The menu
The menu at La Vieille France: waterzooi, bone marrow, ficelle picarde and the other grandma's dishes.
51 rue de Gand, 59800, Lille03 20 31 00 57
Photograph by our guest Philippe D.
À la carte
Prices are those for table service. The menu changes with the seasons and the blackboard tells the rest. And to drink? Good beers, good wine, local aperitifs and digestifs, and an alcohol-free cocktail for the more sensible: to be discovered on the spot.
The French name under each dish is the one on the printed menu: just point to it.
Aperitif boardsLes planches apéritives
Our boards and starters cannot be ordered as a main course on their own.
The small board (2 people)
La petite planche (2 personnes)
Smout (seasoned lard), gingerbread and beer pâté, cheeses, dry sausage.
€8.00
The large board (4 people)
La grande planche (4 personnes)
Smout (seasoned lard), gingerbread and beer pâté and prune pâté, cheeses, dry sausages.
€15.00
Croquette board
Planche croquettes
Maroilles croquettes and smoked herring croquettes, six pieces.
€16.00
StartersLes entrées
Beef cheek in jelly
Joue de bœuf en gelée
Beef cheek terrine, served cold with a walnut vinaigrette.
€9.00
Duo of terrines
Duo de terrines
Pork pâté with gingerbread and pork pâté with prunes.
€6.00
Bone marrow
Os à moelle
€9.00
Maroilles tart
Tarte au maroilles
€7.60
Goat's cheese waffles glazed with brown sugar
Gaufres au chèvre gratinées à la cassonade
€8.20
Maroilles croquettes
Croquettes au maroilles
Two pieces.
€7.90
Smoked herring croquettes
Croquettes de hareng fumé
Three pieces.
€7.90
The classics of the NorthLes incontournables du Nord
Sides: fries and salad, rice, or the side of the day. Sauces: mayonnaise, Maroilles, wholegrain mustard.
Carbonade flamande
Beef slow-cooked in beer, with gingerbread and dark vergeoise sugar.
€18.50
Chicken in sauce, gratinated with Maroilles
Poulet en sauce gratiné au maroilles
Chicken leg and breast in sauce with carrots, leeks and celery, gratinated with a slice of Maroilles.
€16.80
Potjevleesch
Pieces of white meat, pork, rabbit and chicken, in a vinegar jelly. Cold dish.
€17.20
Maroilles tart
Tarte au maroilles
Cheese tart. Vegetarian dish.
€16.30
Chicken waterzooi
Waterzoï de poulet
Chicken cooked in broth with carrot, celery, leek and crème fraîche.
€17.10
Traditional welsh
Welsh traditionnel
A slice of bread moistened with beer, mustard, ham, cheddar and beer, all browned in the oven. Also available in a vegetarian version.
€16.90
Maroilles welsh
Welsh au maroilles
A slice of bread soaked in beer, mustard, ham and Maroilles, all browned in the oven. Vegetarian version on request.
€17.90
Regional platter
Assiette régionale
A selection of regional specialities: carbonade, potjevleesch, Maroilles croquette and Maroilles welsh.
€23.50
Our specialitiesNos spécialités
Mussels and fries
Moules-frites
Chef's sauce or Maroilles sauce.
€16.70
Smoked herring croquettes
Croquettes de hareng fumé
Four pieces.
€17.20
Maroilles croquettes
Croquettes au maroilles
Four pieces. Vegetarian dish.
€16.80
Grilled andouillette (chitterling sausage)
L'andouillette grillée
Served with mustard sauce or Maroilles sauce.
€16.70
Ficelle picarde
Crêpe with béchamel, cheese, mushrooms and smoked ham.
€17.00
Goat's cheese welsh
Welsh au chèvre
A slice of bread moistened with beer, mustard, ham, goat's cheese and beer, all browned in the oven.
€17.20
North Sea salad
Salade de la mer du Nord
Salad, raw vegetables, smoked salmon and smoked herring croquettes.
€18.80
Monsieur Seguin salad
Salade Monsieur Seguin
Salad, raw vegetables and goat's cheese waffles glazed with brown sugar.
€16.50
Children's menu (up to 12 years old)
Menu enfant (jusqu'à 12 ans)
Carbonade or smoked ham, served with fries, a mini dessert (merveille or ice cream) and a 25 cl soft drink.
€13.00
DessertsLes desserts
The flamanderole
La flamanderole
Thin regional all-butter waffles, regional vanilla and dark chocolate ice creams, hot chocolate, speculoos crumbs and whipped cream.
€8.90
Speculoos or chocolate merveille
Merveille au spéculoos ou au chocolat
Meringues, speculoos or chocolate whipped cream, whipped cream, and speculoos crumbs or chocolate shavings.
€6.80
Chocolate fondant
Moelleux au chocolat
Served with regional vanilla ice cream and whipped cream.
€7.00
Brioche French toast
Brioche perdue
Served with a scoop of regional vanilla ice cream and whipped cream.
€7.80
Dessert platter
Assiette gourmande
Mini speculoos merveilleux, chocolate fondant and a scoop of ice cream.
€8.00
Café gourmand
The dessert platter served with a coffee.
€8.80
Thé gourmand
The dessert platter served with a tea.
€9.00
Irish gourmand
The dessert platter served with an Irish coffee.
€14.20
Ice creamsLes glaces
Café noyé
A scoop of vanilla ice cream drowned in a coffee, with whipped cream.
€7.00
Colonel du Nord
Regional lemon sorbet and Loos genever, 4 cl.
€7.80
Dame Suzon
Regional vanilla ice cream, salted butter caramel, whipped cream and speculoos pieces.
€8.20
Dame blanche
Regional vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce, whipped cream and chocolate shavings.
€8.20
Menu of June 2026. Prices include VAT and service. Tap water served free of charge on request. The list of allergens is available from the team. Alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health, drink in moderation.
Where to find us
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