I ate in Amtrak's dining car for the first time. The food was only OK, but the overall experience made me excited to come back.

Molly AllenOct 24, 2022, 21:02 IST

I took my first long-haul train ride on the Amtrak Coast Starlight.Molly Allen

I spent 16 hours on an Amtrak train traveling from Portland, Oregon, to Sacramento, California.
I ate lunch and a three-course dinner in the train's dining car.

I took my first long-haul train ride from Portland to Sacramento aboard the Amtrak Coast Starlight.

For my first long-haul train trip, I booked a roomette in the sleeping car.Molly Allen

Many of the tables in the Amtrak dining car were empty, but the attendant still put me at a table with other passengers.Molly Allen

I asked my server to hold the goat cheese but kept the walnuts and strawberries.Molly Allen

The dining car offered gorgeous views of the passing landscapes.Molly Allen

The soufflé dish was filled with flavor, but I wasn't a huge fan of the texture.Molly Allen

The chicken breast was dry, and I only ate two bites.Molly Allen

The Meyer lemon cake was a major highlight of my dinner.Molly Allen

I was able to admire the passing scenery from the dining car's windows.Molly Allen