Here are a few that I know of!
Massachusetts:
Attleboro Amtrak NEC can be seen from the east side of the Olive Garden rest. This is near the Rhode Island Line. Typical chain joint, trains about 2-3 during a dinner session.
Palmer: CSX and New England Central. A sandwich/icecream shop just opened on the side of the depot on the NEC side. CSX Boston line is just a few feet away. Haven’t tried it yet myself, but have heard good things. Trains, depending upon the time of day may see 2 to 6.
Warren: Found a fish joint alonside the Boston Line. iF you like fried fish , give a shot. Can’t remember the name but it has been there a zillion years. Again train frequency is between 2-6.
Maine: Wells, The Bull & Claw on US Route 1 backs up to the GRS main which now sees Amtrak’s Down Easter. Trains: No idea have not seen one yet!
Chicgao Land: I agree with Two Brothers in Elmhurst, Had some great Pasta Fagoli and then spent the evening trackside, listening to Christmas with Delilah. UP, Metra, Christmas decorations, and music. It was a great night!
When leaving Dalton for Thorntonr Junction I found a great Pancake House that had wonderful chicken soup and grilled cheese. No trains, but a nice stop none the less.
Opps I forgot a little dinner in New York alongside the Chicago line of CSX just outside of Selkirk Yard. Nice place, good food and a good view of the tracks and trains. Saw 8 when eating lunch a year ago out there.
Knoxville, TN: There was (still is?) a restaurant called “Southbound on the L&N” in what I believe was the old L&N station. Couldn’t tell if they had a good track view, though.
Back to Fullerton, CA: There is also the ‘Santa Fe Grill’ or ‘Santa Fe Cafe’ (can’t remember exactly) at the station and I always see railfans there watching the trains go by. Beer available too (to be consumed indoors or within the fenced area)
Granny’s Cafe in Ashland, Nebraska. They have a great sandwich called the “Belly Banger”. 1-3 trains an hour.
The Depot in Nebraska City, Nebraska. Usually 2 or 3 trains an hour.
The Whistle Stop in Augusta, Georgia. About 1 train every couple of hours. What makes this stand out is that it is along street running. You’ve got to be lucky to see a train and I was.
For sheer atmosphere, you can’t beat one of the two restaurants located on the upper balconies of Grand Central Terminal in New York City.
I’ve dined at Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse a few times. Ask for a table at the balcony railing during rush hour, with the light streaming through side windows in the concourse, throngs of train travelers rushing by, and announcements echoing off the marble walls.
You can’t see the trains from the dining area, but you get a real appreciation of how a big-city railroad station functions, and what it means to the people who use it.
And don’t forget to swing by the New York Transit Museum gallery and shop at track level.
I am not sure if it is still around or not but in Southeast Missouri there was/is a little burger place that actually served the railroad. It was/is right NEXT to the tracks. Sort of like a “drive-in” but for trains, the train would pull up and get their food. [:D]
Scott City, MO (Illmo) the beanery, small little cafe’. The trains would grab their lunch at speed like they did with mail in the old days. It closed in 1999 or so…too bad.