If you’re planning to travel in the Amtrak first class cabin this summer, you might want to board your train hungry. The company just debuted an elevated dining experience in its first class cars that can compete with top-notch restaurants in some major foodie cities.
As part of a collaboration with famous restaurateur Stephen Starr, Amtrak rolled out a new dining menu in mid-May that features a rotating selection of dishes pulled from Starr’s restaurants in New York and Philadelphia. Among the new options are beloved dishes from some of Starr’s most acclaimed spots, like the black pepper beef from Buddakan, an Asian fusion concept based in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood, and chilled sesame noodles from The Continental Mid-Town, a funky venue for bites and cocktails in Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Square. Other dishes include Italian-themed plates from Philadelphia-based Pizzeria Stella and Adrian, like vegetarian lasagna and baked manicotti. The dishes are set to rotate roughly every three weeks, so frequent travelers should continually have fresh options to choose from.
First class seats are available on Amtrak’s Acela high-speed train, which runs on the Northeast Corridor between Boston and Washington, DC. The food and beverage service in the cars is complimentary (including alcoholic drinks), with passengers served at their seats by an Amtrak attendant. In addition to seated dining service, the premium cars also come with perks like assigned seats, priority boarding, and larger seats with footrests. Passengers on Acela routes can book directly into first class or bid for a cheaper upgrade from the train’s business class car.
Creating the train menu was a special opportunity for Starr, who’s an avid Amtrak passenger. “I’ve worked on some really cool projects outside the walls of our restaurants, but the opportunity to collaborate on a premium dining menu for Amtrak’s Acela First Class might be my favorite project thus far,” Starr, who is a James Beard Award winner, said in a statement. “I’ve always loved train travel, and I’m a frequent Acela First Class customer on the Philly to NYC segment, as are many of our guests. I’m excited to offer my fellow travelers restaurant-quality meals inspired by our popular restaurants in Philly and New York.”
Amtrak says the menus were changed based on customer feedback. As part of the upgraded dining experience, first class also got a refreshed wine list, featuring new tipples like Pommery Champagne, Justin sauvignon blanc, Landmark pinot noir, and Daou rosé.
Starr’s new menu won’t be the last revamp that the Acela lines see this year: This fall, Amtrak will start introducing a brand new fleet of trains on the route. The new fleet of 28 trains will be capable of reaching speeds of 160 mph (as opposed to the current 150 mph) and will have sleeker interiors that offer more spacious seats and a single-seater option in first class.
