Discussion
Well all I can say is thank god for Mcdonalds, (and Im not even a big fan of them)
The food on the Circuit was dreadful
Massive rip off.
There was a salad bar at the lower rear of the pits doing a salad for 15 euros! s
te chicken and chips. Some of my crowd ended up going into Le mans town center Sat evening, even then the restaurant we ended up in the food was below expectations by French standards. It seems no mater how much the Pound rises against the Euro, the French will just keep putting the prices up Sunday evening we ended up in a bar/restaurant in Arnage Hi Street, yet more rubbish food A couple of times I tried to get into the restaurant in the Village only to find it was booked out for private functions. Not sure I will camp again for the classic
May find a smaller village with better restaurant's and a hotel.
Best food of the weekend was the Le Bounty campsite, Pie was lovely (and the London Pride)
The food on the Circuit was dreadful
Massive rip off.There was a salad bar at the lower rear of the pits doing a salad for 15 euros! s
te chicken and chips. Some of my crowd ended up going into Le mans town center Sat evening, even then the restaurant we ended up in the food was below expectations by French standards. It seems no mater how much the Pound rises against the Euro, the French will just keep putting the prices up Sunday evening we ended up in a bar/restaurant in Arnage Hi Street, yet more rubbish food A couple of times I tried to get into the restaurant in the Village only to find it was booked out for private functions. Not sure I will camp again for the classicMay find a smaller village with better restaurant's and a hotel.
Best food of the weekend was the Le Bounty campsite, Pie was lovely (and the London Pride)
Just use the local supermarkets/markets on a daily basis and buy/eat stuff appropriate to lack of refrigeration? Worked for us.
Ate a couple of times in Arnage and it was ok, if a bit limited.
Secured a great traditional bistro meal Sunday lunchtime in Le Mans old town by the Cathedral, less than E20 for 2 including wine, so it's quite possible if self-catering is not your thing.
Agree on-circuit catering was disappointing and pricy but did not expect much else TBH
Ate a couple of times in Arnage and it was ok, if a bit limited.
Secured a great traditional bistro meal Sunday lunchtime in Le Mans old town by the Cathedral, less than E20 for 2 including wine, so it's quite possible if self-catering is not your thing.
Agree on-circuit catering was disappointing and pricy but did not expect much else TBH
We went to the top quality British burger van which had lovely writing about supporting local produce etc etc. We put the food in the bin. The burgers were Lidl excrement, as was the bacon, as was the ghastly cheese. The buns were stale, the ketchup excessively vinagered and the chips cooked in stale fat.
I'm sure they made a fortune but their van should have been torched and the people flogged.
The BBQ down by the wall of death was very good indeed.
Our own stupid fault for even contemplating food from a British van in France claiming a load of marketing BS designed to fool hungry mugs like us.
The crepes in Arnage were perfect and we stayed in Vendome where the food was superb.
I'm sure they made a fortune but their van should have been torched and the people flogged.
The BBQ down by the wall of death was very good indeed.
Our own stupid fault for even contemplating food from a British van in France claiming a load of marketing BS designed to fool hungry mugs like us.
The crepes in Arnage were perfect and we stayed in Vendome where the food was superb.
I had paid in advance for my son and I to eat with food supplied by our group support van, only problem came when the group split into smaller fractions with each group not telling the other what times they were cooking untill So all in all it cost me £200 for a couple of burgers, a bowl of cereal and 2 lots of egg and bacon, I bought my own beer (bitter) and then some of that ws being passed around Will not ever do that again
So all in all it cost me £200 for a couple of burgers, a bowl of cereal and 2 lots of egg and bacon, I bought my own beer (bitter) and then some of that ws being passed around Will not ever do that again We had a baguette from the sandwich bar behind the Dunlop grandstand which was perfectly OK. Not cheap but I don't expect that. Other than that we ate in the tent. Had a magnificent BBQ Sat night with stuff from Carrefors.
There is a great cafe in Le Mans opposite the station on the RH corner with your back to the station. Did a great omelette cooked to order with fries to die for.
There is a great cafe in Le Mans opposite the station on the RH corner with your back to the station. Did a great omelette cooked to order with fries to die for.
Overpriced mains and starter but the best desert in town at Les Houdineres on the mulsanne - win
Crappy pizza just south of Arnage - meah
Food on the circuit - expensive and second rate, apart from the deli that was just up from the inflatable chip stall behind the tribunes which was very good
Plenty of Carrefours to make kids sandwiches with fresh crusty bread - win
Le Mob BBQ on Sunday night - well organised and friendly but I don't like cafeteria type food, prefer to at least see the BBQ - meah
Crappy pizza just south of Arnage - meah
Food on the circuit - expensive and second rate, apart from the deli that was just up from the inflatable chip stall behind the tribunes which was very good
Plenty of Carrefours to make kids sandwiches with fresh crusty bread - win
Le Mob BBQ on Sunday night - well organised and friendly but I don't like cafeteria type food, prefer to at least see the BBQ - meah
Agreed, the catering facilities at the circuit were dire. Much worse than the 24 hour race. At least they had a decent restaurant for the 24 (by the Guinness tent). I was expecting it to still be there. The queues for the fast food kiosks were horrendous. I didn’t even bother. I generally find the restaurants in town to be pretty good – as long as you pick the right ones.
Friday night I ate at Le Mans Legends which is average food but, cheap and a nice environment to kick the weekend off in – being steeped in Le Mans memorabilia and all. I had Rillets du Mans, leg of lamb and a couple of glasses of Bordeaux. Saturday lunch was a tram ride to McDonalds (the one at Goya – after the Carrefour – not the town centre) after discovering the lack of facilities at the circuit – not happy. Saturday evening I went to La Vieille Porte in the town centre – that was excellent – foie gras, trio of rabbit, cheese platter and a bottle of Muscadet. Sunday lunch was a baguette in the paddock and Sunday evening I ate at Le Train Bleu in Gare de Lyon, Paris (since I was getting the train home via Paris). That was also excellent – asparagus soup, sea bass, cheese platter and a selection of tasting wines. So I didn’t starve but a decent meal at the circuit on Saturday wouldn’t have gone amiss!
http://www.la-vieille-porte.fr/
http://www.le-train-bleu.com/
Friday night I ate at Le Mans Legends which is average food but, cheap and a nice environment to kick the weekend off in – being steeped in Le Mans memorabilia and all. I had Rillets du Mans, leg of lamb and a couple of glasses of Bordeaux. Saturday lunch was a tram ride to McDonalds (the one at Goya – after the Carrefour – not the town centre) after discovering the lack of facilities at the circuit – not happy. Saturday evening I went to La Vieille Porte in the town centre – that was excellent – foie gras, trio of rabbit, cheese platter and a bottle of Muscadet. Sunday lunch was a baguette in the paddock and Sunday evening I ate at Le Train Bleu in Gare de Lyon, Paris (since I was getting the train home via Paris). That was also excellent – asparagus soup, sea bass, cheese platter and a selection of tasting wines. So I didn’t starve but a decent meal at the circuit on Saturday wouldn’t have gone amiss!
http://www.la-vieille-porte.fr/
http://www.le-train-bleu.com/
I guess some of you don't read my posts or read here either:
http://www.clubarnage.com/caguide/caguide2011.pdf
We ate at a restaurant about three miles from Houx camping and everbody, but everybody, was astonished at the quality/price. I mean, beef carpaccio followed by chicken hotpot followed by strawberry desert for 19€ in an upmarket restaurant was a more than fair price to pay. The Queensland at Mulsanne was serving basic but good food too. Now I don't see how one can single out Le Mans, since as a regular Silverstone Classic visitor for about 20 years the food there is now decidedly dodgy, with a cholesterol level way beyond my system's capability. I therefore stay in the caravan and take my own food. That on offer is just indigestible. The Revival isn't much better either, although at least there is fish and chips properly cooked and served, albeit at a shocking price, not caused by the stalls but the enormous rent they pay for the weekend.
http://www.clubarnage.com/caguide/caguide2011.pdf
We ate at a restaurant about three miles from Houx camping and everbody, but everybody, was astonished at the quality/price. I mean, beef carpaccio followed by chicken hotpot followed by strawberry desert for 19€ in an upmarket restaurant was a more than fair price to pay. The Queensland at Mulsanne was serving basic but good food too. Now I don't see how one can single out Le Mans, since as a regular Silverstone Classic visitor for about 20 years the food there is now decidedly dodgy, with a cholesterol level way beyond my system's capability. I therefore stay in the caravan and take my own food. That on offer is just indigestible. The Revival isn't much better either, although at least there is fish and chips properly cooked and served, albeit at a shocking price, not caused by the stalls but the enormous rent they pay for the weekend.
lowdrag said:
I guess some of you don't read my posts or read here either:
http://www.clubarnage.com/caguide/caguide2011.pdf
We ate at a restaurant about three miles from Houx camping and everbody, but everybody, was astonished at the quality/price.
3 miles is a long way to walk each time you want some food. Plus you'd need to be towing a shopping trolley full of stubbies to sustain you on the journey.http://www.clubarnage.com/caguide/caguide2011.pdf
We ate at a restaurant about three miles from Houx camping and everbody, but everybody, was astonished at the quality/price.
Yeah, food isn't great at the track, even when you pay a bit more. Nor had the pleasure of hospitality which I'm sure is nice.
It is passable but overpriced. But the mass of people and speed expected, you can't expect too much.
Loads of lovely restaurants in the surrounding areas. Even just 10-15 mins away.
I would have any of the circuit stuff over McDonalds though. Would have to be very desparate, hate the place. 32yrs old, I can count on one hand the number of 'meals' I've had there.
It is passable but overpriced. But the mass of people and speed expected, you can't expect too much.
Loads of lovely restaurants in the surrounding areas. Even just 10-15 mins away.
I would have any of the circuit stuff over McDonalds though. Would have to be very desparate, hate the place. 32yrs old, I can count on one hand the number of 'meals' I've had there.
Edited by DS240 on Tuesday 10th July 12:35
lowdrag said:
I guess some of you don't read my posts or read here either:
http://www.clubarnage.com/caguide/caguide2011.pdf
We ate at a restaurant about three miles from Houx camping and everbody, but everybody, was astonished at the quality/price. I mean, beef carpaccio followed by chicken hotpot followed by strawberry desert for 19€ in an upmarket restaurant was a more than fair price to pay. The Queensland at Mulsanne was serving basic but good food too. Now I don't see how one can single out Le Mans, since as a regular Silverstone Classic visitor for about 20 years the food there is now decidedly dodgy, with a cholesterol level way beyond my system's capability. I therefore stay in the caravan and take my own food. That on offer is just indigestible. The Revival isn't much better either, although at least there is fish and chips properly cooked and served, albeit at a shocking price, not caused by the stalls but the enormous rent they pay for the weekend.
In addition the pasta at the circuit was good, and almost makes up for no Tartiflette this year. Not perfect, but makes a change for a circuit. We almost lived on that stuff. Not perfect, but could have been alot worse. This year (for both events) I used Arnage for a great Omelette for breakfast which was great and kept me going for quite a while.http://www.clubarnage.com/caguide/caguide2011.pdf
We ate at a restaurant about three miles from Houx camping and everbody, but everybody, was astonished at the quality/price. I mean, beef carpaccio followed by chicken hotpot followed by strawberry desert for 19€ in an upmarket restaurant was a more than fair price to pay. The Queensland at Mulsanne was serving basic but good food too. Now I don't see how one can single out Le Mans, since as a regular Silverstone Classic visitor for about 20 years the food there is now decidedly dodgy, with a cholesterol level way beyond my system's capability. I therefore stay in the caravan and take my own food. That on offer is just indigestible. The Revival isn't much better either, although at least there is fish and chips properly cooked and served, albeit at a shocking price, not caused by the stalls but the enormous rent they pay for the weekend.
Perhaps my expectations are a bit lower than some :-)
Ian
Ian
On Saturday, the queues at the circuit were horrendous and the service was dreadfully slow. We gave up and drove back to our Gite (40 mins away) to eat. The organisers just didn't seem to have given any thought to how to feed large numbers of people quickly, turnaround seemed to be 2 or 3 minutes per person. In the retro area near the Dunlop bridge there were half a dozen or so food stands but each was only offering one thing (e.g salad, pastries, cakes, burgers etc.), it doesn't take a genious to work out which one was the only one doing any trade!
Haven't seen the traditional Le Mans Tartiflette for a couple of years now, tasty food, seconds to dish up so why did they stop it?
Haven't seen the traditional Le Mans Tartiflette for a couple of years now, tasty food, seconds to dish up so why did they stop it?
lowdrag said:
I guess some of you don't read my posts or read here either:
http://www.clubarnage.com/caguide/caguide2011.pdf
We ate at a restaurant about three miles from Houx camping and everbody, but everybody, was astonished at the quality/price. I mean, beef carpaccio followed by chicken hotpot followed by strawberry desert for 19€ in an upmarket restaurant was a more than fair price to pay. The Queensland at Mulsanne was serving basic but good food too. Now I don't see how one can single out Le Mans, since as a regular Silverstone Classic visitor for about 20 years the food there is now decidedly dodgy, with a cholesterol level way beyond my system's capability. I therefore stay in the caravan and take my own food. That on offer is just indigestible. The Revival isn't much better either, although at least there is fish and chips properly cooked and served, albeit at a shocking price, not caused by the stalls but the enormous rent they pay for the weekend.
I’m not disputing the quality of the food at the surrounding restaurants. I ate in town and it was very good. I’m sure you could go 3 miles in any direction and find a decent restaurant. Arnage and Mulsanne both have some. The point I was making is that the food at the circuit was poor. Yes I know it’s probably no worse than Silverstone but the food was better at the 24 hour so they can do it at Le Mans if they want to – so why not the classic? http://www.clubarnage.com/caguide/caguide2011.pdf
We ate at a restaurant about three miles from Houx camping and everbody, but everybody, was astonished at the quality/price. I mean, beef carpaccio followed by chicken hotpot followed by strawberry desert for 19€ in an upmarket restaurant was a more than fair price to pay. The Queensland at Mulsanne was serving basic but good food too. Now I don't see how one can single out Le Mans, since as a regular Silverstone Classic visitor for about 20 years the food there is now decidedly dodgy, with a cholesterol level way beyond my system's capability. I therefore stay in the caravan and take my own food. That on offer is just indigestible. The Revival isn't much better either, although at least there is fish and chips properly cooked and served, albeit at a shocking price, not caused by the stalls but the enormous rent they pay for the weekend.
Been to all the Le Mans Classics and most LM24 since 1996. I think that the problem is that at LM24 with the large crowds the catering is pretty reasonable, but with the lower crowds at LMC the catering is really poor. The number of food outlets of all kinds is much lower. There's no recognition that the LMC crowd now exceeds 100,000.
R.
R.
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