For a relaxing meal on "dark day," the Saratoga & North Creek Railrway offers a unique and tasty excursion.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Say the word "track" around the Spa City each summer, and most everyone will assume you're talking about the race course. But a new local tourism option for 2016 might just redefine your idea of "dining at the track."

The Pullman Table dining car on the Saratoga & North Creek Railway is New York's first upscale train-ride dining experience in decades, featuring a gourmet "continental American" menu paired with beautiful Adirondack vistas.

"I envision this as another unique part of Saratoga," says railway general manager Justin Gonyo. "This is for the person who doesn't just want a regular meal at a regular restaurant. Instead of just saying, 'we had a good meal,' they're going to say, 'we had an awesome time.'"

The Pullman Table made its inaugural voyage in early July. Gonyo says reception thus far has been enthusiastic, especially on weekend trips. The rides are available on Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and can be booked at the railroad's website, SNCRR.com.

Various routes snake through Saratoga and Warren Counties, following the Hudson River to towns including Hadley, Thurman and North Creek. The Pullman car's elevated views from a glass-domed top afford riders a wide variety of scenery, including forests, creeks and wetlands, as well as the lower Adirondack hills and valleys.

Inside the Pullman car, guests are treated to a custom gourmet menu, designed and prepared on-board by chef Evan Hume.

"The reviews coming back from customers have been very, very strong," says Hume, who received a round of applause from riders for his solo efforts on a recent dinner train. On a recent ride, Hume prepared salmon fillet, beef tenderloin sandwiches and chicken cutlet panini — "each with my own flair on it," says Hume. "I like to refer to it as 'continental American' cuisine."

Hume's menus are all prepared in farm-to-table style, including smoked meats and cheeses provided by local vendors. The Pullman Table wine selections are custom-produced in the nearby town of Greenfield.

"The food is sourced from towns that the train actually runs through," says Gonyo. "It creates much more of a story and an experience."

The Pullman Table offers two tiers of tickets, Standard and Diamond Class, for $89-$99 each — the Diamond tickets are under the glass dome seating.