Amtrak dining and cafe service

[TEREB]

Currently on 97, no cod and the chicken Marsala is not available. They replaced it with chicken Rosa. It’s chicken in a vodka sauce. We’ll see how it is after 5.

 

[JWM]

Good luck and maybe the vodka is a good idea Safe trip and anxious to see how this turns out.

 

[TEREB]

Chicken Rosa. This is what my husband ordered. I tasted and it was not bad. He said it was ok.
dinner was served with a little salad with eitherKraft ranch or iItalian dressing. Tiny salad but it was enough. Roll with butter. I ordered the shrimp and andouille sausage. OMG.SO SALTY. Good thing I saved my salad for last. Took that salt taste out of my mouth. We chose not to have their brownie/blonde as my son packed us Italian cookies. We brought our own wine. Although it wasn’t a great/good dinner. It did fill our tummies.

 

[Sidney]

It would be nice if one of the Silver trains could have traditional dining.Charge more for the sleepers. Good food is such an essential factor on an overnight LD train.

 

[Cal]

It would be nice if one of the Silver trains could have traditional dining.Charge more for the sleepers. Good food is such an essential factor on an overnight LD train.

I agree, the trains that should get traditional dining (first) are the Crescent, Cardinal, TE, and one of the Silvers. They're the longest route s

 

[TEREB]

It would be nice if one of the Silver trains could have traditional dining.Charge more for the sleepers. Good food is such an essential factor on an overnight LD train.

I don’t know about that. If I took the October 15 train as I originally planned,the bedroom fare would have been $1,700+.I would have not liked to pay extra for traditional dining.
which train would you choose? Someone will be upset.

 

[toddinde]

Not sure if this was meant to be belligerent or a joke but not really - I’m not much of a management type - I could never fire people or eliminate jobs - if I was actually in charge I’d probably be one opposing the job cuts at the time they went contemporary at the beginning - I also very much oppose the closing down of staffed stations. It’s more about being a realist and trying to look at it from a business perspective and what I think is going to happen given the climate in their front office and what I think could be a better middle ground solution putting myself in their shoes. If anything I’m a pragmatist and I just try to look at things from all perspectives.

I think I said before - you’re not going to hear me complain if they go traditional sit down dining on every train because of course that is the best experience and maybe absent mica and with the new bill maybe they will. I just said I’m not sure it’s necessary on every train and I don’t see them doing it, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to gripe if they do - I’m a supporter of long distance trains. We’ll just have to wait and see. For me it’s not all about the food on eastern trains and while I can tolerate the flex meals myself on a one night journey (I did find they got old on a two night journal on my cross country trip and greatly enjoyed the restored traditional dining for my last leg home) I know a lot of people don’t and there’s not good choices for those with dietary restrictions so we do need to see some kind of improvement at least and if they go all out great. I mean no disrespect to anyone that disagrees with my predictions/thoughts - I’m not the monster you may think

The sit down diner is great, as you say. It should be a feature on all long distance trains. But other trains need an improvement in food service. I’m thinking of trains like the Palmetto, International, etc, that take a whole day from end point to end point. Something like the old Milwaukee Road Buffeterias, or like the European dining cars that have a carry out bar as you enter the car, a kitchen, and table seating on the other side.

 

[Mystic River Dragon]

my son packed us Italian cookies

Italian cookies! The solution to flex dining and every other nasty food trend!

When we were growing up and my cousins were coming down from Connecticut for a visit, my aunt who lived next door would go to the Italian bakery and get a huge plate of Italian cookies. After my cousins arrived and the welcoming hugs, we all had coffee or tea and those wonderful Italian cookies!

Sorry, this has nothing whatsoever to do with Amtrak dining, but the mention of those cookies brought back such wonderful memories.

I’m sure they were the most delicious things you’ve had on the trip—what a thoughtful gesture from your son!

 

[TEREB]

Italian cookies! The solution to flex dining and every other nasty food trend!

When we were growing up and my cousins were coming down from Connecticut for a visit, my aunt who lived next door would go to the Italian bakery and get a huge plate of Italian cookies. After my cousins arrived and the welcoming hugs, we all had coffee or tea and those wonderful
I’m sure they were the most delicious things you’ve had on the trip—what a thoughtful gesture from your son!

Yes. Family and good food/cookies. Great memories. My son knows how to make his mama happy. COOKIES

 

[20th Century Rider]

Italian cookies! The solution to flex dining and every other nasty food trend!

When we were growing up and my cousins were coming down from Connecticut for a visit, my aunt who lived next door would go to the Italian bakery and get a huge plate of Italian cookies. After my cousins arrived and the welcoming hugs, we all had coffee or tea and those wonderful Italian cookies!

Sorry, this has nothing whatsoever to do with Amtrak dining, but the mention of those cookies brought back such wonderful memories.

I’m sure they were the most delicious things you’ve had on the trip—what a thoughtful gesture from your son!

Wow!!!! And I must add this regarding Italian cookies... the one and only time on Amtrak that I made lifelong friends was with a couple from the Gary Indiana area... true and sincere devote dedicated Catholics... for so many years they send the most delicious home made cookies at Christmas and I return the favor with gift boxes but nothing can compare to those cookies! As the saying goes... 'Only on a train!'

 

[Cal]

The sit down diner is great, as you say. It should be a feature on all long distance trains. But other trains need an improvement in food service. I’m thinking of trains like the Palmetto, International, etc, that take a whole day from end point to end point. Something like the old Milwaukee Road Buffeterias, or like the European dining cars that have a carry out bar as you enter the car, a kitchen, and table seating on the other side.

I think the Surfliner and it's 8 hour run would count as well.

 

[Cal]

Was thinking about making a new thread for this, but I think this thread works fine.


The Coast Starlight serves dinner on the final day for both directions. The train is scheduled to arrive at it's final stop between at 8PM and 9 PM respectively.

The Sunset Limited train #2, which arrives into NOL at 9:40 PM if on time, does not serve dinner on the final day. Why? The Sunset generally has less sleepers, so generally less passengers, and arrives considerably later than the Starlight. I don't see much of a reason to not serve dinner other than the amount of food they must load on the train in LA (doesn't it have to cover the trip there and back?).


And now looking at other trains, the Zephyr #6 does not serve lunch on the final day, yet it is scheduled to arrive at the same time as the Chief which does.

 

[Bob Dylan]

Was thinking about making a new thread for this, but I think this thread works fine.


The Coast Starlight serves dinner on the final day for both directions. The train is scheduled to arrive at it's final stop between at 8PM and 9 PM respectively.

The Sunset Limited train #2, which arrives into NOL at 9:40 PM if on time, does not serve dinner on the final day. Why? The Sunset generally has less sleepers, so generally less passengers, and arrives considerably later than the Starlight. I don't see much of a reason to not serve dinner other than the amount of food they must load on the train in LA (doesn't it have to cover the trip there and back?).


And now looking at other trains, the Zephyr #6 does not serve lunch on the final day, yet it is scheduled to arrive at the same time as the Chief which does.

Have they stopped serving Dinner on #2 going into New Orleans? Every time I rode it ( 2019 was the last time) I was served Dinner in the Diner in Louisiana.

 

[user 14106]

Was thinking about making a new thread for this, but I think this thread works fine.


The Coast Starlight serves dinner on the final day for both directions. The train is scheduled to arrive at it's final stop between at 8PM and 9 PM respectively.

The Sunset Limited train #2, which arrives into NOL at 9:40 PM if on time, does not serve dinner on the final day. Why? The Sunset generally has less sleepers, so generally less passengers, and arrives considerably later than the Starlight. I don't see much of a reason to not serve dinner other than the amount of food they must load on the train in LA (doesn't it have to cover the trip there and back?).


And now looking at other trains, the Zephyr #6 does not serve lunch on the final day, yet it is scheduled to arrive at the same time as the Chief which does.

When I rode the Zephyr back in June we got lunch on the last day

 

[JWM]

Was thinking about making a new thread for this, but I think this thread works fine.


The Coast Starlight serves dinner on the final day for both directions. The train is scheduled to arrive at it's final stop between at 8PM and 9 PM respectively.

The Sunset Limited train #2, which arrives into NOL at 9:40 PM if on time, does not serve dinner on the final day. Why? The Sunset generally has less sleepers, so generally less passengers, and arrives considerably later than the Starlight. I don't see much of a reason to not serve dinner other than the amount of food they must load on the train in LA (doesn't it have to cover the trip there and back?).


And now looking at other trains, the Zephyr #6 does not serve lunch on the final day, yet it is scheduled to arrive at the same time as the Chief which does.

Amtrak, throughout its history, has been consistently inconsistent. Meal times are a meal times not optional.

 

[happycamper]

I am a relatively new member so if this topic has been discussed, please disregard it. Sidney recently asked the question, "Does Amtrak know how their customers feel about Flex dining?". Good question. I know I have let them know how terrible it is. Others have described it as "mystery meat", "vomit", "had to throw in the trash", etc.


In this Pandemic age, tasty ready-to-eat microwavable entrees are readily available from various sources (meals by mail, grocery stores, and restaurants, etc.). There is no excuse for serving terrible tasting food on Amtrak. Unless of course, that's the goal. They have to know the food they are serving is terrible based on reviews. Is it because of the cost to Amtrak? Wouldn't this be an opportune time to try different recipes or contract an outside supplier?

I’ve been riding Amtrak since 1979. I don't ride Amtrak for the food. But dining is part of the experience and cost. I have not, nor will I take another trip until either the Flex dining food improves or the full-service diner returns. If Amtrak is going to charge a hefty price for sleeper space and include meals, then the food ought to be edible.


With this in mind, I would think a smart food truck operator could do well meeting the train at longer stops near a mealtime. The only question, how fast could the truck get the food out to customers who have a time constraint?

A few years ago we rode the EB and when we stopped in Minot ND in the morning there was a food tuck with great coffee and muffins... YUMMY!

 

[drdumont]

That's the reason we take our survival kit on the Eagle. Keurig one cupper, electric cooler chest, "the pantry", corn squeezings, and the micro microwave oven. AMTRAK doesn't even apologize that the slop they serve doesn't even resemble the presentation in their menus, ads and promos. False advertising, IMHO.

 

[drdumont]

Railspike said:[/URL]
I am a relatively new member so if this topic has been discussed, please disregard it. Sidney recently asked the question, "Does Amtrak know how their customers feel about Flex dining?". Good question. I know I have let them know how terrible it is. Others have described it as "mystery meat", "vomit", "had to throw in the trash", etc.

AMTRAK is VERY much aware of the total dissatisfaction with their nukeable garbage. Someone somewhere convinced them to spend a boatload of money developing this crap, and they probably have a warehousefull of it somewhere they don't want to write off.
Good Lord, if they had made an agreement with Stouffer or Marie Callender, or one of the manufacturers of stuff that is actually reasonably tasty, they would have saved themselves a lot of really bad PR.
Heads should roll on this one.

 

[Sidney]

A few years ago we rode the EB and when we stopped in Minot ND in the morning there was a food tuck with great coffee and muffins... YUMMY!

Think it's called the Buzz. Any station with a longish stop should have a place to buy food and drink. Especially for Coach people and sleepers in the East and the Eagle.

 

[tgstubbs1]

That's the reason we take our survival kit on the Eagle. Keurig one cupper, electric cooler chest, "the pantry", corn squeezings, and the micro microwave oven. AMTRAK doesn't even apologize that the slop they serve doesn't even resemble the presentation in their menus, ads and promos. False advertising, IMHO.

Do you have more info on this? Maybe a picture?

" ....micro microwave oven. "

 

[happycamper]

Food truck Minot ND off Empire Builder.

 

[joelkfla]

Food truck Minot ND off Empire Builder.

Cute motto.

(What's a motto?)
(I dunno, what's a motto with you?)

 

[JWM]

AMTRAK is VERY much aware of the total dissatisfaction with their nukeable garbage. Someone somewhere convinced them to spend a boatload of money developing this crap, and they probably have a warehousefull of it somewhere they don't want to write off.
Good Lord, if they had made an agreement with Stouffer or Marie Callender, or one of the manufacturers of stuff that is actually reasonably tasty, they would have saved themselves a lot of really bad PR.
Heads should roll on this one.
[/QUOTE

I much prefer my Irish ancestors "Gourmet Dinner" which was a potato and a bottle of Guiness.

 

[JWM]

I remember a June evening in 2019 going from Dresden to Berlin on a Czech train with a Czech restaurant car. We started with Czech sekt, then goulash soup followed by boiled beef, veggies and the lightest dumplings I ever had, ending with a cherry tart. The travel time was two hours! To read this about my country's rail passenger service makes me want to throw something.

 

[MARC Rider]

I remember a June evening in 2019 going from Dresden to Berlin on a Czech train with a Czech restaurant car. We started with Czech sekt, then goulash soup followed by boiled beef, veggies and the lightest dumplings I ever had, ending with a cherry tart. The travel time was two hours! To read this about my country's rail passenger service makes me want to throw something.

I've had some pretty good food in Acela first class, and they usually serve me between the time the train starts moving and when the train enters the tunnel north if the station. And an open bar. But I wouldn't ride Acela first class, except that I have points and upgrade coupons. When I actually pay for the trip, I'm stuck with the cafe car. But, for goodness sakes, a 0:40 trip to Washington, or a 1:10 trip to Philly, or even a 2:30 trip to New York, any lack of food service isn't going to stop me from taking the train. I'm doing it because it's (1) faster than driving, and (2) allows me to avoid the traffic congestion and crazy drivers that infest our part of the country.