National Dining Car Specials/New Menus (April '17)

[Steve4031]

The steak was delicious. Got double order of mashed potatoes. Skipped the sauce. I liked the cheese cake.

So if you "skipped the sauce", what is in the condiment cup on the left of the plate in the pic?

I asked and never got a clear answer. I tasted it and it was bland. I enjoyed the steak though.

 

[tommylicious]

the bernaise isn't a good idea. it's hard to get bernaise right in most brick and mortar restaurants. i thought the shallot sauce was a better, more realistically executed option.

 

[Mystic River Dragon]

Can you get the omelet without the salsa? Southwestern food is too spicy for me, but it seems to be the food trend now.

 

[niemi24s]

Can you get the omelet without the salsa?

Yes. Wife & I got them that way last week. But if the omelettes are pre-made (as they seem to be), if all they have left are the ones with salsa you can't because the salsa is right in with the eggs.

 

[Lonestar648]

If that is true salsa, then freezing the hot pre made omelet with salsa inside could end up being a mushy mess. I wonder if the omelet has as flap that can be pulled back for a spoonful of salsa then do the reheat so the cheese melts with the salsa. Just a thought. I used to have a restaurant, breakfast was our big money maker.

 

[JayPea]

Just got back from dinner on the EB where I had the steak and shrimp. It was good but not $36 good. The vegetable medley was nice and crisp instead of soggy and tasteless....a mix of corn, red peppers,and soybeans. The steak came prepared the same way no matter how it was ordered, which is nothing new. I will have steak anywhere between charcoal and the cow still bawling at me so it doesn't matter to me. One interesting thing: we were all started out with a glass of water whether we wanted it or not. Our waiter said it was an experiment to see if less people had pop if they were given water to begin with. Not sure if that sounds ominous or not.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

I had the steak and shrimp. It was good but not $36 good. The vegetable medley was nice and crisp instead of soggy and tasteless....a mix of corn, red peppers,and soybeans. The steak came prepared the same way no matter how it was ordered, which is nothing new. One interesting thing: we were all started out with a glass of water whether we wanted it or not. Our waiter said it was an experiment to see if less people had pop if they were given water to begin with.

I've never had corn, red peppers and soybeans as a side before. How did it taste beyond the texture? Did you have an opportunity to see if the mashers were fresh or powdered? Does "glass of water" indicate the return of glassware?

 

[JayPea]

I had the steak and shrimp. It was good but not $36 good. The vegetable medley was nice and crisp instead of soggy and tasteless....a mix of corn, red peppers,and soybeans. The steak came prepared the same way no matter how it was ordered, which is nothing new. One interesting thing: we were all started out with a glass of water whether we wanted it or not. Our waiter said it was an experiment to see if less people had pop if they were given water to begin with.

I've never had corn, red peppers and soybeans as a side before. How did it taste beyond the texture? Did you have an opportunity to see if the mashers were fresh or powdered? Does "glass of water" indicate the return of glassware?

I apologize, DA, for the "glass of water" terminology. It was indeed a cheap plastic cup. I too would like to see a return to real glassware. Sorry about that!!The tablecloth was real cloth, though. So that's something!!!! The mashed potatoes were still of the spuds-in-a-box variety. The veggies were surprisingly tasty. The corn had a nice firm texture as did the soybeans. I really couldn't taste the beans, however, which was too bad as I like soybeans. But the corn and peppers had a great taste to them and the soybeans did add more texture to the mix.

 

[Bob Dylan]

Nice update Jeff! Great to know the horrible veggie mush has been replaced on at least One LD Train.( remember when the Builder had Enhanced Dinning?)

Also nice that real white table cloths are back instead of the "butcher paper" coverings!

 

[PaulDobbs]

After looking at the supper menu, it appears that if one does not like shrimp, and one does not like spicy foods, the only thing left is the steak!

 

[JayPea]

I have boarded the train in Spokane several times at O God 30 and I have seen coach attendants board sleeping car passengers. I am in Spokane now, waiting to board #7. I am joining my uncle in his sleeper. I will give a comprehensive report on how they boarded me. :lol:

Turns out in this case it was the conductor who boarded me.

 

[RSG]

It was indeed a cheap plastic cup.

Hey now, those cups ain't cheap...they're biodegradable, ya know.

 

[Manny T]

Back to topic: Dining car specials/new menus

So I know the steak is not a new menu item. But I ordered it off the new menu on the Capitol Ltd last week. And believe it or not, there was something better about the dinner experience.

True, the salad and the soft (not crusty) dinner roll were the same. Also the 2 salad dressings were Ranch and Italian--as if there is no such thing as thousand island, blue cheese, etc. Just Ranch and Italian. Always Ranch and Italian.

The steak was very good--cooked perfectly medium-well and quite tasty. There was rice pilaf if you didn't want potatoes--your choice, quite a large tasty portion. The veggie was succotash--corn and soy beans, which I preferred to the watery canned string beans on past trips.

And the desserts were superior--a true lemon tart (very tart), and a chocolate bundt cake with a warm syrup in the center. These may or may not be to your taste, but they are superior to what has been offered previously.

So the menu seems upgraded, and that's without trying a specifically "new" offering.

 

[pennyk]

I am on 98 now and Steve's posts motivated me to try the quesadillas (without bacon and salsa). They were pretty good and too much for me to eat. Thanks Steve.

 

[Steve4031]

I am on 98 now and Steve's posts motivated me to try the quesadillas (without bacon and salsa). They were pretty good and too much for me to eat. Thanks Steve.

Penny!! You left our the best parts!!!

Glad you enjoyed it.

 

[priller]

On the AT, nice new menu since the last time. Not on the website.

 

[Bob Dylan]

The Grilled Porkchop and the Salmon sound good, the rest blah!

Thanks for sharing!(and I notice it says "First Class"!!!!

 

[tommylicious]

That looks like a pretty decent menu

 

[Thirdrail7]

For the record, the updated the menus on the trains that typically have diner lite service (48,49,50,51,58 and 59) are now posted.

 

[Maverickstation]

For the record, the updated the menus on the trains that typically have diner lite service (48,49,50,51,58 and 59) are now posted.

That they have and for these trains (Lake Shore, Cardinal and CONO) they have updated the Food Facts site.

This is important with these "heat and eat" entrees as the sodium content can be in the danger zone for a number of us.

The sodium winner (or looser I should add) is:

http://www.amtrakfoodfacts.com/restimg2/force/template/1/Amtrak__Food_Facts/w612/h408/AMFF-LSL-5-10-17-17.pdf

On the trains with full diners, the chef inspired entrees (which are also heat and eat) are also very high in sodium.

It is worth noting that for the lake Shore they created a pre made version of the flat iron steak.

Ken

 

[priller]

The Grilled Porkchop and the Salmon sound good, the rest blah!

Thanks for sharing!(and I notice it says "First Class"!!!!

I really liked the pork chop. The beef seemed to be the most popular and very good.

 

[Bjartmarr]

What is a Whole Gran Trout Treasure?

 

[keelhauled]

What is a Whole Gran Trout Treasure?

I think it's a misspelling of "whole grain," based on the "breaded" description. The first sentence in the discretion is a fragment as well. Have the copy editors fallen victim to cost cutting?

 

[Dakota 400]

6 Piece Trout Treasures for a child: I am not sure that this is the best child oriented menu I have seen.

What if the child does not like fish or is allergic to fish?

A Mac/Cheese or Burger/Fries option seems to me to be better options. Even a smaller portion of the vegetarian entree ought to be an acceptable option for Amtrak's young guests.

I appreciate the photos included in this thread. The pork chop entree looks much more appealing than the beef entree does.

 

[Lonestar648]

Children always like the mac/cheese, but do not need the fries to go with it. Apple sauce, veggies, etc. is better. When the kids get old enough to be pre-teen, it is special for them to order off the Adult menu. They remember forever riding the train and eating like an adult.