Hi John, if you stop in Lugo, I'd recommend a trip out to the church of Santa Eulalia de Boveda, with its 4th century Roman paintings in a chapel discovered about 50 years ago, I think. It's about 11 km on the Camino Primitivo out of Lugo, with a marked turn-off that is about another 2 km. It's very nice. And Lugo is well worth a day's visit, IMO.
The walk from Lugo to San Roman (which is in the middle of nowhere) certainly qualifies as a path less travelled, at least once you get through the Lugo suburbs. The albergue there is in the middle of the woods, very beautiful and peaceful. Have you thought about staying on the Primitivo till Melide and then bailing out as you hit the Frances crowds? I visited Santa Eulalia as part of my walk to San Roman, it was a very do-able day even with the detour (well, yes, I did get a ride for 2 km). The walk from San Roman to Melide has some nice spots, though the last 5 or 6 km are through developed areas on roads with light traffic.
Your description of the French Fries finally jolted my memory -- I've been trying to think of the old saying about Asturians and their culinary habits: They say that "los asturianos comen como reyes y beben como paisanos." (They eat like kings and drink like peasants).
Buen camino, Laurie