We flew UA941 FRA-ORD yesterday (2/2, 12:50 p.m. departure) and enjoyed a much-improved meal experience. According to the menu:

"United is pleased to welcome you aboard this special flight. For the month of February on flights between Chicago and Frankfurt, we are presenting a new menu concept designed to enhance your onboard dining experience. The Service (sic) was developed specifically to provide you with more options while making your menu selections." At the back of the menu was a one-page survey form.

The changes I noticed were:

* Choice of two appetizers. Smoked salmon with cucumber, capers, tomato and lemon or Grilled zucchini with mozzarella. This was sort of muddled, though, since only one choice arrived, with all of the above items on the same plate.

* Choice of salad dressing (blue cheese or balsamic vinaigrette), served from metal bowls on the cart.

* Dessert included Haagen-Dazs with hot fudge, whipped cream and nuts. The ice cream arrived perfectly thawed, btw. This came AFTER a complete first dessert which was a choice between cheese/fruit and a small chocolate-covered cake shaped like a half-moon with whipped cream and fruit bits. I think this was another oversight, though, since only the ice cream and cheese/fruit were listed on the menu. I enjoyed the cake AND the sundae, though!

* After dessert, chocolates were presented. Not Godiva or Neuhaus, but a plain white box. The flight attendant showed me the label on the bottom but the name escapes me. I chose a small white chocolate with dark squiggles and a dark chocolate center; delicious!

* A mid-flight snack cart included a Gardetto's-style snack mix, small Toblerone chocolates, grapes, apples, oranges and kiwis.

The three entrees (filet with mashed potatoes and green beans, chicken with spatzle and an artichoke/ricotta tortelloni) seemed unchanged, as was the pre-arrival snack of turkey/bacon/cheese sandwich or cheese/fruit. The crew (FRA-based) was above-average, friendly and polite and seemed pleased by the improved service.

Maybe it was the three desserts I ate in 30 minutes, but I was impressed. Let's hope the change spreads to other flights. (I got an F-class menu too if anyone is interested in those changes.)