There are a few options when looking for a budget-conscious and satisfying lunch in the Proctor District. A recent trip to Europa Bistro yielded a quick midday repast of garlicky zucchini chunks sautéed until tender topped with tangy goat cheese. The smoked salmon pasta in light and creamy Alfredo sauce that followed was the prefect size for lunch. The garden salad that accompanied the pasta dish could have been a meal of its own, and the meal made for a real bargain priced at $9.95.

Many items at this Italian eatery are made from scratch - sausage, meatballs, bread and pasta included. The rotating, gluten-free pasta selections are from an outside purveyor. Lunchtime offerings include sautéed shellfish, polenta in Gorgonzola sauce, a light and refreshing poached seafood salad, a grilled halibut and roasted pepper Panini, eggplant and feta pizza and more. The menu tops out at $13.95 with an average of $8.95.

Attentive service let's you get in and out fast or linger at your leisure.

Occasionally, the booming voice of owner and Chef Alfredo Russo can be heard coming from the kitchen as he sings opera while cooking Italian dishes. It's enough to make you want to call a travel agent and hit the Mediterranean. 

[Europa Bistro, 2515 N. Proctor, Tacoma, 253.761.5660, www.euorpabistro.net]