My daughter is vegetarian and these two restaurants are her favorites:

Blossom Cafe (Midtown West)  - click on the picture with the Columbus Circle address to see the menu pictures:

http://www.blossomnyc.com/


If you want to venture out of Midtown, try the Candle Cafe, very popular vegetarian restaurant (on Third Ave, between 74th & 76th):

http://www.candlecafe.com/

Most NYC restaurants have some vegetarian options on their menu (if you want a more elegant atmosphere)...but if you (or your friends) are truly vegetarians, the two places I suggested are great choices.

xoxos

Betty

On 9th and 21st - a little south of midtown, but it has a reputation as one of the best in nyc

My FAVORITE!  I'm not vegetarian or vegan, but I sill LOVE this place.  I had no clue how anything would taste based on the menu so I just asked the waiter for recommendations.  They rock.

Candle 79 is very high end organic vegan.

I agree re Candle 79. Great place. Fab selections of wine, booze.  The food is terrific - even for a non like me.

Trying a few of these.  I'm a carnivore, but my date for the weekend is a vegetarian, so I'll be enjoying a new type of cuisine.  I'm not entire convinced that soy anything will taste as good as a rib eye, but it can't hurt to expand the horizons a bit.