Hidden NYC restauarant "best buys"

[JordanIB]

So I'm headed out with a few friends tonight to celebrate a couple of birthdays and say bye to someone headed off to Australia for a month.

We have sort of a "Friends" situation, where some of us could afford a nicer meal, while others can't as much, so we require a decent meal at a good value -- $10-15 for an entree + a couple drinks.

Location is pretty much anywhere between 3rd and 9th, 34th to 59th. The whole strip from the 40s and 50s on 9th Ave is a likely target. Food of any kind is fine...top of the list is probably American/Mexican/Italian, followed by Thai/Sushi then other.

Examples that I've been to:

Azteca (Mexican), 53rd and 9th
Pam Real Thai (Thai), 49th and 9th