Level Five

If you work downtown, this place is the ideal escape for lunch. Tucked into the fabulous new Guthrie Theater, Level Five’s long, narrow room with dark glass walls is like a tonic for those subjected to fluorescent office lighting. And then, just as your hunched shoulders begin relaxing, the food comes. The local, seasonal menu has been designed by Chef Lenny Russo, his ambition being to deliver perfectly satisfying, lightly balanced meals for theatergoers and meandering downtowners alike: young hen with a red quinoa cake; lobster salad with heirloom tomatoes. The nicely proportioned sandwiches are plenty flavorful as well, but it’s their accompanying polenta fries that steal the show. These thick, long blocks of warm cornmeal are crispy on the outside and softly herbed on the inside. Dip them in the aioli and consider the work day eased—three martinis are optional. 806 2nd St. S., Minneapolis; 612-225-6499; www.cueatguthrie.com