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Amtrak Dining choices

Posted by TransitChuckG on Sat Sep 14 17:22:55 2019

Amtrak Dining choices

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Re: Amtrak Dining choices

Posted by Broadway Lion on Sat Sep 14 18:12:45 2019, in response to Amtrak Dining choices, posted by TransitChuckG on Sat Sep 14 17:22:55 2019.

The cut service and then brag about it.

I want a freshly cooked RARE Rib Eye Steak.

ROAR

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Re: Amtrak Dining choices

Posted by italianguyinsi on Sat Sep 14 19:26:10 2019, in response to Amtrak Dining choices, posted by TransitChuckG on Sat Sep 14 17:22:55 2019.

Goodbye cooked to order food. Shame.

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Re: Amtrak Dining choices

Posted by https://salaamallah.com/ on Sat Sep 14 19:38:15 2019, in response to Re: Amtrak Dining choices, posted by Broadway Lion on Sat Sep 14 18:12:45 2019.

well done for me

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Re: Amtrak Dining choices

Posted by https://salaamallah.com/ on Sat Sep 14 19:39:03 2019, in response to Amtrak Dining choices, posted by TransitChuckG on Sat Sep 14 17:22:55 2019.

good not a lot of pork

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Re: Amtrak Dining choices

Posted by alantrain on Sat Sep 14 19:55:15 2019, in response to Amtrak Dining choices, posted by TransitChuckG on Sat Sep 14 17:22:55 2019.

We took a trip on the California zephyr last month and the food in the dining car was excellent. We met a man there who had been on the Lake Shore Ltd a few weeks before and said that the new food service
( prepared meals) was not good. So much for moving forward.

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Re: Amtrak Dining choices

Posted by Nilet on Sat Sep 14 22:35:24 2019, in response to Amtrak Dining choices, posted by TransitChuckG on Sat Sep 14 17:22:55 2019.

Phuck 'em. I remember when each train had its own menu.

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Re: Amtrak Dining choices

Posted by northshore on Sat Sep 14 23:07:07 2019, in response to Amtrak Dining choices, posted by TransitChuckG on Sat Sep 14 17:22:55 2019.

Microwaved frozen dinners

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Re: Amtrak Dining choices

Posted by Bill Newkirk on Sat Sep 14 23:28:24 2019, in response to Amtrak Dining choices, posted by TransitChuckG on Sat Sep 14 17:22:55 2019.

Isn't a "continental breakfast" a buttered kaiser roll ?

Bill Newkirk

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Re: Amtrak Dining choices

Posted by TransitChuckG on Sun Sep 15 01:26:53 2019, in response to Re: Amtrak Dining choices, posted by https://salaamallah.com/ on Sat Sep 14 19:38:15 2019.

Same here. Medium to well done.

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Re: Amtrak Dining choices

Posted by Nilet on Sun Sep 15 01:45:10 2019, in response to Re: Amtrak Dining choices, posted by TransitChuckG on Sun Sep 15 01:26:53 2019.

Ground up into burgers for me, plz.

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Re: Amtrak Dining choices

Posted by Nilet on Sun Sep 15 01:46:01 2019, in response to Re: Amtrak Dining choices, posted by northshore on Sat Sep 14 23:07:07 2019.



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Re: Amtrak Dining choices

Posted by Nilet on Sun Sep 15 01:46:33 2019, in response to Re: Amtrak Dining choices, posted by https://salaamallah.com/ on Sat Sep 14 19:39:03 2019.

What's the point of it being halal if it's nasty and no one wants to eat it? :(

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Re: Amtrak Dining choices

Posted by Nilet on Sun Sep 15 01:51:44 2019, in response to Re: Amtrak Dining choices, posted by alantrain on Sat Sep 14 19:55:15 2019.

Dining car food was perfectly decent on the Silver Meatier last June. Pity about this, really— I was planning another trip at some point.

Mind you, prepared/catered food not cooked on board can be good— from what I've heard, the Ocean (from Montreal to Halifax) has decent food despite not being cooked on board. Then again, VIA is not bound by absurd congressional parliamentary dictates to not treat food service as the loss leader it has always been for railroads.

At least I'll still have the Cardinal (which had microwaved food for the past decade, so isn't really losing much) to connect me with the western trains. Though having lunch and dinner from the same menu seems annoying.

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Re: Amtrak Dining choices

Posted by Nilet on Sun Sep 15 01:52:57 2019, in response to Re: Amtrak Dining choices, posted by italianguyinsi on Sat Sep 14 19:26:10 2019.

To be brutally honest, I don't know how much of Amtrak food was really cooked to order. It was decent, though, as long as you never order the chicken (which is somehow always rubbery).

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Re: Amtrak Dining choices

Posted by TransitChuckG on Sun Sep 15 05:14:31 2019, in response to Re: Amtrak Dining choices, posted by Nilet on Sun Sep 15 01:52:57 2019.

Amtack-Menu-in color

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Re: Amtrak Dining choices

Posted by Nilet on Sun Sep 15 05:17:33 2019, in response to Re: Amtrak Dining choices, posted by TransitChuckG on Sun Sep 15 05:14:31 2019.

That's the new menu for the microwave meals. Which seems slightly different from what the LSL and Cap have been serving, but I'm not entirely sure; I haven't ridden those trains since 2012 and 2008 respectively.

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Re: Amtrak Dining choices

Posted by Alan Follett on Sun Sep 15 08:34:44 2019, in response to Amtrak Dining choices, posted by TransitChuckG on Sat Sep 14 17:22:55 2019.

One detail hidden away in there: the Silver Star, which has been running with just a cafe for the last few years, will actually get an upgrade to the same level of service as the Meteor beginning in 2020. I wonder if this means an end to reduced-cost, no meals included sleeper rates on the Star?

Alan Follett
South San Francisco, CA


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Re: Amtrak Dining choices

Posted by italianguyinsi on Sun Sep 15 11:23:21 2019, in response to Re: Amtrak Dining choices, posted by Nilet on Sun Sep 15 01:52:57 2019.

Granted. But at least there was a full kitchen, and they did SOME cooked to order food (e.g., Eggs, Steak, etc.). It wasn't much, but it was something.

Complete disgrace that a long distance passenger train has to resort to microwaved foods. THat's maybe allowable on a local run, but an overnight run? No.

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Re: Amtrak Dining choices

Posted by Broadway Lion on Sun Sep 15 12:08:53 2019, in response to Amtrak Dining choices, posted by TransitChuckG on Sat Sep 14 17:22:55 2019.

Whale, any way you slice it, it is far better than any airline food now being served in the USA.

Next time I fly (Which will be on Thursday, I will bring a box of cookies with me.

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Re: Amtrak Dining choices

Posted by Joe V on Sun Sep 15 12:17:08 2019, in response to Re: Amtrak Dining choices, posted by italianguyinsi on Sun Sep 15 11:23:21 2019.

They are supposed to refit the kitchens with convection ovens that can cook 20 meals at a time before year end.

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Re: Amtrak Dining choices

Posted by Joe V on Sun Sep 15 12:17:50 2019, in response to Re: Amtrak Dining choices, posted by Alan Follett on Sun Sep 15 08:34:44 2019.

Probably. The seem to be looking for uniformity

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Re: Amtrak Dining choices

Posted by Joe V on Sun Sep 15 12:18:28 2019, in response to Re: Amtrak Dining choices, posted by Broadway Lion on Sun Sep 15 12:08:53 2019.

Why don't you bring something healthier.

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Re: Amtrak Dining choices

Posted by Broadway Lion on Sun Sep 15 12:26:48 2019, in response to Re: Amtrak Dining choices, posted by Joe V on Sun Sep 15 12:18:28 2019.

You mean like a salad?

No place in Richardton sells salads.
Maybe if I allow time I can get some nice Macaroni salad at a supermarket in Bismarck.

BayGulls are a good choice, but are spensive in the airpot.

ROAR

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Re: Amtrak Dining choices

Posted by Joe V on Sun Sep 15 12:34:20 2019, in response to Re: Amtrak Dining choices, posted by Broadway Lion on Sun Sep 15 12:26:48 2019.

Pack a turkey or ham with cheese sandwich and some fruit, like red grapes. You must have an Albertson's or IGA with a deli counter.

Macaroni salad is all carbs and sodium.

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Re: Amtrak Dining choices

Posted by Joe V on Sun Sep 15 12:36:21 2019, in response to Re: Amtrak Dining choices, posted by Nilet on Sun Sep 15 01:51:44 2019.

Come Oct 1, the Cardinal is getting the same shit as all the others. The Amfleet-2 dinette will be replaced by a Viewliner-II "sleeper lounge".

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Re: Amtrak Dining choices

Posted by Broadway Lion on Sun Sep 15 12:40:04 2019, in response to Re: Amtrak Dining choices, posted by Joe V on Sun Sep 15 12:34:20 2019.

But they are tasty carbs and sodium. No Albertson's or IGAs in North Dakota, but I can find a supermarket with deli.

Turkeys and Hams are far too dry A nice RARE Roasty Beast on a Seeded Bun slathered in Mayo sounds like a winner, if I can sneak it past the TSA.

ROAR

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Re: Amtrak Dining choices

Posted by Nilet on Sun Sep 15 13:03:04 2019, in response to Re: Amtrak Dining choices, posted by Joe V on Sun Sep 15 12:36:21 2019.

The Viewliner sleeper-lounge is an improvement, since the Amfleet dinette tended to get rather cramped pulling double duty as cafe and "diner." Though it does mean the train will lose its neglected charm, especially if the Viewliner-II sleepers mean it can run more than once a week with a single sleeper in the future.

But that Amfleet dinette never had a real oven so basically the Cardinal is being switched from one set of microwaved food to another— a lateral move on food service, with an increase in lounge space.

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Re: Amtrak Dining choices

Posted by Joe V on Sun Sep 15 13:08:00 2019, in response to Re: Amtrak Dining choices, posted by Nilet on Sun Sep 15 13:03:04 2019.

Coach passengers are not welcome, and least not yet.

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Re: Amtrak Dining choices

Posted by Nilet on Sun Sep 15 13:11:04 2019, in response to Re: Amtrak Dining choices, posted by Joe V on Sun Sep 15 13:08:00 2019.

Presumably, there will still be a cafe car for them.

The "sleeper-only" rule is apparently being imposed for the same reason as the change is— Congress stupidly mandated that Amtrak not lose money on dining cars, so they're both cutting back service (to save money) and making what's left a "sleeper-only" offering (so they can attribute its costs to the sleeper service and avoid calling it a dining car loss).

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Re: Amtrak Dining choices

Posted by Joe V on Sun Sep 15 13:55:29 2019, in response to Re: Amtrak Dining choices, posted by Nilet on Sun Sep 15 13:11:04 2019.

According to Friday's NARP Hotline :

"Amtrak is going to restore the ability of Coach passengers to buy food from the diner, implementing an order-ahead system so that passengers have the option to make selections at booking"

"Amtrak is using a combination of processes and technology to ensure that there is enough food on board for service, and enough variety so that passengers’ first choice is more likely to be available"

"An oven upgrade for several of the food-service cars has been stalled by mechanical issues, but CEO Richard Anderson has apparently issued an edict that this work will get done by the end of the year. "

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Re: Amtrak Dining choices

Posted by Henry R32 #3730 on Sun Sep 15 20:44:06 2019, in response to Re: Amtrak Dining choices, posted by Joe V on Sun Sep 15 13:55:29 2019.

This actually sounds like a really good change.

Kindof surprising that picking a meal in advance is going to get in there before reserved seating on LD trains...

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Re: Amtrak Dining choices

Posted by Alan Follett on Sun Sep 15 21:33:50 2019, in response to Re: Amtrak Dining choices, posted by Henry R32 #3730 on Sun Sep 15 20:44:06 2019.

Amtrak's original reservation system in the 1970's did allow specific seat assignments for LD trains. This was stopped before the end of the decade. For one thing, conductors and attendants found that it led to too many, um, confrontations with passengers who switched seats. Also, in those days most service ran with heritage coaches, with many variations in floor plan and seat numbering, and no certainty as to what would run as a given car line on a given day.

Alan Follett
South San Francisco, CA

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Re: Amtrak Dining choices

Posted by Alan Follett on Tue Sep 17 20:17:42 2019, in response to Re: Amtrak Dining choices, posted by northshore on Sat Sep 14 23:07:07 2019.

Well, not technically microwaved; the Viewliner II diners have convection ovens. A distinction without difference? We'll see. This will actually be an upgrade for at least the Silver Star and the Cardinal.

Alan Follett
South San Francisco, CA

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Re: Amtrak Dining choices

Posted by Alan Follett on Tue Sep 17 20:21:59 2019, in response to Re: Amtrak Dining choices, posted by Bill Newkirk on Sat Sep 14 23:28:24 2019.

Oh, probably more than that in the pastry line. Still, I remember a snarky Chicago restaurant review from the 1960's: "[Forgotten Name of Restaurant] describes its fare as 'Continental cuisine.' Apparently the continent in question is Antarctica. You know, where everything is frozen."

Alan Follett
South San Francisco, CA

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Re: Amtrak Dining choices

Posted by Joe V on Tue Sep 17 20:22:05 2019, in response to Re: Amtrak Dining choices, posted by Alan Follett on Tue Sep 17 20:17:42 2019.

Coach passengers on th Cardinal are getting thrown out of any dining service.

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Re: Amtrak Dining choices

Posted by Alan Follett on Tue Sep 17 20:30:31 2019, in response to Re: Amtrak Dining choices, posted by Joe V on Tue Sep 17 20:22:05 2019.

If that's the plan, a bad decision, but I'm not clear on whether the Cardinal will also have a café or something for steerage passengers.

Alan Follett
South San Francisco, CA

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Re: Amtrak Dining choices

Posted by Joe V on Tue Sep 17 20:47:41 2019, in response to Re: Amtrak Dining choices, posted by Alan Follett on Tue Sep 17 20:30:31 2019.

They'll still have that.
Silver Star doesn't get it until 1st Qtr 2020

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Re: Amtrak Dining choices

Posted by Dave on Tue Sep 17 21:09:32 2019, in response to Re: Amtrak Dining choices, posted by Alan Follett on Tue Sep 17 20:17:42 2019.

A convection oven is more similar to a conventional oven than to a microwave oven. The convection oven has a fan that circulates heated air. This allows for operation at a lower temperature while cooking more quickly.

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Re: Amtrak Dining choices

Posted by Jackson Park B Train on Wed Sep 18 12:50:41 2019, in response to Re: Amtrak Dining choices, posted by Broadway Lion on Sat Sep 14 18:12:45 2019.

while not a rib eye, Amtrak fed me 5 rare steaks on mymost recent trip. would havehad a 6th if there had not been a reroute for trackwork on the Coast Starlight route.

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Re: Amtrak Dining choices

Posted by Joe V on Wed Sep 18 17:59:30 2019, in response to Re: Amtrak Dining choices, posted by Dave on Tue Sep 17 21:09:32 2019.

They are going to rebuild the kitchen with more convection ovens or else huge ones that can heart 20 meals at a time.

Anderson ordered it done by January. That's why no Viewliner on the Silver Star yet - shop margin. At some point, they will let coach passengers prepay online and order the same. Whether they let them sit in the "sleeper lounge" is another matter

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