Italian€€€Vieux-LilleSun 11:00-15:00; Mon-Thu 19:00-21:30; Fri 19:15-22:30; Sat 19:00-22:30
Bacio Divino on Rue Saint-André in Lille cooks a dinner card of Italian classics six nights a week, and turns the room over to brunch every Sunday.
Signature: Lasagne, Antipasti
Order: Traditional lasagne, from the standing card.
Tip: Dinner runs Monday to Saturday. Sunday belongs entirely to the all-you-can-eat brunch.
American BBQ€€Vieux-LilleMon-Fri 10:00-15:00 and 18:00-00:00; Sat-Sun 10:00-00:00
Le Barbier qui Fume on Rue de la Monnaie in Lille smokes its own meat, onglet and Quebec-style brisket, and runs a weekday lunch formula at 18.50 euros.
Signature: Beef onglet with shallots, Quebec-style brisket
Order: Beef onglet with shallots, from the smoker.
Tip: Weekend service runs non-stop from 10:00, which is unusual for a smokehouse.
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.