French€Hauts-PavésMon-Thu 10:00-13:30 and 15:30-19:00; Fri-Sat 10:00-13:30 and 15:30-19:30; closed Sun
Greengrocer and weekday lunch counter in one, near the Talensac market, with a card that turns over weekly and a burger that never leaves it.
Signature: Weekly lunch card, Burger with house frites
Tip: Cooked lunches are weekday midday only; outside that the shop side sells produce, and the queue moves quickly before one o'clock.
Chinese€BouffayMon-Wed 12:00-14:00 and 19:00-22:00; Fri-Sat 12:00-14:00 and 19:00-22:00; closed Thu and Sun
A small Chinese ravioli counter off Place du Commerce in Nantes, where a plate of pork and lotus-root ravioli runs €7.90 and the soup bowls cost the same.
Signature: Pork and lotus-root ravioli, Ravioli in soup
Tip: It shuts Thursday and Sunday rather than Monday, which catches out anyone assuming a French rhythm here.
Burgers€BouffayTue-Thu 12:00-14:00 and 19:00-22:00; Fri 12:00-14:00 and 19:00-22:30; Sat 12:00-14:30 and 19:00-22:30; closed Sun-Mon
A burger counter tucked on Rue des Échevins behind the Bouffay lanes in Nantes, two tight services a day and a kitchen that shuts Sunday and Monday.
Signature: Burgers, House frites
Tip: Lunch runs only two hours, so arrive before one; the room seats very few and there is no terrace outside.
Belgian€DecréTue-Sat 11:30-19:00; closed Sun-Mon
Liège waffles and a cheap midday formule beside the Tour de Bretagne, eat in or carry out, with Belgian frites and paninis on the same counter.
Signature: Liège waffles, Midday formule, Panini andalou
Tip: Service runs straight through to seven, which makes it one of the few afternoon options in this part of Nantes.
French bistro€Champ-de-MarsMon 07:20-17:00; Tue-Wed 07:20-21:00; Thu 07:20-01:00; Fri 07:20-02:00; closed Sat-Sun
A worker's table since Pierre and Marie Le Nay took it over in 1946, on a weekly rota: kig ha farz Tuesday, couscous Wednesday, then tête de veau.
Signature: Kig ha farz on Tuesday, Couscous on Wednesday, Tête de veau
Tip: Doors open at 07:20 for the market crowd; Thursday and Friday are the only evenings served, with tapas boards from 18:30.
French bistro€ZolaMon-Fri 08:00-21:30; closed Sat-Sun
On the leafy Place Canclaux west of the Nantes centre, this bistro runs without a break from eight in the morning to half past nine, weekdays only.
Signature: Plat du jour, Weekday lunch card
Tip: The kitchen serves between noon and half two; outside that it works as a café, and the last drink goes out at nine.