Pennsylvania has plenty of Italian restaurants, but few win as much praise from locals as Affamato’s in Norristown. This is a totally unpretentious neighborhood joint that doesn’t do anything fancy, but executes every meal with attention to detail and recipes grabbed straight from an Italian grandmother’s cookbook. The food at Affamato’s is comforting and hearty, and the portion sizes are truly large. The pasta dishes win raves from regulars, with the spaghetti in vodka sauce a favorite. The hand-made meatballs are also spectacular, perfectly moist and savory. Pizza is good as well, with sizable pies topped with a flavorful sauce and a variety of toppings. Some combinations that win raves are the chicken Florentine and the cheesesteak pizza. Speaking of that, sandwich fans also have a lot to love here, with some patrons claiming the best cheesesteaks outside of Philly can be had here. Prices are fair and service is fast and friendly.

Affamato's
431 S. Trooper Road
Norristown, PA 19403
(610) 666-6800

www.affamatospizza.com
www.yelp.com/biz/affamatos-norristown

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/veganbaking.net

With sofas costing upwards of $1,000 and many discount furniture stores sacrificing quality for a lower price tag, it may seem impossible to furnish your home on a budget. If you know what to look for, however, you can afford to invest in some new furnishings without breaking the bank. Here are some smart tips for budget-savvy furniture shopping.

• Consider the time of year. Most furniture stores release their new collections in February and August, so they’ll likely try to clear out their old inventory in January and July. As long as you don’t mind having last season’s styles, you can usually find a great price around this time.
• Check online. You can often find better deals on furniture by shopping clearance websites like Overstock.com and Amazon. You also might get free shipping by spending more than a certain amount.
• Buy secondhand. Another person’s mistake might be your gain when it comes to furniture. Check sites like Craigslist to find brand new sofas, beds, and other items that didn’t work in someone else’s home.
• Check consignment stores. If you don’t mind gently used furniture, thrift shops and consignment stores often have great deals on fairly modern styles. Check back often, as you never know what they’ll have from day to day.

How to Choose Furniture on a Budget [Overstock]
4 Tips for Finding Budget-Friendly Furniture [U.S. News]
Best Places to Find Budget Furniture [About Home]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr Sebastiaan ter Burg

Tucked inside a shopping plaza just around the corner from the Pennbrook train station, Umai gives Lansdale locals a quality sushi bar at reasonable prices. When you walk in the front door of this charming BYO, you will be immediately greeted by Chef Ray and the sights and sounds of East Asian cuisine.

If you visit during your lunch hour you'll be able to select from the beautifully arranged bento-style lunch boxes (salmon teriyaki and tempura udon are favorites among regulars) or a selection of sushi combo platters. For dinner, Yelp reviewers recommend the warming miso soup, spicy tuna tacos, and the seared scallops served over horseradish. Sushi lovers will be glad to know that the capable wait staff is glad to guide you through more than 20 a la cart sushi options in order to build your own custom sushi feast.

Umai is open Mondays through Saturdays. Lunch is served on weekdays.

Umai
220 Pennbrook Parkway
Lansdale, PA 19446
(215) 855-5544
umaisushibar.com
www.yelp.com/biz/umai-lansdale

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Elsie Hui