Archon,

First I think we need to be clear regarding just what you are talking about. Regional service largely supplies coach seating, with typically one car dedicated to Business Class (BC).

Acela provides largely BC seating, with one car dedicated to First Class seating (FC).

Now on Acela, only FC seating includes a meal served to you at your seat. If you are in BC on Acela, you will not get any meals, unless you walk to the cafe car and buy the meal with your own money.

On a regional train no meals are provided in either class, but in BC you will get free beverages when you show your ticket stub to the cafe attendant. This is not a perk that extends however to Acela's BC, since 90% of the passengers are BC. Acela does not offer coach seating.

Now, all that said, I for one love FC on Acela. Having a decent meal served to me at my seat, along with all the free booze that I can drink, IMHO is well worth the extra $$$. But each person's tastes and budget is different, so only you can really make that decision.

If you're expecting food that you'd find at the Ritz, or Tavern on the Green, or the Water Club and so on, then you might be happy with spending the extra dough. If you are expecting something comparable to what you might find in first class on an airline, then you'll probably be happy, especially if you want a drink with dinner.