Weekly Lunch Pick: The Boulevard Café’s 30th anniversary lunch prix fixe

The Boulevard Café has been serving Peruvian staples from its cozy, two-storey Annex home for the last 31 years, and to mark the occasion, the owners are offering a $15 prix fixe two-course lunch from Sundays to Thursdays. On our visit, the canopied patio is partially filled with nearby U of T professors and administrative staff lingering over the summer-friendly menu. A creole salad makes for a delicate starter, with Boston lettuce, garbanzo beans, artichoke hearts, heirloom tomatoes, olives, cucumber and avocado in a tarragon-infused vinaigrette. For our main we opt for the substantial quesadilla de aji de pollo, which is stuffed with shredded chicken breast and sliced almonds sautéed in a creamy aji mirasol pepper sauce. Hearty grilled tomatoes and silky roasted beets complement the belly-filling dish.

The cost: $19.50, including tax and tip.

The time: 47 minutes, not including a much-needed afternoon nap.

The Boulevard Café, 161 Harbord St. (at Borden St.), 416-961-7676.