Amtrak Dining Car service has had a variety of ups and downs since Amtrak began in 1971. On October 1, 2019, Amtrak introduced "Flexible Dining" on most routes east of the Mississippi including the Crescent, Silver Meteor, Lake Shore Limited, Capitol Limited and, the City of New Orleans trains. This was a pretty drastic Amtrak Dining Car Change as it eliminated the on-board chef, waiters and, waitresses and replaced them with pre-made dinners that were simply re-heated and delivered take-out style.
Amtrak changes due to Covid-19 restrictions have resulted in all Amtrak long-distance trains reverting to this new "Flexible Dining" menu. While I personally hope that Amtrak's "Traditional Dining" returns, I thought it would be helpful to provide a short review of my experiences along with current pictures of Amtrak Dining Cars in the Flex Dining setup to set your expectations when planning an Amtrak long-distance train ride.
Amtrak's Flexible Dining Menu is only offered for Sleeping Car Passengers, which means that Coach Class Amtrak passengers only have the Cafe Car Menu to choose from for food and beverage service. (Previously, Coach Passengers could also eat in the dining car).
Click Here to see Amtrak's National Cafe Car Menu
Sleeping Car Passenger "Flexible Dining" meals are included in the sleeping car ticket. This also includes 1 alcoholic drink per trip and complimentary soft drinks, coffee, tea and bottled water throughout the journey.
Amtrak sleeping car passengers may choose to eat their meal in the dining car or have it delivered to their room. All sleeping car accommodations have a small table within the room. The dining car essentially becomes a separate lounge / table car for sleeping car passengers with this operation.
Amtrak changes due to Covid-19 restrictions have resulted in all Amtrak long-distance trains reverting to this new "Flexible Dining" menu. While I personally hope that Amtrak's "Traditional Dining" returns, I thought it would be helpful to provide a short review of my experiences along with current pictures of Amtrak Dining Cars in the Flex Dining setup to set your expectations when planning an Amtrak long-distance train ride.
Amtrak's Flexible Dining Menu is only offered for Sleeping Car Passengers, which means that Coach Class Amtrak passengers only have the Cafe Car Menu to choose from for food and beverage service. (Previously, Coach Passengers could also eat in the dining car).
Click Here to see Amtrak's National Cafe Car Menu
Sleeping Car Passenger "Flexible Dining" meals are included in the sleeping car ticket. This also includes 1 alcoholic drink per trip and complimentary soft drinks, coffee, tea and bottled water throughout the journey.
Amtrak sleeping car passengers may choose to eat their meal in the dining car or have it delivered to their room. All sleeping car accommodations have a small table within the room. The dining car essentially becomes a separate lounge / table car for sleeping car passengers with this operation.
Amtrak Dining Car in service as a Sleeper Class Lounge / Table Car on the Silver Meteor. Interior of "Viewliner Diner."
Amtrak Dining Car Breakfast with Flexible Dining.
For Breakfast, passengers are asked to go to the dining car to pick up their breakfast items. A choice of Cereal, Kind Bars, Muffins, and fresh fruit will be set out for self-service, while milk, yogurt, and a breakfast sandwich may be ordered, along with beverages, from the attendant.
For Breakfast, passengers are asked to go to the dining car to pick up their breakfast items. A choice of Cereal, Kind Bars, Muffins, and fresh fruit will be set out for self-service, while milk, yogurt, and a breakfast sandwich may be ordered, along with beverages, from the attendant.
 Amtrak Dining Car Breakfast with Flexible Dining Menu. | Amtrak Flexible Dining Breakfast as served on the Silver Meteor Train. |
Amtrak Flexible Dining Lunch and Dinner Service.
Lunch and Dinner are both the same menu. Either your sleeping car attendant or the dining car attendant will come by your room before each meal and take your order and also ask what time you would like to eat and offer you a choice to dine in either the dining car or your sleeping car room. I will describe my experience with each type of service.
For Lunch, I ordered the "Creole Shrimp & Andouille" and requested to eat in the dining car. My sleeping car attendant took my order and at the appropriate time, I went to the diner. It was slightly confusing what I should do upon arrival since the dining car attendant was busy preparing several orders so I had a seat and asked one of the sleeper attendants who passed through. The attendant asked my name and said he would check for me, and he brought my food right to my table. After you finish your meal, you are expected to clear your own table and throw away your trash, this makes the experience similar to a fast-food restaurant.
The entrees on the flexible dining menu are comparable in both appearance and taste to a microwavable dinner bowl. A small salad is served with each meal as well as a brownie. for dessert.
Amtrak Dining Car Menu - Flexible Dining.
Lunch and Dinner are both the same menu. Either your sleeping car attendant or the dining car attendant will come by your room before each meal and take your order and also ask what time you would like to eat and offer you a choice to dine in either the dining car or your sleeping car room. I will describe my experience with each type of service.
For Lunch, I ordered the "Creole Shrimp & Andouille" and requested to eat in the dining car. My sleeping car attendant took my order and at the appropriate time, I went to the diner. It was slightly confusing what I should do upon arrival since the dining car attendant was busy preparing several orders so I had a seat and asked one of the sleeper attendants who passed through. The attendant asked my name and said he would check for me, and he brought my food right to my table. After you finish your meal, you are expected to clear your own table and throw away your trash, this makes the experience similar to a fast-food restaurant.
The entrees on the flexible dining menu are comparable in both appearance and taste to a microwavable dinner bowl. A small salad is served with each meal as well as a brownie. for dessert.
Amtrak Dining Car Menu - Flexible Dining.
Amtrak Flexible Dining Car Menu "Shrimp and Andioulle"
For Dinner, I ordered the "Red Wine Braised Beef" and had it delivered to my room. My sleeping car attendant brought a small white table cloth to dress up the fold-down table in my room. That was a nice touch. She also stopped by to collect the trash from my meal afterward. A dinner roll was also served with my evening meal.
The Braised Beef was tender but the Red Wine sauce was extremely salty in taste. Polenta and vegetables were served with the beef in the same plastic bowl, again, microwave dinner style.
Menus for Amtrak Dining Cars during Flex Dining are available at -
https://www.amtrak.com/onboard/meals-dining/flexible-dining.html
The Braised Beef was tender but the Red Wine sauce was extremely salty in taste. Polenta and vegetables were served with the beef in the same plastic bowl, again, microwave dinner style.
Menus for Amtrak Dining Cars during Flex Dining are available at -
https://www.amtrak.com/onboard/meals-dining/flexible-dining.html
 Amtrak Dinner presented with Room Service in Sleeping Car. |  Amtrak Flexible Menu "Red Wine Braised Beef" Dinner. |
While I enjoy getting out of my room and spending time in the dining car on my journey, I think the Flexible Dining experience was much better and felt a little more like first-class service when I chose to have it delivered to my room vs. the "pick up at the counter, throw away your trash" experience in the Amtrak Dining Car.
This review of Amtrak's Dining Car is based on a train ride I took on Amtrak's Silver Meteor prior to Covid-19. Your experience may differ from mine based on your train crew, and current local health recommendations.
Amtrak's Auto Train continues to serve a traditional dining car dinner on board as of this writing.
For more photos and information on Long-Distance passenger trains by Amtrak and others, please visit Long Distance Trains
This review of Amtrak's Dining Car is based on a train ride I took on Amtrak's Silver Meteor prior to Covid-19. Your experience may differ from mine based on your train crew, and current local health recommendations.
Amtrak's Auto Train continues to serve a traditional dining car dinner on board as of this writing.
For more photos and information on Long-Distance passenger trains by Amtrak and others, please visit Long Distance Trains
