We'll be taking an evening Thalys train from Gare du Nord to Brugge. The train departs at 6:25pm; and this will be on a Tuesday.

Is there anything decent (but quick) to eat inside Gare du Nord? With luggage in tow, we don't want to drag it with us to places outside the station.

If nothing is edible inside the station, would it still be better than what will be offered on the Thalys train? (we're in 2nd class)

Do we need to go through passport control before we board our Thalys train? How much time in advance do we need to arrive at Gare du Nord?

A non-related question: what kind of food is offered on a TGV train? We'll be taking TGV from Angers to Gare Montparnasse during lunch time.

We traveled from Amsterdam to Paris on the Thalys train in first class. The meal served was actually pretty good. Then they also served us a snack before we arrived at Gare du Nord. We had a table with seating for the four of us.. It was a nice train and nice service.

OP mentions 2d class. Food offered is pretty pedestrian at best - and it is for sale, not included in your ticket.
Food inside GdN is nothing to write home about if you are looking for a fine meal, but you can pick up a decent sandwich or salad at a kiosk. If you are concerned about having something more substantial en route, you could pick up some things in town and carry aboard with you - we've done that and been content with a nice baguette, hunk of cheese, some fruit and a bottle of wine.

Only 1st class ticket holders are served meals. We also liked and enjoyed the food served.

I would suggest you buy your picnic spread (sandwich/drinks/hot food) on your way to Gare du Nord.

Well there are a whole bunch of fast food places outside the station just across the street...

Why not let one person stay with the luggage and have somebody else pick up sandwiches.

If you're American, you might be familiar with SUBWAY...there is a subway sandwich shop just across the street...easiest thing in the world to pick up a few subs, a couple of sodas to munch on the train and the subway shops I'm familiar with in Germany, Austria and now France, have almost the identical menu as those at home.

I took Thalys just a few days ago from Amsterdam to Paris. I highly recommend you eat before the trip or bring something with you.
The food (and even coffee) are really bad.

Train travellers are in constant need of food. As the busiest train station in Europe, Gare du Nord has plenty of food options and the square facing it has even more.

You'll find better assortment of take-away food kiosks on RER concourse at Gare du Nord (including Paul patisserie). Other food/drink options are Gare du Nord is nothing special.

There's a Subway sandwich shop right outside the station.

Anthony..

You're 4 posts too late....

All of the commerces inside Gare du Nord are here:
http://www.gares-en-mouvement.com/co...r-1-frpno.html

And a McDonalds also opposite the station

Yum!

Thanks for all your replies. Sounds like we'll be better off getting something to eat at the station, plus buying some snacks for our train ride.

As you can see from my link, there are no fewer than 3 Paul places in Gare du Nord. Those are the fast food places disguised as bakeries that Americans adore.

<i>Author: PalenQ
Date: 08/06/2008, 10:54 am

And a McDonalds also opposite the station</i>

That's funny - a local once told me there was one <i>en face de la gare</i>, but the nearest one I could find was 2 blocks southeast on Rue de St-Quentin. Is the closer one new? Enquiring kids want to know.

&quot;As you can see from my link, there are no fewer than 3 Paul places in Gare du Nord. Those are the fast food places disguised as bakeries &quot;

agree.

some years ago Paul was o.k.,
the last time ( a few weeks ago) I had a coffee and brioche there WAS the last time.

I don't know how new the Mickey D directly across the street from Gare du nord is...I've stopped there a couple of times the past few years..There's also a French imitation hamburger joint on the very same block...Subway is not quite on that facing street..it's just off on one of the side streets.

If i recollect right the McDonalds i've at times waited for Eurostar trains in was opposite the far western corner of the station (which i know does not sit due west)

it's an a corner and yes right opposite the station i believe. Kind of a small place.

You're thinking of the Gare de l'Est McDonald's, PalenQ. Quick got the good location at Gare de l'Est. The Gare du Nord McDonald's is large, directly across from the station and has been there for a long time.