Fire On The East Side is one of the first places that comes to mind when I want a fancy experience but don't want to have to follow dress code or spend my whole paycheque on a meal. I've been to FOTES for birthday dinners and brunch and each experience was fabulous.
For dinner, I recommend taking a look at the specials and perhaps combining several "appetizer portions" of their more popular items, like baked mac & cheese, spicy fries, etc. They also have drink specials throughout the week.
Brunch is bustling and always a treat - while you peruse the menu, you're served slices of warm banana bread (!). Yummy. I recommend the French Toast special, which was served stuffed with peaches and mascarpone cheese, or straight up Eggs Benedict!