Amtrak and STARR Restaurant Group Update Acela First Class Menu with Three New Meals

Customers can enjoy high-quality dishes as part of their premium onboard amenities

NEW YORK – Amtrak and STARR Restaurant Group, led by James Beard award-winning restaurateur Stephen Starr, today announced the debut of three new dishes for the First Class dining menu on Acela trains traveling on the Northeast Corridor (NEC) between Boston and Washington D.C. The collaboration began in May, with four seasonal menu items in rotation across a six-month spring and summer cycle.

“Expanding our partnership with the STARR Restaurant Group shows our continued commitment to enhancing the Acela First Class onboard experience,” said Amtrak Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Eliot Hamlisch. “We’re delighted to expand our reach of restaurants along the Northeast Corridor by adding the iconic Le Diplomate in DC, plus new items from The Continental Mid-town and Parc.”

The three new menu items in rotation every three weeks include:

• Lobster Mac & Cheese from The Continental Mid-town: A comfort food classic! Orzo pasta and chunks of lobster are tossed in a velvety cheese sauce and topped with panko breadcrumbs, then baked to perfection.
• Beef Bourguignon from Parc: This hearty French stew comprises tender braised beef with roasted carrots, pearl onions, Cremini mushrooms, bacon, and red wine jus served over creamy pommes purée.
• Tropez Salad from Le Diplomate: Mediterranean flavors and ingredients in this dish include a mélange of four chilled salads: cucumbers and feta, chickpeas and couscous, lentils in a mustard vinaigrette, and shaved carrots drizzled with olive oil and lemon come together for a light and refreshing treat.

Acela First Class customers can also enjoy new fall and winter wine offerings, including prosecco, sauvignon blanc, pinot noir and cabernet sauvignon. For those traveling in the morning, freshly baked pastries are delivered daily from local bakeries for an extra sweetness to start the day.

The STARR Restaurant Group portfolio spans the NEC, serving many of the same travelers who ride in Acela First Class. Customers can expect a similar level of culinary artistry and premium service onboard as they do at STARR’s award-winning restaurants.

For those looking to experience Acela First Class, the Amtrak Bidup program allows already ticketed Acela customers to bid on an upgrade, space and availability permitting.