As a soccer fan, neighborhood resident, and longtime supporter since the opening day of local business Banter, I am sorry to say I can no longer recommend this establishment to friends or clients after the way the owner and staff treated me this morning stopping in to watch the last 8 minutes of play in the Brazil vs. Costa Rica match. What was once an inviting establishment has sadly gone down hill and can't recommend unless you like being treated with hostility and disrespect. I was unaware that they were serving breakfast so had a sandwich and coffee in hand on my way to my office down the street. The owner, understandably, informed me that no outside food was allowed. I apologized immediately and told him I didn't know they were serving breakfast but was happy they were with weeks more of matches to watch. I told him 'Good to know for the rest of the world cup'. I had just got back into town late the night before and checked their website to see that they were open excited to watch a match surrounded by fellow fans. I stuffed my bagel in my bag to watch the last 6 minutes of a very exciting game. A bartender less than a minute later came to me to say 'sorry, the owner said you need to leave since you have a coffee and we serve coffee'. I looked up to see him glaring at me from behind the bar. I again apologized said I didn't know they served coffee and got up from my seat to stand in the doorway to watch the last minutes of the match because this is the WORLD CUP and people, all around the world, have respect when you are in the final moments of a riveting match. Less than a minute later, a different bartender confronted me aggressively, while standing in the doorway, and told me I needed to leave if I wasn't a paying customer. Had I been asked to order a coffee at Banter, or anything else for that matter, I would have been happy to oblige just to finish the match surrounded by fellow soccer fans. The attitude of the owner, and staff, was nothing but confrontational and aggressive during a special time for the sport. It is 9:30 in the morning, I am not going to have a beer on my way to work, you have a sign out front saying 'Open for World Cup' and no info on your website or signs that state you are serving breakfast or even coffee for that matter. Never have I experienced such disrespect in an establishment anywhere in the world. Spend your money somewhere else were the ownership and staff treat people walking through their door with respect. You just needlessly lost a costumer who has recommend Banter to people I meet around the world as the best place to watch a match in NYC and has spent countless hours, money, and years enjoying what once was a great place. What a disappointment. read more