Passenger Trains > Reduced dining car menus

I took the Southwest Chief out of Los Angeles the other night and found that the dining car menus had been substantially reduced: something called the "Express Menu" with only three items for dinner--burger, pasta, and chicken! I have also learned the same menu is in effect on the City of New Orleans, and perhaps other trains.

This is certainly a step backward.

.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/21/12 06:42 by Ptolemy.

I'd agree its a step backward, but it may reflect a reality that many travelers no longer want a formal meal in the dining car. In the "outside world" fast food restaurants are expanding while so called white tablecloth restaurants are going out of business. One of my favorite restaurants recently ended its jacket and tie requirement for men, and has seen a 20% increase in volume.

My dad mentioned that the Amtrak Auto-Train has discontinued his favorite ribeye steak, replacing it with with a lower quality cut called blade steak. Same price, though...

You may have a point, Lackawanna484, but I don't see how reducing the choices fits into your theory.

Some further points:

The "Express Menu" is not the one that appears on-line, which has a new November 2012 menu with full service. As far as I can tell the new menus are on line, but the Express Menu is not among them. So passengers boarding #4 in Los Angeles will get a menu that is substantially less than what has just been posted on line.

Reducing the menu to three choices, not so much what the choices are, is the problem.

There were a lot of complaints.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/21/12 06:53 by Ptolemy.

Is that menu in effect on all trains? Has Amtrak reduced staffing again in dining cars? It wouldn't surprise me if there isn't some negative fallout from Rep. Mica's singular focus on Amtrak food service. I don't understand why Amtrak doesn't simply sidestep his nonsense by crediting the food service account with a portion (or larger portion) of ticket revenue, since pretty much everyone agrees that the presence of reasonable quality food service is a necessity to sustaining long distance ticket revenues.

Dave



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/21/12 08:38 by DavidP.

Lackawanna484 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'd agree its a step backward, but it may reflect
> a reality that many travelers no longer want a
> formal meal in the dining car. In the "outside
> world" fast food restaurants are expanding while
> so called white tablecloth restaurants are going
> out of business. One of my favorite restaurants
> recently ended its jacket and tie requirement for
> men, and has seen a 20% increase in volume.
>
>

I don't know where you live but in downtown Philly a new "Le Bec Fin" restaurant just opened with dinners costing $150 per person minimum!

DavidP Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Is that menu in effect on all trains? Has Amtrak
> reduced staffing again in dining cars? It
> wouldn't surprise me if there isn't some negative
> fallout from Rep. Mica's singular focus on Amtrak
> food service.
>
> Dave

More likely incipient inflation.

ts1457 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> DavidP Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Is that menu in effect on all trains? Has
> Amtrak
> > reduced staffing again in dining cars? It
> > wouldn't surprise me if there isn't some
> negative
> > fallout from Rep. Mica's singular focus on
> Amtrak
> > food service.
> >
> > Dave
>
> More likely incipient inflation.

There was no change in staffing (LSA, two waiters, two downstairs), and amtrak.com lists new (and good) menus in effect this month with no mention of the Express Menu.

stone23 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Lackawanna484 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I'd agree its a step backward, but it may
> reflect
> > a reality that many travelers no longer want a
> > formal meal in the dining car. In the "outside
> > world" fast food restaurants are expanding
> while
> > so called white tablecloth restaurants are
> going
> > out of business. One of my favorite
> restaurants
> > recently ended its jacket and tie requirement
> for
> > men, and has seen a 20% increase in volume.
> >
> >
>
> I don't know where you live but in downtown Philly
> a new "Le Bec Fin" restaurant just opened with
> dinners costing $150 per person minimum!


Sure, it replaced the "old" Le Bec Fin, which also charged $150 a person (and wasn't worth it, in my opinion, at least not in recent years). It was half empty when I ate there in 2010. Maybe the new guy will fill the house, maybe he won't.

The fine dining segment nationwide was hard hit in the recession, with many restaurants closing or moving downscale in ingredients and price. That segment is seeing some expansion now as more people have more money, and are more confident in money decisions. But the drive up fast food, and the polished table (Applebee's, Ruby Tuesday, Outback etc) is where the customer dollars are going.

Amtrak's current long distance customer mix is more likely Ruby Tuesday to Wendy's customers than Le Bec Fin, I suspect.

Good explanation! When you are are long retired you don't go to "Le Bec Fin" for lunch and dinner for two reasons, too much food and too much price!

Is this Express menu in place only on trains leaving later, for a limited dinner period?

Also, on the change on AutoTrain, I have had the new blade steak and it is good!!! I don't understand the comment about it being the same price since all meals on AT are included.

(One of the prejudices I find in traditional American dining is that the cuts of meat of our parents are considered the only "real" and "good" ones. Often other cuts are actually much more flavorful but they do not measure up on the upwardly mobile status scale. Some of those more flavorful cuts take more to prepare than just grill and serve, but in the process of preparation one gets a better meal.)

stone23 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Lackawanna484 Wrote:

> I don't know where you live but in downtown Philly
> a new "Le Bec Fin" restaurant just opened with
> dinners costing $150 per person minimum!


Just another sad comment on the disappearing middle class. "Le Bec Fin" for the rich folks, Mickey D's for the rest of us. Very very sad.

Have fun, be safe,
Bruce "Doc" Jones
Sierra Madre CA

RevRandy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Is this Express menu in place only on trains
> leaving later, for a limited dinner period?
>
> Also, on the change on AutoTrain, I have had the
> new blade steak and it is good!!! I don't
> understand the comment about it being the same
> price since all meals on AT are included.
>
> (One of the prejudices I find in traditional
> American dining is that the cuts of meat of our
> parents are considered the only "real" and "good"
> ones. Often other cuts are actually much more
> flavorful but they do not measure up on the
> upwardly mobile status scale. Some of those more
> flavorful cuts take more to prepare than just
> grill and serve, but in the process of preparation
> one gets a better meal.)


I suspect it's a first-night menu for trains leaving "late" in the day. My guess is that Amtrak found first-night dining car traffic was lower than subsequent nights, with more riders eating before they board (maybe a late lunch???).

>
> I suspect it's a first-night menu for trains
> leaving "late" in the day. My guess is that Amtrak
> found first-night dining car traffic was lower
> than subsequent nights, with more riders eating
> before they board (maybe a late lunch???).

That must be the case. The menu on Amtrak's website for the eastbound Southwest Chief is dated November, 2012 and is certainly a full menu with six different dinners, not the "express menu" described by the OP.

DocJones Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> stone23 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Lackawanna484 Wrote:
>
> > I don't know where you live but in downtown
> Philly
> > a new "Le Bec Fin" restaurant just opened with
> > dinners costing $150 per person minimum!
>
>
> Just another sad comment on the disappearing
> middle class. "Le Bec Fin" for the rich folks,
> Mickey D's for the rest of us. Very very sad.
>
> Have fun, be safe,
> Bruce "Doc" Jones
> Sierra Madre CA

i'll take Del Frisco's at 15th and Chestnut any day of the week over Le Be Fin

Out_Of_Service Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> DocJones Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > stone23 Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Lackawanna484 Wrote:
> >
> > > I don't know where you live but in downtown
> > Philly
> > > a new "Le Bec Fin" restaurant just opened
> with
> > > dinners costing $150 per person minimum!
> >
> >
> > Just another sad comment on the disappearing
> > middle class. "Le Bec Fin" for the rich folks,
> > Mickey D's for the rest of us. Very very sad.
> >
> > Have fun, be safe,
> > Bruce "Doc" Jones
> > Sierra Madre CA
>
> i'll take Del Frisco's at 15th and Chestnut any
> day of the week over Le Be Fin

Del Frisco's does a nice steak. Not cheap, but it won't be $150. Even with a nice glass of wine

Out_Of_Service Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> DocJones Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > stone23 Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Lackawanna484 Wrote:
> >
> > > I don't know where you live but in downtown
> > Philly
> > > a new "Le Bec Fin" restaurant just opened
> with
> > > dinners costing $150 per person minimum!
> >
> >
> > Just another sad comment on the disappearing
> > middle class. "Le Bec Fin" for the rich folks,
> > Mickey D's for the rest of us. Very very sad.
> >
> > Have fun, be safe,
> > Bruce "Doc" Jones
> > Sierra Madre CA
>
> i'll take Del Frisco's at 15th and Chestnut any
> day of the week over Le Be Fin


Le Bec Fin has been there for a long time, and just re-opened after ownership change.

There are plenty of mid-price restaurants easily accessible to the middle class (at least in Philly, as well as NY, and other eastern cities).

But geezus, Del Frisco's and Le Bec Fin.....OOS, what do you do at your employer again, and are there any openings? :)))

Ptolemy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I took the Southwest Chief out of Los Angeles the
> other night and found that the dining car menus
> had been substantially reduced: something called
> the "Express Menu" with only three items for
> dinner--burger, pasta, and chicken! I have also
> learned the same menu is in effect on the City of
> New Orleans, and perhaps other trains.
>
> This is certainly a step backward.
>
> .


It's only a matter of time before Amtrak embraces the SP "Automat" concept. A better concept would be something akin to the Hamburger Grill car.

Are you all kidding? Fred Harvey's ghost is already drawing up plans for railroad restaurants every 500 mile!

stone23 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Are you all kidding? Fred Harvey's ghost is
> already drawing up plans for railroad restaurants
> every 500 mile!


Yes.

Isn't there someplace in Montana where the conductor takes dining box orders, calls them in, and the fast food place delivers them to the train?

I'm sure all of us have seen something like the McDonald's located at the east end of Barstow yard. Convenient for trains waiting for a slot to open. "You'll have about ten minutes before I can give you the signal" is code for "go get your sandwich, soda and ice".

Same thing for the former Conrail switch east of BD in Binghamton NY. There was a thoughtfully positioned hole in the fence right behind a Burger King restaurant. Right at the switch.

$150 for a meal. Well, yeah, it better be great. Or I can do Mickey D's. BUT, my favorite has to be Brazilian Steak House. I like trains and I like Brazilian Steak House. What do you reckon??