Taking my two teen nieces to NYC for their birthdays with my sister (their Mom). I gave them access to my Zagats account and they've been going crazy with restaurant research for a special birthday dinner. Budget is not an issue, we just want them to feel like it's a special place and that they had a role in selecting it (they live in Richmond, VA, and dine out in DC with me frequently, so they are fairly sophisticated). Here are their suggestions--would love your thoughts on these ideas:

21 Club
Bette
Buddakan
Scarlatto
Spice Market
Tao
The House
Black Pearl
Brasserie
Aspen

Aren't you a nice aunt

Spice Market has a very "I'm in Asia" feel, dark and moody. It's in the heart of the Meat Market district which is very "hip" and on a weekend nights the streets are full of young people. Right near the Gansevoort Hotel. Buddakan I have not been to but it is just north along 9th Avenue. Your nieces might want to check out Buddha Bar -- which is the New York version of a very popular Paris restaurant/bar/lounge with their own cd releases. Tao is uptown, next to the Four Seasons, also very Asian in feeling but the diners will probably be a bit more mid-town as opposed to edgier downtown types. Hope that gives you a bit of help. It really depends on what they like -- 21 is going to be a bit staid I would think for teens.

Buddakan. Not as much for the food as the scene.

I'd also vote for Buddakan or Spice Market. Both are hip and trendy & they're always hopping.
Do not go to 21. That' a stiff place for older folk and certainly not the atmosphere you want for teenagers' birthdays.

Thanks so much for the great feedback! I think they listed 21 because it's so legendary--definitely sounds too old for them.

We also want to do afternoon tea one day and have received suggestions of Bette, The Pierre, and the St. Regis. Anyone been to those?

Second the recommendation for Buddakan. It's an extremely cool restaurant on the inside, and the food is actually pretty good. Stanton Social would be another really fun place to have a birthday dinner. The menu consists of small plates, and the design of the restaurant is fantastic.

Have them cross reference with www.menupages.com, which will give them more reviews as well as actual menus with prices.

Bag 21 - that;s much more a business oriented place.

Tao is long-time still semi-trendy and good food.

For e head to one of the downtown choices.

Thanks for the great advice! We're booked at Buddakan and will toast you all when we arrive!

Being on the senior borderline myself, let me say that I often enjoy places that are somewhat trendy -- particularly among the young professionals -- in their 30's, for example. Despite all the descriptions, I felt at Spice Market that we were the average age. Maybe it was a strange night, but the average age was closer to 60 than 30!
I agree to NOT do 21 -- definitely no young vibe at all.
I was almost uncomfortable at Tao, which had a great feeling, because it didn't seem to be that much "yuppies", but almost a teen crowd. The average age seemed to be 21 or even younger. I was aware of lots of people around us not drinking alcohol -- clearly because they weren't old enough. Again maybe that was an odd night -- I do think it was a Friday if that meant anything.

Frankly, I think the teens would fit right in at Tao. But then maybe that's not the desire. Maybe they're looking for a more "grown-up" place?

I would Buddakan over Tao b/c of the neighborhood. The Meatpacking District has a lot more streetlife than the area around Tao, and it will be fun to walk around after dinner and check out the scene.

I'm looking for a post theater restaurant.Would Buddakan still be an option @ 11pm on a Friday night. I like busy downtown restaurants with buzz.

thanks

Buddakan will be very buzzing at 11 PM on a Friday night.

I am taking my daughter for her 21st birthday. Where would you recommend?