The Good News and the Very Bad News

 The good news, especially for those who live in the largely residential area to the north of Queens Blvd. in the center of the neighborhood: You're getting a new Starbucks, right next to the 71st Continental Ave. subway stop, between the new bank and the CVS. Here's some pics of the outside and inside under construction. I heard that the Starbucks on the southside of 71st Continental will be closing, but that is not confirmed yet. 

And the Very Bad News - Banter, probably the neighborhood's best all-around restaurant, has permanently closed. I was crushed to learn of this. I know they had recently even tried building some major barriers inside the place to allow for safe indoor seating. So, it seems like they were giving it their all but just couldn't hold on any longer because of the challenges the pandemic has presented. I loved this place so much. It will be hard to replace it. I only hope when the pandemic begins to end five or six months from now, the owners think about opening something new in the neighborhood. 

Congratulations to Banter!

... on its three year anniversary today! Banter was among the first of the new wave of restaurants that have changed the food scene in central Forest Hills over the past few years. (They've also saved me a lot of money from having to constantly hop the subway into Manhattan every time I wanted a decent meal! And for that I'd like to say a hearty thank you!)

Banter Welcomes The Who

.... with a new "Outside Bar."          Do I need to say we need more places like Banter in Forest Hills?

Banter Music and Christmas

Was in Banter over the weekend and thought I'd share a couple of photos of their live music and cool Christmas decor. Such a cozy place, especially this time of year...

Banter Outdoor Seating

I believe they're using new furniture outside since they reopened their outdoor seating section. Looks very nice...

Sun Cycle Brunch Ride

What's Cooking At: Banter Irish Bar and Kitchen

This will be a regular feature where I share what's on the menu at some of the area's best eateries. Today, courtesy of Banter Irish Bar and Kitchen, one of my favorite new restaurants in Forest Hills. If you're a local restaurant that would like to be featured on Edge of the City, don't be shy. Email us at edgeofthecity@gmail.com.

Lentil Soup

Blueberry Walnut Salad

Queens Lager, by Queens Brewery - Isn't that a work of art? Beautiful color!

A Banter Special

A delicious chicken burger, enjoyed over the weekend at Banter, one of my favorite new restaurants to open in Forest Hills. By now, pretty much everything I've had at this new place has been exceptional.

By the way, as a side note, did you know that Banter has some of the best-tasting ribs in Forest Hills? I ordered the half rack recently and literally had to make sure the waiter didn't give me a full rack by mistake! There was so much on the plate (below), I could barely finish. And the mashed potatoes? Amazing. And all for just $16, which you cannot beat here in our 'hood. I really can't recommend this place enough (and I shouldn't, because that means I'll probably have to wait for a table longer.)

Something's Gotta Give?

Just wondering, now that there are finally a bunch of really good places to eat in central Forest Hills, I wonder if the countdown is on until some of those sad, legacy places that managed to survive until now due to virtually no competition start falling by the wayside?

The awesome shrimp salad in a pita I had at Banter for lunch yesterday. They're only charging $11 for it as one of their many delicious lunch specials. I'd pay twice as much for it personally, it's that good. (But shhh!, don't tell them!)

Here's their lunch special menu, or most of it anyway:

Newest Recommended Restaurant: Banter Irish Bar and Kitchen

I don't like to add a restaurant to my Recommended Restaurants page until I'm convinced it really deserves to be there. And that usually comes after eating there several times. I can confidently say that my newest addition to the page, Banter Irish Bar and Kitchen, definitely deserves its place on that page.

It could be all the times I've spent having a delicious cold craft brew while sitting at one of their outdoor tables. Or it could be my complete and total surprise to find that the baby back ribs I ordered there were fabulous, not just decent. Or it could be the sensational Asian Chicken Salad I just recently had there for lunch, which once again, had me shaking my head: "Wow! So we finally have a great place to get just about anything right here smack in the center of our neighborhood! It took long enough!" Or maybe it's just the excellent, really friendly service.

Yes, Banter has surprised and delighted me time and time again. And, it has only gotten better and better since it opened several months ago. I'm thrilled to include it on my Recommended Area Restaurants page. Congratulations!

Cool off outside with a delicious brew like this Leinenkugel Summer Shandy.

Banter's rack of baby back ribs over mashed potatoes with some slaw. To die for!

It was this fantastic Asian Chicken Salad that put Banter over the top for me.

Banter's cheese fries, for those looking for a hearty snack.

Brunching at Banter

The fare from a recent Sunday brunch at Banter. Pictured below are a simple omelette and their Irish breakfast. I really enjoyed it, as with all the times I've been to this new place. I especially liked the service - exceedingly friendly.

Good Day NY Visits Forest Hills

Our three new gastropubs continue to get a huge amount of attention:

New York News | NYC Breaking News

Relaxing with a Brew

Savoring a brew (Purple Haze Raspberry Wheat from Louisiana's Abita Brewing), courtesy of Forest Hills' new gastropub Banter.

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.

Suncycle Studios Banter Brunch Ride

Good Food, and Outdoor Seating!

Now we're talking!

Banter Opens

This new Irish bar, in the former Old Vienna Cafe location next to the Midway Theater, opened yesterday, just in time for St. Patrick's Day. Says one reader: "We went for drinks last night for a couple of hours and there was a nice crowd. The bartenders are really nice and pour a great Guinness. Last night was their first night. They did a great renovation job."

Coming Soon: Banter Irish Bar and Kitchen

Old Vienna Cafe will be reopening by St. Patrick's Day as Banter Irish Bar and Kitchen. According to one of the owners, "we are aiming for a higher end Irish-centric menu with quality drink and excellent service. I think the people in this neighborhood will be pleasantly surprised by what we have in store."

He adds, "We are currently doing a little bit of work but are remaining open for the time being before we are completely ready to return. At which point we will be closed for a little while to put on the finishing touches."