Amtrak dining and cafe service

[crescent-zephyr]

They will never serve meals comparable to Asian, Middle Eastern, or even European business class meals. Those meals are all extremely high quality, and presented perfectly. Meanwhile Amtrak meals are comparable to those of a diner.

This is a China AIrlines long-haul business class meal. View attachment 20637

That doesn’t look more impressive than what I’ve been served in domestic first class or on amtrak dining cars of the past.

 

[20th Century Rider]

That doesn’t look more impressive than what I’ve been served in domestic first class or on amtrak dining cars of the past.

Remembering once upon a time... many years ago on China Airlines first class... when they had three classes of service.

So excited to be in first... until the long anticipated meal came... an inedible steak - all grizzle!

So 'Cuisine Success is Situation Specific."

Good and bad on Amtrak too... but for price paid... always a better value. BTW their steaks and angus burgers have always been... in my opinion... top notch!

Nothing not to like here...

 

[railiner]

. Meanwhile Amtrak meals are comparable to those of a diner.

If only!
If you are referring to the classic "diner's", especially prevalent along the Northeast Corridor area, typically run by ethnic Greek-American's, with their huge, multi-page menu's, and "all baking done on premises"... I could only dream of Amtrak food service being comparable.

Here's some of my favorites...

https://www.reodiner.com/menus/menu.pdf

https://www.clover.com/online-ordering/park-west-diner-little-falls

 

[PaTrainFan]

I described the pre-"flex" meals as roughly on par with an Applebee's. Not nearly as well presented, either, with disposable dinnerware. The Canadian may be close to a Capital Grille experience. I can't even begin to think of an appropriate description of flex meals. Gruel, maybe.

 

[Cal]

If only!
If you are referring to the classic "diner's", especially prevalent along the Northeast Corridor area, typically run by ethnic Greek-American's, with their huge, multi-page menu's, and "all baking done on premises"... I could only dream of Amtrak food service being comparable.

Here's some of my favorites...

https://www.reodiner.com/menus/menu.pdf

https://www.clover.com/online-ordering/park-west-diner-little-falls

I was thinking more like, Dennys ya know

 

[20th Century Rider]

I described the pre-"flex" meals as roughly on par with an Applebee's. Not nearly as well presented, either, with disposable dinnerware. The Canadian may be close to a Capital Grille experience. I can't even begin to think of an appropriate description of flex meals. Gruel, maybe.

Whatever... but almost everyone on this forum agrees that flex meals gotta go!

I was just wondering what the 'processing plant' or 'industrial complex' looks like where they massively prepare all those sameness meals and all thousands of look alike brownies???

Just joking! [Or maybe not!]

 

[crescent-zephyr]

I was thinking more like, Dennys ya know

Yeah I think Denny’s, IHOP, Applebee’s, etc. are all appropriate comparisons to the traditional dining car.

Meanwhile I’m not aware of any restaurant that serves TV dinners and a brownie.

 

[flitcraft]

I can't even begin to think of an appropriate description of flex meals. Gruel, maybe.

When we rode the Capitol Limited--pre-COVID but post the introduction of 'flex dining,' where we had to go pick up our own food, we referred to it as "fetch and retch' dining...

 

[me_little_me]

Whatever... but almost everyone on this forum agrees that flex meals gotta go!

I was just wondering what the 'processing plant' or 'industrial complex' looks like where they massively prepare all those sameness meals and all thousands of look alike brownies???

Just joking! [Or maybe not!]

Nope. From here (previews.123rf.com)


The buildings are where the brownies are from.

The pipe in the middle is where the flex meals originate.

 

[Railspike]

I recall riding the Sunset Limited in the late 70s and early 80s when there were no reservations taken for any meal. The Heritage diner had specific hours for each meal but you could go whenever you chose. If the diner was full you just waited. Due to the fact that there were no intercom messages blasting through the train at 7 AM, as is done today, and after sleeping late, my wife and I would stroll in at the early lunch hour for what we considered to be "Brunch". One of the offerings on the Lunch menu was the "Late Riser". The "Late Riser" was 2 eggs (to order), choice of ham, sausage, or bacon, hash browns, and toast. Sometimes we accompanied this offering with a Bloody Mary!! Oh for the days.................

 

[Dakota 400]

Compared to the hoops of boarding Amtrak at Chicago, NYP, or Washington?

It's been awhile since I boarded Amtrak at Chicago or NYP and my most recent experience at Washington was 2018 so things may have changed, but I did not find any difficulty or unpleasantness in boarding the train at those stations.

 

[crescent-zephyr]

It's been awhile since I boarded Amtrak at Chicago or NYP and my most recent experience at Washington was 2018 so things may have changed, but I did not find any difficulty or unpleasantness in boarding the train at those stations.

I haven’t found difficulty or unpleasantness in boarding airplanes either. But if we are talking about hoops to jump through such as

- wait over there until this time.
- now wait in this line until we call you.
- why are you waiting here? You’re train is about to leave you better hurry!

I’ve certainly had that experience in NYP, CHI, and WAS.

 

[Dakota 400]

- wait over there until this time.
- now wait in this line until we call you.
- why are you waiting here? You’re train is about to leave you better hurry!

Our experiences have differed. I have not experienced anything that you described. I understand your reaction to my thoughts. Thanks for replying.

 

[20th Century Rider]

Collectively there are varied experiences when boarding an Amtrak train. Sometimes boarding in CHI can be chaos... it all depends on gate agents, trains being switched last minute to different gates, etc. But most of us know that it's all part of the travel routine!

 

[TC_NYC]

No doubt boarding at Washington/New York or Los Angeles/Chicago is a headache, but the reason I book amtrak is easy boarding at stations like New Carrolton, Glenview, Napreville, Stamford, Alexandria or Anaheim. I'm intentionally calling out smaller stations near big-city hubs. This is really where Amtrak shines in relation to airports and they really need to bring a better system to their big city stations. Hopefully the new Monihan building at NYP brings so improvements, but I doubt it.

 

[crescent-zephyr]

Our experiences have differed. I have not experienced anything that you described. I understand your reaction to my thoughts. Thanks for replying.

What hoops have you experienced at airports though? Perhaps our experiences have differed there as well.

 

[Sidney]

How do you find low bucket rides now that Amsnag is no more?

I know what the low buckets are for the long distance trains. I just punch in dates for the routes I am interested in. Wish Amtrak's website would show fares at a glance like Southwest,but they don't.

 

[user 14106]

I have a new favorite flexible dining meal. The manicotti isn’t half bad (isn’t on the printed or online menu.) I think it’s the best of the bunch. A disclaimer - I don’t mind salt. Just finished it on 97. Photos attached.

 

[jiml]

That doesn’t look more impressive than what I’ve been served in domestic first class or on amtrak dining cars of the past.

Exactly. If I were going to pick an illustrative international Business Class airline meal that wouldn't have been it.

 

[Cal]

No doubt boarding at Washington/New York or Los Angeles/Chicago is a headache, but the reason I book amtrak is easy boarding at stations like New Carrolton, Glenview, Napreville, Stamford, Alexandria or Anaheim. I'm intentionally calling out smaller stations near big-city hubs. This is really where Amtrak shines in relation to airports and they really need to bring a better system to their big city stations. Hopefully the new Monihan building at NYP brings so improvements, but I doubt it.

I have never been to the East Coast. However when I boarded the Starlight from LA last October it was very smooth. They called us to board in the Lounge, we went outside, got a red cap. And they took us to the spot we would board. Train came in, we boarded. It was very simply and not complicated at all.

I will say though, if Amtrak could standardize boarding at all stations, it would be much easier. I really don't love the gates at Eastern stations, you should be able to just walk up and board like at the regular ones. -_-

And on a different note, Amtrak really needs to improve customer service since I have seen SO many Yelp reviews of rude staff. It's so inconsistent..

 

[crescent-zephyr]

I have never been to the East Coast. However when I boarded the Starlight from LA last October it was very smooth. They called us to board in the Lounge, we went outside, got a red cap. And they took us to the spot we would board. Train came in, we boarded. It was very simply and not complicated at all.

I will say though, if Amtrak could standardize boarding at all stations, it would be much easier. I really don't love the gates at Eastern stations, you should be able to just walk up and board like at the regular ones. -_-

And on a different note, Amtrak really needs to improve customer service since I have seen SO many Yelp reviews of rude staff. It's so inconsistent..

LA is probably the best of the “big” stations. I’ve never had any issues there. Not sure if it’s the station layout or just the laid back “chill” California vibe.

 

[Cal]

LA is probably the best of the “big” stations. I’ve never had any issues there. Not sure if it’s the station layout or just the laid back “chill” California vibe.

Probably a mixture of both.

 

[CTANut]

I hope this goes away soon. It tastes like bad McDonald's food.
https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/...nus/routes/Flexible-Dining-Menu-East-0720.pdf

 

[CTANut]

The salads at Wendy's are fresher than the Amtrak salads.

 

[Mailliw]

The other think that bothers me about Flex dining is the massive amount of packaging waste. Everything is single use plastic, and I have doubts as to how much of this actually gets recycled.