Whistle Stop at The American Cafe

Some places just feel right the moment you walk in. Whistle Stop is one of those places. The atmosphere is welcoming and the staff treats you like a regular even if it’s your first visit. Our group of 6 was seated immediately and service was attentive, friendly, and genuinely thoughtful in how they took care of my friends kids. The food delivers exactly what you want from a neighborhood favorite. A true Travelers Rest staple.

What a fun little restaurant. Friendly and welcoming staff, quick service, great food. Delicious desserts also. The chocolate and carrot cakes were excellent! The kids meals came in cute little train boxes with a rubber duck. Atmosphere is really fun, filled with antiques and railroad themed memorabilia. The stone fireplace was cozy on a cold afternoon. Located right next to the Swamp Rabbit Trail for a nice walk after your meal. We’ll definitely be back!

This is a fun novelty restaurant! Our server was also incredible - the best server we’d had during our whole vacation. Super kid friendly with the train theme and decorations, also the kids meals are delivered in a train box and come with a toy! The adult food was very good some of it creative, lots of heavier options but there is still a light menu as well

Have wanted to try this restaurant for years!! Finally got the chance and I was not disappointed! The staff is friendly and attentive. The fried green tomatoes are the best I have eaten in years! They are thin sliced and fried perfectly! Im glad I chose to come for my birthday! Will come again soon.

I’ll be honest I took these pictures a year ago so I’ll be back for another updated review. From what I remember, most of what I had was fairly good but the cheese steak needed a little improvement.

We really enjoyed the Whistle stop, the food was amazing, a great twist of American dining with southern charm. The shrimp and grits were so good! Also, the portion size to the price was perfect too. The dinner rolls were amazing as well! Definitely a place we will check out again if in the area!

Food was phenomenal! Some of the best sweet potato fries I've had. 😋 Tables come with hand sanitizers. I appreciate that. Bathrooms are one stall. Service pleasant & professional. I'll definitely come back. 😁

Awesome food, with music and dancing up on the roof. If you want Southern Hospitality and a great experience, the Whistle Stop at Traveler's Rest, in S. Carolina is the place.

Food is great. Love the upstairs bar during season. Excellent pizza, maybe the best in Travelers Rest.

Atmosphere was fun and old fashion. Service seemed okay. But chicken salad needed mayo of which she brought. Serving sizes are wonderful.

We always love The Whistle Stop at The American Cafe! The train was running around the top of the walls which the twins enjoyed. We all enjoyed our dinner and had eight happy food lovers. We had grilled chicken sandwiches; delicious beef, potatoes and green beans; fried chicken and fries; chicken salad sandwiches and homemade cake and turnovers. The service was fast and excellent with our server, Wendy! We will definitely be back soon. Looking forward to the music and food on the upper deck this summer!

Service was good but food not so much (overpriced). I ordered there special and not what was described to me. If you eat here get the pizza.

Sherry took care of us on a gorgeous April afternoon while we listened to live music. We got a spicy bloody Mary and it was phenomenal! The Aloha Pizza was really great too. It had pulled pork (soooo tender and juicy) and bbq sauce on a wood-fired pizza dough. Will definitely be stopping in again!

Excellent service from Sherry and entire staff. Super friendly!!!! Delicious fish and chips! Great dessert offerings too. Lively ambiance and cozy interior. I highly recommend this restaurant for lunch. We will be back!!!

Stopped in twice yesterday, once for lunch and later for dessert. Both times we were impressed with the staff and the food. Everything was fresh and tasty! We could have spent hours in there just looking at the decor, so much fun. We will definitely be back the next time we visit TR!

Pros: We absolutely loved the vibe of the upstairs deck! Great music on a Friday night, not too loud to enjoy dinner and fun! Top seller here was the kid's meal, the fact that it came in a train box with a toy was so fun for them. My husband enjoyed the Brie raspberry vinaigrette salad. The server was very nice and worked hard during a busy time! Mid points: I would not call the shrimp and grits "famous"... it's what swayed us to come here and honestly, the sauce looked and felt like grease. Was it still good and did I eat it? Yes. Would I tell a friend to come and get this dish? No. Cons: as awesome as the kids meal display was... menu says it comes with TWO sliders. It does NOT. My little one was fine, but the 9 year old was not... though she said it was good. We also waited a LONG time for our food (albeit it was a Friday night) so we let it go... I would also say I agree with the comments that this place is pricey for what you get... besides the kids meals, the menu is on the expensive side for what I would expect in this area (e.g. $7 to add grilled chicken to a salad, avg plate price like $20) but to be fair, this is the first restaurant we came to here from Chicago and maybe Chicago type pricing is the norm in this super trendy area??

What a wonderful experience! My friends and I wanted drinks and appetizers and outdoor live music and this was the place! Rooftop live music with amazing drinks and due to my CRS I only got one picture. Pretzel for the table with spicy mustard and beer cheese. Lawd a mercy It was so good I didn't want to share ! I also had a peach Bellini with real peach purée. It was delicious. Our table also had Shrimp and Grits , Burgers and fries, the oven brick pizza ( I may have snitched a slice because it looked that good) the pizza is oven brick so give them time to cook it. It was delicious, Cheeseburger pizza . Because of a Yelp review we had the mozzarella sticks, they cut real mozzarella and it has ruined me forever for any other cheese sticks. The staff is in high gear and although short staffed they do a great job !

Cute place right off the bicycle trail in "downtown" Travelers Rest. Full bar, with indoor seating, a screened-in back porch overlooking the trail, and covered open air seating upstairs.

Finally made it here! Loved the signature burger. Super tasty. I wish the pimento cheese was not so melted. Fries are fantastic. Kassidy took my order and was sweet and attentive. I had my food to go. I'll have a seat next time. I dinged it one star because of the jarring juxtaposition of Christmas cheer and decor, while someone is selling knives (and I don't mean kitchen ware) in the front part of the store.

We drove to TR to try this place on Memorial Day for a late lunch, 3:30. The restaurant was busy, but there were open tables & seats at the downstairs bar, which is where we sat. We were greeted promptly by a host who wasn't too friendly. He gave us menus & said a server would be with us shortly. We waited SEVERAL minutes without any of the employees behind the filthy bar acknowledging us. The young lady who came to the bar to roll silverware in napkins was zero help. I asked if she knew who our server might be, she said nope & ignored us, then started chatting with another girl. The restaurant was not short staffed, was dirty & quite smoky from the BBQ I assume. We left! We didn't eat & we won't ever go back. Don't waste your time here.

The place was a welcomed surprise! I ventured to this cute stop after spending time with friends biking on the Swamp Rabbit Trail. We were famished and looking for a place where we could refuel our bodies. The Saturday afternoon weather was hot, but not brutal. So, we opted to sit on the rooftop. The area was well-cooled and ventilated with the use of fans. A music duo provided the sweet sounds of country and R&B classics. The music selection gave us something to sway to. I started my dining experience with a nice frozen Peach Margarita because....why not?! Lol...A little frosty, a little boozy...yes, it served its purpose. As a "sometimes" tradition, I like to order the most interesting item on the menu. The Shrimp N' Grits pizza immediately caught my attention. The whole table frowned at my choice, which made me want it more! Lol...The concept of grits on pizza is not an easy one to grasp. The average mind does not know how to compute these two items being together. But, after the first bite, it all made sense. Instead of using a regular tomato-based sauce, they base it with some very buttery, country-style grits. They topped it off with mozzarella cheese, andouille sausage, and shrimp. Great layering of texture and taste. The only downsides are that I would have liked to experience more shrimp and andouille sausage on the pizza. It would have really taken this dish over the top. Also, instead of a lemon wedge garnish for the peach Margarita, a sweet piece of peach would have been delicious. If you're in the Travelers Rest, SC area, give this place a try!

The shrimp and grits were legit. Had dinner on a stormy, cold night and the meal was total comfort. Flavorful spicy tomato broth with plenty of chunks of sausage and large shrimp. Paired great with the cheesy grits and a cold beer.

We love this place! Our kids are even bigger fans...VERY kid-friendly! The fried green tomatoes are a must! They may b small but so yummy! The pretzel is another huge fave of our whole family! I love the many mule options...the coconut one is my fave but the mandarin is a close second! The fried green tomato burger & the club sandwich are my go-to(s) but the pizzas (only certain days/time's available though) are delicious too! My bff loves the fried chicken sandwich as well as the chicken salad sandwich! We'll definitely always keep it on the top 3 best places to eat in TR!

It's a SCAM!! We paid a WHOLE $22 for a pizza the size of my hand. A pizza they'd serve a child in a LUNCHABLES. We could've gotten an adult-size pizza for half that price across the street. NOWHERE on the menu is the size mentioned; I guess EVERYONE'S supposed to know that a 6" pizza costs more than $20 in this universe. EXTREMELY unsatisfied. They're doing this during the CHRISTMAS SEASON! What would Jesus say?

Good food. Friendly atmosphere. Wait staff are friendly. Rooftop area is fun. Right along the walking trail Rabbit Rail trail. The 109 Berger was very good

Pasta with veggies and pesto was wonderful. Homemade chips were the best. Wish I had taken a picture of my Bloody Mary. It was a meal in a glass. Jessica was the epitome of southern hospitality. We'll be back.

We went here for lunch because my three year old is obsessed with trains. He was very impressed! However, no one else in our party was. The food was INSANELY overpriced for quality.

My experience at Whistle Stop, regarding the food, was just average. My experience however regarding ambience was superb. Our food was nothing to rave about. The chili on my chili dog was dry and the mac n cheese could have used more flavor, but the BBQ chicken breast was nice and moist. BUT, the star of the dining experience was the live music. We were serenaded by Gene Kirschbaum, and accordion player, during our meal. My partner and I agree that he was one of the best musicians we've ever heard. Also, beware, the bathrooms are singles. So there was quite a wait for the toilets or to wash your hands. And the women's room is placed right in front of where the waiters are enter and exit the kitchen, so if you're waiting for the bathroom you just feel in the way. 3 stars for the food. 5 stars for the accordion.

Our first time to Traveler's Rest after hearing about the quaintness of this interesting little bedroom community of Greenville. Our pursuit of finding a nice lunch ended up at the Whistle Stop, which had a huge parking lot (for downtown visitors) and where we had already parked before our pursuit that brought us right back to The Whistle Stop. Spacious dining room as well as outdoor seating; very versatile menu, appetizers, salads and soups, burgers and wraps as well as dinners. We were informed about a salmon special. The server was very attentive, (just the right amount) and the food was really great! We will definitely be coming back to this all-American, casual dining restaurant.

Shitty food at exorbitant prices. Five dollars for a crappy hot dog. Ten dollars for potato chips. Shitty Philly cheesesteak for $17. BLT for $13. Plant based burger for $17. Basket of Yeast rolls for $7. Not no, but hell no.

The food was incredible and our server Chandler was fantastic! Literally everything we ordered was delicious!! We decided to try the fried green tomatoes even though we had not liked them when eaten elsewhere in the past. They did not disappoint! The salmon, brussel sprouts, salad, green beans, ect were all great! Chandler our server was so friendly, kind, and attentive! We will definitely be back!

Outdoor seating, live music, cute atmosphere and super friendly wait staff. Great location on TR along the Swamp Rabbit Trail. Dog and bike friendly. Our first time here. We stated with the Fried Green Tomatoes appetizer. Nice flavor and not too heavy. Then for entree had the slow smoked BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich and the Margerota Pizza with Chicken. BBQ sauce is house made. Not too sweet. Good portion sandwich with homemade chips. Pizza had nice amount of garlic and mozzarella. Not tons of chicken but enough to taste. Our waiter was fantastic and even though they were short staffed, he kept our water glasses filled while being just the right amount of attentive and super friendly

NO SERVICE!! BAD VIBES!!! My sisters and I visited beautiful Travelers Rest and had a great time until lunch. We arrived at the Whistle Stop around 11:00 and when we walked in, there were several employees who did not look happy. Bad vibes!! A lady seated us and said someone will be right with you. After a few minutes a man got our drink order and brought drinks out to us. After that, no one ever came back to take our order!!!! We were the only customers there. The atmosphere was just weird. We arrived at 11:00 and left at 11:17 and went to SHORTFIELD'S which BTW has an awesome burger AND great service !!

Whistle Stop has been local to the Greenville area for a very long time. It's themed and cozy inside. The food is not bad but it's also not great either. If I could simply rate the food it would be a 3. However the atmosphere is great, staff friendly and helpful especially for a group of 11. You just know going in that this is a perfect tourist spot. There is live music in their rooftop during April through the summer. It's right off the Swamp Rabbit trail and worth the visit.

Not sure why they only have 3 stars. Visited with only one waitress on the floor. Service was perfect and timely, suggestions were on point and food hot and perfectly cooked. We ordered the roasted chicken which was extremely juicy and perfectly seasoned. Had the strawberry and carrot cake both which were divine and made in house. The unique atmosphere made the visit enjoyable and was pleasantly surprised to find a fireplace to keep us cozy. You definitely should try this place! Portions are ample if not large depending on your pallet.

I had heard about the awards this restaurant had won and been dying to check it out. I talked my coworker into popping in for our lunch break, but we were pretty unmoved by the quality of service and the meal. Despite being 2 of very few people, service was incredibly slow. We had to get to-go boxes and checks as soon as the food came out. However, based on the strong smell of beer we came to the conclusion our waitress was probably drunk so service could potentially be better. The food was not a great value either. It's highly priced for what you get and you could pay much less for the quality of the meal we were provided.

Good food. I liked the chicken salad. My cousin thought the hamburger was the best he had ever eaten. Love the setting and the history all over the walls. Highly recommended place to eat!

We had not been here in a while but had occasion to meet some friends for dinner here. The experience was not the joyous one I had before my first review several years ago. I am updating it accordingly. When we were first seated, all four of us commented about how limited the menu was ... and how pricey the choices were. I remembered it as being reasonable fare for reasonable prices, but these prices were out of line with other similar options in the area. When we received our order we all commented on how spartan (small) the portions were. My wife's dinner salad was more the size of a lunch salad elsewhere. It did not satisfy her. In the end, all four of us left very disappointed. We will not return. The only reason I gave the experience two stars rather than one is because our server provided good care. However, she had the entire roof top area to herself, so had more people showed up (only two other tables were occupied) I doubt it could have been as good. Bottom line? Choose another establishment until (and if) things change here.

The ambiance was unique but the food was over priced and just alright. The Whistle Stop is a neat cafe that takes you back in time with a mural of the Swamp Rabbit Train on one side of the building and a vintage steam train on the other side. The building itself has history as well - it's been a cafe since 1945! We opted for the upstairs seating since it was outside and overlooks the downtown TR road and also the swamp rabbit trail. Quite the juxtaposition upstairs! There's an old fashioned rock fireplace across from a fully stocked bar with big TVs with golf tournaments on screen. They also have indoor seating on the first floor and strategically placed is a display case full of delicious looking desserts - took so much will power to walk away without getting one. The small outdoor area called the Caboose Express caters to children with all sorts of frozen treats including milkshakes, shaved ice and smoothies. The ambiance is their redeeming factor. The food was average and quite overpriced. I had their signature salad for $9 and it was a handful of their mixed greens with some dried cranberries, crispy Asian noodles and mandarin oranges thrown in. Any form of protein would have been at least $4 extra. I had side salads that were more extensive and more generous in portion. The fiance got the buffalo chicken wrap which was good but another generic wrap for $10. Their menu items were not outrageously priced but definitely more than what you expect for cafe food.

This was a very interesting place! I went for the fried green tomatoes, which were the best I had found in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia, as well as Alabama. We sat upstairs and got a little bit of the history of the whistle stop, which was very interesting. The owner was a very nice woman and we enjoyed talking with her. We will be returning when we come back through.

It's a tight squeeze, and then that bell that they ringing can be annoying wasn't my favorite place to go

Expensive for what you get and not great. We had the catfish and the fish and chips, but the fish was the same for both although the pricing was different. The catfish was awful: bland and grossly undercooked and it was $22. You should get a plate of catfish and fries and okra for much less in this part of the country. I thought the price would reflect a plate of awesome food. Wrong. Service and ambiance were, however, great. You're paying for the catchy place name. Keep moving is the recommendation.

Food was good, waitress was pleasant but over worked (they apparently are under staffed) and the ginger hostess had the worst attitude of any restaurant employee I've ever encountered. Nonetheless, I've been going to the Whistle Stop for years and the food has been consistently good. They just need to give Ms. Ginger an attitude adjustment.

Took my out of state sister to lunch on 7-26-22 and it took 55 minutes to get a burger and 2 chicken salad sandwiches. The waitress kept disappearing and took 20 minutes to place our order! Then the wait began for my $15 Burger & Fries, my medium well came out medium rear? The manager came up and tried giving us $12 change and we haven't gotten food? Finally got our lunch and it was just ok, the manager explained it was a new chef and that's why it took so long! My son went out to move the car to the parking lot and saw our waitress and 2 cooks and busboy were sitting out back on a picnic table Smoking Cigarettes, we had been waiting for 10 minutes to get our bill! Needless to say I couldn't recommend the place and the food was very expensive for the low quality that it was! Having owned a restaurant in another state many years ago, I just hate to see people taken advantage of!

Way over priced. Mediocre food. I've tried it three times thinking maybe I just caught a bad day....nope

We recently moved to TR and was so excited to give the Whistle Stop a try. However, we waited for our order (2 people) for well over 1hr and 20 minutes with no food or no sight of our waitress we finally got up and left. We did leave a $10 on the table for our tea. Im a very understand person but this was the worst service and no food. This is completely unacceptable.

A few times a year my wife and I will ride our bikes from downtown Greenville up to Traveler's Rest on the Swamp Rabbit Trail. Our tradition for this was to eat at the Cafe at Williams Hardware, but with it's closing we tried the Whistle Stop. It was a beautiful day and we sat outside at the rooftop bar and dining area. This is a spacious area which would be good for a large group or for watching the game or in our case, lunch. Both of us had the same thing, a Swamp Rabbit Club wrap with sweet potato fries. The club comes either as a wrap or as a sandwich. It is turkey, ham, applewood smoked bacon, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato and chipotle ranch dressing. It was very good, but we probably could have split one order since it was quite large. The fries were crisp and well seasoned. The bartender was also our waiter and the service was nice. The owner stopped by to say hello and greet us. It was a weekday and the majority of the lunch crowd ate in the downstairs, indoor dining area. It's neither here nor there, but the owners make it clear, with signage, that concealed weapons are welcomed on the property here. Just as some establishments prevent the same. We will be returning to our new traditional lunch spot the next time we ride the trail!

Absolutely love this place! The deck up top is probably my favorite, especially when there's live music. The servers are all super sweet and even when we've came in with a 12 top, have been super fast and made sure everything was perfect. The fried green tomatoes and shrimp n grits are a must!

To start, wow this place is good! Everyone is so friendly and the environment is so cute as well! I ordered a chicken salad sandwich with chips and it's the best I have ever had. The chicken salad has so much flavor and the homemade chips are amazing. If your in town you must stop here!

Just don't do it! Go somewhere else. We ordered a hamburger plate and a hot dog plate and it literally took 40 minutes to get our food. The food was basic at best. And not cheap. My husband actually said he felt like we were at a state fair. Too many other places around to even think of going here.

Fish and Chips $17 for 1 piece of fish which was not very good. half of the fish was mushy. The part that was done was good and the breading was good. The slaw was atrocious. They literally served a teaspoon portion and it tasted horrible. The fries looked amazing but were served cold. We were the first customers of the morning. there is no reason to have been served food with these issues. Fried green tomatoes were very good.

This place was so much fun. The walls are covered in memorabilia so much to see. The staff super friendly. They stories Our waitress shared on the history was cool the food very tasty looking forward to a return visit

Looked like a good little mom and pop style restaurant. Definitely was not mom and pop prices. Food was terrible. Prices were way to high for the quality and quantity of what you get. Wait staff was basic at best. No personality at all. Rather had went to a McDonalds instead. If you don't live in the town, don't go here

Rooftop bar on the Swamp Rabbit Trail, this place is a find. Great menu. Owners are engaged and welcoming. Fun spot to watch live music. Tanner was in town today and got everyone singing along. The catfish is delicious and served several ways. Fried green tomatoes yummy! We will be regulars!

Saturday Dec 21, 3:00pm, we were tired and hungry some Christmas shopping so we were looking for a place to eat on our way home. I want to preface my review by saying that Amanda was very nice and courteous, but that was the only positive about our visit. Please read on. I've been to the Whistle Stop in Travelers Rest 4 times. Unfortunately each time the food quality has declined to this time which will be our last time. My wife got potato soup which was acceptable I got the beef stew soup, the meat was very tough. My wife got the fried chicken breast sandwich the chicken was about as thick as a piece of bologna and about as hard as shoe leather. I got the fish sandwich and in the past that used to be a nice thick filet now it was maybe a quarter of an inch thick. When I paid my bill I complaind to the waitress who said oh really I'm sorry. So then I complain to the manager who also said really I'm sorry, i am surprised, no offer for compensation or any other consideration. I don't know what happened to the Whistle Stop over the years but now I could have done better at a Chick-fil-A. There are way too many choices and Travelers Rest to have to settle for less than mediocre food with high prices. Two sandwiches two bowls of soup $52 never again. To the management of Whistle Stop Cafe if you're trying to cut back to save money you should consider, increasing the portion size and Elevate the price instead of leaving people feeling ripped off and miserable. You won't get anymore of my money.

It had been years since I had visited here. I'm so glad I returned. We ordered the Almond and Brie Spinach salad which comes with a creamy raspberry vinaigrette dressing. It was delicious!! The salad sported red onion, cherry tomatoes, sweet red peppers, almonds and a nub of Brie. Since Brie is one of the keywords in the salad I had expected a portion larger than the first joint of my thumb! That's the only criticism I have. The tastes were complex and most enjoyable. We asked for crackers and were brought 1 package each...so we asked for a few more. Prior to our dishes arriving we were offered and accepted a plate of cornbread which had a nice flavor but was only lukewarm. Throughout our meal, we were checked on regularly and our water was refilled before the glass was emptied. I appreciated the attentiveness! There is parking in an adjacent lot. The decor is train themed, with lots of memorabilia including pictures and signs from the original Swamp Rabbit station, plus there's a model train on an elevated track running overhead in the bar area. Good meal in a fun setting

Very good service, atmosphere and the shrimp and grits was outstanding. Visiting Greenville areas and this is a definite highlight. Highly recommended.

Great place to eat! I highly recommend whistle stop. Our experience was great from the moment we walked trough the door until it was time to leave. The food was excellent and so was the cheesecake. We will definitely be back soon l!