Diner service on Zephyr & Empire Builder

[bobbyswf]

A friend and I recently took the California Zephyr from Chicago to Sacramento, which, BTW, was the first Zephyr over the burned and now repaired tressel. A year prior, we traveled on the Empire Builder. What a difference a year makes. While both trips were outstanding, the food on the Zephyr was all pre-packaged and then nuked. Not good. Not even close. The only bright spot..kinda bright..was the Bob Evans Scramble. As I recall, the EB diner experience far exceeded that of the Zephyr. Excellent food prepared to order, china, silver, etc. I really want to do that trip again. I'm curious if that level of service exists today on the EB. Any info on the current level of food/service will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Bob Jones, Fort Myers, Florida

 

[had8ley]

A friend and I recently took the California Zephyr from Chicago to Sacramento, which, BTW, was the first Zephyr over the burned and now repaired tressel. A year prior, we traveled on the Empire Builder. What a difference a year makes. While both trips were outstanding, the food on the Zephyr was all pre-packaged and then nuked. Not good. Not even close. The only bright spot..kinda bright..was the Bob Evans Scramble. As I recall, the EB diner experience far exceeded that of the Zephyr. Excellent food prepared to order, china, silver, etc. I really want to do that trip again. I'm curious if that level of service exists today on the EB. Any info on the current level of food/service will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.Bob Jones, Fort Myers, Florida

Fortunately, Amtrak has been able to keep all the amenities on the EB including the champagne toasts.

 

[AlanB]

Bob,

Just about one year ago, Amtrak changed the food service in all dining cars except for the Empire Builder and the Auto Train. The was done to comply with a Congressional mandate that Amtrak cut the $100 Million loss on food service each year.

This program is referred to as SDS (Simplified Dining Service) and it what you encountered on the Zephyr. Now a few quick points, first while the meals are pre-plated, they are not nuked. They are heated in a convection oven. Next, while some of the food that you ate on the Empire was indeed cooked on board, steaks, eggs, french toast, other items were also pre-plated. Most chicken dishes and pasta dishes are not cooked on the EB either.

 

[TransAtlantic]

Actually, most of the side items (vegetables and such) are in fact nuked. Only things like the Bob Evans or the roasted chicken make it through the convection oven. (and I know this because I've actually waited on Alan in the diner on train 4!!)

 

[AlanB]

(and I know this because I've actually waited on Alan in the diner on train 4!!)

That'd be a neat trick, since I've never been on train #4. :blink:

 

[had8ley]

(and I know this because I've actually waited on Alan in the diner on train 4!!)

That'd be a neat trick, since I've never been on train #4. :blink:

Here we go again....

 

[rmgreenesq]

The only bright spot..kinda bright..was the Bob Evans Scramble.

Its nice to know somebody else (other than me) likes the Bob Evans Scramble. My wife thinks it looks like dog vomit, and I hear about it every time we travel together and eat breakfast in the diner.

Rick

 

[DaveKCMO]

having ridden the EB right after rides on the SWC and CS, i'm not sure what all the fuss is about. the food was not dramatically better, and i tired of the "legacy" menu as quickly as i did the SDS menu on the other trains.

i did like the bob evans scramble. the made-to-order eggs on the EB were awful, as were the hashbrowns. i'd say it was an off day, but we did SEA-ESM and ESM-CHI a day apart and there was no noticeable difference.

 

[daveyb99]

having ridden the EB right after rides on the SWC and CS, i'm not sure what all the fuss is about. the food was not dramatically better, and i tired of the "legacy" menu as quickly as i did the SDS menu on the other trains.
i did like the bob evans scramble. the made-to-order eggs on the EB were awful, as were the hashbrowns. i'd say it was an off day, but we did SEA-ESM and ESM-CHI a day apart and there was no noticeable difference.

No difference is right. Same menu, same 'special of the day', same same same. Blah Blah.

All to save a lousy $100 Million. What a joke the Republican have made of a once proud tradition.

Kummant needs to hear from us about what a disaster the Diner has become and do something to improve the service and make the pricing more attractive for everyone, like: rotate menus more often, regional foods, more onboard specialty cooking.

 

[had8ley]

having ridden the EB right after rides on the SWC and CS, i'm not sure what all the fuss is about. the food was not dramatically better, and i tired of the "legacy" menu as quickly as i did the SDS menu on the other trains.
i did like the bob evans scramble. the made-to-order eggs on the EB were awful, as were the hashbrowns. i'd say it was an off day, but we did SEA-ESM and ESM-CHI a day apart and there was no noticeable difference.

I, personally, am quite surprised as this is one of the few trains that I absolutely enjoy to the fullest. Maybe we could say there were two bad days in a row because I have made 8 round trips on the Empire since the re-furbishment and enjoyed each and every one. Sure, there were some rocky roads at times but overall there wasn't a trip I could give less than an A minus. Sorry for your troubles; maybe Customer Service will hear your side and agree with a voucher for another trip.