trimetbusfan
OBS Chief
Photos of all the flex dining meals can be seen on this site. https://amtrakfoodfacts.com/menu-items-common-2/Thanks. I was looking for pictures for palatability.
Photos of all the flex dining meals can be seen on this site. https://amtrakfoodfacts.com/menu-items-common-2/Thanks. I was looking for pictures for palatability.
Pictures won't help. They look like it's tasty food, but a lot of that depends how it's reheated. Hint: They're supposed to be reheated in a convection oven, but sometimes a microwave is used, with disappointing results.Thanks. I was looking for pictures for palatability.
The hubby and I watch "trainTuber" videos on YouTube which include the meals eaten on the trip, and those are useful for reports on how the food was prepared & how it tastes. Using that anecdotal information together with the close-up images from the linked site above provide a better idea of what's being served. (Especially for older viewers like the hubby & me, who need some magnification of the food as pictured in the videos.)Pictures won't help. They look like it's tasty food, but a lot of that depends how it's reheated. Hint: They're supposed to be reheated in a convection oven, but sometimes a microwave is used, with disappointing results.
Photos of all the flex dining meals can be seen on this site. https://amtrakfoodfacts.com/menu-items-common-2/
Here is my quick attempt to produce such a document... Please respond with any inaccuracies that need correcting. Once it is fixed we will post it in the Amtrak Information forum. Thanks.Can we pin a comment or thread that shows the current status of dining on all LD trains?
Food Service on Amtrak Long Distance Trains (April 2024) | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Train | Dining Hard Product | Sleeper Passengers Served | Coach Passengers Served | Dining Soft Product | Café Hard Product | Café Soft Product | ||
1/2 Sunset Limited NOL - LAX | Superliner Diner | Complimentary | Purchase | Traditional | SSL Lower Level | LD Cafe | ||
3/4 Southwest Chief CHI - LAX | Superliner Diner | Complimentary | Purchase | Traditional | SSL Lower Level | LD Cafe | ||
5/6 California Zephyr CHI - EMY | Superliner Diner | Complimentary | Purchase | Traditional | SSL Lower Level | LD Cafe | ||
7/8 Empire Builder CHI - SPK | Superliner Diner | Complimentary | Purchase | Traditional | SSL Lower Level | LD Cafe | ||
7/8 Empire Builder SPK - SEA | Superliner Diner | Complimentary | Purchase | Traditional | Superliner Diner | LD Cafe | ||
27/28 Empire Builder SPK - PDX | SSL Lower Level | Complimentary | N/A | EB Special | SSL Lower Level | LD Cafe | ||
11/14 Coast Starlight | Superliner Diner | Complimentary | Purchase | Traditional | Superliner Diner | LD Cafe | ||
21/421/22/422 Texas Eagle CHI - SAS | Superliner Diner Lounge | Complimentary | No | Flex | Superliner Diner Lounge | LD Cafe | ||
421/422 Texas Eagle SAS - L:AX | Superliner Diner | Complimentary | Purchase | Traditional | SSL Lower Level | LD Cafe | ||
58/59 City of New Orleans CHI - NOL | SSL Lower Level | Complimentary | No | Flex | SSL Lower Level | LD Cafe | ||
19/20 Crescent NYP - NOL | Amfleet II Lounge | Complimentary | No | Flex | Amfleet II Lounge | LD Cafe | ||
29/30 Capitol Limited CHI - WAS | Superliner Diner Lounge | Complimentary | No | Flex | Superliner Diner Lounge | LD Cafe | ||
48/49 Lake Shore Limited CHI - ALB | Viewliner II Diner | Complimentary | No | Flex | Amfleet II Lounge | LD Cafe | ||
48/49 Lake Shore Limited ALB - NYP | Viewliner II Diner | Complimentary | No | Flex | ||||
| Amfleet II Lounge | Complimentary | No | LSL Special | Amfleet II Lounge | LD Cafe | ||
50/51 Cardinal CHI - NYP | Amfleet II Lounge | Complimentary | No | Flex | Amfleet II Lounge | LD Cafe | ||
52/53 Auto Train LOR - SFA | Superliner Diner | Complimentary | No | AT Traditional | Superliner AT Lounge | AT Cafe | ||
89/90 Palmetto NYP - SAV day train | Amfleet I Table Car | LD Cafe | ||||||
91/92 Silver Star NYP - MIA via RGH, TPA | Viewliner II Diner | Complimentary | Purchase | Traditional | Amfleet II Lounge | LD Cafe | ||
| Viewliner II Diner | Complimentary | Purchase | Traditional | Amfleet II Lounge | LD Cafe |
Corrected. Thanks.I believe the word on the chart above should be “Complimentary” (given free of charge) instead of “Complementary” (two or more things combining to enhance each other).
These words are often confused.
Right you are. Corrected. Thanks.The Capitol Limited does not have an Amfleet II lounge.
I believe it's mostly a staffing issue. There are trains originiating from NOL, CHI, and NYP that have full service dining.About Flex dining: Pure speculation. Flex meals seem to be originating at NOL, CHI, NYP / WASH. Coud it be________
1. Using up stocks of non perishable items?
2. Contract to provide those meals might have an early termination fee paid by Amtrak?
What might be added to your table is when flex meals are to end on each train?
It is not possible to provide information that is unknown to us until it happens. When it happens the table will be appropriately changed.What might be added to your table is when flex meals are to end on each train?
A step up from flex.At least you have a choice of sandwiches, burgers and hot dogs. Going from San Antonio to New York is three days of flex. InhumanCONO flex is essentially complimentary cafe car meals for sleeper passengers.
It's a huge step up - you also have some salad options. Even the cheese and cracker tray is a huge step up from anything I've had in Flex!A step up from flex.At least you have a choice of sandwiches, burgers and hot dogs. Going from San Antonio to New York is three days of flex. Inhuman
Although I survived cafe car food on the Lincoln Service/Missouri River Runner last fall, and one does have to choose carefully to get decent meals. For example, the White Castle sliders (similar to the frozen ones from the supermarket we've microwaved at home) were far more palatable than the Angus Cheeseburger (comparable in taste and texture to a Dollar Tree frozen burger when microwaved). And there was no soup available at all at that time.It's a huge step up - you also have some salad options. Even the cheese and cracker tray is a huge step up from anything I've had in Flex!
Back when I was in college beginning in the mid-1960s, there was a White Castle hamburger restaurant right across the street from my campus. Back then, the sliders were 15 or 20 cents each, and you could get a whole sack full for $1.50. Although it never became a national institution like McDonalds, White Castle is believed to have been the first “fast food” hamburger chain in the country. In 2014, Time Magazine declared the iconic Original Slider the most influential burger of all time.Although I survived cafe car food on the Lincoln Service/Missouri River Runner last fall, and one does have to choose carefully to get decent meals. For example, the White Castle sliders (similar to the frozen ones from the supermarket we've microwaved at home) were far more palatable than the Angus Cheeseburger (comparable in taste and texture to a Dollar Tree frozen burger when microwaved).
I like the Angus cheeseburger, it's my go-to meal on the Lincoln Service. De gustibus non disputandum and all that.Although I survived cafe car food on the Lincoln Service/Missouri River Runner last fall, and one does have to choose carefully to get decent meals. For example, the White Castle sliders (similar to the frozen ones from the supermarket we've microwaved at home) were far more palatable than the Angus Cheeseburger (comparable in taste and texture to a Dollar Tree frozen burger when microwaved). And there was no soup available at all at that time.
The burger from the cafe car is probably different than in the full diner and unfortunately is nuked, but I actually agree with you. When I order it, I usually get a chuckle out of the attendant when I refer to it as the Amburger.I like the Angus cheeseburger, it's my go-to meal on the Lincoln Service. De gustibus non disputandum and all that.
I have some Dinty Moore beef stew 3 or 4 times a year, usually when my wife is away. It is quick and easy. So when I have it on Amtrak, it is like Old Home Week.I'm having "close-enough Amstew" (Dinty Moore beef stew from the dollar store) for supper tonight -- only partly in honor of this thread!
And don't forget, in order to re-create the genuine nostalgic Amtrak Amstew, your Dinty Moore beef stew at home must be served over a bed of rice.I have some Dinty Moore beef stew 3 or 4 times a year, usually when my wife is away. It is quick and easy. So when I have it on Amtrak, it is like Old Home Week.
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