Sunday, May 12, 2013

First Impressions: Banter, Station House and The Flying Pig

I've done the trifecta and now visited all of the new gastropubs that have opened in Forest Hills over the past couple of months. I wouldn't call the following a "review" so to speak, since on the budget of an independent blogger I can't afford to try a whole lot from any one place during one visit, let alone three different places. So, with that said, here are my first impressions:

Station House
My favorite of the three: Station House. I was really impressed with the whole look, layout and vibe of Station House—warm, modern, roomy, just awesomely comfortable—and extremely impressed with the staff. I went with my friend who is from out of town and we both left saying to each other, "are we in Queens or somewhere in the midwest?" I mean, this is one of the friendliest staffs I have ever encountered at a restaurant/bar anywhere, let alone in NYC. My friend and I shared a $9 helping of their pickled pepper wings, described on the menu as "whole jumbo wings, in-house pickled pepper sauce." These wings lived up to that description. They were delicious and each one was enormous. Unlike wings you may be used to, you have to tear these babies apart, each one is like two or three wings in one. And they are just great. The beers were listed on an updated TV screen on the wall, and they have a pretty large selection.

Station House's wings
Station House
Tied for second place were The Flying Pig and Banter. As for The Pig, a lot of people have had mixed reviews of this new gastropub. My friend and I both really liked it. But keep in mind, what we had was limited to just appetizers. We shared an order of baked clams and also a Charcuterie plate with three selections, Slabbed Bacon ($4), Prosciutto ($7) and Lamb Sausage ($9). Both the clams and the Charcuterie were excellent. Having grown up on Long Island, I've eaten like a zillion different baked clams in my life and these were as good as any I've had. And each of the three selections on the plate we ordered was great, and were accompanied by a truly excellent mustard that had us both commenting on how good it was, along with pickles and some slices of bread. It all came together to make a really fun appetizer that we both thoroughly enjoyed.

The Flying Pig's mascot. You can find him inside.
I also really, really liked the look and vibe of The Flying Pig—it was lively and packed when we were there Saturday evening—as well as the friendly service. It didn't quite match the incredibly friendly service of Station House, but it was not lacking in the slightest. I also had a lovely peach brew from RJ Rockers Brewery while my friend had a nice glass of wine. All in all, we left The Flying Pig feeling just as satisfied as we arrived after coming off the great experience at Station House and that's saying something. As I said, I can't vouch for those who splurged on more expensive full entries and not apps, but for what I had, it was a great experience, especially given the other places we've had to settle for until now in the Austin St. area.


Inside The Pig


The Flying Pig's delish Charcuterie plate

The Flying Pig's baked clams
Now, to be fair, I visited Banter like a month ago so my memory of that experience has faded a bit since. But it was overall positive. My party of three went for dinner and of our meals, two out of three of us were quite satisfied with a pan seared chicken entry ($17) and an Irish Stew ($18). The third had salmon over a salad ($15) and thought the salmon was just ok. The service at Banter was very harried though, nothing like the wonderful service at Station House. It had just recently opened though and they admitted the kitchen was a bit backed up. Not sure if that has improved in the weeks since.

Banter

Another shot of Banter

Banter's roast chicken dish

Banter's salmon over salad

Banter's Irish Stew
So there you have it, my first impressions of these three new restaurants. All in all, I was surprised at how much I really enjoyed The Flying Pig experience and how much I absolutely fell in love with Station House which is really an awesome new place in FoHi. We are really lucky to have such a warm, inviting place. One reader emailed me to say how he loved Station House also and was looking forward to working his way through their menu:   
"I have lunched twice," he wrote me. "I'd like to say that the quality of the food and the creativity of the cooking is very fine--one has to be almost impossibly lucky to find such finesse in Manhattan at these prices.I intend to eat my way through the menu. Have not had any alcohol there since I've stopped in only before going to work, but the bar and beer offerings are intriguing. Service is very friendly, and so is chef James--and he is also greatly talented, as well.  FH and KG have been such a desert for decent vittles that I think this place needs to be championed, since it offers so much of what we have lacked." 

I could not agree more.




19 comments:

  1. Station House is a step in the right direction for this area, in that it has a decent beer selection, but thought the food was kind of lame. Plus the backless seating is uncomfortable.

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    1. Agreed that the seating at Station House is not as comfy as it could be. I had the burger, which I enjoyed, but it was a bit unruly. I think it's a great place for drinks and happy hour and is a great addition to the area.

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  2. Let's keep the reviews coming and support all new businesses coming in with our feedback.

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  3. We absolutely love The Station. I've been there twice for Friday Happy Hour and the bar staff is great, letting you taste their beer choices before ordering. Also took my wife there for dinner, and while the food menu is protein heavy, we loved everything we ordered. Also had a good experience at Banter, but again, that was just for drinks (and we had the curry fries). Only went to the Flying Pig once for Friday Happy Hour. Wasn't impressed with the bar staff. Took them three tries to pour my beer properly and had to wait oppressively long to order a beer, order a 2nd beer and then pay my bill.

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  4. Station House is amazing. So far the two times I have been there the food has been great and the Left Hand Milk Stout they have is really great.

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  5. We have likewise hit all three establishments for drinks. We also went to the Pig on Saturday, but decided to go elsewhere for dinner. Unfortunately, the place was just way too noisy for our idea of Saturday night dinner. The food at Banter was very good. The Station House is more of a bar and for bar food it was great. I want to try the Pig's food and am looking forward to it. I had no idea how big the Pig's space was, having never stepped foot into a Johnny Rockets. But the Station House is at the top of my list right now.

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  6. The latest trend is more bar/food type joints and more places that sell beer/liquor and the like.

    Station House is no exception. All the newer places do make the neighborhood look much nicer.

    If Station House is well liked and successful, it seems like they were able to put real investment into it and thought that the former place wasn't able to do and will do well financially.

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  7. Now someone please open up a spot like these on the 108th street strip.

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    1. 108th st!!! A kosher Bar & grill? That will never happen lol.

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    2. Just don't make it kosher. I could give a shit about it being kosher. There are more than enough kosher places and no non-kosher places other than meh pizza and bad Chinese/mexican takeout.

      The place needs a bar and grill, kosher or not.

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  8. We need a vegan organic restaurant like Bliss (Williamsburg) or Snice (West Village)in our neighborhood. A healthy restaurant alternative with decent prices.

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    1. I agree! I'm not vegan, but would still love a place like this.

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  9. The demographics of Central Queens could not support a profitable vegan joint.
    High rents make it prohibitive

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    1. Rents are lower than Williamsburg or the West Village.
      More prohibitive is low demand.

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  10. Station House is a great new addition to the neighborhood. I've only been there for drinks and love the vibe. Chairs could use backs.

    The Flying Pig: I've been there twice for their $16.95 brunch and really enjoyed it. Hostess and wait staff are professional and friendly.

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  11. Station House is the best of the three! Awesome beer and whiskey selection. Delicious unique eats. a MUCH needed addition to the lame bar scene that was FHs (irish cottage and tap house). Banter is great too but they are in a cursed location. Good food and good drinks. Solid second. Flying pig is just a glorified Fridays sorry to say. Food was awful.

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  12. Banter has the best irish breakfast in this part of Queens. Now I can stop going to Sunnyside :)

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    1. I spent $24 for an Irish breakfast at Banter. Give me a name of a place in Sunnyside!

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  13. I assume that for some reason you just couldn't help yourself while you were doing so? Were you checking the prices on the menu as you ordered or that part got away from you?

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