Flunch Macon

This is mass catering as it should be done. This chain can be found in large commercial centres all over france. In this branch we had lightly braied ham, carved from a huge joint in front of us with a rich Madeira sauce. Here, once you have been served your main course you help yourself to any quantity of side dishes from the constantly replenished side dishes. Wary of the temptation to help myself to everything that looked tasty and consequently being unable to move all afternoon, I had a few hot, crisp chips straight from the fryer. My wife had a helping of green beans, lightly sauteed in butter and garlic. The ham is beautifully sweet and gentle but full full flavured and enriched by the Madiera sauce; add the crispness of the chips to give crunch and you have the perfect light lunch. We shared a 25cl carref of crisp dry Rose from the south; enough for a glass each. For desert, my wife had a bowl piled high with fresh fruit selected from another help yourself buffet. I went for my favourite, a large, round raspberry tart. This, I always find amazing. A crisp, shortbread, tart case, slightly larger than my hand, is filled with a layer of pattisseurs creme and topped with a densly packed layer of raspberries. There are things you can add to this, cream etc. I never bother. It's justperfect as it is.This whole meal for two, including wine and coffee came to 23€. When travelling through France we don't use motorway service stops any more, better than the English version though they are. Now, we simply drive off the motorway at any largish town follow signs to the nearest "Centre Commercial", rarely more than a kilometre or two, and there we will find a Flunch. Remember this is not fine dining this is great food, quickly and inexpensively served in a mass catering setting. Remember the French take mealtimes seriously go between 12 noon and 2.pm

You know what you'll get with a Flunch. It is not 'posh food' and you won't get delicate flavours or nuances. This is a 'fast food' outlet but with properly cooked food, not fried (unless you chose chips of course!). You chose a mian course, pay for it and then go to the servery. You there collect you main course on a plate and then move to teh veg counter. Pile it high! When you eaten up you are welcome to go back and get more veg if you wish.Our kids love it as they do not like burger places or eat chips. They do like going back and filling their plates with mountains of veg though!

We stopped here as an emergency when we couldn't keep the children from lunch for much longer on a long drive. It was my first experience of Flunch and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. Look, it's a fast good joint and by no means gourmet food but then if that is what you want, why would you stop at a flunch? But if you want reasonable priced food and lots of choice then it is great. My children loved it and I stocked up on salad and veg and tonnes of fresh fruit - as well as puddings and drinks - and all for less than €15 a head. It was by no means the worst meal I had and I positively enjoyed my salad. What more do you want?

Not much of a fried food fan but this place was totally worth stopping in for lunch.

Tasty foodNot the best serviceThe waitress was very blah.