Thanks Christina, your explanation of flunch being f(ast)lunch says it all. On my trips to France so far I've missed it, and methinks I'll keep it that way!

Flunch is also present in some spanish shopping malls and is expensive (by spanish standards). it is international basic cafeteria food here, nothing worth trying with all the amazing spanish cuisine.

saludos,
jer...

If the average price is 8 to 12 euros, many nicer Paris places can give you a 3 course lunch for about the same price with much tastier food. For example, I often have lunch at Les Fous de l'Ile on the Ile St. Louis at a cost of 11.5 euro for a 3 course meal (appetizer, main course, dessert). The food is all fresh, very good quality, good value for money. A carafe of water is free and, although I've never eaten at Flunch, I suspect the ambience is a bit nicer.
On the road and in a hurry is a different story--while driving around Europe we have no qualms about stopping at highway restaurants or even Ikeas (they offer some not bad meals at unbeatable prices).

I'd agree that in Paris and most large towns you can find great alternatives for about the same price.

However if you're in a situation where you're driving around France and would like to stop in a service station or local shopping complex en route, Flunch is a perfectly acceptable meal stop.

If you want all your food experiences in France to be unique and special and "authentic" French cuisine then it's not for you but otherwise... it's alright.

There's another chain that's similar to Flunch and I can't for the life of me remember it's name. Anyone able to think of it for me?

Eat in Flunch if you're short of time. The last time I used one was in Nice when I had no more than an hour between trains, and saw one next to the station. In my opinion, the food is generally better than in a self service restaurant in Britain but, unless you want a quick cheap meal, there will always be better choices. They are popular with French people who want a quick cheap lunch - students, shop and office workers, etc.

Thanks all for the information, especially about Flunch not being all you can eat. My BF and I have never been to France before nor have eaten any real French food. Someone told us that Flunch would be a good place for our first meal because being a buffet, we'd be able to view and pick our food instead of ordering something we didn't understand and be surprised by being served a fish head or a nearly raw meat dish. We'll try to be more adventurous with our dining after we've settled into the Parisian atmosphere. I think Flunch will be "bien"

Tammy Jo
If that's your worry, you can probably relax. Restaurants in Paris are, as you might imagine, very used to visitors and most offer menus in English if asked.
Whilst some like to be snobby and insist that they would never dine in a restaurant that even has menus available this is certainly not always a sign of an inferior establishment.
You'll be fine!
GOOD LUCK and enjoy your trip!

Study this French food glossary, identify foods you'd like to try, note foods you want to avoid. Then, in Paris, read the cafe and restaurant menus that are posted in front of every establishment, preplanning one or two choices before you go in.
www.intimatefrance.com/glossary.html

Just off the main street not far from the train station in Avignon you can find a Flunch cafeteria (at least it was there a few years ago). For about 10 dollars, I had for lunch a green salad, roast chicken with potatoes, bread, cheese, fruit salad, wine and coffee. Of course it wasn't the best food I ever ate, but it was reasonably good and the clientele were all local folks on their lunch breaks. I spent about 15 minutes in the line before being served...wouldn't hesitate to go back again.