Complete Tray Meals

[dart330]

In the amenities section of the San Joaquin route page it lists "Complete Tray Meals".

On the timetable itself it says "Carryout tray meals from the serving counter and sandwiches, snacks and beverages on all trains."

I did some searching, but haven't come up with any descriptions of what is included in a tray meal, or how much they cost.

Has anyone tried one of these? Any good?

 

[MrFSS]

In the amenities section of the San Joaquin route page it lists "Complete Tray Meals".
On the timetable itself it says "Carryout tray meals from the serving counter and sandwiches, snacks and beverages on all trains."

I did some searching, but haven't come up with any descriptions of what is included in a tray meal, or how much they cost.

Has anyone tried one of these? Any good?

I haven't had one on the San Joaquin but have on a Surfliner. I think what they mean is, you buy whatever you want and they put it on a tray for you to take back to your seat. It isn't a fixed set of menu items or costs. At least that's the way it seems to be on a Surfliner.

 

[the_traveler]

In the amenities section of the San Joaquin route page it lists "Complete Tray Meals".
On the timetable itself it says "Carryout tray meals from the serving counter and sandwiches, snacks and beverages on all trains."

I did some searching, but haven't come up with any descriptions of what is included in a tray meal, or how much they cost.

Has anyone tried one of these? Any good?

I had one last year. It is kind of like a "regular" dining car meal, but in the cafe car. (Of course the main course is prepackaged and reheated.) You can, if you want, take it back to your seat (I think) - or eat it at a booth in the cafe car.

I forgot what I had, but it was not hot dogs or hamburgers. I think it may have been something like salmon or beef. And I think (but I'm not sure) that it included a roll and beverage too. The price was reasonable too - IIRC in the $7-10 range.

 

[Bob Dylan]

In the amenities section of the San Joaquin route page it lists "Complete Tray Meals".
On the timetable itself it says "Carryout tray meals from the serving counter and sandwiches, snacks and beverages on all trains."

I did some searching, but haven't come up with any descriptions of what is included in a tray meal, or how much they cost.

Has anyone tried one of these? Any good?

I had one last year. It is kind of like a "regular" dining car meal, but in the cafe car. (Of course the main course is prepackaged and reheated.) You can, if you want, take it back to your seat (I think) - or eat it at a booth in the cafe car.

I forgot what I had, but it was not hot dogs or hamburgers. I think it may have been something like salmon or beef. And I think (but I'm not sure) that it included a roll and beverage too. The price was reasonable too - IIRC in the $7-10 range.

Would they be like the box meals served on the EB from PDX-SPK/SPK-PDX since the diner goes to/from SEA?

 

[the_traveler]

Would they be like the box meals served on the EB from PDX-SPK/SPK-PDX since the diner goes to/from SEA?

No, it was a regular (plastic) plated hot meal!

 

[RTOlson]

The sample menu for San Joaquin and Capitol Corridor is available on the Amtrak California Web site.

The menu is a PDF so here is the relevant portion in text:

Entrees (all entrees include coffee or tea) 
Breakfast Frittata ..........................................7.75 
Rich egg custard made with country style white bread, Canadian bacon, 
broccoli, tomato slices, green onions and sharp cheddar cheese ~ served with  
hash browns and fresh fruit  (312 calories) 

Cheese Omelet...............................................7.75 
Served with sour cream, country potatoes, fresh fruit and buttermilk biscuit 
(390 calories) 

Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad....................8.50 
Grilled chicken strips over a bed of spring mix with cherry tomatoes, grated 
parmesan cheese, and croutons ~ served with an Italian breadstick (453 calories) 

Asiago Cheese & Garlic Ravioli ...............9.00 
Mini ravioli with carbonara alfredo sauce ~ served with garden salad and 
Italian breadstick (851 calories) 

Pot Roast .........................................................9.00 
Slow cooked, seasoned beef pot roast  ~ served with brown gravy, mashed 
potatoes, baby carrots, garden salad and Italian breadstick (782 calories)

I think I had the pasta dish when I traveled last December although it might be a different item because I remember it having chicken. They're generally pretty good although mine was a little soggy because of the reheating process (in a microwave IIRC). It's a nice change of pace from the usual cafe car fare.

 

[jmbgeg]

The sample menu for San Joaquin and Capitol Corridor is available on the Amtrak California Web site.
The menu is a PDF so here is the relevant portion in text:

Entrees (all entrees include coffee or tea) 
Breakfast Frittata ..........................................7.75 
Rich egg custard made with country style white bread, Canadian bacon, 
broccoli, tomato slices, green onions and sharp cheddar cheese ~ served with  
hash browns and fresh fruit  (312 calories) 

Cheese Omelet...............................................7.75 
Served with sour cream, country potatoes, fresh fruit and buttermilk biscuit 
(390 calories) 

Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad....................8.50 
Grilled chicken strips over a bed of spring mix with cherry tomatoes, grated 
parmesan cheese, and croutons ~ served with an Italian breadstick (453 calories) 

Asiago Cheese & Garlic Ravioli ...............9.00 
Mini ravioli with carbonara alfredo sauce ~ served with garden salad and 
Italian breadstick (851 calories) 

Pot Roast .........................................................9.00 
Slow cooked, seasoned beef pot roast  ~ served with brown gravy, mashed 
potatoes, baby carrots, garden salad and Italian breadstick (782 calories)

I think I had the pasta dish when I traveled last December although it might be a different item because I remember it having chicken. They're generally pretty good although mine was a little soggy because of the reheating process (in a microwave IIRC). It's a nice change of pace from the usual cafe car fare.

I must have been in a "zone" and not paying attention during my 2-3 San Joaquins round trips per year the past several years. I saw combo options (e.g. sandwich, chips, beverage) but don't recall entree options.

 

[dart330]

Thanks for posting that up, I didn't even think to look on the Amtrak California website. Looks like it could use some updating.

Nice to see those Grab-N-Go lunches, that will come in handy.

 

[Casinocim]

The sample menu for San Joaquin and Capitol Corridor is available on the Amtrak California Web site.
The menu is a PDF so here is the relevant portion in text:

Entrees (all entrees include coffee or tea) 
Breakfast Frittata ..........................................7.75 
Rich egg custard made with country style white bread, Canadian bacon, 
broccoli, tomato slices, green onions and sharp cheddar cheese ~ served with  
hash browns and fresh fruit  (312 calories) 

Cheese Omelet...............................................7.75 
Served with sour cream, country potatoes, fresh fruit and buttermilk biscuit 
(390 calories) 

Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad....................8.50 
Grilled chicken strips over a bed of spring mix with cherry tomatoes, grated 
parmesan cheese, and croutons ~ served with an Italian breadstick (453 calories) 

Asiago Cheese & Garlic Ravioli ...............9.00 
Mini ravioli with carbonara alfredo sauce ~ served with garden salad and 
Italian breadstick (851 calories) 

Pot Roast .........................................................9.00 
Slow cooked, seasoned beef pot roast  ~ served with brown gravy, mashed 
potatoes, baby carrots, garden salad and Italian breadstick (782 calories)

I think I had the pasta dish when I traveled last December although it might be a different item because I remember it having chicken. They're generally pretty good although mine was a little soggy because of the reheating process (in a microwave IIRC). It's a nice change of pace from the usual cafe car fare.

Well lookee here,

On these trains the pot roast is only $9.00, on the SWC it's $22.50

 

[sechs]

To the best of my knowledge, the entrees went away some time earlier this year, when the San Joaquins and Capitol Corridor harmonized their cafe car menus. I haven't been in a Capitol Corridor cafe car recently, but, since they seem to share a menu, I presume the offerings are the same.

 

[RTOlson]

I haven't been on San Joaquin or Capitol Corridor in a few months, but both routes have shared the same menu for years. However, on this same menu are items that are unique to each route (e.g. entrees for San Joaquin and specialty alcohol for Capitols).

Have they standardized this menu further? I don't know, but I might find out next week.

 

[sechs]

They have shared menu items for years; they didn't share actual menus.

I didn't note any train-specific items on the menus aboard the San Joaquins, and certainly no more entrees.

 

[RTOlson]

For fear of getting into another battle over semantics, how is it possible to download a menu that applies to both the Capitol Corridor and San Joaquin? This same type of menu for both routes has been available for quite some time.

IIRC, the menus for seatbacks is the same (dare I say, shared?). However, the menu displayed in the respective cafe cars displays solely the items for the route it's on.

 

[tp49]

For fear of getting into another battle over semantics, how is it possible to download a menu that applies to both the Capitol Corridor and San Joaquin? This same type of menu for both routes has been available for quite some time.
IIRC, the menus for seatbacks is the same (dare I say, shared?). However, the menu displayed in the respective cafe cars displays solely the items for the route it's on.

I don't remember the entree's ever being offered on the CC. They used the same menu in the seatbacks but the menu's clearly stated that entree's were available on the SJ only.

 

[bretton88]

The sample menu for San Joaquin and Capitol Corridor is available on the Amtrak California Web site.
The menu is a PDF so here is the relevant portion in text:

Entrees (all entrees include coffee or tea) 
Breakfast Frittata ..........................................7.75 
Rich egg custard made with country style white bread, Canadian bacon, 
broccoli, tomato slices, green onions and sharp cheddar cheese ~ served with  
hash browns and fresh fruit  (312 calories) 

Cheese Omelet...............................................7.75 
Served with sour cream, country potatoes, fresh fruit and buttermilk biscuit 
(390 calories) 

Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad....................8.50 
Grilled chicken strips over a bed of spring mix with cherry tomatoes, grated 
parmesan cheese, and croutons ~ served with an Italian breadstick (453 calories) 

Asiago Cheese & Garlic Ravioli ...............9.00 
Mini ravioli with carbonara alfredo sauce ~ served with garden salad and 
Italian breadstick (851 calories) 

Pot Roast .........................................................9.00 
Slow cooked, seasoned beef pot roast  ~ served with brown gravy, mashed 
potatoes, baby carrots, garden salad and Italian breadstick (782 calories)

I think I had the pasta dish when I traveled last December although it might be a different item because I remember it having chicken. They're generally pretty good although mine was a little soggy because of the reheating process (in a microwave IIRC). It's a nice change of pace from the usual cafe car fare.

Where did you find that menu? The ones I've found on the amtrak california site are very different.

EDIT: I found it, i was looking at the sandwiches, not the entrees part! Woops!

 

[Bob Dylan]

:lol: :lol: :lol: $9.00 vs. $22.50 is hilarious!!!!

 

[the_traveler]

:lol: :lol: :lol: $9.00 vs. $22.50 is hilarious!!!!

But I would not want to take the SJ cars from CHI to LAX! The seats don't recline at all!

 

[RTOlson]

^^

Some of the California Cars have reclining seats, but it seems that many of them don't. I'm thinking that that is the biggest difference between the two major orders for California Cars.

EDIT - According to this Train Orders thread, reclining seats are one of the differences between the first California Car order and subsequent orders (including the Surfliner coaches).

 

[tp49]

^^Some of the California Cars have reclining seats, but it seems that many of them don't. I'm thinking that that is the biggest difference between the two major orders for California Cars.

EDIT - According to this Train Orders thread, reclining seats are one of the differences between the first California Car order and subsequent orders (including the Surfliner coaches).

Easy way to tell which cars the seats recline on is if the car number is 8xxx the seats do not recline. If the car number is 6xxx it is one of the newer "Cal 2 Cars" and the seats do recline.

 

[sechs]

IIRC, the menus for seatbacks is the same (dare I say, shared?). However, the menu displayed in the respective cafe cars displays solely the items for the route it's on.

I think that you've confused the list of items served in the cafe car ("the menu") with the piece of paper with the list of the items served in the cafe car ("a menu"). It's an easy mistake.
Of course they have shared that printed menu for some time; it's a money saver. Even on the outdated one referenced earlier, however, the menus for the two trains are different.

 

[RTOlson]

Regardless of how we describe it, the San Joaquin and Capitol Corridor menus are 87.7 percent identical in both items and prices. That's close enough for me, as long as the 12.3 percent of differences are mentioned (which they are).

 

[Green Maned Lion]

Amtrak used to offer tray meals on many trains.

 

[sechs]

Regardless of how we describe it, the San Joaquin and Capitol Corridor menus are 87.7 percent identical in both items and prices. That's close enough for me, as long as the 12.3 percent of differences are mentioned (which they are).

I think that the issue is that they now appear to be 100% identical and 0% different.

 

[RTOlson]

^^

Fair point. Unless someone can chime in about a recent trip, I don't know what the current menu(s) actually are.

 

[dart330]

Well if no one posts up a new menu before Nov., I will be sure and take a picture of one.