Railroad tracks tightly envelop the entire planet, and for many, the train is the only possible or acceptable way to get to the right place. Sometimes a trip takes only a few hours and flies by. In other cases, the path may be short and last from several days to a week. And here a lot of questions arise. What to do on the go? What to wear to be comfortable? And, of course, what to eat and drink?
How to eat on the go
If the journey lasts no more than a day, then it is quite simple to provide yourself food on the train. You can bring along long-term storage products or even freshly prepared dishes from home. However, it is worth remembering that in summer not all compounds are air-conditioned, and in winter, on the contrary, can be very well heated. Therefore, it is worth taking with you only that food that will not go bad in an hour or two in a warm, enclosed area. You can get dry snacks - cookies, crackers, buns, fruits. For those who are not very worried about their health, packages with noodles and instant soups are suitable.
If the road ahead is long, then you can’t do without a hot lunch in any way, especially if you go with children. This issue can be solved in two ways: to buy ready-made food at stations from the hands of unknown traders or to go to a full meal in a restaurant car. In the first case, as the experience of many shows, the risk of food poisoning or even an intestinal infection is very high. The second option is much safer for health, but a little affordable.
Cafe or Restaurant
Almost all long-distance trains have a restaurant car or a cafe car. The difference between these two types of establishments is significant. The first serves only freshly prepared dishes. Borsch, soups, side dishes, hot meat dishes, cold appetizers, salads, desserts and drinks are always on the restaurant menu. The assortment of dishes, of course, is not very large, but everyone can choose something for themselves. The decoration of rooms is thought out, tables are served, and the staff serves the visitor no worse than in other institutions of this type.
The cafe car is more like a self-service buffet. Here, too, you can have a good bite to eat or even have lunch, but it is unlikely to pass the long evening on the road at the table with a pleasant company. Mostly hot and cold snacks, sandwiches, salads are cooked in cafes. You can also enjoy coffee, tea or soft drinks. For children, the menu will be a variety of cookies and waffles.
When choosing a train or buying a ticket, it is better to ask whether there will be a restaurant car or a cafe car in the train. For good nutrition on a long journey, of course, the first option is better.
Features of work
You can find out how the restaurant car in a particular train works directly at the guide. Usually an institution opens at 8.00 or 09.00 in the morning. By this time, cooks and waiters have already served tables and are ready to take breakfast orders. During the day, the restaurant closes several times for 30 minutes, and in the evening it is open until 23.00 or 24.00. All dishes begin to cook immediately after ordering, so you should expect that you need to wait a bit.
For passengers from CB and compartment cars it is possible to order breakfast, lunch or dinner directly “to your room”. You can contact the restaurant attendant or waiter with this request. Food will be delivered in special closed containers. She will certainly be fresh and hot.
Typically, the food service is located in the area of the ninth carriage near the headquarters car, but before setting off in search, it is better to ask the guide where the restaurant car is on the train.
Menu and prices
As mentioned above, the menu does not contain a large number of items. This is due to the limited space in the room, both for cooking and for storing food. However, you can always choose from several options and the first dish, and the second, and dessert. Each composition, as a rule, has its own signature dish. For example, on the Nevsky Express, the salad Nevsky Shores. In addition, on some trains you can find a lean or even vegetarian menu.
Prices are usually 30-40% more expensive than in ordinary catering establishments. However, it is worth remembering that the dining car on the train responsible for the quality of the prepared dishes, for the freshness of the products used and for sanitary hygiene. These standards are very strictly monitored. You can, of course, go for a meal in a cafe or buffet on the platform for a long stop. True, the prices in the station cafes are not much lower, and sometimes even higher than those offered by the restaurant car.
As a rule, on the way there is still the possibility of ordering a comprehensive breakfast, lunch or dinner. Such a set will be standard, but it will cost a little cheaper.
How it works
The interior of the establishment is usually pleasant. There are beautiful curtains on the windows, tablecloths, napkins and appliances on the tables, and a carpet on the floor. The furniture is firmly attached to the floor for the safety of passengers, so gathering a large company at one table will not work. Smoking is prohibited in the restaurant, but the waiter will certainly offer to drink alcoholic beverages.
The kitchen is equipped with a stove, table, fridge and sink. Space is very limited, therefore it is used rationally and everything always lies in its place. The dishes are thoroughly washed, the products are compactly packed in closed containers. Cleanliness is strictly monitored. Every day after closing, the restaurant car is carefully cleaned. Products are usually delivered at night stops when passengers are sleeping, but there are exceptions.
Be sure to take into account the fact that there are not so many seats in the restaurant, so it is better to take care of the table in advance.
How to share your impressions
If after a visit there are complaints or suggestions, they can be recorded in a special book, which the waiter will provide upon request of the visitor. If you have serious questions, you can contact the head of the train or directly to the railway. In Russia, some dining cars are served directly by Russian Railways, while the rest are served by private companies. All comments or suggestions of clients are taken into account in the work, therefore, if you have something to say, you should not be silent.
In general, it is worth visiting a dining car at least once in a lifetime, taking a photo, having lunch or just drinking tea. This will brighten up the impression of the trip, help pass the long time on the road and get your own opinion about such establishments. Although, of course, judging everyone by one visit is not recommended!