La Chicorée

La Chicorée stands at 15 place Rihour and has been there since 1903, according to its own account and Lille's tourist office. It is not trying to be an intimate little estaminet: this is a multi-level brasserie with a covered terrace, opposite the metro entrance and a short walk from the Grand Place. The menu brings together northern French dishes and broader brasserie choices, including welsh, Flemish beef stew, mussels and chips, and gratinated onion soup. It is a place to sit down after exploring the centre without heading back into Old Lille.

Its most useful feature for a visitor may be the long opening window. The tourist office lists daily opening from morning into the early hours, with later closing Thursday to Saturday. Being open does not necessarily mean the full kitchen is serving, so check if you plan a very late meal. Guest opinion is more mixed than at some neighbouring restaurants: some value the location and wide menu, while others question the service or value when the dining room is very busy. That balance matters when deciding where to eat.

The easiest approach is Rihour station on metro line 1, directly by the square. The location works well if time is short before catching a train; for a slower dinner among old streets, a walk to an estaminet in Old Lille may be more appealing. The official website provides the menu and a booking route. The tourist office lists a terrace, highchairs and a lift, useful for groups and families, although specific availability should be checked with the venue.