Watch for Hidden Charges
While the train ride and dinner are very nice, be very careful for "mystery" charges which will appear on your final bill. You pay for the train ride and dinner in advance. If you order drinks (and they are quite pricey) they add what they call a "tax" to your bar bill which they say is actually a tip which is divided amoungst the staff. They then add another $6 to your bill which they cannot explain what it is for, just that "it's always been added to the bills, we don't know why". You are then expected to base your customary tip on the full price of the train ride/dinner (about $160 per couple). If the $9 "bar tax" was a tip that is shared with the staff of the train, then why are you expected to tip again based on the $160? Just be prepared for this (while not a great deal of money, it is somewhat slimey). If you go in knowing this, you should have a very pleasant evening. Food is quite good and the atmosphere is wonderful. Evening ride is "uplit" by train lights so that you can see some of the scenery. Staff is attentive,but need to be trained/educated in being able to answer questions regarding the hidden charges of this excursion.    [03 Mar 2004 08:43:37]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: Tenderloin or prime rib

     ­Anonymous   

Re: Hidden Charges
We just rode this past weekend and I agree with "Anonymous" about the food, service, and tacky surprise charges. Being somewhat offended by the process, I simply made a mental calculation of what a reasonable tip would be, assuming some portion of the $160 would cover the ride and some portion for the dinner. I then subtracted the mysterious charges from my tip calculation and left the remainder. I must admit my gratuity would have been higher had it not been for the hidden charges that were a very unpleasant surprise at the end. So unnecessary because the staff was good, the food and value of the ride was good. Next time I would not choose the "Grand Dome" because the visibility was not as good as the normal accomodation, nor as comfortable seating. Pick standard seating (not the dome) and be prepared for the hidden charges and you will have a great evening    [01 Nov 2004 17:19:22]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: Tenderloin

     ­Evan Richards, McFarland, WI   

Don't bother unless you like burning your $$
Don't bother with this trip, unless you happen to remember travelling this way. The experience just is *not* worth the price. The soup tasted like campbell's. The salad had *WAY* too much dressing. The prime rib reminded me of the $15 special at the VFW down the road from our house, and the cheesecake was, well, cheesecake. Added a couple cocktails, a $26 bottle of wine, the MANDATORY $7/person service fee, our initial cost rose from $170 to well over $230. Adding insult to injury, they pleasantly asked for an 18% gratuity to top it all off... You have got to be kidding me. A 3-hour train ride with a mediocre meal (for the price) while being nickle-and-dimed until the wallet is bleeding is not my idea of a good time. The scenery was nonexistant (nighttime), the music was 1940's jazz (when they remembered to turn it on) and the singers were fabulous. If you like to casually toss away your money, this ride is for you. Ridiculous! Never again!    [09 Oct 2006 13:34:15]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: Prime rib

     ­Matt Fetterley   mfshadow at yahoo dot com

We Have Been There Several Times and Love It.
In the last 17 years we have done the Zephyr 5-6 times, the meal is always very good and the ambiance is wonderful. We are planning another couple trips before it ends. So sad to hear that this is the last year it will run! As for the "hidden" costs, we tend to tip 20% on our bar and restaurant bills anyways so it has never bothered us, and the service is fabulous so they always earn their tip! The per person charge covers those that do not tip, making sure that at least 10% is distributed among the staff each run (that's not much)as for the recommended 18% gratuity you can tip as you please but at least 18% is proper!    [03 Jul 2007 17:38:21]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: Tenderloin, Prime Rib, Game Hen

     ­Anonymous