Aux Amis de la Route, a historic restaurant located on the 939 departmental road between Arras and Le Touquet (Pas-de-Calais), is reborn after several months of closure. Warm atmosphere and low prices, all road codes are met.
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Northerners call it the vacation route. More than 80 kilometers long, the departmental 939 links Arras to the beaches of Le Touquet (Pas-de-Calais). A road used by 14,000 vehicles on average every day, including just over 2,000 heavy goods vehicles. This Sunday, October 6, lunchtime is well advanced, the weekend sun is veiled by the accumulating clouds.
A reason that pushes day vacationers to leave the sea and set out on the return journey. After going around Montreuil then passing Hesdin, the cars slow down as they approach the Humières roundabout. On the right, the parking lot is abnormally full.
The facade is brand new, the XXL sign can be seen from afar. Aux Amis de la Route, a historic roadside restaurant in the south of Pas-de-Calais, has just been reborn after a long period of closure. 4 months of work were necessary to redo everything, from floor to ceiling. “We really play on the French side with the checkered tablecloths, the decoration on the walls”admits Sébastien de la Borde, happy owner of the restaurant.
These are the road codes, real institutions of our roadsides. These restaurants, initially opened to provide food for truck drivers, today attract an increasingly large clientele. “O“We want it to be ultra-simple, good and inexpensive,” sums up the chef. At lunchtime during the week, the daily special/dessert menu is €17.50. For starters, count between €3 for egg and mayonnaise and €4.50 for herring and apples in oil.
At Les Amis de la Route, the flank steak with shallots costs 18 euros, the Potjevleesch 15 euros.
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© Martin Vanlaton / France Télévisions
The dishes, served with excellent homemade fries, range between 15 and 18 euros. This Sunday lunchtime, when the restaurant has just reopened its doors, the team will create a little over a hundred seats.
Among today’s customers, many families and couples dressed in their Sunday best. And the great-niece of Albert, owner of the establishment until his death around ten years ago. “She had tears in her eyes, smiles Sébastien de la Borde. She was moved to see the place again, which we have certainly modified, but which retains the initial spirit. She told us that what we had done was great”.
This Sunday, however, there were no heavy goods vehicles in the parking lot. “The truckers continue to stop by in the evening, during the week, to take an accessible shower. But as the establishment had been closed for several months, they must return to their habits,” says Sébastien de la Cour. To welcome them, Aux Amis de la Route raises the curtain at 6 a.m. to serve coffee.
This reopening is good news according to the secretary general of the National Federation of Road Transporters of Pas-de-Calais, while roadside restaurants are increasingly rare in the region. “This is rather positive because these are restaurants that are appreciated by our drivers, explains Sébastien Rivera. Truck drivers are friendly places with quality menus at affordable prices. Before adding. This is what makes it appreciated by customers other than drivers”.
Nothing predestined the new owner to take over the institution, or almost. Chef at La Cour de Rémi, a restaurant located in the neighboring village of Bermicourt and awarded a green star by the Michelin guide, Sébastien de la Cour tells us. “I saw this roadside restaurant which was an institution in the area and which was always full. Then I saw that the parking lot was gradually emptying out and after Covid, they started to close on weekends even though this axis is busy”.
On the back of the Amis de la Route truck servers’ t-shirt, a D939 logo in reference to the departmental road which connects Arras to Le Touquet, in Pas-de-Calais.
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© Martin Vanlaton / France Télévisions
When the restaurant finally lowers the curtain, he decides to go for it. “I have always had the fantasy of the road and a return to good cooking, very simple and very good from the producthe concedes. I didn’t buy the very expensive walls so it allowed me to redo everything”. And to hire 4 cooks and 4 waiters. “But we’re still looking for people in the kitchen!” he adds. All profiles are welcome, just drop off your CV at the counter.
With these recruitments, the restaurant, currently closed Saturday lunchtime and Sunday evening, should be able to open 7 days a week, from breakfast until dinner. With the hope of having a full house as often as possible. “It seems that Albert could make up to 200 place settings 15 years ago”, smiles Sébastien de la Cour. The goal is set.
