"Nothing Could be Finer Than Dinner in the Diner" Thread
#61
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#62
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: CMH/CVG
Programs: Marriott, Southwest, American, Delta, Amtrak,Multiple others
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Corn Beef Hash
I was pleasantly surprised with the excellent corn beef hash for breakfast on two of my trips last year (CA Zephyr and SW Chief). It appeared to be homemade and wasn't greasy at all. I have only seen it on the menu a few times, and they didn't have it the second morning of my one trip because they ran out. The quality probably varies by 'head chef', but I highly recommend it.
#63
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: United States
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Amtrak
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I'm always glad when this thread pops up, though sometimes the examples are more depressing than not. That breakfast photo was kind of depressing. Not exactly out to "wow" you, are they?
#64
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I'm always glad when this thread pops up, though sometimes the examples are more depressing than not. That breakfast photo was kind of depressing. Not exactly out to "wow" you, are they?
#65
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Last year the Sunset Limited had separate Eastbound and Westbound dining car menus with some different selections on each direction of the train. Checking amtrak.com just now, they are now only showing one menu. Has Amtrak switched to offering the same menu in both directions now...or is this something seasonal or occasional they usually do?
#66
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: FLL
Programs: AA Gold 1MM
Posts: 1,212
Have a couple updates onboard updates from various trips over the past few weeks including my first trip in Acela First.
Train: 52 - Auto Train
Class: Sleepers
Where: Dining Car
When: January 26, 2014, Dinner
Standard Amtrak salad and roll. Nice to have real china relative to the Silver Service, though Auto Train is now loosing china in a few weeks, too.
Rigatoni w/ Pesto Alfredo Sauce and Seasonal Veggies
The pasta dish tasted good, but it wasn't very filling due to the small portion size. It looks decent size in the photo, but was very thin.
Train: 52 - Auto Train
Class: Sleepers
Where: Dining Car
When: January 26, 2014, Dinner
Standard Amtrak salad and roll. Nice to have real china relative to the Silver Service, though Auto Train is now loosing china in a few weeks, too.
Rigatoni w/ Pesto Alfredo Sauce and Seasonal Veggies
The pasta dish tasted good, but it wasn't very filling due to the small portion size. It looks decent size in the photo, but was very thin.
Last edited by ByeByeDelta; Mar 5, 2014 at 8:31 pm Reason: Whoops, wrong pictures!
#67
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: FLL
Programs: AA Gold 1MM
Posts: 1,212
Train: 19 - Crescent
Class: Coach
Where: Dining Car
When: February 14, 2014, Dinner
Real flowers on the table.
The Amtrak salad and roll
I don't recall the name of this pasta dish, but it certainly sounded and looked better than it tasted. The dish was perfectly edible, but the pasta was a bit dense and lacked any distinct flavor.
Class: Coach
Where: Dining Car
When: February 14, 2014, Dinner
Real flowers on the table.
The Amtrak salad and roll
I don't recall the name of this pasta dish, but it certainly sounded and looked better than it tasted. The dish was perfectly edible, but the pasta was a bit dense and lacked any distinct flavor.
Last edited by ByeByeDelta; Mar 5, 2014 at 8:31 pm
#68
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: FLL
Programs: AA Gold 1MM
Posts: 1,212
Acela First Class Breakfast
Train: 2250
Class: First
Where: At Seat
When: February 23, 2014; Breakfast
Steak, Eggs and Potatoes
This was a very, very good breakfast. Lots of flavor and the steak was nicely cooked and juicy.
Class: First
Where: At Seat
When: February 23, 2014; Breakfast
Steak, Eggs and Potatoes
This was a very, very good breakfast. Lots of flavor and the steak was nicely cooked and juicy.
#69
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Location: FLL
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Posts: 1,212
Forgot one one lunch from early January:
Train: 91 - Silver Star
Class: Coach
Where: Dining Car
When: January 5, 2014; Lunch
Look! It is the Amtrak salad and roll!
Panko crusted, oven baked natural chicken breast with a sweet onion sauce and garlic mashed potatoes
The chicken and sweet onion sauce were amazing. Reminded me of a similar crusted chicken I ate on American Airlines in August 2013. Both were perfectly hot and juicy. I don't recall what sauce was served on American, but I had to ask for more sweet onion sauce. It was that good. The mashed potatoes are ok. The taste and texture is of a powdered mix which it probably is, but this dish is still one of my favorite marketplace special rotations.
Train: 91 - Silver Star
Class: Coach
Where: Dining Car
When: January 5, 2014; Lunch
Look! It is the Amtrak salad and roll!
Panko crusted, oven baked natural chicken breast with a sweet onion sauce and garlic mashed potatoes
The chicken and sweet onion sauce were amazing. Reminded me of a similar crusted chicken I ate on American Airlines in August 2013. Both were perfectly hot and juicy. I don't recall what sauce was served on American, but I had to ask for more sweet onion sauce. It was that good. The mashed potatoes are ok. The taste and texture is of a powdered mix which it probably is, but this dish is still one of my favorite marketplace special rotations.
#70
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Train: 50 (Cardinal)
Class: Sleeper
Where: Dining Car
When: April 5, Dinner
My first time in the combo lounge/dining car which means meals that are reheated in convection ovens and shorter menus.
Chicken jambalaya, pretty good, though not much food but it was spicy enough!
Pretty bad and tasteless, needed some of that fake fruit topping.
Class: Sleeper
Where: Dining Car
When: April 5, Dinner
My first time in the combo lounge/dining car which means meals that are reheated in convection ovens and shorter menus.
Chicken jambalaya, pretty good, though not much food but it was spicy enough!
Pretty bad and tasteless, needed some of that fake fruit topping.
Last edited by CMK10; Apr 7, 2014 at 12:44 pm
#71
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#72
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#73
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: United States
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Amtrak
Posts: 4,647
Did someone forget to stock the syrup, or do they not offer it on the Cardinal? Seems like with the inventory system there should be an equivalent number of syrups loaded to match the number of french toast servings on board. Sounds like someone goofed.
#74
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That I don't know, usually it comes on the plate. I probably could have asked but the attendant didn't bring my Dad a coffee refill until he'd asked three times so I doubt it would have gotten me anywhere, oh well.