I'm in London on Thursday and will be returning to York on the 19.00 departure. I may not have much time between my connections to get something at Kings Cross, and have noticed that there will be a restaurant service on the train. I've never used it before, but have read about it being open to standard class ticket holders if there is enough room.
Couple of questions:
1) So I go and sit down straight away in the restaurant carriage as soon as I know what train it is, or do I have to ask the guard first?
2) If I do sit down straight away and it gets busy, could they ask me to leave if a 1st class passenger wants to sit instead, or is it first come first served?
3) Anyone had any recent experience on the food on East Coast? I know they were planning to make it a bit better than NXEC but the menus don't seem to have changed very much since last year.
I'm a regular on the 19:00 restauarant car off Kings Cross and always travel with a Std Class ticket (will be doing it this Tues).
One of the crew will be standing on the platform at the last door of the restaurant car (the country end / the kitchen end / the std class end) holding a few menus to entice you! Just ask them if they'd accomodate you as a std class passenger. 3 of the restaurant staff on the 19:00 (J, A or I) will say "yes, of course", and will seat you at the std class end of the car. But if its the other one, she will say "wait for my announcement over the PA" which will announce any restaurant spaces left. To make sure you get a seat from one of the 3 who always say "yes", you need to be quick! So be very ready for the platform announcements - it helps if you recognise the EC reatuarant staff arriving at the platform gate 30mins b4 departure, but I've never been dissapointed, tho I have sometimes been seated with a table of silent grumps!
The guard/RPI has no jurisdiction to move you from the Restaurant car if you've been seated by the restaurant staff.
The menu has changed twice since the takeover - its all good! Speak with chef if you're particularly concerned about anything. The wine list changed in November. My only neg comment is that the service of vegetable accompaniment used to be 3 veg (eg. pots, carrots, brocolli) and its recently been just 2. But it is all freshly prepped.
The whole team on the 19:00 are the best! (The 19:00 crew - restaurant team and RPI. I wait for the 19:00 even if my work finishes at 2pm! ! ! ) They're all Newcastle crew. Hope you enjoy and give them a nice cash tip! (Tips on the card machine go the the company). But beware, that set is sometimes the temp. hired-in XC set, so although its got a proper EC kitchen, there's no wi-fi, cycle straps and other EC fittings. (and the lack of Wi-Fi means that if you pay for your meal by credit card, then they have to use a manually written voucher which will take weeks to be debited from your account!).
Let us know how it is for you on Thursday
BTW. While the 19:00 is my preferred train and crew - it can be pricey. However, splitting tix at Doncaster usually makes the price affordable - and RPI B. will always give you a knowing smile when he sees your two ticket portions!
