Duck Sausages at Riverland

Riverland sits in Federation Wharf, just below Federation Square on the banks of the Yarra. It's a great place for lunch on a sunny day, it's probably the best 'beer garden' in the CBD. My highlight is the Outdoor BBQ, where excellent and good value sausages can be had.
On my last visit I had duck and pistachio, but there's always three or four options. All sausages sit between $7-$8 and come with a good bun, onions, sauerkraut and of course sauce and mustard. It's basically a really good hot-dog, in a beautiful setting.

Riverland is open 7-midnight 7 days a week and the do a nifty breakfast as well with rowers swishing past down the Yarra to add ambiance.

Vaults 1-9, Federation Wharf, off Princes Bridge

The Ruben at CH2

CH2 is a new(ish) cafe/bar/restaurant integrated into the base of Council House 2. It's a nice indoor/outdoor space that has lots of nooks and crannies for perching or lunching. There is a swanky lunch menu and wine list but the sandwich list is equally good and great value.

I could have had the chicken and avocado for $8, but elected for the $10 Ruben. The Ruben is a largish toasted sanga filled with good Gruyere, pickles and unsurprisingly a good slab of Ruben (like a pastrami). It was exactly as it should be. If you're feeling fancy there's a Club Sandwich with house-made lattice crisps but that pushes you past $15.

It's a nice space, and nice to pay $10 or less and get a sanga freshly made from good product served on a plate with cutlery and a glass of water.

Open Mo-Sa 730am-1130pm

240 Little Collins Street

Chicken Mezze Lunchbox at Little Big Harvest

Big Harvest is a favourite of mine in Carlton, but seeing as it's in Carlton it was a weekend only option - until now. Little Big Harvest is a 'branch office' operating out of a hole in the wall in Causeway Place. If you like a organic, feral, homegrown, health food vibe with your lunch but you've got more than a dollar - move on from Crossways and head round the corner.

For $9.50 I have the Chicken Mezze Lunchbox, (you can also have the Falafel version which is equally delicious). Inside your box you get a few tandoori drumsticks, a few dolmades, a choice of 2 or 3 salads (lentil and feta, beetroot, carrot currant and cashew, and a chickpea as well), a slop of hummus and a hunk of fresh, crusty bread roll. Delicious and nutritious, and a vague sense of some ethical pay-off as well.

Shop 2, Causeway Place, Melbourne

Dumplings at the North East China Family

Impromptu lunch with C at the "North East China Family" (catchy isn't it). It is a newish Chinese restaurant but the dumplings are why everyone is here. NECF is raising the stakes for the Camy Shanghai in Chinatown.

For $8ish 15 dumplings are delivered to your table and they're BIG. They seem freshly made and the 28 we consumed (half pork and cabbage, half vego) were delicious and filling without sending me to sleep. The restaurant is clean, bright, airy and modern but still a bit wonky in the best way.

302 Flinders Lane.