Inside the train: Dining car

This is where the VIA Rail Canadian trains really shine. The chef(s) on board create a variety of dishes that, in our experience, were always fresh and tasty. I even tried pickerel which I'd never had before. Most of the time the dining car staff was exceptional - prompt, genuinely friendly and good-humoured.

For supper there are rolls, soup or salad, the main course and dessert. Coffee, tea and juice are free but you pay for wine. The desserts were so good that I didn't want to miss one so I usually skipped the soup and salad.

Breakfast begins at 6:30 am and it is first come, first serve. Then you choose your seatings for the rest of the day. We took the early ones, 11:30 am for lunch and 5:30 for supper. Or maybe it was 11:00 and 5:00, I can't remember.

Tables are for four.