Mermaid Inn, 96 2d Ave (btwn 5th and 6th)

I came to The Mermaid Inn for the first time with a friend who sadly I've lost touch with, but who I will always think of whenever I dine here. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, and the restaurant is split in half with a few steps and a narrow hallway, with the front of it being a typical "New England Seafood Restaurant", while the back is reminiscent of a glass covered version of a typical crab shack in Maryland.

The food is standard, no frills New England serving everything from catfish to salmon, shrimp to escargot (including a few dishes for non-seafood diners such as short ribs and roasted chicken). The atmosphere is always loud enough to keep dining companies occupied, but quiet enough for conversation. In the summer, they open the windows in the back and the front so it's fantastic for Second Avenue people watching, which is my personal favorite. They also do not put any endangered fish on the menu, which you have to respect them for. Your meal will end with a fortune telling fish (like a mood ring, but in the shape of a thin plastic fish) and an espresso-sized cup of chocolate pudding, since they do not have a dessert menu. You'll walk away with meal that is healthy, the chef pulls the reign in on his use of salt, which few in New York seem to do these days, and for seafood, wallet friendly.

WHAT TO BITE? Happy Hour and a Half, $1 clams, or if you're dining in the evening try the Rainbow Trout, $23.

Vnyl, 102 8th Ave (@ 15th street)

Sometimes for dinner you feel like eating out without having to fuss with a restaurant. You want a home cooked feeling meal without just sitting at the counter eating a bowl of mac n' cheese at Smac. That's when I go to Vynl in Chelsea (also with a location in Hells Kitchen that is just as welcoming). They have an expansive menu ranging from Asian to traditional American, so whatever you're craving, they are likely to have it, or at least a version of it you've never thought of trying before.

I find I come here more with people who are watching their weight because it's easy to find something "light" without just eating a salad, and without compromising other diner's meals. They also always have a seasonal drink special at happy hour which can't be passed up. The ambiance is based on, you guessed it, vinyl records, and each bathroom has a theme based on a musician (the Cher bathroom on the UES location - now closed - was actually my favorite!) The Chelsea location had Glee viewing parties this year, and always has a concert playing on the wall next to the bar.

WHAT TO BITE? BBQ Buttermilk Chicken Sandwich, $15

Cafetasia, 85 Avenue A (btwn 6th & 7th)

After checking out the Hester Street Fair one Sunday afternoon, a friend and I were walking back to my apartment when it looked like the skies were about to open Noah's Ark style. We ducked into a cute looking Asian restaurant with some of the lowest prices I've seen outside of Chinatown and decided to have lunch. As the rain beat down for the next hour, we dined on a delicious meal of flavorful meats and noodles, and have both been back numerous times since.

Cafetasia has two locations in Manhattan. I've been to both (the other near Washington Square Park) but this review is going to be for a birthday dinner I had at the East Village location recently.

I hate birthday dinners for to most part because there are too many people (and often time too many 'new' friends) to object to splitting the bill evenly. It's not that I'm a cheap person when it comes to my food. I think I've made it abundantly clear that I like going out to dinner, but I don't think it's appropriate for the person who ordered the dancing shrimp appetizer, the prime rib and downed an entire bottle of wine to pay the same as me with my mesclun salad with toasted walnuts and goat cheese. I didn't order the salad because I'm senor cheapo, I wasn't terribly hungry. I didn't refrain from drinking because I'm a penny pincher, I just need to go home and function after this dinner. And then comes paying for the birthday girl. This isn't Applebees and we're not in high school anymore. Though I understand it's easier to divide by 15, it's just as easy to pass the check around, split the alcohol bill by the number of people who actually drank and divide tax and tip evenly. We're adults. Math isn't that hard.

Moving on to Cafetasia. As usual, some members of the group arrived upwards of 45 minutes late, but they were very accommodating and let us sit at the table, filling our water glasses and waiting patiently until the banquet sized table was ready to order. For the most part, they did a great job with getting out this massive order (one appetizer was served late with the rest of our meal) and the prex fixe $13 dinner included: soup, salad, two fried spring rolls, three dumplings and dipping sauces, an entree, and a dessert. I also brought cupcakes, which they were nice enough to keep in the fridge and serve at the end of the meal, complete with dimmed lights, a candle, and accompanied by a disco/techno blend of "Happy Birthday". No, we did not have a private room for this, but I'm pretty sure the rest of the diners enjoyed the show.

The restaurant itself is in an industrial space with mirrors on one side, and a large metal bar on the other and the tables can be pushed together to fit anywhere from 2-50 people. All in all, it's a great place to have a birthday dinner where your diners won't walk away $90 poorer and resenting the day your mother brought you to this earth.

WHAT TO BITE? Chicken Basil Udon, $9.

SIDENOTE: The other Cafetasia is on 8th Street (btwn University Pl. and Greene St.) and has a different vibe (and a shorter happy hour). The tables are more communal, a little difficult to get into if you're wearing a dress, and there are gothic candelabras around the room. It's darker, more romantic and less industrial (although the bathrooms are unisex and strange) but still has the same great value and attentive service.