Hidden in a back alleyway, Les Compagnons de la Grappe is the place to come to try out Northern…read moreFrench dishes in a gorgeous garden or dining room setting. The service here was extremely friendly and attentive, offering us careful explanations of all their best dishes and accommodating all of our requests! The item to order if you don't know what to choose is the L'Assiette du Nord, a sampler plate which came with small square bowls of four of the Northern French specialties on the menu. The carbonnade was a sweet and savory stew made with tender chunks of beef and onions; the Welsh des Compagnons was a decadent dish of beer boiled with cheese, served over a slice of ham and a slice of bread (pain d'epices); the Pot'jevleesch was a cold terrine made with chunks of pork, chicken, and rabbit in a savory jelly; and the croquette de crevettes was a fritter made with a creamy batter mixed with little shrimps and served with a thick, creamy dip with herbs (almost like tzatziki). Every item on this plate was absolutely delicious, but I was a particular fan of the Welsh (great for spreading on more bread), the Pot'jevleesch (surprisingly flavorful yet refreshing), and the croquettes (the crispy exterior, the creamy, umami interior, and the cooling cream sauce went perfectly together). In addition to the sampler plate, I also ordered the Filet de Bar, or sea bass in a crispy parmesan crust, served over a tomato-onion compote in an iron plate. On the side also came a "bouillabaisse" in a tiny metal pot--this was a boiled soup made with seasonal summer vegetables including eggplant, zucchini, red onions, and tomatoes. This was a light and delicious seasonal dish, and the presentation and flavors of all the food here were extremely on point!

This was my favorite restaurant while visiting Lille…read more This cozy restaurant is set like family style... it has that warmth and shabby chick that you get as you walk into someone's dinning room. Very unpretentious and nice inside... outdoor you will find an open terrace with warm lighting and heaters for those winter days. It is a beautiful place. Having said that, the best part of this restaurant is the food... heart warming dishes, incredibly tasty bread, awesome wines and service couldn't get any better. Service here was friendly and very attentive. I usually heard of people in France being rude... but I could not disagree more. All of the people in this place were friendly... even other people at the restaurant with whom we talked for a bit and got a few recommendations as they are regulars here. We had a salmon tartare, raw tuna steak (very good), steak and fries and a lamb stew that was delicious all followed by a dessert that had a lot of things... I forgot the name but it was huge. Everything here was delicious. Prices are "very" reasonable. This place is a most visit when coming to Lille. Thumbs up.

This is a very nice bistro with a good menu. The wait staff is very friendly and eager to please…read more They have a nice selection of appetizers, salads, burgers, and traditional French food. The desserts are also excellent, even if standard fare. The atmosphere inside the restaurant is updated and convivial. I was desperate to find a good restaurant in Soissons -- this was the best I could find, which surprised me because most French towns of this size would have more options. As I was seated I noticed that there were already two corn bread muffins and a carafe of cold water waiting for me. It was a nice touch to already have them there. I ordered a Mojito as my aperitif and it was excellent! Because I was trying to eat light, the waiter helped me out by getting a larger dinner salad made for my appetizer even though it doesn't appear on the menu. I ordered the chicken breast with cheese sauce (Maroilles) and rice. The sauce was the best part, but really, it was "meh". Two large tables came in shortly after I arrived and although the waiters were constantly busy and friendly when they were waiting on me, I ended up having to wait much longer for each course of my meal, for the coffee afterwards, and for the check. This is why I give this restaurant four stars instead of five.

During my first trip to Europe and France, I made a pledge to get immersed into their food culture…read more L'Atelier did not disappoint. I had my first ever Gizzard Salad, as a starter, which was delicious. That was followed up by Calf Head. It was okay, but it could have been my mental state that hindered the taste. All this was followed by the best Crème Brûlée I've ever eaten. Truly smooth and yet tasty in the crunchy. The latest reviews of 6-9 years ago meant the establishment has stayed true to its past culinary variety and awesome taste.

We stopped here because of another Yelp review which mentioned the creme brulle, which my husband…read moreadores. It did not disappoint. Hubby said it was the beat he ever had. We got the chef's prix fix of the day. My husband choose fish and my daughter and I got the beef. Let me tell you, it was the tastiest, rarest piece of meat I've ever had. Seriously - yum! Each table got a huge plate of fries. I hated leaving good food behind (traveling-no refrigerator) but will remember this local place with great fondness. We were the only English speakers there and I don't want to ruin it for the locals, but this place deserves recognition.