Hot Bagel — Restaurant in Town of New Windsor

If I could give this place zero stars, I would. One star is already being too generous.

I’ve lived in the area for a few years and against my better judgment, have visited Hot Bagel about four times. Each time, I walked out wondering, Why did I come back? But I always gave the benefit of the doubt. Maybe it was just a bad day? Nope. Turns out, it’s just a bad business.

Strike One: Walked in. Two customers ahead of me. Two people behind the counter. One of them made eye contact with me, then looked away like I wasn’t there. No greeting. No “I’ll be with you in a moment.” Then someone else walked in who didn’t look like me and boom, immediate service. I was tired, hungry, and didn’t feel like making it a thing, so I just waited… forever. Food was late, attitude was strong, and I left disappointed.

Strike Two: Maybe a year later, I gave it another shot (because I clearly don’t learn). Walked in. The guy behind the counter is sweeping up dirt. Fine. Then he picks up a wrinkled used glove that was stuffed under an appliance, puts it on, and asks me what I want. I told him “never mind” and walked out. I literally told myself I wasn’t coming back.

Strike Three (and Four): Then months later, I had my kids with me early one morning and we needed food. I gave in and went back because bagels seemed more legit than Burger King across the street. I said good morning. The man grunted. Before I could even order, he barked out “$10 minimum for card,” which isn’t even legal for debit cards in New York State. (It’s only allowed for credit, and even then, the limit can’t exceed $10.)

I paid anyway. Again, he put on a wrinkled glove from somewhere other than the fresh box in plain sight. I just grinned and bore it. I was just too tired to argue. While waiting, I noticed cross contamination everywhere. Same knives for different spreads. Wiping tables with dry cloths. No sanitizers. No hair nets. Aprons dragging over everything. If there were a NYC style health letter grade system up here, this place would be a strong Z.

But I still didn’t learn.

Final Visit (Seriously, This Time): Yesterday, 4/14/25, I made my final mistake. Walked in. Said good morning. He grunted again. I tried to place an order—TRIED—and he cuts me off: “Can’t do it. $10 minimum for card.” I hadn’t even finished my sentence. I told him flat out, “You’re horrible. This place isn’t worth it,” and walked out for the last time.

In Summary: Hot Bagel is a masterclass in how to run a business into the ground. The service feels almost intentionally rude. There’s a strong, persistent vibe of racial bias. The sanitary conditions are questionable at best. And the food? The bagels look fresh but I couldn’t enjoy them with everything else going on.

Sadly, the better bagel shop across the street shut down, and this place survives by default, not by merit. It’s not the...

Purchased dozen assorted bagels last week for the first time cost was $15 paid by cc. This week ordered same dozen variety of bagels and the man taking my order charged me $16. I questioned why this week it was a dollar more and he was so rude he pointed to the board behind him and I didn’t understand what he said but tried to make it out to be some bagels cost more! He also put all the bagels in one bag- plain and everything. I wanted to say can you separate the everything from the plain but it was not worth it. I wasn’t interested in arguing and it was early morning, I was there to get my family breakfast bagels. I am not coming back to this place. They need to learn how to treat their customers this was my second visit here and I lived in the area more than 19 years! I will not return to this place as they do not deserve my business. I don’t appreciate being charged differently a week later for...

I have been going there for a long time. There prices are always different for me. Never what the menu says. This week I gave them one more chance. I got 2 chicken sandwich. Bill came to $1295. Ok what ever. Counted out one by one 3 5 dollar bills. He took it and sad that I owe him 2 more dollars because I gave him 1 ten dollar bill and a 1 dollar bill. How. Ok soi told him that I would like to see the video . So he got maaad. And went to see it but I couldn't he came back and sad that he can't see anything. So I left Tham 2 more dollars And walked out. Last time my bill was 21 dollars for 2 chicken salad and two ice tea. How do you figure that? I asked for the bill but when he printed out it was only the ending balance on. Nothing else . They are a rip off for years . I am done and I will tell everyone to see your bill before You pay....