how is the lunchtime cuisine on italian trains? price-quality-service?<BR><BR>can we bring our own lunch on the train to help pass the 2-3 hour trips while we enjoy watching the countryside?<BR><BR>thanks,<BR>cam

Ranges from first class service with white linen tablecloths, and a-minus food at modestly over-priced cost (for example, Eurostar from Venice to Rome - - very enjoyable) - - to sandwiches from a cart.<BR><BR>But everybody takes snacks - - all the way up to full-blown picnics - - including any wine or alcoholic beverages you wish. and sharing with strangers is not rare, nor rude, as far as I know.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

We dined first class from Venice to Florence and it was really good but very expensive. (About 30.00 for 2, only the first course) They sat you with other travellers to fill each booth and we met a very lovely Italian woman who assisted us in navigating the "rules" of the dining car experience.

We seemed to catch the trains with the sandwiches or the microwaved pasta that was really bad, so we rely on our own picnics. You can get great tomato-mozzarella sandwiches at shops near/in train station, along with some fruit and wine/soda/water, etc. to take along and make a great meal.

We recently had lunch on the train from Florence to Venice. It was 5 courses and good. However, it was about $25 each. Most people brought their own. We were in first class.

Cam,<BR>Italian train stations are fabulous. We always got a panini (or two - they are fabulous) and some cookies in the station before we boarded and had a picnic while we watched the country whizz by.<BR><BR>We did have a meal on the train from Rome to Milan (3 hours) in first class. The appetizer was Pringles and Champagne. Too funny!

cam,<BR>you can bring what you like on the train at a much lower price. just use good sense as basic courtesy to those around you.<BR><BR>jjc

topping<BR>

The food is awful and overpriced. There is a catering service on Eurostar and Intercity trains. Most have a dining car that is accesible by every traveller, first or second class alike, but sometimes you have to book your lunch or dinner because the places are not enough for everyone. The food is mostly horrible and it costs as much as a good lunch in a medium range restaurant. Almost all foods are frozen and microwave decongelated and heated. A cart goes up and down the trains, sometimes even on Interregionale and Espresso trains. The food they sell is disgustung and costly too, so just have some if you are in desperate need. It is much better to buy your own food and bring it along. everuy stations has at least one coffee shop where you can buy sandwiches and drinks, the large stations also have shops and carts selling food. In Florence do not miss the panino con porchetta sold by a little stall beside the MacDonalds in the station. Better and even cheaper food can usually be bought at bakeries.