Cheap Eats 2009

Planted on a nondescript downtown corner, Cafe Voila tweaks the old-fashioned lunch counter ideal with gourmet ingredients and elegant rotating entrees. For a quick bite, peruse the deli case for simple salads and sandwiches, like turkey and Brie with rosemary mayo ($5.75) or the smoked trout and apple salad ($6.50). For the full experience, see what hot plates are on offer; they range from savory tarts to slow-roasted meats for less than $8. Cap it off with a superb white-chocolate pistachio cookie ($1.75), but try to stop at one. Or two. (ES)