We were last in new York 6 years ago and really enjoyed Buddakhan, Spice Market, Pastis.....I expect these are now passé. Any suggestions for new interesting restaurants where we can take our two sons (20's) on their first time in NYC? We love good food and wine but this time we're looking for ambience, fun atmosphere and decor.....as well.
Thanks!

"Pastis.....I expect these are now passé."

We were at Pastis a month ago, and if the decibel level and crowd is any indication, it is not passé.

My husband and I always love to go to Del Friscos, I think its at 52nd and 6th. But you can look it up on the internet. It's always lively, packed with fun, trendy, well dressed people and the food is delicious!! Enjoy! and be sure to make a reservation or your wait will be long.

Buddakan is still packing them in - but it is now more traditional trendy.

To know the truly trendy (I can;t keep up and it changes every 2 or 3 months) check out page 6 of the Post to see what's mentioned the most. Also New York Magazine. The places where the "events" are held will be the trendiest - but may well not have the best food. I can tell you more when my daughters come home for Thanksgiving.

(Sorry - IMHO Del Frisco's is a routine steak house - OK if you like giant chunks of meat - but not trendy.)

Another one who avoids trendy restaurants. I do not like paying for something that I cannot eat.

Besides NY magazine, you can try Time Out NY, they are always writing about some hipster hangout.

http://newyork.timeout.com/restaurants-bars

NY Magazine is more uptown and older and Time Out NY is more downtown/Brooklyn and younger.

Just posted elsewhere about trendy restaurants in NYC. This is from my 21 year old:

Trendy restaurant...Imperial No. 9 at the Mondrian Hotel in Soho. Great food, super trendy, DELICIOUS! Pastis is also fabulous in the meatpacking district. Bond Street (restaurant) for sushi goers!

Thanks for the suggestions.
Glad to hear Pastis is still going strong. My husband says he had his 2nd best steak in his lifetime there!
Mondrian looks fab!
What about Gotham Bar and Grill? We went there over ten years ago and I remember it being spectacular and with good food. But it was long ago.
Have also noticed Smoke jazz club which gets good food and music reviews . Anyone been there?

Yes Gotham still maintains its high standards

I assume you are referring to Blue Smoke. The ribs are very good if not a bit pricey and, of course, the jazz depends on who you like and who is preforming.

Aduchamp, it's funny I was searching for Blue Smoke where we'd been last time and enjoyed a good burgher & fun atmosphere I but couldn't remember the name except for the word smoke. I then came across this other place in Harlem http://smokejazz.com/ which looks intriguing and sort of Cajun food ..any thoughts?

I do not know, I gave up smoking over 25 years ago.

urbandaddy.com is another website that keeps up with the trendy places. Get your sons to read that and see what sounds good to them. Do or Dine in Brooklyn is very hot. Here's a good food centered blog with a description of it. http://whrtny.blogspot.com/2011/07/do-or-dine.html

Smoke Jazz on Broadway & 105 st. on the upper west side http://www.menupages.com/restaurants/smoke/ is a different place than Blue Smoke on east 27th st. in the Gramercy area with the Jazz Standard in the basement serving the BBQ fare from Blue Smoke above it. http://www.menupages.com/restaurants/jazz-standard/ Haven't been to Smoke. I love the jazz and ambiance at Jazz Standard. I think the food is fine but not outstanding. Dizzy's Coca Cola in the Time Warner building is a great jazz club with nice view and decent food.

ABC Kitchen, Minetta Tavern & Little Owl are some places that are trendy but have been open for a year or more.

Agree that Imperial No. 9 is hot. So are Miss Lily's, the Dutch, Forcella, Red Rooster, and Frankie's 570 (so hot, I haven't been able to eat at any of them except for the Dutch). If you wanted to come to Brooklyn, you could do Do or Dine, Prime Meats, Saint Anselm. All pretty popular right now.

Minetta is similar to Pastis in buzzy vibe, although as Mclaurie notes, it's a little bit two years ago (maybe not in a bad way). Locanda Verde is probably also still considered somewhat desirable (and I think it's yummy).