We are looking for suggestions for reasonably priced, clean accomodations in Manhattan and quaint, casual restaurants?
Thanks for any ideas.

Jennifer, we'll need some more information from you:
1. What do you consider "reasonably priced"?
2. What area of the city? What are you planning on doing and seeing?
3. What are your food preferences and a price range?

Quaint & Casual:

La Dolce Vita on Spring near 6th. Great Italian food, small restaurant, very reasonable, good seafood, decent wine list, Italian classics on the jukebox. Pumpkin Ravioli is the house specialty but the regular menu is classic italian. Entrees are around $15, make reservations, they may not take credit cards - at one time it was cash only, no reservations, then it went to reservations/credit cards - be sure and check.

For the best food at the very best prices do not eat in tourist hotbeds like Times Square or the shopping district on Park and Fifth Avenue. Both have good food and nice restaurants but not good vallues for the money. Take a trip to Little Italy one evening wander around. You will find wonderful authentic Italian food at very good prices. Take cab or subway to to Mulberry Street and pick a restaurant. all have menus with prices posted outside. another evening go to Chinatown (canal street) again you'll get authentic food at a reasonable price. this is also a great way to see the city and get a feel for the culture. Another fun thing is to get a real New York hot dog from a street vendor and relax ona bench in Central Park for a little picnic. The peoplewatching is fun. As far as choosing a hotel,pick an area of the ity first and go from there. You will hear many people yellin gfor times square area, personally I prefer the area around central park on the east side and the museums. If you want aquaint neighborhood feel, look for something around Central Park West. Have fun!

explore the village area for places to eat. there are tons of reasonable (and no so reasonable) priced restaurants with all kinds of food.

In response to Beth, if you avoid the tourist areas for dining, you may miss out on some of the best restaurants in the city! Many of us locals patronize a lot of good restaurants in the midtown area, and not all of them are expensive.

A little confused here; is Little Italy not a tourist hotbed? That's about the sum of it. It's certainly not been an Italian neighborhood for many years. As Howard said in his first post, if you give an idea of your budget and tastes, suggestions will be forthcoming.

more on reasable food: a bunch of brazialian places in the mid-40s, theater district area, little india, 6th st between 1st and 2nd avs, most chinese restauarants anywhere, and many very good spanish restaurants in the village.