This past weekend I wanted to switch things up, and I drove into Philadelphia. I am only a 25-minute drive into Center City, but I never seem to get down there as much as I’d like to. I decided to try a new BYOB Italian restaurant called Bistro La Baia. I do recommend this restaurant and was very pleased with my overall experience. The best part about this restaurant is that the food quality stays high and the prices stay low. Usually when you are eating in a city, entrées can easily cost anywhere between $20–$40. La Baia has entrée prices starting from $12, and the specials are around $20. Inside, the seating was a bit cramped, but the servers moved gracefully around the tables. I couldn’t believe they didn’t bump into anything. The owner of the restaurant was there, and he greeted everyone with a thick Italian accent. Our food came out steaming hot, and it was delicious. The portion size was very generous; I ended up taking most of my meal home and eating it for lunch the next day. I’m going to try to start eating at new places in Philadelphia once or twice a month. I hope each time I have just as good an experience as I did at La Baia. — Amanda Smith, advertising and editorial coordinator