Amtrak dining and cafe service

[Rasputin]

A post over on trainorders claims a recent trip on the Capitol they were told SCA had to deliver all meals to the rooms. The tables in the CCC were for “active eating and drinking only” and they were not allowed to bring an iPad into the CCC car.

Remember, this is the CCC car that is supposed to be the “sleeper lounge”

They really going head over heels to make trains worth traveling again.

 

[IndyLions]

They really going head over heels to make trains worth traveling again.

Sounds like another crew making it up as they go along…

 

[danasgoodstuff]

I have just returned from a month-long trip from Oregon to Fla and back by rail. The food west of Chicago is indeed quite good, but the food east of there is nowhere near as bad as it's been made out to be. A step or two down for sure, but hardly inedible.

 

[Christian Ferguson]

I was on the Crescent 19 (23) with the VL2 Diner. When I boarded the train in WAS, I was so excited to see the diner that I didn’t realize there was no cafe car. When I asked the SCA she replied that there was an equipment shortage and they would have to run the cafe out of the diner. It appeared they served coach passengers from the kitchen door at the end of the car. We asked to eat our meal in the diner, and I was surprised at how many other sleeping car passengers were doing the same. It was great to be in the diner, probably made our flex meals taste better!! The cafe car attendant and the two SCAs made the best of it getting everyone served with smiles on their faces.

What's a "SCA"? That's some dopey kids music or is that SKA?

 

[jis]

What's a "SCA"? That's some dopey kids music or is that SKA?

SCA = Sleeping Car Attendant

 

[joelkfla]

What's a "SCA"? That's some dopey kids music or is that SKA?

Most abbreviations & acronyms can be found here:
https://www.amtraktrains.com/threads/commonly-used-abbreviations-and-terms.66964/

 

[Amtrakfflyer]

On a lighter note

http://corridorrail.com/u-s-a-dinin...0tIki4ygFwP7JzCsI41ZB7uq-Ht60sOG-Z36eEyPRnUcg

 

[joelkfla]

Apparently, the free beverages policy on Flex Dining trains has changed.

The Silver Service Flex menu dated 10/21 said: "Complimentary beverages are available throughout your journey."

The menu dated 05/22 now says: "Complimentary beverages are available during all meal periods."

 

[crescent-zephyr]

Apparently, the free beverages policy on Flex Dining trains has changed.

The Silver Service Flex menu dated 10/21 said: "Complimentary beverages are available throughout your journey."

The menu dated 05/22 now says: "Complimentary beverages are available during all meal periods."

Ahh. Sneaky. That was one of the only “positives” about flex dining.

 

[Sidney]

Ahh. Sneaky. That was one of the only “positives” about flex dining.

There is a positive?

 

[Amtrakfflyer]

That’s a huge negative. Cups of coffee and cans of coke at bulk rate probably cost Amtrak 25 cents. Like everything else with Amtrak whether or not they actually charge you for them is another question.

 

[crescent-zephyr]

There is a positive?

On paper, having access to a “sleeper lounge” space and having soft drinks available throughout the journey are positives.

But if those are being taken away, there is no positive at all.

the food east of there is nowhere near as bad as it's been made out to be. A step or two down for sure, but hardly inedible.

I think the quality of the entrees has gone up a little bit. The 2 entrees I had when the flex service first started were really really bad. The beef dish was definitely borderline inedible.

 

[user 14106]

On paper, having access to a “sleeper lounge” space and having soft drinks available throughout the journey are positives.

But if those are being taken away, there is no positive at all.



I think the quality of the entrees has gone up a little bit. The 2 entrees I had when the flex service first started were really really bad. The beef dish was definitely borderline inedible.

I would agree with the improvement - I personally think the current beef and chicken options are much better than the previous - when heated properly.

 

[joelkfla]

I think the quality of the entrees has gone up a little bit. The 2 entrees I had when the flex service first started were really really bad. The beef dish was definitely borderline inedible.

I did notice changes on the entrees.

The plant-based Enchiladas entree has been replaced by Thai Red Curry Street Noodles with Plant Based Meatballs. The Sesame Glazed Salmon has been replaced by Roasted Atlantic Salmon & Seared Shrimp. And the Penne Pasta & Meatballs is now Baked Ziti & Meatballs; I don't know whether that last one is actually a change or just a rename.

I enjoyed the Enchiladas and the old salmon dish; I hope the replacements also please me.

 

[jis]

I did notice changes on the entrees.

The plant-based Enchiladas entree has been replaced by Thai Red Curry Street Noodles with Plant Based Meatballs. The Sesame Glazed Salmon has been replaced by Roasted Atlantic Salmon & Seared Shrimp. And the Penne Pasta & Meatballs is now Baked Ziti & Meatballs; I don't know whether that last one is actually a change or just a rename.

I enjoyed the Enchiladas and the old salmon dish; I hope the replacements also please me.

I also hope that the new Salmon and Shrimp is at least as good as the old Salmon dish, which was my go to dish, was. The Thai Red Curry sounds intriguing and I will give it a try when I travel on the Super Star near end of June.

 

[danasgoodstuff]

The Thai Red Curry - that's some spicy (not)meatballs!

 

[TheCrescent]

If Flexible Dining meals could be served on plates, that would help: not in plastic wrap with the labels still on.

 

[crescent-zephyr]

I did notice changes on the entrees.

The plant-based Enchiladas entree has been replaced by Thai Red Curry Street Noodles with Plant Based Meatballs. The Sesame Glazed Salmon has been replaced by Roasted Atlantic Salmon & Seared Shrimp. And the Penne Pasta & Meatballs is now Baked Ziti & Meatballs; I don't know whether that last one is actually a change or just a rename.

I enjoyed the Enchiladas and the old salmon dish; I hope the replacements also please me.

I wish Amtrak would take into account various diets. Adding shrimp to the one seafood dish is not a good idea, many don’t eat shellfish for various reasons.

Enchiladas could be an excellent vegetarian and gluten free dish, I doubt the noodles are gluten free which leads gluten free vegetarians with nothing to order.

 

[trimetbusfan]

Does anyone know if the Eastbound Sunset Limited Serves dinner on its last day before its evening arrival into NOL? The SL Route page (linked below) shows lunch being the last meal service, but that seems odd due to its late arrival. I was wondering if anybody had any first hand knowledge with this.


https://www.amtrak.com/sunset-limited-train

 

[MARC Rider]

If Flexible Dining meals could be served on plates, that would help: not in plastic wrap with the labels still on.

They've sometimes done just that (sort of):




A Flex Dining dinner served to me on the Cardinal in November 2019. Yes, served to me, as in "I sat down at the table, and a waiter brought the food to me."

(It should be pointed out that there were only 12 passengers in the sleeper that evening, and the coach attendant was helping out the cafe attendant.)

 

[Rasputin]

Does anyone know if the Eastbound Sunset Limited Serves dinner on its last day before its evening arrival into NOL? The SL Route page (linked below) shows lunch being the last meal service, but that seems odd due to its late arrival. I was wondering if anybody had any first hand knowledge with this.


https://www.amtrak.com/sunset-limited-train

I do not have any first hand knowledge but I am quite sure, given the 9 p.m. or so arrival, that the eastbound Sunset would serve dinner before arrival in New Orleans. Maybe someone would know if it is a full dinner based on the menu or some abbreviated form.

I would say that the route guide probably dates from 2012 or before so it is unreliable in that aspect. There was a substantial change in the eastbound Sunset schedule around April or May of 2012 if I recall correctly. Prior to that the eastbound Sunset would depart Tucson about 1 a.m., reach El Paso at breakfast time and eventually reach New Orleans mid-afternoon.

 

[saxpower]

Apparently, the free beverages policy on Flex Dining trains has changed.

The Silver Service Flex menu dated 10/21 said: "Complimentary beverages are available throughout your journey."

The menu dated 05/22 now says: "Complimentary beverages are available during all meal periods."

Assuming this means the drinks are available throughout the time a meal is being served, this means the :free beverage" schedule is as follows] (based on the meal times listed on Amtrak's flex dining page):

6:30- 10 AM- beverage available with breakfast
10-11:30 AM no beverages available between breakfast and lunch
11:30AM-3PM beverage available for lunch
3-5 PM no beverage availabile between lunch and dinner
5-9:30 PM beverage available for dinner.
9:30 PM-6:30 AM no beverage avialable between dinner and breakfast.

So I guess the thing to do is ask for another beverage aroud 10 AM (end of breakfast), 3 PM (end of lunch), and 9:30 PM (end of dinner).
I assume you could buy one in the cafe car, but that kind of defeats the purpose of sleeper benefits. (I wonder if the cafe will give you a cup of ice if you've brought some drinks with you).

Free beverages are available for 11.5 hours each day and unavailable for 12.5 hours. Admittedly, people all likely sleeping for a good chunk of the overnight period, so you can get free drinks most waking hours. Still, no reason to drop the benefit. If they want to give the sleeper attendant a little break from running around getting people food and drinks, they could still just ask passangers to go to the cafe car and show their ticket.

 

[Sidney]

Assuming this means the drinks are available throughout the time a meal is being served, this means the :free beverage" schedule is as follows] (based on the meal times listed on Amtrak's flex dining page):

6:30- 10 AM- beverage available with breakfast
10-11:30 AM no beverages available between breakfast and lunch
11:30AM-3PM beverage available for lunch
3-5 PM no beverage availabile between lunch and dinner
5-9:30 PM beverage available for dinner.
9:30 PM-6:30 AM no beverage avialable between dinner and breakfast.

So I guess the thing to do is ask for another beverage aroud 10 AM (end of breakfast), 3 PM (end of lunch), and 9:30 PM (end of dinner).
I assume you could buy one in the cafe car, but that kind of defeats the purpose of sleeper benefits. (I wonder if the cafe will give you a cup of ice if you've brought some drinks with you).

Free beverages are available for 11.5 hours each day and unavailable for 12.5 hours. Admittedly, people all likely sleeping for a good chunk of the overnight period, so you can get free drinks most waking hours. Still, no reason to drop the benefit. If they want to give the sleeper attendant a little break from running around getting people food and drinks, they could still just ask passangers to go to the cafe car and show their ticket.

I always get ice from the cafe car. I never ask my SCA to get it for me. I remember when ice was available in every sleeper.

 

[TheCrescent]

First class on planes = unlimited drinks (including alcohol).

So people who fly first class and then take Amtrak will be surprised.

 

[daybeers]

First class on planes = unlimited drinks (including alcohol).

As it should be, like Acela First.