I've been coming for years and this place has been here forever .. first time today I felt compelled to write a review as I sit here eating my pricey egg and cheese (they haven't adjusted back down since the egg crisis ended) while freezing and watching the line . It's honestly a mixed bag here .. it's freezing inside the store in the fall /winter for some reason and the service can be painfully slow , especially when there's a long line and the cashiers are running their mouths with some random guy up front about BBQ (?!) instead of moving along to the next customer . An annoyed customer behind me even had had enough and barked "uhm , can we get some help please?" after seeing an employee listlessly staring into the distance doing not much for several minutes . The employee "woke up" and sauntered back to his kitchen post slowly instead of picking up the empty cashier station in front of him. Maybe it wasn't his job , but oooof did it leave a bad impression of not giving a fck. The bagels are good , but the atmosphere feels like a cold subway stop convenience store .. needs help with efficiency and heating . Also not charging a 4% CC fee would be nice .. interchange is cheaper than that , I used to work in the card industry . 3% should be cap realistically . read more

They redesigned the place. They replaced the booths with tables so I think there is more room. I had a bagel sandwich for 8.00. I thought the price was high. I guess I am paying for the new furniture. The bengal sandwich was good but for 8.00 it should be. Parking is on the street. I would think twice before returning when I can get the same thing for a fraction of the price. read more

Affordable, quick moving line, and feels like a classic NY bagel experience. I found the bagels themselves to be underwhelming, and the lox cream cheese was "lox" in the same way that la croix is fruit flavored. The bagels had a nice chewy texture and are clearly fresh, but they seemed to lack salt and the everything bagel was sparsely seasoned. read more

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Prices are ridiculously high. Just an average bagel and 8.99 for an egg , bacon and bagel ridiculous when other better cheaper bagel places in Needham... I won't be back til they adjust prices. Other bagel place Bagel Best in Needham center 1/2 these robbery prices and better bagels, sandwiches? This Cafe Fresh Bagels haven't adjusted prices down since egg prices have decreased???? Buyers beware here read more

Great bagels. Normally, we never eat bagels at home - only in NY. However, when our friends from NY came to visit and insisted on bagels I went there VERY early in the morning and... everyone was pleased - for the first time I liked bagels made outside of NY (sorry Montreal:) and, for the first time, our NY guests liked bagels outside of NY read more

Great food and the most patient unflappable staff handling the lines of people who know where to go for authentic bagel quality. They have iced decaf hazelnut coffee!!! They also have almond milk for those who care...like me. I care deeply. There is no comparison between a black because they don't have a non-dairy-option iced decaf with a bad-for-you sugar flavor syrup & an iced coffee from this place--having the flavor infused in the bean & with almond milk. Plenty of open seating on a busy Thursday morning. Free parking behind the store. You can put these up against any NYC Bagel & these will win. Convenient to the Needham Heights T. Good mornings start here! read more

Cafe Fresh Bagel - Real boiled bagels & truly tasty chicken salad - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Needham Heights, Massachusetts

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I have been to the sister location in Dedham and this one did not disappoint! Great bagels, big breakfast sandwiches and excellent coffee. A great spot! read more

We were referred by friends who live in Needham. The bagels here are EXCELLENT. The egg sandwich seemed to have liquid cheese on it, which made it messy to eat - also an egg omelet rather than my preferred fried egg, but it tasted good. Very busy - 10 people were working but seemed to keep running into each other so the service wasn't particularly organized and seemed like it could have been faster. That said, the bagels were worth the wait! read more

There's usually a line here. So when you walk in and see the line looped, don't get scared off! It moves pretty quickly, giving you enough time to know what you want before you get to the counter. Small local business but very friendly staff. We came late Sat morning around 11am and they were still making fresh bagels. They gave a good amount of variety and their custom blend cream cheese are very soft and spreadable. We got the garlic bagel with plain cream cheese and sausage, egg and cheese on an everything bagel. I'm looking forward to going can to trying more. read more

Cafe Fresh Bagel - Menu - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Needham Heights, Massachusetts

Amazing bagels and bagel sandwiches!! I love visiting Cafe Fresh when i'm really craving a good breakfast. Everyone is so sweet and kind and make the experience of dining in even more pleasant. I love the variety of bagels they have, and ESPECIALLY love the variety of cream cheeses. I had an onion bagel toasted with jalapeno cream cheese and it hit the spot. read more

Cafe Fresh Bagel - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Needham Heights, Massachusetts

Before I stand by what I write too strongly, I will say that I will be giving Cafe Fresh Bagel another chance. For now, I will start off the review by saying it is nothing but average. I ordered a cinnamon bagel with butter (hard to mess up, right?). After reading the reviews of the Cafe, I was expecting a large bagel, crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. I wish I had snapped a picture! I received nothing of the sort- instead I had gotten the thinnest bagel I've ever seen in my life. It was like the ring of Saturn. Cafe Fresh Bagel, I'll be back, I'm not giving up on you just yet.. read more

These bagels are better than many of the finest NY bagels. Consistently excellent. Recommend to all visitors to town. Freeze and toast well too! read more

Fresh sumptuous bagels made everyday in a local neighborhood. Store is always clean and service quick and friendly.

Bagels are big but not good. Rude workers omg. Not only that I asked for 2 freezer bags. One for the majority of the bagels and one for the everything bagels. They charged me $.15! 15 cents really after spending $15 on bagels? This is ridiculous and I will never return there. Also the place is run down and needs a makeover. Badly run business. read more

I was passing through Needham and decided to stop at Cafe Bagel during the late morning of Friday, September 6, 2024. This was my first time here. My breakfast sandwich was delicious despite the fact that the staff member who took my order got the order wrong. I received an egg with no cheese on a bagel even though I wanted eggs and lox . I'll let that pass because it was during a busy and noisy breakfast/lunch rush. I'm giving one star only because this same staff member later screamed profanities at the kitchen staff and remarked that they needed to "go back to where they came from." I don't know what led to the screaming, but this staff member did this in full view of approximately 15 customers. She also threw an object across the cash register counter and almost hit two other employees. My wife and I got up to leave while the staff member continued to scream and a patron sitting next to us told her to be quiet and calm down. The staff member left the restaurant closely behind us but walked in a different direction. I'd like to think that this is not Cafe Bagel's norm, but the staff member's racist and profane remarks were extremely disturbing and offending to everyone. I have a sense that this staff member will no longer be working at Cafe Bagel and I hope that she gets the help she needs, but I won't be coming back to this establishment anytime soon. There is actually another Cafe Bagel location closer to my home which has lovely staff and delicious food. read more

Very cute little family owned bagel/coffee shop. The bagels are all made fresh.. all the food actually. The coffee is brewed in the bean (which is always a plus), fast service, and super friendly! Check it out if you're ever around needham read more

Cafe Fresh Bagel - Bagels - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Needham Heights, Massachusetts

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Cafe fresh is a go to bagel spot. They have everything you need. It's cheap and satisfying. When you go right in the morning the bagels are hot and fluffy. Definitely gets crowded though. They are very reliable when calling in an order, usually ready pretty fast and you can skip the line. They also have various baked goods like cookies and muffins. The coffee is great too. Employees are very friendly and welcoming. read more

Cafe Fresh Bagel - egg and cheese on an everything bagel - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Needham Heights, Massachusetts

Café Fresh Bagel, Needham, MA Avoid the lox spread. I learned about Café Fresh Bagel from met my friend Steve Block, who used to buy dozens of bagels for people at my old job and elsewhere. He'd slap on a "Bagels from Block" smiley-face sticker and leave the bag for a new hire. When I bit into my first one, I was hooked! What texture! A thin satisfying, crisp with each bite, and a mild yet gratifying chew. What flavor! Cissel, raisin, sesame--they all packed a flavorful punch. And they were big bagels! An awful visit today. Things have been tight for my family and indulging in to-go food is an infrequent occurrence. But I knew on the way to a doctor's appointment this morning that I might have to splurge. I decided if there was a parking space in the CFB block, I would get a bagel. The more I thought about it, the more I wanted it, and the more I knew I'd enjoy it. My favorite, cinnamon raisin bagel well-toasted (I know, never toast a fresh bagel) with cream cheese and nova (and preferably tomato, onion, capers) was not in my budget, but I was practically drooling thinking how much I would revel in a cinnamon bagel well-toasted with lox spread. (insert clip: "mmm mmm mmm, the flavors are melting on my tongue.") I could envision it. My salivary glands were in overdrive. I was so close. I always feel rushed when I walk into CFB. There's an energy behind the counter that is great when there is a long line but not otherwise very calming. I placed my order. After a quick wait, I grabbed my bag and returned to my car. I was going to relax and eat while I listened to a book. But alas, disappointment befell my repast. The first thing I noticed (besides forgetting to ask my bagel to be cut in half) was the bagel's thinness. When I used to buy them for home, I'd slice them in thirds because of their considerable size. This bagel was the size of a Bruegger's bagel. Then I noticed the thin shmear of cream cheese. I had expectations, and this was a bit of downer, but I didn't really need all that cream cheese, so that was okay. I ate a couple bites and noticed no lox flavor. And no raisin flavor. Another bite--nothing. I took a closer look and noticed the texture. The outside wasn't smooth. Again, Bruegger-reminiscent (or more NY than NJ in texture). I again looked for lox and realized I must have someone else's order. I was sure of it. This was a wholewheat bagel with plain cream cheese. Bummer. Since I hadn't left the vicinity, I returned to the store. My expectation was that they had my actual order and were waiting to see if I'd return. Or they'd remake my original order, or maybe they'd ask if I wanted a refund of the difference in cost between lox cream cheese and plain. Near the toasting station, my server acknowledged me with a quizzical look and indicated I should wait a minute. She promptly approached the counter, and I told her I thought I had the wrong order. She asked, "lox spread?" and I said, "yes, but that's not what this is." She asked if she could look at my still partially wrapped bagel. I handed it over. As she perused it, I could tell she was confused, too. She took it to the toaster where a few men had congregated. They all said there was lox in the cream cheese. The server returned the bagel to me. I looked at it again, and there it was, a miniscule bit of salmon. I said, "Okay, I see it now, but it's a tiny sliver of salmon. Maybe you should add more salmon to the lox spread." The men kept insisting it was lox spread, and I kept saying, okay, fine, I see why you're saying that, but you should add more lox in the future. One man commented on how he opened the container and used what was inside. {Tip: There might be a QC problem if the spread lacks any pink coloring--not just of the lox slivers, but the overall hue of the product.} At this point, my voice is a little raised because the men are across the store and it's loud in there (I'm not yelling--that is not my style), and I've interrupted someone else's order, which I feel bad about. And the people in line are ping-ponging their heads looking at me, then at the men, then at the server, and around again. One of the men should have bidden me to the other end of the counter and met me to discuss the issue and a solution without disrupting the flow, etc. Maybe I wasn't clear, maybe they weren't clear. idk. But the evidence was clear, and it was clear to me they didn't care what I was saying, and they certainly didn't care about my dissatisfaction. So, I left, dispirited and frustrated--and I admit, a little teary-eyed. My splurge of the week ruined, I vacated my parking space and ate my boring bagel on the way home. I wondered if the bagel was the runt, the last of the batch, or if in general, their cinnamon raisins (all their bagels?) are on the smaller side these days. On the plus side, I did end up tasting a few raisins. And the bagel was perfectly toasted. read more

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I always seem to find myself here due to my frequent eye doctor appointments. It is always a treat for me afterwards to enjoy a fresh breakfast bagel. You can literally see them making fresh bagels in the back and see that it's a family-run business. Support local! Some of the best bagels I've discovered in Boston area. read more

Cafe Fresh Bagel - Italian sausage, egg, and cheese bagel - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Needham Heights, Massachusetts

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The bagel was fresh and warm! The size of the bagel were quite big, took me awhile to finish it. There were lots of people but not many seatings.There's a parking lot behind the restaurant, so it's easy to find parking. We waited a bit to get our bagel, the people were nice. It's a small and busy restaurant! read more

Cafe Fresh Bagel - Salmon bagel - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Needham Heights, Massachusetts

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Been coming here for years and it's been consistently good. Service is always great and the bagels are always fresh. This place isn't big on frills, but always delivers quality food and coffee. This time, I got a sausage egg and cheese on a sesame bagel. The bagel was light, chewy and well seasoned. Eggs were fluffy and the sausage was high-quality. Iced coffee was solid too. read more

Cafe Fresh Bagel - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Needham Heights, Massachusetts

New Yorker approved bagels. On par or better than Kupels, Rosenfeld's, or Katz. Good sandwiches, decent coffee. Get the bagels and the schmear. read more

Bagels are fantastic, but the Greek salad was the worst I've had. I guess I should have stuck to the sandwiches.

We love this place! The bagels are amazing, as seen by the long lines (especially on the weekends!) but you can always call ahead to place an order. Staff is friendly and accommodating, especially the owner who is usually there. Great neighborhood breakfast spot. read more

There are lots of claims when it comes to the best bagels. Cafe Fresh Bagel does not disappoint. Serving hot fresh bagels with even better sandwiches this small shop is slinging some amazing food. From Staten Island to the Bronx I've had amazing New York bagels and this small Massachusetts shop is in my top 3. The service is quick and what might come off as rude to some makes me feel at home. In a world of Paneras this place is jam packed with locals trying to get some amazing bagels and get out. Expect a line on the weekends and don't miss out on their amazing Sausage egg and cheese sandwich. You'll thank me later! read more

Cafe Fresh Bagel - Asiago Bagel Bacon Egg and Cheese Sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Needham Heights, Massachusetts

The staff is fast and wait time is minimal. All bagels are great even their breakfast sandwiches. Take it to go or you can eat at the restaurant. read more

Cafe Fresh Bagel - Menu and different fresh bagels - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Needham Heights, Massachusetts

Can't beat the service at this place. No matter how busy they are, they always welcome you with a smile and a fresh, delicious bagel!

This cafe always has a line out the door and for good reason too, the bagels are excellent! It is very chaotic inside, but the workers know what they're doing, so you better pay attention. I ordered a bacon, egg, and cheese on a marble bagel. Perfectly toasted bagel, slightly runny egg, and the bacon and cheese are mixed in really well. It packed full of flavor and the bagel has a great chewy texture to it. The bagel sandwich is already cut in half and makes it easy to eat. I definitely wish I came a bit earlier since they had already run out of a lot of bagels. They also sell bags of bagels by the dozen custom cream cheese blends, which I would love to try out next time. They open at 5:30AM, so you'll want to get there early to get the best pick of bagels. Overall, would highly recommend stopping by to satisfy that bagel craving. read more

Cafe Fresh Bagel - Marble bagel sandwich w/ bacon egg & cheese - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Needham Heights, Massachusetts

Best bagels. Best egg and cheese. Highly recommend. You should go there, any line is worth the wait.

With the positive reviews and the line that extended down the sidewalk, our hopes were high. There were an assortment of bagels and proteins with breakfast and all-day lunch sandwiches. The staff was not overly efficient and seemed inundated. Orders were being yelled and confused responses were yelling back to confirm details of the orders. It was a bit of a mess. We watched as orders were filled that had been placed well after we placed ours. Unfortunately, we had to nag to get our order. The pace of the line of patrons appeared efficient moving at a decent pace, but witnessing the chaos behind the counter told a different story. We ordered two toasted nova and cream cheese plain bagels. We had to clarify that we wanted cream cheese as the item was listed as "Nova and cheese" under the lunch sandwiches category. When we finally received our order, we received the two toasted nova and cream cheese plain bagels wrapped up and tucked in a paper bag. The bagels had been conveniently sliced in half. The cost was a bit of a shock at $24.43 for 2 plain bagels with nova and cream cheese! At that price, these bagels needed to be something amazing to write home about. Well, the rather bland flavor was disappointing. The bagels were toasted with the right amount of crispy and chewy to satisfy any connoisseur, but the red onion slices were just slivers while the red tomatoes were sliced a bit too thick for that meaty texture. The nova was a higher quality for the texture, but the flavor was unimpressive. Just slightly better than some, but really not worth the $24.43 and the wait. read more

Cafe Fresh Bagel - Line in front of the store. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Needham Heights, Massachusetts

love the overall vibe of this place.. there was a huge line but that's how you know it's gonna be the best bagel! read more

Cafe Fresh Bagel - bacon egg cheese with veggie cream cheese - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Needham Heights, Massachusetts

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Great and YUMMY bagels- just the right amount of chew. The waitstaff is extremely efficient though a bit harried when it's busy, but they all keep their cool. There are customers who have their full amount of privilege and cut in front of you, but it's nothing that a side-eyed slap won't fix. Ha! But, seriously! The Everything Bagel ROCKS. I'm never going anywhere else for my nosh fix, even WITH the batty battle axes. I had my Everything Bagel as a Bacon, Egg white and Cheese Sandwich and it was scrumptious. I'd like to write more, but I'm going back for more!!! read more

Came here for breakfast, they don't have capacity limits and the line was long. Two bagels with sausage egg and cheese was $14. The bagels are yummy! They have a good variety of options and the ingredients they use taste fresh and very flavorful. They use a good portion of eggs and sausage on the bagel. They have a large variety of cream cheese options as well. A bagel with cream cheese was like $3-$4. I shared photos of the menu as well. Due to covid, no indoor seating but there is a park across the street with nice benches, tables and scenery. They also have coffee and flavored coffee and that seems to be a local favorite but I didn't get their coffee during this visit. There are shops nearby and other restaurants in the area if someone in your party wants something else. Starbucks is next door for more drink options. Trader Joe's is the next block over if you want to do your grocery shopping after breakfast. read more

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Best chicken salad. !the bagels are great as are the bagel chips. Would go anywhere else

Cafe Fresh have the best bagels and iced coffee ever! They have a great system for ordering, during Covid and pre-Covid. They have always been our go to spot for early morning breakfast, a casual friend date or party. Bring Cafe Fresh bagels with you to a friends house and you'll be so popular. Family owned business that sticks to the basics because they know what works and that's why they have been beloved for so many years. read more

Cafe Fresh Bagel - Bacon egg and cheddar on an everything bagel - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Needham Heights, Massachusetts

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Really loved this place. The sandwich was great and you could tell the staff was really hard working and they seem like a great team. It honestly kind of looked like the bear if you've seen the show, like them assembling the orders. But anyways, great place i highly recommend checking it out. read more

Cafe Fresh Bagel - Sausage egg and cheese on everything bagel - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Needham Heights, Massachusetts

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Crowded when we walked in to this very unassuming cafe and we know why. Everything was delicious and the service was terrific. Great experience! read more

Best bagels and cream cheese I have had in a long time. Quality. They clearly know what they are doing and it's working. Family owned and operated - and it is impressive to see how well they run it. Food great!! For me - this spot puts Needham on the map. I will be back. read more

First time stopping by and I wasn't disappointed . They have a good assortment of bagels and cream cheeses.. including low fat options.. and the bagel was fresh (even at noon). read more

Cafe Fresh Bagel - Sesame bagel with chives cream cheese - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Needham Heights, Massachusetts

Awesome bagels, sandwiches, options, and quality! Plus, the service is nothing short of outstanding! They really want you to be happy. And our experience there (multiple times) has been exactly that. A regular go-to spot for us!! read more

Cafe Fresh Bagel - White fish. Yum. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Needham Heights, Massachusetts

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