The International Food Tour of Astoria, Queens

Tour started about 20minutes late because the meeting point was not clear. Cross roads were given and to meet out from of tobacco store - ends up there are two tobacco stores. Guide fumbled through information without much confidence at all and did not really provide much information about international food in the area other than broad sweeping remarks. Focused on stories about the Steinway piano, the film A Bronx Tale, and some social housing in the area more than food. Used poor quality, blurry black and white photocopies to complement stories, but even then couldn't find half the ones they wanted so gave up. Forgot names of things crucial to stories and then just blamed poor memory. Told us where restaurant used to be (why?), pointed out one restaurant that they said was popular but the food wasn't great - yet didn't focus on the ones we should visit. And most disappointingly, merely went into (or walked by) a few food shops, and only one restaurant. Food samples were sub standard, the guide even pointing out that the first sample (spanakopita) is much better served hot/warm...as we ate a cold sample. I found this tour to be so bad, that I snuck off about 30minutes before the end. It certainly wasn't worth the money, the time, or the extra $70 it cost for me to get there and back. I was quite excited about this tour and the idea of exploring an area of New York I was not overly familiar with (I'm from Australia but have spent a lot of time in NYC) - I gained nothing at all from this tour.

A delightful tour through Astoria Queens and its incredibly diverse culinary cuisine. It was chockful of delicious treats from cultures around the world. If you are a native New Yorker like me and would like to know more about a certain area I highly recommend one of these tours.

Thought we would have more tastings. It felt more like a lesson on the neighborhood rather than a food tour in my opinion.