How does the dining car work? Where in the train car-restaurant

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 the trip takes only a few hours and flies by unnoticed. In other cases, the path may not be close and last from a few days to a week. And then a lot of questions arise. What to do in the way? What to wear to make it comfortable? And, of course, what to eat and drink?

How to Eat on the Road

If the road lasts no more than a day, then it is quite easy to provide meals in the train. You can bring your long-term storage products or even freshly prepared meals from home. However, it is worth remembering that in the summer not all compounds are conditioned, but in winter, on the contrary, they can be very well heated. Therefore, it is worth taking only the food that will not spoil in an hour or two in a warm indoor room. You can do snacks in the dry - cookies, croutons, buns, fruits. For those who are not very worried about their health, packs with vermicelli and instant soups will suit.

If the road is to be long, then without a hot dinner can not do, especially if you go with children. This question can be solved in two ways: to buy ready-made food at stations from the hands of unknown merchants or to go out to eat in a car-restaurant. In the first case, as the experience of many, the risk of food poisoning or even intestinal infection is very high. The second option is much safer for health, but it hurts a little for the pocket.

Cafe or restaurant

Practically in all long-distance trains there is a dining car or a car-café. The difference between these two types of institutions is essential. In the first only freshly prepared meals are served. Borscht, soups, garnish, hot meat dishes, cold snacks, salads, desserts and drinks are always on the menu of the restaurant. The assortment of dishes, of course, is not very large, but everyone can choose something for themselves. The decoration of the premises is thought out, the tables are served, and the staff serves the visitor no worse than in other establishments of this type.

The car-cafe is more like a self-service buffet. Here, you can also have a nice snack or even lunch, but it's unlikely that you will miss a long evening on the road at a table with a pleasant company. Cooking in the cafe is mainly hot and cold snacks, sandwiches, salads. You can also drink coffee, tea or soft drinks. For children in 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 car-café in the composition. For a good meal on a long trip, of course, the first option is better.

Features of work

You can find out how the dining car works in a particular train directly from the conductor. Usually the restaurant opens at 8.00 or 09.00 in the morning. By this time, cooks and waiters have already served the tables and are ready to accept orders for breakfast. During the day, the restaurant closes several times for 30 minutes, and in the evening it works until 23.00 or 24.00. All dishes begin to be prepared immediately after the order, so you should expect that it will take a while to wait.

For passengers from SV and compartment cars it is possible to order breakfast, lunch or dinner directly to the room. With this request, you can contact the conductor or the waiter of the restaurant. Food will be delivered in special closed containers. It will certainly be fresh and hot.

Usually catering is in the area of the ninth car near the staff, but before you go on a quest, it is best to ask the guide where there is a dining car in the train.

Menu and prices

As already mentioned above, the menu does not contain a large number of titles. This is due to the limited space in the room, both for cooking food 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 specialty. For example, on the Nevsky Express, lettuce "Nevskaya Berega". In addition, in some trains you can meet lean or even vegetarian menu.

Prices are usually 30-40% more expensive than in conventional catering establishments. However, it is worth remembering that the dining car in the train Responsible for the quality of cooked dishes, for the freshness of the products used and for hygiene. These standards are strictly followed. You can, of course, go to eat in a cafe or buffet on the platform with a long stop. However, the prices in the station cafes are not much lower, and sometimes even higher than those offered by the dining car.

As a rule, on the way there is still the possibility of ordering an integrated breakfast, lunch or dinner. Such a set will be standard, but it will cost a little less.

How everything works

The interior of the establishment is usually pleasant. On the windows there are beautiful curtains, tablecloths, napkins and appliances on the tables, a carpet on the floor. Furniture is firmly attached to the floor for the safety of passengers, so you will not be able to get together with a large company at the same table. Smoking is prohibited in the restaurant, but the waiter will certainly offer alcoholic drinks.

The kitchen is equipped with a stove, a table, refrigerators and a sink. The space is very limited, therefore it is used rationally and everything always lies in its place. The dishes are thoroughly washed out, the products are compactly packed in closed containers. Cleanliness is strictly monitored. Every day after closing, the dining car is carefully cleaned. Products are usually delivered at night stops when passengers are asleep, but there are exceptions.

Be sure to take into account the fact that there are not many seats in the restaurant, so it's better to take care of the table in advance.

Share your impressions

If after a visit there are complaints or suggestions, they can be written in a special book, which the waiter will provide at the first request of the visitor. If you have any serious questions, you can contact the head of the train or directly to the railway. In Russia, some dining cars are serviced directly by RZD, the rest by private companies. All the comments or wishes of customers are taken into account in the work, so if there is anything to say, it is not worth keeping silent.

In general, it is worth to visit at least once in the life of a dining car, make a photo, have lunch or just have tea. This will brighten the impression of the trip, help you pass away a long time on the road and get your own opinion about such establishments. Although, of course, to judge all of one visit is not recommended!