I rode in Eurostar Plus from London to Paris for $99. I’ll absolutely do this upgrade every time I travel by train.

The onboard food offerings exceeded all our expectations.

Our food and drinks were served minutes after we’d started moving.

Our meal was included in our mid-tier rail fare, but standard passengers can buy food and drinks on board. Premier passengers can expect fine dining — think three-course meals with bubbly.

Because I’ve seen too many airplane meals that appear to have been designed for deep-space explorations, I had low expectations of the “light meal” that would be served on the train.

Instead, I was really pleasantly surprised. The menu changes seasonally, and according to Eurostar’s website, the dishes are made using ingredients sourced from local farmers, growers, and producers.

My partner ordered the sweet-potato falafel, grilled zucchini, hummus with Moroccan spices, and a spelt, corn, and scallion salad. His dessert was a white-chocolate cheesecake with blackcurrant compote. My prebooked gluten-free meal was tender chicken with a chickpea salad followed by a fruit cup.

We were delighted once we tasted the food: What it may lack in presentation, it more than makes up for in flavor. Plus, it was served with real cutlery and glassware.

Beer, wine, and soft drinks were also on offer, and we chose mini bottles of a quaffable Syrah. Just-about-drinkable coffee and tea were served after our meal.