favourite onboard catering offer

[Blindtraveler]

Hi. Thought I'd start this and see where it goes. Whats everyones favourite past or present on train catering offering and why? also any suggestions for future improvements or ideas on how something could be done better. As stated mainly focusing on rail but if a burning issue about food and drink elsewhere on the transport network springs to mind, go right ahead! Your least/most favourite station refreshment facilities are great as wel.

 

[Masbroughlad]

I used to like XC buffets that sold hot food.

FGW catering is quite good at the moment as is Virgin.

I really think it is rubbish that XC and MML have done away with counter service and hot food for standard passengers.

Station-wise - I like DeliFrance! (Bite card is agreat offer)

 

[Blindtraveler]

for me, the unlimmited tea and coffee on MML was fabby and Restaurant cars in GNER days. As for stations, love being able to find a nice local pub near by. Have spent many happy hours in the Griphin in Carlisle.

Hi. Thought I'd start this and see where it goes. Whats everyones favourite past or present on train catering offering and why? also any suggestions for future improvements or ideas on how something could be done better. As stated mainly focusing on rail but if a burning issue about food and drink elsewhere on the transport network springs to mind, go right ahead! Your least/most favourite station refreshment facilities are great as wel.

 

[ainsworth74]

East Coast for me, whilst I've not tried their restaurant service (something I'm going to do about a week before they finish ) the rest of their on-board catering is very good.

 

[Masbroughlad]

Best train food ever had was on a Railtourer trip to Bournemouth!!

I remember also when standard class passengers could get a full dinner on MML. Treated my self once in the late 80's.

And they say the railways have progressed!

 

[gordonthemoron]

cornish pasties in KGX & leeds. GNER used to do nice sarnies IIRC and I had a great steak on an Edinburgh to KGX GNER service

 

[Blindtraveler]

yeh you can sooo tel no DFT officials travel standard, otherwise they'de never have let XC run a service from Scotland to Penzance via everywhere with a regional rail style trollie! EMT are sadly just cost cutting, but to be fare they dont go as far and there journey times are not as long. are just cost cuting

I used to like XC buffets that sold hot food.

FGW catering is quite good at the moment as is Virgin.

I really think it is rubbish that XC and MML have done away with counter service and hot food for standard passengers.

Station-wise - I like DeliFrance! (Bite card is agreat offer)

 

[Masbroughlad]

Can remember having cheeseburger and chips, freshly cooked, on a Plymouth to London 125 in the late 70s/early 80s!

They even had a deep fat fryer! Health and Safety!!!! lol

 

[Blindtraveler]

yay another GNER steak lover! and as for your fresh cheese burger, fabby! think i'd introduce restaurants for std passengers on east and west coast and a buffet with decent ready meal selection on XC. Hot di6e$ may also work on edinburi inverness in future when the numbers go up and something more sutcle than the turbostars is put on it.

Can remember having cheeseburger and chips, freshly cooked, on a Plymouth to London 125 in the late 70s/early 80s!

They even had a deep fat fryer! Health and Safety!!!! lol

 

[WestCoast]

I like the Cornish Pasty Co at many railways stations as well as AMT coffee tucked away near the platforms at Euston - find it much less busy than Cafe Ritazza and the coffee is better.

Can't beat the M&S Simply Food for stocking up on on-train goodies.

Onboard, Wrexham & Shropshire couldn't be beaten in my opinion for their full meals in first (only had one once, but it was excellent) and bacon sandwiches from the buffet.

Virgin's Shop and East Coast's Cafe-bar aren't bad either, certainly better than the trolleys on CrossCountry and the others - some of the stuff is a little overpriced but I suppose onboard catering is often that way.

 

[Johnny Lewis]

I recently had the last available steak on the 17.00 Edinburgh to Kings Cross service, and it was pretty good I must say.

What a pity East Coast feel so minded to imitate Virgin by offering complimentary food in First Class, rather than keeping a decent restaurant service available to everyone who is willing to pay for it.

Wrexham & Shropshire's food was always quite good.

In the days of 'one', their restaurant car couldn't be beaten, especially at lunchtime, when you could dine extremely well - 3 courses for between £15 and £20.

But all of this is now just consigned to history and memory. What a great shame.

 

[strange6]

I enjoyed those cheeseburgers in cardboard boxes (microwavable) that you could buy in the late 80's at the Manchester Victoria platform kiosk. £1.35 back then but they do say you pay for quality hahaha

 

[amcluesent]

I recall a near empty VT service into Euston where they kept supplying us with food/wine and finally left us a bottle

 

[route:oxford]

I enjoyed those cheeseburgers in cardboard boxes (microwavable) that you could buy in the late 80's at the Manchester Victoria platform kiosk. £1.35 back then but they do say you pay for quality hahaha

Casey Jones microwave burger?

Probably one of the hottest things on the planet.

 

[strange6]

Casey Jones microwave burger?

Probably one of the hottest things on the planet.

hahaha yeah, that's the one! They were actually quite tasty but when they came out of the microwave, they usually resembled something that the cat had dragged in. Oh, the memories of Man Vic in the late 80's on a Cold, Winter afternoon taking the class 108 back to Southport with me hamburger

 

[alloneword100]

My favourite train catering experience was the evening meal on the Orient Express...

Not an experience I'll get to repeat in the near future though. :cry:

 

[strange6]

My favourite train catering experience was the evening meal on the Orient Express...

Not an experience I'll get to repeat in the near future though. :cry:

Bet that was good! What did you have?

 

[ANorthernGuard]

Stalybridge Buffet Bar....heaven

 

[Masbroughlad]

Used to like Upper Crust cheese and mushroom croissants. Don't do them anymore.

 

[Bald Rick]

Late 1990s - unlimited Stella in FC on Friday evenings on a Euston-Birmingham with the crew on a home run to Wolves. At least that would be my favourite if I could remember it

 

[strange6]

Stalybridge Buffet Bar....heaven

So what faves did you have there then?

 

[DaveNewcastle]

I'm a great enthusiast for the 'proper' and traditional catering on the East Coast's Restaurant Cars. Its not just the great menus, fresh ingredients, fresh prepping and the presentation, but the dedicated and cheerful staff and proper cultlery and (oh, dear) the reasonable choice of wines.

I'm going to miss them and will try to get a few more if I can before they withdraw them at the end of May.

 

[Blindtraveler]

So what faves did you have there then?

just reading 'a northern guard's' post reminded me of days when I had a GF in Keitghley and would travel there and back Via Carlisle every 2nd weekend or so and enjoy the trollie's fantasticly cold drinks, and beers and reasonably priced coffees. Great service, who opperates catering on that run?

 

[bnm]

On train, it would have to be the fillet steak on the FGW Pullmans.

At the station it would be the (now withdrawn) steak and stilton pasty from 'The Pasty Shop' outlets.

 

[Bakers1970]

Hi. Thought I'd start this and see where it goes. Whats everyones favourite past or present on train catering offering and why? also any suggestions for future improvements or ideas on how something could be done better. As stated mainly focusing on rail but if a burning issue about food and drink elsewhere on the transport network springs to mind, go right ahead! Your least/most favourite station refreshment facilities are great as wel.

Am a little surprised that ATW's Wag Express journey from Cardiff hasn't managed a mention. Having travelled the full journey to Holyhead several times I must say the current on board chefs are top notch in my opinion Definitely no 'ping' dinners at all. And on the early morning journey down comes with a freshly cooked breakfast... In short... would definitely recommend it

 

[MidnightFlyer]

On train, it would have to be the fillet steak on the FGW Pullmans.

At the station it would be the (now withdrawn) steak and stilton pasty from 'The Pasty Shop' outlets.

They still had them in Birmingham 11 days ago hock: Give me a Traditional Cornish Large anyday

 

[Masbroughlad]

The Chrimbo turkey and stuffing pasty was lovely too!

 

[Blindtraveler]

Am a little surprised that ATW's Wag Express journey from Cardiff hasn't managed a mention. Having travelled the full journey to Holyhead several times I must say the current on board chefs are top notch in my opinion Definitely no 'ping' dinners at all. And on the early morning journey down comes with a freshly cooked breakfast... In short... would definitely recommend it

yes surprised too! Know someone who did it and he said it was like dining in a qualitty restaurant. is that all included in the first tiket price?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

yes surprised too! Know someone who did it and he said it was like dining in a qualitty restaurant. is that all included in the first tiket price?

It is included in the First Class ticket, but reservations are compulsory.

 

[yorksrob]

Well, for me it's a toss up between either the cask ale buffet trolley on Retro Rail's tours or,

the BIG buffet car in the Hastings thumper (always stocked with plenty of Shepherd Neame and other bottled delights).
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hahaha yeah, that's the one! They were actually quite tasty but when they came out of the microwave, they usually resembled something that the cat had dragged in. Oh, the memories of Man Vic in the late 80's on a Cold, Winter afternoon taking the class 108 back to Southport with me hamburger

Ah yes, I remember those from the little kiosk on the now long gone overbridge at Ashford station. Very tasty but hotter than Mercury (the planet, not the metal).