Just read on Amtrak’s website about a new food service car being put on the City of New Orleans called the “Cross Country Cafe”. Apparently it will be offering New Orleans-related food. The car is double-deck, so I’m guessing it’s probably one of the new Diner-Lounge Superliners, but not sure about that. It sounds like an interesting idea:
Well, it looks promising. Now if we can only get Amtrak to drop Hahn wine.
I think I’d wait for my arrival in NO for an authentic meal.
I’m riding #58 all the way Feb 27/28th. I’ll check it out and give my two cents worth after I return.
Has anyone taken The City of New Orleans since the change over to the Cross Country Cafe, and any thoughts?
It’s just another way to cut food service costs by Amtrak. The railroads attempted similar gimmicks such as Hamburger grill cars etc. and the only one that I know of that was ever successful was the City of Las Vegas and their Chuck Wagon cars I think they were called. What they did is include the price of the buffet in the ticket for everyone who rode the train and if they didn’t eat so much the better for the bottom line. It was my understanding that everyone who rode the train like it or not aboutr $2.00 of the fare each way covered the Buffet. And if the chefs prepared extra salty items than the bar service made additional revenue. The Crapshooters Special as it was nicknamed is the only train that never ran out of beer as they stashed it in every locker on the train that could be locked. Going to LA they sold twice as much beer while going to LV hard liquor sales were more than double that of beer.
The CN always served very salty pretzels in their lounge cars so the patrons would drink twice as much to quench their thirst and the pretzels were always free.
Maybe Amtrak could learn a lesson from UP and CN.
I rode #58 all the way 2/27-2/28 in room 8 on car Missouri. Ate supper & breakfast in the Cross Country Cafe. Much different from the full service diners but for a train like 58/59, it will probably work. All the regular food selections are offered. However, for supper no salad or dinner rolls are offered. I selected the blackened catfish over cajon jumbo rice. A regional offering no less. Not bad eating and it hit the spot. In the dining section, there are 6 booths seating 4 each and 4 half moon tables seating 3 each. I don’t know if this type service would fit into a service like the Chief of Empire Builder but again for a train like the City, its probably the right direction to go. This ride was well worth it, ditto for the time spent in the cafe. The City is an interesting train. May just find a way to fit it into my 2009 cross country trip. I’ll start planning on that in the fall.
It would fit well with most “short ride” trains (such as the Missouri Mules) and certainly as a second diner/club/sightseer car for the long distance trains. For those that do not like to be welded to the regular diner operation this is an ideal set-up.