I've been looking at this for a couple years now. Maybe my expectations were a bit too high. Boarding was orderly. Staff, very professional. I paid extra for the dome though and wouldn't again. It's definitely over-rated. Main had just as good of views. Speaking of, the water is pretty, as is the golf course. I enjoyed seeing the covered bridge but our window seals seemed to have a leak so they got increasingly fogged as the ride went on. The meal was very good: The warm dinner rolls were delicious as was my salad and salmon. The carrot soup was lacking something. The chocolate mousse was very good. read more

Cafe Lafayette Dinner Train - Covered bridge - New American Near Me - Lincoln, New Hampshire

See all

The train ride was fantastic as well as the food. The serving of the food was plenty. We enjoyed the meal. The train ride was wonderful and plenty of time to eat our meals. The pork tenderloin was outstanding. The stuffed seafood mushrooms appetizer were delicious. I would recommend this service to anyone read more

We had such a nice dinner on the Cafe Lafayette dinner train! One of my friends told me about it last year but all the reservations were all booked up so I made it a priority to book way in advance this year and I'm so happy that we were able to have this experience. They let us know that the departure time is 6pm but that we should arrive at 5:15 with suggestions to arrive earlier. We got there around 5pm and enjoyed the seating in the garden out front until we were called to board the train. We sat in the train for quite awhile which I could've done without, but it was fun to take in our surroundings and fawn over the beautiful place settings. We opted for the dome seating which was a cool experience but in going through the train for boarding, I think the other dining cars were just as cool in terms of the ambiance. The whole experience made me feel like I was being transported to an earlier time. We were asked to put our phones in airplane mode which also helped to unplug and take it all in. The train ride is 2 hours- 1 hour out and 1 hour back. It's a out and back route (not a loop). I will admit that my first half was less enjoyable than the second half since I was going backwards and my motion sickness did not like that. I kept my eyes firmly peeled on the outside to help with my motion sickness, but I was much happier on the return trip. The route brought us through wooded areas, some riverside views, a golf course and some residential areas. The food was delicious and it was a lot of food! I probably should've had a lighter lunch because I was stuffed by the time that dessert came along. The service was excellent and all the servers worked well together to take our drink and food orders, clear our plates, and keep the drinks refilled. We had a great time and were happy with our experience! We probably won't do this again in the near future, but maybe in a few years will revisit again or if we return to the white mountains with family who might prefer this over outdoor activities. read more

See all

It was an interesting unique experience for a special occasion. Boarding is done by groups in a very organized manner. Place is nicely decorated and it was fun to be served a fancy 5 course dinner while sitting on a train. Dinner roll was delicious. I had the ahi tuna which I found delicious. Salad was nice. Sorbet was nice. My main course was the salmon (in fact 3 of us had salmon and we enjoyed it). My partner had the chicken and he found it dry but edible. Desert was a chocolate mousse - that was actually the most disappointed part as we wished we had had a cake or nicer ending to our meal. There was nothing particularly special about the mouse. The provided a candle as we were celebrating a birthday so that was a nice touch. Our servers were very attentive and friendly. As for the ride - you ride by brooks, a golf course and a bridge. Unfortunately on the way back you get the same view. Overall a nice experience. read more

See all

This was an amazing experience! We are thinking of making this an annual event. The staff was so friendly and accomodating. The ambiance of the train was just like out of history. Spacious seating and the tables were set beautifully... there was even a pretty fan laid out on the table. We were seated in the Indian Waters car. The drink menu had a wide variety of cocktails and wine to choose from but I went for my usual cab sav. It was so fun to be served on a train while seeing some of the early fall foliage as we traveled. After ordering our appetizer and main courses, we were served the most delicious, warm homemade bread! After that our appetizers came. I had the Maple Pumpkin Bisque and my husband went for the Pork Potstickers. Both great choices. Next was the salad which had a fantastic homemade maple vinaigrette. After the salad course, we were served a homemade mango strawberry sorbet as a palette cleanser. So delicious and refreshing! For dinner I went with the Port Wine Pork Tenderloin and my husband had the Chicken Saltimbocca. We both really enjoyed our entree's which were served with roasted butternut squash and mashed potato. Finally, for dessert we had a lovely chocolate mousse. Just as we finished we pulled back into the train station. Highly recommend this experience - The food was so good and you could tell the effort that went into the dishes and the service. We will definitely be back! read more

See all

Lovely views. This relaxing train ride felt like stepping into a different dimension. Heavily stylized interior of the train, with great food and drink. Great for a special occasion. read more

Cafe Lafayette Dinner Train - View from train window - New American Near Me - Lincoln, New Hampshire

See all

A relaxing ride thru the White Mountains Region of NH. A great way to see the fall foliage. The dining was wonderful with a sumptuous five course dinner. Highly recommend this experience. Book early for foliage season as it fills up quickly. read more

We really enjoyed the evening. The train was beautifully restored the staff very friendly & attentive. While waiting to board we were able to enjoy a glass of wine. Once boarded, we enjoyed a drink from the full service bar & a delicious 5 course meal. Ride was smooth with nice views. Definitely recommend! read more

Cafe Lafayette Dinner Train - New American Near Me - Lincoln, New Hampshire

See all

Not impressed . Food mediocre, worse than airline food. Views were terrible especially during a drought. Rock beds no streams. Service fine. Expected much more would not recommend. read more

My husband and I had a wonderful evening aboard the cafe Lafayette dinner train! the food was delicious, service was very professional and speedy, drinks were fantastic, loved the scenic views! read more

In a word (or two) the dinner train was unique and fun. The food was very good, the ride fun, the dinner car cool, and the staff excellent. I'd recommend this trip. Nice work. Thank you! read more

I will preface this by saying we went as part of a bus group. The train was wet pretty and the table settings beautiful (two stars). We boarded an hour before it actually departed- which was a bit much. Cocktail service was first- expensive. $24 for a drink. I got their cherry infused bourbon- it was ok.. mom had a lemon martini that again was ok. I expected more form a house infused bourbon - it tasted like fake cherry. Anyhow getting past that- there are 0 options for allergies or food preferences when you are part of a group. They claimed our tour guide was notified- she was not and in fact was reading us the menu from online before we got off the bus, then someone from the dinner train came on and changed what the offerings would be. No appetizer selection, only dinner. Fine. I could t eat the soup as it co rained cheese- the bread was actually the highlight of the meal (first course). Followed by the soup I couldn't have (they had no alternatives to offer) Follow by salad (greens only, they said there was cranberries but I didn't find one on my plate.. then dinner. I had the chicken. There was no way that was a freshly cooked chicken breast- it has the same texture and taste as one you get at Wendy's. Fake grill marks- certainly came out of a frozen bag. And it wasn't even lukewarm. Served with potatoes (those we good) and asparagus (uncooked in my opinion). Coffee service followed and desert (chocolate moose- 3 bites and it's done!!) Totally underwhelmed. And.. the waitstaff was irritable to say the least. I nicely asked when we were seated if there was a better side to sit on (no we just go through the woods was the answer) - people at my table had an issue with their drink (response- that's Interesting) - overall just felt like we weren't welcome. I know places are short staffed and we understand that- however if you are pleasant to us we are very understanding and tip well. Oh for tips- they rack on the 20 percent to your bar tab. read more

See all

This was a great experience! The food was wonderful, staff friendly and the tables in the upper dinning car were spacious and much quieter than the more crowded main dinning cars. The train departed on time and the ride through the country side with the colorful trees in fall color. The timing of each of the 6 courses was timed perfectly to allow enough time to enjoy the course while still having time to enjoy the company of my wonderful wife of 45 years. Definitely something to consider to keep the romance alive! read more

Stay far away from this dinner place. food was awful, service zero, and the owner or chef was extremely rude. Don't waste your time or money. PlenTy of great places in Lincoln. read more

Food was excellent as was the service. The train is very comfortable. We were just two but we had a large booth that could easily fit 4 comfortably. The ride was relaxing - views of forests, creeks and riverbeds, golf course, tree farm, hills... read more

Would have been 5 stars except for the vulgar, loud-mouth at table 2 in the IW car. Letting the F and P words fly while talking to his date, he topped off the evening by making a bj motion to a young couple waving to the train as we passed by. Class act. Wonderful service, food and the setting were totally ruined by this crass bore. He was loud and obnoxious even before guzzling down a bottle of wine himself. The evening was nearly salvaged when the server lit a candle on his birthday dessert and tried to start a round of Happy Birthday, but no one joined in. read more

My wife and I had fantastic time, both the ride and meal were first class. The staff was friendly, polite, and really good at what they do, making our two-hour ride a memorable one. Having read a number of reviews ahead of our ride, my wife, regardless of the outdoor temperature, was wearing a medium weight sweater. It was a good thing that she did as, even with the sweater, she was still cold. The air conditioning was going full tilt, with a number of diners being a bit chilled. Other than that, not a complaint to be had. It was enjoyable enough that we are looking at a return trip, with a new menu, this fall. read more

This was my first visit here, it turned out to be a great experience. The staff is friendly and helpful, the food was spectacular and the mixed drink called the "painkiller" was phenomenal! I've tried finding another place that makes one just like theirs, but I haven't found one yet to be even close. The only issue that I had was that I was charged twice. It seems that there was some confusion of another table... But the issue was cleared up when I called the office a few days later. read more

Food was great. Service ok. It would be great to have wet napkins/hand towels before dinner and reflectors on the carpet. Also, last call for drinks or another cup of coffee before you pay the bill at 5.30 pm. Water should be served after 5.30 as well. Overall great experience. read more

Cafe Lafayette Dinner Train - New American Near Me - Lincoln, New Hampshire

Overall was a great experience. Food, Service, and Ambiance were all very well thought. Only thing I wish was a longer route or different route with more scenery. read more

First, I just need to say we had a great time. The ride was smooth and the drink menu was extensive! I felt the food was good, especially considering the fact it's prepared in a train kitchen, but it's certainly not the best food ever. It's fine though. Probably for me given the scenic area, there's not too much to see out the train windows. No mountain vistas or anything. But the interior of the train is gorgeous with leaded glass and beautiful woodwork. So overall we had a good time and enjoyed it. read more

This was our 4th time on this dinner train, the experience has always been wonderful. The staff go out of their way to be accommodating. The food was very good and the scenery beautiful. We would highly recommend it if you are looking for an experience out of the ordinary. We will be back! read more

Not a bad time. The service was excellent, they were on top of things every moment. The food was half way decent it lacked a little something I couldn't figure out. Maybe reheating may of been it. I had the seafood mushrooms and the Beef Wellington, pretty good. The ambience of the tables and interior were pleasant. The views were the woods and some streams but very relaxing. As an overall experience. It was very nice we were 2 couples. We basically said when we got off was! "Well there you go! We did a Dinner Train Ride". Again the service was impeccable! I wish I can remember the 2 ladies and a gentleman that took care of us. We were there Saturday for dinner in the first car to the right when we got on board. read more

Your paying for the ambiance. The wife and I got a drink to start. Both got Expressos martinis. It was vodka, Expressos vodka and espresso coffee. Was almost undrinkable. Had to order shots of baileys to smooth it out. That night was raining but still nice, the views are actually boring mostly again just the fact you are eating dinner on a train. Wife dinner: she got the bruschetta which was 3 small pieces of toast and under ripped grape tomatoes with balsamic vinegar. Mind you it wasn't assembled. She got a bread which actually reminded me of a popover and was good. A Caesar like salad with blueberries. Dinner was a chicken Florentine which was terrible she said. And dessert was a chocolate mouse which was ok. Myself: I got everything the same but instead of the bruschetta I got grilled Caribbean shrimp. The shrimp was ok but seemed more like teriyaki shrimp. For dinner I got the salmon which came with cous cous and asparagus. The cous cous was plain with no flavor. The asparagus was the same. The salmon was good though. Overall I paid $300 for a two hour train ride with bad/bland tasting food. It's the experience which was nice for not doing it before but if you think about it the food was mediocre at best and the train ride was nice but has no really good views. Honestly we are food snobs. We have higher standards. And for the everyday person the food is probably a 7/10. We would rate it at about a 4/10. Save your money. Not worth a $350 with tip night. read more

See all

This train was absolutely beautiful, even though it was raining the day we went. Service was very good, the meal was 5 courses and you were able to pick you appetizer and main course. I had the chicken. There was also a salad, sorbet, and dessert. Attached is a picture of the sorbet and the menus choices for the night. read more

See all

The only thing worse than the well done beef Wellington was the service. We ordered a bottle of champagne and it was served at room temperature. I took one bite of the beef and that was it. The server never refilled my water glass, which was empty for over half of the trip, nor did she ask why my meal wasn't eaten. To cap things off, there was no running water in the bathroom sink so I couldn't wash my hands. The ambiance and scenery was good, but that doesn't justify the price for what I got. I wouldn't recommend this place. read more

I was really looking forward to this on our vacation to NH from NJ. It's a little expensive for us, but we thought we'd splurge for a new experience. After reading some of the reviews, I was hesitant. Well...it was delightful. I don't know what people were complaining about. The ambience and service were wonderful. The music fantastic! I liked the food and I've been to 5 star restaurants. Is it gourmet, NYC or Boston haute cuisine? No. But, for a fine dinner on a train, just fine. The homemade, warm roll was delicious with honey butter. I had the warm brie in phyllo with raspberry sauce. Smaller serving than I would like, because it was so good. My husband enjoyed the shrimp appetizer. I enjoyed the salad with almonds, parmesan, blueberries and vinegraitte. We both had the Chicken Florentine. It had a nice taste with a small amount of a sort of tomato bisque, with mashed potatoes and asparagus. It could have been hotter, but we understood the limitations of the kitchen and train. Dessert of chocolate mousse was disappointing after reading some of the positive reviews about other selections. Although not through the mountains or spectacular scenery, being in an old fashioned train, beautifully decorated and along a river and woods...it was pleasant. I don't know what other people with negative reviews expected. It was a step back in time, relaxing and an enjoyable time. I commend the wait staff for friendly and timely service. Overall, we were glad we splurged and had the Cafe Lafayette experience! read more

See all

I was looking for a unique experience to celebrate my mother's 70th birthday. Before even getting to the white mountains I had to change my reservation several times. And I mean really change it. Ali helped me change from a 7 top reservation in the dome, to a 4 top reservation downstairs to accommodate my mom. It was fully booked so some things really needed to be moved around in order for us to be able to go and not cancel all together. For the train itself, it was thoughtfully decorated with vintage or vintage themed suits cases and pictures. Just being in the car made me happy to be honest. They played jazz (BB King maybe) throughout the ride and there was some really beautiful scenery along the way. I almost want to book another reservation and sit on the opposite side next time to see what the other side offered. We also passed a few golfers and golf courses, and they offered a friendly wave as we passed. Sadly no animal sightings...maybe next time. The food is a 5 course meal. The portions are smaller, as to be expected. The bread was warm and amazing. Mushroom bisque was delicious. The beef was tender and flavorful. Salad dressing was SO good, as weird as that sounds; sorbet was maybe my favorite and the Bailey's on the bottom of the mousse was a nice touch. My table tried many drinks. Two favorites were sazerac and Italian limoncello type drink (I forget the name). In the end, my mom said that this was one of her best birthday experiences in 70 years and that's all that mattered. Thank you Cafe Lafayette! read more

See all

If you want the experience of a train ride, a great dinner and some pretty amazing service along the way, then the Cafe Lafayette is the way to go. For those that listed that one of the drawbacks is that there is not a lot to see as it goes down for a distance and then reverses the same distance, I found it to be relaxing with good company and great servers helping us along the way. Yes, there is a novelty piece of this experience but that is EXACTLY the point about this adventure, it is filled with charm and with quiet spots for a romantic dash or something you can take a team of people to. The food was fantastic and felt like it was something out of a movie where we were taken care of and were watching the mountainous terrain passing us by and when we went, the leaves were changing so the colors were pretty great. Any of the dietary restrictions that people had were fully taken care of and accommodated with no questions as well so nothing to worry about with this as well. I fully recommend it. read more

See all

The dinner train was amazing! We weren't sure at first how it would be based on other reviews, but it was absolutely worth it. You pass by lots of streams, woods, etc. and you may also pass by locals waving (there was a mom with her little son waving at us as we went by, and the son was happy as a clam to see the train-- very sweet). The food was super good! The portions are small, but it's a 5 course (really 6 course with the palate cleanser) meal. I had the chicken satay and the eggplant alla parmigiana while my husband had the tuna and the soy salmon. We both got martinis and at first we thought the drinks were tiny for $18, BUT we were very, very wrong! You get a martini in a glass along with a small carafe in a glass with ice that refills the main glass 2.5 more times. The service was also amazing-- the waitresses were very kind, sweet, and professional. We can recommend this place/experience enough! read more

My husband and I thought the food was really good. We had plenty to eat and didn't walk away hungry! The bisque was delicious! The dessert was chocolate moose -- nothing special, I was hoping for something maple since we were in maple country. The waitresses were bustling around bringing food and drinks and they were pleasant too. It was a nice enjoyable evening -- we rode in the dome section. It was nice to be up high looking at the scenery. read more

Cafe Lafayette Dinner Train - Menu Sept. 2022 - New American Near Me - Lincoln, New Hampshire

Excellent food--exceptional service Courtney was outstanding and we absolutely loved this experience!! Never wanted for anything and the entire staff was simply amazing! Definitely recommend this dinner train and the ride was smooth --the scenery was beautiful and go and book it today!! read more

See all

If you are reading this DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY! Where to begin, everyone is a supposed to arrive by 4:15, which the majority of people did. However, we waited an extra hour for some straggling guests. Anyways, they ask you for your drink order when you sit down, my table order a bottle of wine which was apparently a big mistake since it took almost the whole extra hour we were waiting for more guests as it took just as long to get the bottle of wine, meanwhile the whole cart already had their mixed drinks so that didn't make a lot of sense. The website claims to have "award winning dinning" haha if this is considered award winning dining then it's for worlds best cafeteria food, it's like this place raided a Costco and hour before or something. Claiming "award winning food" this close to Boston is insulting to the restaurants that actually do win awards for good food. Food was very unimpressive and not worth the price per person. The oh so magical train ride is a straight shot five miles down and back and feels almost invasive as the majority of that time you are going through people's backyards and not through the mountains. Is it a cool experience, in theory yes, but in execution nope! Almost the coolest thing ever but totally missing the mark. Wouldn't recommend as it's not worth the price $ and the three hours of your life you're not going to get back. read more

See all

I would rank the service 1-2, the meal itself a 3 (however, it would probably be $20 meal elsewhere), and the view 2. It is advertised as a 5 course meal (consists of bread, appetizer, salad, sorbet, entree, and dessert), but the portions are miniscule and we actually had to eat more after we went home. The bread was actually delicious and was freshly baked, and made me excited about the rest of the meal. For the appetizers, I tried the shrimp and had a bite of their date appetizer. The appetizers and salad was probably around 2 bites each however. The sorbet was delicious and my favorite part of the meal, however, it was around a spoonful of sorbet only. For the entree, I had ordered the duck, which was on the overcooked side and did not go well with the sweet sauce it came with. The ragout was served in a ramiken dish and was only sauce and mushrooms (you'd think they would serve pasta with the sauce). For dessert, they had served cream puff. 2/3 of the people at the table took a bite and couldn't finish it. I had the lemon and basil cocktail, which was probably one of the worst drinks I've had. They serve coffee/tea with dessert. I had asked for tea, and their hot water still had coffee residues. The train took you through a flat area, but the scenery was basically what you'd see on a walk and not significantly special. We sat in the dome car, which basically gave you the same view as the other seatings so not worth the extra cost. If you want a train ride and a nice meal, I'd recommend taking the cog rail train up mt Washington and go to one of the nice restaurants in town. You'll have a much better view, meal, and service and it'll probably cost less than this experience. read more

I was actually hesitant to book the train due to mixed reviews, but I am so happy that I did! The food was amazing. I wish they gave you more of the stuffed mushrooms because they were the best ones I have ever had. The portions are small which can be discouraging if you're not used to fine dining, but I was actually stuffed by the end due to the many courses. The main entree was very good, but the carrots were underwhelming. The chocolate mouse felt a little disappointing, but it was refreshing. The rest of the meal was absolutely amazing. Though I listed a few cons, I still absolutely recommend coming because the pros outweigh the cons. The view is a little boring, but I had fun. We will be back if we can recover from the bill! read more

Cafe Lafayette Dinner Train - Hurricane - New American Near Me - Lincoln, New Hampshire

See all

Wonderful food, definitely all prepared from scratch and freshly cooked. Staff attentive and knowledgeable of menu and ingredients. Accommodated our gluten free needs perfectly. This was our 5 th trip on the Dinner Train over the past 2 years, and we will return again. Thank you! Flo and Mickey read more

Beef Wellington , martini , slow ride along the river , and impeccable service nuff said. !

7/7/23 My wife and I went on the dinner train. We were sat in the upper section. It was around 80 degrees out so most people on the train were wearing shorts with short sleeves or dresses. The upper section was freezing. All the guests were complaining amongst themselves about how cold they were for the entire ride. When it came to the food I honestly think it was the worst food that we have ever had. I had a few bites of everything and it was all horrible so I decided not to eat it. My wife tried to eat what she could because she didn't want it to be a waste of money. We both ended up sick from the food here, my wife was so sick she had to miss work today. We will never go back. As far as the train ride it is nothing special. It goes over a few rivers or streams which is nice but the rest is peoples front yards, run down business lots, or dense forest so you can't see anything. Overall I would not recommend this to anyone. If this was a restaurant we would have walked out as soon as appetizers hit the table. Even if it was $25 per person it would not be worth it. read more

A decent but expensive experience. The train goes about 10 miles down the track, stops, and comes back. During this time, about 2 hrs overall, you're served a multi course meal. The appetizer I got was very small--two very small stuffed mushrooms. the chicken entree was okay. Dessert was supposed to be chocolate mousse but it wasnt chilled and tasted more like chocolate pudding. overall I thought the meal was subpar for the price. You could cook better at home. The train itself was super nice and that was the best part of the experience. I ordered a "cathedral old fashioned" which the menu said was made the traditional way. old fashions are my favorite cocktail and I've never had one like this. It wasn't traditional; it was a cherry old fashioned. I sent it back and got something else that was good. At the end of the hugely expensive meal we saw that they charged for the old fashioned and when we asked about it the waitress wouldn't take it off the bill. She said you knew what you were getting and unless it was made wrong it was your fault. So for that reason alone, being treated poorly like that, and damaging a customer relationship over a $10 drink, they lost any hope of earning a second try. Save your money and go somewhere else. read more

This was a fantastic and incredible event! I went with my best friend and we just fell in love with everything! The atmosphere, the food, the staff, it was all incredible! I highly recommend Cafe Lafayette to anyone who wants an incredible dinner and an incredible evening. I will definitely be a returning customer. read more

Cafe Lafayette Dinner Train - Cafe Lafayette train - New American Near Me - Lincoln, New Hampshire

See all