Chez Ludo - Châteauneuf-sur-Charente

We ate there three times at lunch during a recent trip to the area, each time it was quite busy but with the extra space outside they always tried to accommodate us. The plt du Jour was great each and every time. The beef was cooked as requested, the lamb was tender, the frites perfect and the wine chapep and not too sweet and cheerful. we never seemed to pay more than about 12-15 euro per person with coffee thrown in. Marvellous place and a marvellous little town !!!!

My friends and I were recently touring round France and needed to stop for lunch, we came upon the small town of Chateauneuf and found Chez Ludo. Being lunch-time in France, where the 2 hour lunch-break is still in full swing, we walked into Chez Ludo and found a delightfull restaurant nearly full. We were seated at the last table and were the only Brits in there. Our French is not the best but we are able to get by. We went for the plat de jour with a choice of fish or steak. We all chose the steak which came with salad and the most delicious chips I've tasted in ages and a carafe of local red wine,followed by a choice of cheese or various scrummy deserts. The service was quick and as our table was close to the kitchen, we were able to see the chef producing hot plates of food, all under control and no shouting. It's a reminder of what is wrong with British lunch times, bolting down food, staying at your desk, just to keep your job. Vive la France. Enjoying simple but delicious food all for 12 euros each. Marvellous.

Lovely waitress who made the effort to speak english. Had a real personality. Menu was a little confusing. Two of us had the confit duck and 2 had the steak of the day. 1 was meant to be pork but somewhere it got mixed up in the translation. The food was tasty but a little greasy especially the chips. Great selection of wine. Pleasant outdoor area.

A group of us had lunch here. Most restaurants in the area offer a "menu du jour", but Chez Ludo take this to extremes with a confusing array of options and prices. We all thought we were opting for a 4-course meal with wine for 16 euros, but it turned out to be cheese OR dessert, not and.The starter was a strange cold collation including egg, fish, beetroot and soft cheese. It was dry. My main course was Entrecote with fries and salad. The steak was quite gristly, and not very hot, and the "salad" was just some limp lettuce. For dessert I chose apricot clafoutis, which was dry and stodgy. With two other restaurants nearby offering a good 3-course lunch for 13 euros including a glass of wine, we will not be hurrying back to Chez Ludo.

There is a jug of red wine already on your table at lunch time. You help yourself to a very passable buffet for starters, there is often steak and chips on for main and with a pudding or cheese for afters it will not cost you more than 32 euros for two! Unbeatable value for what is typical cafe food for this area. If you haven't booked I suggest you get there for lunch at noon - otherwise you may be disappointed so popular is this place with the locals.