Here's the thing, I totally have apprehension about the train. Trains here in the States is nothing like the ones in Europe. The ones in Europe is a main mode of transportation for the majority of the citizens. It's well maintained, no one wants to cut funding for them, and it's prompt and vastly used.
Here? When was the last time you heard of someone taking a train? Exactly!
For that expensive ticket to take your car, you and your stuff from point A to point B, it does come with great service. We got a roommette, so that comes with an attendent to do turn down for your bed. Let you know when time is for dinner, movies, or breakfast. (oh yes, that train ride is 17 hrs from Orlando to DC).
It does come with all the meals, which in reality is really just dinner and breakfast. Of course, there's a bar car, and you can get alcohol and snacks from them. But you can have all the water and tea for free.
The dinner included serves you a 3 course meal. It has either soup or salad, which is as standard as you can picture food being served on the move. The entree has a choice of meat, chicken, or fish. They also have kids version of the chicken and spaghetti.
The quality is exactly what you would think they'd be. It's not the quality you get on the planes even when they used to serve you full meals. (Even though they still do for international flights). The meat was hard to cut, and the veggies looks like it came from a can of Veg-all. The potato was the safest.
Our neighbor who we share a table with had the fish, and she basically scrapped off all of the top layer to eat what's underneath. And in case you're curious, it was a cod fish.
At the end of the meal, we got ice cream, one of the neighbor got the cheesecake. Hindsight, the cheesecake was a better choice. Even though we know that they didn't bake it on the train, at least that was well made. As opposed to the ice cream. Now, I know what you're thinking: ice cream? How can you go wrong with ice cream? Oh yes they can... it wasn't real ice cream, it wasn't a complaint about fat-free vs. the real thing. The texture and quality was all wrong. The chocolate sauce was the only saving grace.
After all that, I will say, the food leaves very little to be desired even though it is included in our ticket. If you sit in the coach class, you will have to pay for that yourself. At least they have regular burger, turkey burger and Di Giono Pizza in coach.
Even though the quality of food is horrible. The service was excellent. Our servers are always polite, remembered our order, and have to serve and remove dishes while the train is swaying. So don't forget to tip them. That part is not included in your ticket.
For more info on Amtrak:
http://www.amtrak.com
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