There is a wonderful tradition in rural France - the menu ouvrier. In general it is somewhere between 10 and 12 Euros (more in chi-chi towns) and will include four courses, wine or cider, coffee but have limited choice. These menus are designed for those workers who cannot get home in a reasonable time for lunch (reasonable being 10 kilometers at most it appears). As we test out the facilities at regional restaurants, we will let you know about them in case you are in the area.
Sneeze and you will miss Linieres-Bouton - it has 96 inhabitants, not all of them in the village itself but is not the smallest commune in Maine et Loire - that prize goes to Chartrene. It is just off the main road between Vernantes and Noyant, so is not far off your route if you are heading to or from Saumur. It has hardly changed in the past century apart from the closure of the railway and the opening of a foundry, which has managed to survive the economic downturn.
The Restaurant de la Gare has a large restaurant and a small bar at the back, and is open weekdays between 12 and 2pm for the Menu Ouvrier (the bar is open longer). We went there on Monday 21st December. There are very few small tables, you basically take your place at long tables and may be joined by others, though they do tend to leave an empty space between you and them. There is wine (red) on the table and cider and mineral water (still) is produced when you sit down along with a big basket of good bread.
The buffet starter is excellent - yesterday there were about 12 different salads, a meat mousse, ham, garlic sausage, rillettes and pate to heap onto your plate. There was a choice of steak (cooked bloody or medium, but the medium would be most English people's description of bloody) which was very good, or beef stew which was also delicious, both served with cooked green beans. The cheese board had a selection of 8 cheeses, including a blue, and there was a good range of plain puddings. The pear tart was delicious and the iles flottant a true vanilla hit. The coffee was good but was extra to the meal. As we were on our regular no drinking days, we didn't try the wine or cider - not even in the interests of research.
It was 10,50 Euros a head with the coffee extra at 1 Euro each, but was excellent and with a good friendly atmosphere - highly recommended.
We haven't been to France for years - and after reading your post I want to visit as soon as possible (well maybe in the summer!) I usually write about what we had for lunch in a garden centre - but I would much rather do your kind of research. With best wishes for Christmas and New Year, Anne (in the cold and snowy Scottish Borders!)
Posted by: Anne Donald | 23 December 2009 at 07:54 AM
It's a tough task we have set ourselves, but someone needs to do it, and we reckon it is a public service! Not least as they all are slightly different in what happens which can make people nervous about going in. I think the British are also slightly afraid they will be served horse (not likely - too expensive), tripe (always an alternative as not all French people like it) or something else very visceral. The trick to avoiding visceral is to avoid menu du terroir if you don't like offal.
Have a fab Christmas and New Year up in the frozen borders, Anne!
Posted by: Jane | 23 December 2009 at 11:42 AM
I rarely leave a response, however i did a few searching and wound up here Rural Life: Restaurant review - Restaurant de la Gare, Linieres-Bouton. And I actually do have some questions for you if you tend not to mind. Is it only me or does it seem like a few of the comments come across like they are written by brain dead visitors? :-P And, if you are writing at additional places, I would like to keep up with everything new you have to post. Would you list of all of your social pages like your Facebook page, twitter feed, or linkedin profile?
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