Le Charm'en Gîte

Mathieu Boutroy, a long-time protégé of Marc Meurin prior to his six-year stint as chef at the Restaurant du Cerisier in Lille, has now opened his own restaurant in a bright space done out in a pared-back and elegant contemporary style. The refined decor is aligned with his modern and creative cuisine, which is served in the form of set menus (without options). His ambitious cooking has bags of personality, eg crab paired with carrots and enhanced with a velvety coriander sauce: on point! This is the new not-to-be-missed eatery in the greater Lille area.

Established in an early-20C textile factory on an entirely rehabilitated industrial wasteland, chef Félix Robert and his wife Nidta, after working for Alexandre Gauthier at La Grenouillère in Tokyo and then at Troisgros, now give free rein to their talents in a stripped-back, stylish interior. The chef's creative and personal repertory is dominated by seafood and vegetables and liberally scattered with nods to Japan and Asia – green curry, ponzu, shiso and saké are unveiled in set menus. One example is semi-cooked lobster with bisque-flavoured crackers paired with citrus fruit and Vietnamese c

Vicomté begins to weave its magical date-night romanticism right from the first glimpse of the Arrondeau estate and castle, whose wrought-iron conservatory, elegant ornamentation and enchanting water feature bring to mind an Impressionist painting…. Quentin Gallopyn further enhances this appealing portrait with a culinary ode to premium produce.In addition to knife-edged precision, Gallopyn expresses a fondness for rich, fruity flavours and his distinctive cuisine is often strewn with bold touches. Examples include medium rare melt-in-the-mouth fillet of lamb paired with pumpkin and bitter bla

Diners are greeted by an authentic historic interior depicted by vintage tiles and textile patterns, without forgetting a lovely walled terrace to the rear. Chef Dufranne enjoys surprising diners with original recipes and indulging them with healthy helpings. Each dish is a treasure trove of meticulously crafted ingredients and fascinating combinations. How about flash seared scallops paired with a spicy espuma of passion fruit and sautéed endives in a melt-in-the-mouth puff pastry case? The set menu enables you to select à la carte dishes and the prices are deliciously sensible. What’s not to

Take a seat in this classy establishment to sample the creative fare of an experienced chef. Inès will bowl you over with her impressive “Bible” of wines (mainly French with a preference for Corsica and Jura), and a fantastic selection of champagnes. The beverages are intelligently paired with David Grosdent’s innovative score. An uncompromising fan of exceptional produce, such as scallops from Dieppe or venison from the Ardennes, he deploys his culinary craft in an impressive display of classicism combined with modern, even playful touches. The chef frequently prepares the same ingredient in

This friendly establishment is named after an ancient Burgundy wine festival, which is far from a coincidence. It is even possible to buy a bottle to take home from the sensibly priced wine bin. The culinary score errs towards the traditional, albeit with a more contemporary lineup of suggestions. Examples include tender juicy veal garnished with a poultry sauce enriched in Comté cheese and a gratin of sliced potatoes and onions. The lunchtime menu embodies the big-hearted mindset of this culinary landmark of Tournai.

Deep in the countryside, on a cobbled section of the fabled Paris–Roubaix cycling race route, L'Arbre is run by flamboyant chef Benoît Bernard. After La Laiterie, he has changed gear with this contemporary, hearty and fresh regional cuisine. The tempting lunchtime menu draws regulars; à la carte, sea urchins and langoustines are lovingly prepared. Cream of watercress soup and poached Cadoret oysters, John Dory with mussel risotto and, for dessert, his take on the classic meringue merveilleux. Full of wit and mirth, the chef, who hails from northern France, is on first-name terms with his custo