New flex meal menu (10/06/21)

[cocojacoby]

It would be helpful if they had a sandwich. I like the artisan grilled cheese on the west coast trains. This would be an easy add for west coast trains.

Yes, I was thinking why not a separate LUNCH menu where you can pick a few additional things (optional to the LUNCH/DINER) like a burger; grilled ham and cheese; a salad plate; seafood, ham or chicken salad sandwich; etc.? Otherwise I might be eating the same thing twice both ways on the Silvers.

 

[Ryan]

Limiting some menu choices to a single meal period does not make for more choices.

If you're advocating for more things on the menu, sure. But there's no value in making them a separate lunch-only option.

 

[NYP2NFL01]

What? No more "specialty" "gourmet" brownie or blondie? Unbreak my heart!!!!

 

[joelkfla]

It would be helpful if they had a sandwich. I like the artisan grilled cheese on the west coast trains. This would be an easy add for west coast trains.

I presume you mean to east coast trains.

But if it's true that there's no cook in the kitchen, and everything is still being microwaved or reheated, then it would not be an easy add.

 

[Amtrakfflyer]

It is our go to for making Sangria add a bunch of sliced fruit and sometimes a shot of tequila if it’s a blanc. That’s the only reason I occasionally buy it. As I said before it’s drinkable but 2 buck chuck is as well. It’s actually kinda insulting Amtrak is serving it, I’ve never been to a restaurant that’s served it or noticed it on an airline menu.

Barefoot wine is about the cheapest wine there is (if you eliminate 'wine' like Thunderbird). My daughter calls Barefoot "wine flavored beverage," and she isn't wrong. Sweet, no varietal character, but the standard dose of alcohol.

 

[crescent-zephyr]

I presume you mean to east coast trains.

But if it's true that there's no cook in the kitchen, and everything is still being microwaved or reheated, then it would not be an easy add.

It would be easy to add a pre-made sandwich to the menu though. And/Or an entree salad.

 

[cocojacoby]

Limiting some menu choices to a single meal period does not make for more choices.

If you're advocating for more things on the menu, sure. But there's no value in making them a separate lunch-only option.

I said "OPTIONAL". A few items available for lunch only in addition to the "Lunch/Diner" choices.

 

[user 14106]

I have had a couple trips where they have some cafe car burgers/hot dogs in the diner as an alternative to flex dinners. But it’s not on the menu and you have to ask if they have any extra non menu options.

 

[Ryan]

I said "OPTIONAL". A few items available for lunch only in addition to the diner choices.

That's my point. Why make them available for lunch only? What if I want one of them for dinner?

 

[crescent-zephyr]

That's my point. Why make them available for lunch only? What if I want one of them for dinner?

I think the idea was to have a few lunch-ish options available for lunch. I don’t think the OP would have a problem with them also being available for dinner.

 

[Exvalley]

I think the idea was to have a few lunch-ish options available for lunch. I don’t think the OP would have a problem with them also being available for dinner.

That's how I read it as well.

It's not a bad idea, at least for the eastern trains that travel during the lunch hour - such as the CONO.

 

[Sidney]

It would be easy to add a pre-made sandwich to the menu though. And/Or an entree salad.

Never understood why sandwiches weren't part of the flex menu. Most people would welcome it. Sandwich for lunch. Flex dreck for dinner. Seems so simple,doesn't it?

 

[Ryan]

I think the idea was to have a few lunch-ish options available for lunch. I don’t think the OP would have a problem with them also being available for dinner.

That's how I read it as well.

It's not a bad idea, at least for the eastern trains that travel during the lunch hour - such as the CONO.

I'm not sure how you can read "available for lunch only" to literally mean the opposite.

I agree that additional options are a great idea. I disagree that disallowing them from being eaten during dinner is a good idea.

 

[toddinde]

Thankfully, for vegetarians and other diet restricted people, you aren’t in charge of the menu.

well, we can wait and see what the new menu will be like. It could be an improvement in cooking and presentation.

What odd menu suggestions. I don’t see anything wrong with the offerings. A lobster roll? Really?

 

[Exvalley]

I'm not sure how you can read "available for lunch only" to literally mean the opposite.

Ah... I had missed that part. If they are going to offer it, they might as well offer it for all meals.

 

[Dakota 400]

Restaurant wine prices are always inflated compared to what you pay at the liquor store. The Chicago restaurant menus I'm checking over sell wine by the glass for $10 - $20 for basic decent wine.

The mark-up on wine or any alcoholic beverage is where restaurants make the most money. It seems to be a consensus that Barefoot does not even make the standard of "basic decent wine". If so, then, maybe $8.50/glass will be a big money maker for Amtrak.

Barefoot wine is about the cheapest wine there is (if you eliminate 'wine' like Thunderbird). My daughter calls Barefoot "wine flavored beverage," and she isn't wrong. Sweet, no varietal character, but the standard dose of alcohol.

As another poster said, it is rather insulting to us wine drinkers that such a low quality beverage is offered by Amtrak.

If I recall correctly, you had to go to the cafe to get the half bottles. The wine in the flex diners has been Barefoot for some time I believe. Barefoot is drinkable but not the greatest. In the traditional dining cars they had a somewhat better selection, Kendall Jackson for the white, I don't recall the red as I don't drink red.

I recall that half bottles could be obtained in the dining car as well as in the Cafe/Lounge Car. Kendall Jackson was the label for both Red and White, as I remember. Those were satisfactory wines, I thought.

 

[Exvalley]

A four pack of 187 ml Barefoot wine bottles will run you about $6.99 in the grocery store. Compare that to the $8.50 per glass that Amtrak is charging.

Amtrak should do all right.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

As another poster said, it is rather insulting to us wine drinkers that such a low quality beverage is offered by Amtrak.

I'm not much of a wine drinker but back during the Boardman era the traditional PPC wine tasting was good enough that I not only tried some but ended up purchasing a few bottles in the process. Today the wine, beer, and cocktail selection is so poor that I prefer to bring my own drinks instead.

 

[Tlcooper44]

All of this wine talk more or less refutes the common assertion that the overnight LD Amtrak routes are "subsidized land cruises for the rich." Rich people don't take Amtrak... unless theyre railfans or some other highly specific reason.
There is nothing fancy about an overnight Amtrak train. It certainly is better than the coach alternative, but the recent dining improvements have only made it bearable, not fancy...

 

[cocojacoby]

I'm not sure how you can read "available for lunch only" to literally mean the opposite.

I agree that additional options are a great idea. I disagree that disallowing them from being eaten during dinner is a good idea.

Well you need to consider that the cook may have his/her hands full at dinner providing the set meals. Lunch might be easier to make a few sandwiches on the side even pre-making them before serving times. It's like at McDonalds when they change from breakfast to lunch. There are products that need different processes and preparation. I have usually found dinner to be more hectic for the staff than lunch.

 

[Ryan]

Who is this “cook” person and what are these “different processes and preparation” that you speak of?

 

[zephyr17]

I guess shoving a frozen block of sodium and fat into a microwave does qualify as a "process" of a sort.

 

[Cal]

I guess shoving a frozen block of sodium and fat into a microwave does qualify as a "process" of a sort.

And the “different processes and preparation” part of it? I'll wait.

The only time there's a (slightly) different process is for breakfast. which is not relevent.

 

[crescent-zephyr]

Lunch might be easier to make a few sandwiches on the side even pre-making them before serving times.

Any sandwich served as part of flex will be 100% premade.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

Any sandwich served as part of flex will be 100% premade.

And not onboard