Whistle Stop

We were traveling on vacation from Illinois to Sequoia National Park. The food was quite good. A sure sign of good food is when my wife keeps begging me for more samples of mine.

Truly amazing. The food is great, the setting quaint, and the staff attentive and hospitable. The entire experience was rather like stepping into a dream world and momentarily leaving the cares of life behind.

Pretty small place, but very good food and fast service. Staff is friendly. Portions are great for the price.

Great little restaurant in Exeter! Breakfast was delicious– had the California Portman omelette

Omg this hit the spot. After hiking for the last 2 days in sequoia national park I was dying for a good meal. This place didn’t disappoint! Veggie omelet with biscuits & gravy. Everything was delicious & really fresh tasting.

Always good food and portions. If you like chicken fried steak be sure to try theirs. This place is quaint and the food is head and shoulders above Ryans place or Black Bear diner.

Delicious breakfast! Cozy & friendly atmosphere & great service! I love the Santa Fe omelette and the coffee is nice and hot! This is definitely a little gem in the cute town of Exeter!

The Whistle Stop is the BEST breakfast stop in Tulare County! Friendly, warm and inviting. DELICIOUS! Satisfied every single time.

The food is wonderful and the owner is so sweet, we love this place! We are from out of the area but we try to stop here every time we can.

I was with some coworkers auditing a client in Exeter and it was shared with us that Whistle Stop was a must when visiting. I’d suggest getting there early as the interior is very small and can only seat about 30 people max, however they do have several tables outside for some alfresco dining if the weather cooperates.
I ordered the Old Fashioned Hamburger and was pleased with the freshness of the ingredients. The patty was well seasoned and cooked through, although it could have been a little juicier, but good enough for a small diner. My french fries were piping hot and had a nice crunch to them while still being moist and tender on the inside. My coworkers ordered a couple omelettes and a cob salad. The salad was huge (even for being a half order) and the omelettes and hash browns filled their plates.
I hope to visit again… this time I’m definitely going to try something on the breakfast menu!

I came here with a small party of 4 for breakfast on Saturday. Since the inside seating was full, we opted to seat outside. The server, a very nice gentleman, ushered us inside after ten minutes for more comfortable seating (Flies and ants outside).
The coffee was okay.
We were starving, so straight to the food. They had a nice variety of omelets and standard breakfast items. The breakfast sides include fruit, toast, English muffin… nothing special. OH, wait… biscuits and grave? Yes!
I ordered the Californian omelet with fruit and biscuit gravy and my partner ordered a sirloin steak sandwich. The omelet was simple and delicious. I had a bite of the sandwich, and I was pleasantly surprised how easy it was to bite into. It needed a tad of flavor, but it was delicious nonetheless. The biscuit looks amazing and tastes like a cross of a biscuit and cornbread. It comes with butter and a generous cup of gravy. So… good.
They can’t do all that much about flies outside and the seating inside is limited. We overall had a very good experience with the service and the food.
I’d definitely return.

Great place to have breakfast with good company… it’s kinda hrd 2 find it from mapquest… friendly staff and food served hot

We stopped by for breakfast on the way to Kings Canyon National Park. Exeter is a sleepy little town and this restaurant fits perfectly except it clearly is popular based on all the customers. Sherry the owner stays on top of every order to make sure they are perfect. The food is great and so is the service. I am an egg snob and picky about how they are cooked. The we’re cooked perfectly and exactly as I wanted them cooked.

Wow. What can I say? Terrible service. I think the blonde girl needs to be in the back doing the dishes. She’s definitely not a waitress. She blames the busser, completely unprofessional. I will not be back until she is gone. I also live in Exeter, and have been going there for the past ten years so it’s pretty disappointing.

Amazing food! Wonderful service, super cute décor. A must visit for breakfast! I recommend the chicken friend steak

All time favorite breakfast place from the food to the themed décor and the friendly staff.
Every time I walk in Im greeted with a big smile. The owners also owns the donut place next door. They also own another diner in Woodlake ca by the airport. Exeter in train themes and Woodlake is air planes theme very cute ideas.
I order French toast special they have the best bacon in the valley.

Sorry this place has lost their best waitress ever and now they’re sporadically closed open close open you never know their schedule I’m going out to the place where the new waitress is at food is much better and fresh as well sorry you guys messed up

When driving through a new place I always rely on Unilocal for good places to eat and this tiny diner was yet another wonderful experience, the food is amazing, the service is great and there are train tracks hanging from the ceiling! Their French Toast with a cinnamon swirl is to die for!

The food was cheap, hot, and well seasoned. Nothing was particularly special, but this diner definitely has a handle on its menu. The service was fast. The toy train and décor was great and the toddler in our dining party really seemed to enjoy the show (while we enjoyed our breakfast). Worth a trip.

Sometimes I think that Norman Rockwell was one of the founders of Exeter, California. This little gem of a place is truly a slice of Americana. Picture a charming downtown, replete with murals painted by local artists, a mercantile where you can still buy both fine china and a tractor, and plenty of small local shops and restaurants. Located in a side street amidst all of this charm is the Whistle Stop Café.
When we stepped in, the locals turned to look at the tourists. I presume that we are the latter, so I had to laugh. Not only is this classic small town action, but I am not a tourist in Exeter. I grew up here and I know all about its character. However, it’s fun to get to see the town from outside in from time to time.
Our waitress was a young version of the classic diner waitress, though she didn’t call us doll, hon, or sweetie. She had her hair swept up in an up do, colorful and fun make-​up, and was the perfect blend of friendly and matter-​of-​fact. Due to her efficiency, the coffee here is bottomless. I never got past half a cup before the waitress stopped to top it off.
While I didn’t see any fried green tomatoes on the menu, the Whistle Stop serves up one fantastic omelet. We tried the California omelet and the omelet with linguica. Our little food critic in training tried the corned beef hash. The omelets were fluffy and not overcooked. In short, they were creamy, not rubbery like so many can be. There were enough ingredients to make them tasty but not so many that they are really a scramble. The home fries were nearly addictive. All of the food was good and we took bites from each other’s plates throughout the meal.
Some other reviewers have commented on the noisy train set that is hanging from the ceiling. While we were here, it wasn’t running. It was parked enticingly, making us with that they would turn it on. Come on! A running train in a café is fun.
The Whistle Stop is a charming addition to an already Rockwellesque location. We’ll definitely stop here for breakfast again the next time we are visiting the family.