Amtrak Vacations Dining and Menus
If you’re not hungry now, you might start to hear your stomach rumbling after taking a look at our menus. Whether it’s a full sit-down meal or more informal food service, many trains have one or more options for onboard dining. Learn more about your dining choices, onboard dining reservations and the different types of dining cars below.
Dining Car
Most long-distance trains include a full-service Dining Car, which serves meals prepared onboard by trained chefs for breakfast, lunch and dinner. All meals for First Class passengers, passengers with sleeping accommodations, and all Auto Train passengers are included in the price of their train ticket. Coach Class passengers may dine for an additional charge.
Passengers are asked to make reservations for lunch and dinner. Reservations are taken in 15-minute increments for a more pleasant dining experience, assuring passengers of receiving quality service from Amtrak staff and preventing the Dining Cars from becoming overcrowded during peak meal times.
After boarding, you will be asked to select a preferred time for dining. Reservations are taken during each meal’s service hours, except for breakfast. Passengers will be seated as they present themselves at the dining car. If the dining car is full, names will be taken, and passengers will be called in order from the lounge.
Here are the normal service and reservation hours. Exceptions apply to certain trains:
Cross Country Café
The Cross Country Café on the City of New Orleans and Texas Eagle features an onboard dining experience that combines higher technology food and beverage services with improved ambiance and atmosphere. Enjoy regional menu items while you relax in comfortable booth seating and watch the ever-changing views go by.
Hoosier State Dining
The Hoosier State train is equipped with a dome dining car where Business class passengers will enjoy a complimentary meal during their trip along with all beverages, including spirits. Coach class passengers will have the opportunity to purchase a full meal, snacks or beverages from the Dome Car dining area.
Lounge Car
Informal Dining Options
On most medium and long-distance trains, food service is available in the Lounge Car, which features table and casual seating. Food service is normally available from early morning until late evening, except during a few short periods as announced by the attendant and will vary depending on train operation.
These cars offer a variety of carry-out style foods, including sandwiches, pizza, snacks, and beverages including liquor, wine and beer.
Seating for Meals and Socializing
Lounge Cars also provide roomy tables and comfortable, casual seating for enjoying your meals, writing, playing a hand of cards or a board game, or just sharing time with friends, family and new acquaintances. On Superliner trains, panoramic windows on the upper level of the Lounge afford an expansive view of the passing scenery.
Accessibility
For handicapped accessibility, ask your onboard service attendant to make the necessary arrangements. You can also request that meals be brought to your room or seat.
Café Car
On many short-distance trains, food service is available in the Café Car from early morning until late evening, where you’ll find a variety of carry-out style foods, including sandwiches, pizza, snacks, and beverages including liquor, wine and beer.
Dining Car Menus at a Glance
Dining Cars feature seasonal menus created by our team of award-winning chefs. Start your day onboard with a selection of hot and cold breakfast entrees including eggs and French toast or continental selections such as yogurt or cold cereal. For lunch, choose from a selection of burgers, salads, specialty sandwiches and seasonal entrees.
At dinner, savor steaks and seafood, chicken or vegetarian pasta, accompanied by a fresh salad and rolls. Complement your meal with our selection of cocktails, beer and wine as well as coffee, tea or soft drinks.
Be sure to leave room for dessert. Whether you opt for chocolate or cheesecake, Häagen-Dazs ice cream or Cio Bella Sicilian lemon sorbet, there’s something to satisfy every sweet tooth after lunch and dinner.
In addition to regular menu items, children can get all their favorites onboard, such as hot dogs, pizza, grilled cheese sandwiches, chicken tenders and meatballs with pasta.
Which train are you traveling on? Take a look at your dining options:
| · Auto Train
· Cardinal · City of New Orleans Northbound |
· Crescent |
Special Menus and Dietary Requirements
The Amtrak Culinary Advisory Team is a group Amtrak employees, suppliers and other culinary professionals led by expert chef Michel Richard, that put their food minds together to develop new menu options for Acela Express First Class passengers as well as other dining patrons on select routes throughout the Amtrak system.
Availability and Notice
Special menu selections, such as kosher meals, are available on most overnight trains with 72-hour advance notice. Vegan meals are available on the regular menu for long distance trains and do not require advance notice. Both vegan and kosher meals are available with 24-hour advance notice for Acela Express First Class service. Vegetarian meals do not require advance notice.
Mention your dietary requirements to your Amtrak Vacations Agent and they will reserve your meal if applicable to your train and journey.
Kosher Meals
Kosher meals are prepared under rabbinical supervision and sealed until delivered to the passenger. Passover kosher meals will be served in lieu of regular kosher meals throughout the Passover period. Customers must call in advance to reserve.
Vegan meals are completely free of animal products, with no meat, dairy or egg products of any kind. They are also generally low in fat and sodium.
Vegetarian Meals
Vegetarian meals contain no meat, but normally do contain dairy or egg products. There is always one meat-free item on every menu and passengers who want vegetarian (meat-free) items may select that; no special vegetarian meal request is required (or possible).
Low Fat, Low Cholesterol, Low Sodium, Gluten Free, Wheat Free, Peanut Free Meals
Amtrak does not offer meals specifically designated as low fat, low cholesterol, low sodium, gluten free, wheat free or peanut free. Most dinner entrees are not prepared on the dining car. The fat, cholesterol, sodium, gluten, wheat and peanut content may vary, and cannot be controlled or modified by the chef.
Certain menu items are inherently low in fat, cholesterol and/or sodium and may be ordered from the regular menu. The dining car waiter or lead service attendant can provide guidance.
Allergies
Amtrak is unable to guarantee a peanut-free or allergen-free trip, and therefore, we strongly encourage that passengers with life-threatening or severe allergies take all necessary medical precautions to prepare for the possibility of exposure. Passengers must travel with all necessary medications for food allergies and be capable of self-administering these medications.
Personal Food, Beverages and Medication
The Amtrak Culinary Advisory Team is a group Amtrak employees, suppliers and other culinary professionals led by expert chef Michel Richard, that put their food minds together to develop new menu options for Acela Express First Class passengers as well as other dining patrons on select routes throughout the Amtrak system.
Bringing Your Own Food Onboard
You may bring your own food and beverages onboard for consumption at your seat or private Sleeping Car accommodations. However, you can only consume food and beverages purchased in Dining and Lounge Cars in those cars. Personal food and beverages are allowed in the upper level of Superliner Sightseer Lounges.
Federal health regulations prohibit Amtrak personnel from handling your food, heating it in our ovens, or storing it in our refrigerators.
Alcoholic Beverages
Alcoholic beverages will be served onboard trains in most Dining, Lounge and Cafe Cars. You may also bring your own alcohol onboard, though it may only be consumed in Sleeping Car accommodations.
Medication
If you anticipate requiring medication en route, please carry it with you aboard your train. You must be capable of self-administering any medications you bring with you.
Do not pack your medication in checked baggage, or leave it packed in your car on the Auto Train, as you will not have access to your checked bags or vehicle during your journey.
For all other meal and dining related inquiries, give us a call:
Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM ET
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 7:30 PM ET
*Menu options and dining services and times are subject to change. For the latest information on specific dining options on your trip, check back on this page or contact your Amtrak Vacations Agent.