221046 Wed Apr 06 23:04:36 -0700 2005 60 18 Manhattan 0 1176088 What does everyone reccomend for the best bagels in NYC? Thanks Wed Apr 06 23:04:36 -0700 2005 0 BRIAN SCHWARTZ 1 1176148 I swear by Ess-a-Bagel (21st & 1st or 50th & 3rd), but they are admittedly the largest, densest bagels on earth. If you want a less carb-full bagel, you may want to look for other recommendations. I love a hot onion or garlic bagel with a big smear of salmon spread (not cream cheese). Otherwise, it's a plain bagel with scallion cream cheese for me. Thu Apr 07 10:34:18 -0700 2005 1176088 0 Steph 2 2295365 I whole heartedly agree. Ess-a is the place to get a truly authentic bagel, with the 21st slightly better than the 50th street. Thu Feb 15 08:56:20 -0800 2007 1176148 51874 souldawg 1 1176241 David's on 19th and 1st - the perfect bagel. Thu Apr 07 14:35:17 -0700 2005 1176088 0 LaFemme 2 2290572 Another David's is on 1st just south of 14th. Or is it different? Tue Feb 13 19:18:29 -0800 2007 1176241 13747 Mazzer 2 4659539 David's Flagels are the best!!!!!! Wed May 06 11:13:12 -0700 2009 1176241 216457 mbs 1 1176250 1) If you must stay in Manhattan, go to Murray's bagels in the Village. 2) If you really want a traditional, small bagel, try Brooklyn (ask on the Outer Borough boards--i like Bagel Hole, but there are others). Thu Apr 07 14:46:03 -0700 2005 1176088 0 Dave 2 4415730 Murray's bagels are overpriced. Try Bob's Bagels on University between 9th and 10th. Fri Feb 13 16:27:39 -0800 2009 1176250 40911 North Bank Ned 1 1176273 Absolute Bagels (Broadway and 108). Thu Apr 07 15:46:26 -0700 2005 1176088 0 Vongole 1 2289468 I second absolute bagels. The best egg bagels. Tue Feb 13 13:50:04 -0800 2007 1176088 46943 stuffedderma 1 2289684 Based on recommnedations here, I did a taste test this weekend by eating Ess-a (53rd and 1st) and Tal (51st and 3rd) bagels in the same morning. I had several family members do this as well with bagels I carried out. Both are excellent. We all agreed that Ess-a is the ultimate in a doughy, chewy bagel, while Tal had a better crust. I preferred Tal because crust in a bread is the be all and end all for me. Most leaned towards Ess-a because they seek chewiness in a bagel. Tue Feb 13 14:42:18 -0800 2007 1176088 19565 jjo 1 2290054 I used to really really like the bagels at Moishes when they had a branch on Houston a few doors down from Russ & Daughters. They were the ultimate chewy bagel of my youth, your jaw hurt after eating one. Moishes on 2nd ave is respectable, but not what I remember from Moishes's Houston St.. In the west village I actually like Bagel Buffet at 6th Ave above 8th street for a very respectable bagel. Not as chewy as I'd like, but still quite good. Tue Feb 13 16:27:53 -0800 2007 1176088 10020 DavyTheFatBoy 1 2290155 I agree with Davy Bagel Buffet is an unsung establishment. Try their mexican fare. Tue Feb 13 16:57:28 -0800 2007 1176088 46943 stuffedderma 1 2290561 h an h upper east side. better than the uws h nd h Tue Feb 13 19:15:41 -0800 2007 1176088 74051 jsmitty 1 2290743 Daniel's Bagels on 38 St./3 Ave. Murray's Bagels (although they're getting puffier now) Bagelry in the 20s/3 Ave. Don't care for Tal's, Au Bon Pain or Pick-a-Bagel Tue Feb 13 20:31:35 -0800 2007 1176088 10886 thesu 2 2298439 Just had Daniel's. Very good plain bagel. Not quite Ess-A. But tasted more authentic (bagel, not roll) than most others. Fri Feb 16 05:37:43 -0800 2007 2290743 14446 NAtiveNewYorker 2 4661979 Ditto to Daniel's at 38 St and 3 Ave. It does taste different than the typical giant bread donut that is called a bagel. Whether this is authentic or not, they do something different. Thu May 07 06:44:58 -0700 2009 2290743 268231 MahatmaKanejeeves 1 2290772 Murray's (when they're fresh...they're not always fresh). Tue Feb 13 20:43:20 -0800 2007 1176088 63670 Jivetalker 1 2290781 H & H! Tue Feb 13 20:46:44 -0800 2007 1176088 17034 luswei 1 2291188 Daniels Bagels on 3rd and 38th are the best! Wed Feb 14 04:15:31 -0800 2007 1176088 71841 italianwife 1 2293594 it begins and ends with Bagel Bobs on University and 10th Wed Feb 14 15:39:14 -0800 2007 1176088 19060 ricky7 2 4415733 Agreed Fri Feb 13 16:28:13 -0800 2009 2293594 40911 North Bank Ned 2 4417692 LOVE LOVE Bagel Bobs! Used to love H&H but they are too pricey. WON http://whatsonmyplate.wordpress.com Sat Feb 14 14:26:51 -0800 2009 2293594 92591 wontonfm 2 4422657 The Bagel Bob's on the UES is also awesome...5 years up there before I moved to Brooklyn and I miss those guys and their bacon,egg and cheeses like crazy. Mon Feb 16 14:52:36 -0800 2009 2293594 74394 natdapp 1 2293613 I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I love Times Square Hot Bagels. It's the last outpost of Columbia Hot Bagels left. Good ratio of chew to crusty exterior. Great spreads, especially the olive and pimento, and if I'm feeling in a sweeter mood the walnut and raisin cream cheese is delicious. Although, I recently tried Murray's on 8th Ave and 23rd St, and I have to say they are really really good. Also, Tal Bagels is excellent, as someone mentioned above, they have the right crust at Tal. Wed Feb 14 15:44:12 -0800 2007 1176088 56793 ballulah 1 2298794 Kossar's Bialy's on Grand and Essex. No contest. And the counter people are so rude. It's awesome. Fri Feb 16 07:52:00 -0800 2007 1176088 56241 ronoc 1 2298823 Just wondering. Last year when we were i NYC we went to Murray's in the Village. My husband stood in line and ordered while a stayed outside. When he came out and game me my bagel it was cold, or at least not warmed. Is this normal? I just assumed they gave it to you warmed. Is it necessary to order it toasted? Fri Feb 16 07:57:31 -0800 2007 1176088 10119 Pate 2 2298967 If you get a warm bagel it means that it is freshly baked. Most real NY bagel shops will absolutely not toast a bagel, and don't even have a toaster. If you're in a bagel shop that makes their own bagels (actually same thing in a pizza place that sells slices) a question you'll hear asked a lot is, "What's warm?" Fri Feb 16 08:28:14 -0800 2007 2298823 56793 ballulah 1 2298929 Murray's has the best bagel I have tried. Also, they absolutely will not toast, which I find refreshing. Anyone who toasts a fresh bagel is outta their mind. Fri Feb 16 08:21:11 -0800 2007 1176088 40593 JamesB 1 4034379 TAL BAGELS!!!!! They're on 54th and 1st... not TOO big like ess-a-bagel. Right size, crunchy (a little) on the outside, nice and chewy on the inside. They deliver before you can even hang up the phone! Not as sweet as H&H, which is a good thing. Great whitefish salad and lox spread, too. A real, non-overhyped bagel .... Sun Sep 14 13:56:22 -0700 2008 1176088 185269 foodie66 1 4038849 To me, Ess-a-bagels are what I remember bagels tasting like from my visits to NYC from NJ in my youth. There used to be a place as soon as you got off NJT (no idea what it was called). There is also a place near Peter Cooper Village that is very good. I can't remember if that is just the other branch of Ess-a or what. I also think Times Square Bagels are very good. I used to work in the MTV building next door and would go there all the time. One of those "secret" spots that are actually good for being in Times Square (I'd also put BXL in that group). I had Tals once and did not like them at all. I'd really need to try them again though to be fair. And I hear they are much better when you eat them as soon as you buy them (I took them all home to Inwood). They seemed more bready style, which I don't really like. Tue Sep 16 08:11:08 -0700 2008 1176088 226527 Cuse 2 4766358 I agree with the Times Square Bagels... the sizes are good and they really pound the cream cheese and the line is generally out the door for the literal hole-in-the-wall! I really like their bagels. Fri Jun 12 08:08:25 -0700 2009 4038849 1082854 LotteNYC 1 4039517 All this talk of bagels and only one H&H reference? That seems unlikely. H&H and Ess-a-Bagel get my votes. Tue Sep 16 11:41:01 -0700 2008 1176088 25186 Gossomer 1 4415630 Overheard a conversation in crowded midtown avenue; something like "best bagel around here . . . Jumbo, 2nd and 56th." I tried it--great! Open 24 hours; far superior to H&H & Ess a Bagel in my book (which holds that both are criminally overrated). Also, if you're in Middle Village, Queens, try "Hot Bagels" at Metropolitan and 79th st. Fri Feb 13 15:43:43 -0800 2009 1176088 98583 bake 2 4416303 The place is called jumbo? Are their bagels oversized? :-) Fri Feb 13 21:20:59 -0800 2009 4415630 17058 Pan 3 4417832 Not oversized . . . the same is simply surreal . . . or maybe Dada-ist. Sat Feb 14 15:25:53 -0800 2009 4416303 98583 bake 1 4416528 Murray's just opened up a new outpost called Leo's in the Financial District. $1.00 per bagel. Not bad, but it gets a bit pricey once you start adding fillings. They're at 3 Hanover Square at Stone Street and can be found on menupages.com. I don't think their website is up and running just yet. I work down there on the 3rd shift and pick up a few hot bagels on the way home. Most tasty! Sat Feb 14 01:52:32 -0800 2009 1176088 14117 billyboy 1 4416548 Hudson Bagels, Hudson between Christopher and 10th are the very best. And I love their whitefish salad. Sat Feb 14 02:51:50 -0800 2009 1176088 14685 serious 1 4417811 I grew up on the Upper West side 3 blocks from Zabars. I loved their bagels especially around St. Patrick's Day because they added green food coloring to the dough. But, recently I heard they got their bagels from H&H. I could have sworn that Zabars made their own. Anyone know? Sat Feb 14 15:17:55 -0800 2009 1176088 266150 saltnseltzer4me 2 4418136 I'd be surprised if Zabar's were really H&H, since I find Zabar's markedly inferior. I do agree, though, that H&H are too sweet; it's been a while since I've had a great NYC bagel. (Absolute, Ok). Probably, Kossat's bialy was the last time, but it's been a while since I got down there. Sat Feb 14 18:11:44 -0800 2009 4417811 259947 woodside1 3 4874417 Zabar's definitely gets their bagels from H&H. Mon Jul 20 11:33:41 -0700 2009 4418136 18466 a_and_w 1 4420581 Bagelry in Murray Hill! They have the most amazing whole-wheat everything flagels. Yum Sun Feb 15 20:38:29 -0800 2009 1176088 267227 misspiggy360 1 4422470 A good bagel bakery MUST boil the bagels before baking them. Too many places steam the bagel or have some other short cut so they end up being bread rings like you get in Dunkin Donuts. My favorite is Esa Bagel!! Many other great bagels in NYC too. Mon Feb 16 13:55:46 -0800 2009 1176088 259524 Motosport 1 4422621 Do these places all have tables to eat in: Davids, Tals, Ess, Murrays and Bobs? Mon Feb 16 14:44:06 -0800 2009 1176088 18181 greenwalter 2 4422771 Tal Bagels along 1st Ave and 50th, as well as both Ess-a-bagel sites at 1st/21st St and 3rd Ave/50th, have tables to eat in. Mon Feb 16 15:27:50 -0800 2009 4422621 10578 RCC 3 4643620 Does anyone know if the Ess-a-bagel at 3rd Ave/50th serves acceptable coffee, or whether it's okay to bring it in from elsewhere if you are eating in? Thu Apr 30 15:59:03 -0700 2009 4422771 220100 dolcevita_sf 4 4659419 The coffee is good and very hot if you drink it black like I do. Wed May 06 10:36:17 -0700 2009 4643620 259524 Motosport 5 4659529 I do in fact drink my coffee black. Thanks for the reply! My husband is more of a cappucino guy. For which I assume we'll have go elsewhere. Any recommendations for something in the general area? (We're staying near 64th/3rd.) Wed May 06 11:10:17 -0700 2009 4659419 220100 dolcevita_sf 1 4662284 Best bagels in NYC are at Bergen Bagels in Park Slope - hands down. I live in Manhattan and reluctantly admit that. In Manhattan, IMO the best bagels are David's Bagels on 14th and 1st. If you go on a weekend morning, they are always hot and delicious. Their spreads are also top notch as well. Someone else mentioned Jumbo Bagels on 55th and 2nd. Those are delicious as well. I'd chose these two over Ess-a and H&H (which aren't shabby). Nothing wrong with Pick-a-Bagel either if that's closest to you. Thu May 07 08:07:30 -0700 2009 1176088 14214 CDB 1 4662660 I'm surprised no one has mentioned Russ and Daughters. It's usually discussed in the same breath as Ess-a-Bagel. CDB also made a good recommendation with Bergen Bagels. Thu May 07 09:31:08 -0700 2009 1176088 212321 solidgold 2 4662805 Russ & Daughters' bagels are fine traditional, chewy bagels, totally unlike Ess-a-Bagels which, in my opinion are way too thick and bready. If you make a sandwich with one you practically have to unhinge your jaw to open your mouth wide enough. Thu May 07 10:06:44 -0700 2009 4662660 110897 City Kid 3 4874366 I may be mistaken but: I think Kossar's Bialy's makes the bagels for Russ & Daughter. Kossar's does have the best Bialy's in town IMHO! Mon Jul 20 11:21:28 -0700 2009 4662805 259524 Motosport 4 4874376 When I asked at Russ & Daughter about the bagels, I was told that they were made in Brooklyn for them. Don't know though if Kossar's makes bagels in Brooklyn. Mon Jul 20 11:23:17 -0700 2009 4874366 10985 MMRuth 5 4874437 For what it is worth, the last time I was at Kossar's in the wee hours there were several bags with "Russ &" written on them. Mon Jul 20 11:38:12 -0700 2009 4874376 259524 Motosport 6 4874445 Sounds like proof to me! Mon Jul 20 11:39:05 -0700 2009 4874437 10985 MMRuth 1 4874356 This morning I did a definitive taste test of my top two best bagel places in Manhattan. Esa Bagel on 3rd Ave and Tal Bagel on 1st Ave. Granted I have not been to them all and I am sure there are others that will compete favorably. I bought the same bagel at each place this morning 6:45 ish for my drive back to the Eastern end of the LIE. I like these two places because they have great bagels and you can get them with lox, cream cheese etc.. Unlike pure bagel bakeries like H&H. I kept it simple: Garlic bagel with butter to go. Nothing fancy. Esa bagel $1.30 bigger and the crust was a bit crispier. Nice and chewy inside. The winner. Tal Bagel $1.40 cost more, not as big as Esa and not as crispy on the outside. So, even though both were fabulous bagels I would have to say Esa Bagel is the winner. The only negative comment (from my lovely spouse) about Esa is "Too big, I can't eat all that!" Mon Jul 20 11:19:37 -0700 2009 1176088 259524 Motosport 2 4874424 I'm with your wife about Ess-A-Bagel -- way too big for my taste. They also remind me of stale sandwich rolls. Mon Jul 20 11:35:39 -0700 2009 4874356 18466 a_and_w 2 4874466 Wow, "definitive" may be fighting words for some on this board :)...Essa's bulk puts it out of the running for me. The only way I have eaten them is by scooping out half the pulp. Mon Jul 20 11:44:46 -0700 2009 4874356 110897 City Kid 1 5063799 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/231140 Mon Sep 28 08:46:03 -0700 2009 1176088 10173 guttergourmet 2 5064389 Just curious: why did you bring back this thread (before you posted, last post was July 2009) just to link it to an even older thread (last post Jan 2007)? Mon Sep 28 11:41:42 -0700 2009 5063799 322175 therenowtoo 3 5066097 My recent bagel obsession. http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/653172 Tue Sep 29 04:20:34 -0700 2009 5064389 10173 guttergourmet