In this FREE edition of le Bulletin you'll want to make a note of these places: Don't miss the recommended restaurants to eat near stations! and much more.
Sometimes these areas are best avoided, in most cities or towns. As you say Betty there's a captive audience that needs replenishment, so the effort made is poor in general. And often the catering options inside the stations are just as bad. I am thinking of the major train station in Dublin, Houston, better off making it to the city centre.
Trains from Rodez arrive in the Gare d'Austerlitz, and the worst meal I've ever had in Paris, perhaps anywhere, was at one of the brasseries along the "restaurant strip" across from it. I wasn't looking for a gastronomical experience, just a halfway decent meal, and I didn't have time to really research the question. I usually have a pretty good sense of where this might be possible, though. I ordered "saucisse-lentilles" and the sausage (saucisse de Toulouse) was clearly just microwaved, not even grilled, and the lentils were not seasoned in any way, just "nature" and dumped out of a can. It's interesting that Victor Coutard was not able to come up with a good place closer to the station, but given my experience, I'm not that surprised.
I don’t really know, but, a bit like airports, there is a (semi-)captive audience that needs to eat and may not be seen again. I remember all of the train station neighborhoods being quite seedy in the 80s and 90s as well, one might also wonder why that would be. I suppose living near a train station is noisy so the areas may not be that desirable?
Sometimes these areas are best avoided, in most cities or towns. As you say Betty there's a captive audience that needs replenishment, so the effort made is poor in general. And often the catering options inside the stations are just as bad. I am thinking of the major train station in Dublin, Houston, better off making it to the city centre.
Trains from Rodez arrive in the Gare d'Austerlitz, and the worst meal I've ever had in Paris, perhaps anywhere, was at one of the brasseries along the "restaurant strip" across from it. I wasn't looking for a gastronomical experience, just a halfway decent meal, and I didn't have time to really research the question. I usually have a pretty good sense of where this might be possible, though. I ordered "saucisse-lentilles" and the sausage (saucisse de Toulouse) was clearly just microwaved, not even grilled, and the lentils were not seasoned in any way, just "nature" and dumped out of a can. It's interesting that Victor Coutard was not able to come up with a good place closer to the station, but given my experience, I'm not that surprised.
It’s a common problem isn’t it - around train stations!! Why is it so though???
I don’t really know, but, a bit like airports, there is a (semi-)captive audience that needs to eat and may not be seen again. I remember all of the train station neighborhoods being quite seedy in the 80s and 90s as well, one might also wonder why that would be. I suppose living near a train station is noisy so the areas may not be that desirable?
yes you’re correct and its the same al over the world from my experience, which is why I appreciated Victor’s article. :)