Good restaurants in Philly.. help!

[cupcake315]

Hey, so im heading to philly for a birthday this wknd... staying at a hotel on s. broad street...and am lost on a good place to eat. I know there are a million places, but thats just making that much harder.... it's a group of about 5 or 6, and are looking in the cheap-medium price range...but something fun, different, just some goood food, etc.... preferably american, italian.. any suggestions from those from philly??? any advice would be appreciated...

[stewie griffin]

How much money are you looking to spend?  I could rattle off a million restaurant names...

[cupcake315]

i guess like 20-30 a person?

[stewie griffin]

i guess like 20-30 a person?

My fellow Philadelphians will kill me for going straight to the easy answer, but you could try the Continental or Continental Midtown, assuming you can get a reservation.  It's in your price range and fits neatly in the "funky American food" category.  It's also one of Steven Starr's restaurants (http://www.starr-restaurant.com/).

I'd also recommend Valanni (mediterranean-influenced), Mixto (Cuban and other Latin American fare), Jones (another Steven Starr place), and, though I haven't been to it since new owners took over, Astral Plane (vegetarian-friendly, at least in its previous incarnation).

[cupcake315]

oh wow thanks for the all the suggestions... def will be put to good use