Turkey Dinner in the Dining Car

[Paul]

Amtrak, up until the advent of flexible dining or whatever they call it, used to have a turkey dinner option in the dining car between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Can anyone here confirm if they are still offering this dinner? Thank you, Paul.

 

[pennyk]

Amtrak has not had turkey dinners for years, I believe well before flex dining.

 

[Maverickstation]

They had a special menu for Thanksgiving and Christmas, last used at least 20,
or so years ago on trains with full service dining cars.

The Cardinal, which had a "Heat and Eat" menu long before Flex, did offer pre made turkey as part of its regular rotation.

Ken

 

[zephyr17]

Amtrak, up until the advent of flexible dining or whatever they call it, used to have a turkey dinner option in the dining car between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Can anyone here confirm if they are still offering this dinner? Thank you, Paul.

No. Not for many years. As @pennyk pointed out, they dropped it long before Flex. Maybe around the advent of "Simplified Dining Service" which, among other things, ended specials by individual train.

 

[Rasputin]

It appears from Maglev's post #20 in this thread that there was a turkey dinner offered on #27 or #28 in 2017:

https://www.amtraktrains.com/threads/noob-looking-for-tips-on-the-empire-builder.88242/#post-1056119

 

[Maverickstation]

In the Simplified Dining Service era (and before COVID), the Empire Builder offered "Enhanced Service", and this could have been one of the specials offered.

The image below is a menu from long ago that was offered on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

 

[TinCan782]

It appears from Maglev's post #20 in this thread that there was a turkey dinner offered on #27 or #28 in 2017:

https://www.amtraktrains.com/threads/noob-looking-for-tips-on-the-empire-builder.88242/#post-1056119

Having been on #28 (2016), the dinner meals they served were "boxed" (NOT Flex) and were pretty decent. There were several to choose from. I had the shrimp salad. As they were not prepared on the train, it would be somewhat "easy" to temporarily add or swap out a turkey diner.

 

[zephyr17]

Having been on #28 (2016), the dinner meals they served were "boxed" (NOT Flex) and were pretty decent. There were several to choose from. I had the shrimp salad. As they were not prepared on the train, it would be somewhat "easy" to temporarily add or swap out a turkey diner.

28 still serves the boxed cold dinners out of Portland. They were pretty good when last I rode the Portland section in 2019, far superior to Flex. They were catered locally in Portland.

A turkey option on 28 would be more along the lines of a salad with turkey or turkey sandwich than a traditional turkey dinner. Probably a good thing, as cold mashed potatoes and gravy does not sound appealing.

Full dining service is on 7/8. 27/28 passengers use 7/8's diner between Spokane and Chicago.