The dining car has been compared to Denny's by some on this forum.
Except that Denny's can make your eggs any way you want them while Amtrak cannot.
The dining car food reminds me of Applebee's.
Applebee's doesn't serve dry precooked-refrozen-reheated burgers like Amtrak does.
Food in the dining car is excellent. All of it seems to be made to order...
Only selections with an asterisk next to the menu item are cooked to order. On the CZ this is limited to eggs for breakfast and steak or fish for dinner. There is not even one single lunch selection which is cooked to order on the CZ.
The coast starlight is the only train that serves lamb shank, and only offered in the parlor car during dinner.
Oh darn.
Most of those photos have nothing to do with today's California Zephyr menu. The exceptions are the dry precooked burger, the scrambled eggs, the salad, and the cereal. The person who suggested that thread sent you on a wild goose chase of false hope and nonsense. Amtrak dining cars are almost identical in quality and selection to my grandfather's retirement home. If you've ever had a meal in a retirement home you'll know exactly what to expect from Amtrak.