The Current

Issue date: 5/2/05 Section: Arts and Entertainment

Media Credit: Erica Burrus Ann Dreifke, sophomore, criminal justice, makes a custard sundae for a customer at the Whistle Stop Cafe in downtown Ferguson.

It is spring. It is hot outside. You are waiting for your afternoon final. Suddenly, you are hit with a craving for a hot fudge sundae. Where can you go that is quick, close, offers quality ice cream and quality service? The Whistle Stop Old-Fashioned Custard at the Ferguson Depot is the answer.

My friends and I arrived on Tuesday afternoon after our grammar class. The first thing we noticed upon walking in was that it was a little old-fashioned train station with a small dining room. The counter is a ticket booth. Old pictures and maps decorate the wall opposite the entrance. Even the bathroom has a train going around the walls. A few customers were sitting at the tables when we entered. At the counter we picked up the double-sided, single-sheet menu. Desserts offered include waffle cones, sundaes, concretes, frozen custard pies and Italian ice with fruit toppings. For those who are hungry for regular food, options include Panini and grinder sandwiches, toasted ravioli, white chicken chili and the soup of the day. Drinks offered are Fitz's old-fashioned draft root beer, Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Dasani bottled water and coffee.

For those who are having a hard time deciding, there are daily lunch specials, soups of the day, and flavors of the day to make things easier. The daily specials include a sandwich, a cup of the soup of the day, and one scoop of the flavor of the day. I ordered a hot fudge sundae with M&Ms.

One of my friends ordered a root beer float and the other two ordered concretes. My sundae was delicious and smooth. We were all happy with our orders, and even happier that we had decided to go out for ice cream on such a beautiful day.

Service was great. The server behind the counter was friendly and helpful. She answered our questions and joked with us.

Whistle Stop is entering its fifth summer of service, and is now accepting VISA and MasterCard. They have a monthly newsletter titled "The Telegram" that can be downloaded and read at their website, www.whistlestopdepot.com. In 2001, Whistle Stop earned the Riverfront Times' award for Best New Place for Frozen Custard in St. Louis. They are located next to the Norfolk-Southern freight line in the historic Ferguson Train Depot. Hours are Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Whistle Stop offers many goodies for their patrons. They have birthday parties for kids. Take-home quarts of ice cream are available and there is a "quart of the month" club. Whistle Stop also has a summer concert series. All shows are on Saturdays from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Bands that will be appearing are listed on their website.

Whistle Stop is a great place to stop in for ice cream. They are quick, friendly and close to campus. They are located at #1 Carson Road in Ferguson. Visit them on a warm afternoon for a delicious treat.

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