Astoria’s Finest Bagels

Great bagels and a great selection of cream cheeses.
Went here last weekend and saw this was closed :(Why???

GOOD BUT…
Negatives: not enough outlets for your computer to charge.
Owner sits and stares at customers which I find slightly annoying.
WAY to quiet. They need to bump up the music.
Positives, quiet, always a table, Bagels are decent quality, not as good
as Brooklyn Bagel across the street but decent.
Good customer service. CLEAN bathroom.

This mom & pop shop is located just a few blocks from one of the biggest bagel purveyors in the area that most know about, Brooklyn Bagel. The bagels themselves are a bit softer and less bread. Pricing is similar as well.
The two gentleman I encountered there (owners I assumed) seemed down to earth and friendly. So kudos to good wholesome customer service.
The free Wifi is a plus as they have lots of seating space (a section with outlets as well) to do work or just lounge around in.

My husband and I were in the mood for some bagel and lox, so we decided to walk up Ditmars Boulevard and see what our options were. Of course we already knew about Brooklyn Bagel, and my husband knew about a little mom & pop bagel shop further up, but when we saw Astoria’s Finest Bagels and realized we’d never noticed it before, we decided to give it a try.
It was already after 3pm on a Sunday and the guy at the counter apologetically explained that they had a «crazy morning» so the variety of bagels available would be scarce. By my count, they still had almost half a dozen kinds of bagels left, so the apology wasn’t really necessary, but it was nice that he cared about not disappointing us. We both wanted bagel & lox sandwiches, and he informed us that the flavored cream cheeses didn’t cost extra. There was a decent variety to choose from and he offered us a sample of the chipotle cream cheese, which had some serious kick to it. I ordered the scallion cream cheese, but I’m very intrigued by the *bacon* and scallion cream cheese and will have to try that next time.
While we were waiting for our food, we chatted up the guy who had been taking our order. He told us that his father owned the shop, and that he and his sister (who was sitting at one of the tables working) helped run it. When he realized it was our first time there, his face sort of lit up and he said, «Well, we’ll have to do something a little special for you then.» So he put a chocolate croissant on our tray and said it was on the house.
I really appreciate when a business tries to earn their clientele. He totally didn’t need to give us free food — it was enough that he was friendly and answered our questions about the shop. But he decided to go the extra step and make us feel welcome, while also letting us sample more of their food. The chocolate croissant, by the way, was delicious. And only $ 2, which is a steal considering how much Starbucks would charge.
Our bagel sandwiches were also really good, although not as overloaded with lox as I would have liked. The bagels (I had a salt bagel, my husband had an onion) weren’t too dense, but still chewy. Sometimes I finish a bagel sandwich feeling overly carbed up, but this hit the spot without making me feel too heavy afterwards. And $ 9.25 is a pretty good price for a bagel and lox (I’ve spent $ 14 in Manhattan before).
After the great service and welcoming atmosphere here, we’ll definitely be back. You gotta love a family-​run local business that cares about their customers.

Originally from Jersey, I am a strong supporter of Jersey bagels. They are big, fluffy, and delicious. I must say though, Astoria’s finest bagels are some of the best I have ever had. They have normal size (which is HUGE) and mini size, which is great if you arn’t too hungry. They also have many different kinds of flavored cream cheeses of which they let me sample — YUM.
Aside from bagels they offer many other lunch options such as personal pizzas, paninis, etc.
Friendliest service around!

Two of my roommates stop here every morning because they swear the coffee is the best they’ve ever had. I tend to roll my eyes because, let’s face it, everyone says that about EVERY place unless the coffee is bad.
Anyway, they actually do have the best coffee around. I hesitate to compare to all coffee places of all time, but it’s really good.
I also had a veggie wrap, and it was pretty good, but not spectacular like the coffee.

I keep meaning to take a picture of the sign on their window that says «LOW CARB,» but alas, I have yet to fulfill this duty. I’m sorry, Unilocal!I promise I will get on the ball with this.
Okay, so I think it’s just a TAD of a stretch to advertise their bagels as low carb, but you know I guess it’s all a matter of perspective! ;) Anyhoo, I guess I really don’t care that it’s kind of false advertisement, because anyone dumb enough to think that ANY normal bagel would be low carb probably needs to be knocked out of ketosis anyway to reinstate normal cognitive functioning.
These bagels are good! They are not exactly the quintessential chewy-​on-​the-​inside, crunchy-​on-​the-​outside NY style bagel. Rather, they are a little on the light, airy side compared to Brooklyn Bagel and other chains. But they have a good flavor and texture in their own right. Though my own predilection is to go with the denser, chewier types of bagels at other stores, I will say that one thing that intrigues me that will eventually draw me back is their olive bagel. Paying homage to the their location in a traditionally Greek enclave, this is the only place I am aware of that has come up with this creative concoction. Will be back!

I just wasted my time reading the lame one star reviews others have posted. First of all, complaining about the lack of selection a store has their first week open is weak. Second, I am a Native NYer and have been to hundreds of bagel places and I can’t recollect a single one where one doesn’t place the order with the bagel staff (as opposed to the cashier or owner acting as cashier), so if you’re considering getting bagels here, please do so and ignore the 100% dismissible reviews from people unqualified to review anything.
Onto my review: The staff is amazing, the bagels are made on the premises, and the selection of cream cheeses is fantastic. My first time in the store, I was offered a sample of cream cheese merely because I showed interest in the wide selection of flavors. The staff are bagel connoisseurs and every single one of them is enthusiastic and friendly.
Most recently, 3 of my friends and I ate here and there were only 2-​top tables available, but the owner let us push 2 tables together.
Finally, while having credit card minimums of any level is a violation of the merchant agreement, I am happy to say that Astoria Finest Bagels’ credit card minimum is a mere 5 dollars, which I think is totally reasonable.
Oh, if you’re still on the fence about whether or not to go here, read this: The first time I went, I actually went back a few hours later. My friend and I greedily wolfed down our bagels and were sad when they were done. After a walk around Astoria in search of the game Taboo, we returned for 2 more bagels, rationalizing that we had had 2 savory bagels and now it was time for some sweet bagel dessert.
Yum.

Wow. I was excited to see a new bagel joint opening up on Ditmars. I have lived in the area for a few years now and I have been a regular at Brooklyn Bagels down the street.
The 1^st week this place was open I walked in and felt like I was in an armpit. I am serious. It waslikr 71 degrees outside and it was easily 95 in this place. It was stuffy, humid and hot. I now understand why it was lunchtime and there was NOBODY eating inside. When I fianlly got to order I asked for a toasted whole wheat bagel with low fat cream cheese.(not an complicated or abnormal order) The man said, oh we dont have that today. I was like, what? He said we are out of WW and dont have lowfat or fat free today. They appearently had 4 flavors. How can a bagel place have only 4? I can understand a corner deli having 4, but a place called Astoria’s FINEST Bagels? I looked at the guy and said, well thats too bad and left.
When I went outside the air was clean. I was like wow. It smells better out here on the street.
I gave this place another chance a week later. I was hungry enough.
Same lame service. I went in there and it was sour smelling and very hot and humid for 6:30 at night. I ordered a toasted whole wheat and tofu cream cheese… yet again, no luck. So i ordered a plain toasted with regular CC lightly topped. I get 2 inches of CC and my fist bite is disgusting. I spit it out and there was fuzzy mold mixed in my cream cheese. SERIOUSLY???
I will never go back. I would rather go to Dunkin Donuts and get one of their crappy bagels… at least I know their cream cheese isnt furry!