Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Station House Opens

Station House on 71st Continental recently opened. Here's a look inside, and also a quick snap I took of their menu. The place specializes in whiskey and craft beer and offers an interesting food menu as well. Remember when this space used to be that Mexican place selling crusted over guacamole and sad, brown lettuce? Oh, and humus for some reason? Quite a change.



31 comments:

  1. Whoo-hoo! Move over, Brooklyn hipster alehouses, here comes Forest Hills!

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    1. Is it just me, or are the prices at our neighborhood spots more expensive than Brooklyn? You'd think Brooklyn (being the "it" borough) would be substantially more $$$. But I find myself getting back very little change when I hand over a $20 in FoHi vs. Park Slope/Williamsburg. Maybe I just happen to go to BK during Happy Hours.

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    2. I think it's because the demographics in FH are older and make more $ than those kids in the trendy parts of Brooklyn.

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  2. I went on Saturday night - great crowd already. However the app portions were quite tiny. I got the skillet pizza and for $9 I expected a plate size, but it was smaller than one slice of regular pizza - and you're expected to split it!

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  3. they opened fast. that buttermilk chicken sandwich sounds good. hope it does well.

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  4. Place looks a lot nicer inside from the photo than the former Mexican place which was poorly designed with poor quality food going by other reviews.

    Vendors in the area are doing a lot of work to change over stores and make them nicer to retain business here.

    Problem is, many of the new businesses are food/bar related and there are way too many choices already.

    I will give the place credit for making the interior nicer in that location, but I don't see how all of the existing businesses here or coming here can coexist and survive when there is intense competition amongst them. Offering small plates of food and drinks is nothing more than a Bar with some food offerings which we also have here in other locations scattered around.

    For those walking to the LIRR, on the South Side though perhaps Station House will get some of that crowd because of its location.

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  5. Provide a really nice more upscale environment in NYC but use the business model to drag in maximum profits by offering something consumers want and is tangible like food and drinks.

    At least unlike the previously place, you have a much nicer environment inside for the customers. Previous place must have spent money to redo interior somewhat, but it was poorly designed for what it was, and poor quality of food.

    The new business owners at the Station House IMHO did a lot better design for the interior and the offerings look nice. It has competition with the Forest Hills Gardens side, but is the only food/bar in that section proper.

    Chipotle does a much better job of taking care of the Mexican cravings that people have in the community and this new food/bar place does a much better job for serving customers coming from the LIRR so they can get a drink and some food on the way to or from work.

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  6. We left the city early Friday after a late lunch and stopped at the Station House for a couple of beers on the way home. This place is fantastic and a great addition to The Austin-Conti Business District. The staff is great, the beer selection is exactly what this town needed. This is actually the fifth establishment the owners have created, so these guys know what they are doing and I am very confident this place will be around for the long run. With the recent addition of Mr. Vino's Specialty Foods, the soon to open Flying Pig; maybe this blighted neighborhood will get a 2nd chance at matching its past glory.

    As to the pricing, I thought it was fairly reasonable. Some people may just not go out that often and when they do its an Applebee's or some other sad national chain.

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  7. How much can one drink AND eat in Forest Hills?

    I see them catering to every possible niche in this community, but at least the new places opening up have unique improved offerings for the community.

    Which means that the places which aren't up to par should be going out of business and those will face another cycle of replacement.

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  8. Kevin: Agree with your assessment. The newer business owners coming in are guys who know what they are doing and have the right knowledge and experience in the industry and are opening up additional locations which is a positive thing.

    Seems like this community has an awful lot of beer drinkers and distribution of beer is coming from various different breweries. Also food quality coming in seems to be getting better as well and these new places will offer unique additions.

    Tea drinkers get Kung Fu Tea. Beer drinkers get lots of new options.

    But alas even with all the new improved choices here, it still is just food and drink.



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    1. If you go to places like Banter or Pierre's on a Friday night, you'd be surprised to see how crowded those places get. There is apparently a demand for this type of dining experience (rustic, Brooklyn styled joints with a mix of upscale and homey-feel food/drinks that typically deter teens and seniors). And despite there being a ton of restaurant options, this, in my opinion is a developing experience for the area. I for one am very excited.

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    2. Yes, it is not the second coming, only food and drink. But, aside from a circus, what else would you like to see roll into town? I always thought the main thing we were lacking here is food and drink establishments. And we still do, even with these great new places opening. We still don't have:
      1) Just a really good upscale diner, cafe in the Austin St. area.
      2) An indie coffee place to spend some time just relaxing, reading, working, chatting, etc. (Boulangerie has served as a much-needed stand-in for now)

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    3. Sorry previous Anonymous, my last statement wasn't meant as a reply, more-so a random comment :)

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    4. "A ton" of restaurant options? Eh, not really. We're definitely improving in that regard, but when you eliminate the legacy places that serve pretty lousy stuff, we still only have a little more than a handful of decent places to eat in and around Austin, especially when it comes to casual dining.

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  9. I agree with Drake, the niche shops that once trampled the FH scene for the most part failed. Silly suit and dress shops, gelato joints, candle stores didnt make the cut. If BK is any example of what people want (and what is needed to enhance the FH experience) is wining and dining. Its a proven market when you target your audience properly.

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  10. Obviously, the statement I'm about to make is subjective, and reflects my personal opinion. With that said ...

    Let's not confuse quantity with quality. Up until now we've had a good deal of mediocre to poor restaurant/dining options. There is PLENTY of room for quality eating establishments and over time these establishment should replace those who have inundated our neighborhood for far to long (or force them to up their game).

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    1. Yes! Here's a link to the kind of restaurants I think our neighborhood is desperately lacking: http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/2011/10/09/the-10-best-breakfasts-in-seattle/#1306-9

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  11. "1) Just a really good upscale diner, cafe in the Austin St. area."

    I agree on this comment. We have Multiple Diners in town and they are all horrible. But sometimes Diner food is more agreeable to me.

    T-Bone diner has no incentive to improve food quality since it has patrons and a good location. Service with the existing waiter staff is excellent however so it is my go to diner in the area.

    Service at the Forest Hills diner is lousy. Was snowing one day and I dropped in since it was local with the new management team. Service was absolutely horrible. Won't go back.

    A quality Diner would indeed steal business from all the other diners in the area, but I don't see any location for this place to even exist here and it seems unlikely.

    TBone isn't going to change its food quality and I predict it will remain in business.

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    1. T-Bone, The Home of the Shrimpless Shrimp Salad. If a plop of celery and mayonnaise on your plate is your thing, then enjoy! That's what makes horse races!

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  12. Forest Hills is NOT Manhattan or Brooklyn and never will be.

    Bayside is a decent area too but it is far away from mass transit and Manhattan.

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    1. No, it isn't. But all these places are in New York City, and always will be!

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  13. It would be nice if Austin Street got a complete makeover.

    Forest Hills is old but has seen transformational changes in retail locations being modernized making the community nicer.

    But there is still unfinished construction which has been suspended, empty lots and buildings which really would be better off being demolished on Austin Street proper.

    At least 2 construction projects of newer housing are being built here which means more people so it should make progress here better in the future as there will be even more people living here.

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  14. The one next to the Israeli temple is making very nice progression.

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  15. I mean the one not far from the post office.

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  16. Perhaps Diner by the Former HSBC location as it goes out?

    A diner with an ATM Machine?

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  17. Why is everyone complaining???
    If you have $1million then open up a business "that you would like.

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  18. Anyone see the pretty terrible reviews on yelp? This is disappointing. To me, it seems fantastic and I can't wait to try it this weekend. Anyone have any feedback?

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  19. I'm taking the Yelp reviews with a grain of salt, considering a) there's four of them (with one of them an incomplete positively written review with only three stars), b) one of the reviews mentions there's no college in the area (there's one on Austin Street), and c) the reviews focus solely on the service/atmosphere and say nothing on the food/drink. The service/atmosphere can and will evolve - especially after an opening weekend. The food/drink, on the other hand, tends to stick around for a while. Planning on going this weekend to test it out.

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  20. I take most postings on Yelp with a grain of salt (unless it from a personal friend), especially when it comes to a food establishment. Taste is extremely subjective, as is ones preference in regards to atmosphere.

    I stopped by Station House Sunday afternoon, following brunch at Banter. Personally, I liked what I saw. There were a few tables taken by folks eating, and in addition to my party of two, another 8 or so people just sitting around having a few beers.

    If there was music on, I can't even recall what it was. My friend and I each ordered a beer (there's a fine selection to choose from) and had a nice conversation with the bartender.

    I have no doubt that this place may have a totally different vibe on a Thurs, Fri or Sat night, but I certainly don't feel it's oriented solely for college students.

    I liked the look of the place. It's not fancy. It's not meant to be. I'm looking forward to a Sunday afternoon when they have the front doors open, grabbing a beer and kicking back to enjoy the day. Up until now, we haven't really had this type of option. That's what it's all about ... options.

    Now I can't wait to see what the Flying Pig has to offer!

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  21. Went and loved it! What an amazing beer selection. I would say maybe the best in queens?

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