. The meat was too fine and not well seasoned. Poor bowl of red.
The cornbread that came with each was large, but fairly tough and dry. I would pass on filling up with this stuff.
This small town eatery is a convenient stop for those traveling north into Texas. I would definitely check it out once, but try something other than the soupy offerings. Expect great service and low prices, but make sure to find something you like. I would be a regular if I had a go-​to item.

GET THERE EARLY! Whether for breakfast or lunch (only open until 2pm), get there early. The tiny dining room holds just a handful of people and it’s first-​come-​first-​served. The locals and wait staff have a great rapport and it’s fun to listen in on! The cheeseburger and fries were wonderful. Home made patty and perfect fries. The chicken fried steak beats Babe’s (gasp!). Although the gravy at Babe’s is still better. The steak and burger were both massive!
Didn’t get dessert as all my stomach compartments were full, but they all looked great. Daily specials as well as regular menu. The ambiance of the place is great on the outside given the architecture; be sure to read the historical marker next to the retired gas station (now the owners office). The dining room is simple, tiny, and nothing spectacular. Just nicely done. The wait staff were fast on their feet and extremely friendly. Looking forward to going back for breakfast and bringing home some of the pies for later!

i don’t think i would drive from dallas to eat here, but if i were driving near here around meal time, this is the place to go.
food was above average for a little home cooking joint. i tried meatloaf and chili, both of which were very good. the fries, some of the best fries ever. nice and golden brown, perfectly cooked interior.

This is the best home cooking I have ever had! Reminds me of my great grandmothers cooking! If I ever make it back to Decatur I will for sure be going back to the Whistle Stop Café!