Originally Posted by AlanB
IMHO, dinner in the diner is not to be missed. It's certainly better than anything that I've ever been served on an airplane, even in first class. Like any resturant, a lot does depend on the cook, but generally they do a pretty good job. Given the choice of Union Station's food court or the diner, I'd opt for the diner.
I have a completely different impression of Amtrak's Dining Car product. It is true that there are excellent people here and there, but in general, I encounter lousy food and lousy service in dining cars.
In places like D.C. and Chicago, where there are food choices in stations and also nearby, I usually eat before boaring.
There are no current on-line menus that I'm aware of, only
this one from two years ago. ... it will give you an idea of what to expect.
These look like Coast Starlight menus. I have never seen such a large variety of dishes actually available on the other long-distance routes, and I've covered most of them. These menus also leave out things like grits for breakfast; broccoli stems as a vegetable accompaniment at dinner; or the tasty microwave entrees offered when Amtrak unexpectedly substitutes a Dinette for a Dining Car. These are all real experiences I've had.
I don't want to raise the hopes of first-time "guests". I'd rather that they be surprised by an unusually good experience.
Paul Marcelin-Sampson
Santa Cruz, California