I had my first transcon in J with the new meal service, westbound EWR-LAX dinner. Table linens are back. The meal was served all at once on a crowded tray with a tiny bread roll (no basket) pre-set. The burrata appetizer was large, and the salad appears to be a bigger portion than served previously. Interestingly, the salad also came with a few pieces of burrata, rather than shaved parmesan. So, appetizer and salad both containing burrata. Don't get me wrong, I love burrata, but this was a bit too much!

The main was served in the round Polaris-style bowl and appeared to be plated in the galley. I pre-ordered the fish, which was served without the advertised sauce. It was a sizable portion and more comparable to a Polaris entree than the domestic casserole previously on offer. Standard ice cream cart. A substantial meal by any measure.

The hot pre-arrival service, while nice in theory, is overkill. My crew was efficient and cleared the initial service about 90 minutes after departure. 2.5 hours later (2 hours remaining in flight), the purser came through taking 2nd meal orders, and a few pax accepted. About 30 minutes later, I was surprised to see full tray setups brought out with a salad and hot casserole. I did not partake, as I was still full from the main meal. It is a lot of food, even for the 6h enroute time.

I was most impressed by the significantly upgraded wine list, especially the JCB "Caviar" Cremant, which was delicate, tasty and IMO a perfect in-flight sparkling wine. To my palate it rates favorably to many "name-brand" Champagnes, and at about $40 retail, it is at a comparable price point. I also enjoyed the Talbott Sleepy Hollow Pinot Noir. United has stepped up its wine budget in a major way.

Credit where due, this is an improvement across the board.