Best of 2003: Best Downtown Business Lunch That Doesn't Bust Your Bank

Lilo's New American Cuisine
1125 Sixth Avenue, Downtown
619-231-1969

Close to all the downtown office towers, the food at Lilo's is reasonable, quick, generous, and sophisticated. Dishes like pear and walnut salad with bleu cheese and sherry walnut dressing, or Lilo's Belport Chicken with sautéed onions, or salmon fillet with caper-anchovy butter are really reasonably priced at lunchtimes (though more expensive in the evening). That's half the pleasure. The other half is the Art Deco retro decor. The dark varnished wood, cream walls, tiles, sconces, mirrors, giant French posters, and mezzanine gallery make you feel swank and important in here. At your breakfast biz conference, try their gingerbread pancakes with molasses and candied ginger.