There has been a lot of discussion about food on Amtrak but I’m trying to understand more about the food on cafe cars, especially in view of the general dislike for flex dining with its limited offerings especially for a lighter lunch selection.
I am returning home on train 89 after a weekend with old friends and watching a college basketball game. I just had lunch from the cafe car and was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. The photo shows my selection and it was greatly helped by the knowledgeable attendant. I was dubious about heating the sandwich with lettuce on it but also knew that sandwiches right out of the cooler can be hard and tasteless. He said the best way to do it was to lightly warm it in the microwave. He was right, it tasted freshly made. The quality of the meat and bread helped too.
My questions are: Is this part of the Northeast regional cafe car menu or is it unique to the national network cafe menus (the Palmetto really serves both purposes). If it is available on other LD trains, Amtrak should include this as a lunch option in lieu of flex dining. Even if they don’t, I think that’s what I’ll do on our next LD trip, even if it costs $16.50 (beer included). Maybe that’s what Amtrak wants to happen?
By the way, train 89 on Friday was OT, this train arrived Richmond 10min early (as did 92 at about the same time), and is currently OT north of Rocky Mount after meeting 2 freights and Train 80.
I am returning home on train 89 after a weekend with old friends and watching a college basketball game. I just had lunch from the cafe car and was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. The photo shows my selection and it was greatly helped by the knowledgeable attendant. I was dubious about heating the sandwich with lettuce on it but also knew that sandwiches right out of the cooler can be hard and tasteless. He said the best way to do it was to lightly warm it in the microwave. He was right, it tasted freshly made. The quality of the meat and bread helped too.
My questions are: Is this part of the Northeast regional cafe car menu or is it unique to the national network cafe menus (the Palmetto really serves both purposes). If it is available on other LD trains, Amtrak should include this as a lunch option in lieu of flex dining. Even if they don’t, I think that’s what I’ll do on our next LD trip, even if it costs $16.50 (beer included). Maybe that’s what Amtrak wants to happen?
By the way, train 89 on Friday was OT, this train arrived Richmond 10min early (as did 92 at about the same time), and is currently OT north of Rocky Mount after meeting 2 freights and Train 80.