Amtrak dining and cafe service

[zetharion]

Cant compete with a $3 burrito

 

[Willbridge]

As a coach passenger on Western LD trains who no longer drinks alcoholic beverages and rarely (heh, heh) eats steak, and can't trust that a dinner slot will be offered to lower level coach passengers, I enjoy breakfast in the diner. Aside from enjoying the conversations, it helps to break up the monotony of the café.

 

[railiner]

On Starlight 14 out of LAX yesterday, despite a very full train, it seemed like anyone who wanted to eat in the diner was able to get a reservation. $45/person for dinner is quite steep in my opinion, especially for the quality of the food, but there were quite a few coach passengers we saw take up Amtrak on the offer. The crew were very nice and were pleasant

Perhaps they charge those prices to coach passengers partly at least, to control demand?

That way, those that really desire the dining car experience can be accommodated…the rest can use the cafe…

 

[MARC Rider]

The biggest problem this time was that the cheesecake was full on frozen, which is something that happens a lot with that particular dish.

I once had a kosher dinner like that. The entree was heated OK, but the cold pasta salad was a pasta popsicle.

 

[Rasputin]

Which is probably the point. I suspect the people that really want to go to the diner for dinner won’t be stopped by the prices. Coach fares + $45 is still a pretty good deal for “dinner in the diner” compared to the cost of sleeper accommodations.

In my experience from pre-pandemic days, I do not think that coach passengers were eating in the dining car in some attempt to live the high life. Most coach passengers that I saw in the dining cars were budget conscious and tended to order the more inexpensive items on the menu. I think they ate in the dining car because they wanted a more substantial and perhaps healthier meal than was available in the cafe car. I do not recall any who ordered the steak. They also probably ate only once or twice in the dining car on a long distance trip and not every meal. I recall being somewhat short of funds on a trip on the Super Continental in 1970 or 71 and ate breakfast and dinner on that trip but skipped lunch.

On a trip on the Southwest Chief a few years ago, I sat with two coach passengers at breakfast. It was clear from their conversation that one of the passengers had virtually no money and was being treated to breakfast by the other passenger. Both passengers had met on the train and those things sometimes happen on a long distance train trip.

 

[stevie]

I once had a kosher dinner like that. The entree was heated OK, but the cold pasta salad was a pasta popsicle.

Just curious -- what does the kosher meal consist of? Is it available for all meals? Do they rotate them or offer any options, either ahead of time or onboard?

 

[Mystic River Dragon]

In my experience from pre-pandemic days, I do not think that coach passengers were eating in the dining car in some attempt to live the high life. Most coach passengers that I saw in the dining cars were budget conscious and tended to order the more inexpensive items on the menu. I think they ate in the dining car because they wanted a more substantial and perhaps healthier meal than was available in the cafe car. I do not recall any who ordered the steak. They also probably ate only once or twice in the dining car on a long distance trip and not every meal. I recall being somewhat short of funds on a trip on the Super Continental in 1970 or 71 and ate breakfast and dinner on that trip but skipped lunch.

On a trip on the Southwest Chief a few years ago, I sat with two coach passengers at breakfast. It was clear from their conversation that one of the passengers had virtually no money and was being treated to breakfast by the other passenger. Both passengers had met on the train and those things sometimes happen on a long distance train trip.

I noticed the same pattern on the Silver trains to Florida back in the original traditional dining car days. When I was in a roomette and seated with a coach passenger at dinner, I noticed they ordered a basic meal —no drinks, no dessert.

A couple of times when I ordered dessert, I would say, “Oh my—I can’t possibly eat all this—would you be kind enough to share it with me?” The crews who knew me would bring an extra plate and fork without me asking. And the others would bring them if asked.

Not sure if I could get away with it today with lots of new and perhaps stricter dining car crews.

 

[jis]

Not sure if I could get away with it today with lots of new and perhaps stricter dining car crews.

With today's fixed price meals they would have no opportunity to be budget conscious once they step into the Diner. Either you pay for the whole shebang or not, irrespective of what you actually eat. This is a step that is logically consistent with including food in the ticket price of Sleepers. Once you step aboard a Sleeper you pay for the whole food shebang, irrespective of what you eat or not. I know since I seldom eat all the offered meals. It is way too much for me.

 

[Mystic River Dragon]

With today's fixed price meals they would have no opportunity to be budget conscious once they step into the Diner. Either you pay for the whole shebang or not, irrespective of what you actually eat. This is a step that is logically consistent with including food in the ticket price of Sleepers. Once you step aboard a Sleeper you pay for the whole food shebang, irrespective of what you eat or not. I know since I seldom eat all the offered meals. It is way too much for me.

Yes, I had forgotten the new system. Thank you for reminding me.

 

[Rasputin]

In the past my wife has very often asked for her dessert to go and then she has taken the dessert to the lounge car and given it to a coach passenger whom she has befriended.

 

[dlagrua]

With trips coming up shortly I have a few question on the current beverage policy for sleeper passengers. I realize that this has been discussed many times but since there have been a few changes updated information would be helpful
Are non-alcoholic drinks still included in the fare for NEC business class? I believe the newspaper went away quite a while ago.
Are all soda/ice tea/ coffee drinks still included on the CL with the flex meals and on request.? . Is one alcoholic beverage still included?
On the Western trains w traditional dining do you still have the option of a soda/tea/coffee refill? I don't believe that an Alcoholic beverage was ever included.
Replies are appreciated

 

[zephyr17]

Newspapers stopped being loaded on all trains some time ago. Which is a shame because I used to really enjoy local papers like the Kalispell Daily Inter Lake or the Minot Daily News. USA Today, not so much.

With the reintroduction of traditional dining on the Western trains, they continued the Flex practice of including one adult beverage at dinner. You can get refills of non-alcoholic beverages under traditional dining.

I'll leave it to others to answer the other NEC and Capitol questions because I ride those infrequently.

 

[Mystic River Dragon]

You still get free nonalcoholic drinks on the NEC in business class.

When I went from NJ to CT on one of the Regionals at the end of March, I got my free coffee with no problem.

 

[stevie]

On the Western trains w traditional dining do you still have the option of a soda/tea/coffee refill? I don't believe that an Alcoholic beverage was ever included.
Replies are appreciated

For sleeper passengers, every trip I've taken on the CS and CZ has included one alcoholic beverage with dinner. If you want more than one at dinner, or if you want one with lunch, they'll serve it and simply bill you at the table after the meal, as a typical restaurant would. Soda, tea, and coffee are unlimited in the dining car if you are booked in a sleeper. There is also complimentary coffee and water (and maybe tea?) in your sleeper car.

https://www.amtrak.com/dining-car

 

[ratinthekitchen]

For sleeper passengers, every trip I've taken on the CS and CZ has included one alcoholic beverage with dinner. If you want more than one at dinner, or if you want one with lunch, they'll serve it and simply bill you at the table after the meal, as a typical restaurant would. Soda, tea, and coffee are unlimited in the dining car if you are booked in a sleeper. There is also complimentary coffee and water (and maybe tea?) in your sleeper car.

https://www.amtrak.com/dining-car

Are the liquor options the 50ml miniatures that they use on airlines? Can sleeper car folks get a soda to go at the end of a meal?

 

[zetharion]

Dont know the size of the alcohol but you can get a soda at any time. The attendant can get it for you or you can go to the cafe car show that your in a sleeper and they will give you a free one as well.

 

[zephyr17]

Are the liquor options the 50ml miniatures that they use on airlines? Can sleeper car folks get a soda to go at the end of a meal?

Yep, spirits are from airline minis, although they'll open and mix them before serving them. They also have single serving canned cocktails (Moscow Mule and Margarita). The selection is limited, they no longer have Scotch at all for example.

 

[PVD]

Yep, spirits are from airline minis, although they'll open and mix them before serving them. They also have single serving canned cocktails (Moscow Mule and Margarita). The selection is limited, they no longer have Scotch at all for example.

Acela still lists Dewars, but since I don't drink it I can't say if that is real.

 

[user 14106]

You still get free nonalcoholic drinks on the NEC in business class.

EXCEPT for business on Acela. Although on Acela they consider the whole train (outside of first class) to be business class in terms of food and beverage business class on Acela is equivalent to coach - nothing is complementary in the Acela Cafe. Only first class passengers on Acela get anything complementary.

 

[zephyr17]

Acela still lists Dewars, but since I don't drink it I can't say if that is real.

The national menu no longer has it and I can state from experience Scotch of any kind is no longer on the LDs.

 

[Willbridge]

In my experience from pre-pandemic days, I do not think that coach passengers were eating in the dining car in some attempt to live the high life. Most coach passengers that I saw in the dining cars were budget conscious and tended to order the more inexpensive items on the menu. I think they ate in the dining car because they wanted a more substantial and perhaps healthier meal than was available in the cafe car. I do not recall any who ordered the steak. They also probably ate only once or twice in the dining car on a long distance trip and not every meal. I recall being somewhat short of funds on a trip on the Super Continental in 1970 or 71 and ate breakfast and dinner on that trip but skipped lunch.

On a trip on the Southwest Chief a few years ago, I sat with two coach passengers at breakfast. It was clear from their conversation that one of the passengers had virtually no money and was being treated to breakfast by the other passenger. Both passengers had met on the train and those things sometimes happen on a long distance train trip.

You nailed it. Oddly enough, it was also on the Super Continental in 1967 toward the end of my big trip that I ran short of cash (in those days college students didn't get credit cards). The consist included a cafè car cut in between the coaches where I could still afford a meal or two a day. A couple of years later I could afford the meals, but for different reasons people were treating me. I was in my U.S. Army uniform and it was something nice that they could do. In a traditional dining car there were a lot of things going on.

 

[stevie]

Are the liquor options the 50ml miniatures that they use on airlines? Can sleeper car folks get a soda to go at the end of a meal?

In my experience, on the Coast Starlight and California Zephyr (both of which have Traditional Dining):

First question: No, they don't give you tiny plastic bottles like in coach on an airline. If you are seated in the dining car, they mix the drink for you, and your server will bring it to your table in a glass or plastic cup. It's restaurant-like. If you want to take the drink to your room after the meal, they will serve it in a plastic cup with a lid.

Second question: I believe so.

Drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, are available in the café for all passengers. The café is downstairs in the Sightseer Lounge (observation car).

If you're in a sleeper, you can bring your own alcohol on board, but you are only allowed to consume it in your room. If you want to have alcoholic drinks in the Sightseer Lounge, you have to buy it from the café.

Again, this is in my experience.

What train are you planning on riding? I might be able to answer any further questions.

 

[MARC Rider]

Just curious -- what does the kosher meal consist of? Is it available for all meals? Do they rotate them or offer any options, either ahead of time or onboard?

This thread has a review of the kosher meals served in 2021:

https://www.amtraktrains.com/threads/my-2021-gathering-food-thread.80101/

 

[Green Maned Lion]

Perhaps they charge those prices to coach passengers partly at least, to control demand?

That way, those that really desire the dining car experience can be accommodated…the rest can use the cafe…

I was thinking of a menu I saw at a restaurant that called itself a diner but only sold a la carte (so not a Diner). Appetizers were $8-10, roast chicken was $19.99, a ny strip steak was $29.99, and a slice of entirely mediocre pie was $8, while a bowl (scoop) of ice cream was $7.50. $35.40- $47.99, no drink included (alcohol or otherwise). Add the ludicrous $4 for a fountain drink, and let’s say $12 for an adult beverage and the tally for that is $51.40-$63.99.

While I am not going to say Amtraks food is the greatest, the fish dish I initially ordered at this place was a reject, and the $22 chicken francaise I got was just barely edible and would have been considered a reject had I not already done this- and that is the first time I have sent back a dish in my adult life. I’m not saying the $45 is a good deal, but it is certainly not ridiculous, let alone intentionally discouraging.

Side note @mysticriverdragon avoid the town and country diner across from the former Mastoris. Good gravy it’s bad.

 

[toddinde]

Perhaps they charge those prices to coach passengers partly at least, to control demand?

That way, those that really desire the dining car experience can be accommodated…the rest can use the cafe…

I’ve noted this before, but in 1965, the steak dinner on the New York Central’s Empire State Express, without cocktail, was $4.95. That’s actually slightly more, adjusted for inflation, than Amtrak’s all inclusive $45 not considering that Amtrak throws in a glass of wine. If you go to a normal restaurant, you wouldn’t bat an eye at $45 for a steak dinner with wine. For the economical traveler, the cafe car food is much improved. You can get a fresh salad, blue corn tamales, or oatmeal for breakfast, which was my menu last time I spent a day on a long distance trains. Actually, quite good, and eating in the top level of the Superliner has vistas akin to a UP Dome Diner. Finally, anyone interested in bringing their own food could consider a thermal pot. No heat source, and it will keep food hot for many hours. The food service situation isn’t bad at all actually and I’m convinced it will get better if we protect and grow the system. Those with sticker shock over the prices might want to just be a little more realistic. The railroad dining car was always a luxury that coach passengers traveling on a budget usually strategically avoided.