No Steak? SWC out of LA
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tommylicious
OBS Chief
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Pathetic.
DevalDragon
Train Attendant
crescent-zephyr
Engineer
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Worse. The city of New Orleans no longer has a "chef" (cook, food prep person... Whatever you want to call them) - only 1 server who serves pre-made food. You can look up the menu on Amtraks site. Currently offered on the Southbound City of New Orleans -
Italian Sandwich
Turkey sandwich
Entree salad with or without diced Chicken.
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printman2000
Engineer
Funny, they had no problems for years serving steak at that meal. Now all the sudden it is a problem?
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Craig:I've caught #4 out of LAX probably 10 times in the past few years and they ALWAYS had the Limited Menu for the first night's Dinner.
The food just used to taste better before the Boardman/Beancounter cuts implemented to try to appease the Mica-Managers on Capitol Hill!
The food just used to taste better before the Boardman/Beancounter cuts implemented to try to appease the Mica-Managers on Capitol Hill!
Devil's Advocate
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The "premium" meals on the CS PPC are very similar to your description of the CONO. I wonder how much money they could save by putting an end to PPC and CCC food services. Perhaps they could increase the carryon luggage limits to allow more food and put some RV style microwaves and refrigerators in the mid-car alcoves. That'd make me happy.
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fillyjonk
OBS Chief
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Having once or twice ridden the TE with the infamous "surly" crew, I'd be afraid to ask for something from the lounge car even if there was "nothing" in the way of main dishes I could eat....I'd just ask for veggies and rice or whatever starch they had 
Or I'd figure I'd just deal with the hives and GI upset eating one of my 'forbidden' items would cause.
Or I'd figure I'd just deal with the hives and GI upset eating one of my 'forbidden' items would cause.
crescent-zephyr
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When I rode the Starlight last November I thought the Parlour Car food was good. Had the Entree Salad for Lunch... Was a far cry from the standard dining car salad... This had organic apples, craisins, candied walnuts, and cucumbers.
For dinner the choices were Beechers Cheese Pasta, and the Lamb Shank. Both very good choices in my opinion. (I had the Pasta on this trip.)
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Devil's Advocate
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In April of this year Amtrak released a new PPC menu. The public address descriptions seemed to have nothing in common with the actual menu and meals. The stale pre-made sandwich was so bad, and the PPC attendant was so indifferent and unprofessional, that I simply gave up eating in the PPC and returned to eating conventional dining car meals. I suppose it's possible I missed something really good, but I kind of doubt it. By the last couple meals I had already stopped ordering food from either car. It just wasn't worth it for a bunch of empty calories.
crescent-zephyr
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That's a shame. I'm not surprised... I know the Beechers Mac n Cheese and Lamb Shank were leftovers (hopefully not literally) from the "Chef Inspired" menus which I beleve we both agree were pretty decent. I guess they cost too much money.
ABQFloridian
Train Attendant
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I find this hard to believe. They definitely had the full menu when I rode out of LA last June. (They did say the train was booked full so maybe that had something to do with it.)
Triley
Real Lead Service Attendant
But I'm saying to ask for the yogurt from the diner, since they stock it for the continental breakfast. And if you have dietary restrictions, see about ordering a special meal. It may not be as good quality, but I'm sure it'd be better than the alternative of going hungry or having a reaction to something.Having once or twice ridden the TE with the infamous "surly" crew, I'd be afraid to ask for something from the lounge car even if there was "nothing" in the way of main dishes I could eat....I'd just ask for veggies and rice or whatever starch they had
And just because you have one bad experience, don't let that put you down from asking for favors or something "different". There are bad crews, yet there are plenty of good out there too. Some crews may be more willing to go out of their way to make you happy, and it all depends on what the LSA decides as they are in charge of the OBS crew and it's their stock. Some crew bases/managers are a little more controlling of their crews than others too.
DC for example is real strict on damn near everything. Boston is much more relaxed. There was this one trip I remember we had a kid maybe 12 years old actually make his way down to track level in NY and make it on to our train, which I believe was terminating in DC. He had no ticket, no money, was real hungry, and was attempting to run away to Florida. The conductor had me make up a pizza and soda for him while we contacted his parents and the police. She offered to pay for his stuff, and I refused to take any money from her, because I knew that my managers in Boston would back me up for doing what is the right thing on a personal level, and taking care of this starving child.
I'm not saying that DC is heartless, but from a financial standpoint there is a right and wrong thing to do, and if I was based in DC I'd be leary of doing something like that without prior permission of one of my managers or supervisors. I still notified my direct manager after I had time to do so and he actually thanked me for taking care of him without question.
Edit: For those wondering how the story ended... We put him off the train in TRE in to the hands of an APD officer, who escorted him back to NYP to be reunited with mom and dad.
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For both SWC out of LA and CONO out of Chicago we prefer to get a good meal before or some really good carry out to eat in our room - with appropriate beverage.
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And the same with me from LA to ABQ next month.
And if they weren't, they'd charge extra for it.
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Cho Cho Charlie
Engineer
Ryan
Court Jester
It's been 6 years, but I'm fairly certain we had the Express Menu when we left LAX in the Spring of 2010.
printman2000
Engineer
It has been a few years since we departed LAX. As I said before, never ever had a limited menu the multiple time we have done it. Hence why I asked the original question.
greatcats
Engineer
I seem to recall a few years ago the selection was more limited leaving LA, but the steak was available. Maybe this train was not stocked normally and the crew made an executive decision to save the steak for the second night. I will be taking #4 on Aug. 22 boarding at Fullerton and was figuring on complete meals. Hmmm.
Montreal Ltd
Service Attendant
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Does the Capitol Ltd, leaving CHI at 640pm, also serve a limited menu?
The two times I've taken the Capitol (2-3 years ago), steak was available departing Chicago.
bmjhagen9426
OBS Chief
What about SWC #3 out of CHI?
Regular Full Menu out of CHI unless it's changed recently with all the Boardman/Beancounter cuts going on!
blondninja
Service Attendant
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I think one thing that strikes me is wrong is you shouldn't have to care about what crew you get.
I fully agree, on the trip I am on now I've had excellent, indifferent and horrid service. It is unacceptable.
I stay at Starwood hotels and always have had consistent service. Amtrak is simply its own thing. And that is a BIG problem for me.
I fully agree, on the trip I am on now I've had excellent, indifferent and horrid service. It is unacceptable.
I stay at Starwood hotels and always have had consistent service. Amtrak is simply its own thing. And that is a BIG problem for me.
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