Lunch at Table 45: In and out before anyone knows you're gone

A business lunch at an elegant boîte is always a nice treat – if you can afford being away from your desk for two or three hours. So cheers to the staff at Table 45, the swell salon in the InterContinental Hotel featuring chef Zachary Bruell’s award-winning world cuisine, for making mid-day indulgence as time-efficient as it is delicious. Their solution? “Lunch in 45,” a four-course combo featuring soup, salad, entrée, and dessert -- each individually plated, but presented all together, thereby eliminating that time-consuming lag between courses and getting you back in your desk chair before the boss even knows you’ve been gone. (Unless, of course, you are the boss, in which case we recommend ordering another martini or two.) The four-course combo changes daily, but a representative roundup might feature tomato bisque, fresh greens tossed in tangy lime-cilantro dressing, a smoked salmon sandwich with brie, and Amaretto-orange cheesecake. The cost is $16, and the combos are offered Monday through Friday starting at 11 a.m. In the interest of efficiency, substitutions are not available. And yes, valet parking is now free. – Elaine T. Cicora