JUST because you have an expense account doesn't mean you have to abuse it. Impress the boss with the food and your frugality and these five restaurants.

231 Ellsworth Two-course lunch for $20. 231 S. Ellsworth Ave., San Mateo. 650.347.7231.

Saigon 75 This new San Jose restaurant has a lunch special for $7.95. 304A Santa Clara St., San Jose. 408.286.4900.

Straits The $18.95 lunch special gets a generous sampling of the restaurant's Singaporean cuisine. 246 Santana Row, San Jose. 408.246.6320.

Tamarine The Palo Alto restaurant has a two-course "power lunch" for $15 designed to have diners in and out within an hour. 546 University Ave., Palo Alto. 650.325.8500.

Village Pub Three-course for $25 which includes roasted squash soup, mortadella and St. George cheddar sandwich and mascarpone "no bake" cheesecake. 2967 Woodside Road, Woodside. 650.851.9888.

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