French€€Lille-CentreMon-Tue 11:45-14:00; Wed-Sat 11:45-14:00 and 18:45-21:30; Sun 11:45-14:00
Au Quai du Wault looks onto the old dock basin in Lille, a 28-cover room with a 32-seat terrace serving regional and traditional plates from 15 euros.
Signature: Plat du jour, Regional produce plates
Order: The plat du jour, chalked up each morning.
Tip: Dinner runs Wednesday to Saturday only. The terrace is the reason to come.
French bistro€€GambettaMon-Thu 11:45-22:00; Fri-Sat 11:45-22:30; Sun 11:45-22:00
Les Casseroles Lilloises hangs hundreds of pans from its ceiling on Rue Solférino in Lille, cooking bourguignon, duck parmentier and tête de veau.
Signature: Tête de veau sauce gribiche, Parmentier de canard
Order: Tête de veau with gribiche, if you want the bistro classic done straight.
Tip: The kitchen runs non-stop from 11:45, which is rare in Lille.
French€€Vieux-LilleMon 12:00-15:00 and 18:30-22:00; Tue 12:00-15:00 and 18:30-22:30; Wed-Sat 12:00-15:00 and 18:30-23:00; Sun 11:30-15:00 and 18:30-21:30
L'Arrière Pays on Rue Basse in Lille builds open-faced sourdough tartines and regional plates, with a lunch formula that still lands under 14 euros.
Signature: Tartine en boîte, Regional cheese boards
Order: The tartine en boîte, cured ham under melted camembert with walnuts and raisins.
Tip: Two tartines run 10.90 euros and three run 12.90, which is about the cheapest sit-down lunch on this stretch of Vieux-Lille.
French bistro€€Bois-BlancsMon 12:00-22:30; Tue-Thu 12:00-23:00; Fri-Sat 12:00-23:30; Sun 10:45-22:00, non-stop
Péniche Archimède is a moored barge on the Deûle by the Esplanade in Lille, serving generous bistro plates with the water on both sides of the room.
Signature: Plat du jour, Bistro plates
Order: Whatever the day's plate is, eaten on deck.
Tip: Sunday opens at 10:45, earlier than anywhere else on this list.
Italian€€Vieux-LilleTue-Fri 11:45-14:00; Sat 11:45-15:00; closed Sunday and Monday
La Piazzetta opened on Rue de la Barre in Lille as a fresh-pasta counter and Italian grocery, run by a chef who came from Big Mamma's La Bellezza.
Signature: Fresh lasagne, Ravioli
Order: Whatever ravioli is rolled that morning.
Tip: Lunch only, five days a week. There are very few seats, so come early or take the pasta away.
French regional€€Vieux-LilleDaily 12:00-14:00 and 19:00-22:30; closed Tuesday and Wednesday lunch
Estaminet La Vieille France on Rue de Gand in Lille seats 65 and cooks the northern canon, carbonade, blanquette de veau, potjevleesch and pot au feu.
Signature: Carbonade flamande, Poulet au maroilles
Order: Carbonade flamande, cooked long in brown beer.
Tip: Closed Tuesday and Wednesday at lunch. Sixty-five covers fill up, so a weekend evening needs booking.