(, 5 Rue Saint Joseph in Lille, France)

Au Bout des Doigts(At your fingertips)in the heart of Old Lille is all about surprise. The dining r...oom is set in an old piano warehouse where the space gives play to the asymmetrical furniture and the invigorating colours. The menu concept all challenge your assumptions. Here’s the nub: Au Bout des Doigts serves every complete meal without knives, forks or spoons. You choose plates of meat, fish or a combination, veg, dessert and chef Fabrice Vermuse creates combinations of flavours to delight the palate, combinations of familiar flavours and more unusual ingredients. Eight to twelve bites make a meal and the whole table can share in the feast. This is a concept that works terrifically well with groups of friends, but also very well with working lunches or dinners as there’s no service interruption every five minutes. Eat, brainstorm, enjoy. And yes, there are fountains where you wash your hands. Groups of any size up to the hire of the entire restaurant, accommodating 180, are most welcome. Every first Wednesday there are musical evenings where you can discover local artistes. Upon arrival, please inform the restaurant that your booking was made via toptable. Please note that on Saturdays there are two sittings at 7:30pm and 10pm Opening hours: Mon 7:30pm - 10:30pm Tue - Fri 12pm - 2pm & 7:30pm - 10:30pm Sat 7:30pm – 11pm Sun: closed all day [moreless]

(22 Rue de la Barre in Lille, France)

Au Gout du Jour restaurant in the heart of Lille is exactly what it says – the best, freshest flavou...rs of the market transformed by chef Caroline Dubuisson into seasonal dishes with more than a touch of innovation. The menu is organized into ‘Instincts’ and ‘Creations, and it is a point of honour at Au Gout du Jour that absolutely everything is made right here, from veg to sauces to desserts. The restaurant itself is terrifically warm and attractive, with bistro seating, colourful place settings, wrought iron chandeliers and charming décor that all add up to a relaxed setting for Dubuisson’s high-calibre cuisine. Dishes may include smoked duck breast and kiwi with honey vinaigrette, scallops flambéed with Calvados, and coffee-speculoos crème brulee, though top marks might just go to the restaurant’s own carbonade. Reasonable, interesting wines, well-priced menus and friendly service. Upon arrival, please inform the restaurant that your booking was made via toptable. Please note that this restaurant only take bookings up to 10 people. Opening hours: Tue - Sat 7:30pm - 10:30pm Sun - Mon : closed all day Au Gout du Jour is a favourite of the local Club des Bons Vivants... [moreless]

(16 Rue de Pas in Lille, France)

Restaurant Clément Marot in the touristic centre of Lille has history and style galore. The warm, r...ustic/modern dining room features peached paneling, antler chandeliers, wooden beams, and smart curving banquettes at circular tables. Chef Francois Vandeweghe uses the finest local and seasonal produce to create traditional dishes according to his mood – and remember that Lille is as much Flemish as French. The menu might include snail and tomato puff pastry tart with parsley sauce, veal kidneys with mustard and lemon sauce, and a marvelous rhubarb crumble with liquorice ice cream, followed by truly superb coffee. More than 250 wines await you in the cellar. For private dining, there are three rooms adaptable for banqueting, meetings or presentations. The elegant Chicoree Room seats up to 36 diners. The La Porte Room, with its grand, antique fireplace, private courtyard and cream walls, is superb for art exhibitions and cocktail parties. The Upper Room on the first floor seats up to 25. Get the full joie de vivre of Clément Marot – book a cookery lesson (in French) either privately or for your corporate group of 14 to 24, including apron, jacket and chef’s hat with the company logo and certificates of achievement. Upon arrival, please inform the restaurant that your booking was made via toptable. Clément Marot organises cooking classes - please see details under the menu section. Opening hours: Mon - Sat 12pm - 2:30pm & 7pm - 10:30pm Sun: 12pm - 2:30pm [moreless]

(21 Boulevard Jean Baptiste Lebas in Lille, France)

Located on the Boulevard Jean Baptiste Lebas in an old cheese warehouse in Lille, La Cour des Vignes... is a chic restaurant spread out over three different dining environments. The sunny covered courtyard is perfect Sunday brunches and business meetings, while the bar – with moody lighting and cosy leather armchairs – is perfect for after-work cocktails and light bites. The salon – with an ethnic theme – is perfect for romantic evening meals. We love the innovative menu at La Cour des Vignes, and signature dishes include the beef carpaccio lightly spiced with paprika and served with apples and salad; the skewer of the sea with mullet, cuttlefish and prawns served with ratatouille; and the roasted sirloin of beef with shallot butter. Upon arrival, please inform the restaurant that your booking was made via toptable. Opening hours: Mon - Tue & Thu - Fri 11:30am - 2pm & 7:30pm - 11:30pm Sat 7:30pm - 11:30pm Sun 11:30am - 2pm Wed: closed La Cour des Vignes is located inside an old cheese warehouse in Lille... [moreless]

(23 Boulevard Jean Baptiste Lebas in Lille, France)

Lille's in-the-know locals love this hidden gem tucked away on boulevard Jean Baptiste Lebas. Discre...et and chic all at the same time, this cocktail lounge come restaurant is ideal for stylish nights out, and serves a traditional French menu. Split between two levels – the bar on the first floor at L'Antr'Act is decorated with beige wood panelling, vibrant orange feature walls and soft green leather seats, making it the perfect place for pre/post dinner drinks; whilst downstairs, the basement dining room – with historic old vaulted ceilings and candlelit tables – is a brilliant venue for romantic rendezvous and tête-à-tête meals. L'Antr'Act has a fantastic French wine list, and is perfect for intimate dinner parties. Upon arrival, please inform the restaurant that your booking was made via toptable. A credit card is required for bookings of 20 people or more, absolutely no money will be charged to your card, this is just to secure the booking. Opening hours: Mon - Tue 11:30am - 2pm Wed - Fri 11:30am - 2pm & 7pm - 10pm Sat 7pm - 10pm Sun: closed [moreless]

(51 Rue de Gand in Lille, France)

This rustic bistro-chic restaurant located on the rue de Gand in Lille is a super-friendly establish...ment serving delicious home-style French/Flemish fusion fare. The dining room at L'Authentique Estaminet has wood-panelled walls, vaulted ceilings, plenty of candles and blackboard specials giving the place a warm, inviting French-gastro-pub vibe, and a private dining room in the cellar is also available for parties and conferences. The restaurant is also popular for its summer terrace, and L'AUthentique has several beers on tap as well as a fab French wine list. Favourite dishes include the beef carbonade – a Flemish beer and beef casserole; the potchevleesch – a traditional terrine made with chicken, rabbit, cognac, onions and garlic; and the tarte tatin – an upside-down apple tart. Upon arrival, please inform the restaurant that your booking was made via toptable. Opening hours: Mon - 7pm - 10:30pm Tue - Fri 12pm - 1:30pm & 7pm - 10:30pm Sat 7pm - 10:30pmSun 12pm - 1:30pm L'Authentique Estaminet serves heart French/Flemish fusion food... [moreless]

(10 Rue de Pas in Lille, France)

L’Ecume des Mers in Lille lies near the Grand’ Place, just ten minutes’ walk from both train station...s – and it’s open every single day of the year, even in August, so you are always assured of a warm welcome and fantastic seafood. L’Ecume des Mers (it means ‘sea foam’) is the younger sister of longtime favourite l’Huitriere. The smart marine bleu and white front leads into an elegant mezzanined dining space in cool shades of blues, greys and creams with soaring ceiling and tables arranged around a central bar. The menu, under the care of chef Christian Leroy, depends on the catch of the day, but usually includes oysters, fruits de mers and all manner of wild fish (only salmon is farmed) in dishes like skate in black butter. There are land-based dishes, too, and ten menus available for larger parties. Groups have the benefit of the upstairs Petit Salon seating up to 12, the Library seating up to 60, or the main dining room seating up to 100. A covered terrace comes into its own in the warm months. The intelligent wine list features a wine of the month available by the glass, pichet or bottle. Upon arrival, please inform the restaurant that your booking was made via toptable. A credit card is required to reserve a table, if there is availability - this is simply to secure your booking, absolutely no money will be charged to the card except in the case of late cancellations. A fee of €30 per person will be charged for a cancellation within 48 hours or for a no show Opening hours: Mon - Sat 12pm - 2:30pm & 7pm - 11pm Sun 12pm - 2:30 [moreless]

(3 Rue des chats bossus in Lille, France)

L'Huîtrière restaurant in the pretty streets of Vieux Lille is already a tourist attraction for its ...tiled Art Deco frontage done up in piscatorial themes. This is true French gastronomy – l’'Huîtrière began in the 1800’s as an oyster stall that grew into a culinary institution with a Michelin star firmly attached. You approach the shrine to the sea through an unassuming portal at the rear of the still-thriving fishmonger, then enter a very traditional, very charming dining room. This is an amuse-bouche sort of place with confident, swift waiters and a parade of perfect dishes proceeding from the kitchen. Shellfish and things of the sea are, of course, the heart of the menu, like turbot in potato crust with butter, mussel and truffle sauce. Beer features heavily in the menu, along with other fine local ingredients. The fine wine list features some heavy-hitting labels and vintages alongside smaller producers. Menus sometimes centre around a particular ingredient, like asparagus in season. Private groups can take advantage of the Salon Bar (up to 17 diners), the Maire Andre' (up to 70) or the Salle Réunion(up to 65). A presentation room downstairs is perfect for meetings, seminars or speeches before a fabulous meal in one of the other spaces. Hire of all of l'Huîtrière lets you up the guest list to 100. Upon arrival, please inform the restaurant that your booking was made via toptable. A credit card is required to reserve a table, if there is availability - this is simply to secure your booking, absolutely no money will be charged to the card except in the case of late cancellations. A fee of €40 per person will be charged for a cancellation within 48 hours or for a no show Opening hours: Mon - Sat 12pm - 2pm & 7pm - 10pm Sun 12pm - 2pm [moreless]

(82 Rue de Gand in Lille, France)

La Belle Histoire restaurant in Lille at the foot of the Porte de Gand brings the taste of Provence ...to the very heart of the North. The atmospheric dining room is très Vieux Lille, with artful part-exposed brick, furnishings in wrought iron, candles and fairy lights, and fascinating works of art. La Belle Histoire is a favourite among clued-up locals for romantic evenings and relaxed meals with friends. The refined cuisine has particular depth in the fish and seafood dishes and is full of surprises, like starter of scallop carpaccio with two citron fruits, main course of tarragon squid and wild rice in tagine, and dessert of chocolate raviolis with crème anglais. The short, carefully-chosen wine list is packed with discoveries. Hire of the whole venue for a special party lets you invite up to 45, and there’s a terrace for warm evenings. Upon arrival, please inform the restaurant that your booking was made via toptable. Opening hours: Mon - Thu & Sun 7:30pm - 10:30pm Fri - Sat 7:30pm - 11pm Sun: closed all day [moreless]

(60 Rue St Etienne in Lille, France)

Le Coquille restaurant in Vieux Lille just a few short steps from the Grand’ Place and the Nouveau S...iecle gives you rather a huge hint in its name: this is absolutely the place in Lille for shellfish and seafood in all its glory. Set in a lovely 18th century house of exposed antique bricks and beams and fitted with typical northern rustic furniture, Le Coquille is one of the most welcoming restaurants in town. Dany and Olivier Deleval employ the freshest seasonal ingredients from local markets and seem to make everything that arrives at the table themselves. Even the bread is baked in-house. Dishes include salmon cru with olive oil on a roquette nest, red mullet on al dente vegetables with rice and ginger confit, and chocolate millefeuille with cherry Kriek jam. The formule menus including wine are superb value. The ground floor seats 60 and the first floor dining room, superb for private events, seats up to 25. Upon arrival, please inform the restaurant that your booking was made via toptable. Opening hours: Tue - Sat 12pm - 2pm Mon - Sat 7pm - 10pm Sun : closed all day [moreless]