I highly recommend Bistro du Vent or West Bank Cafe, like previous posters - the food is excellent and a good value. Also suggest Esca - Italian seafood - (around the corner from Bistro du Vent and West Bank, on 43rd St.) the tasting menu is still relatively affordable ($60 for 8 courses, I think), of course if you got dinner a la carte would be even less, and they have a good assortment of wines by the glass (this is also the case at Bistro du Vent and West Bank) and the ambience is lovely. Also across the street from Esca on the N side of 43rd St. is Le Madeleine, which has a French cafe -type atmosphere - try sitting in the back room which has a tree in it.

Sounds like you already have the priciest options, and these other suggestions are comfortable, warm and welcoming. All 4 of the above are my favorite restaurants in the neighborhood.

World Yacht isn't bad if you are only in town for a short while. Food is pretty good (you can get much better in the city though) and the band/dancing is nice.

The yum trail
 

My gratitude to all. ^
Have certainly passed on all the appropriate information to my friends.
I passed along the comments including some of the newer posts.
It will be interesting to see where they end up. :cool:

Not appropriate for dinner but great for after dinner drinks is one of my favorite date spots is the bourgeois pig on the lower east side/east village. Tiny, Romantic with good food and good cheap wine.
http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/41628176

Payard, db Bistro, Girasole

Oops...was too late! Hope they enjoyed the trip

FWIW, I just went to Bistro du Vent last night and they have a new chef - Laurent Gras - and a new menu. Laurent Gras has earned Michelin stars in SF (Fifth Floor) as well as with Alain Ducasse (and I'm sure there is more I'm not aware of). I wrote the above on my previous visits, and am happy to report that the menu is even better. And it's a great value: $55 tasting menu (5 courses), another $25 for a wine pairing. We ordered ala carte and ended up with a $100 bill (that includes the tax) that included: wine, 2 appetizers, 2 entrees, 2 desserts and 2 after dinner drinks (capuccino and an herbal tisane). If anyone is reading this thread - I have found a new favorite in my neighborhood.

Chez Suzette is great. Otherwise, go for broke (maybe literally) and try Daniel. Given the cost of New York restaurants, I'd invest more and have a truly memorable meal.

I'd heard he was there but that they hadn't shifted over the menu to his stuff yet, so thanks for the update! I will have to check it out.