The Anti-Brown Bag

Block out some time -- you've got two more places to spend your lunch hour

While Chicago is undoubtedly filled with an awesome array of restaurants, it's sometimes hard not to fall in a rut for your lunch hour destination. Two restaurants -- one brand new, one recently reopened -- have added lunch menus to their daily operations, giving us all more reasons not to hit the drive-thru once again.

The contemporary hot spot Tapas Valencia in the South Loop, which just opened its doors in February, has already added an extensive lunch menu to its already-lengthy selection of Spanish dishes served at dinnertime. Mark your calendars for Monday, April 20, when lunch service will start, offering a daily-changing menu of soups ($3.50), salads ($4.95-$9.95) and entrees ($7.50-$12.95), along with more than 40 different hot and cold tapas options ($5.25-$17.95 for grilled filet mignon). Tapas Valencia will serve lunch from 11:30AM until 5PM Monday through Friday.

River North favorite A Mano, which made its triumphant return in March after renovations due to a burst water pipe, has also added a lavish lunch menu. Conveniently located for both Loop and River North office dwellers, A Mano's authentic Italian trattoria feel offers a welcoming afternoon sojourn, including several communal tables and more intimate areas for business lunches. A deluxe antipasti bar, replete with cheeses, crostini, frittatas, soups and more ($12) is A Mano's take on the standard salad bar, and chef John Caputo's variety of salads, pizzas, pastas and paninis ($8-$14) are also satisfying lunch options. A Mano will feature its lunch menu from 11:30 until 2PM Monday through Friday, and all items are also available for carryout. 

Now, you just need to find time for an afternoon nap.

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