I have been waiting for tonight for a long time.

Last time I ate at Bistro Romano, I basically foodgasmed over the lobster ravioli, and then I discovered that they have another lobster experience: a fifteen dollar dinner. I swear to you, there were tears of joy streaming down my face at that discovery. Unfortunately, it's been over three months, and I still haven't made it back.

That's all going to change tonight. I have 8:30 reservations, and I can't wait. (And you may find yourself reading about it here next week!)

But all this excitement over cheap lobsters got me thinking: Philly's not just a great restaurant town; it's also a great town for restaurant deals. We have Restaurant Week and University City Dining Days, but that's just the start: I recently heard that one of my favorite spots in the city, Bistro St. Tropez, is celebrating its twentieth anniversary with a prix fixe menu – for the low, low price of $19.87 (1987 happens to be the year the restaurant opened). XIX at the Park Hyatt at the Bellevue has a new express lunch that I'm dying to try. Twenty21 actually offers its $35 prix fixe menu on Fridays, as opposed to all those restaurants that only offer deals on their slow nights.

Hell, I'm hungry just reading this list.

Now, here's a question for you: where do you go to get gourmet eats on the cheap? Do you go prix fixe, or have you discovered the secret to ordering a la carte? Leave a comment and let us know how you stay sated without breaking the bank!

Image via Flickr user John Stracke.