Top Suburban Upscale Affordable Eats

Find a suburban restaurant with that "Special Occasion" feel and food for anytime dining, without having your credit card burst into tears. They are defined by atmosphere and presentation, maybe a piano bar. And they vary in ambiance and flavor. Don't get me wrong, the final tab, depending on the bar bill will be a few notches above your mid-range eatery, but shy of celebrity chef Philly dining or anywhere in New York. Here are a few of my top spots after several repeat visits.

SPASSO ITALIAN GRILL

1 W State St, Media, PA

Yes. The same people that draws Philly dwellers to their Old City Italian comfort zone, brings unique flavor to Delaware County right in the heart of the Media restaurant Mecca. As for flavor, take a red sauce infused with bacon and use it to smother a portion of fusilli. Then I dare you to stop eating a meal sized appetizer plate before the main course. As for affordable upscale in melt-in-your-seat rooms, veal, chicken and fin food check out at under $25. The bar finds a robust mix of courthouse and local chat chums. You'll be right at home.

SEASONS 52

160 N. Gulph Rd., King of Prussia, PA

The name says most of it. Seasons 52 tries to keep up with the ingredients that have the shortest distance to travel and are in season around the calendar. That means regular menu changes. Always a new surprise. And if you're calorie counting, gone is the guesswork. It's on the menu. Frequently on the card are my favorites, a meal size appetizer of shrimp scampi over rice in a personal sized skillet and a well sauced short rib entree. Mary pops for the planked salmon. Most dinner mains come in under $25. A pair of rooms - dining and lounge are modern settings with muted lighting . I prefer the lounge. It's cozy and highlighted with a live piano. There are two suburban locations. King of Prussia and Cherry Hill, NJ

YANGMING

1051 Conestoga Rd., Bryn Mawr, PA

Yangming is a staple of Main Line dining with a recent complete overhaul. There was a time that if you stopped at Yangming, you'd be sure to fall over a group from KYW-Newsradio. Try the shrimp with honey walnuts and you're hooked. The bill of fare runs the gamut from traditional American-Chinese to Asian Fusion with a few plates that are unique to Yangming. We've been celebrating special family occasions here for close to 20 years. The setting is bright and Asian modern. The service impeccable. Main dishes, all under $13.

EARL'S

Lahaska, PA

So, there we were having a before dinner drink at the bar. It was midweek and the crowd was local, friendly and chatty. Then out of the kitchen comes a new dessert, sliced up to give everyone a piece. Something else to chat about. Earl's rose from the ashes of a devastating fire to become a culinary magnet in Upper Bucks County. In the dining room. steaks and fin food sizzle. The presentation is a work of art. It's date night every night. Prices are at the high end of "upscale affordable" but with most dishes other than lobster and oversize steaks in the mid to upper $20 range. And the 202 bypass puts it, for most of us within comfortable dinner driving range.

THE WHIP TAVERN

1383 N. Chatham Rd., Coatesville, PA

I'd like to think that if John Wayne lived in Britain, he'd ease out of the western saddle, slip into a red jacket, jodhpurs and high black boots. He'd climb into an English saddle and ride to the hounds with a stop at a country tavern just like the Whip in Chester County horse country. You'll see locals at bar and tables in riding gear. The beer and menu selections are mostly British and the conversation revolves around horses, soccer and rugby. Look for favorites like Scotch Egg apps, Fish and Chips, Bangers and Mash - that sort of thing. The atmosphere, warmed by an open fire and country style is the perfect wraparound for a taste of something different, unless or course, you're British. Then you'll be right at home. Main courses clear the hurdles at $16 to $28. Plenty to eat under $15.

Enjoy!