FOMO is back. Yes, the fear of missing out wasn’t something we worried too much about last year. But with shows, gigs, work, drinks, movies, dining – life, really – all returning in various forms, so too does a sense of FOMO creep back in.

To prompt that we’ve partnered with the City of Melbourne to foster some incredible lunch specials, from some of the best, biggest and brightest names in the game, as part of
Melbourne’s Must Eats campaign.

From April 12 to May 9, more than 50 vendors around the city will be slinging exclusive lunches that won’t break $30. Here we’ve picked six highlights to get you started.

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Asado Bar and Grill
Asado is Southbank’s Argentinian-style barbeque spot with a love of flame. Named after the style of firepit and three metre parrilla grill it uses, Asado hinges on the striking simplicity and theatre of fire-cooked meat. But you’ll also find Spanish tapas influences weaved throughout the South American fare, with lighter and delicate bites perfect for lunch.

For the duration of the Must Easts, Asado is offering an El Rapido lunch special – a 200gm steak of the day served with patatas bravas and butter lettuce, red oak and radish salad, served with a glass of house wine, beer or soda.

Farmer’s Daughters
Takeaway Only
Peruvian chef Alejandro Saravia Pastuso is enamoured of Gippsland and Farmer’s Daughters is his love letter to the region and its bountiful produce. He’s even decorated three floors in this new 80 Collins Street precinct with Gippsland timbers and a colour palette to evoke the region. There’s the casual ground floor deli focused on produce, level one holds the restaurant helmed by chef David Boyle (ex-Lake House, Pastuso and Oter), and above sits the triangular rooftop bar.

For the duration of the campaign Farmer’s Daughters are offering up their takeaway only grazing plate, featuring cheeses, house-made, soda bread with cultured butter, pickled vegetables and chutney. Choose a pastry and coffee or juice to go with.

Supernormal
Andrew McConnell’s Flinders Lane landmark is revered. And rightly so. Supernormal brings flashes of slick and fun Japanese influence, from snack vending machines and Katakana signage to the basement karaoke room. But the fun stuff would be nothing without the masterful menu drawing broad influences from Japan, China and Korea and weaving them into a unique package.

Supernormal’s FOMO-inducing offering is their signature ramen - organic bone-broth, grilled chicken, house-made dumplings, wakame, soy egg and togarashi. It comes with an Asahi Dry Black and it’ll put the power in power lunch.

Daughter in Law
Jessi Singh’s Little Bourke Street eatery Daughter in Law serves self-described ‘unauthentic’ Indian food. With Bollywood films silently playing in the background, Singh’s food swerves from curries to Indo-Chinese street food to Australian influences – think lamb chops cooked on the tandoor and served with chips.

Daughter in Law has several options for its limited edition lunch, depending on your level of indecision. The Thali lunch is a curry showcase, with butter chicken, lamb rogan josh, coconut vegetable, or the Aunty Dahl served with rice, raita, pappadum, naan and a glass of cava. There’s also entrees like papadi chaat, a Delhi street food version of salsa and nachos, and the sweet and sour Colonel Tso’s cauliflower.

Fancy Hank’s
Located on Bourke Street in a beautiful old Art Deco two-storey building, Fancy Hank’s is the ode of c-owners’ Daragh Kan, Myles Munro (Welcome to Thornbury, Homeslice and Mr Burger), Mike Patrick and Kent Bell’s to slow-cooked meat and American style barbeque. Think Gippsland meats cooked for up to 22 hours - brisket, ribs, sausages and more.

Fancy Hank’s is offering an express lunch of a sandwich (and a side of fries) with a glass of beer, wine or cider. And if it’s not at your table in 15 minutes, you’ll eat free. How’s that for express? Choices include 14-hour brisket, smoked pork shoulder Cubano, and pulled mushroom.

Magic Mountain Saloon
The three level Magic Mountain Saloon has a well-deserved reputation for late night bites and drinks, but it also shines around lunchtime. The neon-lit Little Collins Street spot blends Thai and Australian influences, favouring the casual dining of shared seating and a score of regular DJs.

The Magic Mountain gang have dubbed their offering a Magical Lunch. You’ll get chicken and potato massaman curry, green papaya salad, steamed rice and a either a pot of Pirate Life ‘Throwback’ IPA or a glass of house wine. Enough to get you through till the DJs start.

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with City of Melbourne.