Estaminet Au Vieux De La Vieille

I had a great experience at this restaurant! The food was delicious, and the portions were impressively large—definitely good value for money. The beer was tasty and paired perfectly with the meal. The staff were very welcoming and made us feel right at home. Highly recommend!

Summary: Inattentive service, average food and wine, atmosphere not different from other much better restaurants with outdoor seating. Will not recommend. Servers were running about as they seemed very busy during lunch time. Maybe try a less busy time if you still want to try your luck. My waiter was inattentive and only interested to quickly be done with it. I was initially thinking of ordering dessert to be served later and asking for his recommendation for a wine pairing. But since he was not paying attention and already looking/ shouting over to talk to his colleague across another table, I did not bother ordering much and kept to a simple main and a random wine. No bread offered and didn't check in at all if I need anything else (not even water). When I eventually got up and paid my bill (you have to go to the till; they don’t do it at your table), I was asked if the food was okay. When I gave my honest answer, no apologies offered either. The food — I ordered the Welsh au maroilles. It was so salty to the point of being inedible. I barely finished one-third of my plate. The salad was just bland and tasteless. The frites was probably the only saving grace but still nothing to write home about. Atmosphere - It’s all nice when it’s sunny but you get that everywhere else. So don’t bother here. Reminders (general): Despite all the above, if you still want to try this, make sure to reserve in advance. Places and restaurants get filled up easily in Lille. When sat outside, be prepared for secondhand smoke. Your coat, clothes and even your food will smell of secondhand smoke. People there will not be considerate of you even in restaurants.

Nice traditional atmosphere and generous portions, but food quality was inconsistent. Service was okay, though the ordering policy felt a bit strict. Worth trying for local dishes, but not a must-return spot.

We were looking around to have dinner and chanced upon this hidden gem . We are promptly attended to by a lady and were given a nice table outside and since the weather was great this was what we had requested as well. The service was stellar and I wish other restaurants could take some lessons from the staff here about customer service . The beef stew was just right , the Maroilles was very nice and our daughter loved the experience . Highly recommended for someone who wants to enjoy the traditional experience and cuisine

Incredible and typical Lillois restaurant. The service is very cheerful, the food is good (very, VERY rich). Great Lillois experience The tarte au Maroilles and the croquettes au maroilles are a must try !

Great atmosphere and really nice service. Food was good , typical of estaminet.

Really lovely traditional restaurant where if you're a vegetarian you will eat a lot of cheese and will love it. Their vegetarian dish is a Tarte Morailles which is essentially (sorry Lille) a savoury cheesecake on a pastry base. It is delicious. Rich yet light, fluffy yet cheesy. The atmosphere is great, the staff are welcoming, the beer is excellent and did I mention the cheese, guys the CHEESE. My dining partners who eat meat like sickos also loved it so there's that too I guess. You should go probably. Oh and the chips are crispy and fluffy and the mayo is delicious. Love u bye x

We wanted to try some local dishes and this place was recommended as a good place to visit. We arrived around 6.30pm and we were seated straight away. Service was good, polite and friendly despite our attempts at French! I had The Welsh- beer soaked bread, mustard, ham and a Marollies cheese sauce. My husband had the black pudding tart Tartin. We really enjoyed both dishes but, for us, the tart was the best. Big portions too! Then we shared the frankly huge Flanderole, which was fabulous - waffle, two scoops of chocolate and vanilla ice cream, hot chocolate sauce, caramelised nuts and lots of whipped cream. Good prices. Definitely recommend

You pop in and it's there, pungent and unavoidable. Bordering on some luscious stinkness, the warm cheese-laden air welcomes you at this little estaminet, half bar, half restaurant. You may have had many strong cheeses in you life, even Munster and Stilton, but Maroilles is nothing like those. I'm serious. The staff are less serious, though, but in a positive way. I've been suggested by French acquaintances to have the legendary Welsh Au Fromage, a Lille specialty this estaminet is famous for. And - ça va sans dire - I'm in need of the Maroilles version of if. I've been told that on both sides of the English channel, this dish used to be a substitute for rabbit. In essence, it's a thin slice of bread that's been soaked in beer, with some wholegrain mustard and ham layered up. Of course, the chief ingredient here is a ludicrous amount of Maroilles added on top before the dish is whacked in the oven to melt and bronze up. As I wait, I'm carried away by the atmosphere which feels like some dimmed-light medieval tavern, unpretentiously painted in opaque colours. We're in a "vieux" place after all. Wooden beams, ancient larders and dried flowers browned by the passing of time, do the trick. A chalice-like glass of golden Goudale ("Good Ale") shortens the wait. But the Welsh au Maroilles does not tarry. It's now sitting right in front of me to awaken my senses with the mighty odour of its presence. I'd love to tell that I had a first big mouthful without any hesitation. But that would be a lie. Still irresolute, I begin with the fries, crisp and creamy at the same time, roughly resembling Belgian fries - just not as crisp. So I dive in. The molten Maroilles surely dominates the flavour. Then comes the mustard, and then the beer. The way saltiness and bitterness go together gets me. And this flavour assembly is punctuated by the grains of mustard, somewhere between vinegar and mold. If you haven't guessed it yet, the taste of the cheese somehow mellows throughout the alchemy that the oven does. Not least, because this may help persuade first-time visitors. The desserts menu is no less interesting - mainly French classics. Crème Brûlée and Muscovado Sugar on Crêpes seemed in order so as to contrast the sharpness of the main course. Obviously, Crème Brûlée is more elaborate, but this was executed to perfection. Only slightly - microscopically, even - disappointing was that a vanilla pod seemed to be missing. And yet the caramelised top was undeniably flawless, and crackly, and luscious. Very good value for money, the bill came to about 48€ (42£) for two. To be repeated, in winter or whenever.

This is more regarded by locals then I can say. We had 7pm reservations when they opened. We placed our order. Got drinks and pate and cheese plate. Our dinner didnt come out for over another 1 hour. While sitting outside we asked to move inside because it was getting cold and was told no. Beef specialty was ok. The others like their Welsh ham and cheese dish which also is a specialty. Decent beer and wine list. Too many other places around to choose this place with poor service.

Kind but bad service, our meals weren't served at the same time, it's like we haven't got lunch together. The duck asked medium rare was over cook. Quality is ok but no surprise here. Good beer btw !

Was at this restaurant back in October 2015, and overall, it turned out to be good! Super small and cramped, but had a rustic, cozy charm to it. Served local dishes of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region Ordered the carbonnade flamande: beef was super tender and boozy with beer (which I loved) and the fries were crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside. Glad that I went!

First let me say that the service at au vieux de la vielle was wonderful. We passed an enjoyable dinner at the establishments, the menu was good, prices were fair and the wine list was excellent. Unfortunately, as American tourists, we had a hard time with the Welsch Maroilles- particularly my pregnant sister. Other yelp reviews indicate that this resto makes a delicious version of this regional specialty but it just wasn't for us. My cousin, however, ordered the carbonnade and that was quite tasty. If you're sensitive to smells, perhaps pass on the regional Maroilles cheese and opt for the carbonnade instead.

The frites here are very good! They come out fresh and hot. Dressings are also prompt; ketchup, mayonnaise, and Dijon mustard. However they are not so prompt bring back your change. Food is delicious, the bier blonde also as much!

Great location, service and local food. Made our night with a pleasant dinner out side. Ask the waiters for a table and not the hostess.

Just arrived in Lille. My husband and I agree this spot is delicious. Perhaps the best frites I've ever had, and only 2 Euro! What a deal, lovely ambiance and great service. We may have to go back again tomorrow.

Love this restaurant! Perfect place to sample classic northern French cuisine. Always very busy and sometimes a bit of a wait for a table but it's always worth it. The only thing that is slightly inconvenient is the small area designated for paying the bill, if it's a busy day it takes que a while to pay at the register. However, they do their best to move it along as fast as possible!

They have some good Flemish dishes but most are the hearty winter type (lots of melted cheese). We were there on a hot day. Nice cozy location so winter/fall may be a better time of year to go.

A lot of fried shit. Crevettes were a desaster. The sausage was disgusting. My beef with beer was tender, but had nothing special. Each plate comes with french fries, what a joke.

The waitress refused to serve us because we were American and we later discovered she spoke English after I struggled to explain a miscommunication in French. We were served drinks on the patio, and they were mediocre at best. Try a friendlier place if you're not a native French speaker

This place was great for traditional french dishes. We were in a group of 6 and we all ordered different things to try. Had a cheese and meat plate for an appetizer which was enjoyed by all. I had a traditional dish of beef that seemed slow cooked and was fantastic. I think it was called carbonade flamonde. You must try it if you like beef.