So, even if you don't win big at the casinos, you can still enjoy one of Macau's best attractions - its excellent cuisine.

The Kitchen Value and sophistication

The Kitchen is one of the newest and slickest topnotch eateries in town. You don't have to win at the casino tables to enjoy its normally priced fare because this sophisticated, modern brasserie, with the same excellent wines available at the Lisboa and Grand Lisboa, sets out two lunchtime deals, with Portuguese soup, salad from the salad bar and dessert. Prime sirloin stars in the HK$298 set, and you can also choose traditional French onion soup and substitute chicken or snapper for the main course; the other, at a mere HK$208, combines tomato soup and either short ribs, quail or salmon from the grill. Open noon-2.30pm, 6.30-10.30pm

Grand Lisboa, 3/F Lisboa Tower, 2-4 Avenida de Lisboa, Macau, +853 28377666

Robuchon a Galera Michelin magic

Robuchon a Galera is worth dressing up for. Macau's only holder of three Michelin stars, it has long been considered not just one of the most expensive but the best restaurant in town, and for good reason - excellent food, posh ambience, impeccable service and its access to one of the best wine cellars in Asia. Thrifty foodies can enjoy all this for a mere HK$398 by reserving a table for lunch and ordering the set lunch, which combines appetizer or soup, fish or meat, cheese or dessert, and coffee or tea with sweets. If you have a big appetite, there are two other lunchtime sets, one for HK$498 offers both appetiser and soup, and HK$638 buys all that plus both meat and fish courses. Open noon-2.30pm, 6.30-10.30pm

3/F Hotel Lisboa, Avenida da Amizade, Macau, +853 28377666

Don Alfonso 1890 Top-notch Italian delights

This fabulous and normally exclusive Italian dining spot with colourful murals and deep red Venetian glass chandeliers could be on the Amalfi coast, where chef Alfonso Iaccarino has built his famed Michelin starred restaurant. Here, he offers three reasonably priced set lunches: two courses with dessert for HK$280; three courses for HK$380; and a full menu for HK$480. For appetisers, there's a choice of baby squid polenta, salted cod foam with fennel, parma ham with melon, salad, or gazpacho. For soup, there is chickpea and clam or minestrone. For the middle course, pasta in wild boar sauce, gnocchi with tomato and mozzarella; ziti with tuna, anchovy, tomato and olives, and seafood spaghetti or pasta stuffed with meat and cheese. This is an Italian restaurant, so there's a main course yet to come; mixed grilled fish with vegetables, garoupa, braised beef cheek in red wine, spinach and leek, pork chop or ossobuco. Desert is ice cream, hot chocolate cake or, fresh fruit or zeppola. Open noon-2.30pm and 6.30-11pm

3/F Grand Lisboa, Macau +853 28883888

Kira Fine tastes of Tokyo

At HK$480, previously 'only to dream about when I win the-lottery', Kira's special deal may not sound like a real bargain, but it includes whatever you like from the special menu - sushi, sashimi, teppanyaki dishes, tempura and kushikatsu skewered morsels with rice or noodles and dessert with soft drinks, beer, wine or sake thrown in - quite a deal, especially at a place that ranks as highly as Kira for freshness of ingredients, expert preparation and chic decor. Kira's cuisine is authentically Japanese but not necessarily exotic. The phrase 'melt-in-your-mouth' could have been invented for the Japanese beef, and the sashimi may be the best outside Tokyo. Open noon-2.30pm; 6-10.30pm, daily, except Sunday

Crown Macau, Avenida de Kwong Tung, Taipa, +853 28868868

Roma Cafe Thai-inspired Italian offers fusion fiesta

Don't let the unpretentious surroundings fool you. It might mean searching down a dim corridor, but Roma is worth looking for and going back to. Thailand-born chef Tom King made his culinary bones working with the official caterer to the Royal Palace. He mixes up the menu's classic Italian dishes with Thai-inspired items and even tries a little fusion in a few house specialties. Roma Cafe doesn't do a set lunch anymore, but is cutting prices by offering soup at HK$8 and coffee or tea at HK$5 to go with pizza, from HK$70 to HK$90, tasty pasta dishes such as fettuccine carbonara at HK$34, Alfredo at HK$35, and spaghetti frutti di mare at HK$38. It is open from noon to 3pm, 6pm to midnight.

Ground Floor, Edificio Si Toi (behind BNU), Macau, +853 28922077

Kanetanaka No-nonsense Japanese

A bright, roomy no-nonsense Japanese-style place right on Taipa Village's busiest row of eateries, with plenty of fresh seafood dishes - sushi and sashimi, naturally - but also with good set lunch deals priced at HK$108 for adults (weekdays) and HK$138 (weekends), and HK$68 for children; all-week-long dinner sets at HK$138 and HK$158 for adults, HK$68 and HK$88 for children. Kanetanaka's dishes are slightly modified to suit local tastes, but still pretty authentic, and a steal at those prices. Open daily from 11am to 10.30pm; lunch noon to 3pm.

Rua do Regedor 227-237 Ka Fu Kok, Taipa, +853 28825820

Aquamarine Thai Comfort table food

Soft lighting, comfy banquettes, fresh flowers and tasty dishes make this venue in a Taipa neighbourhood distinctive. The set lunch for only HK$48 is not to be missed. The menu changes daily, but might include favourites fried noodles with vegetables and beef, chicken or pork, red curry chicken with rice, or sweet and sour pork or shrimp with rice, or Thai-style fried rice, with soup of the day and a choice of soft drink, tea or bottled water. Open from noon to 3pm, and 6pm to 11pm

Jardim Nova Taipa, block 21, Taipa, +853 28830010

MacauSoul Value meets quality in Old Macau

MacauSoul is in one of the best-preserved neighbourhoods of Old Macau, just down the hill from St Paul's ruins but, luckily, it still hasn't been discovered by the hordes of tourists who flock to the site on the weekends. There aren't any special deals here because as owner Jacky Higgins says: 'Our prices are so low already, why should we offer more?' She has a point. The excellent wines (as low as HK$140) in this elegant little spot are hardly marked up over their list prices, and husband David Higgins will suggest the best match for the food you order. The menu changes, and includes a main course (HK$50) and soup (HK$20), but the side dish or snack staples include a selection of cheeses sent from the suppliers to royalty in Britain, homemade hummus or pate on David's own sourdough bread made with a culture he brought from South Carolina. Here's the catch: the opening hours vary, so call ahead before you trek up to St Paul's ruins and turn the corner to find the place closed.

31A Rua de Sao Paulo, Macau, +853 66862205

Cafe Ou Mun Homely delights just down the lane

Don't overlook this homely little cafe in a narrow lane just off Senado Square. Tastefully decorated and lit, it is well loved for its atmosphere by the artistic and literary crowd who have made it a Macau landmark, and serves up good eats. The set lunch at HK$80 is simple and satisfying, with a different main course every day, soup and tea, coffee or a soft drink. Or just enjoy the yummy fresh pastries and cakes with a delicious cup of coffee. Open 9am to 10.30pm daily, except Mondays.

Travessa de S. Domingos 12, Macau, +853 28372207