Lunch on the Express Train – 5 Places for a Quick Lunch on the Run

You know the feeling…you need to get out of the office during your break but don’t have enough time for a long lunch.

Never fear, there are many venues around the country that offer express lunch options for those time-poor and hungry – here are five to check out next time your lunch needs to be on express:

Rich history meets a journey of the senses at Dixson & Sons on Castlereagh Street in East Sydney. Nestled in the original Porter House building which started life as a grand tobacco factory and is now a revived legacy in the heart of the CBD, this is a destination of discovery that pays homage to its merchant past.

 

Whether you are lunching for business, team bonding or just looking for a place to wine and dine, the Express Lunch menu offers a truly immersive dining experience with signature mains, sides and house wine for $45 per person from Tuesday to Friday 12 pm until 2 pm; think poached snapper fillet, zucchini flower, butter sauce and black olive.

Discover a modern take on Spanish cuisine at Niña Restaurant on Rosina Street in the heart of Adelaide’s CBD. Tucked away behind the Sofitel Hotel, this stylish dining destination boasts secluded booths, cosy table settings and custom artwork setting the scene for inspired meals and after-work drinks with family and friends.

 

If tapas and wine for lunch sounds like a good idea, order the Ñom Ñom Chef's menu. On Fridays and Saturdays from 12 pm, you can get your lunch Ñom Ñom for $65 per person - this will get you a couple of snacks, a small plate, main, side, salad and a glass of wine. If you’re feeling a little frisky, there’s also bottomless sangria!

Experience the foxy and sophisticated bar, restaurant and functions venue Mr McCracken on Larkin Boulevard in Essendon Fields, for a new level of entertainment in Melbourne’s inner northern suburbs. With large, spacious outdoor areas including an amazing rock fireplace, take time to chill out and relax with a drop from the superb wine collection; or dine at leisure indoors where an earthy, inviting décor sets the scene for memorable meals.

 

Join a lively crowd from 12 pm to 3 pm Monday to Friday and take your pick of an entrée and main course from the lunch menu for just $40; expect dishes like tuna tartare, anchovy, sherry, avocado cream and horseradish, along with mains of chicken Caesar salad with baby gem, guanciale and croutons, or pizza topped with prawns, zucchini, confit cherry tomato, pesto and chilli.

Located in the bustling neighbourhood of Chatswood, An Viet restaurant on Victoria Avenue offers an authentic taste of Vietnamese cuisine. Take a break from retail therapy at Westfield Chatswood to refuel and recharge in stylish surrounds of exposed brick, recycled timber, banquette and cosy table seatings to enjoy a steaming bowl of signature rare beef pho in aromatic broth with flat rice noodles, bean sprouts and herbs.

 

Order An Viet Express either in the restaurant or online for pick up and delivery to devour dishes like crab and pork spring rolls, served with salad and fish sauce relish, or grilled lemongrass beef wrapped in wild betel leaves; perhaps a steaming bowl of rare beef pho hits the mark with flat rice noodles, bean sprouts and herbs, or a grilled pork chop and soft steamed rice with pickled red cabbage, cucumber and carrot. 

A local hotspot for Sydneysiders, meet with friends at The Rusty Rabbit café and restaurant to fulfil brunching desires in the heart of Darlinghurst. An earthy fit-out charms visitors with rough stone walls, potted greenery and polished concrete floors to create a renewed, country-style vibe just steps from bustling city streets.

 

Stop in for a quick and easy lunch of chicken shawarma tacos with parsley herb salad, pickled peppers, garlic tahini and chips, or a Southern fried chicken burger with cabbage slaw, jalapeños, chilli mayo and chips, best enjoyed with a Summer fruit smoothie with mango, strawberry, banana and passionfruit.