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French bistroLes Halles
Les Fils à Maman serves French comfort food on Rue Quentin in Dijon in an 80s-styled room, with a Sunday brunch and childcare during dinner.
OrderThe homemade cordon bleu, the dish that anchors the comfort-food menu here.
TipSunday brunch runs from late morning, a different rhythm from the rest of the week's lunch and dinner service.
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ItalianDarcy Gare
Da Adriano is an Italian pizzeria and trattoria on Rue Michelet in Dijon, a few doors from the Chapeau Rouge, with a daily seasonal lunch special.
OrderA pasta plate finished with truffle when it is in season, alongside a speck and mozzarella starter.
TipThe daily lunch special uses whatever seasonal produce came in that morning, worth asking about before ordering the carte.
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ItalianBerbisey Zola
L'Atelier Focaccia bakes naturally leavened focaccia on Place Émile Zola in Dijon, sandwiches for meat-eaters, vegetarians and vegans alike.
OrderA focaccia sandwich built on the 48-hour sourdough base, in a meat, vegetarian or vegan version.
TipIt stays open until 23:00, later than most Dijon lunch-counter kitchens on the same square.
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InternationalWilson Republique
West Africa serves Senegalese and other West African plates on Rue d'Auxonne in Dijon, a fast-food-style counter open most nights past 22:00.
OrderThe mafe, a peanut-sauce stew that is the kitchen's best-known plate.
TipFriday and Sunday run dinner service only, so a lunchtime visit is better attempted Tuesday to Saturday.
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CrêperieLes Halles
La Licorne is a Breton crêperie on Rue Musette in Dijon, serving buckwheat galettes and lemon butter crêpes near the covered Halles market daily.
OrderA buckwheat galette from the sarrasin board, followed by the lemon butter crêpe regulars favour.
TipIt closes only on Wednesday; every other day runs one continuous service from 12:00 to 21:30.
So ★ 4.2
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French bistroCentre HistoriqueChef So and Rie Takahashi
So is chef So Takahashi's Bib Gourmand bistro on Rue Amiral-Roussin in Dijon, an easygoing market-driven room behind a big Michelin reputation.
OrderWhatever So Takahashi bought at market that morning; the menu changes with it.
TipSo cooks alone, so the room is small; his wife Rie runs the floor and can talk you through the day's dishes.