Tar Heel Traveler: Whistle Stop Café

This cozy restaurant is a longtime gathering spot in the Warren County town of Norlina near the Virginia border. Norlina used to be a railroad hub, and today Rachel's Whistle Stop Cafe represents a nostalgic throwback to its roots.
Posted 1/23/2025, 11:22:51 PM Updated 1/24/2025, 1:58:07 PM

STREET IN CHAPEL HILL THIS AND

JUST SETTING NICE TO SEE THE

ROADWAYS LOOKING CLEAR AS WELL.

SO OUR TAR HEEL TRAVELER LOVE

SOME GOOD COUNTRY, COOKING AND

CONVERSATION AS WELL. TONIGHT

WE FIND SCOTT NATION NORTH IN

WARREN COUNTY AND AN OLD

RAILROAD TOWN STILL CHUGGING

WITH SOME GOOD EATS.

>> IN WARREN COUNTY IS NORLINA

A TOWN FULL OF RAILROAD HISTORY

AND WHERE PEOPLE STILL LOVE TO

STOP ALL VERY WORTH THE TRIP

WORTH THE TRIP.

>> AND THE FOOD IS DELICIOUS.

AND THE DESERT OR OUT OF THIS

WORLD, IT'S LIKE COMING HOME

FOR LUNCH. EVEN IF HOME IS

ALWAYS A WAY WE LIVE IN CARY

AND TAKES ABOUT AN HOUR AND

A HALF THAT SNOW LITTLE RYE,

BIG RAILROAD TIE ON AND WE'RE

HOPING THEY CAN PUT YOUR AREA

BACK IN YOUR LINE. THAT WHISTLE

STOP CAFE. THE WHISTLE STOP HAS

BEEN A STAPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY

FOR A LOT OF MY LIFE AND WE'RE

VERY EXCITED TO HAVE A FEW HOME

COOKING.

>> HOME, FOLKS, THEY'VE GOT

GREAT SHARIA.

IT SAID SEVERAL THINGS LIKE THE

CATFISH KILLING THEM AND TALK

OF SAL AND TALK OR SELLING.

I'VE HAD THE RIA PLUS TODAY'S

SPECIAL YET FRIED CHICKEN ON

TUESDAY. I LIKE THE CHICKEN

LIVERS TO WHAT YOU LIKE AND

WHAT YOU LIKE. ANYTHING.

WELL, THEY DON'T LIKE THE

RAILROAD TO COME BACK.

>> IT RAINS CAME THROUGH ALMA

HAVE GAVEL, STAYS ALL

SCHEDULED. THEY USED TO HAVE A

BUSY SCHEDULE FOR A BUSTLING

NOR LINE OF HAVE HELPED PAY ON

TIME. HAD BANKS HAD TO STEP

INTO A HOME AND IT WAS FUN.

WE HEAR FROM, YOU KNOW, A LOT

OF THE GOOD PLACE TO REALLY

EVEN WITHOUT THE TRAINS.

THEY TOOK UP THE TRACKS AND

EVERYTHING, BUT THEY DIDN'T

TAKE OUT THE WHISTLE. STOP.

>> I START OUT AS A DISHWASHER

THAT IRAN REGISTER. NOW SHE

OWNS THE CAFE IN ALL THE

WORKERS HERE. THEY ALSO WANT

TO I LEVIN AND RACHEL DOES MAKE

HER OWN DESERT. WE HAVE A GOOD

COOK.

OF COURSE, IT'S ME. IT IS A

A RACHEL COOKE SENT FAKE

SHUTTLE. WHAT ARE PEOPLE LIKE

TO EAT EVERYTHING?

>> I HAVE MET SOME CHICKEN

LIVER, SUMTER, KATE, AND SOME

GOOD FELLOWSHIP TO ONLY COMING

HERE TO SIT DOWN. WE'RE NOT

JUST CUSTOMERS WERE FAMILY.

THANK YOU FOR COMING TO US.

LESS WONDERFUL. ALWAYS GOOD

WORTH THE TRIP SO HOPEFULLY

NORLINA WILL BE A STOP ONE DAY.

BUT THE MEMORY OF IT IS STILL

ALIVE AND WELL IN THE LAW AT

THE WHISTLE STOP. YEAH. HAVE A

BLESSED DAY. IT WAS REALLY GOOD

TO AND THEY KNOW HOW TO FRY UP

SOME BACON. THE BACON IS IS IS

HAPPENING TONIGHT TO A CHAIR

EK COMMITTEE CHAIR IE KATE.

WE HAVE TO CHECK IT OUT.

YEAH. ALL RIGHT, RACHEL.

SHE SHE GETS A GUN. RACHEL'S

WHISTLE STOP.

>> ISN'T HEIKO STREET AND

© WRAL