Banter Irish Bar and Kitchen

A cozy slice of heaven is waiting for you in Forest Hills – GO. As in, RIGHT NOW.
This is a review that I’ve put off writing, and not because it’s in any way difficult. No, when I find a restaurant that flirts with perfection, I put off leaving a review because I jealously guard the spot. But here I am, about to leave New York, and it’s time I give Banter the credit it’s due for countless amazing Irish meals.
Banter is rare in that it’s more Irish restaurant than pub, and they do the island nation proud. Brunch is a solid four-​star menu, but it bends American; go for dinner and you’ll be in for a treat. The Guinness pie and lamb stew are well-​spiced and incredibly satisfying; the seared salmon is in an amazing curry sauce, and the pork filet is great for those nights you want your meat and potatoes. Smoked salmon and brown bread awaits when you’re feeling festive, and fish and chips is executed well enough to bring me back to Galway. I haven’t tried the whole menu, but every time I’ve strayed from my usuals I’ve been pleasantly surprised. If you’ve only got space for one appetizer, the buffalo mussels are divine: you’ll never need wings again. They’ll even serve you a proper cuppa to top it all off.
If tea doesn’t piqué your interest, they’ve got a selection of Irish and British beers on tap (actually fresh Guinness, WHAT?) and a whiskey list that even the most avid drinker can’t exhaust. Go on a Tuesday night after 8 or a Sunday past 5 and a lovely duo play live Irish tunes on guitar and fiddle.
There are some minor flaws – no reservations taken (so this isn’t your first date spot, folks) and the cook needs a bit of practice at shucking oysters – but I’m desperately nit-​picking to balance this review out.
Do yourself a favor, and get to Banter before everyone else does. I’m afraid I’ve finally let the proverbial cat out of the bag.

This is one of my favorite spots in Forest Hills. Their fish and chips is one of my favorite dishes. The fish is usually seasoned and fried perfectly. The french fries have that perfect crunch and consistency. I have also had brunch here and their crab cakes and salads are pretty good. The staff is always helpful and attentive. I would recommend this place even for a late night drink. This restaurant has a great vibe!

Pretty straight forward with the brunch menu, $ 16 for a dish that comes with a drink. I order myself the crab cake which was delicious. It came with 2 crab cake on a bed of salad. At first I thought it looked small, but once I finished everything I was full. Would come again perhaps to try something different. One thing i would say is i was looking forward to try their curry cheese fries and that was not available until after 4pm. There is pay street parking or the train is very accessible around the area.

I went here once for brunch and for a Tuesday night dinner last week. Both times were delicious with great, but not fast enough service.
Brunch — I had eggs florentine and my hubby steak and eggs. It was delicious and the steak was actually cooked they way we wanted (medium rare).
Dinner — Oysters, blueberry goat cheese salad for me and hubby had bacon wrapped meatloaf. Mine was awesome and he says his had lots of flavor, and the whole dish cooked just right (no dry taters or meat:)). The live music was nice too!
The only reason I’m not giving it 5 starts is because it’s a tad pricey. Comparable to the Irish Cottage, but yummier.

Today, was the 2^nd time I had lunch at Banter. Both times I had a good medium-​rare burger.
Had soup the first time and salad the second. Good value at $ 10.

We had some drama getting a table, but the hostess was very sweet. My salad was delish and my friend enjoyed her smoked salmon omelette. Drinks were meh.

Been here since it first opened and this place definitely built itself as a nice neighborhood spot in the community. Have been here tons of time with the family and have also ordered take out. Eating in is an easy choice since this place is only a full block and ½ from our apt. Its a cozy place that’s casual and loud enough that when my kids yell or make a fuss no one can really hear or notice. My husband usually orders either the Irish stew or beef stew. Both look small but are super hearty, filling an delicious. I generally go with the steak/​avocado salad (which is super stuffed with avocado and steak) or the trio of pies from the appetizer menu. My kids favorite is the cheeseburger and the guinness or Irish breakfast mussels (Irish breakfast is my personal favorite). There are a bunch of apps that are really great like the curry cheese fries, scotch egg or the trio of pies (i.e., beef, sheppard)
Place is always packed but there is never too long a wait. in the warmer months, its nice when they have tables outside. service is always quick and efficient and friendly (they have gotten friendlier over time). Always a good meal. Definitely one of the better restaurants, in a sea of eh eh to mediocre restaurants.

I had heard good things about Banter from friends and family who had eaten there, and so we selected it last week, to celebrate my son’s 29^th birthday. First, I have to say that the location is perfect if you plan to see a movie. The Midway Theater is just steps away, so that was one of the deciding factors. We purchased our tickets, had dinner, and made it to the theater with time to spare.
The meal was wonderful, and did not disappoint! The service was also terrific — we were seated immediately and our server was very friendly and attentive. She also advised us that there was a wine special, which we appreciated, but did not order. There were four of us, and we decided to start with some small plates to sample and share, before moving onto the main course. We shared a plate of Bubble & Squeak Dumplings (filled with corned beef & cabbage) which were my personal favorite. So much flavor in one bite! I probably could have just ordered a plate of dumplings for my meal and would have been satisfied. We also shared a small dish of Baked Guinness Macaroni & Cheese. I am not a fan of Guinness, and did not expect to enjoy it, but it was very flavorful. We also split a small shepherd’s pie, which had a nice consistency. The servings were small, but they tell you that on the menu, and were probably better suited for two instead of four, as we each only got a bite of each appetizer. (But, that’s my observance and advice, and certainly not a criticism, as they earned all five stars.)
For dinner, my son and daughter-​in-​law each ordered Traditional Irish Stew. They both loved it. The servings were very hearty and the presentation was excellent — the bowl was atop a wooden board, with bread and butter on the side. My fiancé ordered bacon-​wrapped meatloaf. Again, the portions were generous, and he enjoyed it. I tried a bite of the meatloaf and it was delicious. I ordered a filet of pork. It was one of the best things I have ever tasted. It was served with a nice sweet cranberry sauce and the creamiest mashed potatoes I may have ever eaten. The pork tenderloin also came with stuffing and gravy — the stuffing was flavorful and the gravy (which they gave a nice amount) was thick and rich, but not too thick and not overly rich. I often order extra gravy with a meal, but did not have to, as they really gave the perfect proportion of everything. And again, the portions were generous, and everything was delicious.
After dinner, we asked the staff to sing to my son (which he tried desperately and unsuccessfully to get out of — LOL) and he shared with us his candle-​topped dessert. It was the perfect ending to a perfect meal.
I look forward to returning to Banter soon, so that I can try another one of their amazing entrees! And maybe some wine!

I came here for lunch on a rainy day with my pal. It’s a nice cutesy little spot, thankfully it was a quiet day in the venue. There were too many things that looked good on the menu but I managed to order a chicken parm sandwich off of the lunch menu with a side of curry fries. The sandwich was decent but the curry fries were awesome. Warm seasoned fries soaked in a light curry gravy with a nice layer of cheese on top… So yummy!
However our server could have been more attentive. Our water wasn’t being refilled and when we asked for the check she took nearly 15 minutes to bring it to the table. If the restaurant was busy I could understand, but there was just only 2 other tables in the entire place being occupied.

Very good «Modern Irish» pub located in Forest Hills. We have been here twice for dinner, and both meals were very good. My favorite is the Scotch Egg appetizer, a soft boiled egg wrapped in meat and breadcrumbs. We also like their curry fries. Main courses are properly sized, and very good. The Irish Stew was nice, and I had the Bison burger as well, very meaty, but watch out when you bite in, it is juicy, and the juice is hot. I also loved the pretzel bun it came in. Service was very good. I also like their beer selection, a good mix of regulars with some good local micro/​craft brews.

Came here for Sunday brunch to celebrate my mother’s birthday. We got there around 11ish and the place was already packed. The soccer game was on that my dad wanted to watch so sitting by the bar worked out for us Even though we were a party of 5. You must have the Bloody Mary here it was very tasty ! You can’t come to an Irish bar and not have corned beef and theirs was on point. My husband had the southern biscuit dish which was out of this world unhealthy but oh so delicious. This may be my favorite brunch place in forest hills now.

Thr service is so bad you have to seat self .not only that but get menu for self then not be server and asked to place order by bar. If you like self service like please do come here then. I heard this place was great but unfortunately this was a disappointed visit to eat.
Never will i come again.
I still manage to tip without the service.
Half of the tables was filled only if it was really busy i would understand but no.

I have been here on two occasions and both times I’ve felt that this place is OK. I have tried their blackened salmon salad, curry fries, shepherds pie and chicken pot pie. The blackened salmon salad is really good — I am definitely a fan! I was craving it after trying it the first time, so I ordered it again on my second visit. The curry fries are also quite delicious — the fries are generously layered with curry sauce and cheese (not just on the top like some other places do). Shepherd’s pie is not the best that I’ve had but it was still delicious. Chicken pot pie could have used more salt and was lacking in flavor — I don’t think I would get this again.
In terms of food, a lot of what I have had here is pretty good! The service could definitely use some work, though. On both occasions, we had to wait a while to be seated (while waiting awkwardly at the front of the restaurant). The food does not come quickly — be prepared to wait! Since Banter is located right next to Midway, this may seem like a convenient place to grab a bite. I recommend that you set aside at least an hour if you plan to eat here before your movie! Also, the waiters are not very enthusiastic and seem to be doing just enough to fulfill their job requirements (taking your order and making sure it ends up at your table). Because of this, the atmosphere was lacking.
If I return, I hope the service improves — Banter could definitely be the star amongst Forest Hills lackluster food scene!

I had a good time here! Literally right next to a movie theatre, but I don’t think this is a quick meal kind of place.
I like the vibe inside (very old school pub), and our server was very sweet.
My chicken pot pie was hearty and just on the okay side. I wish I ordered something more exciting like the pork fillet of one of the burgers. My friend ordered the chicken burger with fries, and the fries tasted spot on.
I love the portions and would come back here to try something else. The Jameson spring rolls sounded enticing…

This place is a nice chill bar/​restaurant. I’ve been here twice and it has always been late night. So have yet to try the food but the ambiance is great. Banter is a great place to relax, have a drink, and enjoy the night away.

I was not impressed by this place.
First time here, I had their brunch here. They only serve brunch items during that time. I read reviews on their curry fries and wanted to try it along with the brunch items, but they didnt serve it during the time we were there which was a huge letdown. I had the crab cake salad with mango salad and my other half had the southern chicken biscuit. He liked his dish and thought he had a hefty amount for a brunch special. I would recommend that dish. My crab cake was good and tasty, but they were too small for $ 15… I also expected the crab cakes to be all real crab meat, but ITS NOT. THEY USE IMITATION CRAB MEAT AS WELL FOR THEIR CAKES. This was a big underwhelming aspect of my meal as well. We had coffee as our drinks and was given multiple fills which was nice.
Service was amicable and attentive. This is a good place for a brunch out with your friends.
However, overall, I was NOT IMPRESSED to come back again.

Came in shortly after opening for a Saturday late morning brunch and already the place was nearly packed with almost all tables taken — usually a positive sign since demand is so great. I like that this place offers its brunch menu on Saturday and Sunday — why do some places ONLY do Sundays? More brunch the better I always say.
Menu is straightforward $ 15 for the majority of a large selection of brunch dishes (Irish breakfast had a $ 2 upcharge) — that comes with a choice of beverage. We both had Bloody Marys and coffees — and the bloody mary was deliciously spicy although a little on the small side.
For our meals we had the Eggs Florentine and the smoked salmon omelet, which I told myself in the past I would never order again because I usually don’t like my smoked salmon cooked in my eggs, but I was won over by the menu hype of it being the «Chef’s specialty». It did not disappoint and I thought the smoked salmon was good quality and added great flavor to the eggs. Eggs Florentine were also on point.
I love, love, love being served home fries AND a salad. It’s great not having to decide between the two! ALL brunches should be served this way! Delicious home fries and a generous salad. Large comfort food servings here (except for the bloody mary)!
There are better (read:unlimited booze) brunch deals out there, but the quality of the food, friendly service and beautiful décor make this one a winner. Service was a little slow to start, but that’s what happens when you have 20 tables all sit at the same time for a meal. It caught up fast though. Also there was no upcharge for ordering two beverages — which I thought there may be since the menu was not entirely clear.

An absolutely amazing experience. Both times!
Food: this place serves the best blackened salmon salad I’ve ever tasted in my entire life! This includes all of the places in Hong Kong I’ve tried. And if you’ve ever been to the east, fish is very difficult to beat there. The crème brûlée cheesecake was very unique.
Service: the server was very responsive and even offered to take something off the bill because there was a mistake. We inhaled it and declined the offer, of course. Be wary: incomplete parties will not be seated, despite it being a weeknight.
Décor: everything appears very clean!

For Mother’s Day, my Mom wanted to «try something new», so we decided to go to Banter Irish Bar and Kitchen for a quick brunch. We arrived at around 11:00am and the wait for both indoor and outdoor seating for 3 was over 40 minutes (the place does not take reservations). We decided to settle for sitting at the bar, which was available right away.
Now, I’ll be honest. I have not been to many Irish restaurants before, but if ever I were to imagine the décor of an Irish restaurant, this would be it. It had a rugged atmosphere, tons of beer choices, not-​messing-​around bar and overall, a place that gives off the vibe of «not for wusses». Our waitress/​bartender (didn’t catch her name) sounded like she was straight from a little town in Ireland.
It was a busy morning and our bartender was running around like a headless chicken. We sat right by where the staff came out with the food, so we caught glimpses of the dishes. Everything looked amazing and the proportions were huge! We started with mimosas and looked at the menu. We ended up looking at the breakfast menu instead of brunch menu (brunch starts at 11am) and the bar tender had to give us a new menu. All items on the breakfast menu can be found on the brunch menu. Brunch menu included some classic lunch items (burgers, fried chicken, etc.) It bothered me that the price for items on the breakfast list were $ 5 cheaper than items on the brunch menu, BUT brunch did include a complimentary drink (screwdriver, mimosa, bloody mary, soda, coffee, tea or juice).
My mother ordered the french toast (classic Mom), I ordered the steak and eggs which came with homefries and toast (I was really proud of myself for staying away from the toast and only nibbling on the toast as I recently went paleo) and my sister ordered the southern fried chicken biscuits (also classic Kristen).
While we waited, I sipped on my absolutely delicious mimosa. I realized they used Taittinger; no wonder it was so delicious! Despite being extremely busy, the bartender was attentive, efficient and very friendly. The three of us watched in awe as she worked the bar — we’re big fans of efficiency and hard workers.
Our food came and everything was great. My steak was more of a medium well than a medium, but it was so juicy, it was perfectly fine with it. My mother’s french toast had an orangey taste and the portion was so large. The side of sausage was also so delicious. My sister’s fried chicken looked really great. It was served with delicious sweet potato fries on the side.
I overheard another guest order Irish coffee and had I not been so stuffed, I would have tried it. I would say that will have to wait until my next visit. Definitely different compared to the typical places my Mom is used to. I felt bad we had to sit at the bar because we wanted to go somewhere close but nobody really took reservations, but my Mom was a trooper and enjoyed sitting at the bar, as she has never eaten at a bar before. I definitely recommend going here!

Irish and unique, great lunch menu $ 9 with 10 different options. $ 5 drinks.
Ordered the TeX Mex chili with tacos and lentil soup.