Looking for a nice but not extremely expensive restaurant for a Saturday nite dinner on a gals get-a-way weekend. Any suggestions?

Buddakan would top my list for a great girls night out dinner. I love Buddakan! Great food, great atmosphere. It may be higher than you're willing to pay though. www.buddakan.com

Could you give a better idea of "not extremely expensive," type of food, and whether you want BYOB or bar? That would help guide the suggestions.

I personally do not love Steven Starr restaurants like Buddakan because I think a lot of it is style over substance. For a girls night out, I would recommend any of the Jose Garces places (Tinto, Distrito and Amada). For less expensive but good food, maybe a gastropub like N. 3d. For quirky Karaoke fun with your dinner (or a an after dinner activity), the Japas menu at Yakatori Boy looks good -- but you really need to reserve a room or a table at the bar for a Saturday night.

Really, though, if you give us more specs, we'll can offer better answers.

We love Buddakan, but you have to make your reservation pretty far in advance for a Saturday. We always enjoy oredering different things and sharing there. I don't think it's all atmosphere...the food is great!

Starr's restaurants are good, but not exactly cheap...especially once you start drinking.

Philadelphia has loads of excellent BYOBs. I loved Lolita (excellent margarita mixers sold by the pitcher - you add your own tequila from the liquor store around the corner). Mercado also one of my faves - pick up a nice bottle of white or red wine.

Whatever you decide, you can read lots of reviews on Citysearch.com

Matyson is another BYOB with great food. I've never been disappointed there.

Someone I know suggested Twenty Manning or Forks. A bistro is nice but would have to be wonderful in that price range (entrees around $25-30). We'll be staying at the Marriott on Market St. so we're traveling from there. A BYOB is fine too. Any input is welcome. Any thoughts on Square on Square or any of the above? We have about three weeks so can make advanced reservations. Thanks for your advice.

The only bistro of note is Parc, which is relatively new but has received mixed reviews due to spotty service, room temperature and noise.

Fork has gone downhill tremendously in the past 2-3 years. I have never been a fan of 20 Manning other than for drinks waiting for Audrey Claire seats. However, the Audry Claire seating is so tight and the room so noisy, I wouldn't recommend it for a girls' night out.

If your group is larger/louder/looking more for a fun party atmosphere, I wouldn't recommend Matyson, but would consider Lolita for BYOT or even El Vez (despite my prior pronouncement against Steven Starr). El Vez isn't the best mexican in the city, but it is a fun spot with good drinks and decent food very close to your hotel. I also stand by Amada for tapas (and a celebrity chef), or Chick's Wine Bar (if you want good food but even better drinks).

Also, if you are planning to go out afterward what type of atmosphere do you want (clubby dancing place? swanky? high end beers? dive bar?) and ballpark how old are you? We can steer you in the right geographical direction for dinner based on that so you don't end up cabbing across the city unnecessarily.

bookmarking

We're four married women (2 just in 40s, 2 in 60s and adventurous) celebrating daughter's big 40 with a spa weekend so this will be our fun/nice dinner with maybe drinks at a lounge with music afterwards. Suggestions for that too? Very loud and swinging is not our style but not formal stuffy either. Good food, good service are important but we're open for something interesting. We actually have both Friday and Saturday nites but wanted to keep the Friday nite more low key and the Sat. one the celebration one. I haven't looked up the Matyson BYOB yet but that might work for one nite. Appreciate all of your input.

Mid town Continental is my favorite restauarnt in the whole world. It has excellent food and my than just a good meal it is a whole experience. The rooftop bar is unbeatable.

MLTimes, just curious, do you know the bartender at Chicks? I am thinking you might also hang out on egullet?

Suki - I think the best description is that I know Katie but she doesn't know me. M was one of my favorite summertime places while it lasted, and I've been to Chick's on more than a few occasions since it is such a great addition to my extended neighborhood.

I sat at the bar at M only once but had a very nice time chatting with Katie. I see the chef there has a new place, Meme. Not to hijack this thread, but I am going to the First Unitarian tonight (around 21st & Chestnut)with a friend who had ankle surgery so she can't walk more than 4 blocks or so. I was hoping for a burger and beer place and thought I might try Black Sheep but that might be a little too far. Any ideas?

I haven't been yet, but what about Pub & Kitchen (the old Chaucer's) at 20th and Lombard? Might be too far to hobble though.

The Bards?

I read that the Pub & Kitchen was really good, but did think it might be too far. Is the food at The Bards OK?

We could also pop into Tria for a very different experience, or walk down to Continental Midtown. But I am seeing the Felice Brothers in the basement of the church so I think downscale more fits the evening.

AMADA ROCKS!!!! My fave restaurant in the world (and I"m not from Philly).

Another vote for Buddakan. If the "angry lobster" is offered, ORDER IT.

Enjoy!

Suki- where did you end up going? Black Sheep was my favorite place to hang out way back when... Wonder if that cute bartender still works there (his name was Jeff, I think?)

For cheapish, I just had the four course meal at Upstares (sic) at Varalli (on Broad St. across from the Academy of Music) for $33. You have to order before 5:45, though. I had butternut squash soup, fried calamari, lobster ravioli, and tiramisu; good food, nice place, great price. (They have a "tasting menu" at $45, I think, if you don't want to go that early.)