Modern FrenchChef Antoine Coutier€€€€Vieux-LilleTue-Fri 12:00-13:15; Tue and Thu-Sat 19:30-21:00
Le 49R occupies a restored 17th-century mansion on Rue Royale in Lille, Antoine Coutier's tasting menu upstairs and a dining bar for a glass downstairs.
Signature: Single seasonal tasting menu
Order: The single menu, which is the only option in the evening.
Tip: The evening runs one menu only. The dining bar takes walk-ins for a glass and a snack.
Levantine€€Lille-CentreMon-Sat, lunch and dinner service; closed Sunday
Michel on Rue Pierre Mauroy in Lille is named for a Lebanese grandfather, a small Levantine kitchen of mezze and falafel that rewrites its card monthly.
Signature: Mezze platters, Falafel
Order: A spread of mezze, ordered for the table.
Tip: Street-food plates at lunch, longer cooking in the evening. The vegetarian half of the card is substantial.
Brasserie€€€Vieux-LilleWed-Sun 12:00-14:00; Wed-Sat 19:00-22:00
La Brasserie du Cerisier is the ground-floor room under the starred kitchen on Avenue du Peuple Belge in Lille, a weekly market card and a cocktail list.
Signature: Weekly market menu, Signature cocktails
Order: The market menu, rewritten every week.
Tip: It shares an address and a phone line with the starred dining room upstairs, so specify which one you want.
Brasserie€€Lille-CentreDaily from 10:00 until dawn
La Chicorée has run on Place Rihour in Lille since 1903, three floors of regional brasserie cooking that keep serving long after the bars close.
Signature: Moules-frites, Carbonade flamande
Order: Moules-frites, at whatever hour you arrive.
Tip: This is the room that solves a 03:00 hunger in Lille. The south-facing terrace is heated in winter.
Vegetarian€€Vieux-LilleMon 11:30-15:00 and 18:00-22:00; Wed-Fri 11:30-15:00 and 18:00-22:00; Sat 11:30-22:00; Sun 11:00-15:30 and 18:00-22:00; closed Tuesday
De Rode Koe on Rue des Trois-Mollettes in Lille cooks a fresh-produce card that leans vegetarian and vegan, with fish, meat and house burgers alongside.
Signature: Ravioles, House burgers
Order: The ravioles, from the vegetarian half of the card.
Tip: Plates land around 15 euros. Saturday runs non-stop from 11:30, which is unusual in Vieux-Lille.
Vegetarian€€GambettaMon 12:00-14:00; Tue-Sat 12:00-14:00 and 19:00-21:00; closed Sunday
Pickles on Rue Solférino in Lille is a small bistro and wine bar cooking a mostly vegetarian card that changes weekly, with everything made in house.
Signature: Weekly vegetable plates, Natural wine pairings
Order: Whatever vegetable plate leads the week's short card.
Tip: Menus run 25 to 35 euros and a la carte from 14. The natural wine list is the other reason to come.