Au Vieux de la Vieille

Au Vieux de la Vieille is a traditional estaminet at 2 Rue des Vieux Murs in Vieux-Lille, in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France. It sits on a narrow historic street near the old town walls and is one of several estaminets in the neighbourhood that keep the Flemish tavern tradition alive.

The dining room has the rustic, low-beamed character typical of the area's traditional taverns, with exposed beams, bric-a-brac and an authentic Flemish atmosphere. The mood is cosy and informal, noise is moderate, and there is no dress code. It suits groups and couples looking for a hearty, unfussy meal.

The cooking is simple, beer-and-cheese-driven northern French fare rather than anything delicate. The Welsh de Lille is the signature, a melted-cheese-and-beer dish poured over ham and bread, a regional variant on Welsh rarebit. Carbonnade flamande, a slow-braised beef stew with beer and onions, is the second pillar of the menu, and the crème brûlée au spéculoos finishes the meal with the spiced Flemish biscuit flavour. Mains cost roughly €14 to €22.

Portions run large and the dishes are rich, so the restaurant is better suited to a lighter lunch elsewhere that day than to pairing with a big breakfast. Beer is the natural drink, and the heavy dishes pair best with a local ale. Service is Tuesday to Saturday for lunch from 12:00 to 14:30 and dinner from 19:00 to 22:00; it is closed Sunday and Monday. Reservations are recommended, particularly for dinner on weekends, as the room is not large. Visitors with smaller appetites can share a Welsh and add a salad.