Aux Amis De La Route

We stop for lunch at this archetypal French café/restaurant twice a year when travelling between the ferry and the Vendee coast. It used to be a transport café but the lorries now take the Belleville sur Vie bypass. It’s now full every weekday with local workers most with their regular tables and bottles of wine. The lorry park has been converted to a normal carpark and bus stop but if we drive round the block there is always room to park our car caravan with no problem. You start by helping yourself from the starters’ buffet; a good choice of salads and cold meats. While eating this, the friendly waitress brings your water, wine bread and takes your order from a choice of four plat du jour. This choice always includes a fish, a beef and a pork dish. After your main she will bring you the cheese board while you choose from one of the four desserts on offer. Finally we like to take our coffee outside in the sun at the front to enjoy a smoke and the view down the main street to the old church. Watered, fed and refreshed we pay the bill €11:80 per head – for a four course meal including wine and coffee! Although traditional, the café is very clean and modern inside and the toilets are immaculate. Probably one of the best value meals you will ever get and a real taste of traditional France. Warning: it's only open at weekends bank holidays by reservation.