A few places south of Bordeaux,hidden away from the forest road to the border,always full up after about 5 pm onwards,Liposethy is one of them.
browncow2:
gaizellweld in holland.
I don’t think I have tried that one 
Normally the easiest way in France is to join the French drivers at the bar and follow their lead, some restos let you sit down and pay later, some expect you to buy a ticket first, some just charge you at the till like motorway services.
Generally, you walk in the bar and speak to everyone and they will reply, no need to shake hands except with the patron if he offers.
I normally have 1 or 2 drinks, Kir or Demi Pression and then offer to pay with a request for une repas avec, or sans cafe. From there you select a seat filling the tables as you go or where they put you. You can then go and get your buffet, sometimes you have to collect bread or wine, often they will bring you wine and the bread is to share. If the wine is on the table you offer the others it first and they will do the same. If you need bread you either ask for it or take the basket to the bread bin and fill it for everyone.
During your buffet someone will come and take your ticket and your order by reading the menu to you, you select your choice by repeating it and carry on with the buffet. The staff are trained to take away your buffet plate as soon as it is empty, the trick is to keep it and go back for a few more snails, oysters, mussels, salad or whatever you fancy. The staff will only bring your main course when you have finished the buffet, keep your knife, fork and a piece of bread to clean them.
After the main course, the next choice is fromage, either platter or blanc. For this you need more bread or a pot of sugar. If you get the cheese board take one or two pieces and pass it along.
After this you are either offered dessert or you have your cheese plate taken away. In that case you go to the fridge or table and choose dessert. If you want prunes and ice cream, help yourself, if you want a piece of fruit and a piece of cake, no problem.
The last part of the meal is cafe, but bear in mind there is a game going on all the time to attract the waitress for more wine. Even teetotalers will pour a glass of wine just to be sociable, some drink it, some just dilute it with water.
Next Week. How to get a hot meal in the UK 
Wheel Nut:
Next Week. How to get a hot meal in the UK
Stopped at Routiers just south of Dreux, XD26 and Castets, both had wine on tap, red, rose and white along with lemonade and water, tres dangerous, esp if you don’t have to get in morning. Castets was certainly the superior vin de maison, prochaine a Bordeaux
Wheelnut, i couldnt eat all that at the END of the day let alone as a lunch break half way through!!
The alcohol alone would knock me out for a few hours if it was lunchtime!
If that was an evening meal I would sleep like a log afterwards, if it was lunch then I would be cancelling the rest of the day!
After a couple of weeks of eating like that everyday I would be obese!! 
Wheel Nut:
toby1234abc:
What is your favourite,and why?Chez Jo for the staff,
That made me smile - never encountered a drier humoured bunch in my life (which is saying something considering I work with the surly south west French every day!)
The food’s pretty good though up there, as apparently is the grub at the Agen truckstop, although being on my doorstep I’ve never eaten there.
~ Craig
bullitt:
Wheelnut, i couldnt eat all that at the END of the day let alone as a lunch break half way through!!The alcohol alone would knock me out for a few hours if it was lunchtime!
If that was an evening meal I would sleep like a log afterwards, if it was lunch then I would be cancelling the rest of the day!
After a couple of weeks of eating like that everyday I would be obese!!
I haven’t mentioned the lunch time either, some of them do but many just go all day on a coffee and a croissant or baguette then pig out at 7pm. I only eat once per day in France
I stopped at one in Sete once.
From the outside it just looked like another grim Arcotel place but the food was fantastic. There was only a couple of trucks there and if felt like I had the immaculate facilities to myself.
It always seemed natural to join a table with other people in a Routier you would look pretty strange if you didn’t.
W
AlexWignall:
I stopped at one in Sete once.From the outside it just looked like another grim Arcotel place but the food was fantastic. There was only a couple of trucks there and if felt like I had the immaculate facilities to myself.
It always seemed natural to join a table with other people in a Routier you would look pretty strange if you didn’t.
W
I think the only time it is acceptable to sit where you like is somewhere like Roye or if there are several of you together, same company or same nationality. I prefer to sit with the French though as the Dutch want to get drunk with you
toby1234abc:
What is your favourite,and why?
toby1234abc:
A few places south of Bordeaux,hidden away from the forest road to the border,always full up after about 5 pm onwards,Liposethy is one of them.
Given the choice I would choose either Liposthey or Cap de Pins, approx 20k’s further south.
has to be the"cabbage patch"
malcolmj:
has to be the"cabbage patch"
Stand back and await the response. 
malcolmj:
has to be the"cabbage patch"
The best one in Bordeaux is the Albatross (IMO)
Wheel Nut:
Next Week. How to get a hot meal in the UK
Awaits with baited breath. 
Stan
Stanley Knife:
Wheel Nut:
Next Week. How to get a hot meal in the UKAwaits with baited breath.
Stan
KFC
Burgerking &
Macdonalds come tro mind 
Wheel Nut:
malcolmj:
has to be the"cabbage patch"The best one in Bordeaux is the Albatross (IMO)
Les 3 Marches in the quais 
Stanley Knife:
Wheel Nut:
Next Week. How to get a hot meal in the UKAwaits with baited breath.
Stan
Pick up the pastie, rip the pack, stick it in the microwave & turn it on, et voila!!
Ross.
billybigrig:
I’m guessing Taffs will be Perpignan , I’ll let him explainFor me ■■ I always liked the Little House at Le Muret
Your right it is,the food went down a treat!! Best 20 euro I’ve ever spent 
Thetaff:
billybigrig:
I’m guessing Taffs will be Perpignan , I’ll let him explainFor me ■■ I always liked the Little House at Le Muret
Your right it is,the food went down a treat!! Best 20 euro I’ve ever spent
20 Euro I do hope the service was excellent at that price
Wheel Nut:
AlexWignall:
I stopped at one in Sete once.From the outside it just looked like another grim Arcotel place but the food was fantastic. There was only a couple of trucks there and if felt like I had the immaculate facilities to myself.
It always seemed natural to join a table with other people in a Routier you would look pretty strange if you didn’t.
W
I think the only time it is acceptable to sit where you like is somewhere like Roye or if there are several of you together, same company or same nationality. I prefer to sit with the French though as the Dutch want to get drunk with you
Compare that to even a cosy little cafe like the Woodside near Goole. It would just be unthinkable to join a table uninvited.
I was in the Worlds End near Tilbury last night and drivers from different firms were all chatting and bragging happily so things are not as bad as it seems.
I miss finding Routiers out on the backroads of the French countryside. Easily one of the nicer aspects of international work.
W
billybigrig:
Thetaff:
billybigrig:
I’m guessing Taffs will be Perpignan , I’ll let him explainFor me ■■ I always liked the Little House at Le Muret
Your right it is,the food went down a treat!! Best 20 euro I’ve ever spent
20 Euro
That probably includes a couple of Kir and a couple of Pastis or Ricard to help you sleep 