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I like Motorino on E. 12th for great pizza.......
Supper on E. 2nd for really delicious pastas made fresh to order and DBGB for great burgers.
The East Village is so good.......don't forget about Katz's deli for great pastrami sandwiches, though it is kind of gross in there.

Mama's on east 3rd and Ave A has some awesome comfort food!
Rai Rai Ken (forgot the street...11th? 10th) between 1st and 2nd has really good and authentic Japanese noodles
Little Poland has affordable, hearty Polish food (but I wouldn't reccomend for date night, since it feels like eating in your Polish grandma's kitchen)

The following are my must-eat places:

Caracas for arepas,
Ippudo for ramen,
Taishou for Japanese izakaya,
Polonia for pierogis (better than Veselka in my opinion),
Num Pang for Cambodian style sandwiches,
Panna for Indian,
Sigiri for Sri Lankan,
Porchetta for pork belly,
and Chikalicious for NY's best cupcakes!

All these are in your price range of $30 but Cafe Cortadito is also a must-eat although slightly more expensive.. they have the best churrascos and tres leches in town!

i lived in the hood for 3 1/2 years and some of my faves are:

Apiary
Cafecito (cuban .. ave C and 12th st)
DBGB
Sunburnt Cow (for unlimited cocktail brunch -- Ave C. also)
Soba-Ya
Do-Sirak (korean food NOT korean bbq)
Mama Mexico Centro
Hiro (for sushi)
The Smith (for Brunch only)
Caracas (venezuelan arepas)
Momofuku Ssam

Mostly to second peeps above -
warm borscht at Veselka's
The Stage diner on 2nd btwn 7th and 8th (fried meatloaf)
Itzocan is great "french" mexican (someone above mentioned) but could go over the $30.
Cafe Mogador - and east village classic (esp the brunch)
Criff Dogs
Caracas
brunch at the Smith

Veselka!

paprika on st marks b/w 1st and A for yummy italian
la palapa between 1st and 2nd for mexican.. or cheaper and still delicious: benny's burrito's on Ave A and 6th St.
go sushi (i think this is what it's called) on st marks b/w 2nd and 3rd has good, cheap sushi. it's under a red awning and has a little outdoor seating area.
khyber pass for afghan food a few doors down..
acme on great jones b/w lafayette and broadway has an awesome brunch deal.
village yokocho on stuyvesant st. @ 3rd avenue, 2nd floor. and if you want drinks, go to angel's share behind the wood door to the left when you walk in.

Under $30 together or per person?

I always like to talk up Yuca Bar on 7th and A. Fabulous Tapas and cheap happy hour mojitos. Also Mamouns on St. Marks b/w 2nd and 3rd is great: cheap falafel and shwarma.

Oh and Crif Dogs! And Hummus Place! Avenue A Sushi and Momofuku Noodle bar! So many great options!

I use to live in NYC and swore by LeMiu! I was a regular and the they knew me by name. The thing I loved most was the yellowtail jalapeno roll and the Cucumber Zen drink. I cannot find it anywhere else! I was very saddened on Friday when I went into NYC in order to eat at my favorite sushi place...to only see it was gone!!! Thank you kyster for recommeding another place that serves the yellowtail jalapeno roll (hopefully like LeMiu). If anyone has an idea where I can get a cucumber zen drink or possibly a recipe I could use it. I am getting married next year and was planning on having my speciality drink be the Cucumber Zen!! My plan on Friday was to ask them for the recipe...but instead I got nothing :( Please someone help...

You might want to try Fu Sushi on Avenue B at 11th street. The food was yummy and plentiful and the presentation very nicely done. Prices are not outrageous. Fu the Owner was very personable as well. We were served a delicious spicy tuna appetizer on a nacho chip as an amuse bouche!

Try Nomado 33 on 33rd St. It's got miso cod and jalapeno yellowtail like Le Miu. I mourn the closing of Le Miu too. : (

le miu was awesome, by far the best sushi joint in this city! it was the most upsetting closing of all the new york city closings! please post updates if anyone hears of that guy opening a new space!