Continued: Lunchtime? No need to grab a coat; just head for the skyway.

The first skyway appeared in downtown Minneapolis in 1962; how long until the first Subway franchise materialized in a second-floor corridor is perhaps best left to the historians. Say what you will about downtown's giant Habitrail ("Europe has churches and plazas ... Minneapolis has the bridges," IDS Center architect Philip Johnson told the Minneapolis Star in 1969), there's little arguing the system's merit in February, when the business district's 160,000 daytime residents can leave their parkas behind as they weave their way through nearly 70 interconnected city blocks.

Lunchers can stroll to the Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant, Mission American Kitchen, Zelo, Bank, Cosmos and other top expense-account lunch spots in climate-controlled comfort, but what about when they're in search of a fast and cheap bite? Dining outside the Starbucks-Potbelly-Taco Bell orbit isn't easy. But it's worth the effort.

CAFE PATTEEN

A pair of battle-scarred Kitchen Aid mixers tell you all you need to know about this rare indie coffee counter, and that's that owner Patteen Leverson is a dedicated baker. How anyone working nearby can stick to a diet is a mystery, given the marvelous scones, the rich quiche and most especially the enormous cookies, their centers collapsed under the weight of so much buttery goodness.

920 2nd Av. S. (International Centre, skyway level), 612-371-0262

ZELINO

One word: Lasagna. A towering slab of pasta layered with ricotta and spicy sausage gets an extra level of TLC by way of a few generous ladles of a zesty, herb-packed red sauce. Oh, and the reason there's a line outside the door on Tuesdays? It's Wild Mushroom Lasagna Day, naturally. Go early, and don't leave without at least one of the super-nutty chocolate chip cookies.

831 Nicollet Mall (Medical Arts Building, street level), 612-333-7000

SALAD DE FUSION

No time for the salad bar at Macy's Skyroom? Then pop by this skyway newbie, which tosses a half-dozen pleasant, generously portioned varieties daily (most in the $5 to $6 range), all prepacked for the grab-and-go crowd.

733 Marquette Av. (Baker Center, skyway level)

MACY'S

The Dayton's and Marshall Field's names may be history, but the store's commitment to first-rate takeout is still going strong. With all due respect to all of downtown's second-story slice shops, Macy's is my go-to for a quick pizza fix. The single-serving, baked-to-order pies ($3.50 to $4.95) boast thick, nicely chewy crusts and don't go overboard in the toppings departments. The best? The spicy barbecue chicken version. Dessert: A cone from the adjacent Izzy's Ice Cream scoop stand.

700 Nicollet Mall (lower level), 612-375-2200, www.macys.com

JAMBA JUICE

Combat the February sniffles with a Coldbuster smoothie. The icy orange-peach-banana concoction ($4 to $6) sure feels good on a scratchy throat, and its super-strength doses of zinc, Vitamin C, beta-carotene and Vitamin E do their part to kick all those nasty cold-and-flu season symptoms to the curb.

33 S. 6th St. (City Center, street and skyway levels), 612-332-5292, www.jambajuice.com

BROTHERS DELI

Owner Jeff Burstein keeps his family legacy alive (70 years and counting) by running what is arguably the skyway's best overall quick-service destination, with soulful sandwiches (get the sturdy corned beef, the juicy roast turkey, the fine chopped liver, served with all-you-can-eat fixings), hearty soups and simple, well-made desserts, all served in a flash at very reasonable prices. No wonder there's always a line.

50 S. 6th St. (skyway level), 612-341-8007, www.thebrothersdeli.com

MY BURGER

Everyone has a favorite lunch-hour burger, and mine is, well, My Burger's. Each quarter-pounder ($4.95) adds up to more than a sum of its parts: the beef, sizzling and juicy, is lavishly topped with mellow grilled onions and tangy sweet pickles; heck, even the bun is a winner. It's served with a huge handful of fries that come perilously close to perfection.

601 Marquette Av. (6 Quebec Building, skyway level), 612-436-0330, www.myburgerusa.com

ZEN BOX JAPANESE EATERY

It's cheap (nothing over $7), it's quick and, best of all, it's good, whether it's a bento box, a rice bowl or the two- and three-piece mix-and-match rolls filled with smoked salmon, panko-breaded shrimp or tofu.

601 Marquette Av. (6 Quebec Building, skyway level), 612-341-3313, www.zen-box.com

WALKIN' DOG

Downtown's premier hot dog stand features Ball Parks and Viennas, finished with a 14-item array of free toppings as well as 50-cent shots of chili or baked beans. Check out the afternoon happy hour (2 to 4 p.m.), when all dawg prices drop 50 cents.

618 2nd Av. S. (Northstar Center, street level), 612-436-0055, www.walkindog.com

TURTLE BREAD CO.

These people know pie (cherry, apple, raspberry or pumpkin), and they sell it in day-brightening slices ($3.85). The cupcakes are pretty special, too.

120 S. 6th St. (One Financial Plaza, skyway level), 612-455-2552, www.turtlebread.com

GOOD TO GO

Wraps seem so late-'90s, until you take a bite out of the big-flavor beauties -- stuffed with chicken, lamb, pork or beef -- rolled fast and fresh ($6) at this cheery, colorful cousin to Mission American Kitchen and Atlas Grill.

200 S. 6th St. (US Bank Place, skyway level), 612-341-4600

TRIESTE CAFE

Don't let the dead-end address (seriously, the traffic count is so sparse you may think you're in downtown St. Paul) discourage you from diving into the Trieste's monster gyros sandwich, a warm pita buried under thin slices of highly seasoned minced lamb, crisp romaine, a few dashes of vinegar and olive oil and a dollop of cucumber-laced yogurt. Wash it down with the nicely tart lemonade, and be sure to order a side of the fabulous tabbouleh.

10 S. 5th St. (Lumber Exchange, street level), 612-333-4658