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Is there a menu option at breakfast for a "Continental-Style" situation with cold cereal and yogurt offered ? By the sounds of it , the "warm fare" leaves much to be desired , especially at breakfast.
The "shame" in the whole matter is that the prices for these meals will NOT change. It is different to pay "top-dollar" for decent meal as compared to these ridiculous tray meals.
Think of the number of COACH passengers who opt to eat in the dining-car , at least during PART of their trip. How many of these folks will be "repeat" customers after sampling what is available now-----very few , if any. So that entire customer "base" will be lost for good.
Management will have to consider two options that , in my opinion , may help to "rectify" the situation----BOTH of which are highly unlikely:
1. Offer first-class passengers the option of "meals included" with the purchase of sleeper space. Or the option of purchasing just a certain NUMBER of meals during a trip.
First-class passengers who choose NOT to purchase any meals from the dining-car have the option , of course , to purchase items from the Lounge-Car just like Coach passengers.
Another option would be to give these passengers the opportunity to purchase "vouchers" for food service from the Lounge=Car. This way, the first-class passengers would know WHAT (or what-NOT) to expect.
2. Cut food prices in the Dining-Car in HALF.
I have always thought that first-class passengers should have the option of deciding just how many meals they wanted to purchase from the dining-car
train lady Member # 3920
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Another way to cut some expense would be to serve smaller portions. No way can I eat a whole cornish Hen or a half a chicken. In a restaurant I would be taking a "doggie bag". I have watched plate after plate being taken back with food still on it. We are sitting on a train not doing physical work. No one needs huge portions of food.
TALKrr Member # 683
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If Amtrak (or the food service company) simply can NOT get the "hot food" situation right , then perhaps an entirely COLD-food situation might be considered---of better quality.
I realize this may not be acceptable" to many who expect warm meals.
Coming to mind are the "cold" tray-meals that I have enjoyed on the Empire Builder departing Portland east-bound. Since there is no Dining-Car (until Spokane) first-class passengers are offered cold-meal dinner trays. I have tried these a number of times and they were absolutely DELICIOUS---every time !!!
I would far rather have this type of "meal" as compared to some of the offerings so far described by individuals who have sampled the new "fare."
There has got to be some solution.
Perhaps time has come to consider SEPARATE charges for Sleeper and Dining-Car service. Dining-Car service needs now to be an OPTION that First-Class passengers can select.
I am certain that hot "tray-meal" service CAN be done right----BUT, it is both very difficult and very expensive.
We must , even though it will be difficult , give this new food situation more time. But in the end , if quality does not improve a very difficult decision will have to be made:
Continue the new "hot" tray-meal service and force passengers to "bite-the bullet" OR
Switch-over to "cold" tray meals OR
Expand capacity in the Lounge-Car for "snack-bar" service only , presently available to Coach passengers.
I know I simply will not pay "top-dollar" for a first-class ticket anymore if Dining-Car food is of "poor" quality. Either reduce Sleeper prices dramatically , or give me the option of either purchasing meals separately or opting to use the snack bar for my meals. Simple as that.
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