With so many good restaurants in NYC to choose from, you don't have to spend a lot of money when you go out to dinner. Here are some recommended places to go:

East Village

Acme Bar & Grill: Cajun/Southern. Hefty servings of good food, in a cool, non-pretentious environment. Hundreds of bottles of hot sauce line the walls, for use if you want. Great margaritas, although they're a tad pricy (unless you go during Happy Hour, which is weeknights from 5-7 p.m.). 9 Great Jones St between Broadway and Lafayette St (Subway: V,S to Broadway-Lafayette St; 6 to Astor Place or Bleecker St; N, R to 8th St), 212-420-1934.

Angelica Kitchen: Vegetarian. My favorite place for vegetarian food in the city. Nice atmosphere, usually pretty busy. 300 E 12th St between First and Second Aves (Subway: 4, 5, 6, N, R, W to 14th St; L to First Ave), 212-228-2909.

Benny's Burritos: Mexican. Good food and very big servings. Amazing strawberry margaritas! A fun place to go. 93 Ave A at 6th St (Subway: 6 to Astor Place; N, R to 8 St; F to Second Ave), 212-254-2054. Also a West Village location.

Boca Chica: Latin American. Festive decor and atmosphere, and good food. Drinks are big and strong. 13 First Ave at 1st St (Subway: 6 to Astor Place or Bleecker St; N, R to 8th St; F to Second Ave), 212-473-0108.

Mama's Food Shop: American Home Cookin'. A small, not very fancy place that serves big portions of delicious, homestyle food. It sort of resembles a school cafeteria, in a charming way (big rectangular dishes of food are already prepared, and you pick which ones you want, just like in school). Recommended! 200 E 3rd St between Aves A and B (Subway: F, V to Second Ave), 212-777-4425.

Marion's Continental: Fantastically-decorated restaurant/bar/lounge - a '40s "kitschy diner" look, with shiny, chrome-edged tables & matching chairs, and many pictures, mirrors and decorative plates hung all over the walls. 354 Bowery between 3rd and 4th Sts (Subway: F, V to Broadway-Lafayette St; 6 to Bleecker St), 212-475-7621.

Mary Ann's: Mexican. A very busy, popular place on the loud side. Has great margaritas available at happy-hour prices, provided you get there before 7 p.m. 300 E 5th St at Second Ave (Subway: F, V to Second Ave; 6 to Astor Place; N, R to 8th St),212-475-5939. Six locations throughout the city (I've only been to the East Village and Upper East side ones.)

Moustache: Middle Eastern. A relaxed environment, and excellent food. Has a nice outdoor patio for summertime dining. 265 East 10th St between First Ave and Ave A (Subway: 6 to Astor Place; N, R to 8 St; L to First Ave), 212-228-2022. Also a charming West Village location.

Odessa: Eastern European. Home-style diner. 119 Ave A between 7th St and St Marks Place (Subway: 6 to Astor Place or N, R to 8th St; F, V to Second Ave), 212-253-1470.

Republic: Asian. A large, sleek, stylish wide-open restaurant with extremely high ceilings. Long, wooden bench-like tables, to be shared if necessary. The food is delicious, interesting and beautifully presented. However, Republic is very noisy, so if you're not bothered by loud surroundings, by all means try this restaurant. 37 Union Square West between 16th and 17th Sts (Subway: 4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R, W to 14th St-Union Square), 212-627-7168.

Sonali: Indian. Of the many Indian restaurants in a row lining 6th Street, Sonali is the one I always go to. They have a great dinner special for only $8 a person. You get: assorted appetizers, soup, choice of entree, dessert and tea, as well as rice, the house vegetable, dal and assorted condiments. 326 E 6th St between First and Second Aves (Subway: 6 to Astor Place; N, R to 8th St; F, V to Second Ave), 212-505-7517.

Xunta: Spanish Tapas Bar. Large variety of tapas (appetizers), and good sangria. An interesting place. My friends and I sampled about eight different appetizers, ranging from potato-tuna croquettes (fantastic) to octopus with a tomato-pepper sauce (weird). The majority of seats were actually stools, with a large barrel as the table - not the most comfortable of settings, but it added to the adventure. Large groups can sit at the picnic-style tables. 174 First Ave between 10th and 11th Sts (Subway: 6 to Astor Place; N, R to 14th St; L to First Ave), 212-614-0620.

Yaffa Cafe: American. Funky decorations, and draws a colorful East Village crowd, especially late at night. Has a back garden open in the summer, which is perfect for hanging out. 97 St Marks Place between First Ave and Ave A (Subway: 6 to Astor Place; N, R to 8th St; L to First Ave), 212-674-9302.

West Village

Benny's Burritos: Mexican. Good food and very big servings. Amazing strawberry margaritas! A fun, neighborhood-y place. 113 Greenwich Ave at Jane St (Subway: A, C, E to 14th St; L to Eighth Ave), 212-727-0595. Also an East Village location.

Moustache: Middle Eastern. A great place, located in an especially quaint area of the West Village. Small, bright and airy, with a relaxed environment. Excellent food - not an extensive selection, but everything my friends and I ordered was delicious. 90 Bedford St between Grove and Barrow Sts (Subway: 1, 9 to Christopher St/Sheridan Sq), 212-229-2220. Also an East Village location.

Mary Ann's: Mexican. A very busy, popular place on the loud side. Has great margaritas available at happy-hour prices, provided you get there before 7 p.m. 116 Eighth Ave at 16th St (Subway: A, C, E to 14th St; L to Eighth Ave), 212-633-0877. Also an East Village and Upper East Side location.

Chez Brigitte: French. A teeny-tiny, homey restaurant serving country-style French food. One or two women are cooking behind the counter, and they serve you your meal when it's finished. Better to go off-hours, so you can get a seat. 77 Greenwich Ave between Seventh Ave South and Bank St (Subway: A, C, E, 1, 2, 3, 9 to 14th St; L to Eighth Ave), 212-929-6736.

Harry's Burrito Junction: Mexican. Similar to Benny's Burritos. 76 W 3rd St at Thompson St (Subway: A, C, E, V, S to West 4th St), 212-260-5588. Also an Upper West Side location.

Cafe Asean: Asian. Great variety of tasty Asian food in an unpretentious atmosphere. 117 W 10th St between Sixth and Greenwich Aves (Subway: A, C, E, F, V, S to W 4th St; 1, 9 to Christopher St/Sheridan Square), 212-633-0348.

Mamoun's Falafel: Middle Eastern. A handy place to know about if you crave a snack in the wee hours. 119 MacDougal St between Bleecker and 3rd Sts (Subway: A, C, E, F, V, S to W 4th St), 212-674-8685.

Chinatown/Little Italy

Nyonya: Malaysian. The majority of diners are Asian, which shows it must be good, and it really is! The food is unusual, interesting and incredibly delicious. Be sure to try the weird-but-good "ABC" dessert. Bustling atmosphere. Highly recommended, if you're the adventurous kind. 194 Grand St between Mott and Mulberry Sts (Subway: S to Grand St), 212-334-3669.

Pho Viet Huong: Vietnamese. One main room, decorated in pseudo-Vietnamese style (bamboo overhangings, fake plants with large fronds and plastic bananas). Although the place became fairly crowded as the evening progressed, the tables are far apart, and it never got too loud. The food was very good, and my friends and I had an enjoyable time here. Prices range from very cheap (rice or noodles with vegetables/meat for approx. $5) to very expensive (shark fin soup for $40). 73 Mulberry St between Bayard and Canal Sts (Subway: J, M, Z, N, Q, R, W, 6 to Canal St), 212-233-8988.

Rice: Asian/Eclectic. A small restaurant, with an uncomplicated menu - yet definitely an interesting place with character. A choice from seven different types of rice with your meal. Dishes are fresh and flavorful. Recommended. 227 Mott St between Spring and Prince Sts (Subway: N, R to Prince St; 6 to Spring St), 212-226-5775.

Sweet-n-Tart Cafe: An interesting restaurant serving delicious, unusual dishes at very inexpensive prices. In addition to a selection of soups, congees, noodle and rice dishes, and assorted "house special snacks," Sweet-n-Tart Cafe also has an extensive selection of drinks, like fresh fruit shakes (with tapioca pearls) and hot and cold "Tong Shui" drinks (a Chinese specialty). Nearly every one of the diners were Asian - they know what's good! My three friends and I loved this place, and will definitely go back. 76 Mott St at Canal St (Subway: J, M, Z, N, Q, R, W, 6 to Canal St or N, R to Spring St), 212-334-8088.

Vegetarian Dim Sum House: Chinese. Serves a wide range of tasty and delicious, interesting dim sum, using vegetables and "mock" meats. Aside from the dim sum, also has many vegetarian dishes on the menu - but I highly recommend this place for their dim sum. 24 Pell St between Mott and Doyers Sts (Subway: J, M, Z, N, Q, R, W, 6 to Canal St), 212-577-7176.

Viet-Nam Restaurant: Vietnamese (in case you hadn't guessed!). Very authentic, with a huge selection. I've been here many times, and it's always good. 11 Doyers St between Bowery and Pell St (Subway: J, M, Z, N, Q, R, W, 6 to Canal St), 212-693-0725.

Midtown East Side

Joy of India: Indian. A surprisingly good, inexpensive, Indian "fast food" restaurant, in pleasant enough surroundings. 127 E 28th St between Third and Lexington Aves (Subway: 6 to 28th St), 212-685-0808.

Upper East Side

Mary Ann's: Mexican. A very busy, popular place on the loud side. Has great margaritas available at happy-hour prices, provided you get there before 7 p.m. 1503 Second Ave at 78th St (Subway: 6 to 77th St), 212-249-6165. Also a West Village and Lower East Side location.

Vermicelli: Vietnamese. This restaurant has a great lunch special, available every day from 12 to 4. Highly recommended for lunch. 1492 Second Ave between 77th and 78th Sts (Subway: 6 to 77th St), 212-288-8868.

Midtown West Side

Dimple Indian Cuisine: Indian vegetarian. A "fast food" restaurant serving surprisingly delicious, unusual dishes. Recommended! Note: Closes at 7:30 p.m. 11 W 30th St between Fifth Ave and Broadway (Subway: N, R, 6 to 28th St), 212-643-9464.

Sirtaj: Indo/Pak. Unbelievably delicious food at incredibly low prices. However, a rather dismal atmosphere and an out-of-the-way location. A great stop for lunch when visiting the 26th St flea market on Sundays. Highly recommended, despite the surroundings. 36 W 26th St between Broadway and Sixth Ave (Subway: N, R to 28th St; F to 23rd St), 212-989-3766.

Upper West Side

Popover Café: Eclectic. Recommended for the soup/popover combo (the popovers are served with strawberry butter - yum). 551 Amsterdam Ave between 86th and 87th Sts (Subway: 1, 9 to 86th St), 212-595-8555.

Harry's Burrito Junction: Mexican. Similar to Benny's Burritos. 241 Columbus Ave at 71st St (Subway: B, C, 1, 2, 3, 9 to 72nd St), 212-580-9494. Also a West Village location.