I'm only recently rediscovering the joy of a Friday lunch. As someone who often eats lunch -- if you can call oatmeal lunch -- at her desk because there's just too much to do, a Friday lunch feels like playing hookey. Thankfully, my marketing cronies drag me out of the tower every once in a while, so I can experience fresh air and daylight. Here are a few high points (and a low point) from our Friday lunches in Boston.

For a Sushi Friday Lunch...
Haru Japanese Restraurant: Sometimes you just gotta have sushi, and Haru gives you lots of it. Located on the backside of the Prudential building, Haru is a modern restaurant with some outdoor dining space on Huntington Ave. This is the place to go to share some gossip and maybe a fresh and tasty sushi special. May is also $5 "shocktail" month if you want to make it a liquid lunch.

For a Steakhouse Friday Lunch...
Daily Grill: Also conveniently located on the backside of the Pru (for those of us who work there), the Daily Grill is a relaxed yet modern steakhouse with a fantastic steak and bleu cheese salad. If greens aren't your thing try the super juicy blue cheese burger -- with the cheese actually mixed into the meat. It's bursting with flavor, though you may need about a gallon of water to wash down the salt. This is a good spot to have a lunch for two in one of its nice comfy booths.

For a Healthy Friday Lunch...
Vlora Restaurant: For healthier dining options, you have to try Vlora on Boylston Street. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, Vlora's food is fresh, simple and naturally delicious.The restaurant itself may not be particularly noticeable, as you have to look down from the sidewalk to see it, but once you're down there, you'll find yourself a world away from the city. It's a bright, warm and inviting setting with its own subterranean patio looking up toward the towering John Hancock Tower above. Lots of fun for a birthday lunch, complete with sangria.

For Friday Lunch on the Patio...
Joe's American Bar & Grill: This is the spot to grab a table for two, three or four on a gorgeous Friday afternoon. To actually get that table, you just may have to arrive on Friday morning. We arrived at noon one day, and were fresh out of luck. Returned another time at 11:45 and got a table no problem. You pretty much know what you'll get for food here -- salads, burgers, club sandwiches, the occasional fish dish and weak drinks, all for too high of a price. But it's worth the seat in the spring sun on Newbury Street.

Note: If you do arrive too late for a table, don't try to replace it with MJ O'Connor's Irish Pub. It's not meant to be your Friday lunch spot -- or any lunch spot -- considering the inside wreaks of stale beer and the patio faces the lovely exhaust pipes of about a dozen delivery trucks on Summer Street.

For a Cheap Friday Lunch with Beer...
Bukowski's: The entire development team at my company eats here every Friday. It's a dark, dank bar with not much in the way of atmosphere, but they have a ton of beer. The girls and I join the team when we want to drink away a difficult work day, or for the $1.50 burger special (you have to ask for it, as it's not on the menu).

For a Friday Lunch at Your Desk...
Tossed: Yes, I've come full circle, back to eating at my desk, but it happens a lot. I've tried just about everything at Tossed and only just discovered this week that they have a loyalty program! I could have saved hundreds of dollars with that... My favorite menu items are the Summer Salad, Asian Chicken Salad and Roasted Veggie Melt. Everything is great, though, so if you're near the Pru and planning to have lunch on your own, get Tossed.

Wherever you may enjoy your lunch tomorrow, Happy Friday Dining!

FC