Fresh Start Organic Market and Eatery

This place is beautiful and you can feel when you walk in that whomever owns this olace has put a lot of work into it. As we drank our delicious smoothies and ate the yummy, all organic split pea soup, we saw numerous delveries of crates of fresh organic veggies being delivered. So why three stars? The girl at the counter was super unfriendly, and then went and smoked a cigarette by the open front door as we were trying to eat. My seven year old son has asthma issues and we were suprised to have the interior of an organic resteraunt fill with cigarette smoke. :/

They might have the best chicken soup I have ever had in my life. I also love their options for quick healthy take out meal. If you are looking for a heathy food this is your place!

I usually stop by here on my way home from the supermarket to pick up any needed specialty products that are either a) too expensive at the grocery store, or b) simply unavailable anywhere else. Fresh Start has a limited amount of produce available for purchase, but it is always fresh and high quality. They have a wide range of vegan products (non-​dairy cheeses, tempeh, spreads, chocolate, etc.), all of which I’ve found to be very fairly priced compared to other similar stores and even the mainstream supermarkets (who tend to upcharge on these items). I’ve never purchased any of their prepared food or baked goods, although I do eye this selection every time I’m in. I have, however, sampled their cookies, because it feels like they are always offering some kind of sample! Everyone who works here has been nothing but exceptionally kind and helpful, and such positive staff interactions are always appreciated.

This place… talk about frustrating! Their hours change constantly and they are always understaffed. I’ve try to stop in before work on multiple occasions and it never goes well. Their selection is very limited but their smoothies/​juices/​muffins are very good. They just never seem prepared. Every time I’ve been in there, I have seen them lose a customer because they weren’t capable of handling everyone there. The sad thing is that there is usually a maximum of 3 customers at a time. Whether or not I am in a rush, I want you to quickly take my order, ring me up, and make my smoothie. Instead I am sitting there begging someone to pay attention to me. Then once they take your order, you have to hope they won’t get distracted before making it. It’s insane. They could do so much better if they had the proper staff. I want to love this place and I’ve given them enough chances… I don’t think it’s going to happen :(

I love this place! Their smoothies are amazing, and the décor is adorable. Like any other organic market their prices are for valued at the quality of the product. But it’s the only truly organic market in the area with great treats.
Also, $ 10 cash minimum on cards and they have awesome vegan baked goods!

When you go to an organic place you want to find knowledge and Fresh Start never disappoint me.

So menu hours say til 9pm hours on the door til 8pm walk in to get a juice 7:48pm they say we’re closed have a good night … never again

Yum!!! The immune booster was delicious. All organic. The green one was so smooth!!! The store is super cute and have lots of local stuff.

Such a cute organic shop so close to the subway! Have everything you could need & free coffee. Manager is very kind, highly recommend this place.

My bf, best friend and I stopped in yesterday and got the Not Your Moms BLT and all three hands down agreed that it was surprisingly the best BLT we’ve ever had.
Which brings us to today… we ordered delivery, same BLT sandwiches + a tuna salad sandwich and a cowboy smoothie… all finger licking good and fairly priced in my opinion.

I think the management here has recently changed because the store looks very different now than the pictures and they seemed to be turning over the menu. I heard them say it was remodeled and it looks great. More of a café feel now. Stopped in for a quick smoothie. Their staff was very friendly, the décor is so nice and they had relaxing music playing. Not your typical nyc market. Not a huge selection of things but everything seems to be great quality and, of course, on the pricier side. I got the punk smoothie– it was an interesting mix of kale, beer lemon and cacao for $ 7. Tried a sample of their homemade protein bars and loved it. Bought one for $ 4. Would definitely come back to try more things.

I shopped here often when I lived on Ditmars. Now, whenever I’m in the neighborhood I stop in for their vegan ginger chocolate chip cookies. They are the best chocolate chip cookies I’ve ever bought. When I’m not being the biggest piggy this side of the East River, I buy their beet salad by the pound (it’s reasonably priced and delicious) and other vegetarian delights. I was surprised to find it remodeled when I stopped in today. Now you can not only enjoy great healthy meals on the go, but you can do so in their beautiful new space.

Very expensive!
Fresh juices: 12oz $ 6.50 /​16oz $ 7.99
Lady in front of me bought one pound of raw almonds for $ 30!
I am all about eating healthy and organic, but it shouldn’t cost you an arm and a leg.

Everyone in here is always so nice, which I love. Their bulk items are great–
Especially for popcorn. And their selection in general is vast. The store is also clean and doesn’t have that weird natural food store smell.

I got a small avocado salad and a small quinoa salad. They were outstanding! But $ 10? Too much for my wallet right now.

Ok so this is a tough review for me because I do really like this place BUT I’m giving only 3 stars because of :
1)how long I have to wait every single time I’m in here
2)the prices and
3)the inconsistency with items
I do really appreciate having this gem in the neighborhood because the store now has a much bigger selection so you can get all sorts of goodies, only problem is that the same product you buy one time, isnt guaranteed to be available next time !
The owner is a doll, her name is Ellie she is very knowledgable and helpful with anything you may need which is a plus, Michaela is another total sweetheart who is knowledgable too, she can pretty much help you with anything, if they both aren’t there you can still leave a message on a notepad with your questions and someone will call you back .
Fresh start, I love you but prices are too high for my blood and I’m all for spending on quality food but when I can drive over the bridge on a weekend to matter of health on the ues and buy triple the food for the same price, in this economy… I’m taking the drive

When it comes to food, I don’t mind paying more for organic. And if I can get my items from a local store, I’m even more about it.
But as another reviewer noted, the drab hipsters who work in this place need a SERIOUS attitude check. As in, when people who do things like, I don’t know, ask the price of items since nothing is labelled, the first rule of thumb is to not roll your eyes and say, «Umm… I don’t know. What does it say on the label?»
There’s a reason this place is always empty.

The food is not overpriced — this food is priced at quality. Make an investment in yourself and pay a couple extra dollars that you won’t spend years from now on medical bills. Organic food is better for you and you live better. Fresh Start is a godsend to this area and without it. I think I would have gone mad. I’m a regular, however, and I’ve met and talked with all of the employees. A couple of the ladies are a little intense but they’re real with you. I wouldn’t say they are mean. Lino, one of the men who works there, is such a sweet guy and always so courteous to us!
Try the Intellectual! It’s fantastic.

I’ve been in Astoria for months and just recently discovered Fresh Start. I was so surprised to find a health organic market close to Ditmars.
I usually come here for freshly squeeze vegetable juices. I don’t like them, but I’m trying to train myself. :\ I’m also a big fan of the walnuts here.
The staff are super friendly, chatty, knowledgable and nice.

I like thier take out food but I can only eat them after I get paid. I’m not a desert person but thier cockies are good.
Why 2 stars?
…VERY pricy. Key food (not health food store!) or Sai are much cheaper.
Also, as stefani pointed out the inventry is inconsistant and some of them are old.
One time I was picking up a Rice cream and I noticed some frozen food were covered in this brownish frozen liquid. I followed the trail and it was coming from either chicken or some kind of meat that was in plastic bag sitting in the same freezer (yikes, how long it’s been sitting there? Since blackout!?)
I was in good mood that day so I took the rice cream to the counter and told the lady she may need to clean up the spilled liquid, and her reaction was «okay, sometimes it happens. So is that all you are buying today?». Hello, I was not going to buy a product covered with meat juice! I tried to explain but the lady didn’t get it. Weeks later I went there and sure enough the sorry looking ice cream along with other mystery meat in plastic bag still sits in freezer, along with freezer burn brown liquid. Hmm.
After this exprience I go to Sai. I hate the endless same music there, but at least thier food cycles quicker and hence fresher food.