Relais Routiers: French Food on the Go

In Britain, motorway service stations have always had a poor reputation when it comes to dining. In fact they're a bit of a standing joke with stale sandwiches and congealed dishes that have been kept "warm" under so-called hot lamps all day.

Oh to be in France where Relais Routiers have made it easy for motorists to find a tasty bite to eat while on the road. In fact so good is the food they serve that it's not only truckers and motorists that head for the famous red and blue sign but people who live nearby too.

In a nutshell, in a Relais Routiers establishment you can be sure of a generous portion of freshly made traditional French cooking. The menu is usually quite limited sometimes there may only be one set meal with no choices but this is how they can charge such good prices. They buy in bulk, focusing on local seasonal produce and pass the saving on to the diner. And because they buy locally what is in season, you are likely to be able to sample the different regional specialities as you travel around the country.

Relais Routiers establishments are comfortable and welcoming and just the antidote to stuffy high end restaurants. Service is good but not overbearing and the atmosphere is relaxed. In some places the villagers are happy to use the local Relais Routiers as their meeting place. There is certainly no snobbery attached to the fact that this is a nationwide chain.

So why is it so popular? Quite simply the excellent food comes at a very affordable price. In the UK it's not uncommon to pay about 5 Pounds (that's $10 or 7 Euro) for a sandwich and a soda or hot drink at a motorway service station. But in Relais Routiers 10 Euro will get you four courses and wine!

Not only do Relais Routiers feed France's discerning diners, but they also offer a bed for the night at many locations. I have several times stayed in motels where there has been poor, or even non-existent, dining facilities. It's awful to arrive somewhere after a days motoring on busy roads to find there's nothing worth eating.

Sounds great, how do I find Relais Routiers?

Relais Routiers have made it easy for customers to locate branches. If you see the famous red and blue logo, stop right there. You've found it!

On the other hand, maybe you're on the road and thinking about stopping to eat in the next hour or so. A quick glance at the Relais Routiers Guidebook will help you find the nearest one. The book is published in French but even if you don't speak French, the book is arranged so well that it won't matter. They use pictorial symbols which are very obvious to denote facilities and each region (departement) and subsequently the towns and villages in that region are listed alphabetically. You can also look at maps of the region with the main roads marked with the location of restaurants. It couldn't be easier.

You can buy the guide through on-line retailers, at Relais Routiers locations and at petrol stations too.

Next time you're motoring in France and stop to fill the tank, take a closer look. Maybe you're right next to a Relais Routiers. Even if you're not on the road but are just looking for some affordable home cooking, look no further than Relais Routiers for guaranteed quality and fair prices.