If you work in downtown Austin, grab a healthy lunch from Leaf, a custom salad cafe. The salad bar is stocked with a wide variety of sustainable ingredients and dressings are made from scratch. You can choose from one of the "Big 12" signature salads, or create your own. Although service can be spotty, the staff builds your salad to order, and the results are always delicious. If the list of salad add-ins overwhelms you, try the Strawberry Fields signature salad with baby spinach, strawberries, goat cheese, bacon, red onion, sunflower seeds, and candied pecans tossed with a Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette.

Prices are very reasonable at $10 for a portion that customers regularly describe as enormous. Become a "Loyal Leafer" and get a free salad after you buy five. Dine in the casual cafe or get your meal to-go.

Leaf
419 W. 2nd Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 474-5323
http://www.leafsalad.com
http://www.yelp.com/biz/leaf-austin-2

Nestled in the Hill Country, Galleria Buenos Aires Café’s atmosphere is a breath of fresh air. Bright, vivid colors jump at you from the walls and you get smiles from employees and customers alike. This Argentinian spot will have you staring at the menu in a daze as every single item sounds like the perfect dinner or lunch. The vegetables are all hand-picked and come from mostly local farms. Each ingredient is of the highest quality with all of the meats and greens being organic, and all dressings are made on site daily. The die-hard locals swear by the lomi beef sandwich with the chimicurri sauce, and everyone will tell you the Mojito and Spanish martini are the best they’ve had, bar none. Not only are the food and service impeccable, but they give back to the community by donating scraps for composting and making weekly trips to the Ecology Action of Texas. You won’t be disappointed.

Buenos Aires Café
Hills Country Galleria
13500 Galleria Cir, Ste 120
Bee Cave, TX 78738
(512) 441-9000
http://www.yelp.com/biz/buenos-aires-cafe-bee-cave-2

Looking for a quick and cheap lunch in west Austin? Try Yaghi’s New York Pizzeria. This no frills Italian-American café offers pizza by the slice or pie, as well as salads and sandwiches. The $5 lunch specials are popular and include a 12 oz drink. Be traditional and go with two slices of cheese, or try the gyro sandwich. Customers recommend the Greek salad to go with any specialty pie. Yaghi’s offers several “white” pizzas. You can double down on your East Coast cuisine with the Philly Cheesesteak Pizza topped with steak, onions, peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes, garlic, and mozzarella. Yahi’s delivers to spots in the West Austin area. Check the website for current specials and coupons!

Yaghi's New York Pizzeria
12400 W Highway 71
Austin, TX 78738
(512) 402-0202
www.yaghisnewyorkpizzeria.com/
www.yelp.com/biz/yaghis-new-york-pizzeria-austin