Amtrak dining and cafe service

[crescent-zephyr]

Let's just hope it comes back at all, I don't think it has been confirmed at all yet, still a rumor, right?

I think the western trains are somewhat confirmed. I could see the eastern trains getting a cross country cafe style hybrid (referring to the original ccc service) which would be fine for single overnight trains.

 

[Cal]

I think the western trains are somewhat confirmed. I could see the eastern trains getting a cross country cafe style hybrid (referring to the original ccc service) which would be fine for single overnight trains.

Mhm, but I'm just saying, don't hold your breath...

 

[Cal]

Going a bit back now...

So according to this article, Amtrak DID put a CCC to replace the Parlour Car after it was discontinued. Not sure if this is true, but it's how I read it.

https://liveandletsfly.com/amtrak-coast-starlight-bedroom-review/
Decent article too

 

[Bob Dylan]

Going a bit back now...

So according to this article, Amtrak DID put a CCC to replace the Parlour Car after it was discontinued. Not sure if this is true, but it's how I read it.

https://liveandletsfly.com/amtrak-coast-starlight-bedroom-review/
Decent article too

CCCs and Superliner Lounge Cars were substituted for Parlor Cars on occasion, but I'm not aware of them being a regular part of the Consist for the Starlight, but perhaps they did for a short while after the Parlor Cars were all Parked.

 

[zephyr17]

Going a bit back now...

So according to this article, Amtrak DID put a CCC to replace the Parlour Car after it was discontinued. Not sure if this is true, but it's how I read it.

https://liveandletsfly.com/amtrak-coast-starlight-bedroom-review/
Decent article too

It is not true.

I've ridden the Starlight a few times since the withdrawal of the PPC and before COVID. They did not run any type of Diner/Lounge ("CCC"), just a standard western Superliner consist with a diner and a Sightseer.

I've also ridden it while they still had PPC service with a Diner/Lounge as a (poor) substitute.

 

[crescent-zephyr]

I've also ridden it while they still had PPC service with a Diner/Lounge as a (poor) substitute.

Yeah the ccc wouldn’t be a great substitute for a PPC although better than nothing.

I rode once with an SSL as a substitute and it was just as good as the ppc, the bigger windows made up for the lack of history and charm in my book. (Although I was glad that all my other trips I got a ppc! )

 

[Bob Dylan]

Yeah the ccc wouldn’t be a great substitute for a PPC although better than nothing.

I rode once with an SSL as a substitute and it was just as good as the ppc, the bigger windows made up for the lack of history and charm in my book. (Although I was glad that all my other trips I got a ppc! )

Ditto!

 

[Bob Dylan]

It is not true.

I've ridden the Starlight a few times since the withdrawal of the PPC and before COVID. They did not run any type of Diner/Lounge ("CCC"), just a standard western Superliner consist with a diner and a Sightseer.

I've also ridden it while they still had PPC service with a Diner/Lounge as a (poor) substitute.

Ditto.

 

[Cal]

So it seems the writer of the article got a little confused!

 

[Jeffreymg]

My brother and I are going to try again and take the Zephyr from Denver than the Coast Starlight to Portland and finally the Empire Builder to Chicago during the 1st week of August. We tried to do the same route last year but no dining car service so we cancelled that trip, hopefully this time it will work.

JeffG

 

[A.H. Rudd]

On Monday I took the City of New Orleans from CHI to NOL. My sleeping car attendant was a New Orleans crew base Amtrak chef who just got back on the extra board after a long furlough. He informed me that traditional dining (crab cakes, steaks, French toast, etc) will be returning to ALL of Amtrak's long distance trains this summer. This includes the CONO, LSL, Capital Limited, Cardinal, and Crescent. Any Amtrak train that runs with a diner! Hearing this news from him was a highlight of the trip, and I'm pleased to share it here.

 

[Bob Dylan]

On Monday I took the City of New Orleans from CHI to NOL. My sleeping car attendant was a New Orleans crew base Amtrak chef who just got back on the extra board after a long furlough. He informed me that traditional dining (crab cakes, steaks, French toast, etc) will be returning to ALL of Amtrak's long distance trains this summer. This includes the CONO, LSL, Capital Limited, Cardinal, and Crescent. Any Amtrak train that runs with a diner! Hearing this news from him was a highlight of the trip, and I'm pleased to share it here.

Hopefully this is True!

 

[fillyjonk]

On Monday I took the City of New Orleans from CHI to NOL. My sleeping car attendant was a New Orleans crew base Amtrak chef who just got back on the extra board after a long furlough. He informed me that traditional dining (crab cakes, steaks, French toast, etc) will be returning to ALL of Amtrak's long distance trains this summer. This includes the CONO, LSL, Capital Limited, Cardinal, and Crescent. Any Amtrak train that runs with a diner! Hearing this news from him was a highlight of the trip, and I'm pleased to share it here.

Awesome. I will probably experience the box meals (traveling 5/18) going outbound but maybe by 6/4 when I return they'll be back to diners? I hope? At any rate - happy that Amtrak is still going and now that it's safer to travel again I can go visit family again

 

[crescent-zephyr]

On Monday I took the City of New Orleans from CHI to NOL. My sleeping car attendant was a New Orleans crew base Amtrak chef who just got back on the extra board after a long furlough. He informed me that traditional dining (crab cakes, steaks, French toast, etc) will be returning to ALL of Amtrak's long distance trains this summer. This includes the CONO, LSL, Capital Limited, Cardinal, and Crescent. Any Amtrak train that runs with a diner! Hearing this news from him was a highlight of the trip, and I'm pleased to share it here.

Wonderful news! Also... the New Orleans based chefs are some of the best imho!

 

[tim49424]

Also... the New Orleans based chefs are some of the best imho!

My stomach disagrees. I'm not allowed to eat that spicy stuff. I get extremely sick when I do. My only trip on the CONO, I purposely routed my trip so I'd head north from New Orleans to Chicago.

 

[Dakota 400]

He informed me that traditional dining (crab cakes, steaks, French toast, etc) will be returning to ALL of Amtrak's long distance trains this summer. This includes the CONO, LSL, Capital Limited, Cardinal, and Crescent. Any Amtrak train that runs with a diner

May it be so!

 

[Cal]

He informed me that traditional dining (crab cakes, steaks, French toast, etc) will be returning to ALL of Amtrak's long distance trains this summer. This includes the CONO, LSL, Capital Limited, Cardinal, and Crescent. Any Amtrak train that runs with a diner! Hearing this news from him was a highlight of the trip, and I'm pleased to share it here.

I REALLY hope it's here before late July, as I'm taking the Cardinal in late July (first ever Eastern train) and that would be such a magical experience.

To the others, how valid do you think this info is?

 

[Bob Dylan]

My stomach disagrees. I'm not allowed to eat that spicy stuff. I get extremely sick when I do. My only trip on the CONO, I purposely routed my trip so I'd head north from New Orleans to Chicago.

The CONO used to have really good Food and Chefs back when LD Trains all had Regional Specialties.

Especially good were the Cajun Dishes, if you could handle Spicey Food. My favorite was one of the Deserts, a Chocolate Pecan Bourbon Pie that was Baked in Chicago!

Then the National Menus came along, and it was OK for awhile till they took the Chefs off this Route and went to Heat and Eat in the CCC, similar to how the Cardinal operated..

After the fiasco of "Fresh and Contemporary" was tried and met with near Unanimous Dissaproval, we got what we have now, Glorified TV Dinners and Tasetless Sugar and Sodium Low Quality offerings in the Diners for Sleeping Car Passengers only.

 

[Cal]

If all trains go to traditional dining, I hope the Cardinal FINALLY get's a proper diner

 

[tim49424]

The CONO used to have really good Food and Chefs back when LD Trains all had Regional Specialties.

Especially good were the Cajun Dishes, if you could handle Spicey Food. My favorite was one of the Deserts, a Chocolate Pecan Bourbon Pie that was Baked in Chicago!

Then the National Menus came along, and it was OK for awhile till they took the Chefs off this Route and went to Heat and Eat in the CCC, similar to how the Cardinal operated..

After the fiasco of "Fresh and Contemporary" was tried and met with near Unanimous Dissaproval, we got what we have now, Glorified TV Dinners and Tasetless Sugar and Sodium Low Quality offerings in the Diners for Sleeping Car Passengers only.

I rode the CONO when the chefs were still there. I had my standard flat iron steak for dinner on the way north. The offerings that you describe as being the current ones sound like a bland version of the flex. They might be better for you but still pretty gross for sleepers also not getting full value of the cost of getting a room. It’ll be interesting to see the menu being offered on the CONO once the chefs are reinstated. Same is true with the Cardinal and LSL.

 

[Bob Dylan]

I rode the CONO when the chefs were still there. I had my standard flat iron steak for dinner on the way north. The offerings that you describe as being the current ones sound like a bland version of the flex. They might be better for you but still pretty gross for sleepers also not getting full value of the cost of getting a room. It’ll be interesting to see the menu being offered on the CONO once the chefs are reinstated. Same is true with the Cardinal and LSL.

Agreed!

 

[railiner]

On Monday I took the City of New Orleans from CHI to NOL. My sleeping car attendant was a New Orleans crew base Amtrak chef who just got back on the extra board after a long furlough. He informed me that traditional dining (crab cakes, steaks, French toast, etc) will be returning to ALL of Amtrak's long distance trains this summer. This includes the CONO, LSL, Capital Limited, Cardinal, and Crescent. Any Amtrak train that runs with a diner! Hearing this news from him was a highlight of the trip, and I'm pleased to share it here.

Good news....glad I waited to use my voucher. I was going to use the Meteor this past weekend for a quick trip to NY, but decided to fly RT instead. I'll use it when the diner's return to full service.

 

[user 14106]

Had another superb meal on the auto train coming north last night - the pork shank with bbq sauce was delicious. If they used the current auto train menu as the basis for the “new” traditional dining elsewhere I would not complain.

 

[Cal]

Had another superb meal on the auto train coming north last night - the pork shank with bbq sauce was delicious. If they used the current auto train menu as the basis for the “new” traditional dining elsewhere I would not complain.

How is it different than other trains?

 

[user 14106]

How is it different than other trains?

It’s the only train with chef prepared meals! Compared to previous traditional dining - it’s completely non a l a carte - there’s basically a few set choices with not a lot of customization and there’s no price associated with (only customization is on the steak they’ll cook it how you want it and you pick your dessert.) there’s a beef option, a pork option, a chicken option, a fish option, and a pasta option (manicotti) and a couple kids meals. They come as packaged deals with set sides.