In Lille on a solo mission of book-buying (Berthet’s essay collection proved elusive so I reluctantly got a novel published post-post-mortem) and art-looking between one and the other I was looking for a decent, cheap lunch. I got half of that offer.

Locals would probably know where the smart eating would be close the Beaux Arts but out front there’s a massive underused Place and around the back not much going on gastro-wise. So following the dictum of when you’re hungry the best restaurant is the one you’re standing next to I went into Le Matignon.

To be fair to Le M’s team they didn’t pretend to be innovative or high quality on the dining front. It’s a locals bar that does simple food for people with simple tastes. Not faux-sophisticated North Londoners like myself.

I wanted to maintain the local vibe so opted for a ‘Chti Burger and a pint of Pelforth. Did I want to sit on the terrace (it was a beautiful, sunny day). Nope, being suited up I preferred the gloom of the interior where I could see the interaction of chef and server playing out in an off-on friendly way in a difficult accent.

I drank my beer rapidly. Books make me thirsty. The server brought me another after the mere raise of an eyebrow. (Extra point for that.) The Chti Burger arrived. This was a hefty grind of beef mince bien cut, slathered with a mysterious white sauce, with a massive pile of chips and about 10g of shredded iceberg alongside.

The chips were welcome, the mystery sauce if only for delivering the required moisture to sink the chips. Frankly, I wouldn’t have given the ‘salad’ to my chickens. The burger was kind of fine, being ample.

As I walked to the museum it seemed that every step of the way I saw a fresh restaurant that was better than mine, with seductive lunchtime offers plastered in the windows. Had the chef of Le M mesmerised me? If so, I was happy enough. The food to cost quotient softened the blow of the savage usury that I’d endured at the money changer’s on arrival in the city.

6/10 (inc beer supplement)

To see where else I’ve been click on the google map below.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=18qCyiPZih_gzhGG8mwfacnNRWD3b0bo&ehbc=2E312F

Art Food Art lille Restaurant