Overall a dissappointing experience that did not live up to expectations of the brochure. The carriages are beautiful, although a little cramped, be aware you are stuck at your table the entire trip there is no space to walk around. Staff were generally good, some perhaps a little inexperienced. At the start of the journey you felt they were attentive but this deteriorated as the journey progressed I imagine as there were not enough staff to carry out all the duties and serve food etc. they all looked a bit harried as the day progressed. What started out as a personal service later become akin to a bad budget airline or a school trip. Everything felt poorly managed including the meal and waiting times between courses which was long, until the end when everything was rushed and you barely had a chance to have coffee (luke warm at best) before it was time to get off at your stop. Petite fours, were two non descript truffles that were thrown on the table in a takaway box after the coffee as you were leaving. The food was by far the biggest let down. It was pretty tasteless and poorly presented. No thought or creativity had gone into the menu and what was served was poorly executed. It's a mystery how everything could be so tasteless. By no stretch of the imagination was it the fine dining experience it claimed to be. The canapes and blini were already on the table when we boarded half an hour or so before departure and it was a while before we were served any drinks. They didn't feel very fresh, they were dried out but soggy at the same time. Starters were obviously served straight from the fridge rather than room temperature. The vegetarian starter was particularly poor, a lump of stodgy, soggy puff pastry with a tomato and pieces of onion on top. The main course was served cold, maybe barely warm with the chill taking off it which was very bizarre as it was a traditional Christmas type main course. Far too much salt in the soup, everyone commented how salty it was and the alternative had no taste at all. The cheese was the best tasting course, although by the time it got to our table it did all look a bit of a mess.It was an unforgettable experience, just unfortunately not for the right reasons. I certainly would not go again it just does not live up to the hype and overall the meal is substandard for any type of dining experience let along what is suppoed to be fine dining.
Claim your business profile now and gain access to all features and respond to customer reviews.
The train service was launched in 2000, after careful restoration by Venice-Simplon Orient Express.