As we return to the office, those lengthy weekday lunches that lead into dinner become a distant memory. A delicious meal, however, doesn’t have to, thanks to a variety of express lunches that are popping up all over the city by some of your favourite local restaurants. 

Check out these offers that are deliciously time-savvy and wallet friendly, timed perfectly to your lunch break.  

RAKU  

Take your classic sushi roll lunch to the next level and head into Raku for their weekday express lunch. For $50pp you’ll get a taste of their fan-favourite dishes including sashimi, maki rolls, vegetable tempura, white miso dashi w tofu, rice and a choice of New Zealand snapper or 150-day grain-fed scotch fillet. You’ll need to drag a friend along (min 2 guests), but we can’t imagine it would be difficult. 

Inka

Monday to Friday, for $45pp at Inka you can enjoy a chef’s selection of maki roll, sashimi, and ceviche with your choice of Tori Muneniku (corn-fed chicken breast) or lomo Saltado (scotch fillet). If this is your first time checking out Inka, we can guarantee you’ll be dying to get back.  

Blu Ginger  

If you’re feeling a hearty classic Indian curry, Blu Ginger never fails to impress. With three separate lunch banquet options, ranging up to $28.90pp (min 2ppl) which gets you an entrée of chicken tikka and onion bhajia, one main curry each (the dhal makhani and beef vindaloo is to die for) with saffron basmati rice, naan, papadums and a wine or soft drink.  

The Meat and Wine Co  

Monday through to Wednesday (12-4pm), The Meat and Wine Co has a 2 course ($49pp) or 3 -course ($59pp) express lunch, including a glass of house wine, beer or soft drink. With Szechuan calamari, pork belly, shorthorn rump, Portuguese chicken skewers and a classic crème brûlée on the menu… the term ‘express’ applies to everything but your decision-making skills. 

Marble & Grain

Head down to Marble & Grain in Braddon from 12-2pm with $15 and choose from a soul-satisfying serving of chicken schnitzel, fish and chips or a summer salad. For $5 extra you can treat yourself to a glass of house wine inside the unique European-styled steakhouse.  

Wilma  

Named in Gourmet Travellers ‘Top 82 Restaurants in Australia 2023’, progressive Asian BBQ Wilma serves up a delicious express lunch banquet with over five plates for only $45pp. Taste the likes of kingfish sashimi, the famous snag sanga, banana blossom chicken salad, sweet and sticky eggplant and hot smoked black bean and chilli beef, just to name a few. 

Buvette 

Just off National Circuit in Barton, Buvette Bistro and Wine Bar knows how to deliver in a short time frame without compromising on the culinary excellence. For $35 select from a range of mains including duck leg confit, crumbed veal saltimbocca, grilled marlin and Vanella buffalo burrata with a glass of wine, beer or soft drink to complement. 

Eightysix South 

On the Southside of town, Eightysix South’s ‘Super Quick Lunch’ is worth ducking out of the city for. For $55 you’ll get six mouth-watering dishes including house focaccia, prosciutto, roasted vegetables, salads, pumpkin and mascarpone tortellini and a banoffee pie to finish it off. Book it on a Wednesday and be forever immune to the Humpday blues. 

Whoever said quality dining experiences were reserved for the weekends were clearly mistaken. 

Spruce up the work week, your palette and enjoy!