Just because you need a quick bite for lunch doesn't mean you can't treat yourself. Be'wiched touts itself as one of the few chef-driven delis in the Midwest, and it certainly lives up to the billing. Classics like pastrami on rye or roast beef on ciabatta are crafted with artisan-like dedication and filled with exquisite flavors. A bevy of salads and soups round out the menu.

Pizza pies at this local chain are wood-fired, resulting in maximum flavor and pleasantly crisp crusts. Unexpected ingredients like cayenne salami are fresh and appetizing, as are basics like tomatoes and mozzarella. A wide selection of vegetarian options, a decent array of salads, and a wine list that's better than you might imagine are even more reason to take a leisurely lunch at Punch.

This cozy Italian deli has a few seats in the dining room, but most folks grab panini or a slice of pizza to take back to the office. Other lunch choices include hot dishes like spinach lasagna, manicotti, and an ever-changing daily pasta special. Those eating light can try the arugula salad with asiago cheese and orange-balsamic vinaigrette, or a house salad with pistachios and champagne dressing. Later in the day, the cucina does a brisk dinner business; Broders' Pasta Bar across the street also serves evening eats.

Cheap and vegetarian-friendly, KinhDo is a hit with the Twin Cities lunch crowd. Along with Vietnamese recipes, the menu features Chinese and Thai influences in the tasty fare. Everyday lunch specials (including soup) are available at around $6.39 – a superb noontime bargain. Most dishes are noodle-based and feature an array of meats and masterfully cooked tofu. The majority of dishes can also be prepared vegan upon request. Crunchy egg rolls and spring rolls are palatable additions to any meal.

Greece, Russia, France, and Mexico happily commingle at this eclectic bistro near the U of Minnesota campus. Locals are well-acquainted with Kafe 421 as an always-interesting dinner spot, but a selection of hearty specialty sandwiches makes lunch an equally appealing prospect. Try the pepperjack avocado burger on a toasted focaccia roll or the croque monsieur, made with fontina cheese and caramelized onions. Chicken, turkey, and grilled portobello mushrooms also make appearances.

The menu mainstay at this landmark restaurant (since the 1930s) is a mouthwatering selection of steaks. Enjoy the legendary broiled New York sirloin or prime rib. An ultra-long bar has a stained glass window that depicts the seven dwarfs. Call ahead for reservations, and a black matchbook bearing your name will be waiting at your table.

At Pizza Lucé, the delectable pies are made from scratch, and you can top them with just about anything you desire – high-quality ingredients like seafood, chicken, eggplant, and artichoke hearts. Standard pies to exotic concoctions are possible, and homemade pastas and salads make for a great lunch, as do hoagies. Pizza Luce also offers vegetarian and vegan options and is a fantastic place for late-night dining, as you can tell by the crowds.

This legendary deli features homemade Ukrainian dishes like nalesnyky (meat-stuffed, cheese-topped crepes) and varenyky (dumplings stuffed with meat, cheese, potatoes, or sauerkraut). Other possibilities include cabbage rolls, sausage-spinach rolls, or goulash. Enjoy your meal in the big, open dining room, and then stop by the counter for homemade Krakowsa sausage or a kolachi, a wonderful, cream-filled pastry.

Style steals the show at The News Room, where the spacious patio overlooks Nicollet Mall and the kitchen serves up "three squares" every day. The space plays up the newsy theme, and the walls in each room are decorated with covers and clips devoted to different sections from the newspaper. Also newsworthy are the loos, which have prison-issue toilets and one-way mirrors behind the sinks. As for the eats, the lunch menu caters to just about any type or size of appetite, from salads topped with pecan-crusted tilapia, to Chicago-style Italian beef sandwiches, to full-on feasts of Southern-fried chicken and garlic mashed potatoes smothered in country gravy.