Florence to Venice by rail: Dining car?
 

In January, we will be taking a mid-day train from Florence to Venice. We have only taken Euro trains early morning or later at night, so have never availed ourselves of the dining car.

On this journey, we're thinking of timing it to have lunch on the train. Does one have to book 1st class for access to the dining car? Do we reserve a table in advance? What is the food like? Is it like in the movies---sitting by a large window watching the countryside slide by?

Thanks for any input. J

According to Trenitalia, all ES trains have a snack bar and those with an R in the train description (shown after you click on the train you want) have dining cars. The menu varies according to the season. There are large windows allowing you to look at the landscape. You can reserve with the staff who go through the first-class cars before service starts, or you can reserve when you buy your train ticket and obtain a discount.

I don't think that the fact that staff only announce restaurant service in the first-class cars means that only first-class passengers can eat in the dining car.

It has been decades since I ate in a dining car in Italy; the food was quite acceptable but not anything to rave about.

We were in 1st class and did eat in the dining car. We didn't reserve it ahead of time but just went to the car when it was announced and we got a table but I can't promise that would happen every time. I wanted to do it because I never had (and, of course, I'd seen all those old movies too) and it was fun but I really wouldn't bother doing it again.

It's funny, these are the kinds of little details that I drive myself crazy over. Hotels? Airfares? Easy! LOL!

I think we'll stay with our original plan to take the earlier train. It gets us to Venice at 11:30 rather than 1:30. With winter daylight hours, that's a better option for getting in some sightseeing that day. I notice the earlier train also has an "R", so maybe we can still get the dining car experience over a cafe and roll. Can't wait!

Hi JB,

>maybe we can still get the dining car experience over a cafe and roll.<

The seats n the ES* trains face each other with a table in the middle.

Stop off at a grocer, get some bread, some stuff to go with it and a bottle of wine.

Set same on table. Enjoy your "dining car" experience.

((I))

We did just as Ira suggested. Although we didn't take the Florence to Venice route, we were on ES trains. We just picked up some wine, cheese, bread and some chocolate and had our own "dining car" experience. Quite lovely and I'm assuming much cheaper!

Tracy

IRA: You always come up with the most useful little tidbits! Sounds like the way to go. Might be a little early for wine, but a cappucino to go and some chocolate goodies...sounds like heaven.

Well, sure, you can have a cafe and sandwich at your seat (and we did and enjoyed it as much, if not more, than lunch in the dining car) BUT it's not having lunch in the dining car.

Also, on one leg of our train trips we were sitting in the last row of the car and didn't have that little table thing which, if I remember correctly, isn't really a table but little platform about 6 or 8 inches wide that runs the length of both seats -- really just wide enough for a coffee cup and a small plate.

Sure you can eat at your seat but it's not the same as the dining car experience.

hdm:
I posted above that we're going to take the train that gets us into Venice at 11:30. So lunch really isn't an issue.

IRA et al:
Is the table set-up the same whether 1st or 2nd class?

oops. missed that second post. sorry.

We ate several times on dining cars throughout Italy and have yet to have a meal worth the cost. It was a fun experience but the food was barely edible (except for plain pasta w/ sauce) and the prices can be pretty steep. I second the recommendation about getting some good panninis or bread/cheese and wine to take on the train.

You will be offered multiple courses but certainly don't have to accept them all, including the wine on your table. If you don't accept it, you won't be charged for it.

BTW- if you have 1st class tickets, they will come around and ask for you if you want to reserve a time in the dining car. Once all the 1st class passengers have made their reservations, they will allow 2nd class passengers to fill the remaining seats.

Otherwise you can always go to the snack car or eat from the snack cart that comes by your seat.

We were in first class from Milan to Venice at lunchtime. I had never eaten in a dining car, so we did. They came through our car asking who wanted to eat, and took names, and gave us an approximate time. When seats became available, they came to our seats and took us to the dining car. Unfortunately, the dining car had tables for four, so we were seated next to a man with very unfortunate table manners, and it was not a pleasant experience. The food was so-so, but fairly pricey, but the wine was good.

Since then we have eaten in a few more dining cars, and I've noticed that quite a few people feign ignorance of the reservation system, and just butt into the car when they choose.

ClevelandBrown we had the same experience - but for us it was a pleasant one.

It was my first trip to Italy and it was really quite fun to eat in the dining car - we ended up being seated with two lovely older Italian women.

Contrary to the many opinions here we thought the food on our train was quite good! I think we were eating on a train that went from Rome to Milan rather than Venice. Out of all of Italy, the only bad food I've eaten has been in Venice - there seem to be a large number of unfortunate restaurants in that city geared exclusively for tourists. It reminds me of the poor souls who come to San Francisco and eat at Pier 39.

SFImporter,
Actually, we've subsequently had a lot of communal dining experiences both in trains and restaurants, almost without exception pleasant and a nice way to meet people.

It just rubbed me the wrong way that our first experience, that I expected to be near luxurious, was not.

After reading CB's experience, I think we'll definitely picnic at our seats. I've come to realize the "dining car fantasy" involves being seated with Cary Grant, James Bond, etc. Some things are best left as fantasies.

But I DO appreciate all the information. Fodors is the proverbial "font of information".

MMy dining car advice is on Amtrak ...

about 10 years ago I got a "roomette" on the overnight from Chicago to New York. In a roomette there is no room for a roommate. A single seat side, with a door on one side, window on the other. Combo sink/toilet contraption (ingenious) built into the wall. Comfortable (though narrow) bed opens from the seat.

Anyway, meals in the dining car were included: dinner, breakfast and lunch, and there was in room service from an attendant - snacks, drinks.

Food was great. Maybe not what it was in the hayday of transcontinental train travel, but still like in a restaurant: a menu with several choices, everything I had was good. And it was terrific sleeping in the train. Fun to do if you have time once ...

Will be taking a train from Milan to Florence next month, hope to be boarding by 11:00, and definitely hope to grab some takealong treats between Malpensa Airport and the train station.

Be aware that not ALL seats on Eurostar Italy trains are in the so-called "club configuration" which has the table set up between them so be flexible.

People in Europe bring food aboard all the time although they usually don't take it into the dining car with them but they'll many times take it into the so-called "snack bar" coach or just spread it out over seats...YOURS included sometimes.

Bring GOOD food...you can save money after you get home...and enjoy the ride.

Thanks. I was assuming if the layout shows seats facing each other, then there would be a table. But there's nothing I can do about it, so I'll purchase accordingly.

Great thread JeanneB, thanks.

What do you do with your bags when you go walking on the train? Is it different in 1st or 2nd?