looking for lower Manhattan restaurant recommendation

For a friend's birthday dinner coming up, I'd like to find a nice downtown restaurant and dress up for the occasion. Make it kind of special. My very hip seersucker blazer, maybe a tie (although probably not) and maybe jeans?

Can be Italian or anything with nice atmosphere, etc. A bonus would be outdoor seating. Below 14th St.?

THANKS!

The Standard Grill in the Meatpacking.  Highline, the Whitney, etc.

The Loyal, Buvette, Wallsé, Odeon.

https://www.aquagrill.com

Union Square Cafe

Thanks, peeps. Some good ideas here. 

Here's where we ultimately made a reservation.