New York is a city famed for its dining culture and, more specifically, its bagels. Words by Katy Hall.
The city’s love affair with all things boiled bread, smoked salmon (or lox as it’s more commonly referred to) and cream cheese is an enduring one, with many of the city’s family-run delis operating for over a century.
Affordable, delicious and oh-so-filling, bagels are a staple of New York life. With so many options to choose from, though, knowing where to go and what to look for when you’re visiting the Big Apple can be at best daunting and at worst lead to a seriously lacklustre experience. But life is too short for bad bagels, which is why we’ve rounded up six of the very best spots to get your gluten fix on your next holiday.
From Booklyn to the Upper West Side, these are the places to save ahead of your next holiday.
Russ & Daughters – Lower East Side and Brooklyn
Having been in the bagel business for over 100 years, Russ & Daughters has well and truly mastered the art of creating the perfect bagel and the daily queues outside their Brooklyn and Lower East Side locations prove it. If you’re wanting an ultra-dreaming dine-in experience elevated from the traditional diner feel, head to their LES restaurant where the sophisticated 1920s-style decor, endless coffee refills and renowned bagels make for a great start to any day.
Barney Greengrass the Sturgeon King – Upper West Side
Known as “the sturgeon king”, Barney Greengrass is an institution for New York bagel lovers, celebrities, and those looking to try something other than the standard smoked salmon and cream cheese options. Their no-fuss attitude, friendly staff, expertly curated menu and mouth-watering daily specials offer a quintessentially local experience in New York culture and delicious food.
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Bagelsmith – Williamsburg
One of the few bagel places open 24 hours, Bagelsmith is the perfect go-to option for when you’re hungry and on the go. Their tailored menu makes ordering a breeze, and their many vegan cream cheese options make it friendly for anybody. Seating is limited (just four stools in the window), but located next to Brooklyn’s busy L-stop subway line, it’s the perfect option for takeaway or on the way home from a late night.
Zabars – Upper West Side
If you’re looking for a true New York deli experience, Zabar’s is a must. Having been at the same 8th and Broadway location for over 80 years, it’s still being run by descendants of the same family and is now onto its third generation. Not only is Zabar’s credited with popularising things we now consider everyday items to New York diners (think sundried tomatoes and caviar) thanks to their grocery sections, but they’ve also managed to maintain the quality of their much-loved bagels. For the super fans, Zabar’s also has its own podcast sharing the family’s history!
Ess-a-Bagel – Midtown
Having operated for forty years, Ess-a-Bagel is still a relative newcomer to the New York bagel scene, but its devoted fans and followers are a testament to just how delicious this family-run bagel store is. With 20 bagel options to choose from and known for their ultra-generous filling options, Ess-a-Bagel is the ideal option for people wanting a bagel that will tide them over for a long day of sightseeing, through to dinner.
Brooklyn Bagel – Williamsburg, Boro Park, Bushwick
Another quintessentially New York bagel experience comes with Brooklyn Bagel, which is a favourite spot among Brooklyn’s local Hasidic and Orthodox Jewish communities and regularly has lines out the doors of its three locations. Wooden barrels are stocked with bagels, while friendly staff who have been at it for decades lovingly prepare each bagel to order and can offer suggestions on the best bagel and cream cheese flavour combinations.
Kossar’s – Lower East Side, Hudson Yards, Upper East Side
More adventurous diners do well to head to Kossars and try not just their award-winning bagels, but also their bialys, which are baked instead of boiled and have a depression in the centre instead of a hole, which is filled with delicious toppings like onion, garlic or poppy seeds. Order from their extensive suggested menu or request a made-to-order option. Thanks to their sidewalk tables you can easily dine in and their coffee is seriously delicious.
This article originally appeared on escape.com.au. It has been reproduced here with permission.
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