Jan 21, 2019, 2:25 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Related threads
2019 Let's Eat - United First, United Business, & Premium Transcon Service
2019 Let's Eat - Economy Class (Domestic & International)
And the 2018 thread is here: 2018 Let's Eat - Polaris Business
2019 Let's Eat - United First, United Business, & Premium Transcon Service
2019 Let's Eat - Economy Class (Domestic & International)
And the 2018 thread is here: 2018 Let's Eat - Polaris Business
2019 Let's Eat - Polaris Business
Jun 17, 2019, 8:47 pm
#661
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Denver, Colorado
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I've seen some pictures out of FRA which looked like the main was cooked, plated and presented the old way so was curious to what the official policy was on this. Seems NRT is another one.
Jun 18, 2019, 7:29 am
#662
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
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It’s hard to tell with super-close-up pictures (does that really make food look more appetizing? Just curious, I see it a lot with meal pics, not just here...) but it would appear st350’s NRT-IAH steak was served in a bowl, which means it would have been plated in the galley by a FA. The presentation is much cleaner and more professional. I wonder if this was just an instance of a galley FA taking things into their own hands to present a better product?
OTOH, the casserole dishes are catered all together and heated at once, so any oils, juices or sauces tend to mix together. If cooked properly, the food is fine, and I haven’t noticed much of a change in portion size, but there’s no question the presentation is worse. IMO, the rounded-off casserole dishes just make it look like a TV dinner. Some airlines have dinnerware that make pre-plated entrees look much better.
OTOH, the casserole dishes are catered all together and heated at once, so any oils, juices or sauces tend to mix together. If cooked properly, the food is fine, and I haven’t noticed much of a change in portion size, but there’s no question the presentation is worse. IMO, the rounded-off casserole dishes just make it look like a TV dinner. Some airlines have dinnerware that make pre-plated entrees look much better.
Jun 18, 2019, 7:53 am
#663
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
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It’s hard to tell with super-close-up pictures (does that really make food look more appetizing? Just curious, I see it a lot with meal pics, not just here...) but it would appear st350’s NRT-IAH steak was served in a bowl, which means it would have been plated in the galley by a FA. The presentation is much cleaner and more professional. I wonder if this was just an instance of a galley FA taking things into their own hands to present a better product?
I believe some of the food is still not done in a casserole dish (it depends on the food). Obvious example was the spicy chicken noodle dish that was a "soup" some days.
OTOH, the casserole dishes are catered all together and heated at once, so any oils, juices or sauces tend to mix together. If cooked properly, the food is fine, and I haven’t noticed much of a change in portion size, but there’s no question the presentation is worse. IMO, the rounded-off casserole dishes just make it look like a TV dinner. Some airlines have dinnerware that make pre-plated entrees look much better.
Jun 18, 2019, 8:01 am
#664
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
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Posts: 9,452
The bowls are provisioned in stacks so my guess is the NRT-IAH FA used one of these bowls to provide a nicer customer experience than United aims to offer... the company should take notice!!
Jun 18, 2019, 9:49 am
#665
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Jun 18, 2019, 9:57 am
#666
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Location: New York, NY
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Jun 18, 2019, 10:49 am
#667
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Denver, Colorado
Programs: IHG Spire, Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Titanium, Mileage Plus Gold
Posts: 1,736
It’s hard to tell with super-close-up pictures (does that really make food look more appetizing? Just curious, I see it a lot with meal pics, not just here...) but it would appear st350’s NRT-IAH steak was served in a bowl, which means it would have been plated in the galley by a FA. The presentation is much cleaner and more professional. I wonder if this was just an instance of a galley FA taking things into their own hands to present a better product?
OTOH, the casserole dishes are catered all together and heated at once, so any oils, juices or sauces tend to mix together. If cooked properly, the food is fine, and I haven’t noticed much of a change in portion size, but there’s no question the presentation is worse. IMO, the rounded-off casserole dishes just make it look like a TV dinner. Some airlines have dinnerware that make pre-plated entrees look much better.
OTOH, the casserole dishes are catered all together and heated at once, so any oils, juices or sauces tend to mix together. If cooked properly, the food is fine, and I haven’t noticed much of a change in portion size, but there’s no question the presentation is worse. IMO, the rounded-off casserole dishes just make it look like a TV dinner. Some airlines have dinnerware that make pre-plated entrees look much better.
https://liveandletsfly.boardingarea....ncsico-review/
https://liveandletsfly.boardingarea....-class-review/
If you look at the two main, there's no way those were heated from a casserol dish and then plated.
Jun 18, 2019, 11:02 am
#668
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
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Posts: 9,452
@MatthewLAX posted two trip reports with mains that look like they were definitely plated and some effort put into presentation. Along with the above NRT pictures, trying to see if United decided to roll their policy back a bit.
https://liveandletsfly.boardingarea....ncsico-review/
https://liveandletsfly.boardingarea....-class-review/
If you look at the two main, there's no way those were heated from a casserol dish and then plated.
https://liveandletsfly.boardingarea....ncsico-review/
https://liveandletsfly.boardingarea....-class-review/
If you look at the two main, there's no way those were heated from a casserol dish and then plated.
Jun 18, 2019, 2:55 pm
#669
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Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 11,468
Over the last couple of weeks I had a salmon with a butter sauce and a chicken with a Bordelaise sauce. Both were served casserole-wise and
the sauces were totally watered down, with the fish/meat "swimming" in it, badly diluting the original flavor of the sauces.
TATL Westboud ex-FRA last week the pre-arrival meal stated pizza and beef stew. The FA offered pizza, cheeseburger or chili - the latter being the
hot-bites inflight snack.
the sauces were totally watered down, with the fish/meat "swimming" in it, badly diluting the original flavor of the sauces.
TATL Westboud ex-FRA last week the pre-arrival meal stated pizza and beef stew. The FA offered pizza, cheeseburger or chili - the latter being the
hot-bites inflight snack.
Jun 18, 2019, 7:01 pm
#670
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Denver, Colorado
Programs: IHG Spire, Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Titanium, Mileage Plus Gold
Posts: 1,736
Over the last couple of weeks I had a salmon with a butter sauce and a chicken with a Bordelaise sauce. Both were served casserole-wise and
the sauces were totally watered down, with the fish/meat "swimming" in it, badly diluting the original flavor of the sauces.
TATL Westboud ex-FRA last week the pre-arrival meal stated pizza and beef stew. The FA offered pizza, cheeseburger or chili - the latter being the
hot-bites inflight snack.
the sauces were totally watered down, with the fish/meat "swimming" in it, badly diluting the original flavor of the sauces.
TATL Westboud ex-FRA last week the pre-arrival meal stated pizza and beef stew. The FA offered pizza, cheeseburger or chili - the latter being the
hot-bites inflight snack.
Jun 19, 2019, 2:27 pm
#671
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: United 1K
Posts: 38
SFO-AMS
Beef short rib: very dry
LIS-EWR
Lemongrass salmon: after running out of everything else on the menu.
Beef stew (breakfast): surprisingly ok
EWR-SFO
Smoked duck (chilled appetizer): nice!
Seared chicken (bordelaise, cauliflower-leek mash): should've gotten the grilled salmon w/ red curry & noodles
hopefully upcoming SFO-ICN, NRT-SFO ones will be better!
Beef short rib: very dry
LIS-EWR
Lemongrass salmon: after running out of everything else on the menu.
Beef stew (breakfast): surprisingly ok
EWR-SFO
Smoked duck (chilled appetizer): nice!
Seared chicken (bordelaise, cauliflower-leek mash): should've gotten the grilled salmon w/ red curry & noodles
hopefully upcoming SFO-ICN, NRT-SFO ones will be better!
Jun 25, 2019, 11:31 am
#672
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 19
Long time lurker, first time poster in this forum. Our honeymoon trip is coming up 7/9 ORD-SFO-SYD, returning 7/23. I have to admit I've been really disappointed to read about the declines in Polaris service and food since booking the tickets on miles nearly a year ago. Any tips for what to order on these flights from those who have taken it or recent menus? I know also to ask for pajamas and the gel pillows, but any other "secret" Polaris amenities I'm missing? Think it'll help the service if we mention to the FAs the special nature of the trip?
Jun 25, 2019, 11:48 am
#673
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Gel pillow is provided at the seat
You ask for the mattress pad (and pajamas)
And ask for hot bites 6 hours into flight (go to galley and ask)
You ask for the mattress pad (and pajamas)
And ask for hot bites 6 hours into flight (go to galley and ask)
Jun 25, 2019, 12:14 pm
#674
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Location: MSP
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Long time lurker, first time poster in this forum. Our honeymoon trip is coming up 7/9 ORD-SFO-SYD, returning 7/23. I have to admit I've been really disappointed to read about the declines in Polaris service and food since booking the tickets on miles nearly a year ago. Any tips for what to order on these flights from those who have taken it or recent menus? I know also to ask for pajamas and the gel pillows, but any other "secret" Polaris amenities I'm missing? Think it'll help the service if we mention to the FAs the special nature of the trip?
I would not mention it to the FA; a good crew is going to be good anyway, and a bad one will if anything get worse.
Jun 25, 2019, 12:28 pm
#675
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The spicy noodles (sometimes called Thai curry, Asian fusion, or similar) is the best current meal option. Otherwise I order the fish and it's usually okay about 80% of the time. In general, don't expect much from the food and you won't be disappointed.