- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
348 reviews for Ess-A-Bagel
Review Highlights
-
"THE REAL STRAWBERRIES in the cream cheese were divine." In 136 reviews -
"i recommend the whole wheat everything in particular." In 16 reviews -
"The lox spread had huge chunks of lox in it." In 11 reviews
Loading...
348 reviews in English
-
Review from Ian C.
Cambridge, MA
5/19/2012
Hands down the best bagel I've ever had.
I first came to Ess-A-Bagel with my family on a trip five years ago. My parents used to live in New York, and they took my sister and I. It was so good, we brought a dozen bagels home with us and occasionally had Ess-A-Bagel freeze and FedEx us a dozen bagels on special occasions.
Last summer, I came back to NYC with my girlfriend. I took her to Ess-A-Bagels, and we were both in heaven. We went every morning, braved the long lines, and had absolutely delicious bagels. I only had the plain cream cheese, but I tried my girlfriend's bagel with salmon cream cheese. SO GOOD.
Before you go though, be warned... every bagel you'll have after you eat at Ess-A-Bagel will taste just so-so. It'll corrupt you and make you rethink what a bagel really should be, and you'll find yourself craving one pretty much every morning. But it's worth it! -
Review from Tyler T.
I'm from Philly visiting a friend in Murray Hill when I woke up on a Sunday craving a bagel. I pulled out my Iphone and searched on Yelp for "bagel shops". Ess-A-Bagel was the closest spot with the most reviews. I walked a mile to the shop and it was packed when I got in.
I waited in line about 25 minutes and finally got to the counter and ordered an everything bagel with cream cheese and nova. It was about $10 and worth every penny. The bagel was perfect, the cream cheese was so rich, and the salmon was very flavorful and fresh.
One negative...The guy at the counter was a dick. You work a bagel shop bro, don't take yourself so seriously (although your bagels are the shit). I guess thats what you get when you are in NYC. -
Review from Ryan G.
Manhattan, NY
4/26/2012
I was actually going to review this place.
Why? It's heavenly... This is what all bagels grow up wishing they'd become.
Everything in this place is straight up done right.
Decor- Simple, timeless and effective.
I MUST ADD. Everybody who works here actually seems like they like their job and other human beings. IE be nice to anybody here and they will tell you whats fresh out of the 70+ year old bagel making oven.
One of the guys who works here is funny, super enjoyable to talk to and one of the hardest working people in manhattan. I seriously think he sleeps in the back because he is ALWAYS here and always in a great bagel serving mood.
Thank you from the bottom of my bagel loving heart. -
Review from Theresa M.
Daly City, CA
4/24/2012
So. Good.
I always go here when I find myself in NYC. These bagels are the best in all of the island of Manhattan. :). I got the plain with lox shmear. Spouse got the sturgeon (I think. It was certainly a white fish) on plain. Both were absolutely delicious!
I scoff at any bagel that is not from Ess-A-Bagel. Sorry, but it's the truth... I've become a bagel snob.
When you're here, make sure you know what you want and order with authority. The staff will eat you alive and the people waiting will be annoyed. I witnessed an out of town couple just get chewed out by the staff and eye-stanked by everyone there. -
Review from Amy S.
4/26/2012
Bagel + blueberry cream cheese.
Yes. GOOD.
(kind of pricey though ): ) -
Review from Katherine C.
Manhattan, NY
4/18/2012
These are the world's BEST bagels. My parents used to fedex them to me when I was in college. The staff are all characters. They crack me up. The whitefish, etc. is fresh and yummy. The place itself is a hole in the wall, don't expect anything fancy. And this is a BAGEL place. With cream cheeses, lox, etc. They don't have a stove. I hate when people get mad that they don't serve eggs. This isn't a diner. This is DAMN GREAT BAGELS. Plain and simple. ;)
ps. The overload the bagels with the toppings. Ask for a "schmear" and you get a good amount without overload. -
Review from Jasmin Z.
Bronx, NY
4/2/2012
BEST. BAGELS. EVER.
The perfect carb fix after a long dehydrated night. hah. The bagels are chunks of delicious goodness, no need to be toasted since it's baked right in front of you. I always go on Saturday morning when the lines are huge but they're always usually
really fast and always get your order right.
Tons of cream cheeses and other flavors to pick from. Very generous helpings of fillings on your bagel. Omnomnom, you can't go wrong with this one. The seating area is very comfy as well. If you even get a seat. -
Review from Stephanie Q.
New York, NY
4/10/2012
Its a crime that I hadn't had a bagel for 8 months. My explanation is that I had moved out of NY to live in Asia where we only have frozen Lenders bagels. Yuck.
I went on a weekday so it wasn't crowded. They have a good selection of bagels and toppings. I opted for the whole wheat everything bagel because I couldn't decide on which bagel to have. Whole wheat because its healthier, and everything so you don't have to think of which type of bagel you want. I had the low fat veggie cream cheese on it. The amount of cream cheese they put was very generous, it kinda defeats the purpose of using "low fat" cream cheese.
I took a bite into it... OMG... so good, I couldn't stop eating and inhaled that whole thing in a few minutes. -
Review from Bishop E.
PRINCE, NY
5/17/2012
Just damn good. The bagels are awesome and the whitefish salad is easily as good as Barney Greengrass. Love it.
-
Review from Geoffrey B.
New York, NY
5/7/2012
Whole wheat everything bagel + tofu scallion~ Ay yi yi!
-
Review from Helen F.
4/18/2012 2 Check-ins Here
here's a tip: buy 1 fully loaded bagel and an extra bagel, transfer excess to second bagel (only $1). enjoy.
they load up these delicious morsels with too much cream cheese/toppings and you'll save yourself some $.
highly recommended: whitefish, baked salmon (and i don't even like salmon), and strawberry cream cheese. i had a sample of the tofu scallion and it was VERY tasty - couldn't believe that it contained no cheese.
as everyone mentioned here, get the wheat everything. -
Review from Cerise G.
Brooklyn, NY
3/15/2012
WOWWOWWOW, THESE BAGELS ARE FRESH!
I always have my bagels toasted at every other shop, because one never knows how good a bagel is going to be, and toasting can cover up a multitude of (yet not all) bagel sins. Ess-A-Bagel doesn't even need a toaster, because their bagels are perfect, as-is. I want one right now! Also, they have a fantastic selection of tofu spreads, which I adore, since I'm not a big fan of cream cheese. Love you, Ess-A-Bagel! -
Review from Thelma P.
Manhattan, NY
5/5/2012
The most amazing everything bagel EVER!!! All of the bagels are 'right out of the oven' fresh. It melts in your mouth! The wait on the weekends is less than pleasing but totally worth it.
The reason I'm not giving Ess-A 5 stars is associated with selection and service. I stopped in at about 3pm wanting my usual Everything bagel with scallion cream cheese. The bagels were not hot so I requested a quick round in the toaster. They told me that they do not toast the bagels! I had to request the cream cheese on the side and run home to toast the bagel in my toaster oven.
Keep in mind that this place is kosher. All those bacon, egg and cheese lovers will leave disappointed. -
Review from Michelle J.
Manhattan, NY
4/1/2012
They gave me the wrong kind of cream cheese, and I am still giving them 5 stars.
That is how completely delicious my bagel was. Unquestionably the most delicious bagel I have ever eaten in my life.
Huge, filling, delicious... so so so good. I am now spoiled and have a new expectation of what a bagel should be. -
Review from Kate A.
Manhattan, NY
4/11/2012
This review is for the atrocious service I received this morning; the product (plain bagel w/strawberry cream cheese) was delicious, can't knock that. After requesting a toasted egg bagel, I was given a sneer and a nasty attitude for not knowing that they, "Don't do egg and don't do toast." The person waiting on me then proceeded to speak to me like I was a small child for the rest of our transaction.
When being rung out by the cashier, he then proceeded to call me some not so nice things to his other colleague behind the counter, thinking that I didn't understand the language he was speaking.
I will not be returning. Ever. -
Review from Lauren B.
New York, NY
3/16/2012
My tummy is full of you after a night of one too many shots...
You never fail me, you are the best bagel in Manhattan (Sorry H&H), and for that I thank you.
xoxo -
Review from Laura A.
Santa Monica, CA
4/29/2012 1 photo
Delicious fresh bagels with any kind of cream cheese you would want. I have always wanted to find a whole wheat everything bagel and was elated upon seeing it here this morning. I can't say that I have ever had a better bagel. I'm going back tomorrow for more!
-
Review from Andrew T.
Manhattan, NY
4/29/2012
The best bagels in new york. They will not toast the bagel, so do not ask or they will kindly embarrass you in front of the long line of customers. Expect to wait, but it is worth it.
-
Review from Manny J.
Manhattan, NY
3/19/2012
I admit, I purposely try to grade places on a very frugal grading scale, I intentionally try to find reasons to grade them lower, but when a place or product becomes "The Standard" in which you will judge everything else in it's category or sub-category then that place or product is worthy of 5 star status and that's what Ess-A-Bagel did for me.
Came in around 2pm during the week I ordered the everything bagel w/plain cream cheese and a plain bagel w/ scallion cream cheese, first off these bagels are HUGE and stuffed with cream cheese deliciousness, it was 2pm and the bagels were fresh, bursting with flavor, untoasted, chewy but soft, I've had H & H bagels and those bagels in my opinion wasn't even worth leaving a negative review. I feel eating anything else besides Ess-A is a waste of calories, if your gonna splurge on calories with a bagel then do it right.
*Beware, they are not shy about cream cheese -
Review from B L.
San Francisco, CA
4/20/2012
I am not sure how I can be expected to come back to California and eat our comparatively mediocre bagels after experiencing the goodness that is the Ess-A-Bagel whole wheat everything bagel. I had this on two back-to-back days with different shmears, and I'd recommend the whitefish over the baked salmon (although both were very good). I am tentatively considering a regular cross-country commute to Manhattan to buy these bagels, but am hopeful that I can find a more efficient way to obtain them.
BTW, the bagels are large enough that you can probably split with a friend unless very hungry. -
Review from Rochelle P.
Oakland, CA
2/28/2012
Where else can you get the most authentic and delicious bagels on earth except Ess-A-Bagel in NYC!
My first taste of their bagel was back in 2004, I was pregnant and all I craved was bagels specifically, Pumpernickel with Whitefish or Pumpernickel Nova so one day my coworker brought me their Pumpernickel with Whitefish and I was hooked. I made it a weekend ritual to go into the city for a morning stroll and a stop for bagels and coffee at Ess-A-Bagel. They make it fresh, warm, big and perfectly chewy. Their cream cheese is delicious creamy and they have a variety of flavors but again I'm a fan of Whitefish and Nova Lox if not, then Everything is my 3rd option.
I no longer live in NYC so its been very hard for me to find a good NY style bagel in The Bay Area so every visit I make to NYC I plan a stop for my authentic bagel fix! -
Review from Adam B.
San Francisco, CA
12/27/2011 5 Check-ins Here
With H&H in chapter 11, I needed to find a new favorite bagel place in New York. I searched far and wide - the 15 or so bagel places in Manhattan with 4 or more stars on Yelp - to find it. It wasn't an easy challenge, but it was a delicious one.
I am happy to crown Ess a Bagel the winner. There were a lot of great contenders (Murray's and Brooklyn Bagel were close runners up), but I have to say that Ess a Bagel has the perfect mix of chewiness and breadiness that make NYC bagels so special. They also have a stellar selection of schmear.
It was with profound emotion that I made a pilgrimage over to the H&H factory, its only remaining outlet and a shadow of its former glory, and found that my quest had eroded my undying support for the previous pinnacle of bagel perfection. I'm not sure if it is because H&H is in such a dire state right now or because my eyes have now been opened, but in my eyes, Ess a Bagel is the new king in town. -
Review from Rubun D.
Manhattan, NY
2/21/2012
I don't really like bagels. This might be a 5 if I did. They have real chunks of _____ (what spread you order) in the _______ spread. They give you a lot of spread -- My favorites have been the raisin walnut, the apple cinnamon, and the strawberry.
They don't toast bagels. And they have a weird, kinda scary sense of humor. Be nice, don't try to be funny. Believe me. -
Review from Tiff W.
1/3/2012 1 photo
The quintessential NY bagel.
During my brief vacation back in NYC, I finally made it to Ess-A...and I didn't want to leave. It was due to sheer willpower (and the fear of gaining ten pounds) that I didn't come here more than twice in one week.
Disappointingly (yet thankfully), there is nothing that compares to the majesty of Ess-A's fresh, warm, chewy gigantic bagel and its delicious lox cream cheese in Chicago. Is there anything more beautiful than a bagel from Ess-A?
When I am at the point where I no longer care about my waistline, I am going to make it a goal of mine to try out every. single. thing. on Ess-A's menu. -
Review from Hallie C.
Manhattan, NY
2/13/2012
Best bagels on earth.
I have tried almost every type of bagel, multiple cream cheeses, including lox tofu spread, as well as their yummy (not too salty) white fish salad and tuna salad. Don't worry I don't go that often, maybe only once a month - I do live down the block, so the danger could be much worse, but luckily their lines are usually too long for me in my morning rush to work.
You must get a whole wheat everything with lox cream cheese. You will be very happy you did. :) -
Review from Mark M.
San Francisco, CA
1/2/2012
BEST. BAGEL. EVER. : - )
Found this place 17 years ago, and keep going back again and again and again. Thank goodness I live in San Francisco, almost as far away as possible, because I'd be BIGASAHOUSE if I lived closer.
Bagels are fresh and hot out of the boiling water and oven to you!
Seriously, get over the small storefront, the less than personable service, and just go to get the BEST. BAGEL. EVER. : - ) -
Review from Pia M.
3/19/2012
Ess-A-Bagel makes a mean egg and cheese on a whole wheat bagel. Their iced latte is delicious too. Def some of the best bagels I've had in NYC.
-
Review from Josh W.
12/25/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Great bagels, especially if you get them fresh. They don't toast the bagels, but this isn't needed anyway.
Great with cream cheese, chicken/beef liver, or whatever you want on top of the bagels. One of my favorite bagel places in NYC -
Review from Julia R.
1/1/2012
Fresh everything bagel (didn't even need to be toasted), scallion cream cheese, lox. Perfection!
Big mistake: Ate the whole thing at once... could have done two meals with it! -
Review from Harper S.
3/17/2012
Nooooothing compares to you.
-
Review from Chris A.
Silver Spring, MD
1/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
I can't claim to be a bagel connoisseur, but I was in NYC with my wife and she wanted an "authentic" New York bagel. They don't toast bagels here, so don't ask, but the bagels come hot out of the ovens. No salt bagels, which saddened the wife.
I'm a simple man and take my bagel with just butter, but it looked like every flavor of cream cheese was available. All in all, my onion bagel was quite good, and as they say "happy wife, happy life". -
Review from Jenny S.
10/14/2011 1 photo
BEST BAGELS EVERRR, love how i can walk here!
one bagel "sandwich" = a bagel w/ A HEFTY AMOUNT of cream cheese slapped into the middle!! (they also offer tofu cream cheeses for those who can't have dairy)
---cinnamon-raisin bagel w/ STRAWBERRY cream cheese
THE CRUST on that bagel was so nice & crispy .. delicious... the inside of the bagel was a little dense for me.. but the crust totally compensated!!
THE REAL STRAWBERRIES in the cream cheese were divine.. it tasted like strawberries & cheese cake.. YUM!
i'll definitely be back for more!!!Listed in: My TOP eateries!, BREAKFAST.. never skip it!
-
Review from Tina L.
Claremont, CA
11/15/2011
YUM!!!!! So if you read my other review, I'm from California and I chased a boy to Boston... we ended it right after the trip. When I got to Boston we took a bus to New York and got a hotel. Woke up in the morning and yelped a bagel place. I cannot live without bagels. I got here and holy f*ck this place was packed! I was very scared waiting in line afraid I wouldn't like the bagels. I'm a simple plain bagel and cream cheese kind of girl. They got all funky flavors here. The boy convinced me that it should be good because the place is packed. SO GLAD I waited for it. I went back in January so I don't remember exactly what I ordered since we ordered like 5 different ones -__________- ... i love food too much ... hehehhee
Anyways, writing this review because I'm at work enjoying my plain bagel and cream cheese fantasizing bout Ess-a-Bagel! -
Review from Jeremy S.
Scottsdale, AZ
12/12/2011
Make the dough. Boil. Dip. Bake.....Repeat! And don't stop. Ever! My Family and I started our Morning off at Ess-A-Bagel before heading a few blocks down to do some crazy shopping on Fifth. Let me preface this by saying I am a Native New Yorker. My Wife and children are from North Scottsdale. The mnoment we walked in the smell hit me with all the right notes. I knew....I just knew. Got a Sesame Bagel with Chive cream cheese and Sable. Slightly crusty, warm, chewy and the sable was killer. Best bagel in NYC I have had in a long time. Just called from Arizona..."Can you overnight" their answer "yes". Guess who is having Ess-A-Bagel at their table Sunday Morning?
If your in the city, make the trek. I was in Manhattan for 8 days and only ate their once....Should have mad it a daily stop. About a Mile south of Central Park. -
Review from Deedles P.
New York, NY
10/13/2011
Let me start by saying that Ess-A-Bagel has the most amazing bagels. It is unfortunate that the woman who handles the catering is such a nasty beast.
I work for a company who orders bagels every Friday. We always used Ess-A because they were close and people loved the freshness of the bagels. After one year of ordering bagels and lox every Fri to the 44th floor, they messed up and delivered our entire order to the 4th floor instead. 20 minutes of back and forth calls and still no idea where the missing bagels are. The nasty woman is screaming at my colleague telling her that they delivered them, and that we must have them somewhere. Yes lady, we are hiding bagels and lox in the closet just so we can talk to your "nasty self" longer. Let's be real. Long story short, she finally discovers that they delivered them to the wrong floor, but gives us an attitude when we tell her we want a refund.
Fast forward 2 months of no Ess-A, we try to give them another shot, and Captain Cranky Pants has the nerve to tell the person who called to order that she didn't want to deal with us because we didn't pay for our last order. IS SHE INSANE? They delivered our food to the wrong place and they want us to still pay? I give up.
2 stars for deliciously fresh bagel goodness. I would've given it 5 stars but a crazy employee can ruin anyone's love for a bagel. -
Review from Kelly J.
10/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
Determined to get NY bagel before I left NY, I walk the 1 (New York) mile to get to Essabagel on my last morning of NY. Got there and there was no line!
Got the everything bagel with chive cream cheese and dozen to take home. I can see why a fresh NY bagel doesn't need to be toasted, but I think I'm just a toasted pastries kind of gal. Yum.Listed in: DC PA NY
-
Review from Michael D.
Boston, MA
12/13/2011 1 photo
Damn. That's a good bagel. Perfect amount of chew and cream cheese that flows creamily with it.
BUT i came here for the BAGEL... the cream cheese is supposed to accent it.. NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. they give you WAYY too much cream cheese (like a 2:1 cream cheese:bagel ratio).. be sure to ask em to go light!
We got the cinnamon-raison bagel with strawberry cream cheese. OH EM GEE. As jenny S said, the CRUST on the bagel is where it's at. I've NEVER had a bagel with a crispy-yet-chewy crust like that before. Inside was a bit dense, but hey, that's what bagels are supposed to be like right?
OVERALL, definitely its a bagel (or should I say.. Ess-A-Bagel?) worth coming back for. -
Review from Jeff K.
Manhattan, NY
10/9/2011
I give Ess-A-Bagel 5 stars because of the food quality - it has the best bagels in Manhattan, plain and simple. Neither H&H nor Bagelworks compare.
The bagels are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The whole wheat everything is to die for. They somehow manage to pack more seeds (sesame seeds, poppy seeds, and whatever other seeds are on an everything bagel) on the bagel than any other place I have seen, and the result is pure deliciousness.
If you're into lox, order a whole wheat everything with cream cheese, nova scotia lox, and tomato. It's a little pricey at $14, but well worth it. That was my go-to. My girlfriend liked the whole wheat everything with light scallion cream cheese or light veggie cream cheese.
The service can be frustrating, not because they're slow - they're usually fast - but because they get mad if you don't order 2-3 seconds after they say "Next!"
Sometimes, if you're not paying attention and it's your turn, the one worker will look around the story and yell out, "Who wants to be next? Does anybody want to be next?" And then he will actually take someone else's order who is behind you and who annoyingly volunteers to be next. Now that's just wrong and a dumb business practice. But their product is so damn good that it kept me coming back again and again.
I went there every weekend for about 2 years, and a few tips come to mind:
1. On Saturdays and Sundays, try to get there before 10am to avoid a 10 or 15-minute line.
2. Order a whole wheat everything bagel; it's the best they have!
3. Don't order coffee there; it's not very good. Get your bagel to-go and then get coffee at the Dunkin Donuts next store, and you can eat in the Dunkin Donuts, they don't mind.
4. Watch them make your bagel to make sure they get your order right -
Review from Tushar G.
New York, NY
4/27/2012
This is a great place for hot bagels and fresh coffee in the mornings. It's the real deal. Get there early to avoid the rush.
-
Review from Devin D.
12/11/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Bagels here are WARM, CHEWY, DELICIOUS, and smothered with cream cheese. I had an everything with lox cream cheese for $4. Ask which ones are still warm before you choose, I think it makes a big difference. They have multiple spreads that all look amazing. Definitely my favorite nyc bagel thus far.
P.S. - One bagel is a meal and a half, come hungry.
