We all do it. It gets to about 11am, particularly when we're feeling slightly worse for wear after a debauched evening out the night before, and we start craving that white table cloth experience. Well, I do.

Then reality strikes and I realise that I don't quite have the budget for this sort of behaviour every other day of the week - and I make do with egg and chips. Which is why I was thrilled to discover recently that regular posh lunches don't necessarily demand a well-worn black Amex.

Need somewhere discreet? Hit Nahm at the Halkin hotel for Thai street food, including pumpkin curry puffs and kanom jin noodles with fish curry and lemon basil (£20 for two courses). Want to treat yourself? Head to Nobu for a surprisingly little-known luxe bento box (generous range of signature dishes, £25 a pop). Feel like a seasonal feast? High tail it to Quaglino's, and share a downsized three bird roast (a pigeon, within a mallard, within a pigeon, £19 each).