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 15, 2019, 4:47 pm
#631
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Our nation's capital
Programs: UA 1K & 0.6 MM
Posts: 781
Menu from today's FRA-IAD #988 .
Ordered the salmon, not bad. Slightly overcooked. Skipped the arrival meal.
I enjoyed the Bordeaux, but skipped the champagne. While I am far from a connoisseur, it did not look good.
Ordered the salmon, not bad. Slightly overcooked. Skipped the arrival meal.
I enjoyed the Bordeaux, but skipped the champagne. While I am far from a connoisseur, it did not look good.
Jun 15, 2019, 5:33 pm
#632
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
UA 17: LHR to EWR
June 9, 2019
Boeing 767-400, Lunch, Lunch
The appetizer was reasonably tasty and remains the saving grace of a lot of UA meal services. Honestly, I wish they would serve the entire set of appetizers in the rotation all at once, and make a meal service out of that.
June 9, 2019
Boeing 767-400, Lunch, Lunch
The appetizer was reasonably tasty and remains the saving grace of a lot of UA meal services. Honestly, I wish they would serve the entire set of appetizers in the rotation all at once, and make a meal service out of that.
However, her favorite appetizer of all times was on Sabena but she was traveling so often on that airline in the 80's and early 90's that she never felt the need to ask for a second serving as she would get it again the following week.
Jun 15, 2019, 8:30 pm
#633
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,415
Totally OT. In the mid-90's when my wife was working for a Finnish company and was traveling on Finnair, she would always ask if she could get a second serving of the appetizer in lieu of the main dish. She always got the second serving but then they always served her the main dish (which was not needed). Even worse: if the appetizer involved caviar, she would see that her neighbor was not touching it so she would ask for it.
In my case though it would be really nice to get six different appetizers and call it the meal service. Back when UA was still running the GF cabin I thought it would have been a clever way to distinguish.
Jun 15, 2019, 8:59 pm
#634
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Bloomfield, NJ
Programs: UA Gold, Million Miler, Marriott platinum, lifetime platinum
Posts: 974
UA 17: LHR to EWR
June 9, 2019
Boeing 767-400, Lunch, Lunch
I was treated to the same menu as hirohito888, above. Nothing jumped off the list as particularly appetizing, so I decided to go for the beef.
The appetizer was reasonably tasty and remains the saving grace of a lot of UA meal services. Honestly, I wish they would serve the entire set of appetizers in the rotation all at once, and make a meal service out of that. The caprese was decent, although hardly memorable. Salad was fine, which is better than a lot of salads on UA these days, and the garlic bread was of course timeless.
The new TV-dinner preparation of Polaris meals is downright awful. Miraculously, it ended up tasting all right, despite the beef being quite overcooked and everything else baked into oblivion. Honestly, this course would have been at least 30% better if it had just been properly plated rather than looking like it came straight out of the microwave.
At least UA hasn't managed to ruin dessert. ex-LHR even had some interesting cheeses.
The arrival service was awful. The menu author clearly had given up, describing the dish as Pizza (the other option being Beef Stew - also with no modifiers), but hey I figured the red-eye calzone and BoB Uno's were not that bad, so why not give it a shot?
Ugh. Most frozen pizzas at the grocery store are better, and the salad was an inedible pile of cucumber chunks which I returned uneaten. At least this was followed by the EWR PL and a meal flight, so it's not like I was in any danger of going hungry.
ed. the overall experience was lousy I almost forgot to mention the wine, which was a bright spot - among the reds was a pretty outstanding (at least to my elevation-addled palate) Ch teauneuf-du-Pape, although I did not scrutinize the bottle.
June 9, 2019
Boeing 767-400, Lunch, Lunch
I was treated to the same menu as hirohito888, above. Nothing jumped off the list as particularly appetizing, so I decided to go for the beef.
The appetizer was reasonably tasty and remains the saving grace of a lot of UA meal services. Honestly, I wish they would serve the entire set of appetizers in the rotation all at once, and make a meal service out of that. The caprese was decent, although hardly memorable. Salad was fine, which is better than a lot of salads on UA these days, and the garlic bread was of course timeless.
The new TV-dinner preparation of Polaris meals is downright awful. Miraculously, it ended up tasting all right, despite the beef being quite overcooked and everything else baked into oblivion. Honestly, this course would have been at least 30% better if it had just been properly plated rather than looking like it came straight out of the microwave.
At least UA hasn't managed to ruin dessert. ex-LHR even had some interesting cheeses.
The arrival service was awful. The menu author clearly had given up, describing the dish as Pizza (the other option being Beef Stew - also with no modifiers), but hey I figured the red-eye calzone and BoB Uno's were not that bad, so why not give it a shot?
Ugh. Most frozen pizzas at the grocery store are better, and the salad was an inedible pile of cucumber chunks which I returned uneaten. At least this was followed by the EWR PL and a meal flight, so it's not like I was in any danger of going hungry.
ed. the overall experience was lousy I almost forgot to mention the wine, which was a bright spot - among the reds was a pretty outstanding (at least to my elevation-addled palate) Ch teauneuf-du-Pape, although I did not scrutinize the bottle.
Jun 15, 2019, 11:51 pm
#635
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: UA 1K 1MM (finally!), IHG AMB-Spire, HH Diamond
Posts: 60,174
I had the HNML special meal SFO-SIN last week (sorry no pics) and the main dish for both meals is served in the larger platter bowl not the new pathetic casserole dish.
And the FA must have seen how I gazed at the garlic bread as he kept hooking me up!
Sadly, the appetizer is a repeat both meals (some cold lentils) and the salad is served with a small oil/balsamic screwtop bottle that never mixes together properly.
And the FA must have seen how I gazed at the garlic bread as he kept hooking me up!
Sadly, the appetizer is a repeat both meals (some cold lentils) and the salad is served with a small oil/balsamic screwtop bottle that never mixes together properly.
Jun 16, 2019, 8:54 am
#636
Join Date: May 2004
Programs: LX Senator; AF Platinum and Club 2000; AA Platinum for life (former EXP)
Posts: 494
The London to Newark meal posted above is beyond tragic. That main course would be disgusting if served in economy. In a premium cabin? Unimaginable. I am thankful for the posts as it confirms that UA long haul is to be avoided at all costs.
Jun 16, 2019, 1:18 pm
#637
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA*Lifetime GS, Hyatt* Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 12,334
June 12 Tokyo Narita to Washington Dulles
Jun 16, 2019, 2:59 pm
#638
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: AA Plat, UA 1K>Plat>moving to Silver
Posts: 2,090
It is most instructive to go up to the beginning of this thread and read the marketing copy, then recall from recent experience how Polaris on board dining has become worse than what came before it.
Jun 16, 2019, 3:39 pm
#639
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,854
Reminder -- the thread's topic is meals offered by UA in the Polaris Cabin.
An OT discussion of FAs and their role in safety has been removed.
Let's return to the thread's topic
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
An OT discussion of FAs and their role in safety has been removed.
Let's return to the thread's topic
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
Jun 16, 2019, 5:40 pm
#640
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: UA MP 1K
Posts: 119
That Japanese option does not look half bad, Can anyone comment on it further?
I usually take NH to NRT (or the odd TG).
I usually take NH to NRT (or the odd TG).
Last edited by IAH2MEL; Jun 16, 2019 at 9:13 pm Reason: spelling
Jun 16, 2019, 6:50 pm
#641
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Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA*Lifetime GS, Hyatt* Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 12,334
IMHO, regardless the types of cuisines, UA Polaris catering has deteriorated in the last 6 months. All the East Asian based *A carriers’ in-flight meals are better.
Jun 16, 2019, 8:09 pm
#642
Join Date: May 2004
Programs: LX Senator; AF Platinum and Club 2000; AA Platinum for life (former EXP)
Posts: 494
Agreed that the Japanese meal looks better than the garbage Western meals posted above it. Better, until one understands what JAL serves in business class. The message comes through that UA does not depend on attracting passengers; instead it trades on captives who have little choice. Fortunately I have a choice. Thank you, Kirby, for making my decision to avoid UA at all costs so easy.
Jun 17, 2019, 6:18 am
#643
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: CHI
Programs: UA 1K, MR Titanium, IHG Gold, National Exec
Posts: 3,841
The Japanese meal is better than other entree choices on the menu, but the UA Japanese meals are not as good as the ones served on NH or SQ.
IMHO, regardless the types of cuisines, UA Polaris catering has deteriorated in the last 6 months. All the East Asian based *A carriers’ in-flight meals are better.
IMHO, regardless the types of cuisines, UA Polaris catering has deteriorated in the last 6 months. All the East Asian based *A carriers’ in-flight meals are better.
Jun 17, 2019, 7:27 am
#644
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA GS, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Mlife NOIR
Posts: 320
While the UA J meals have seriously gone down in quality, i find them now about on par with LH J, which tend to have small portions and weird flavors (lots of pickled stuff).
I tend to much prefer NH, SQ, BR, but it could also be because I enjoy Asian food, and tend to eat protein-heavy. Unlike UA/LH, these airlines provision extra entrées, so I’ve never had an issue asking for a second entrée / protein. On BR, I recently had a duck breast with risotto AND a sautéed ginger scallion lobster dish. Yum!
When you avoid the bread, dessert, and carbs on Polaris J, most of the time you’re left with a 4oz tenderloin hockey puck or over cooked 6-8 oz chicken breast. Gone are the days of the pre-Polaris 1lb pork chops! That was a real entrée.
(The Japanese meals on UA are probably the only decent meals left at this point. The ones posted above look pretty good.)
I tend to much prefer NH, SQ, BR, but it could also be because I enjoy Asian food, and tend to eat protein-heavy. Unlike UA/LH, these airlines provision extra entrées, so I’ve never had an issue asking for a second entrée / protein. On BR, I recently had a duck breast with risotto AND a sautéed ginger scallion lobster dish. Yum!
When you avoid the bread, dessert, and carbs on Polaris J, most of the time you’re left with a 4oz tenderloin hockey puck or over cooked 6-8 oz chicken breast. Gone are the days of the pre-Polaris 1lb pork chops! That was a real entrée.
(The Japanese meals on UA are probably the only decent meals left at this point. The ones posted above look pretty good.)
Jun 17, 2019, 7:44 am
#645
Join Date: May 2004
Programs: LX Senator; AF Platinum and Club 2000; AA Platinum for life (former EXP)
Posts: 494
I don't understand the comment about LH, comparing them to the repulsive slop that UA now offers in J. LH food is actually quite good, the wines equally so, and the service excellent. In short, LH is MUCH better. LH plates the J meals in the galley rather than the "TV dinner" approach of UA heating everything in the serving dish.