Try the crab cakes at Ciao.

If you're called upon to come up with a lunch destination by your supervisor, try to choose a pleasant place with reliably good food, table service, and a fairly wide-ranging menu to accommodate the boss's tastes as well as your own. Here are a few suggestions:

Boscos River Market, 500 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock, (501) 907-1881

  • Lunch 11 a.m.-2 p.m. daily
  • Menu: Soups, salads, sandwiches, entrees, wood-fired oven pizzas
  • Price range: $8 and up

What to expect: A gorgeous view of the Arkansas River and a clubby atmosphere with booths and heavy wooden tables in the River Market. Come here for office celebrations and business discussions. Impress your colleagues by ordering the attractively arranged seared tuna salad with mesclun greens ($12.50). 

Cafe Bossa Nova, 2701 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock, (501) 614-6682

  • Lunch 11 a.m. Tuesday-Saturday
  • Menu: Brazilian (not churrascaria)
  • Price range: $10 and up

What to expect: Fresh ingredients and unique flavors in a clean, contemporary setting. Salads, sandwiches, quiches, soups, specialties, vegetarian and vegan dishes (try Arroz Com Feijao, black beans and rice with tomato slaw and collard green salad).

To watch the Soiree Recommends video on Cafe Bossa Nova click here. 

Ciao, 405 W. Seventh St., Little Rock, (501) 372-0238

  • Lunch 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Friday
  • Menu: Italian
  • Price range: $5.45 and up

What to expect: You can take your boss or your mother here. White tablecloths, professional servers, consistently tasty food. A list of lunch express specials (among them fettuccini Alfredo, beef ravioli marinara, medium Caesar salad, cheese tortellini pesto) are $5.45. Menu includes salads, burgers and sandwiches, entrees (we love the linguini and clam sauce) and yummy crab cakes. Look for daily specials on the board in front of the counter. Just a Bite desserts (chocolate truffle, tiramisu, key lime pie, cannoli, chocolate creme brulee) are $2.79.

To read more about Ciao, click here. 

Dizzy's Gypsy Bistro, 200 Commerce St., Little Rock, (501) 375-3500

  • Lunch from 11 a.m. Tuesday-Friday
  • Menu: Eclectic
  • Price range: $7 and up

What to expect: A cheerful place to celebrate a promotion (hopefully yours). Huge portions of wonderful food. Competent servers. An attractively funky, colorful environment. Appetizers, soups, quiches, salads (many available in half orders), sandwiches (try the Sicilian Dip with Italian roast beef, melted mozzarella and an Alfredo dipping sauce), pastas, entrees, and to-die-for desserts (we're crazy about the Italian wedding cake).