Best Bagels

[mrwynter]

Sorry, we are newbies to NYC. I fondly remember an old Jewish deli from my youth that has long closed. Since then I have yet to find a great bagel: Crusty outside, chewy inside. We are in Manhattan next week. Any suggestions please?

[holldoll]

Absolute is the absolute best bagel in NY!!

[chocolatebirthdaycake]

Bagel Buffet - BEST BEST BEST BAGELS - (two locations downtown on Sixth Avenue near 14th Street and 8th Street). Crusty outside and chewy inside. Their coffee (Vassiliades Bros.) at the location near 8th Street is the perfect complement to their bagels. MY FAVE.. and the location near 8th Street is open 24/7. These place is far from fancy but those bagels...mmm.
Get your bagel on...

[MahatmaKanejeeves]

Daniel's Bagels. 3rd ave between 37 st and 38 st. Tastiest IMHO.

[The Professor]

For me, H&H are the best by a long shot. The only thing better is home made.

[mrwynter]

We had some bagels from a caterer on 7th and they were fab..the bagels at Murrays were doughy and had a soft crust. Exactly what we did not want. We brought a bag home but were not thrilled. Wish we found H and H.

[billyeats]

Yeah, I think Murrays is totally overrated. Too think and not a chewy enough crust. Also some of the worst customer service around. H&H is much better. Bobs on Univ Place is very underrated - very solid bagel.

[DavyTheFatBoy]

Bagel Buffet on 6th Ave just above 8th Street has very good bagels.

Nowhere I know has the really really chewy bagels of my youth (Moishe's on Houston had them although I think they came from somewhere else, but the bagels at Moishe's on 2nd avenue are not the same at all).

[sea97horse]

If you're staying on West 12th, just walk straight over to 6th Avenue to Murray's. You will not be disappointed!

[North Bank Ned]

Murray's bagels are overpriced, to my mind. Try Bagel Bob's on University, between 10th and 9th.

[Emmmily]

Another vote for Murray's. There's another location about a block from my apartment at 23rd & 8th. Now if only they'd toast...

[LeahBaila]

Empire City Bagels
Tal Bagels
Use www.menupages.com to review menu and address

www.thelunchbelle.com

[City Kid]

You will find as many opinions on this as there are people on this board. As a lifelong New Yorker and virtually daily bagel eater, I must say I am not an H&H fan (I don't like the taste or texture) and Ess-a Bagel's are way too bloated and thick to my mind.

My favorite are at EAT on Madison (80th St.) -- super crusty and chewy -- though I normally get the ones from Gourmet Garage (various locations up-, mid-, and downtown) because there is one a block from my home and they are also very good.

[italianagambino]

I agree with Ess a Bagel...WAY TO doughy and not very flavorful..

[mrwynter]

We have 2 days and 2 nights and I am going to schlep my soon to be bought bagels back to MA. We will be staying near 200 West 12th Street, I believe the meat packing district. Is EAT or Gourmet near there??

[City Kid]

Here are the locations for Gourmet Garage, the village one is within striking distance of you: http://www.gourmetgarage.com/stores.htm

EAT does not have a location near you, but Murray's on 6th Ave near 13th St. is very good and not far from you http://nymag.com/listings/stores/murrays-bagels01/

If you feel like venturing a bit farther (lower east side where there are other great food finds, just search this board for "lower east side") there is Kossar's, a real, old-time New York institution for their bialies and bagels, and my favorite, their pletzel, which is a large, chewy onion-sprinked disk and fabulous! It is definitely worth the shlep for the authentic experience.
http://nymag.com/listings/stores/koss...

[CalorieBurner]

Kossar's is awesome. Do keep in mind that they close for the Sabbath. And while you're down there, you can hit up Russ & Daughters for some salmon: http://nymag.com/listings/stores/russ...

[GirlFoodieNYC]

Hey There,

I'm a big fan of the bagel and I would say you want to go to H&H Bagel on the UWS (I think like 79th and Broadway) - they have amazing bagels and they are always fresh and hot. The only downfall is that they don't schmear it for you but Zabar's is literally right next door.

There is also Ess-a-Bagel on 20th and 1st avenue (I think) and they have every schmear you could want - this is a full service bagel joint. I would say they lean more towards the crusty outside, chewy inside bagels.

Hope this helps!

[italianagambino]

Absolute Bagels 2788 Broadway

[Pan]

I got some bagels from them recently. Granted that I got them in the evening and ate them the next morning, but that said: Their big (regular sized) onion bagel was nothing special, but their poppy and sesame mini-bagels were very good. I would highly suggest getting bagels there but restricting your purchase to mini-bagels only.

[politicfool]

The girlfriend and I are Absolute Bagels regulars (she gets the everything bagel, I get the poppy, both with cream cheese, plus a coffee most times). You must go in the morning and ask them what's the freshest and you won't be disappointed.

As with most places, the best bagel varieties at Absolute are going to be your old standbys - plain, sesame, poppy, and *maybe* everything. A dozen split between those varieties will serve you well.

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Absolute Bagels
2788 Broadway, New York, NY 10025

[Pan]

Onion bagels are certainly a venerable old flavor. Any good bagel shop should do well at them, and I'll bet that when Absolute has onion mini-bagels, they're good.

Unfortunately, I live downtown, so the chances of me being able to go to Absolute in the morning are very low.