Taking 10 colleagues to dinner this Weds., male and female, 40 to 50 years old. They want hip, expensive. Is Tides, Delano too hip? Any recommendations? Thanks.

The Blue Door at the Delano sounds like a perfect choice. Nabu at the Shore Club also has lots of buzz.

Blue Door is hip, it's expensive-- but it ain't very good. 1220, at the Tides, is excellent and it's not really "hip"-- just elegant. Nobu will also be good-- Nobu Matsuhisa is well-established with his original eatery in LA as well as Nobu in NYC, so it's a "celebrity" chef joint with great cred.

If they want hip, expensive and great food, I would recommend Wish in The Hotel (Collins and 8th). Elegant presentation, everything delicious, beautiful dining room and outside patio.

Agree with rjw, Blue Door is grossly overpriced for mediocre food.

My favorite is the longstanding Forge. A little north of South Beach (around 44th) but excellent. Also, you can go next door to Jimmy Z's and party afterward.

You're likely to be the youngest ones there at The Forge which is an old people's haven. Wish is great food and atmosphere and trendy and outside so you can actually talk if that would be a benefit. Ten is too many for most of the loud trendy restaurants.

Not true that an older crowd hangs out at The Forge. My thirty something sis and her husband dine there with often friends. She saw Bennifer dining there (not that it is a recommendation) a couple of months ago. Still an institution.

So I wonder where lkj took his colleagues. It would be nice to hear.