"Nothing Could be Finer Than Dinner in the Diner" Thread
Aug 22, 2012, 8:29 pm
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: FLL
Programs: AA Gold 1MM
Posts: 1,212
Train: 91
Class: Coach
Where: Dining Car
When: Lunch, August 11, 2012
The Chef's Marketplace Special was meatloaf with a mushroom gravy and mashed potatoes. It was hands down the least enjoyable meal I've had on Amtrak in almost 20 years. The gravy was way too salty. While there were several meatloaf slices, they were oddly thin. I didn't have a ruler, but the thickness must have been 1/4" or less. Guess I'm used to heartier slices. Finally, the mashed potatoes were the worst I have been served. Ever. Anywhere. Dry, thin (obviously powdered) with a heavy garlic and salt taste.
On the upside, the Chocolate Caramel Peanut Butter Torte was a fantastic dessert and the service was efficient and friendly.
Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes
Chocolate Caramel Peanut Butter Torte
Class: Coach
Where: Dining Car
When: Lunch, August 11, 2012
The Chef's Marketplace Special was meatloaf with a mushroom gravy and mashed potatoes. It was hands down the least enjoyable meal I've had on Amtrak in almost 20 years. The gravy was way too salty. While there were several meatloaf slices, they were oddly thin. I didn't have a ruler, but the thickness must have been 1/4" or less. Guess I'm used to heartier slices. Finally, the mashed potatoes were the worst I have been served. Ever. Anywhere. Dry, thin (obviously powdered) with a heavy garlic and salt taste.
On the upside, the Chocolate Caramel Peanut Butter Torte was a fantastic dessert and the service was efficient and friendly.
Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes
Chocolate Caramel Peanut Butter Torte
Nov 20, 2012, 11:17 am
#17
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: PBI
Programs: DL Plat, B6 Mosaic
Posts: 427
I've been meaning to post these for a while, here are two semi-recent photos of lunch meals in Acela F.....
The first was a small but nice quality steak with carrots and au-gratin potatoes. I forgot to take a photo of the menu so I don't have the actual description.
The second was Beef Eye Round - quoting from the menu, "roasted to perfection, served in a red wine sauce with carrots and pearl cous cous". (Tasted much better than it looked). Dessert was a Triple Chocolate Parfait.
All in all, i've been quite pleased with the quality of the meals in Acela F lately.
The first was a small but nice quality steak with carrots and au-gratin potatoes. I forgot to take a photo of the menu so I don't have the actual description.
The second was Beef Eye Round - quoting from the menu, "roasted to perfection, served in a red wine sauce with carrots and pearl cous cous". (Tasted much better than it looked). Dessert was a Triple Chocolate Parfait.
All in all, i've been quite pleased with the quality of the meals in Acela F lately.
Nov 21, 2012, 12:48 pm
#19
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: PBI
Programs: DL Plat, B6 Mosaic
Posts: 427
Nov 21, 2012, 8:47 pm
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: FLL
Programs: AA Gold 1MM
Posts: 1,212
Train: 91
Class: Coach
Where: Dining Car
When: Lunch, November 13, 2012
Went with the Marketplace Special again. It was described as deluxe macaroni and cheese with penne pasta and artisanal cheeses. A roll and side salad accompanied the meal. It tasted ok, but was a bit too salty and the sauce was more gloopy and separated than homogeneous. For $12.50, I also felt the portion was a bit small. Cheesecake rounded out the meal and was, as all desserts tend to be, excellent.
Class: Coach
Where: Dining Car
When: Lunch, November 13, 2012
Went with the Marketplace Special again. It was described as deluxe macaroni and cheese with penne pasta and artisanal cheeses. A roll and side salad accompanied the meal. It tasted ok, but was a bit too salty and the sauce was more gloopy and separated than homogeneous. For $12.50, I also felt the portion was a bit small. Cheesecake rounded out the meal and was, as all desserts tend to be, excellent.
Dec 18, 2012, 11:09 am
#21
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
Train: 91 (Silver Star)
Class: Sleeper
Where: Dining Car
When: December 15-16, 2012
I got on in Cary, NC at 9:30 PM so no dinner. Here's breakfast:
No substitutions and they weren't out of anything today ^
The omelet was bad (whatever cheese is in it is really gross), the potatoes tasteless, the bacon barely serviceable but believe it or not, that toast was phenomenal.
Class: Sleeper
Where: Dining Car
When: December 15-16, 2012
I got on in Cary, NC at 9:30 PM so no dinner. Here's breakfast:
No substitutions and they weren't out of anything today ^
The omelet was bad (whatever cheese is in it is really gross), the potatoes tasteless, the bacon barely serviceable but believe it or not, that toast was phenomenal.
Dec 18, 2012, 11:10 am
#22
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
Train: 91 (Silver Star)
Class: Sleeper
Where: Dining Car
When: December 15-16, 2012
A really good lunch menu I thought
My usual, excellent as always. My Dad had the Cuban Sandwich we he said was great.
Sadly, no ice cream today, just raspberry sorbet. This was good though.
Class: Sleeper
Where: Dining Car
When: December 15-16, 2012
A really good lunch menu I thought
My usual, excellent as always. My Dad had the Cuban Sandwich we he said was great.
Sadly, no ice cream today, just raspberry sorbet. This was good though.
Dec 18, 2012, 1:45 pm
#23
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Sherman Oaks, CA
Programs: Ozark Go-Getters Gold, Statler Star Silver, others from a variety of alternate timelines
Posts: 843
Bacon was better in the burger at lunch than on its own at breakfast?
Since I'm originally from Tampa, I bristle at the idea of a Cuban sandwich being served on a "baguette," but, I know, Amtrak is limited by what they can get via their supplier.
Since I'm originally from Tampa, I bristle at the idea of a Cuban sandwich being served on a "baguette," but, I know, Amtrak is limited by what they can get via their supplier.
Dec 18, 2012, 5:43 pm
#24
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
Jan 5, 2013, 12:09 pm
#25
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: Amtrak Guest Rewards, United MileagePlus
Posts: 2
Hello All,
I'm a long-time Amtrak rider who ususally posts on Amtrak Unlimited, however for a current project I have, Amamba directed me here as some people who might be able to help. I'm putting together a blog/website where I will be documenting all of the meals for all of Amtrak's LD routes (for starters, and then maybe branching out to Cafe menus and Acela FC meals).
http://amtrakmeals.blogspot.com/
As I am East coast based, there's no way I'll be able to get a picture of every meal on every LD route, so this is where I'd like to crowd-source part of this project. If you have pictures of any meals that I'm missing, or more updated pictures due to menu changes, I'd like to ask if you could share them with me so I can include them on this site, and make it as comprehensive as possible. Feel free to let me know here, on Amtrak Unlimited, or directly on the site.
Thanks!
~ DCTE
I'm a long-time Amtrak rider who ususally posts on Amtrak Unlimited, however for a current project I have, Amamba directed me here as some people who might be able to help. I'm putting together a blog/website where I will be documenting all of the meals for all of Amtrak's LD routes (for starters, and then maybe branching out to Cafe menus and Acela FC meals).
http://amtrakmeals.blogspot.com/
As I am East coast based, there's no way I'll be able to get a picture of every meal on every LD route, so this is where I'd like to crowd-source part of this project. If you have pictures of any meals that I'm missing, or more updated pictures due to menu changes, I'd like to ask if you could share them with me so I can include them on this site, and make it as comprehensive as possible. Feel free to let me know here, on Amtrak Unlimited, or directly on the site.
Thanks!
~ DCTE
Jan 6, 2013, 7:34 pm
#27
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: Amtrak Guest Rewards, United MileagePlus
Posts: 2
May 6, 2013, 5:22 pm
#28
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
Train: 92 (Silver Star)
Class: Coach
Where: Dining Car
When: May 3, 2013, Lunch
No substitutions today, and the special was a meatloaf dish
Score! A cucumber! I didn't have one last time.
Not bad though a little on the small side. I figured it should have a third piece of meat or a second vegetable.
Class: Coach
Where: Dining Car
When: May 3, 2013, Lunch
No substitutions today, and the special was a meatloaf dish
Score! A cucumber! I didn't have one last time.
Not bad though a little on the small side. I figured it should have a third piece of meat or a second vegetable.
May 6, 2013, 6:19 pm
#29
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: CMH/CVG
Programs: Marriott, Southwest, American, Delta, Amtrak,Multiple others
Posts: 564
I recently completed a trip on the CA Zephyr from Omaha to Martinez. The head chef really cared about the quality of the food served on this train. Although the menu was similar to my previous train trips, the preparation and presentation were much better. The corn beef hash at breakfast was outstanding, better than I have had at most premium hotels. It was wonderful to see someone who cared so much about her work.
The dining room manager was only ok and lazy (the head chef went car to car to take meal reservations), but the chef made up for it.
The dining room manager was only ok and lazy (the head chef went car to car to take meal reservations), but the chef made up for it.