Charcut Roast House
With a 45-minutes-in-and-out guarantee, Charcut’s “Lunch All At Once” special is famous around town. For only $15 you get a tasty soup, sandwich, pickles, Parmesan fries and a bag of warm cookies to take back with you to work.
899 Centre St. S.W., 403-984-2180, charcut.com
Cibo
An individual-sized pizza, a fresh salad and your choice of scodellina (little bowls with snacks like roasted eggplant and goat cheese spread or house marinated olives) is a perfectly satisfying trio for $16.
1012 17 Ave. S.W., 403-984-4755, cibocalgary.com
The Highwood
The “live learning environment” at SAIT offers fine dining for a fraction of what you pay at most fancy restaurants. Soups, salads and starters are $6, while lunch entrees are a reasonable $12. Reservations are required.
John Ware Building, SAIT Polytechnic, 403-284-8615 ext. 2, sait.ca
Market
Bring your appetite for this three-course prix fixe lunch offering a lineup of locally sourced choices that are different every day for $25.
718 17 Ave. S.W., 403-474-4414, marketcalgary.ca
Q Haute Cuisine
Call it a value splurge – $25 for three courses from the constantly changing menu that may look something like carrot velout with chive crme fraiche to start, brined pork loin with lentil pilaf and honey-glazed beets and panna cotta for dessert. Plus you’re guaranteed in and out in an hour.
100 La Caille Pl. S.W., 403-262-5554, qhautecuisine.com