The train does take longer than it should and I gather the food choices are just as bad as most Amtrak trains. I considered taking Amtrak from Penn to Montreal but the timing versus LIRR (and its high lack of reliability) and the lack of decent food led us to driving instead, with stops along the way for museums, a hotel, and some good food. We like scenery, and trains are a good way to get that on some routes. But you need comfort, making a decent speed, not wondering if you'll spend a couple hours crossing the border, good food to make the train worth it. And good connections to get to the train.
My wife and I did take LIRR to Penn, Acela to DC. Timing was much easier, and of course it's a lot less time. Also fairly comfortable except on the worn out tracks just north of DC. Food, though, on the train, is pretty bad, and food car service ranged from fair to surly and lazy. If we'd known how bad it was, we would have bought or brought breakfast with us for the outbound trip south.