Having carried bagels places several times a year, I’m always wondering if I should switch up my source.
It used to be simple: H&H were my go-to bagels. They were good, they were close by, and they had Temp Tee in addition to their house scallion cream cheese.
Of late, I’ve been mixing it up when I’m buying a bunch (usually for expat New Yorkers).
Here are my recent experiences:
Absolute (UWS):
Pros: . Excellent bagel, good chew but not overly dense, they tend to throw in extras in my experience
Cons: Almost always a line, and not always a convenient stop
Ess A Bagel (midtown eat & west / Penn station area):
Pros: Large, good all-over coverage of toppings
Cons: Very dense, almost too big
Pick-A-Bagel (midtown west among other locations):
Pros: Excellent bagel, good chew but not overly dense, they throw in extras even with a half dozen
Cons: Not super friendly, but whatever, I’m stretching here
