UNDER $50

Bacchanalia

The deal: These party planners serve a decadent set lunch: $38 for two courses, $48 for three. All dishes are plated for sharing, and it's pretty quiet at lunch. The unmarked doors and red velvet winged armchairs give it a touch of mystery and importance—perfect for corporate gossip.
Hits & misses: We're in love with the massive Norwegian scallop (an extra $5), which comes on a bed of toothsome borlotti beans, cacao powder and a tarragon butter sauce. Also try the parasitic but extremely delicious cordycep in their four-varietal Mushroom Fantasia.
Lunch available Mon-Fri noon-3pm

Bedrock Bar & Grill

The deal: Three-course sets go for $58 (steaks) and $38 (poultry and seafood). Expect lots of businessmen in animated conversation with glasses of wine and platters of red meat—it's not a lunch you return to the office from.
Hits & misses: They've recently added more options for each course. We like the creamy and rich green asparagus bisque and the juicy flat iron steak—less so the overdone petit tender and the slightly fishy cured ocean trout. Portion are big, so do share the rich warm chocolate pudding.
Lunch available Mon-Sat noon-3pm

Binomio [Great for me-time]

The deal: Binomio isn’t as quite sexy as some other Spanish joints around the city, but you can definitely count on them for good grub. Lunch here is an affordable $35 for three courses, plus coffee/tea.
Hits & misses: The vegetable soup sticks out like a boring sore thumb among the other starters (stuffed piquillo pepper with cod brandade, eggs en cocotte), but it’s easily the best—a flawless delivery system of yeasty (think Marmite) umami flavor. While the mains pass muster generally, one should go for the outstanding paella ($10 supplement), which they do so well. Don’t bother going for the “virtuous” fruit cocktail dessert, though.
Lunch available Mon-Fri noon-1.45pm

Forlino

Lewin Terrace

Saha

The deal: Indian celeb chef Abhijit Saha has taken over Buyan's old second-floor dining room, bringing a modern light touch to the cuisine's usual bold and heavy sauces. Two courses are $38 and three $48, but no food coma afterwards.
Hits & misses: The menu changes often, but there are interesting Southern and coastal dishes. Get their interpretation of the meen moilly from Kerala: turmeric grilled seabass served with a coconut and mustard seed gravy and a side of curry leaf panna cotta. Dairy fans should try the ultra-fluffy rendition of mattar paneer, though we don't love the too-cripsy snap peas.
Lunch available Mon-Sat noon-3pm

Suhi Kuu [Value for money]

The deal: Sushi Kuu's lunch sets—16 of them—each have one main dish, plus miso soup, udon and ice cream. They put out basic but well-exectued Japanese mains, ranging from black pork cutlet rice bowls ($32) to sashimi ($40) to sea urchin, salmon roe and tuna on rice ($66).
Hits & misses: Compared to their pricey a la carte menu, the set lunches are good value for money, especially those chubby slabs of sashimi. Definitely go for the yuzu sorbet. The darkened, hushed ambience is nice for Orchard Road, though service can be a little curt when things get busy.
Lunch available daily noon-3pm

Tippling Club [Affordable fine dining]

The deal: Two courses for $42 while a three-course lunch is $57. House wines by the glass go for $15.
Hits & misses: A string of hits—a proper degustation menu that doesn't skimp on the finery. In between the courses, we got four amuse-bouche, a palate cleanser, a digestif and petit fours. The menu changes every couple of weeks but the mock turtle soup with mushroom carpaccio and lamb rump with broad beans and truffle gnocchi ($15 supplement) are standouts. Although the barramundi with milk-braised parsley root are a little heavier, palate cleansers like freeze-filtered gazpacho manage to lighten things up.
Lunch available Mon-Fri noon-3pm

The White Rabbit [great for romance]

The deal: It's $32 for two and $38 for three courses at this romantic, airy spot away from the bustle of the CBD.
Hits & misses: The food is pretty solid, despite the fact that we were a little disappointed at the repeat use of the dishes from the dinner menu. However, what they did have as a lunch exclusive was legit, namely the seared bay scallops with cauliflower puree ($6 supplement), although we wish there weren't so many dishes with supplemental charges, ranging from $6 to $10.
Lunch available Tue-Thu noon-2.30pm

Zafferano

$50-70

Jaan [Best view]

The deal: One of the city's top tables has 40 seats, pretty plates and a relatively affordable lunch. The cheapest is $68 for three courses. But there are many treats in between courses (beetroot and herbed cream cheese, for example), so you get the full fine dining experience.
Hits & misses: The menu is full of dainty but delightful touches like the Jaan's Garden, which takes up exactly a quarter of a large plate and is a "composition" of lovely spring vegetables and herbs. Plenty of good options here for vegetarians, too: the spring barley risotto with a pleasantly funky brocciu cheese comes with or without frog legs, and the fat, juicy milk-soaked white asparagus with burnt bread bits and egg yolk ravioli is a party in the mouth.
Lunch available Mon-Sat noon-2.30pm

Mikuni

The deal: There are 11 lunch sets (bento, teppanyaki and robatayaki), including the business bento ($68), premium bento "Miyabi" set ($120), sashimi set ($90) and the Australian beef steak set ($70).
Hits & misses: The business bento (one of the more affordable options), features dishes like truffle salmon sashimi, chicken karaage and grilled miso eggplant. We prefer the premium bento, which comes with mouthwatering grilled Kagoshima wagyu beef, and the very moreish teppanyaki prawns with golden sauce.
Lunch available daily noon-2.30pm

Pollen

The deal: $55 for a three-course meal and with an additional $15 for wine pairings. There are four choices for each course, though many require a $10 supplement. The space is quiet and welcoming, but be prepared to get chilly as the Flower Dome's central air-conditioning blasts through the restaurant. They thoughtfully provide pashminas, just in case.
Hits & misses: The chicken liver parfait is addictively silken with chocolate shaving adding a nice touch. Mains include an ingenious poached red snapper with black paella-stuffed squid, as well as perfectly tender Black Angus beef. Portions are small but filling, and desserts must not be missed: get the deconstructed Black Forest, a whimsical woodland diorama, as well as ABC, a round robin mix of apples, beetroot and carrot. If you do opt for wine pairings, the sommelier recommends some pretty progressive vinos.
Lunch available Tue-Sun noon-2.30pm

Sky on 57

The deal: There's the value-for-money business luncheon ($50 for three courses and $60 for four). For something more indulgent, opt for the more upscale JQ Prestige Menu, which will get you five courses for $98.
Hits & misses: No real misses here—do note, though, it's not exactly veggie-friendly. Get the aromatic signature foie gras xiao long bao (additional $8) for starters. Mains include the grilled Angus beef steak (additional $6), with Sichuan flavors, and egg fried rice. Our faves from the Asian-inspired JQ Prestige menu include the Hokkaido scallop ceviché with truffle vinaigrette and micro green.
Lunch available daily noon-2.30pm

Nadaman [Best for deal closing]

The deal: Ranging from $40-85. A seasonal "Hiru Kaiseki" menu is $65, while teppanyaki is $50. It's conducive to high-end business meetings, with a quiet environment and efficient service.
Hits & misses: The presentation is flawless, and each set comes with different courses, although the peanut tofu, edamame and jyunsai ginger appetizer are particularly refreshing. Some dishes, like the grilled iron pan beef, are pleasant but not special.
Lunch available daily noon-2.30pm

OVER $80

Yan Ting [Good for groups]

The deal: Starting from $88 per person, we opted for the six-course Experience set menu ($128). There's a minimum order of two sets, but can share them. The tables are huge, and the vibe is boisterous with a mix of businessmen and families.
Hits & misses: This Cantonese restaurant checks all the right boxes: there's a lightness to their pastries, a fineness to their dumpling skin and no greasiness whatsoever. We particularly love the pork and shrimp dumpling with black truffles and more surprisingly, the braised fish maw with sliced abalone.
Lunch available Mon-Fri noon-2.30pm

Sushi Ichi [An extra long lunch]

The deal: From $60 to a cool $250, although the omakase knows no limits. We opted for the $110 Tsubaki that comprises an appetizer, two assorted dishes, eight pieces of nigiri sushi, miso soup and dessert. The zen 24-seater is small but makes you feel very well taken care of.
Hits & misses: We were hard-pressed to find a flaw in the made-to-order sushi lunch. We loved the fact that Yuki-san made us try new varieties of fish, like the stellar Kinmedai (Splendid Alfonsino) that was both sweet and succulent. The intimate Michelin-starred outpost of Ginza Sushi Ichi doesn't disappoint with fresh produce flow in from Tsukiji regularly. It's a great experience watching the chefs work, but don't expect it to be a quick lunch.
Lunch available Tue 12.30-2.30pm; Wed-Sun noon-3pm