Cookaholics Bulletin Board

So my brother wants to take me and his family out to someplace special as a thank you for spending the last four months here, but I can't think of where I might want to go. No. 7 was offered as a possibility, but Josh doesn't seem to think it would be special enough.
I just don't know the NYC restaurant scene at all any more-the only reviews I see are in the New Yorker.....
Any suggestions welcome!

Betsy,

If people like fish, I recommend BLT Fish Bistro.

Or if you have a bunch of meat-eaters: Smith & Wolensky's. Actually, seriously, it's a cultural experience. And the seafood is really good; I can't speak for the steak.

Smith and Wolensky's has great steak. I also went to Morton's last summer and it was also great. We got a private room (we were 6 people, no up price, they just added the tip automatically). The place was also very upscale steak house with lots of history but the staff was fun and friendly and the private room was great. I also like Blue Smoke and Bobby Flay's whatever it is called. I also had a great experience at the Marriot on Time Square in the revolving restaurant. The view is out of this world (try to book during a thunder storm, it was AWESOME) and the food was very good too. That was a few years ago so you might want to check some recent reviews.

Mary

If money is no object try Le Cirque or Per Se. Still expensive but not as much as these two...Mario Batali's Babbo (still my favorite of his restaurants). For great and interesting Japanese, try Nobu....not just sushi, but unique fish dishes.
That's all I can think of right now.
Ilene

We liked Mario Batali's Enoteca - it's his economical offering, so may not be upscale enough for what he's thinking. One of Tom Colicchio's places?

Sorry, we had great food (taim falafel, burrito loco, katz's deli, breakfast at Balthazar's, various street carts, even craftwich) but we were eating on the cheap, so I can't think of anything fancy.

Craft...always one of my favorite places to eat in NYC.

Amy

If money is no object my vote is for Union. Square Cafe. That is worth a special occasion.

Oh yum...another favorite.

I forgot Butter and Gramercy Tavern
Ilene

Hmmm...Myself and an entourage of 4 others have a 4 hour layover at JFK in early Jan. before the next leg of the trip to Moscow, RU.

I know nothing about the location of JFK in relation to good restaurants outside the airport...nor do I know about cab vs. subway options to get there.

Would I be nuts (opening my self up there a bit.. ) to try to venture away from JFK to find a good meal?

We arrive at about 3:00PM and leave about 7:00 PM. (board at 6:30)