UWS - the only thing you might be interested in is Red Farm, which is excellent and unusual. You can even order the Peking duck in advance as a treat - there’s a meal that goes with, or you can go a la carte. Huh end pricing but delicious.
Then there’s Momofuku noodle bar at whatever Time Warner center is called now - food is excellent, a few reservations are available on Resy, but even if you walk in i have gotten tables very quickly. Nothing else there is worth a special visit - I don’t know if Aviary/Office at the Mandarin are open (for cocktails / bites) but you can check.
Rest of what I’d recommend you can get versions of in midtown.
If your friends have a hankering to see Hudson Yards, there’s an outpost of Milos there, and also the Spanish complex from Jose Andres which is very good (it can be confusing, so look at the website for the dining options it offers).
But I wouldn’t offer too many options 
Maybe Baar Baar vs Upland? 
