Amtrak Launches All-New Acela First Class Dining Menu

Written by Carolina Worrell, Senior Editor
Amtrak photo

Amtrak photo

One week after the Amtrak Food & Beverage Working Group sent recommendations to Congress following a year-long analysis of the railroad’s onboard service, Amtrak has launched an all-new, premium Acela First Class dining menu on trains traveling on the Northeast Corridor (NEC) between Boston and Washington, D.C.

An Acela customer enjoys the Black Pepper Beef from Buddakan. (Amtrak photo)

The new menu, which is based on customer feedback, is being launched by Amtrak in partnership with STARR Restaurant Group and will be led by James Beard award-winning restaurateur Stephen Starr.

According to Amtrak, customers in Acela First Class will enjoy a rotating selection of new signature dishes from STARR Restaurant Group’s renowned NEC-based eateries, including fan favorites like Buddakan’s Black Pepper Beef and The Continental Mid-Town’s Chilled Sesame Noodles.

Chilled Sesame Noodles from The Continental Mid-Town. (Amtrak photo)

In addition to the STARR culinary menu, First Class customers can enjoy sips from Amtrak’s upgraded wine offerings, including Pommery Champagne, Justin Sauvignon Blanc, Landmark Pinot Noir and Daou Rosé. For those traveling in the morning, a line-up of local bakeries will deliver fresh baked pastries daily.

“Amtrak is pleased to partner with STARR Restaurant Group on new, premium meals designed to enhance the customer experience onboard Acela First Class,” said Amtrak Vice President Customer Service Stations & Onboard Robert Jordan. “Incorporating the STARR touch on our menus helps us deliver the world-class journey our customers expect, and our latest food and beverage offerings are sure to surprise and delight.”

“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,” said Starr. “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 it has also “worked to elevate the caliber of food and beverages” for its customers at Amtrak’s Moynihan Train Hall Metropolitan Lounge, through new café menus on the NEC, and most recently at other Amtrak Metropolitan Lounges through its food and beverage partner, Aramark.

To “further enhance the travel experience so that more customers can enjoy these new dining amenities,” Amtrak’s Bidup program allows already ticketed Acela customers to bid on an upgrade to First Class, space and availability permitting.

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