Flagel-late Me!!!

[guttergourmet]

Look up in the sky...it's a bagel, it's a pletzel, it's a bialy...no...it's a Flagel! Had a warm toasted everything flagel near my Mom's house in Queens at a place called Hot Bialy on Queens Blvd. near Union Tpke but they're apparently known more for their flagels than their bialys or bagels. For the uninitiated, a flagel is a bagel that looks like roadkill. Totally flattened out and therefore having a much larger radius and the illusion of less dough. But it totally changes the textural experience while providing far more surface area for your favorite shmear or preferred smoked fish (mine is buttah with sturgeon). I've heard that David's bagels makes them on 1st Avenue around 17th. Anybody know where to find them in Manhattan or do I have to resort to self-flagel-lation?

[cheesecake17]

Zaro's has flagels... never had one.. but I think you've convinced me to try it!

[sleepingypsy]

OK, a long way from the city, but Long Beach Bagels on Park Avenue has fabulous flagels. Try the whole wheat with sunflower seeds. It's a schondah they're off the map, but they're worth the schlep. Bring sunscreen.

[guttergourmet]

This mystery gets more complex. I just tried David's Bagels on 19th and First, a mere 2 blocks from my go to bagel place Ess-A-Bagel which is known for their bagels on steroids, as tall as they are wide. David's made a flat bagel (they don't actually call them flagels) that rivaled Hot bialys' flagel in Queens. This may be the next evolution of bagels. Like thin crust vs. deep dish pizza! And here's something really strange-both David's and Hot Bialys are owned and operated by Thai families. Well, if the Koreans can successfully hijack fried chicken and hot dogs, perhaps the next great bagel makers are from Bangkok?

[dfsicklick]

bagel works on 1st ave between 66 and 67th has sesame, everything, and sunflower. they're good, especially when they're warm, but sometimes they're overdone and *way* too crunchy.

[Joe MacBu]

I also like the sesame ones at Bagel Works.

[mbs]

I eat a flagel every single morning--used t to live in stuy town and would get a David's flagel every morning. Now I am more in Murray Hill and Bagel Cafe (bagelry) and Bagels and Schmear both have GREAT flagels.

I am from Long Island, where everywhere serves them- bagel boss, barbaras, let there bagels etc

[Delucacheesemonger]

Bagel shop on York east side @ 78th has them, and they are great

[shortstop]

Tal Bagels (83rd & Lexington) makes first-rate flagels with the perfect crunchy/chewy balance. Their everything flats are particularly good.

[Whippet]

I've seen them in Fairway, sometimes.

[edfreeze]

If you get there fairly early, they have 'em. Fairway's flagel's are quite good. They do all their own baking - bagels are close to H & H.

[guttergourmet]

Just tried a giant pletzel at Kossar's. Really good (and at $1.75 a bargain) but it still was more like a giant flat bialy than a flagel. Gonna try David's next.

[bigjeff]

for the record (ok, it's not really a record), Hot Bialy's bialy's are so-so, yes, but their regular bagels are just as good as their flats. unfortunately (or maybe out of loyalty) I have never had good flats anywhere else. better make the trip out to kew gardens!

[NAtiveNewYorker]

Seconded. Hot Bialy's bialies are not that great.

[emgoodman]

I too love a flagel! I first had one in the suburbs of MD. Now that I'm in NYC, I've always worried that it's somewhat sacrilegious to admit how much I like them. Here's a Serious Eats post on the phenomenon. It gives a few Manhattan spots. http://newyork.seriouseats.com/2008/0...

I recall hearing that Times Square Bagels (200 West 44th Street) has flagels, but I have not yet been to confirm.

[foodluvngal]

Yes. David's on 1st between 19th/20th has 'em. So does Bagel Boss, also on 1st between 15th/16th. But I must say I still can't resist the conventional bagel at Ess-a-Bagel...