Flunch Review

Flunch is a cafeteria chain in France that was very popular in the 90s. It used to be a frequent spot for my parents and me to enjoy affordable French food.

The chain has recently reopened some locations, and in this review, we will determine if it remains a worthwhile place to visit.

What is a Cafeteria?

A cafeteria is somewhat similar to a canteen, offering food through self-service. In this case, it operates as a semi-self-service model.

The concept is that you select your starters, desserts, drinks, etc., from various stands, each with clearly marked prices.

For the main course, you inform the cashier of your choice and pay the total bill. After paying, you can pick up your main course and enjoy an all-you-can-eat buffet for the side dishes.

In France there were two main big chains : Casino Cafeteria and Flunch. Those cafeterias offer a large offering with decent food quality.

More about Flunch

I personally became familiar with Flunch while working in Evry. At the time, it was the only option outside of the Crous where I could eat fish and vegetables, which were the staples of my diet.

What I like about Flunch is that you can go with friends and co-workers, and everyone can choose what they want to eat. There are many options for both vegetables and main courses.

It can also be an affordable place if you skip the desserts and starters. I used to spend around 7-8 euros per meal, which is cheaper than a kebab by today’s standards.

Flunch used to be a well-known franchise, with TV commercials and even a jingle, “On va fluncher.” While this image is quite dated, Flunch has made significant efforts to modernize its look today.

The location

I won’t lie, I made a real effort to visit Flunch. I wanted my wife and son to experience a bit of what I enjoyed growing up. To do this, we went to Westfield Carré Sénart in the Essonne department.

We were looking for unpretentious French food—the kind of dishes and restaurant that regular suburban folks eat at, not the fancy, trendy places in Paris that can sometimes feel a bit overhyped, overpriced and designed for social media posts. Something very popular if you will.

Right away, the Flunch in Carré Sénart is nothing like the one in L’Agora in Evry. To be fair, the one in L’Agora was fine, but it was surrounded by beggars at the time.

The typology of the population plays a significant role, as does the renovation. I have to say, I am quite impressed with all the modernization the franchise has undergone. In today’s world, a franchise really has to exceed expectations in terms of experience, and I feel like they have truly succeeded in that regard.

I would even go as far as to say that they are quite above the competition now. For example they have installed some sort of table booth when thematics, whether it’s spaceship or victorian style interior.

They even installed a playground for kids, which is better than the ones at both McDonald’s and KFC. Usually, Americans lead the way in enticing parents to bring their kids to a restaurant.

They even have games like babyfoot and air hockey inside the restaurant. At this point, the only thing missing might be large TVs for watching sports.

The menu

The menu, or rather the offerings, have been revamped in a positive way. I would describe Flunch’s menu as simpler and cleaner.

What’s specific about a cafeteria is the tray you carry around while serving yourself with cutlery and glasses.

There are even carts available to carry multiple trays, and a rail system to help you place your tray wherever you go.

Similar to an all-you-can-eat buffet, there are various sections for cheese, cold cuts, desserts, starters, and drinks.

You can assemble your own plate of salads and bowl of fruits. The price varies depending on whether you choose a small or large plate, but once you’ve made your choice, you can essentially eat whatever you like.

The salad bar was definitely one of the most interesting for me and my wife. It’s usually where the healthy and fresh food is located.

On the other hand, we thought the desserts looked tempting, but we didn’t realize we’d be too full to enjoy them.

Cheese was also available, along with baskets of bread. This could be enjoyed either as a starter or a dessert.

Finally, the drink fountains were included and appeared very modern. I appreciated that they are self-service before reaching the cashier, allowing people to serve themselves without overindulging in soda. Two cup sizes are available, 40 and 60 cl, if I remember correctly.

The main courses are displayed in a very colorful and visually appealing way. I must admit, I’m impressed with the effort put into the aesthetics.

For practical reasons, the dishes are also displayed near the cashier, allowing you to make your main course selection right up until the end.

We ended up paying around 40 euros for two starters, desserts, drinks, and main courses. By today’s standards, that’s the price of a bistro meal without starters, drinks, or desserts.

While it may not be as cheap as it once was, I think it’s still reasonable given the current inflation, especially considering the amount of food and the fact that our son had free side dishes.

Our experience

We had a great experience at this cafeteria. To be honest, we were beginning to feel bored with eating at the same Asian restaurants in Lognes.

My wife, unfamiliar with the concept, quickly felt at ease—enough to select her own main course and side dishes. After all, it’s very similar to an all-you-can-eat buffet.

We also appreciated the ample space for dining in peace, particularly in the back area where there was plenty of natural light.

I ordered the Jambon Rôti for my wife. I recall that my dad used to love Jambon à l’os with mustard. This version was slightly different—somewhat salty and plain without sauce, but the portion was very generous.

I decided to try the veal with olives instead of my usual choice, which would have been a steak. When I think of Flunch, I often recall the French fries with sauce au poivre. This is what my co-worker used to enjoy while I was on my diet.

The food was good, though not outstanding. It’s of good quality but not gourmet. However, the salad was excellent. I believe this type of cafeteria is straightforward in that you can enjoy regular French food without the fancy elements and high prices.

Similar to a buffet, I think Flunch is a great place if, like me, you want your wife to sample a variety of French dishes in one sitting.

There are even some all-you-can-eat options, such as mussels. We didn’t get to try them, but honestly, I think you’ll be quite satisfied even without them.

I’m still convinced that if you have a regular appetite, you can easily skip the starter and desserts and still get an unbeatable value.

The cooking here combines large batch preparations, reheating, and grilling, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, some food from cafeterias can be very good, comparable to homemade dishes, and much better than frozen food.

Interestingly enough at the moment of paying they ask you if you want a coin for the coffee since they have automated espresso machines.

There’s even a barista stand with real espresso machines and equipment that appears to be for making crepes.

Verdict

8.2 out of 10.

I’m thrilled that Flunch has reopened some locations and enhanced the experience. It truly feels like the kind of place a family would enjoy while visiting the mall.

Despite inflation impacting many European countries, including France, Flunch still offers excellent value for money. Even if you’re not planning to eat as much as you would at a buffet, you’ll find plenty of side dishes and meal options to choose from.

Today, many chains are quite successful and delicious. Take Big Fernand, for example—they make amazing burgers. However, Flunch stands out as a place that offers both nostalgia and great value for regular folks in the French suburbs.