I was very happy to see that traditional dining is back! I'm not sure when I'll travel next though, the COVID restrictions and possibly not having a sightseer lounge take the fun out of the train for me...
Amtrak dining and cafe service
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All western trains minus the TE have SSL's
Food was amazing on the chief when i took it in 2019 before the covid... even got into FUL 40 min early..
Food was amazing on my Chief trip a month ago (WOW on 7/30/21 we were going through NM, this month went fast). I, on the other hand, would consider getting into FUL 40 minutes early a negative. More train time if you're delayed!
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Perhaps it didEdit neededOr did time really go that fast....
We're back on our return trip on the CZ...and the roll is back!
Here's the Lobster Crab Cake:
Here's the Lobster Crab Cake:
Sorry if this has been asked already - is community seating back yet? Or does each party get their own table? I'm still worried about COVID spread.
Edit: Nevermind, I see now there is quite a bit of discussion about the 1 party per table policy in effect on the previous pages.
Edit: Nevermind, I see now there is quite a bit of discussion about the 1 party per table policy in effect on the previous pages.
No, I doubt community seating will return anytime soon if at all. Each party is at their own table. However, every table is occupied whereas they used to keep every other table empty.
You also have the option to dine in your room.
It WAS back, it's been reverted now.
Not as of right now, and it's unlikely it will happen prior to your trip.
There is the cafe car as normal.
Sadly,no. I am also on a rail pass. I booked the EB next week in a sleeper to break up my pass. I was on the SW Chief on my pass last week. While eating a microwaved bagel in the sightseer car and browsing through facebook,a picture of the french toast popped up by a passenger next door in the dining car.
tim49424
Engineer
I rode the Empire Builder RT Chicago-Seattle a couple of weeks ago. The food actually has improved from the previous traditional dining pre-Covid. Dinners are served on cloth tablecloths, with true silverware, two real roses at each table but still on plastic plates and drinks in plastic cups (I was told by the Dining Car Attendant that the china is still on backorder). Community seating is indeed still suspended, so I ate alone, but not a huge deal to me, although I do miss the company at meals. Yes, I could've eaten in my room, but still I could interact with staff and other passengers at times versus isolation in my room.
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To reiterate what Cal said - all trains currently with traditional dining also have a sightseer - all double overnighters plus the coast starlight. The main part of the Texas eagle has neither a sightseer or traditional dining - the full sunset limited does including where it also has Texas eagle cars to and from LA. Only real restrictions right now are no communal seating in the diner and you have to wear a mask.
That's good to hear. The SSL has always been the highlight of my trips, sleeper or coach. I'm awaiting the time when the COVID restrictions are no more- big amtrak plans are being made.
Amtrak. The world's leader in inconsistency.
My uncle was on the California Zephyr beginning Thursday and said the same: full diners and communal seating; anyone ate with anyone.
My sister and brother-in-law were on the eastbound Capitol Ltd. Friday and said they could order dinner only in their roomette. Didn't ask yet about breakfast or lunch.
I was in coach on the Empire Builder from CHI to MSP Wednesday so obviously could not partake of dining but heard the announcements from the diner which indicated there was no longer communal dining but parties would be seated together and that singles would have their dinner in their rooms.
20th Century Rider
Engineer
The cooks and waiters on Amtrak, although staffing is stretched thin, are medically trained fully certified MD's so they know all that stuff. Rest assured that if they spray around the food as they talk, sneeze, and eat... and you get it in your face... you are perfectly ok!
crescent-zephyr
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Ah! Yet another rule made up by Amtrak staff.
crescent-zephyr
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A Further thought on this... I shouldn’t be forbidden to eat in the dining car because I am traveling by myself. It should be first come first serve for private table reservations in the diner.
These types of crazy rules made up by amtrak staff is why I stopped traveling with Amtrak as much even before covid.
Devil's Advocate
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Agreed. Some LSA's have a history of ignoring customer needs, treating solo travel like a four letter word, and barking threats at customers who fail to follow the fabricated rules of their mobile fiefdom. I am happy that Amtrak traditional dining is coming back but I was disappointed to hear the same old staff was coming back with it.
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