LOVELY LILLE!

During my travels last month I spent some time in northern France in the beautiful city of Lille, situated near the Belgian border. Beautiful architecture, streets that wind through its charming Old Quarter (Vieux Lille), and numerous excellent restaurants are all reasons to visit.

Here are three restaurants I recommend:

•L’Huitriere
An old and famous restaurant in Vieux Lille, it’s an easy place to spot with its front covered in painted tiles depicting a fishing scene. This is a one-star Michelin establishment with a beautiful dining room. Oysters (huitre means oyster) and fish are the specialties here – its signature dish is the turbot poché – turbot baked in a potato crust with butter.
Tip: If you don’t have a reservation, clients can take advantage of the restaurant’s mid-week business lunch menu, excellent value for money.
3 Rue Chats Bossus
Reservations: 03 20 55 43 41

•Brasserie La Chicorée
I had a very pleasant lunch here – moules with cream sauce (delicious!) & frites (mussels and fries, very traditional). Just look for the Visitor Center on Place Rihour and the restaurant is across the way. Lively atmosphere, and in warm weather, guests can enjoy the terrace.

•Le Sebastopol
I stopped here to meet the owner of this classic, one-star Michelin restaurant even though it was closed, and he showed me around the elegant dining room. A special feature is the three separate rooms where guests can dine privately (2-4 people in one, 4-10 in another and 8-20 in another).
1 Place Sébastopol
Reservations: 03 20 57 05 05

TRAVEL TIP: The Eurostar train stops in Lille, so it’s an easy destination to reach if clients are coming from London to Paris, or vice versa.