Amtrak dining and cafe service

[PaTrainFan]

Amtrak is always an adventure. Got this email today.
***********
We are contacting you about your recent trip on train 153


We have been informed by one of our food suppliers, Fresh Ideation Food Group LLC, that some of their Fresh Creative Cuisine Grab and Go products are being recalled. This recall was initiated because the products have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria. Products include sandwiches, salads, snacks, yogurt, wraps and related products, and were available on Acela and Northeast Regional trains between Jan. 24 and Jan. 29, as announced by the FDA on Feb. 3.

****
It also said all subsequent testing was negative but you should destroy any products you retained. Fortunately I had a good breakfast before boarding in Alexandria, so just got a cup of coffee.

I am sure that after receiving this message a few folks got sudden tummy aches and quickly retained counsel.

 

[NYP2NFL01]

But of course, nothing quite happens until the proverbial fat lady sings.

Okay, done! Now, how about dinner?

 

[Steve4031]

When she's done singing they can bring me some pancakes on 48 in a couple of weeks.

 

[Bob Dylan]

When she's done singing they can bring me some pancakes on 48 in a couple of weeks.

But remember, they'll be Flex Cakes!

 

[Steve4031]

But remember, they'll be Flex Cakes!

Not flexcakes, PANcakes. LOL. I am demanding full dining car service even though I know that is unrealistic. LOL.

 

[user 14106]

I actually find the flexible dining pancakes one of the better options - but that's just me.

 

[MARC Rider]

Amtrak is always an adventure. Got this email today.
***********
We are contacting you about your recent trip on train 153


We have been informed by one of our food suppliers, Fresh Ideation Food Group LLC, that some of their Fresh Creative Cuisine Grab and Go products are being recalled. This recall was initiated because the products have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria. Products include sandwiches, salads, snacks, yogurt, wraps and related products, and were available on Acela and Northeast Regional trains between Jan. 24 and Jan. 29, as announced by the FDA on Feb. 3.

****
It also said all subsequent testing was negative but you should destroy any products you retained. Fortunately I had a good breakfast before boarding in Alexandria, so just got a cup of coffee.

Great. I rode the Vermonter and an Acela on the 24th. I got two of these emails. Fortunately all I had from the cafe car on the Vermonter was a coffee and a packaged coffee cake, and I ate nothing on the Acela. But the fruit cup is one of my go-to items when having a cafe catr breakfast. I'm glad I had my breakfast at home that morning.

 

[zephyr17]

Not flexcakes, PANcakes. LOL. I am demanding full dining car service even though I know that is unrealistic. LOL.

Even in traditional dining, both the pancakes and French toast are packaged, reheated products.

 

[OBS]

Even in traditional dining, both the pancakes and French toast are packaged, reheated products.

Not true about Pancakes...

 

[Winecliff Station]

Not true about Pancakes...

You mean there’s an actual griddle with pancakes made from scratch? Yummy!

 

[user 14106]

Even in traditional dining, both the pancakes and French toast are packaged, reheated products.

No pancakes on traditional dining. With a number of traditional dining meals various meal components are pre cooked at the commissary and sealed in packaging - French toast being an example. Not exactly the same as flexible dining which is a fully prepared ready to serve packaged meal.

 

[crescent-zephyr]

i just took the coast starlight southbound in coach and had an excellent Greek salad from the cafe car. I also got a marshmallow dream bar (big rice Krispy treat) and a Pallegrino.

Better than flex I’ll tell you that but I still would have eaten in the diner if it was an option.

Had a great trip with a fantastic crew though!

 

[crescent-zephyr]

You mean there’s an actual griddle with pancakes made from scratch? Yummy!

The dining cars do have a grill. I can’t say for certain that pancakes from traditional dining were made on the grill, but they tasted like they were.

 

[BowlerMan3]

Not flexcakes, PANcakes. LOL. I am demanding full dining car service even though I know that is unrealistic. LOL.

They already have traditional dinning on all routes west of San Anotniono and Chicago except a tiny portion of the Empire Builder, and the Auto train also has traditional dinning. The rest of the train still have flexible but I heard for a youtube site that will change eventually to traditional dinning.

 

[Fenway]

The Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority made a wise choice 21 years ago by contracting out food service on the Downeaster and Amtrak should take notes.

I was spoiled as my first long-distance train was traveling from Boston to Miami in 1967 on Seaboard just before the merger. My Mom refused to fly so we took the New Haven to NYC ( parlor car ) stayed in NY overnight and then to Miami. It remains a wonderful memory.

My Mom was inspired by this



As others have mentioned in this thread Amtrak should investigate something like this as a long-distance dining option.
The meals are not microwaved

https://www.tovala.com/menu
I used Tovala as an example and they are based in Chicago.

 

[A.H. Rudd]

Now hear this, now hear this: aboard Train 92, The Silver Meteor, my LSA has informed me that traditional dining is returning to this route on or around March 15.

And there was much rejoicing.

 

[jis]

Now hear this, now hear this: aboard Train 92, The Silver Meteor, my LSA has informed me that traditional dining is returning to this route on or around March 15.

And there was much rejoicing.

Now only if we could realize that train 92 is actually the Silver Star, not the Silver Meteor

 

[joelkfla]

Now hear this, now hear this: aboard Train 92, The Silver Meteor, my LSA has informed me that traditional dining is returning to this route on or around March 15.

And there was much rejoicing.

Not good enough! I want it to return on March 7!

 

[baseballfan]

Is there any consensus regarding Coach passengers on the Coast Starlight having paid access to the diner in the same many that appeared to be the case for Business Class passengers when that service was available. I hate having it as a toss up as it will determine what food I buy in advance. Thanks.

 

[trimetbusfan]

Is there any consensus regarding Coach passengers on the Coast Starlight having paid access to the diner in the same many that appeared to be the case for Business Class passengers when that service was available. I hate having it as a toss up as it will determine what food I buy in advance. Thanks.

I was on 14(16) yesterday and dinner on day 2 was restricted to sleepers only. (Made very clear by announcements). There was also a sign on the door to the dining car that said ‘sleeping car passengers only’ past this point.

(This crew was only running with one LSA and one service attendant).

I will be on 11 in a few days in will report back if the situation has changed.

 

[baseballfan]

I was on 14(16) yesterday and dinner on day 2 was restricted to sleepers only. (Made very clear by announcements). There was also a sign on the door to the dining car that said ‘sleeping car passengers only’ past this point.

(This crew was only running with one LSA and one service attendant).

I will be on 11 in a few days in will report back if the situation has changed.

Thank you. I will be riding before then so will report back myself. I think the safe bet is to take food and see what happens.

 

[zetharion]

What are the odds of The Eagle or the Cardinal getting traditional dining by April 9th? lol

 

[user 14106]

What are the odds of The Eagle or the Cardinal getting traditional dining by April 9th? lol

Zero. Amtrak is returning traditional dining to the silvers and coach passengers to the diner on the western trains “sometime” in 2023. I wouldn’t expect anything too crazy beyond that before FY2024.

Traditional dining on the cardinal would be quite notable - it hasn’t had what we now call traditional dining for a number of years.

 

[Sidney]

What are the odds of The Eagle or the Cardinal getting traditional dining by April 9th? lol

Poor,neglected Texas Eagle. Only Western train to not return to traditional dining and STILL no Sightseer Car. I’ll be on the Sunset/Eagle tomorrow from LA to Chicago. In San Antonio the change is akin from going to a third world country from a first world country. I had the soggiest breakfast sandwich on the Lake Shore coming in. At least the cereal was good.

 

[stevie]

Is there any consensus regarding Coach passengers on the Coast Starlight having paid access to the diner in the same many that appeared to be the case for Business Class passengers when that service was available. I hate having it as a toss up as it will determine what food I buy in advance. Thanks.

I rode the Starlight most recently from Los Angeles to Oakland in September 2022. At the time, the Dining Car was available to Sleepers (included, of course) and Business Class (paid separately) -- but there was no option for standard Coach passengers.