Live it up for less

This sleek fusion restaurant/lounge adds value to the lineup with a daily $18 three-course prix fixe lunch (with a staggering number of options), as well as a Hako Executive sushi lunch for $20. That's a far cry from the dinner menu, where an entree and side alone can cost you $40.

Try the Political Power Lunch at this authentic downtown Italian restaurant; eat at the bar and get one of their popular meat or homemade pasta entrees for just $12. (Normally double that.)

In true Parisian fasion, this Georgetown bistro offers appetizer, entree, dessert and a glass of wine for a whopping $19.95, Monday through Saturday. And unlike the French, you don't have to make it a leisurely meal.

If you're in a rush to get back to the office, try Ici's guaranteed 30 Minute Lunch, where diners are treated to a four-dish platter of French favorites for a reasonable $29.

One of D.C.'s most famous steakhouses offers up a variety of great daytime deals on some of their signature dishes, ranging from $12.95 specials Tuesday and Thursday to a daily three-course meal for $24.95. That includes their titular signature dish, which typically runs over $40.

This hip Latin-Asian fusion eatery in Chinatown offers a popular "Build your own bento box" deal. Get your choice of sushi, an entree, fried rice and a variety of sides for only $20.

Hungry in Arlington? Try this high class Italian joint for a multi-course meal with your choice of any sandwich, pizza or pasta dish for only $14.95.

This contemporary Asian bistro on 14th St. has a selection of twelve of their most popular rice and noodle dishes at nearly half the price for only $9.

The $29 two-course and $36 three-course prix fixe menus may not seem like a steal, but considering that lunch entrees alone at this sophisticated and upscale Falls Church spot will run you up to $26 a pop, there's still some value to be had. And, hey, maybe slyly suggest it if someone else is paying.

Their Lickity Split Lunch menu gives locals a quick and cheap way to try one of Old Town Alexandria's best restaurants. Enjoy two courses from their options of upscale French-American cuisine, desserts and even wine for only $13.50. (Normal prices are three times that much.) Available Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m.-4 p.m.