Birthdays in NYC are tricky. You want to celebrate and splurge a bit but, if you’re a normal person with a normal job, you can’t go crazy, and you can’t expect your friends to go broke for you either. One of the many realities of living in New York City is that there are a ton of places to go to celebrate a birthday – but the question is which ones are the most fun and won’t make you have a panic attack at the end of the evening when the bill finally hits the table, or the bar, or you – smack in the face.

For those of us not renting out the hottest clubs to fete ourselves or getting Veuve bottle service on a normal Friday night, here are the top five best deals for a birthday dinner or celebration in NYC.

1. Hill Country BBQ – First of all the food. Let’s talk about the food. They mean business here – no fancying it up – just down and dirty Texas BBQ at its best. Their menu has a ton of options and price points to fit any budget, and more often than not, you’ll have more food than you can even handle and will be taking some home with you to indulge in the next day. Extra bonus – everyone gets their own ticket when they order their food, which means everyone pays separately at the end of the meal avoiding the wretched who owes what fiasco we all hate to deal with. Definitely plan ahead and reserve a table for a big party and check out their website to see which live music acts are playing downstairs to add a little more fun to your party.

2. Amelie Wine Bar – This adorable French wine bar in the heart of the West Village is an answer to your budget friendly prayers. Start with the happy hour ($10 for a flight of three wines and $6 appetizers) and you’ll be so thrilled with how little you’re paying and the variety of wines you get to try that dinner will feel like a bargain as well. While the wine bar is quite small they are able accommodate large groups of up to 10 people easily. Combine the delicious well priced French food with the unbelievably charming French staff and you’ll find yourself happy to celebrate as long as possible in this cozy little restaurant.

3. Tortilla Flats – What better way to spell birthday than cheap and dirty tequila combined with one of the city’s best bingo and/or trivia nights? While the food at Tortilla Flats is pretty basic Mexican, the atmosphere is anything but boring. This spot is without a doubt a great place to go if you and your group want to have fun, get rowdy, and win prizes on their designated bingo or trivia nights. And by prizes I mean free tequila – the BEST kind of prize. But be warned – the place fills up fast so if you want a seat for a big party be prepared to wait – with a pitcher of margaritas of course.

4. Brooklyn Bowl  – Bowling, live music, and bourbon milkshakes. If that doesn’t sell you on this place I’m not sure what will. The bowling option is the best deal for groups and fun for all inclusive birthday festivities. But with some great bands coming in and out of this venue for anywhere between $10 – $20 a ticket you could make the celebration concert focused instead. It’s totally up to you. Either way, it’s a great night out in Brooklyn and a fun place to get everyone together for a celebration.

5. Tertulia Chef’s Menu – If you’re a food lover and looking to indulge a little bit without breaking the bank, the ever popular Tertulia restaurant is the answer to your foodie prayers. Seamus Mullen’s distinctive and delicious Spanish menu is great a la carte, but if you book a table for a party of six or more (two weeks in advance is recommended) you can order the Chef’s Menu for $55 a person which really is a steal. The dishes are hand picked by the chef (with allergies and any restrictions taken into account of course) and just when you think you’ve had enough food, they send out more, and then some. Combine the tasting menu with a couple pitchers of sangria for the table and you and your friends will walk out of there in a happy food coma haze with a barely bruised bank account.

What’s the best birthday party you’ve been to in NYC?  Add onto our list below!

By: Adrienne Mansard