The Cafe prices have not increased much. The cafe burger has gone up $1 in the past 5 or so years.
I think this is kind of an example of perfect being the enemy of good. When they brought back traditional dining it was done in a way to provide a bit of a higher end all inclusive experience to sleeper passengers than before the pandemic. Amtrak is certainly not the only outfit to offer all inclusive meal packages. There appeared to be significant consideration within Amtrak to keep the dining car an exclusive amenity for sleeping car passengers - and Amtrak was not obligated to open it back up to coach. Coach fares on long haul trains are rather subsidized and they really have no obligation to subsidize table service dining for these same passengers. A significant amount of advocacy efforts and pushing resulted in the opening up of the “reimagined” traditional dining up to coach. Sometimes one needs to take a victory and move on to the next fight - the result is never going to be perfect and there are always going to be some people that are not happy. But there seems a reasonable balance now - a higher end diner experience for those in sleeper - an opportunity for coach passengers to participate if they wish, and more affordable options in the cafe for those who don’t wish to pay that price. The diner is an expensive amenity to provide - I really don’t have much of a problem with them charging cost based prices to admit coach passengers. Coach passengers are not entitled to a cheap meal in the diner.
I don't remember that being advertised and what is currently being offered isn't significantly different than traditional dining in the past. They still haven't gotten to where they were during the "chef inspired" meals of about 10 years ago (how time flies!) - those were honestly the best meals I've had on any train I think.
I don't remember hearing this... I thought it was all due to Covid issues because they had to space out customers in the diner AND they had reduced staff on board. But I could be wrong.
The same can be said for sleeping car passengers.
I don't see the victory in the fact that when I travel coach I now have to pay double what I used to pay to eat in the dining car. ($20 Breakfast, $25 Lunch, $45 Dinner is literally double what I previously paid for those meals usually). The dining car used to be an amenity for ALL passengers and at these prices, it's really not an affordable option in my opinion or in comparison with previous prices.
What makes it a higher-end diner experience?
That $45 fee gets you an appetizer Alcoholic beverage and dessert. The $28.50 didn’t include those extras.
I wonder how this increase compares to the often complained about high sleeper prices?
But that presentation has always come and gone with coach passengers - I think that's where I don't follow. Like 10 years ago they had really good desserts (anyone remember that chocolate mousse!?) along with entrees that were even better than what they have now (the Lamb Shank, Mahi Mahi, Crab Cakes, Buffalo Meat Loaf, etc.).
. This all inclusive way they are doing is certainly not unprecedented - and I just got presented with an all inclusive dinner package the other day that was $65 and ate elsewhere as I didn’t like the choices. If the cafe wasn’t available as an alternative I guess Id see this as a bigger deal but to be honest given that it’s available as an alternative it is what it is at this point. I think a battle over diner prices would prove to be futile and as I said given what sleeper accommodations are going for these days that $45 dinner with a coach seat is still quite a bargain for what you get. Yes not everyone is going to be happy with it but I suspect there would have been people unhappy regardless of the approach they took. I just paid over $40 for lunch the other day - eating out has gone through the roof.
In fairness, some of those entrees were exclusive to the Coast Starlight in the PPC. Not that I'm complaining having had all but the meatloaf, however they weren't system-wide. It is still difficult to beat a properly cooked Amtrak steak.
Thank you for this. What did you enjoy the most?
My husband once tried the meatloaf on the Meteor, and thought it was pretty good. I hate meatloaf, so I never make it at home.
I love meatloaf myself, but the hubby tires of it if I make it too often. I could probably handle the crab cake (if it came back), but the hubby couldn't (he's allergic). I love any kind of soup, and that shrimp/corn chowder sounds like it would have been delicious!
I’m not too fond of meat. I’ll pick out a fish dish over meat most times.
I could live on the desserts that are being offered. So many delicious ones offered in the past.
I don't think any of the entrees were exclusive to PPC when they were first introduced. They would rotate and some entrees would more commonly be seen on certain regional trains (Crab Cakes on Capitol Limited, Silvers and Crescent for example, Bison Meatloaf on the Empire Builder, etc.)
Some of the items you mentioned from the the Limited PPC Menu were available on other LD Trains,
There was an LSA named Barbara in the PPC who brought her own seasonings to put some kick into the killer Bloody Marys she made. Not sure it was on the "up and up" but nobody cared. Customers lined up to get them (multiple times) once they tried them. What a loss!!
We had the same experience on the CONO. The LSA was from the Islands and some of her spices were from there. The crew, from New Orleans, was excellent.
Yep, I had the pleasure of riding with her!
So is practically every restaurant meal served in this country, even at the 5-star gourmet places. Traditional dining? The steak dinner and the rich desserts they serve probably have way more fat, salt, and sugar than the flex meals.
I wonder if it is something to do with their procedure? When I cook one at home I cook one dinner in the microwave. Does Amtrak try to cook too many at once? Do they wait too long to serve them?
