Embarking on a long-distance Amtrak journey offers a unique opportunity to relax, enjoy the scenery, and even savor freshly prepared meals onboard. For many, the dining car experience is an integral part of the Amtrak adventure. This blog post highlights the Amtrak routes where you can enjoy a meal in a traditional dining car or other onboard dining options.
Why Dine Onboard Amtrak?
Choosing to dine onboard an Amtrak train provides several advantages:
- Scenic Dining: Enjoy your meal with ever-changing landscapes as your backdrop, a truly unique dining experience.
- Social Interaction: The dining car often serves as a social hub, providing opportunities to meet and converse with fellow travelers.
- Freshly Prepared Meals: Amtrak’s onboard culinary teams prepare a variety of meals using fresh ingredients.
- Convenience: On long journeys, having a dining car eliminates the need to seek out food during brief station stops or pack extensive meals.
Amtrak Routes Featuring Traditional Dining Car Service
Traditional dining car service, where passengers can enjoy sit-down meals with menu options, is typically available on Amtrak’s long-distance overnight routes. These routes often include meal service in the fare for Sleeper Car passengers and offer meals for purchase to Coach passengers.
- California Zephyr: Chicago, IL – Emeryville, CA (via Denver & Salt Lake City)
- Coast Starlight: Los Angeles, CA – Seattle, WA
- Empire Builder: Chicago, IL – Seattle, WA / Portland, OR
- Southwest Chief: Chicago, IL – Los Angeles, CA (via Kansas City & Albuquerque)
- Sunset Limited: Los Angeles, CA – New Orleans, LA
- Texas Eagle: Chicago, IL – San Antonio, TX (with connections to Los Angeles)
- City of New Orleans: Chicago, IL – New Orleans, LA
- Cardinal: New York, NY – Chicago, IL (via Washington, D.C. & Cincinnati)
- Capitol Limited: Washington, D.C. – Chicago, IL
- Silver Meteor: New York, NY – Miami, FL
- Silver Star: New York, NY – Miami, FL
- Lake Shore Limited: New York, NY / Boston, MA – Chicago, IL
- Crescent: New York, NY – New Orleans, LA
Amtrak Routes Featuring Flexible Dining or Cafe Service
Some Amtrak routes offer alternative dining options, such as Flexible Dining (a more casual experience primarily for Sleeping Car passengers on select routes) or Cafe Cars, which provide a variety of grab-and-go meals, snacks, and beverages.
- Auto Train: Lorton, VA – Sanford, FL (features a unique dining experience for all passengers)
- Northeast Regional: Boston, MA – Virginia (offers Cafe service)
- Acela Express: Boston, MA – Washington, D.C. (offers Cafe service)
- Downeaster: Boston, MA – Brunswick, ME (offers Cafe service)
- Vermonter: St. Albans, VT – Washington, D.C. (offers Cafe service)
Please note that the specific dining options available can vary, and it is always recommended to check the amenities for your specific route when booking.
What to Expect in an Amtrak Dining Car
The Amtrak dining car offers a unique and enjoyable experience:
- Seating: Typically features tables designed to seat four people. Solo travelers or smaller groups may be seated with other passengers.
- Meal Times: Traditional dining cars typically offer scheduled meal times for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
- Menu Options: Amtrak’s menus feature a variety of options, including continental breakfast items, sandwiches, salads, and entree selections such as steak, chicken, and pasta. Vegetarian and other dietary considerations are often accommodated. Menus are subject to change.
- Service: You will be served by attentive Amtrak dining car staff.
- Reservations: For dinner in the traditional dining car, reservations are often required. Your Sleeping Car attendant will typically assist Sleeper Car passengers with making reservations. Coach passengers may be able to make reservations online, at the station, or onboard, depending on availability.
Sample Menus
Get a taste of traditional dining selections by sampling each route menu:
- Auto Train Menu
- California Zephyr Menu
- Coast Starlight Menu
Empire Builder Menu**- Floridian Menu
- Silver Meteor Menu
- Floridian Menu
- Southwest Chief Menu
- Sunset Limited Menu
- Texas Eagle Menu*
For the most current menu information for your specific route, please refer to the Amtrak website.
Tips for Dining Onboard Amtrak
To make the most of your Amtrak dining experience:
- Check the Menu: Review the anticipated menu for your route, often available on the Amtrak website or in your onboard literature.
- Make Dinner Reservations: If you are traveling on a route with traditional dining and wish to have dinner, make reservations as soon as possible after boarding.
- Be Prepared to Share Tables: Due to seating arrangements, you may be seated with other passengers. This can be a great opportunity for conversation.
- Consider Bringing Snacks: While meals are available, you may want to bring your own snacks and drinks for consumption between meal times.
- Inform Staff of Dietary Restrictions: If you have any dietary restrictions or allergies, inform your Sleeping Car attendant or the dining car staff.
Conclusion
Dining in an Amtrak dining car is more than just a meal; it’s an integral part of the journey. With scenic views and freshly prepared food, it offers a unique and enjoyable experience for long-distance travelers. Explore the routes listed above and plan your next Amtrak adventure to savor the journey in more ways than one. For the most up-to-date information on dining options for your specific route, please visit the official Amtrak website.