Now that my trip is just about finished (a little ways outside Longview) I'll post my opinion on the dining service from two different trains.
On the City of New Orleans, I had the jambalaya for dinner, and it couldn't have been anything more than food out of a can. Very little rice included. If I was in coach, I wouldn't be happy paying for that. With breakfast, you choose from 3 cereals, and you get yogurt and bread included. That is it. No eggs, no bacon or sausage, no French toast.
Fast forward to today, and I'm on the Texas Eagle. Dining service was a completely different experience. Steak for dinner, which I thought was very well done. French toast for breakfast, which was also very good.
One thing I noticed. On the CONO, there was one server, but attendants from other cars would come and help with cleanup. On TE, there is one server, but also an assistant who would clean, bring out drinks and sometimes food, while the server took care of seating, ordering, and just about everything else.
Between the two trains, I would say it was a night and day difference.