Lunch is the most underrated meal of the workday. You've got an hour, a budget and a growling stomach. These Baton Rouge spots are advertising deals that check all three boxes.

Podnuh's BBQ — Plates under $10

Podnuh's runs lunch specials Monday through Saturday until 3 p.m., and every plate comes with two sides. A pork, ham, sausage or brisket sandwich plate is $8.19, and a pulled pork or sausage plate is $8.89. Combo plates, like chicken and sausage or chicken and pulled pork, top out at $9.89. It's hard to find a filling lunch for less than that these days.

Little Village — The $19 Italian lunch

Little Village's weekday special runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and comes with a side salad and a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. Monday is red beans and rice with fried chicken, Tuesday is chicken cacciatore, Wednesday is a veal eggplant stack, Thursday is crawfish étouffée, and Friday is stuffed fresh fish with seafood stuffing. It's dine-in only, with tax and tip extra. Little Village has locations on Airline Highway and on Third Street downtown.

BRQ — Daily specials

BRQ on Jefferson Highway runs a different special every weekday. Monday is meatloaf with mushroom gravy ($16), Tuesday is birria tacos ($16), Wednesday is a Philly cheesesteak ($16), Thursday is chicken or beef kebobs ($18), and Friday is chicken piccata ($18).

Make lunch count

Rotating specials are a good excuse to try a dish you wouldn't normally order. And if you go with coworkers, Friday lunch can easily turn into Friday happy hour.

Pick a day, bring a friend and skip the drive-thru this week.