Favorite bagel shop gets a remake

Bensonhurst is on a roll.

T&L Bagel Luncheonette, a corner coffee and bagel shop open since 1949, may be in its 60s, but the Cropsey Avenue eatery is still alive and kicking – and just recently got a facelift.

Having celebrated its grand re-opening mid-December, complete with new installations and a new sign out front, business is thriving well into the New Year.

“We’re now open 24 hours a day,” explained Louis Santanelli, 53, an experienced restaurateur brought on by co-owner Carlo Muraco, 51, to revamp T&L.

The team replaced old booths with stocked shelves of groceries and expanded the long-standing deli’s menu to include intricate and ethnic dishes to cater to the ever-growing neighborhood and a changing clientele.

“Times are changing,” Santanelli said, “so we’re trying to keep up.”

Muraco, a longtime resident of the nabe who grew up nearby, purchased T&L 15 years ago and was thrilled to give the Bensonhurst classic an upgrade.

Customers are able to get their hands on the classics like a bacon-egg-and-cheese sandwich, a fresh hand-rolled bagel and a cup of what Santanelli called “the world’s best coffee,” among other delicacies like an old fashioned egg cream or “the best Philly cheese steak you’ll ever eat.”

The deli – serving up both hot and cold items – is also open for catering, and delivery, something Santanelli and Muraco are stoked about.

“We’re really excited about what we’re doing here,” said Santanelli.

For more information on T&L Luncheonette, visit www.tlbageldeli.com, or stop by and grab a cup of Joe to go. T&L Luncheonette, located at 2024 Cropsey Avenue, is open seven days a week.