Best Time For Lunch

No matter where you work, at some point during the day you have to gobble something to refuel your energy. Most of us at least occasionally leave our desks for a lunch in a cafeteria or a restaurant. Frequently accompanied by coworkers or friends.
What's the best time to go out for lunch?

When one is hungry?

Probably.

When a majority of the people in the lunching group are hungry?

Perhaps.

But what if 5 minute of waiting till your colleague will finish his non-urgent email may cost you 20 extra minutes of waiting at the salad bar, or leave you without the daily special or a table to sit at.

People that are very particular about what they eat and when usually develop mathematical theories that define when they need to start heading towards food. Below are a few of the theories I heard. 

1. Most of the people decide to go out for lunch at round hours or half-past an hour: 12:00, 12:30, 13:00, 13:00. This results in "waves" of crowding a few minutes past these times. To avoid the crowds try to come a bit ahead of either wave: 12:20 or 12:50.
2. To guarantee the specials, the seat and the fresh salad bar come ahead of the crowds: leave your desk at 11:53 so that you could be among the first customers at noon.
3. Do not follow your instincts.  Most of the people seek salad on Mondays recovering after the weekend feast, soup on a rainy or cold day, light fare in warm weather, turkey in October-November. Avoid these trends to guarantee a quick lunch.

When do you head for lunch? Share your thoughts or theories.