Cafe Mogador - 101 St. Marks Place (bet. Ave A & 1st Ave)
This local "favorite" in the East Village is known to have amazing brunches, and now I know why. The food is really good, affordable, and located in one of the city's coolest and trendiest locations. The atmosphere is very laid-back and inviting. A great place to dine alone or with a group of friends. Brunch, including coffee and OJ, will come under $20 per person.....Now, that's good food! For more information, go to www.cafemogador.com.
Hummus Place - see below for locations
Hummus doesn't get any better than this--and it's cheap, too! Oh, it's so creamy and full of exotic flavors! I had the Hummus Fava today (whole fava beans stew, Tahini, egg, olive oil and spices). But when I looked around to see what other people were eating (I always do that--I know it's annoying), I wished I had ordered the Hummus w/ Mushrooms, Shaksuka (Mediterranean stew and 2 eggs over easy with Halumi cheese), and Falafel. The Shasuka and Falafel seemed to be the most popular dishes. Darn, I wished I had placed this order instead!!! My friend, Heather, had the Falafel and was kind enough to let me taste it--omg, it was sooooo gooood! And what made it even better was the pita bread (served fresh and warm)--you have a choice of white or wheat. I ordered the wheat and it was delicious! Although this place serves only a few dishes, is cramped and clausterphobic, and requires a little bit of traveling for me, I feel so blessed for discovering this place!
There are only three locations in all of Manhattan, so get ready for a hike that will be worth it in the end. For locations, click here or go to their website @ www.hummusplace.com.
Best Cheap "Gourmet" Eats 2007 by Time Out Magazine
Tuna with gazpacho salad at Bar Jamón
Don’t think of tiny Bar Jamón as just a waiting room for Andy Nusser’s hugely popular Casa Mono. Instead, sit at the bar and have this light meal, which pairs peppery tuna nuggets with a vivacious “gazpacho salad,” starring a blanched hollowed red onion filled with cucumber, tomato, sea beans and olive oil croutons ($10). 125 E 17th St at Irving Pl (212-253-2773)
Smorgasbord at AQ Café
This plate at Scandinavia House’s lobby canteen condenses Aquavit’s sprawling brunch spread ($48) into a budget collection of bites ($9)—a Swedish meatball with lingonberry jam, mashed potato, smoked salmon, gravlax, baby shrimp salad and three types of herring—artfully arranged around a pool of mustard sauce. 58 Park Ave at 38th St (212-847-9745)
Oyster pan roast at the Grand Central Oyster Bar
Some lunchtime regulars order the oyster pan roast every single day. Though your PPO would hardly endorse it, at a healthy $9.95 you can afford to indulge in this old-fashioned extravagance of butter, cream, paprika, bluepoint oysters and toast. Finish a whole bowl at your peril. Grand Central Terminal, Lower Concourse, 42nd St at Park Ave (212-490-6650)
Wild-mushroom chow fun at Buddakan
While the bar snacks here are mostly under $12, the real bargain lies buried in the much pricier main dinner menu (also available on request in the upstairs lounge). That’s where you’ll find the generous $9 serving of wild-mushroom chow fun, a deluxe—and delicious—vegetarian rendition of the slippery wide-noodle Chinatown staple, dolled up with shiitake and button ’shrooms. 75 Ninth Ave at 16th St (212-989-6699)
BBQ quail on sticky rice at Mai House
Pop in after 10pm to Drew Nieporent’s haute Vietnamese spot and sample his Saigon-born chef-partner Michael Boa Huynh’s new late-night menu. The selection, with prices topping out at $10, includes barbecued quail lacquered in fish paste—a wee bird with big flavors—served atop Chinese-sausage-studded sticky rice ($10). 186 Franklin St between Greenwich and Hudson Sts (212-431-0606)
Whole-wheat lasagna with bolognese at Falai Panetteria
The whole-wheat lasagna at Iacopo Falai’s Panetteria—the bakery-café across the street from the chef’s high-end flagship—stacks silky fresh pasta sheets between pitch-perfect layers of creamy béchamel and slow-cooked beef bolognese. It’s the next best thing to a trip to Bologna. 79 Clinton St at Rivington St (212-777-8956)
Fried duck egg with farina, pancetta and tomato at E.U.
Though most dinner entrées at E.U.—the much-blogged about gastropub in the East Village—break the $20 mark, brunch is a steal. On weekends, chef Akhtar Nawab offers a personal crock of buttery buckwheat farina (imagine a cross between polenta and Cream of Wheat) richly anointed with stewed tomato jam, crisp pancetta and a duck egg sunny-side up ($10). 235 E 4th St between Aves A and B (212-254-2900)
Smoked chicken wings with pickled chili peppers, garlic and scallions at Momofuku
While it’s hard to resist David Chang’s pork soups and buns at Momofuku’s cramped counter, the Pan-Asian wunderkind also turns out to be a whiz with wings. Presmoked, then seared on the flattop until golden and sticky, eight arrive in a glistening heap, showered in sweet soy, pickled chilies, garlic and scallions ($10). 163 First Ave between 10th and 11th Sts (212-475-7899)
PEI mussels with lobster broth and fennel at Ed’s Lobster Bar
The contentious fish shack opened by ex–Pearl Oyster Bar sous chef Ed McFarland works an ingenious maneuver to transform its mussels into a destination dish. The compact bivalves, from Prince Edward Island, are steamed in a rich, fennel-scented broth made from emptied lobster shells. You get an entrée-sized portion for the price of a starter ($8). 222 Lafayette St between Kenmare and Spring Sts (212-343-3236)
Oysters at Lure Fishbar
Lure Fishbar, with its faux yacht interior, is one of the classiest settings in town for getting your raw-bar fix. Weeknights—during the remarkable oyster happy hour between 5 and 7pm—it’s also among the cheapest. For the almost giveaway price of $1 apiece, the restaurant’s raw bar shucks to order (and serves up on ice) pristine oysters and littleneck clams and a delicious gratis bar snack of seasoned potato chips. 142 Mercer St at Prince St (212-431-7676
-Jay Cheshes
Fika - 58th Street bet. 5th & 6th Aves
Healthy, Casual, Vegan/Vegetarian, Lunch, Midtown, Sandwiches, Killer Coffee, Chic, Swedish 
I had the most satisfying lunch today and it only costs me $11! I ordered half of a smoked salmon wrap w/horseradish, an apple-cinnamon muffin, and a medium coffee. OMG, it tasted so good and was just enough food without feeling uncomfortably full. I come to this "chic" Swedish cafe often for lunch because they have really good sandwiches, salads, and muffins, and their Swedish coffees tastes amazing! And if you think the Swedish meatballs at Ikea are good, then you obviously haven't tried Fika's meatballs--they're delish! I think I've tried almost everything on their menu, and so far, I haven't been disappointed. The only thing I haven't tasted are their Swiss chocolates. Although, I guess if it's Swiss made, it's gotta be good!
FoodLover
I've had a craving for Swedish meatballs lately, so that's what I ordered today......Yummy! Doesn't this look amazing! These delicious meatballs were served with creamy potato salad, ligonberries, and a side salad with a lemon vinaigrette. You get all of this for just $12! Perfection!!!
Kori - 253 Church Street (bet. Leonard and Franklin)
This may be my new favorite Korean restaurant! I'm not sure if it was the food or the company that made it so enjoyable--both maybe? Nonetheless, dinner was fab! Although this place wouldn't normally be considered as "cheap eats", the sharable dishes on the menu makes this place seem like a terrific value. This "uber-chic" Tribeca hotspot adds a modern twist to classic Korean cuisine. We had the Gul Jun (pan-fried oysters with yuzu soy sauce), Oh Jing Uh Ty Gim (fried squid), and Bul Go Gi (thinly-sliced rib-eye steak lettuce wrap)--this was just the perfect amount of food and it was delicious! A friend of mine who happens to be Korean and has also eaten here before, recommends the Duk Bokki (rice cake nuggets) and raves about the mixed drinks. I can't wait to try the Duk Bokki next time, plus many other appealing dishes on the menu. With its sleek, ultra-cool monastic decor, tasty menu selections and sharable dishes, you could enjoy an intimate dinner with someone special without breaking the bank. What a great place for a romantic date! For more information, check out their "uber-chic" website at www.korinyc.com.