American BBQ€€Lille-CentreDaily 10:00-00:00
The Place Rihour branch of Le Barbier qui Fume in Lille runs non-stop from 10:00 to midnight, and puts smoked ham and Galloway cheddar into its welsh.
Signature: Welsh with smoked ham, Smoked brisket
Order: The welsh, made with smoked ham and Galloway cheddar.
Tip: Non-stop service all day means it solves the 16:00 problem in central Lille.
French regional€€Vieux-LilleMon-Thu 09:00-00:00; Fri-Sat 09:00-01:00; Sun 09:00-00:00
Le Porthos on Rue de la Monnaie in Lille is a brick-walled estaminet cooking the regional card: carbonade, potjevleesch and welsh, served all day at weekends.
Signature: Carbonade flamande, Potjevleesch
Order: Carbonade flamande, with the house frites.
Tip: The kitchen runs 12:00 to 14:00 and 19:00 to 22:00 on weekdays, then straight through from 12:00 to 22:30 on Saturday and to 22:00 on Sunday.
French bistroChef Anatole Thomas€€GambettaTue 10:00-00:00; Wed 11:00-00:00; Thu 10:00-02:00; Fri-Sat 11:00-02:00; Sun 10:00-17:00; closed Monday
Bouillant took over the old Café de la Paix on Rue Léon Gambetta in Lille, seventies furniture and orange paint over a sharp, unnostalgic market card.
Signature: Boudin with marinated apples, Teriyaki pork terrine
Order: Boudin with marinated apples and almond granola.
Tip: Wine by the glass starts at 4 euros and a 50cl pitcher runs 13 euros, which is why the room stays full late.
French bistroChef Ryo Nakamura€€Lille-CentreDaily 12:00-14:00 and 19:00-22:00
Bleu Canard is a long narrow canteen on Rue Pierre Mauroy in Lille, floral wallpaper and moleskine banquettes around Ryo Nakamura's market cooking.
Signature: Crispy pork breast, Sesame mille-feuille
Order: Crispy pork breast with white peach.
Tip: Children get adapted portions and something to draw on, which is rare in a room cooking at this level.
French bistro€€Saint-MichelTue-Wed 12:00-15:00 and 18:00-00:00; Thu 12:00-15:00 and 18:00-01:00; Fri 12:00-15:00 and 18:00-02:00; Sat 18:00-02:00; closed Sunday and Monday
Café Bellot on Rue Jeanne d'Arc in Lille is a neighbourhood bar and bistro in one, chalkboard plates at lunch and natural wine into the small hours.
Signature: Potato croquettes with smoked trout, Pork meatballs with cheddar
Order: Potato croquettes stuffed with smoked trout, in trout roe cream.
Tip: Lunch runs on reservation only. A Burgundy red starts around 7 euros a glass.
Mexican€€Saint-SauveurWed-Sat 12:00-14:00 and 19:00-22:00; closed Sunday to Tuesday
Beatriz brought contemporary Mexican cooking to Boulevard Jean-Baptiste Lebas in Lille, brick walls and zellige behind a counter of ceviche and tacos.
Signature: Dorade ceviche, Grilled mushroom taco
Order: The dorade ceviche, for its tiger's milk.
Tip: The lunch menu is 24 euros. The tequila list is longer than the wine list, so ask for a recommendation.