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DB Bord restaurant on ICE

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WesternLancer

WesternLancer

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Hi - quick question - is the restaurant car on ICE trains open to both standard and 1st class passengers?

I'm planning a Brussels Berlin trip on ICE - uses 2 ICEs with a brief change so would be thinking of eating on the ICE - potentially 2 meals, so keen to know if I can use it if I have a std class ticket.

ANY other views on the ICE restaurnt cars welcome (ie menu, value, quality etc)

Thanks
 
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Mag_seven

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WesternLancer said:
Hi - quick question - is the restaurant car on ICE trains open to both standard and 1st class passengers?

I'm planning a Brussels Berlin trip on ICE - uses 2 ICEs with a brief change so would be thinking of eating on the ICE - potentially 2 meals, so keen to know if I can use it if I have a std class ticket.

ANY other views on the ICE restaurnt cars welcome (ie menu, value, quality etc)

Thanks
Click to expand...

Yes its open to holders of all ticket types. Can't comment on the current quality of the food though as its been quite a while since I ate in one.
 
Please Explain

Please Explain

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My personal recommendation would be the Königsberger Klopse with a Weißier. Very nice.
Have a pleasant journey.
 
jamesontheroad

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Here are two pics from a trip I finished about a week ago.

Lunch on southbound ICE 883 from Hamburg to Munich, and then breakfast on northbound on (I think ICE1682) for the return a few days later.

The first photo shows one of the salads (Großer Blattsalat mit Hirtenkäse & Roter Beete, €9,90) with the 2018 Straight Riesling (€7,50 for 250ml). Sadly there was no clean cutlery or tableware available on this trip, so everything in the dining car was served on single use paper and plastic. The second photo shows the “classic breakfast” of warm bread and cheese (Klassisch Fruhstuck, Brötchen & Butter mit Aufschnitt Käse, €5,40) and scrambled eggs (Rührei, €3,90) that I put together from the menu to make a vegetarian breakfast.

The different generations of ICE all have slightly different restaurant cars, but they are generally booths in red vinyl, 1+1 on one side of the aisle and 2+2 (3+3 at a squeeze or with kids) on the other.

VagonWeb.cz is accurate for determining compositions, so if you can you might want to reserve a seat in a carriage near the restaurant.
 

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Gerald Fiennes

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Quality of food a bit variable, but normally OK. Bear in mind that hot items are things that can be microwaved, although they are normally served properly on china dishes and plates. The seated area is also open to people just having a beer/schnapps, so it can get quite full. And sometimes the catering is cancelled altogether, so best to have a Plan B at all times! DB's customers generally think that the service has gone way downhill in recent years and you will find they love complaining about it. However, by UK standards, it's pretty good.
 
WesternLancer

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Thanks all, some great hints, tips, links, pics and recommendations! Really helpful and just the sort of info I was after. V good point about a Plan B - I see it is not a 'restaurant' car as in GWR pullman dining, but a good range of decent food priced reasonably, so that helps me know what to expect.
 
jamesontheroad

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WesternLancer said:
Thanks all, some great hints, tips, links, pics and recommendations! Really helpful and just the sort of info I was after. V good point about a Plan B - I see it is not a 'restaurant' car as in GWR pullman dining, but a good range of decent food priced reasonably, so that helps me know what to expect.
Click to expand...

I echo Gerald’s point - our two trips were more than six hours, and we didn’t dare get on board without a backup plan for food. Major German hubs have excellent food courts, so maybe get some food there and then go the the restaurant to enjoy a cold beer in a cold glass with a snack.
 
AlexNL

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Gerald Fiennes said:
DB's customers generally think that the service has gone way downhill in recent years and you will find they love complaining about it.
Click to expand...
DB knows this and they are trying to turn the tide. They've revamped their menus and presentation, and are also expanding the offering. The ICE3 fleet, which is currently undergoing a renovation, will gain a full-fledged BordRestaurant (up until now they've only had a smaller Bistro).

DB recently did an 'undercover test' in Berlin, in which they wheeled out a kitchen trailer and presented it as a new and hip start-up. People loved the food they were served, but were surprised to read "Liked it? There's more in the Bordrestaurant. [DB]" on the bottom of their plates.

 
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You will essentially meet second class passengers in the restaurant, because first class passengers can order from and be served at their seat. I did it several times. This is one of the first class perks that I enjoy the most because I don't like to leave my belongings unattended.
 
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Personally I just load up on pretzels and sandwich-type stuff from any of the excellent bakeries in German train stations rather than going on the train. In part because of the luggage problem mentioned by MarcVD. The Panos in Brussels-Midi is not bad too.
 
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Restaurant service on DB is different from UK no matter which class because they serve good quality draft beer! I even had an apology once because draft Weißbier was 'orf' and I could only drink pilsner ie. lager.

Compare with UK. To use another German expression, the restaurant car experience makes it more gemütlich
 
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Gerald Fiennes

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MarcVD said:
You will essentially meet second class passengers in the restaurant, because first class passengers can order from and be served at their seat.
Click to expand...
Yes, it's true that 1Kl passengers benefit from 'Service am platz'. However, it's far from perfect: if the staff are too busy or otherwise occupied, you won't find much of a service being offered in practice. And on crowded trains (yes, they have those in Germany too!) the offer is even less likely to be made. In maybe 1 out of 3 ICEs I take, you will not be asked if you want anything....
The pop-up video is very funny: indeed, it reminds me that the food on offer is actually pretty good (especially the maultaschen, when they were on the menu). It's getting hold of it that is the issue.
 
M28361M

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AlexNL said:
DB knows this and they are trying to turn the tide. They've revamped their menus and presentation, and are also expanding the offering. The ICE3 fleet, which is currently undergoing a renovation, will gain a full-fledged BordRestaurant (up until now they've only had a smaller Bistro).
Click to expand...

The menu quoted upthread actually looks quite decent. Is this just on ICE trains or do the IC services have a similar offering? DB's journey planner says the train I am planning to travel on has a BordBistro.
 
gordonthemoron

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M28361M said:
The menu quoted upthread actually looks quite decent. Is this just on ICE trains or do the IC services have a similar offering? DB's journey planner says the train I am planning to travel on has a BordBistro.
Click to expand...

IC trains will have a BordBistro at best, and often no catering at all
 
AlexNL

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duesselmartin said:
Does ICE International to Bruxelles not have only a Bistro as well?
Click to expand...
Depends. As-built the ICE3's only came with a BordBistro, but they're currently giving the trains a midlife refurbishment. As far as I know, all units will receive a full BordRestaurant.
 
WesternLancer

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Thanks all once again for above info. I've now bought tickets for London Berlin and because the price differential was not bad at all I have opted for 1st class (so will get Std Premier food offer out of St Pancras, but connections are tight at Midi and Koln so stocking up on backup food might in fact have to be from St P / home made pack up).

Anyway - reading the above if people have further thoughts please share!

- ICE 1st class I can in theory expect at seat service from the same menu as the Bord Restaurant?

- Does the at seat service also come on proper china / glass ware (at least in theory)?

- But that may in practice not happen, so assuming Bord Restaurant is open I can go there (but would probably have to take my luggage with me for security reasons)?

- seat 61 has links to DB ICE seating plans but I wasn't 100% sure which type of ICE operates on Brussels - Koln and Koln Berlin services (ICE2 or ICE3 for example) - is there an easy way to find out?

- I guessed which ICE it might be and used the seat61 links to then select seats on DB website (the DB seat selector is good, but does not show window locations vis a vis seats so had to cross ref against the seat61 pdf plans of the carriages that I'd guessed were the correct ones. eg one had a compartment section so I selected a window seat in the compartment in 1st class for example). So subject to availability I can change to better seats if I've selected the wrong train type.
 
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Pretty sure it's ICE3 only to Bruxelles, the others can't use the Belgian OHLE. You can sit where you like provided someone else hasn't reserved it (reservations are marked). I believe the rest of what you say is correct.

Nobody will shout if you leave your bag to go to the restaurant, but with most stations unbarriered thefts are more likely than in the UK so you'd be well advised to take it.
 
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WesternLancer

WesternLancer

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Bletchleyite said:
Pretty sure it's ICE3 only to Bruxelles, the others can't use the Belgian OHLE. You can sit where you like provided someone else hasn't reserved it (reservations are marked). I believe the rest of what you say is correct.

Nobody will shout if you leave your bag to go to the restaurant, but with most stations unbarriered thefts are more likely than in the UK so you'd be well advised to take it.
Click to expand...
Thanks
 
WesternLancer

WesternLancer

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jamesontheroad said:
ALao vagonweb.cz for compositions.

Cross reference with Seat 61 for a link to detailed pdf seat plans of every German ICE variant.
Click to expand...
Thanks - I had a look at vagonweb but must confess it was pretty confusing as to find out how to find what I was looking for! But obv it is a site with a tremendous amount of resources on it.

EDIT - just studied the site more carefully and now worked out how to use it - so thanks - a v useful resource which has helped me ref this journey.
 
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Never leave your bags alone - even in civilised Austria. A friend had his nicked on a Railjet , it included his diabetic required insulin. The Austrian Railway police were incredibly helpful in getting him medical replacement and incredibly annoyed at the theft.

In my experience DB catering is decent enough - enjoyed a full Sunday lunch on a Zurich - Hannover run via Frankfurt. They do excellent coffee.
 
jamesontheroad

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WesternLancer said:
Thanks - I had a look at vagonweb but must confess it was pretty confusing as to find out how to find what I was looking for! But obv it is a site with a tremendous amount of resources on it.

EDIT - just studied the site more carefully and now worked out how to use it - so thanks - a v useful resource which has helped me ref this journey.
Click to expand...

No worries! It's not fully translated into English, but the compositions page is super useful. Just enter the train number and it brings up the composition with the cute little icons, plus links to photos and seat maps.

Here's Seat61's page with good quality PDF seat maps... https://www.seat61.com/Europe-train-seat-plans.htm
 
WesternLancer

WesternLancer

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jamesontheroad said:
No worries! It's not fully translated into English, but the compositions page is super useful. Just enter the train number and it brings up the composition with the cute little icons, plus links to photos and seat maps.

Here's Seat61's page with good quality PDF seat maps... https://www.seat61.com/Europe-train-seat-plans.htm
Click to expand...
Thanks - yes I used seat 61 but not 100% clear what type of train on what route - your further hints on wagonweb use much appreciated. It's clearly a great site when you get the jist of how it works.
Cheers
 
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