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The secret to cheap eats in Philly is to get creative. Take advantage of coupons and 2 for one specials. Eat where the locals eat and try that special restaurant for lunch when you can always find a better deal.

Go to the Reading Terminal Market and buy some fresh food from the Amish farmers and have a picnic. This is a favorite way of ours to save money. You can pick up a nice piece of cheese, some homemade bread, fruit and a sweet treat and you don't have to spend a fortune. The best part is that everything is fresh and local.

If you are hungry and just need a bite to eat take a stroll through Whole Foods on South Street. You will get enough samples to hold you over and it won't cost you even a dime unless of course you taste something you love in which case you will just buy a little more.

While you are on South Street two of my favorites restaurants are the South Street Diner with huge portions and reasonable prices and Copabanana for monster burgers that are big enough to share. Kickin martinis too, the key lime martini is awesome!

If you like a deli sandwich you will be hard pressed to find a better bargain that Kibitz in the City at 703 Chestnut St. The sandwiches here are so big that they are made to share . One thing I can guarantee you won't go away from here hungry or broke.

When I am in Philly, and truthfully when I am at home or in Chicago or in DC I head for Cosi. There are locations all over the city but these three are in areas that most tourist will be passing so they are very convenient.

Cosi
12th and Walnut
2nd and Lombard
4th and Chestnut

In case you are not familiar with Cosi they are a chain of semi-fast food restaurants that are modeled after a Parisian Cafe. Their signature dish is their hand tossed Cosi salad served with the very addictive Cosi flat bread. You can have the salad made with your choice of ingredients and there are a lot of choices. Prices are extremely reasonable. I just adore their Brie and fruit appetizer and I often try to talk them into letting me have it for lunch, it is a dinner item. Most of the stores are very co-operative. For under $10 is a large piece of Brie with strawberries and grapes and of course the Cosi bread. If you have an Entertainment book you can get a discount or a free S'mores dessert, they bring a little brazier to your table with marshmallows, graham crackers and Hershey bars and you melt the marshmallows yourself. It is a lot of fun especially for children. You can get one of their square bagels for

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