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.
Indian€BouffayMon-Sat 12:00-14:30 and 19:00-22:30; closed Sun
Royal Indien holds a narrow room on Rue Kervégan in the Feydeau quarter, tandoori grills and curries served six days a week at modest prices.
Signature: Tandoori grills, Curries, Naan
Tip: Both services run long, noon to half two and seven to half ten, so it covers late arrivals off the train.
Vietnamese€BouffayMon-Thu 11:00-14:30 and 18:00-22:30; Fri 11:00-14:30 and 18:00-23:30; Sat 11:00-15:30 and 18:00-23:30; closed Sun
A plain Vietnamese and Thai canteen on Rue Bon Secours where the prawn and beef bo bun costs €13.50 and service starts at eleven in the morning.
Signature: Bo bun with prawns and beef, Vietnamese and Thai plates
Tip: Friday and Saturday run to half eleven at night, unusually late for this stretch between Feydeau and Bouffay.
Poke€Île de NantesMon-Fri 08:00-14:30; closed Sat-Sun
Beside the Machines de l'Île, dubble builds grain and pulse salad bowls, hot bowls and poke from €10, with house juices and weekday breakfast.
Signature: Salad bowls, Hot bowls, Poke bowls
Tip: Ordering ahead on the operator's site skips the midday queue, which builds fast with the island's office crowd.
French bistro€MalakoffTue-Thu 12:00-14:00; Fri-Sat 12:00-14:00 and 19:00-21:00; closed Sun-Mon
Jérôme's bistro on Rue Desaix trades on the plat du jour, generous simmered family cooking at prices that keep the room full every weekday lunch.
Signature: Plat du jour, House desserts
Tip: Dinner happens on Friday and Saturday only, and the kitchen stops at nine; weekday lunch is the service the regulars book.