Time Out New York has a good rundown of the Top Ten Cheap Romantic Restaurants in New York City:

• Barricou – After reinventing itself, this French bistro in Williamsburg now serves even more affordable classics, like cassoulet and bouillabaisse, than it did when it first opened. In the back, a nineteenth-century–style wine lounge with antique furniture and a functioning fireplace opens onto a small garden space. 533 Grand St between Lorimer and Union Sts, Williamsburg, Brooklyn (718-782-7372, lebarricouny.com) Average main course: $12.
• Corsino – This modest Italian cantina—from restaurateur brothers Jason and Joe Denton—offers shareable food at prices that encourage repeat visits. You might make a meal out of the snacks—the crostini, $2.50 apiece, come with a vast choice of toppings, including pungent Taleggio under roasted mushrooms. Or opt for a more serious feast, with dishes like meaty octopus paired with potatoes in a sweet amatriciana ragù, or toothsome chicken-filled ravioli sauced in sage butter. For dessert, extra-creamy tiramisu reminded us why the overplayed sweet was once such a phenomenon. 637 Hudson St at Horatio St (212-242-3093, corsinocantina.com) Average main course: $15.
• El Quinto Pino – New York’s first true Madrileño tapas bar offers its Spanish nibbles in cramped quarters, with only a few barstools and ledges for plates; the idea is to graze, drink and chat before heading elsewhere for dinner. An adventurous party of two, up for such challenging dishes as a miniature wasabi-kissed sea urchin “panino,” could quite easily eat every single thing off of the short menu without feeling too gluttonous. Don’t miss the silky salt-cod nuggets in thick beignet batter, the beautifully plump garlic shrimp and the fine selection of Spanish wines by the glass. 401 W 24th St at Ninth Ave (elquintopinonyc.com, 212-206-6900) Average tapa: $9.
• Esperanto – Live music serenades booths of flirty diners at this low-lit spot, a justified scene. The tapas are consistently tasty, with a zingy tuna ceviche leading the way. Tuck into chayote salad with lime dressing, chicken roasted in a banana leaf, Brazilian pork stew or grilled seafood on greens. Service runs hot and cold, but great attention is paid to preparing entrées, such as tender chicken seasoned with tarragon and baked in a banana leaf. The cocktails are fruity and well-mixed—and perhaps the real reason to come. 145 Ave C at 9th St (212-505-6559, esperantony.com) Average main course: $14.
• Kashkaval – Warm woods and soft lighting evoke a turn-of-the-century general store at this midtown eatery and gourmet emporium. The restaurant, tucked behind the retail shop, suffers from sluggish service, but all is forgiven when tangy Mediterranean spreads—vinegary artichoke dip, hot-pink beet skordalia—hit the table. Resist the urge to make a meal of Kashkaval’s impressive roster of charcuterie; entrées, like heaping plates of savory elephant beans piled over orzo and deep pots of fondue, are not to be missed. 856 Ninth Ave between 55th & 56th Sts (212-581-8282, kashkavalfoods.com) Average main course: $14.
• Mesa Coyoacan – Looking at the glass-and-steel building that houses Mesa Coyoacan, you’d never guess that a warm and intimate restaurant resides within. Chef Ivan Garcia’s excellent and affordable Mexican fare includes tangy, tomato-based seafood stew, superb tacos and—a surprise hit—chiles en nogada, a roasted poblano pepper stuffed with pork, pears, apples and peaches. Don’t skip drinks or dessert: The inventive margaritas as well as the crisp churros with chocolate and salted-caramel dipping sauces are alone worth a visit. 372 Graham Ave between Conselyea St and Skillman Ave, Williamsburg, Brooklyn (718-782-8171, mesacoyoacan.com) Average main course: $13.
• Moustache – This beloved cheap-eats haven serves some of the city’s best Middle Eastern food in all three of its Manhattan locations. The original West Village dining room packs in a neighborhood crowd nightly—it’s not unlikely to see a line outside, since reservations are not taken. But it’s worth the wait. Freshly baked pitas, still puffed up with hot air when served, are perfect for scooping up the smoky baba ghanoush. Sample the ouzi—rice, chicken, vegetables and raisins cooked in delicate phyllo—and rejoice in evading Village tourists. 90 Bedford St between Barrow and Grove Sts (212-229-2220, moustachepitza.com) Average main course: $9.
• Northern Spy Food Co. – The perfect restaurant for the broke locavore, Northern Spy serves locally sourced meals at reasonable prices (no dish costs more than $15). Chef Nathan Foot’s frequently changing menu is based almost entirely on what’s in season (Northern Spy is an apple indigenous to the Northeast). The food isn’t fancy, but it satisfies. A “chicken and egg” sandwich memorably combines pan-crisped dark meat, zingy chimichurri, arugula and a poached egg on Sullivan Street bread. A runny egg also graced a hearty salad of escarole, country ham and roasted turnips in a mustard vinaigrette. If this is eating well, we’ll take seconds. 511 E 12th St between Aves A and B (212-228-5100). Average main course: $12.
• Umi Nom – This second project from chef King Phojanakong (Kuma Inn) is as much an achievement as its Manhattan predecessor. The enticing Southeast Asian menu is full of beer-friendly shareable plates (though it’s BYO for now), like crispy chicken drumettes with first-rate condiments including fish sauce and vibrant hot peppers. The chef also has a deft hand with seafood: Wok-roasted Manila clams submerged in a funky, fermented black-bean sauce was the best dish we tried. In a city chockablock with forgettable Asian restaurants, Umi Nom’s memorable food makes it a gem in an unlikely ’hood. 433 DeKalb Ave between Classon Ave and Taaffe Pl, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn (718-789-8806, uminom.com) Average small plate: $11.
• Vinegar Hill House – Chef and co-owner Jean Adamson, who worked at LES success story Freemans, offers more fatty comfort foods on her weekly changing menu at Vinegar Hill House. Her tender butternut-squash tart with robust farmstead blue cheese was made memorable by golden, flaky pastry; wispy ribbons of pappardelle were coated with a sweet rabbit-and-bacon ragù. The cozy, tavernlike restaurant, located in the forgotten namesake Brooklyn neighborhood, may not be worthy of destination status. It’s Freemans light, and we’re okay with that. 72 Hudson Ave between Front and Water Sts, Dumbo, Brooklyn (718-522-1018, vinegarhillhouse.com) Average main course: $16.