Gratuity Question

[battalion51]

Where does Amtrak food come from? Do they use a single nationwide contractor such as Sysco or is it handled through regional or "train by train" contracts?

Pretty much all the food (last time I checked) is supplied by Gate Gourmet. I believe the only exception to this rule is the Downeaster which has its own contract for food with a local Maine company. This allows the Downeaster to offer items like Chowder you would never dream of finding on a normal Amtrak train. Auto Train also has its own Dining Car menu (I believe the lounge menu is the same), but IIRC they still use Gate Gourmet. The reason for the contract with Gate Gourmet is simple. You have a standardized menu being offered on pretty much every train, you need the same foods to be available at every commissary. Gate Gourmet is used at most major airports, so inevitably Gate Gourmet is available everywhere there's a commissary.
As far as edibility goes, I have had some great meals on the train, and I've had some below par. It just depends what's available on that menu cycle. However, you have to give them credit for being able to do what they do based on how small the kitchens are, especially on single level trains. I would guess that the kitchen on a single level train is approximately 400 square feet, and probably about 600 on a Superliner. If you look at the total size of kitchens at most hotels and restaurants the Amtrak kitchens are a fraction of the size. Granted you have smaller output on the train, but you don't have the capacity to do many of the things you'd like to do on Amtrak because of space constraints. Give the Chef's and Food Specialists credit for what they do.

In the lounge, you get what you pay for. It's all pre-packaged food that's being re-heated. If you're expecting restaurant quality out of there you may want to have your head examined.

As far as who likes what normal restaurants, y'all all need to recognize we are all individuals with our own tastes and desires. I personally can't stand Waffle House or Perkins, but I know many of my friends love Waffle House. Obviously there's a market each restaurant appeals to. If you like it, go there. If you don't, then don't go. No one's forcing you to. And don't tell other people they are wrong for liking some place because it doesn't satisfy your taste buds.

 

[AlanB]

Now, since people typically share the table with others, I would add a question here, what do you do to ensure that the waitstaff knows who the tip left on the table, is from?

I generally leave it tucked under the corner of a plate or a cup that's on my side of the table.

On a few occasions where someone was particularly outstanding, I'll wait until that person walks by again and hand it directly to them while thanking them for the excellant service.

 

[AlanB]

Where does Amtrak food come from? Do they use a single nationwide contractor such as Sysco or is it handled through regional or "train by train" contracts?

Pretty much all the food (last time I checked) is supplied by Gate Gourmet. I believe the only exception to this rule is the Downeaster which has its own contract for food with a local Maine company. This allows the Downeaster to offer items like Chowder you would never dream of finding on a normal Amtrak train. Auto Train also has its own Dining Car menu (I believe the lounge menu is the same), but IIRC they still use Gate Gourmet. The reason for the contract with Gate Gourmet is simple. You have a standardized menu being offered on pretty much every train, you need the same foods to be available at every commissary. Gate Gourmet is used at most major airports, so inevitably Gate Gourmet is available everywhere there's a commissary.

You haven't checked then in at least two years I'd say. :lol: Gate is long gone from Amtrak.

At the moment the name of the new company escapes me, but I'm sure that it will come to me eventually if someone else doesn't beat me to it.

 

[oldtimer]

Where does Amtrak food come from? Do they use a single nationwide contractor such as Sysco or is it handled through regional or "train by train" contracts?

Pretty much all the food (last time I checked) is supplied by Gate Gourmet. I believe the only exception to this rule is the Downeaster which has its own contract for food with a local Maine company. This allows the Downeaster to offer items like Chowder you would never dream of finding on a normal Amtrak train. Auto Train also has its own Dining Car menu (I believe the lounge menu is the same), but IIRC they still use Gate Gourmet. The reason for the contract with Gate Gourmet is simple. You have a standardized menu being offered on pretty much every train, you need the same foods to be available at every commissary. Gate Gourmet is used at most major airports, so inevitably Gate Gourmet is available everywhere there's a commissary.

You haven't checked then in at least two years I'd say. :lol: Gate is long gone from Amtrak.

At the moment the name of the new company escapes me, but I'm sure that it will come to me eventually if someone else doesn't beat me to it.

I was told recently that it was Aramark that provided Amtrak with all commissary supplies.

<_< :blink: <_<

 

[alanh]

Yes, it's Aramark starting January 2009.

 

[MrFSS]

Yes, it's Aramark starting January 2009.

Website

Looks like they are hiring and you can follow them on Twitter, too.

 

[boxcar479]

Just trying to budgetOn my trip on the Sunset Limited I receive 2 Dinners 2 Lunches and 2 Breakfasts Based on the most expensive item on the menu I am looking $6 for dinner $3 for lunch and $2 on breakfast tips plus $10 per night for the SCA for the bedroom.

Does this sound about right?

As a rule of thumb, I tip 10% for good service, 15% for better service,20%+ for great service. you never know what kind of day the server is having,but they should not let it reflect on the service you get. Someone said $10. per night pp. for the SCA? oops. I guess I really insulted my SCAs with the paltry 5 spot per day. sorry. will make it up next time. As far as the food goes I was really impressed by the dinners & brkfst. on the TE from FTW to CHI. (my first trip) as well as the dinner on the Cap. Lmtd.(2nd leg of my first trip) The food on the Slvr. Star to MIA(3rd leg of my first trip) was just ok. maybe because 3 days of train food and the menus are pretty much the same and something else would have been better. for lunch on all three trains I had the ol' angus burger. not easy to mess that up and it was good too.I am currently planning another 15 day trip w/most days on the train!! can't wait to"BOARD"

 

[Neil_M]

I mean, Amtrak's food is edible.

Only just, and generally bland beyond words.

Wow. A brit referring to some food as bland. Considering almost all British food is blander than American light beer, and that the only thing that I've ever tasted from Britain that wasn't bland (Marmite) made me imediately chuck my lunch, I find your statement amusing. I mean, this is the country whose only useful contribution to the food world was Earl Grey tea.

Yawn. More tedious waffle from Mr Waffle himself.

 

[AlanB]

Where does Amtrak food come from? Do they use a single nationwide contractor such as Sysco or is it handled through regional or "train by train" contracts?

Pretty much all the food (last time I checked) is supplied by Gate Gourmet. I believe the only exception to this rule is the Downeaster which has its own contract for food with a local Maine company. This allows the Downeaster to offer items like Chowder you would never dream of finding on a normal Amtrak train. Auto Train also has its own Dining Car menu (I believe the lounge menu is the same), but IIRC they still use Gate Gourmet. The reason for the contract with Gate Gourmet is simple. You have a standardized menu being offered on pretty much every train, you need the same foods to be available at every commissary. Gate Gourmet is used at most major airports, so inevitably Gate Gourmet is available everywhere there's a commissary.

You haven't checked then in at least two years I'd say. :lol: Gate is long gone from Amtrak.

At the moment the name of the new company escapes me, but I'm sure that it will come to me eventually if someone else doesn't beat me to it.

I was told recently that it was Aramark that provided Amtrak with all commissary supplies.

<_< :blink: <_<

That's it! Thanks!

 

[OlympianHiawatha]

For SCAs I generally follow the $5 per person per day rule unless the service is really great or really nasty. Then it gets adjusted accordingly. Good service in the Diner results in a good tip and often that will assure continuation of good and sometimes even extra (such as bonus ice cream at desert ) service.

 

[TVRM610]

For SCAs I generally follow the $5 per person per day rule unless the service is really great or really nasty. Then it gets adjusted accordingly. Good service in the Diner results in a good tip and often that will assure continuation of good and sometimes even extra (such as bonus ice cream at desert ) service.

this is why I ALWAYS tip in the dinning car if I am going to be returning for another meal.... even the worst service can suddenly become the best literally overnight (from dinner to breakfast.. HA!). I know that's not how the world SHOULD work.. but it is reality none the less. A good tip can do wonders for the service you receive.

 

[greatcats]

My SCA on the SWC FLG to LAX the other night was friendly and OK, but he did nothing out of the ordinary for me, so I gave him $5. He did not say thank you. But I was highly pleased the way the train brought me smoothly and safely that was the snowy mess of Flagstaff to LA.

 

[Bob Dylan]

Just trying to budgetOn my trip on the Sunset Limited I receive 2 Dinners 2 Lunches and 2 Breakfasts Based on the most expensive item on the menu I am looking $6 for dinner $3 for lunch and $2 on breakfast tips plus $10 per night for the SCA for the bedroom.

Does this sound about right?

As a rule of thumb, I tip 10% for good service, 15% for better service,20%+ for great service. you never know what kind of day the server is having,but they should not let it reflect on the service you get. Someone said $10. per night pp. for the SCA? oops. I guess I really insulted my SCAs with the paltry 5 spot per day. sorry. will make it up next time. As far as the food goes I was really impressed by the dinners & brkfst. on the TE from FTW to CHI. (my first trip) as well as the dinner on the Cap. Lmtd.(2nd leg of my first trip) The food on the Slvr. Star to MIA(3rd leg of my first trip) was just ok. maybe because 3 days of train food and the menus are pretty much the same and something else would have been better. for lunch on all three trains I had the ol' angus burger. not easy to mess that up and it was good too.I am currently planning another 15 day trip w/most days on the train!! can't wait to"BOARD"

Don't feel obligated to tip any OBS staff UNLESS they provide efficient and professional service. Traveling by yourself is obviously less work for an OBS, when there are two or more traveling together an increase in tip is proper if the service is satisfactory! Anything more, such as very friendly service,

smiles and above and beyond deserves more! The $5 per day/per person in a sleeper is about right when service is provided.

As to the menu, on long trips try different items, I'm not a vegetarian but I've found the veggie pasta really good and some of the salads are first rate!

As others have said it depends on the cook, the length of the trip (on second days things tend to run short!) Probably the item with most variance are the steaks, some bad, some OK, some great! The different desserts are usually first rate and I've always thought the breakfasts were very good and I'm not a big brekfast eater!(Do think the French toast is somewhat overated!) The veggie burger is pretty fair too, and lots of folks dont know as a sleeper pax you can add bacon to your breakfast and sandwiches, the turkey sausage is not so hot IMHO!

 

[AlanB]

The veggie burger is pretty fair too, and lots of folks dont know as a sleeper pax you can add bacon to your breakfast and sandwiches, the turkey sausage is not so hot IMHO!

Well you don't want it so hot so as to burn your tounge. :lol:

 

[amtrakwolverine]

on the LSL going to boston I have the eggs the mushroom looking muffin thing with tator tots and bacon and turkey sausage and it was de-lish turkey sausage tasted no different then pork sausage.

 

[dlagrua]

We usually tip the porter who attends to our room $10 for the evening. At dinner time we also usually leave $10. Last year we had surf and turf, salad, rolls/butter, appetizer, desert and drinks. Estimate the meal to be worth $60-$70 for two. At breakfast we leave $4.00 to $5.00.

We find the food quality to be good with a decent flavor. It may not be gourmet quality but its certainly very acceptable and WAY better than the airline "TV dinner" food of years past that I remember all to well. Its a good idea to bring alot of singles and fives with you when boarding Amtrak. You will encounter the redcap who will take your baggage, the porters in the sleepers and the waiter/waitresses in the dining cars. Even an overnight trip can set you back $20.00.

 

[Guest]

For SCA I do $5 per night--unless the service was horrible and the car really unclean, I never require any special services from the SCA.

For the Diner Car I follow the 2-2-3 for tipping--and this usually falls at 15% -20% of the advertised amtrak price. I have to say, I dont think Ive seen any single individual tip more than that unless they were also drinking--many people dont tip at all--most couples lay down a single $5 bill to cover both of them for all meals.

 

[Bob Dylan]

We usually tip the porter who attends to our room $10 for the evening. At dinner time we also usually leave $10. Last year we had surf and turf, salad, rolls/butter, appetizer, desert and drinks. Estimate the meal to be worth $60-$70 for two. At breakfast we leave $4.00 to $5.00. We find the food quality to be good with a decent flavor. It may not be gourmet quality but its certainly very acceptable and WAY better than the airline "TV dinner" food of years past that I remember all to well. Its a good idea to bring alot of singles and fives with you when boarding Amtrak. You will encounter the redcap who will take your baggage, the porters in the sleepers and the waiter/waitresses in the dining cars. Even an overnight trip can set you back $20.00.

We dont call them porters anymore, nor George like the racists of old did! They are sleeping car attendants, they will usually have a name tag or tell you their name, it is cool to call them by their name! The tips are fine if the service warrants it,since there are two of you it's about right!